The World Cup is nearing its end, which means the transfer rumour mill will soon kick into top gear. David Amoyal breaks down and rates some potential moves to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Karim Benzema to Napoli: 10 percent
Many of new coach Carlo Ancelotti's former players have been linked to Napoli, and while it's true that there are concerns over Arkadiusz Milik's ability to stay fit and how Dries Mertens would fit in Napoli's new formation, landing Benzema will be rather difficult because of the enormous cost. In addition, Real Madrid might not be willing to lose multiple members of their front line with Cristiano Ronaldo having joined Juventus.
Yerry Mina to Everton: 45 percent
Despite an impressive World Cup with Colombia, Mina could struggle to get playing time at Barcelona after his return from Russia. With the Blaugrana closing in on signing another defender (Clement Lenglet from Sevilla), many clubs have been sniffing out the bargain. Everton especially seem keen on Mina, and Barca's desire to loan him to a club that can guarantee him a good amount of games could be the Toffees' trump card.
Alex Sandro to Paris Saint-Germain: 35 percent
Alex Sandro has two years left on his contract with Juventus, so if he doesn't sign an extension, this would be the ideal time to get a significant return. With the Serie A champions completing the deal for Ronaldo, they could need to sell at least one significant player to help compensate for the enormous cost. It certainly helps that Alex Sandro is linked to two of the wealthiest clubs in Europe, in PSG and Manchester United, and that Juventus have an established relationship with them after completing deals for Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi.
Dries Mertens to Roma: 10 percent
Mertens would fit in well next to Edin Dzeko, and while it's true that he was probably more valuable to Maurizio Sarri at Napoli than he will be to Ancelotti, the odds that we see him playing for another Serie A team are rather slim. Mertens' exit clause expired at the end of June, and the fact that it was valid only in Italy shows how determined Napoli were to ensure that he wouldn't play for a rival team.
Steven N'Zonzi to Arsenal: 30 percent
Arsenal continue to work on bolstering their midfield even after announcing the Lucas Torreira signing, and their next target is a player new manager Unai Emery is familiar with. After being linked with Ever Banega, who showed himself reluctant to leave Sevilla again, the Gunners have turned their interest to N'Zonzi. The powerhouse midfielder, who played in the Premier League in the past, is currently on international duty with France, so if a move is to happen, it will be after the World Cup.
Jean Michael Seri to Fulham: 90 percent
After being linked to numerous top clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Roma and Napoli, Seri is set to join the newly promoted London side -- a clear sign of the Premier League's strength in the transfer market. Fulham are said to have reached an agreement with Nice for €20 million, with the deal expected to be made official in the coming days.
Sime Vrsaljko to Inter: 50 percent
Vrsaljko, the former Sassuolo right-back, could be headed back to Italy. Inter have a strong relationship with his agent and are trying to convince Atletico Madrid to agree a loan with an option to buy, since that would allow them to stay in line with their financial parameters. To make the deal more appealing, Inter are willing to offer a substantial amount for the loan, the same blueprint that allowed them to acquire Matteo Politano. It remains to be seen if Atletico will agree since they would like to sell the player outright.
Matteo Darmian to Napoli: 30 percent
Darmian, the former Torino wing-back, will almost certainly return to Serie A this summer, but with which team? He's still a target for both Inter and Juventus, but now Napoli have joined the race, since Faouzi Ghoulam's recovery from his second knee injury might take longer than expected. While Ancelotti's club has also been linked to Stefan Lainer and Santiago Arias, they aren't as comfortable playing on the left side of the pitch as Darmian, making the Manchester United defender a more pressing need.
Daley Blind to Ajax: 50 percent
After falling down in Jose Mourinho's squad hierarchy, Blind could try to relaunch his career in an environment he knows well. Ajax would in fact welcome Blind back with open arms, and they are trying "everything they can" to re-sign him, in the words of manager Erik ten Hag. Manchester United would be open to selling Blind, especially since he has just one year left on his contract, but only if they can get a good deal. Having already spent a sum that could go up to €20 million for the club record-breaking acquisition of Dusan Tadic, Ajax could in the end opt for cheaper options such as Boca Juniors' defender Lisandro Magallan.
Caglar Soyuncu to Atletico Madrid: 40 percent
The Colchoneros are monitoring Soyuncu as a possible backup but the asking price set by Freiburg -- around €25 million -- could be deemed too high, especially for a player who would be behind Diego Godin, Stefan Savic and Lucas Hernandez in Diego Simeone's pecking order. But should one of them leave (Godin has a €20 million release clause in his contract, and Savic is eyed by English and Italian clubs), Atletico could step up their interest and submit an official bid for the centre-back.