There is only a week left in the transfer window, so what players should you keep an eye on? Here are some of the stars likely to make headlines before the September 1 deadline.
Cristiano Ronaldo, striker, Man United
After being dropped from the first line-up to beat Liverpool on Monday, Ronaldo’s future will still be up for debate until he clarifies things one way or another. The 37-year-old wants to leave United to play Champions League football, but options and time are running out. Sources have told ESPN that Ronaldo will remain at United, but there are concerns about the impact his negative attitude will have on the dressing room and things could take a turn as the deadline approaches.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Barcelona striker
Aubameyang joined Barcelona only in February, after the termination of his contract with Arsenal. Barcelona now want to transfer him for around €25m so they can sign their new €55m arrival, Jules Kounde under LaLiga’s salary cap.
Chelsea are the favorites and have been interested for some time, but although Aubameyang are keen to be linked with former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel, he is 33 so the Blues will be wary of spending too much to sign him. .
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Frenkie de Jong, Midfielder, Barcelona
De Jong dominated the headlines this summer, but the saga has gotten ugly since then. The midfielder did indeed take a pay cut in October of 2020, but sources have told ESPN that Barcelona want him to do so again (pointing to irregularities in his current contract). Champions League football and now splinter Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
The player still owes a salary of €20m, so agreeing his departure is proving difficult and he will likely end up staying if Barcelona can weed out other players to fix their salary issues. And he, by the way, is a good Xavier with him.
Wesley Fofana, CB, Leicester
Fofana was left out of Leicester’s squad last weekend against Southampton after missing a training session, and Fox chief Brendan Rodgers said The 21-year-old defender is “not quite in the right frame of mind at the moment to play”. Chelsea have reportedly made three transfer offers worth £70m, but Leicester want at least £80m and are not keen to let him go. With that kind of money, it looks like Fofana will move to Chelsea (in what would be a world record fee for a defender), or have to stay on for at least another six months.
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Hercules Gomez says a move to Manchester United would be worse for Sergino Dest than staying on the bench at Barcelona.
Sergino Dest, FB, Barcelona
He knows what the situation is.” Xavi’s words at a press conference last weekend were very harsh, and suggest that Dest has no future at Camp Nou. Sources have told ESPN that Barcelona wants to transfer him, but previous interest from Chelsea has waned. Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich have waned.
Man United remain an option for the USMNT international defender, but time is running out and Dest may be ready to join Borussia Dortmund as part of a swap deal for defender Thomas Meunier to ensure he is in a good place ahead of the World Cup. .
Lucas Paqueta, CM, Leon
Newcastle have reportedly made a number of bids for Leicester midfielder James Maddison, all of which have been turned down, so their attention should be diverted elsewhere. Leon playmaker Paqueta may be keen to join fellow Brazilians Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton at St James’ Park, but it could take a €50m bid from Ligue 1 to let him go.
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with him earlier in the window, but their interest appears to have shifted elsewhere, and it has now been reported that West Ham have joined the race.
Yuri Tillmans, Leicester midfielder
With a contract ending in 2023, Tielemans could find himself turning things around with the window closed. Leicester won’t want to lose the 25-year-old midfielder, who has shown himself to be a classy business since arriving in the Premier League in 2019, but they could be forced to. Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with the Belgium international and a reduced transfer fee of around £30m could be charged.
Anthony Gordon, Everton striker
Gordon is highly rated and has been followed by Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the past, but Chelsea appear more eager to land the England Under-21 winger. Sources told ESPN they have already made two bids totaling £45m, although Everton are holding him for a fee of more than £50m. Having already lost Richarlison to Tottenham for £60m earlier in the window, Everton could find themselves with plenty of money to spend and very little time to spend.
Hakim Ziyech, FW, Chelsea
Ziyech’s future could well depend on whether Man United bid higher than their rejected €80m effort to sign Anthony from Ajax. If United manage to land Anthony, Ajax will be keen to bring Ziyech back to the club he left for €44m in 2020. The 29-year-old won’t guarantee that kind of fee now, but the winger’s exit from Stamford Bridge will. Leave a void that may need to be filled by Gordon or others.
Rafael Liaostriker, Milan
The Portuguese striker scored 14 goals and 12 assists from 42 games en route to the Serie A title last season, and has now put himself on the radar of Europe’s top clubs. He is still only 23 years old, but Liao’s potential is high and this has led to interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in signing him. Chelsea are the latest to be linked with a €95m bid, but that could depend on their other earnings this summer.
