With the opening of the summer transfer windows, fans from Europe’s biggest league, the English Premier League, are all expecting their favorite teams to go all out in signing some of the biggest and most talented names in the games, no matter the cost to increase their teams’ chances of winning trophies and also give UK bookmakers a hard time deciding the winning and losing odds of teams in the league.
With the summer transfer windows expected to close in August, many players will be looking to join or exit their teams in search of regular playing time or higher wages. Teams like Manchester City and Liverpool have already hit the ground running by signing players like Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez, respectively.
According to Forbes Magazine, football is the highest paid sport in the world, with some football players earning as high as €120 Million annually.
Here are some names that might be seen in or out of the English Premier League next season.
Top 5 Premier League Transfers Expected Before the Close of the 2022 Summer Transfer Window
This set of players will either be leaving or joining a Premier League team after the summer transfer window.
1. Frenkie de Jong
Current Club: Barcelona
Linked Club: Manchester United
Price tag: €70 Million
Following a very poor performance from Manchester United in the 2021/22 premier league season, the club has been working to make major changes in its structure, especially in recruitment.
Since the appointment of Erik ten Hag as the new head coach, Manchester United has been pressing to sign Frenkie de Jong, who has been a priority for the new coach. Ten Hag, who has worked very closely with Frenkie back in Ajax, believes the Barcelona number 21 will be key in returning the club to its glory days.
Neither has reached an agreement as Barcelona is looking to sell the 25 years old for around €75 million, and Manchester United is not willing to go above €60 Million. But judging from the financial situation of the Catalonian giant and the Red Devil’s last season’s performance, there is a 90% chance Frenkie de Jong will play in the Premier League next season.
2. Gabriel Jesus
Current Club: Manchester City
Linked Clubs: Arsenal, Tottenham, and Chelsea
Price tag: €52 Million
With the addition of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez into the attack of Pep Guardiola’s title-winning team, the chances of Gabriel Jesus having regular playing time next season is very low, which is why the Brazilian is looking to leave in search of more playing time.
After six trophy-laden years with Guardiola, Jesus is set to leave this summer and might be joining one of the other big clubs in the league. With Arsenal, Tottenham, and Chelsea eyeing the 25 years old, it is likely he will be joining the Gunners due to the lesser attacking competition at the north London club.
As of today, no agreement has been reached with any club, but according to popular football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal is in the advanced stages of signing the Brazilian number 9.
3. Jesse Lingard
Current Club: Manchester United
Linked Clubs: Newcastle United, West Ham United, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus
Price tag: Free
A few weeks ago, Manchester United announced that their 29 years old academy graduate, Jesse Lingard, will be leaving the club in the summer as a free agent when his contract expires. The English man whose successful loan spell at West Ham caught the eyes of many top managers in Europe will be looking to find a team willing to pay his huge wages of £200,000 per week.
If the English international is willing to lower his wages, Newcastle United would be the favorite to sign him. The Magpies manager, Eddie Howe, has publicly admitted that he wants to see Lingard in the iconic Newcastle white and black jersey.
4. Richarlison
Current Club: Everton
Linked Clubs: Arsenal, Tottenham, and Barcelona
Price tag: €48 Million
Richarlison will be seeking a move away from Everton this summer. The Brazilian, who was instrumental in his team surviving the relegation battle, has noted that he would like to play at a bigger stage after scoring 10 goals in 29 appearances for the club last season.
With Champions League teams like Tottenham and Barcelona fighting for the signature of the 25 years old, Richarlison would be looking to have a taste of champions league football for the first time in his career by securing a move this summer.
5. Christian Eriksen
Current Club: Brentford
Linked Clubs: Manchester United, Tottenham, and Brentford
Price tag: €14 Million
Both Manchester United and Tottenham have been linked as potential destinations for Christian Eriksen, who returned to football after suffering from a cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark at the Euros.
The Denmark international who might be making a return to Spurs is also facing strong persuasion from Manchester United to join the club. In recent times, Tottenham, who have been favorites to sign the Dane, have been distancing themselves from all talks linking him back to the club for an unknown reason.
Conclusion
With over €1.1 billion spent in the 2021 summer transfer window, most clubs, especially Manchester United, will be facing a lot of pressure from their fans to spend big as they plan to end their 6 years trophy drought next season.
With goal machine; Haaland already in the league, clubs will be looking for players who can match his scoring abilities before the end of the transfer window. The next few days will be crucial.
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