Top Players, Targets Remaining in the 2020 Summer Transfer Window by Position
The summer transfer window is extending into the thick of autumn, with the delays to the footballing calendar brought on by the coronavirus pandemic making Oct. 5 the temporary new deadline day across Europe's top leagues.
With the pandemic also wreaking havoc on many clubs' finances, it's changed the calculus of the marketplace–though not for all. Chelsea has spent nearly $300 million on players this summer, putting that Eden Hazard money to good use, and it might not be done. Man City remains a heavy player in chase of that elusive Champions League glory. Elsewhere, clubs like Barcelona and Juventus are retooling, and other clubs are still looking to cash in on players whose values may never be higher.
While a number of big names have already changed clubs ahead of the new season, plenty more may follow suit in the next few weeks, the most notable ones coming from the groupings below. These players are not necessarily all going to be on the move, but they are reputably reported to be in the shop window and are among the top targets for the remaining clubs that do have buying power at a time when many are reeling in the spending.
(This will be updated as players complete moves up until the transfer deadline.)
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GOALKEEPERS
Jan Oblak, Atlético Madrid
Gianluigi Donnarumma, AC Milan
Edouard Mendy, Rennes
Andre Onana, Ajax
Nick Pope, Burnley
This is effectively a list of Chelsea targets, with the Blues the most likely to spend on a new goalkeeper amid the continued struggles of Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world's most expensive goalkeeper signing ever.
It's more likely than not that Oblak and Donnarumma will remain with their clubs, though it seems like not a window goes by without their names being the two hottest in the goalkeeper target pool. Oblak's contract is through 2023, and it would take a record-setting offer (for a goalkeeper) to trigger his $142 million release clause and pry the Slovenian from Atleti. Donnarumma's case is different, though, as his contract runs through the end of this season. Milan either needs to renew his deal as soon as possible to prevent him from being able to sign a pre-contract elsewhere in the winter or cash in on the 21-year-old Italy international.
Mendy is tipped to go be the one to eventually land at Chelsea, where he would be expected to supplant Kepa. Frank Lampard has maintained public support of his current No. 1, but it's no secret that he's been a liability. Mendy's reported fee, in the $26 million range, would also make him the most cost-effective option of this group.
[UPDATE 9/22: Mendy is taking his medical with Chelsea and is all set to become the Blues' latest transfer purchase.]
FULLBACKS
Sergio Reguilón, Real Madrid
Sergiño Dest, Ajax
Nicolás Tagliafico, Ajax
Alex Telles, Porto
Mattia De Sciglio, Juventus
Héctor Bellerín, Arsenal
Emerson Palmieri, Chelsea
Sead Kolasinac, Arsenal
Reguilón has been at the center of talks featuring Tottenham and Manchester United, with Spurs reportedly set to become the winner after agreeing to two clauses–ones that would effectively allow Real Madrid the right to buy the 23-year-old back–that Man United would not. Telles is reportedly a backup option for United.
[UPDATE 9/19: Reguilon has signed with Tottenham, inking a five-year contract to give Spurs a dynamic presence on the left. He'll pair with right back Matt Doherty to completely change Tottenham's approach in attacking from the back.]
Dest, the U.S. international, has been linked with the likes of PSG, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. PSG signing right back Alessandro Florenzi will likely rule the French champions out of the mix, though.
[UPDATE 9/17: Dest is said to be in the center of a tug of war between Barcelona and Bayern Munich, with Bayern looking to act quickly, as Barcelona would need to offload Nelson Semedo before making an offer to Ajax.]
Reports have cooled regarding his current teammate, Tagliafico, after Chelsea and Leicester found other fullback options.
Bellerín and Kolasinac don't appear to have prominent places under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal and have been touted to leave, while the same can be said for Palmieri under Lampard at Chelsea.
De Sciglio, meanwhile, appears to be staying in Italy but moving to Roma.
CENTER BACKS
Kalidou Koulibaly, Napoli
José Maria Giménez, Atlético Madrid
David Alaba, Bayern Munich
Eric García, Manchester City
Diego Carlos, Sevilla
Diego Godín, Inter Milan
Man City is the biggest buyer in this market, with Koulibaly and Giménez the top options. They'll be expensive, and Napoli and Atlético Madrid are well aware of Man City's desperation to tighten it back line despite spending nearly half a billion (yes, with a B) dollars in the last three years on defenders. The recruitment strategy hasn't worked out, though, leaving City in search of its own Virgil van Dijk—a central defender who can totally change the game.
With García reported to be going back to Barcelona, Carlos has also emerged as a central defender target for City, one that would be more cost-effective—though not as impactful—than the aforementioned options.
Alaba and Bayern have been locked in an ugly contract dispute that has gone public, and the versatile Austrian could wind up on the move if the two parties can't mend fences and agree to terms. His current deal expires at the end of the 2020–21 season.
Godín, the Uruguayan veteran, is reportedly on the move after one year at Inter, though an expected move to Cagliari has run into complication, according to Italian reports.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
Thiago Alcantara, Bayern Munich
Houssem Aouar, Lyon
Dele Alli, Tottenham
Thomas Partey, Atletico Madrid
Julian Draxler, PSG
Declan Rice, West Ham
Tiémoué Bakayoko, Chelsea
Arturo Vidal, Barcelona
Thiago has been linked to Liverpool and Manchester United after helping Bayern to the treble last season.
[UPDATE 9/18: Thiago is headed to Liverpool, signing a four-year deal after completing his transfer from Bayern Munich.]
Lyon is adamant that no offers have been made for Aouar, but Arsenal and Man City have been connected to moves for the French star, who stood out in Lyon's run to the Champions League semifinals.
José Mourinho has been plenty critical of Alli, with conflicting reports regarding whether Real Madrid would even be interested in taking him on at this point as part of a potential Gareth Bale deal.
Partey is another player reportedly on Arsenal's wish list, while it's reportedly a priority for PSG to sell Draxler, who isn't a regular starter despite the financial commitment the club has made to him.
Chelsea and Milan have reportedly been in talks over a permanent arrangement for Bakayoko, while Rice remains on Chelsea's wish list but may come at too high a price point after what the Blues have already shelled out this summer.
Vidal has been repeatedly linked to a move to Inter Milan, and that transfer is said to be imminent.
[UPDATE 9/22: Vidal has indeed signed with Inter, reuniting with his former manager, Antonio Conte, and his international teammate, Alexis Sanchez.]
WINGERS
Gareth Bale, Real Madrid
Jadon Sancho, Borussia Dortmund
Cengiz Ünder, Roma
Milot Rashica, Werder Bremen
Douglas Costa, Juventus
Bale is being lined up for a sensational return to Tottenham, with his lack of a future at Real Madrid never being more clear.
[UPDATE 9/19: Bale has returned to Tottenham, rejoining his former club on a one-year loan. He's not expected to return to action until after the October international break, due to an injury.]
Sancho has been the apple of Manchester United's eye. Despite Dortmund's insistence that the 20-year-old English star is not going anywhere, reports suggest that Dortmund would sell if United meets its $142 million asking price. Costa and Bale had been touted as alternatives for the club.
Rashica is reportedly on the verge of a move to Aston Villa, while Under is reportedly closing in on a Premier League move to Leicester City.
[UPDATE 9/20: Under has secured a season-long loan to Leicester, with an option to buy.]
FORWARDS
Memphis Depay, Lyon
Luis Suarez, Barcelona
Alexander Sorloth, Crystal Palace
Olivier Giroud, Chelsea
Arkadiusz Milik, Napoli
Edin Dzeko, Roma
Diego Costa, Atlético Madrid
Bas Dost, Eintracht Frankfurt
This is a veteran-laden crew, and there's a domino effect involving most of them. Lyon and Barcelona have reportedly agreed to a $35.5 million fee for Memphis, but Barcelona needs to clear room on its books to be able to afford it, according to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas. Suarez would be the one to make way, with Juventus said to be the most interested suitor, but complications have arisen in that potential move.
If Suarez doesn't go, Juventus has reportedly lined up potential replacements in Dzeko and Giroud. Dzeko would become available if Roma is able to secure his replacement, who, according to reports, is Milik.
[UPDATE 9/22: Despite passing an Italian exam to continue the process of securing an Italian passport, Suarez's proposed move to Juventus is off, according to Fabrizio Romano. Instead of Suarez and Dzeko, Juventus has brought back Alvaro Morata on loan from Atletico Madrid, with an option to buy. With an opening in the Spanish capital, Suarez is expected to leave Barcelona for Atletico Madrid.]
Elsewhere, Sorloth, who has teamed with Erling Haaland to form a lethal 1–2 scoring punch for Norway, is in the second year of a loan from Palace to Trabzonspor in Turkey and has reported interest from Tottenham and RB Leipzig. His loan would need to be canceled before a transfer could be completed, adding an extra layer of complications.
[UPDATE 9/22: Sorloth has gone to Leipzig, with the German club reaching a deal with both Palace and Trabzonspor to secure the striker on a five-year deal.]
Dost, who scored 76 league goals in a three-year span with Sporting CP from 2016–19, has also emerged as a reported Tottenham target, while Costa's second stint at Atlético Madrid could be coming to an end, with Turkish and Italian clubs reportedly interested in the player, whose contract runs through the end of this season.
