- 8 hours ago
Transfer Window OPEN: Who the biggest teams in Europe will buy
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 4 Jun 2025 10:19 CDT
- 12 min read
Analysis
The transfer window is now OPEN for business and teams have already done a host of business.
But what’s still to come? We had a look at what the biggest clubs in Europe’s top five leagues might undertake across the next three months.
READ MORE: All Confirmed Transfers for summer 2024/25
PREMIER LEAGUE
LIVERPOOL
Prime Target: Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen, ETV €116.4m)
Having already moved to sign Jeremie Frimpong to replace the departed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Premier League champions Liverpool are looking to again raid Bayer Leverkusen. The Reds are firmly focused on Florian Wirtz, fully aware that a club record fee will be required to sign the 22-year-old.
In fact, if recent reports are accurate, a Premier League record fee of €150million could well be needed to pry the versatile attacking midfielder away from the 2023/24 Bundesliga champions. Arne Slot is looking to add creativity to his side following the loss of Alexander-Arnold and Wirtz has it in spades, racking up 23 assists across his last two campaigns.
The Reds will likely supplement his arrival with the addition of left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. That might not be the last new face through the door at Anfield this summer either.
MAN UTD
Prime Target: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ETV €17.5m)
No European football for United means the market in which United operate usually necessitates overpaying for players - and it’s happened already.
Matheus Cunha is already in for a huge sum and given United’s precarious FFP situation, some others may need to depart before other signings can be made.
Cashing in on Alejandro Garnacho - now out-of-favour with Ruben Amorim - looks almost a certainty, while Bruno Fernandes continues to flirt with Saudi Arabia and should he be sold, it will open up the market a little more for Amorim to build a squad for his 3-4-3 system. Like Newcastle, Bryan Mbuemo is a favoured target and will likely have to choose between Champions League and Old Trafford.
MAN CITY
Prime Target: Tijjani Reijnders (Milan, ETV €55.6m)
Man City did a record amount of business in January, spending €175m on new recruits, and they will likely go again this summer with Pep Guardiola looking for a total overhaul of his squad which underachieved this season.
Reijnders has emerged as a top European talent, one that Milan will be desperate to retain, but one that is a logical fit for a new City midfield, especially with Kevin De Bruyne departing and Rodri returning from long-term injury.
Elsewhere a left-back is definitely on their list, and Wolves’ Rayan Ait Nouri - linked with Liverpool in the past - is on their radar and will likely cost in the region of €40m.
NEWCASTLE
Prime Target: Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace, ETV €54m)
After being extremely wary of FFP regulations, Newcastle have been careful in the market after an initial splurge when Saudi-backed PIF arrived. But returning to the Champions League has meant they are ready to take the handbrake off and really strengthen this team.
CL qualification was crucial to keeping Alexander Isak and they will undoubtedly look to build the team around him. Marc Guehi was a long-time target last summer that didn’t materialise, but could well come back around this time given Guehi is out of contract next summer and Palace may look to cash in this time.
Elsewhere, Bryan Mbuemo is a legitimate target to give more wide options to Eddie Howe - it’d be no surprise to see them land both, and more besides.
CHELSEA
Prime Target: Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund, ETV €68.3m)
Enzo Maresca’s first season at Chelsea ended with both Champions League qualification and Europa Conference League glory, and summer preparations are already well underway at Stamford Bridge.
Liam Delap will arrive from Ipswich Town for €35m as the club’s new striker and the Blues have now turned their attention to signing a new right-footed left winger, with Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Nico Williams all under consideration.
The latter would be the perfect signing for Chelsea, although a deal seems somewhat improbable as things stand and Maresca’s side are now in advanced talks to sign Gittens.
ARSENAL
Prime Target: Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP, ETV €75m)
Arsenal endured their fifth consecutive trophyless season in 2024-25 and Mikel Arteta is under immense pressure to deliver major silverware next year.
The Gunners are expected to be extremely active during the summer transfer window and landing a new centre forward has been identified as their most urgent piece of business amid the struggles of both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko are both under consideration by Arsenal, although the former is a far more proven entity and he has scored 97 goals in 102 games since joining Sporting CP from Coventry City in 2023.
TOTTENHAM
Prime Target: Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace, ETV €62.2m)
Tottenham Hotspur may have qualified for the Champions League after their unlikely Europa League victory, but Ange Postecoglou’s future at the club is far from guaranteed and they are in drastic need of reinforcements this summer.
With Heung-min Son a shadow of his former self, Richarlison linked with a departure and Mathys Tel returning to Bayern Munich after an underwhelming loan spell, Spurs must sign a new left winger.
Crystal Palace superstar Eberechi Eze has been sounded out as their top target, although convincing the England international to leave Selhurst Park after their FA Cup triumph may be difficult.
LA LIGA
BARCELONA
Prime Target: Luis Diaz (Liverpool, ETV €71m)
Barcelona’s agonising Champions League loss had little to do with their exciting attack, but it seems that the only position they are being linked to strengthening is the forward line.
Luis Diaz has been a long-term target even with the incredible form of Raphinha and it does seem that Barca want more options on that side, with Rafael Leao from Milan also been linked.
One deal is virtually done, that for goalkeeper Joan Garcia, from Espanyol, who will compete with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen for the gloves next season.
REAL MADRID
Prime Target: Alvaro Carreras (Benfica, ETV €33.3m)
Real Madrid have already been extremely busy, appointing new head coach Xabi Alonso, picking up Trent Alexander-Arnold for free - then paying €10m to get him for the Club World Cup - and signing Dutch defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth for a cool €58m.
But they are unlikely to stop there. Alvaro Carreras from Benfica has been identified as a wide player who would fit Xabi’s system, and could be the next player targeted.
Meanwhile - as always - Real Madrid have been linked with forwards despite their abundance of talent in that position. If any were to arrive, it could be Nico Williams finally making a move, with his €58m release clause with Athletic Bilbao seen as a bargain.
ATLETICO MADRID
Prime Target: Cristian Romero (Tottenham, ETV €60.1m)
Atleti spent big last summer on a range of targets and while they comfortably secured a return to the Champions League, a title challenge nor a decent run in Europe materialised.
It’s somewhat unclear whether the money will be available to go again. Julian Alvarez is of interest to Liverpool and should he leave - for a big fee - it would allow them to spend on a replacement.
Romero from Tottenham is so obviously a Diego Simeone player that it makes logical sense that he would try to acquire him, but Tottenham’s back-door qualification for the Champions League may make a deal very difficult to achieve.
SERIE A
INTER
Prime Target: Ange Bonny (Parma, ETV €24.2m)
Inter Milan’s humiliating 5-0 Champions League final defeat to PSG showed that the Nerazzurri need a lot of new, younger blood this summer to reinvigorate the oldest team in Serie A.
The area where Inter most need work doing is the centre of midfield. Inter have been dominated and outrun in this area consistently this season in the big matches at home and abroad. Hakan Calhanoglu at 31 is not the same player he was, Henrikh Mkhitaryan is 36 now and may retire, while Nicolo Barrella has to run for three players now.
The ideal signing would be Sandro Tonali. It is an improbable deal given he supports and played for Milan, but Inter have the cash after making record profits this season.
MILAN
Prime Target: Samuele Ricci (Torino, ETV €33.8m)
AC Milan need many new signings this summer after one of the most disastrous seasons in their history, as they finished eighth in Serie A and failed to qualify for Europe at all.
The Rossoneri have a new manager in the returning Max Allegri, who divides fans like few other coaches due to his pragmatic style of play.
The most important job for Allegri and new transfer chief Igli Tare is to find a replacement for Tijani Reijnders. The brilliant Dutchman is in advanced talks to join Manchester City in a deal that will be worth well over €70 million.
Samuele Ricci of Torino is exactly the kind of central midfielder Milan need, someone who can protect a defence that was wide open this past season.
JUVENTUS
Prime Target: Victor Osimhen (Napoli, ETV €66.5m)
Juventus endured a horrendous season in 2024-25. Despite a heavy summer of spending, the Bianconeri never challenged for the Scudetto or in Europe and finished the season trophyless.
Manager Thiago Motta was sacked during the season, while transfer chief Cristiano Giuntoli will be axed any day now.
Juventus’ priority in the summer market will be to sign a new number 9. Dusan Vlahovic has failed miserably in the last few years and will be sold with one year left on his contract.
Victor Osimhen or Viktor Gyokeres would represent a guarantee Juventus need from their striker.
NAPOLI
Prime Target: Kevin De Bruyne (Free, ETV €20m)
Napoli go into the summer transfer market on the highest of highs. They won the fourth Scudetto of their history and also have now confirmed Antonio Conte for another season.
Kevin De Bruyne has already agreed to join on a free transfer from Man City, and president Aurelio De Laurentiis has promised Conte a huge transfer kitty of up to €150m.
The main aim this window will be to make the squad deeper as the drop-off from first team to subs bench is massive. Their first priority after De Bruyne is a new left back with Girona star Miguel Gutierrez the top target.
BUNDESLIGA
BAYERN MUNICH
Prime Target: Rafael Leao (Milan, ETV €75m)
After failing to sign Florian Wirtz, Bayern Munich’s bosses will need to make a big splash in the transfer market this summer.
Fans expect them to bring in the world’s biggest and brightest and if this doesn’t happen, they can force them out thanks to Germany’s ownership rules. Bayern’s biggest need is a new winger to operate opposite Michael Olise in support of Harry Kane.
A new right-back has long been a need in Munich, but summer after summer, they sign poorly in the position and an improvement is still required.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Prime Target: Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland, ETV €26.1m)
Jobe Bellingham has been courted by the club who helped make his brother a massive star, but the younger midfielder might want to tread his own path and that could mean Dortmund will have to look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements.
Niko Kovac has been brilliant since taking over in the middle of the season, easing some of the pressure on the club legends working in the backroom.
They will determined to give him the midfielder he wants and needs, as a way of thanks to the experienced coach, but also to ensure they keep themselves in employment next season.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Prime Target: Malick Thiaw (Milan, ETV €24.1m)
No team in Europe will likely have as much of a turnover this summer as Bayer Leverkusen. Xabi Alonso, Jonathan Tah, and Jeremie Frimpong have already been confirmed by their new clubs and Florian Wirtz is set to follow shortly.
The fee from Wirtz will allow the club to reinvest and bring in new players for Erik ten Hag, but like sporting director Simon Rolfes said last summer, Leverkusen are now operating in a more crowded market as they look to sign top players rather than developing under the radar stars.
They will need immediate replacements at centre-back, right-back, as well as in attack, and if Granit Xhaka leaves too, a new midfielder will be required.
LIGUE 1
PSG
Prime Target: Franco Mastantuono (River Plate, ETV €18m)
Champions League winners PSG face the challenge of building upon a near-perfect 2024/25 season. It won’t be easy to improve on the current squad, in which a delicate but perfect balance has been struck. Indeed, changes are likely to be slight.
Talented River Plate midfielder Franco Mastantuono, who turns 18 in August, is one player who may join. Otherwise, the Parc des Princes side will focus on building around the fringes. At least one new centre-back is required while there are persistent rumours of a centre-forward arriving.
Arguably, the key business has already been done by securing sporting director Luis Campos to a new deal.
MARSEILLE
Prime Target: Igor Paixao (Feyenoord, ETV €25.1m)
Marseille are back in the Champions League but they’re not without their issues. Ismael Bennacer is likely to be allowed to leave after his loan spell while the future of Adrien Rabiot, the club’s Player of the Year, has not been resolved. At least one high-quality central midfielder looks necessary.
Even head coach Roberto De Zerbi has been linked with Inter in a deal that could see a good deal of last season’s hard work unravel.
What is clear is that a left winger will also arrive with Luis Henrique heading to the San Siro side. Marcus Rashford has been mentioned as a possible signing, but slightly more realistic targets are Igor Paixao (Feyenoord) and Noa Lang (PSV).
There’s a lot to be resolved at Stade Velodrome in a relatively short period.
