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Five superstars and the Premier League clubs lusting over their signature

Transfer talks often gets fans into a frenzy over prospective new additions, even more so when the rumour mill revolves around some of the most exciting names in world football.

We may well only be in February but that has not prevented speculation already turning towards the summer and a host of marquee names are currently being linked with mega-money moves to the Premier League‘s biggest clubs.

We’ve decided to pick out some of the big names currently being circulated amongst fanbases of the Premier League’s leading sides, here are five superstars and the clubs lusting over their signatures:

Manchester United – Jadon Sancho

Jadon Sancho’s potential move to the Premier League dominated the sporting headlines throughout much of last summer, Manchester United having made the Borussia Dortmund winger their number one transfer target.

Sancho has exploded onto the world scene since swapping Manchester City for the Bundesliga, evolving into one of the Bundesliga’s most productive players and one of the game’s most exciting young talents.

Dortmund are well aware of the talent and potential of a player who provided 33 goal involvements in just 25 league starts in 2019/20 and demanded a British transfer-record fee for his services last summer – a figure the Red Devils were unwilling to match amid the financial impact of a global pandemic.

Sancho remains the club’s focus, however, and would solve what has been a problem position on the right, his mix of fleet-footed showmanship and devastating end product having had fans salivating over the prospect of the 20-year-old in a red shirt.

Sancho himself is understood to be keen on a return to the Premier League and Dortmund could be prepared to do business this summer with the club’s financial position having weakened.

The England international would be a brilliant addition to the Premier League and could form an exciting all-English forward line alongside Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, a front three which could potentially remain in tandem for several seasons.

After seeing their hopes of signing Sancho fall through last season the Red Devils’ support will be demanding more decisive action from an often maligned board.

Chelsea – Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland announced himself as a superstar of world football following his phenomenal goalscoring exploits last season, netting 28 goals in just 22 appearances for Red Bull Sazlburg – including a hat-trick on his Champions League debut – to earn a winter window move to Borussia Dortmund.

That move was seen as a sensible step-up for the Norwegian youngster and it is one he has taken in his stride in stunning style, scoring 38 goals in just 40 appearances across all competitions to spark speculation of another big move.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all been linked with a move for the 20-year-old, though it is Chelsea who have moved to the forefront of speculation in recent months as Thomas Tuchel seeks reinforcements.

Timo Werner’s summer signing from RB Leipzig has not worked out as planned so far and Haaland is viewed as a player who can help take the west London side to the next level.

Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, previously spent a decade in English football and the forward has spoken positively about moving to the Premier League, with Chelsea set to invest in their squad once more this summer.

The prospect of Haaland in the Premier League is an exciting one and Chelsea fans will no doubt be clamouring for their side to make a move, Dortmund perhaps willing to cash in on the player this summer.

Haaland’s contract possesses a well-documented release clause of €75m that will become active in 2022 and the German side could command a greater price if they are prepared to do earlier business.

Manchester City – Lionel Messi

Another saga which dominated much of last summer’s sporting headlines, Lionel Messi’s desire to leave Barcelona caused shockwaves throughout the footballing world.

Barcelona’s turbulent fortunes both on and off the pitch have persuaded the six-time Ballon d’Or winner the final years of his career are best served away from Catalonia, and with Messi’s contract having entered its final months the Spanish side are powerless to prevent him walking away.

The potential availability of arguably the world’s greatest ever footballer has sent fans of Europe’s superpowers into a frenzy, with the possibility of a reunion between Messi and Pep Guardiola causing excitement amongst those of a Manchester City persuasion.

The two enjoyed the most successful periods of their respective careers in tandem at Barcelona, Guardiola guiding the Catalan giants to 14 trophies in four seasons with Messi winning the Ballon d’Or in each campaign.

Guardiola is understood to have spoken to the 33-year-old about his project at the Etihad and Messi could prove the final piece of the jigsaw for a City side yet to conquer Europe despite domestic dominance.

There remains plenty of obstacles between City and the signing of the summer, however, most notably Paris Saint-Germain and Neymar who has notably fluttered his eyelashes in the direction of his former Barcelona teammate.

Liverpool – Kylian Mbappe

Premier League sides are arguably in a better position than ever before to lure world football’s biggest talents, with the concerning financial situations at Real Madrid and Barcelona giving England’s elite a boost even in the midst of a global pandemic.

Kylian Mbappe has been regarded as world football’s brightest young talent since bursting onto the scene with Monaco, later signing for Paris Saint-Germain in an €180m deal and enjoying a period of huge success in the French capital.

The 22-year-old has scored 67 goals in just 69 league appearances for the Parisians over the past two-and-a-half seasons, finishing as Ligue 1’s leading scorer in each of the past two campaigns and leading the standings in 2020/21.

Crucially, Mbappe will have just a year remaining on his contract and the forward has remained non-committal on the prospect of re-signing with PSG.

Mbappe’s long-held desire to play for Real Madrid is well-documented but the Spanish giants appear far from a financial position to strike a deal, the forward’s fee set to be in excess of £150m even given his contract situation.

That could open the door for a Premier League side and Liverpool have been the team linked strongest with a move for the World Cup winner, whilst Mbappe has openly praised the Reds for their success in recent seasons.

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Liverpool’s title defence has faltered this season and a front three which has brought much success are now all approaching 30, raising the possibility of adding fresh blood to their ranks.

Finances would dictate that one of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino or Sadio Mane would have to make way, however, if Mbappe was to arrive in what would represent a British transfer-record deal.

Arsenal – Jack Grealish

Perhaps the least global name on this feature but a player who has proven himself as one of the Premier League’s finest footballers over the past two seasons, Jack Grealish has starred in an Aston Villa side pushing towards continental qualification.

Grealish helped his boyhood side narrowly avoid relegation last season before improving during 2020/21, his performances having seen him break into the England side and attract huge interest from elsewhere.

The 25-year-old has scored six goals and provided 10 assists so far this season with no English midfielder having been directly involved in more goals, whilst he leads the Premier League rankings for key passes, progressive carries, shot-creating actions and fouls drawn.

That creative quality has seen Arsenal’s fanbase regularly talk up Grealish as a potential addition at the Emirates, with Mikel Arteta’s side having been lacking invention and imagination for much of the campaign.

Arsenal have fallen someway adrift of the Premier League’s best sides and it would take signings of Grealish’s calibre to bridge the gap, the Aston Villa captain a player who can lead the Gunners forward.

Grealish, however, may feel his talent belongs on a bigger stage than Arsenal can currently provide and it would take a huge bid to prise him from Villa Park with the Midlands outfit believed to value the influential club captain at around £100m.

Read – The longest winning runs in English domestic football: From the 19th century to the present day

Read Also – Five of the best ever Premier League assists by goalkeepers

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