It may be World Cup season, but there is one thing that could divert attention away from FIFA's festival of football: transfers. Today marks the opening of the summer window in England, meaning clubs in the Premier League and beyond can officially get down to business. However, the small matter of the World Cup means that the most significant player swaps could be more of a slow-burn this year.
There will be players who impress at the tournament and earn themselves a dream move like plenty before them. New stars will be made and, as is the way in the current era, instantly pursued by new suitors. But there are also players who have been earmarked for blockbuster transfers long before they boarded their flights to the United States, Mexico and Canada in recent weeks. It looks set to be a record-breaking summer on the transfer front in the Premier League. Here are five of the biggest and most intriguing deals to watch out for during the World Cup and beyond...
1) Elliot Anderson
Not only is Anderson very likely to leave Nottingham Forest this summer, but any deal for the midfielder should eclipse the current British transfer record of £125 million. We know that because Manchester City have already seen an offer just short of the blockbuster package that took Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer rejected by their Premier League counterparts, who are seeking payment in full rather than the cast-iron £100 million plus £20 million in add-ons which is currently on the table. But Anderson's meteoric rise over the past 12 months, coupled with the prominent role he is poised to play for England at the World Cup, make it likely that his suitors from Manchester will return to the table.
While it remains to be seen how high City are willing to go for a player who will become the most expensive English footballer in history, there is also the small matter of their neighbours, Manchester United, and the interest they hold in a player who, at 23, still has his peak years ahead of him. Manchester United have so far been unwilling to get into a bidding war and have distanced themselves from Anderson, focusing on other targets. But if Manchester City do walk away from a deal, then maybe United will emerge from the shadows to acquire a marquee signing for their midfield rebuild. Or another elite club, for that matter. One thing is for sure: the longer Anderson remains a Nottingham Forest player, the greater the odds of him increasing his already substantial price tag with his exploits at the World Cup. Which is something his suitors simply cannot afford to let happen.
2) Morgan Rogers
Like his England team-mate, Rogers is another player who is already in high demand this summer with elite clubs circling prior to the World Cup. The Premier League's heavyweights, including the newly minted champions, Arsenal, have seen what Rogers can do at close quarters and have aspirations of prising the attacking midfielder away from Aston Villa, who are receptive to the idea of a significant sale despite Rogers' importance. While Anderson's situation looks more cut and dry with Manchester City at the front of the queue, the race for Rogers would appear to be slightly more open: Arsenal and Manchester United are two of the teams known to hold an interest in the 23-year-old, as do Chelsea. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich may provide European competition when interested parties start decide to show their hand.
Rogers' versatility surely makes him an attractive option for Arsenal, who are looking to level up the left side of their attack. Rogers is adept at playing there and more centrally, which is where plenty would like to see him play for England. Manchester United, too, want attacking reinforcements, while Bayern were known to be interested in Anthony Gordon who has since moved to Barcelona. Basically, Rogers ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of clubs. And off the back of his most productive season at an elite level, Aston Villa face a fight to retain their most exciting attacker.
3) Marcus Rashford
After reaching what felt like the conclusion of a highly successful chapter at Manchester United, Rashford landed a dream move to Barcelona last summer in the form of a loan deal with a permanent option. That permanent option seemed like a formality after Rashford showed encouraging signs of a return to form, accumulating 28 goal contributions for the Spanish champions in all competitions. And yet Barcelona instead aggressively pursued a blockbuster transfer for Anthony Gordon, a player who primarily occupies the left-wing berth Rashford favours. There has been talk that Gordon could be used as a false 9 by Barcelona, who could yet seek to retain Rashford without triggering said option, be that another loan deal or a lower transfer fee. But with Manchester United unlikely to entertain such tactics, Rashford's future could become one of the big talking points of the summer.
It has been reported that Barcelona's option to sign Rashford for a bargain €30 million (£25 million) expires today - meaning Rashford would effectively be back on the market. Given the number of elite clubs looking for a quality left-sided attacker, as outlined above in the hunt for Rogers, don't be surprised if Rashford ends up with a suitor who has yet to be outed publicly.
4) Enzo Fernandez
If you're looking for activity during a transfer window, then Chelsea is probably the place to look. There have already been whispers that the Blues could lose some of their top stars after a chastening season despite the club's hierarchy pulling off a coup in landing Xabi Alonso as their new head coach and Marc Cucurella became the first big-name sale on Monday. Fernandez could follow Cucurella to Real Madrid if reports are to be believed. The classy Argentine playmaker joined Chelsea for a mammoth £106.8 million fee in early 2023 after starring for his country at the 2022 World Cup. Things could now come full circle during this current tournament.
Fernandez is keen on the idea of linking up with Real Madrid and, it seems, those feelings are being reciprocated by the Bernabeu powerbrokers. Real would be one of the few clubs capable of affording Fernandez, who would command a transfer fee in excess of £100 million. Manchester City were previously credited with an interest in Fernandez, although those links were downplayed. He is, however, well known to the man expected to become Manchester City's new head coach, Enzo Maresca. And the transfer landscape at The Etihad could alter if Anderson is not donning a sky blue shirt by this time next month.
5) Julian Alvarez
This one is already becoming a bit of a saga. Alvarez has blossomed since joining Barcelona from Manchester City and his goals in Spain, plus his previous Premier League pedigree, has made him the most coveted striker on the market this summer. Except that his current club, Atletico Madrid, are adamant that he is not on the market. Particularly as he is being pursued aggressively by two of their biggest domestic rivals in Real Madrid and Barcelona. Outlandish social media statements mocking approaches from Real Madrid will not be enough to deter further interest from them or ambitious Premier League clubs such as Arsenal.
If the Gunners are to bring Alvarez back to these shores, then Anderson's expected accolade as the most expensive British transfer of all-time may be swift given Atletico have already rebuffed a €150 million (£129 million) proposal from Los Blancos out of hand. But that doesn't mean they, or one of Spain's top clubs, will not pay a premium price to acquire a player who pretty much guarantees the goals necessary to convert results into major trophies. That could be especially telling in the case of Arsenal, who will be desperate to build on a first league title in 22 years. Alvarez, unlike some other prospective striker targets, would require no bedding-in period given his previous exploits with Manchester City, for whom he plundered 36 goals in two seasons. Whether that is enticing enough to lay out an astronomical sum of money on one player remains to be seen. When it comes to Alvarez, the biggest clubs in the world want him. Atletico may have no desire to sell but keeping him is likely to be easier said than done - even if he is contracted for four more years and has a release clause of €500 million (£431 million).
