Transfer window predictions: Five players in demand this summer
The 2023 summer transfer window has seen a steady trickle of deals, including a move for arguably the world’s greatest player Lionel Messi, but is still to burst into life.
Perhaps Ilkay Gundogan’s move from Manchester City to Barcelona or the continuous flow of Chelsea players heading to Saudi Arabia will open the floodgates.
Either way, let us check in on how some of the summer’s biggest transfer sagas are progressing
PSG left in a pickle by Mbappe
It is shaping up to be a bad summer for Paris Saint-Germain, who could lose not one but two of his star strikers.
With Messi out the door, Kylian Mbappe is threatening to follow him, revealing he will not extend his current deal beyond the end of next season.
Rather than lose a World Cup winner and their record scorer for nothing, PSG must now contemplate selling the 24-year-old, with Real Madrid 8/15 favourites with LiveScore Bet and thought to be at the front of the queue.
Real are eager to bolster their strikeforce after losing Karim Benzema but PSG are not throwing in the towel just yet with talks continuing over an extension.
A deal of this magnitude will be extremely difficult to complete and it is 6/4 Mbappe stays in Paris this summer.
Bayern test Spurs’ Kane resolve
Real Madrid were initially thought to be lining up Harry Kane as Benzema’s replacement but their interest in Tottenham’s record goalscorer appears to have cooled with Los Blancos out to 9/1 with LiveScore Bet to sign him.
Instead, it is another European superpower that now appear hot on Kane, with the Athletic reporting Bayern Munich have lodged a €70million bid.
Kane is reportedly open to the prospect of moving to the Bundesliga but with the offer some way short of Tottenham’s £85m asking price, the England sharpshooter remains 1/1 to stay at Spurs.
Gunners made to sweat on Rice
Arsenal remain the 7/10 favourites to sign West Ham skipper Declan Rice this summer, despite Manchester City taking an interest in the midfielder.
City are in need of some midfield reinforcements with Gundogan gone and Bernardo Silva’s future the subject of continued speculation. The European champions are understood to have made enquiries and are 1/1 to sign Rice.
Whether City’s interest is real or just being used to drive up Rice’s asking price, only those close to the two clubs will know. Either way, Arsenal have reportedly had two offers rejected as West Ham seek a deal worth £100million and the Gunners run the risk of losing their top summer target if they wait around too long
Spurs favourites to land Maddison
James Maddison appears at the centre of a tug-of-war between Tottenham and Newcastle, with the north Londoners currently leading the race to land the Leicester midfielder.
Spurs are favourites, despite their £40m valuation of Maddison being £20m short of Leicester’s asking price.
Newcastle’s interest is thought to have cooled as they close in on a deal for AC Milan playmaker Sandro Tonali and there may no longer be a need for Maddison at St James’ Park.
Napoli set eye-watering Osimhen price tag
Anyone who is anyone has been mentioned in connection with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer but whoever wants him will need deep pockets as the Italian champions reportedly want a deal worth in the region of £150m for the Nigerian.
Real Madrid have baulked at that price tag with PSG now the 7/2 favourites with LiveScore Bet to sign him, while Chelsea have supposedly contacted Napoli to make enquiries and are 6/1.
Manchester United hold a long-term interest in Osimhen but perhaps have bigger needs elsewhere.
With Osimhen still having two years left to run on his contract, Napoli seem likely to hang on to their topscorer.
