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Robin Bairner|<\/span>Chief Editor<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Make us your Google favourite<\/span><\/p>\nWith the World Cup over, all eyes are on the transfer market, where there are six explosive sagas that could see records tumble.<\/p>\n
A series of blockbuster deals have already been completed in the Premier League<\/b> this summer, with Elliot Anderson\u2019s move to Manchester City setting a new high for a signing at the Etihad Stadium as he completed a \u20ac135 million switch from Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n
Article continues under the video<\/center> <\/p>\nSimilarly, Tottenham have broken their transfer record<\/b> by snapping up Newcastle\u2019s Sandro Tonali in a \u20ac108m deal and flirted with the \u20ac100m mark when they signed Mateus Fernandes from West Ham.<\/p>\n
But these moves will not be the end of the monster summer signings. There are half a dozen such deals that look realistic.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what they are and how they could play out by the FootballTransfers<\/b> team.<\/p>\nMorgan Rogers<\/h2>\n
Club:<\/b> Aston Villa<\/p>\n
Major interest:<\/b> Chelsea, Arsenal<\/p>\n
Linked:<\/b> n\/a<\/p>\n
What\u2019s happened?<\/b><\/p>\n
Rogers is on the brink of a deal with Chelsea<\/b>. The England player has passed all the key stages of the transfer and needs only the official announcement.<\/p>\n
That it has come to this is remarkable. Arsenal appeared well placed to sign the former Middlesbrough attacker, yet their London rivals swooped dramatically to rush through an unexpected transfer.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s going to happen?<\/b><\/p>\n
Barring an incredible last-gasp hitch, Chelsea will pay \u20ac138 million to set a club record transfer fee and sign Rogers.<\/p>\n
His reception at the Emirates Stadium later this season promises to be an interesting one\u2026<\/p>\n
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\u00a9 IMAGO – Morgan Rogers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nJulian Alvarez<\/h2>\n Club:<\/b> Atletico Madrid<\/p>\n
Major interest:<\/b> Barcelona<\/p>\n
Linked:<\/b> Real Madrid, Arsenal, PSG<\/p>\n
What\u2019s happened?<\/b><\/p>\n
Julian Alvarez has been publicly discussed as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona, with president Joan Laporta indicating that the club\u2019s bid remains on the table.<\/p>\n
Real Madrid have also confirmed that they have moved for the Argentina international striker, who grew unsettled at Atletico Madrid in the second half of last season, releasing a statement that they had a \u20ac150m offer knocked back. Just how serious they were in this bid, though, is questionable.<\/p>\n
Atleti have hit back, saying they will not sell and any club that wants Julian will have to match his \u20ac500m release fee<\/b>.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s going to happen?<\/b><\/p>\n
Barcelona believe that Atleti\u2019s strong stance is little more than a negotiating tactic, but it promises to be a major challenge for the Catalans to raise the type of money required to prise Alvarez away from the Spanish capital, despite taking out a large loan<\/b> that could potentially allow them to do so.<\/p>\n
With Alvarez not keen on a return to the Premier League, his chances of leaving Diego Simeone\u2019s side seem to rest on Barca making a bid that\u2019s acceptable to their rivals.<\/p>\n
In order for that to happen, Alvarez may need to force the issue.<\/p>\n
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\u00a9 IMAGO – Julian Alvarez, Atletico Madrid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBradley Barcola<\/h2>\n Club:<\/b> PSG<\/p>\n
Major interest:<\/b> Liverpool, Arsenal<\/p>\n
Linked:<\/b> Bayern Munich<\/p>\n
What\u2019s happened?<\/b><\/p>\n
Not a lot yet. Barcola has been unable to negotiate a new contract with PSG, and with two years left on his current agreement, is coming towards a crossroads in his career.<\/p>\n
A strong World Cup performance with France has put him onto the market, and with Arsenal and Liverpool both needing wingers, the two Premier League clubs have been linked with the two-time Champions League winner.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s going to happen?<\/b><\/p>\n
This is a deal in the balance but it leans on PSG being able to find a replacement for Barcola before they sell. Yan Diomande (see below) is the player they have their eyes fixed on. Otherwise, Luis Enrique\u2019s side will keep the winger, who has been a strong member of their squad for the last three years.<\/p>\n
PSG have been strong at sticking to their wage structure and have been unwilling to bow to the demands of Barcola or Ousmane Dembele in contract talks. The longer this impasse continues, the greater the prospect of Barcola departing is.<\/p>\n
Liverpool are preparing a first bid.<\/b><\/p>\n\n
\u00a9 IMAGO – Bradley Barcola, France<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nAyyoub Bouaddi<\/h2>\n Club:<\/b> Lille<\/p>\n
Major interest:<\/b> Manchester City, Arsenal<\/p>\n
Linked:<\/b> Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester United<\/p>\n
What\u2019s happened?<\/b><\/p>\n
Interest has been building in Bouaddi for years, with the young defensive midfielder having impressed to such a degree with Lille in France that his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has grown to \u20ac48.4m.<\/p>\n
He truly exploded into the public consciousness thanks to his outstanding displays for Morocco at the World Cup, but he had previously shone on the European stage with LOSC.<\/p>\n
The result has been a flurry of transfer rumours linking some of the world\u2019s biggest teams. While it may appear that this interest has been sudden, in reality these clubs have known all about this intelligent young star for years.<\/p>\n
Lille have gone public that they will not demand \u20ac100m for their young gem, but with Arsenal and Man City on the hunt, privately they are said to have pointed to the Anderson and Tonali deals of evidence that they should head out for a massive fee.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s going to happen?<\/b><\/p>\n
Lille say Bouaddi will not leave them this summer<\/b>but this is a young man with stars in his eyes.<\/p>\n
He was expected to become a France international but switched to Morocco after they promised to fast-track his progress, a gamble that has paid off amply for him.<\/p>\n
While breaking into a top team on a regular basis promises to be a major challenge, it\u2019s not one that\u2019s beyond him.<\/p>\n
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\u00a9 IMAGO – Ayyoub Bouaddi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nYan Diomande<\/h2>\n Club:<\/b> RB Leipzig<\/p>\n
Major interest:<\/b> Liverpool, PSG<\/p>\n
Linked:<\/b> Arsenal<\/p>\n
What\u2019s happened?<\/b><\/p>\n
Diomande has exploded over the course of the last season, becoming Europe\u2019s hottest young wing prospect at Leipzig.<\/p>\n
Liverpool have been heavily linked with him along with PSG, who see him as a possible long-term upgrade on Barcola.<\/p>\n
RB Leipzig appear determined not to sell, but comments made by head coach Martin Demichelis indicate that the Bundesliga club have not entirely closed the door to a move<\/b> \u2013 even if it\u2019s certainly not part of their plans.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s a major catch: a battle between two agents may prevent him from leaving at all<\/b>.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s going to happen?<\/b><\/p>\n
Much of Diomande\u2019s future depends on if the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rules in his case. A deal appears to be impossible before then \u2013 and there\u2019s no guarantee a ruling will come before the transfer deadline.<\/p>\n
Even if this hurdle is cleared, Leipzig will demand a huge price for their young star. PSG have a strong relationship with the German club, and this could give them the edge, even if they have more typically operated in the \u20ac50-80m bracket of transfers in recent years.<\/p>\n
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\u00a9 IMAGO – Jan Diomande<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nEnzo Fernandez<\/h2>\n Club:<\/b> Chelsea<\/p>\n
Major interest:<\/b> Real Madrid<\/p>\n
Linked:<\/b> PSG<\/p>\n
What\u2019s happened?<\/b><\/p>\n
Enzo has been agitating to leave Chelsea for several months now, making clear that his preference is a move to Real Madrid.<\/p>\n
He has publicly gone on the record to say that Madrid is his favoured destination because it is most like Buenos Aires, with his public flirtation with Los Blancos resulting in the Blues handing him an unofficial two-game ban for his behaviour.<\/p>\n
Enzo\u2019s agent, Javier Pastore, has confirmed that the midfielder will \u2018look at possibilities\u2019 of leaving Chelsea this summer.<\/p>\n
The Blues have put a \u20ac140m tag on the World Cup runner-up.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s going to happen?<\/b><\/p>\n
Real Madrid seem to have decisively distanced themselves from Enzo, whose celebration after scoring Argentina\u2019s equaliser against England in the World Cup semi-final did little to endear him to a fanbase already frustrated<\/b> by his antics.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the options seem to be closing for the Argentina star, who seems primed to stay with Chelsea.<\/p>\n
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\u00a9 IMAGO – Enzo Fernandez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n