Premier League clubs continue to spend record-breaking sums on new talent each transfer window, with England’s elite having exceeded the £100m mark for individuals in recent years.
Just four footballers have cost clubs in excess of £100m in the Premier League, and Chelsea are responsible for two of those after breaking the British record to land Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in consecutive transfer windows.
With transfer fees appearing on a never-ending upward curve, we’ve looked at those already in English football that could become the Premier League’s next £100m+ players.
Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle)
Newcastle are said to have internally accepted that a big name could depart this summer, as the Magpies look to remain compliant with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.
Eddie Howe’s side announced a loss of £73.4 million for the 2022/23 financial year and the exit of a star name could ease financial concerns at St James’ Park.
Bruno Guimaraes appears the obvious candidate should a sale be required with leading clubs across Europe having taken note of his performances since arriving on Tyneside. The Brazilian has evolved into one of the most complete central midfielders in the Premier League, combining tenacious defensive work with creativity to become a huge fans’ favourite in the North East.
Wor Bruno! ????
Winning the game in style thanks to @brunoog97! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/3B0gVLBLLb
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 6, 2024
Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been linked with the 26-year-old, who has drawn more fouls than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season. Guimaraes also ranks third in the Premier League for successful take-ons, fourth for goal-creating actions and sixth for progressive passes. That all-action influence could see a reported release clause of around £100m activated in the summer.
Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
Another Newcastle name who is sure to attract admiring glances from rival clubs.
The Magpies broke their transfer record by signing Isak from Real Sociedad for a fee of £63m in 2022, and some suggested the Spanish side had got good value for a forward who had scored 44 goals in 132 appearances.
Isak, however, has proven he has more levels to go and the Swedish striker’s star is on the rise. After an encouraging first season at St James’ Park, the 24-year-old has hit 17 goals in 21 league starts in 2023/24. That return matches Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the highest-scoring Premier League campaign from a Swedish footballer, while Isak has the best minutes-per-goal ratio in the division.
Alexander Isak ???? Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Two Swedish strikers who have greatly impressed in the Premier League ???? pic.twitter.com/Yn0xyOnxJh
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 13, 2024
His blend of attributes is unique among his Premier League peers, combining fleet footwork, balance and pace with a clinical touch inside the penalty box. Fitness issues are perhaps the only concern for Isak, who when fit has looked the real deal. He has scored on average every 122 minutes in the league since arriving in English football and is in contention for the Golden Boot this season.
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa)
Douglas Luiz has been a driving force in Aston Villa’s push for Champions League qualification, with the Brazilian’s box-to-box influence a crucial part of Unai Emery’s side.
After failing to make the grade at Manchester City, Luiz has found a home at Villa Park and established himself as a regular with the national side.
Several of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ are believed to have enquired into the availability of the 25-year-old, though Villa are determined to agree a new contract with the midfielder and reportedly prepared to make Luiz the club’s highest earner.
The cross from Douglas Luiz ????
The header from Ollie Watkins ⚽️@AVFCOfficial || #UECL pic.twitter.com/pTKzfEwuQ8— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) November 14, 2023
After Arsenal and Manchester City were linked in January, Villa slapped an asking price of £100m on Luiz. It will take a huge bid to convince the Champions League-chasing Villans to cash in this summer.
Evan Ferguson (Brighton)
Evan Ferguson’s second season as a Brighton regular has not gone quite to plan with the teenager fading after a bright start to the campaign.
The 19-year-old striker has gone 22 games without a goal for club and country, last finding the net at the back end of November. It’s hardly the sort of form that could lead to a £100m transfer, but Ferguson remains a talent with a huge ceiling.
Enjoy Evan’s hat-trick in all its glory! ⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/sqaTqlmlAd
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 2, 2023
He equalled Wayne Rooney’s record for the most Premier League goals in a calendar year by a teenager in 2023 (11) and in September became just the fourth player, following Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Chris Bart-Williams, to score a Premier League hat-trick aged 18 or under.
The Irishman is undergoing a tough spell right now but has all the attributes needed to become an elite number nine in time.
Micky van de Ven (Tottenham)
Micky van de Ven has been an instant hit since arriving at Tottenham last summer. Signed from Wolfsburg for a fee in the region of £34m, he has quickly proven to be a snip. The Dutch defender is a physical phenomenon with his electric pace and 6ft 4in frame, capable of eating up the ground on opposition forwards in seconds.
Earlier in the campaign, he broke Kyle Walker’s record as the fastest player recorded in the Premier League, reaching 23.23mph with one sprint. Comfortable in possession to match his athletic attributes, Van de Ven ranks in the 98th percentile of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion (94.1%) and successful take-ons (0.85) per 90 minutes.
Micky Van De Ven (37.38 km/h) has recorded the fastest speed among Premier League players this season ⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/sBAtb65cRI
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 6, 2024
Given how tactics have evolved with top teams holding higher defensive lines than ever before, Van de Ven’s unique gifts could see clubs break the bank for his signing.
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