The summer transfer window is edging closer and teams are looking to conduct their business as soon as they can. Clubs will need to get creative to boost their squads within their financial limitations. But which one player should the best teams in Europe be looking to land if they can?
*All transfer values are estimated with assistance from Transfermarkt.
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AC MILAN
Youri Tielemans, 26, central midfielder, Leicester City
Transfer value: Free
Though Milan exceeded all expectations by winning the Scudetto last season, this season has been a domestic disappointment (despite reaching the Champions League semifinals.) Their decline is due to many factors, but the lack of goal threat and options in midfield are two.
As financial limitations restrict the club in the transfer market, picking up Tielemans on a free would be a coup. While his goals may have dried up amid Leicester’s relegation battle this season, the Belgium international’s well-timed runs and spectacular long-range shots mark him out as a fine player.
ARSENAL
Moises Caicedo, 21, DM, Brighton
Transfer value: €80m
After a season of significant progress, Arsenal don’t need wholesale changes this summer. Revisiting the dossier from January’s failed £70m move would be wise, though signing the 21-year-old Ecuador international is more a question of how than why, especially after he signed a new contract following his attempts to leave six months ago.
After only a season-and-a-half in the Premier League, Caicedo has proven he possesses the technical, tactical, physical, and mental qualities to improve any of the top clubs in England. And although Arsenal’s surprise title challenge this season has been built on the solidity of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and, more recently, Jorginho in the deeper midfield roles, Caicedo’s mobility, consistency and ball-winning skills would add another dimension. The catch, however, is purely financial: are Arsenal in a position to meet Brighton’s demands?
BARCELONA
Lionel Messi, 35, FW, Paris Saint-Germain
Transfer value: Free
The return of the Argentina superstar to Camp Nou would be welcomed by lovers of football worldwide … unless you’re a Real Madrid or Al Hilal fan that is.
In spite of Barcelona running away with the LaLiga title this season, the sporting reasons need not be unpicked in great detail; neither should there be any concerns about the 35-year-old being able to make a decisive impact at the top level of the European game for another few seasons. Making the move financially viable is a hurdle, given the club’s ongoing struggles with debt and salary cap restrictions placed on them by the league, but president Joan Laporta wants to make it happen.
Messi’s homecoming would provide a massive PR boost and possibly reopen huge global income streams for the Spanish champions, while the prospect of Messi leading the club to another Champions League trophy is also tantalising.
BAYERN MUNICH
Randal Kolo Muani, 26, CF/FW, Eintracht Frankfurt
Transfer value: €100m
Bayern have managed pretty well without finding a direct replacement for striker Robert Lewandowski this season. With no defined centre-forward, the goals have come from elsewhere in the team (89 from 32 games, which is slightly behind last season’s goal-scoring average) and, even in a turbulent year, the Bundesliga title is theirs to lose with two games left.
The club are still on the lookout for a goal scorer this summer and Kolo Muani fits the bill perfectly after netting 22 goals in 43 games for Frankfurt this season. A possible transfer fee of over €100m might appear steep, given the fact the France international joined on a fee last summer, but he could be worth it. With speed, a fine hold-up game, physical presence and expert finishing, signing the 26-year-old is undoubtedly appealing to new manager Thomas Tuchel.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Carney Chukwuemeka, 19, CM, Chelsea
Transfer value: €25m
As 19-year-old midfielder Jude Bellingham looks set to leave Dortmund for a €150m move to Real Madrid or Man City this summer, the German club will be scouring Europe for his replacement. And although Chukwuemeka signed for Chelsea from Aston Villa for €18m last summer, he could be an intriguing prospect considering Dortmund’s knack of turning young English talents into superstars.
Chukwuemeka is among the most promising No. 8s in Europe and his performances for England at last summer’s U19 European championship gathered plenty of attention. He shares some traits with Bellingham — namely his athleticism, well-rounded overall game, clever timing of attacking runs and ability to carry the ball in midfield — and has only made one Premier League start at Chelsea so he could be available.
