With just three weeks left in the summer transfer window, this is when the excitement truly begins. It’s the time when last-minute deals, panic buys, and the domino effect of other transfers can turn the football world upside down in the blink of an eye.
Right now, many players are striving to make the leap to the top, and GIVEMESPORT has analyzed the situations surrounding six Premier League stars who could make significant moves to traditional top-six clubs. This comes after Dominic Solanke completed his transfer from Bournemouth to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
One such player is Ivan Toney, who, despite receiving a hero’s welcome upon his return to Brentford training, wasn’t expecting to stay with the Bees this season. Toney has long been waiting for an opportunity to join a bigger club. Tottenham Hotspur had been considering him as a more budget-friendly alternative to Solanke. However, now that Solanke’s deal is finalized, any lingering interest from Spurs in Toney could be put to rest.
Tottenham would have been willing to shell out around £40 million for Toney, who was part of England’s squad at Euro 2024 in Germany. Concerns about Toney’s attitude have been raised by some clubs, but Tottenham was not deterred by these issues before opting for Solanke instead.
Eberechi Eze is another player whose name has been linked with some of the biggest clubs in England. He has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave Crystal Palace for £60 million up front, with an additional £8 million in potential add-ons. This hefty price tag gives Palace hope that they might retain Eze beyond this summer.
Both Chelsea and Tottenham have been monitoring Eze, but Manchester City could also be in the mix, especially if they offload Julian Alvarez. The reigning Premier League champions have admired Eze for a long time, and they considered signing him last year before he renewed his contract with Palace.
For Crystal Palace fans, the prospect of losing Eze is worrisome, but there’s another player whose future might be under threat: Adam Wharton. Manchester City is reportedly keeping an eye on the young midfielder as they contemplate their midfield options for the next season and beyond. With the weight of responsibility on Rodri to perform consistently, City is eager to add depth to their midfield.
More departures from Manchester City are expected this summer, and if Kalvin Phillips moves to a new club, City might pursue Wharton more aggressively. Although Palace is keen to keep Wharton, they’re well aware of his rising stock in the Premier League.
Another intriguing situation involves Anthony Gordon, who was linked with a move to Liverpool. A transfer might seem unlikely at the moment because there’s no clear spot for Gordon in Liverpool’s squad, and Newcastle United is determined to keep him. However, the potential swap deal involving Joe Gomez could bring this possibility back to life. Some sources suggest that Liverpool might revisit their interest in Gordon before the transfer window closes.
Gordon, a lifelong Liverpool fan, has been content at Newcastle, but a move to his boyhood club might be one of the few things that could sway him. The key to any potential deal could be finding space for him, especially if a player like Luis Diaz, who has attracted interest from other clubs, were to leave Anfield.
Meanwhile, Kyle Walker-Peters has been linked with a move away from Southampton for some time. Despite the lack of progress so far, it doesn’t mean he’ll necessarily stay at St Mary’s. There’s a strong belief that Walker-Peters could still leave, and with Emerson Royal’s departure from Tottenham to AC Milan imminent, Spurs’ interest in Walker-Peters could be reignited.
Walker-Peters’ history at Tottenham, his ability to fulfill squad quotas, and his versatility make him an ideal candidate for Ange Postecoglou to consider. However, it remains to be seen how Walker-Peters would feel about a backup role at Tottenham, as he’s at a point in his career where he’ll want to be more than just a squad player.
Lastly, Lucas Paqueta’s situation at West Ham United seems to have cooled off. While he was expected to join Manchester City this summer, the move now appears unlikely. The ongoing investigation into betting breaches has cast a shadow over Paqueta’s future, but no decision has been made yet. Manchester City no longer seems interested in pursuing him, and it’s likely that Paqueta will remain with West Ham for the upcoming season.
