Transfers We Expect to Happen in the Summer

Bayern Munich centre-back David Alaba looks a certainty to sign for Spanish giants Real Madrid this summer. Fabrizio Romano tweeted that Los Blancos were his priority and that a verbal agreement and pre-contract was almost ready, with the Austria international set to be on €12m a year.

With Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos set to leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, following a 16-year spell in the Spanish capital, space has opened up in Real’s defence, and with Alaba being available for free in the current financial climate, it would save the La Liga side a significant amount of money in terms of transfer fee, to invest in other areas of their squad.

Other clubs are rumoured to be interested in Alaba, such as Barcelona and Chelsea, however, the 28-year-old looks set to join Zinedine Zidane’s side.

Georginio Wijnaldum also looks set to leave on a free transfer this summer. The Netherlands international has chosen to leave Liverpool at the end of the season to join Barcelona on a pre-contract and looks as though he could be the first signing of Joan Laporta’s second spell as president of the Catalan club.

With Barcelona looking as though they are struggling financially the signing of Wijnaldum could be key to their plans for next season, as they wouldn’t have to pay a hefty transfer fee, and with Ronald Koeman already having a good relationship with the 30-year-old it looks as though he is set to join the Nou Camp club.

Memphis Depay is the second Dutchman on this list, as the Olympique Lyon striker’s contract is set to run out in the summer, which will see him leave the club on a free transfer.

It is no secret that Barcelona tried to sign him for £35m last summer but didn’t have the financial means to be able to sign the former Manchester United man, as they were rumoured to relying upon the likes of Ousmane Dembele departing the club which meant that the deal never came into fruition.

According to the likes of Marca and The Times, the 27-year-old is set to go to the Nou Camp, and alike Wijnaldum, the Lyon man has a great relationship with his former Netherlands manager Koeman which is what could effectively seal the deal.

Real midfielder Martin Odegaard looks set to join Arsenal on a permanent transfer at the end of the current season. The 22-year-old Norwegian has shown promising signs since joining Mikel Arteta’s side in the January transfer window and looks to have filled the void of Ozil.

The former Real Sociedad loanee doesn’t look to be in Zinedine Zidane’s plans next season and could be available for around £40m which considering his potential and the potential years of service Arsenal could be getting, this could be a bargain.

United midfielder Jesse Lingard looks as though he is on borrowed time at Old Trafford, as the England international has just one year left on his current deal. This could effectively see him leave on a cut-price deal if he isn’t in the Red Devil’s plans for next season.

Lingard has been a valuable asset to the Hammers since moving to the London Stadium in January, scoring five and assisting three goals in seven Premier League matches for David Moyes’ side. The 28-year-old is arguably in the form of his career and has enhanced West Ham’s chances of qualifying for European football next season due to his form.

Last summer, Manchester United were persistently linked to Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, as it is common knowledge that the Red Devils still don’t have a senior right-winger at the club.

United opted to go for a youthful route by signing the likes of Amad Diallo from Atalanta, who has impressed in limited game time, scoring against AC Milan at Old Trafford, as well as signing Facundo Pellistri from Penarol in the summer transfer window, who has since spent the second half of the season out on loan at La Liga outfit Deportivo Alaves.

If United are to make a marquee signing like the Athletic have linked, then it will most likely be the 21-year-old that they opt for due to his teammate Erling Haaland being touted at £180m just 12 months before his contract states that he can leave for €75m.

Dele Alli looks set to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this window, with the former MK Dons man’s destination being unknown. The 24-year-old has had very limited game time in the Premier League under Jose Mourinho this season, playing just 232 minutes in England’s top flight.

Alli was linked with a move to PSG in January, of which he was said to have been desperate to go, due to the possibility of linking up with former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino. He could also be forced out of the North London club in the summer as they will be looking to free up funds in order to splash the cash in the upcoming transfer window.

Max Aarons has been linked with moves to both Everton and United in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Canaries are firmly in the driving seat in the race for promotion this season and are rumoured to be demanding around £40m for the England Under 21 international.

With Seamus Coleman getting on in terms of age, as the Irishman is now 32-years-old as well as his price tag, a move to Everton is more likely as United will have higher priorities than a backup right back, as Diogo Dalot is set to return to Old Trafford this summer.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Liverpool are working on a deal for RB Leipzig’s French centre-back Ibrahima Konate, the 21-year-old has a £40m buyout clause which will more than likely see him leave the Bundesliga outfit this summer.

United had been rumoured to be in the race for the Frenchman, however, it looks as though their interest has faded and now their bitter rivals Liverpool are going in for the Leipzig man as a long-term partner next to Virgil Van Dijk.

United’s alternative to Konate looks like it could well be Villarreal and Spain centre-back Pau Torres. The Old Trafford club are rumoured to be in a battle with Real Madrid to sign the 24-year-old.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to have set a new centre-back as a priority position for this summer’s transfer window, whilst Real are struggling to keep the likes of Ramos and Raphael Varane, as the Spaniard’s contract is set to expire in the summer, whereas the French World Cup winner’s deal has just over 12 months remaining on it.

Manchester City and Sergio Aguero are set to go separate ways this summer, following the recent announcement that the Argentinian will be leaving the Citizens, having spent just short of ten years at the club, since signing from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011.

Aguero has been linked with a move to Barcelona, as well as a move back to boyhood club Independiente who he played for between 2003 and 2006, scoring 23 goals in 54 games.

A move to Barcelona could potentially hinge on a number of factors, such as Lionel Messi staying at the Nou Camp, as well as Depay possibly opting to go elsewhere.

As stated above, Messi could potentially leave the Nou Camp this summer, as the 33-year-old’s contract is set to expire this summer.

Messi has only ever played for Barcelona in his senior career and looks to have grown tired of the incompetence of Barcelona’s hierarchy in recent years, as they have seemingly abandoned their youth development system, as well as persistently signing aged players who are past their peak.

City would more than likely be the obvious choice for Messi, as he would be reunited with Pep Guardiola, however, he has also publicly stated his desire to play alongside former teammate Neymar once again.