Nico Williams, Ivan Toney & 10 big stars still set to move in the final month of the summer transfer window
A host of high-profile names could switch teams before the deadline as clubs scramble to complete their squads in time for the new season
The 2024 summer transfer window has been a fascinating one so far, even if there haven’t been quite as many blockbuster deals as supporters might have hoped for. In the Premier League, Manchester United have been busy, bringing in promising young duo Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee for a combined fee of £95m ($122m), while Arsenal have snapped up Italy sensation Riccardo Calafiori and Chelsea have six new players on their books – including ex-Leicester City star Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and United States prospect Caleb Wiley.
Elsewhere in Europe, Bayern Munich have raided the English top-flight for Michael Olise and Joao Palhinha, Juventus have prised Douglas Luiz away from Aston Villa and Real Madrid have finally captured long-term target Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer. None of the top clubs have really broken the bank yet, but that could well change over the next four weeks as preparations for the new campaign go into overdrive.
GOAL is here to run down 10 big stars who are still set to switch clubs before the market slams shut on August 30, starting with one of the most deadly marksmen in the game…
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Victor Osimhen looks destined to part ways with Napoli after a turbulent 2023-24 campaign that saw the Italian giants surrender their Serie A crown in embarrassing fashion. Paris Saint-Germain has long been mooted as the most likely next destination for the Nigerian, who has hit 76 goals in 133 appearances for the Partonopei, but he has also publicly admitted he dreams of playing in the Premier League.
Arsenal and Chelsea have been credited with an interest in Osimhen, with both clubs in desperate need of a ruthless No.9 to reach the next level, and the 25-year-old certainly has all the attributes to shine in the English top-flight. However, Napoli will only let Osimhen go if his £113m ($146m) release clause is triggered, and PSG’s need for his services is greater as they seek to secure a long-term replacement for Mbappe.
Nico Williams (Athletic Club)
Nico Williams is probably the most sought after player on the planet right now, and with good reason. The 22-year-old followed up a historic Copa del Rey success with Athletic Club by spearheading Spain’s run to the Euro 2024 title in Germany, showing off his dazzling pace and footwork down the left flank, leading Barcelona to put him at the top of their wishlist.
The Spanish giants are said to be leading the race for Williams ahead of PSG, Arsenal and Chelsea, despite their well-documented financial problems, and it’s easy to imagine him fitting in well at Camp Nou alongside La Roja partner-in-crime Lamine Yamal. Athletic Club are said to be pulling out all the stops to keep hold of Williams, but his €58m (£49m/$63m) release clause still leaves them vulnerable, and he really should be making the step up to a Champions League club after such a memorable year.
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
Despite being arguably Bayern Munich’s most reliable performer of the last decade, Kimmich’s future at the club is in serious doubt, with his contract set to expire in 2025 and no sign of an extension being agreed. A Premier League switch could beckon for the 29-year-old as Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool said to be weighing up offers, and he has the quality to walk into the starting XI at all three clubs.
Kimmich is a combative midfielder who is versatile enough to play in a number of positions, and seems to be ageing like a fine wine based on his performances for Germany at the Euros. It has been suggested that Bayern will let him go for around £50m ($64m), which is a bargain price for a player of his quality and experience, but it remains to be seen which Premier League project he opts for.
Ederson (Manchester City)
The Saudi Pro League’s bid to lure away Europe’s elite has stalled slightly in recent months, but Al-Ittihad’s €55m (£46m/$60m) capture of Aston Villa midfielder Moussa Diaby served as a reminder of their financial power, and Ederson could well be the next man to turn his back on the Premier League.
The Manchester City goalkeeper has been strongly linked with a move to Al-Ittihad – to link up with Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema – and even Pep Guardiola has admitted he is unsure whether the Brazilian will stay at Etihad Stadium.
If Ederson does leave, he will leave behind a huge void after serving as the last line of defence for a City side that has dominated English football over the past eight years. Still, there were one or two signs that the 30-year-old’s powers are starting to wane last season, and after winning every trophy on offer in the European game, it’s possible now has his eye on a king’s ransom and a stress-free path to retirement.
Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig)
Williams and Yamal stole most of the headlines for Spain at the Euros, but Dani Olmo’s contribution to their success was equally important. The RB Leipzig man recorded three goals and two assists as he showed his value as both a starter and impact substitute, and the 26-year-old is now in very high demand, with Man City, Bayern and Juventus said to be on his tail.
It is believed that Barcelona have the edge, given Olmo’s status as a La Masia academy graduate, and reports in Spain have suggested an agreement on personal terms has already been reached. But it would surely take a miracle for he Blaugrana to sign Williams AND Olmo, because Leipzig are demanding €60m (£50m/$65m) for their prized asset. This saga could continue right up until the deadline, and it would be a huge coup for City if they end up beating Barca to the punch.
Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)
Jadon Sancho is currently in line for a second chance at Manchester United, having mended his broken relationship with head coach Erik ten Hag on the back of a successful loan spell at his former club Borussia Dortmund. But there are no guarantees for Sancho at Old Trafford. He’s still got to compete with Marcus Rashford for a spot on the left-wing, and there will be huge pressure for him to perform after a hugely disappointing start to his career with the Red Devils.
But there is another option for Sancho. PSG have reportedly reached an ‘agreement in principle’ to sign the England international, and if they match United’s £50m ($71m) valuation, he will be free to take on a new challenge in France. Sancho is good enough to make Ligue 1 his own personal playground, and that might yet appeal to him more than another season of uncertainty at United, who are still a long way from challenging for the biggest titles again.
Ivan Toney (Brentford)
Ivan Toney was being courted by elite clubs long before his eight-month ban for breaching betting rules, and although he largely underwhelmed after returning to action with Brentford in January, his stock remains as high as ever. Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea are all still keen on Toney, while according to The Athletic, he has also been discussed as an option by Manchester United’s new INEOS ownership regime.
The report adds that although Brentford are under no pressure to sell the 28-year-old, they won’t stand in his way if they receive an offer in the region of £50m ($64m). Toney’s record of 36 Premier League goals in 85 appearances for the Bees is hugely impressive considering he’s never really had top class-service, and it would be fascinating to see him get an opportunity at a bigger club, especially after his impressive cameo displays for England at Euro 2024.
Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich)
De Ligt’s career trajectory hasn’t gone the way most people expected since his 2019 departure from Ajax, with Bayern Munich rescuing him from a thoroughly underwhelming spell at Juventus just three years later. The Dutchman’s fortunes haven’t improved all that much at Allianz Arena, though, and he was in and out of the Bayern starting XI last season amid strong competition for places alongside Dayot Upamecano, Kim min-jae and Eric Dier.
Bayern are reportedly set to add Germany and Bayer Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah to that defensive contingent, and so they are open to selling De Ligt, with Manchester United currently locked in talks over a permanent deal for the 24-year-old. De Ligt would be a risky signing for the Red Devils given his struggles in recent years, but he still has plenty of potential left to unlock, and may benefit from a reunion with his former Ajax boss Ten Hag.
Raphinha (Barcelona)
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, Al-Nassr are prepared to fork out a Saudi Pro League-record fee of €100m (£84.5m/$108.7m) to sign Raphinha from Barcelona, in a bid to strengthen the supporting cast behind poster boy Cristiano Ronaldo. The Brazilian hasn’t quite managed to live up to expectations since joining Barca from Leeds in 2022, and now seems like the perfect time to cash in.
Al-Nassr are offering well above market value for Raphinha, and that money could be used to finalise the deals for Williams and Olmo that Catalan fans so desperately want to see. For his part, Raphinha has always insisted he wants to stay at Barca, and it would be a shame to see such a gifted player leave Europe at just 27, but the decision might be taken out of his hands.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold is Mr Liverpool. He’s been affiliated with the club since the age of six, and was an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s first-team revolution, which culminated in Premier League and Champions League glory. But the Klopp era is now over, and Alexander Arnold is just 11 short months away from free agency.
Liverpool have yet to tie Alexander-Arnold down to a new contract, and Real Madrid are ready to pounce on the uncertainty surrounding the 25-year-old’s future. Rumours of an imminent transfer to Santiago Bernabeu were fuelled when Alexander-Arnold was spotted out for dinner in Los Angeles with Jude Bellingham last week, and it’s certainly true that his England team-mate could help the full-back settle in quickly to life with Los Blancos.
This one feels slightly far-fetched at this stage, but it’s not every day that Madrid come calling. Alexander-Arnold has achieved all of his dreams at Anfield, and no one would begrudge him the chance to expand his horizons at the most successful club in the history of the sport.