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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

5 EFL players who could seal Premier League transfers before opening day of season

The English Football League has already proved to be a ripe hunting ground for Premier League sides this summer.

We've seen the likes of Keane Lewis-Potter swap Hull for Brentford, Djed Spence move from Middlesbrough to Tottenham and Nottingham Forest have made a double swoop on Huddersfield by signing Lewis O'Brien and Harry Toffolo.

Whilst the new EFL season begins next Friday (July 29), the transfer window remains open until September 1, meaning there is plenty of time for top-flight clubs to potentially pounce for second-tier talents.

Here, Mirror Football looks at five players who could follow in the footsteps of those mentioned above.

Ben Brereton Diaz

It's no wonder a glut of Premier League sides are sniffing around the Blackburn striker this summer. He enjoyed his most prolific season to date last term, scoring 22 league goals fresh from his exploits with Chile in the Copa America.

A focal presence up front, Brereton Diaz was a key player in Rovers' charge for the play-offs last term. And while that charge ultimately fell short, he won't be short of admirers. Southampton and Leeds are just two of the teams linked with a swoop and with one year left on his deal, Rovers may well have to cash in this summer.

Marcus Tavernier

Winger Tavernier caught the eye last season for Middlesbrough, scoring five goals and creating as many assists. That kind of form, coupled with his electric pace, has meant Premier League suitors are plentiful. Newly-promoted duo Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest were this week linked with a £10million swoop.

Tavernier's boss Chris Wilder said of the speculation: "I don’t want to lose arguably one of our top players. He's a major player for us. I don’t know what is around the corner but he’s a good player. But obviously I want him to be a good player in a red shirt."

Which three sides will win promotion to the Premier League next year? Let us know in the comments!

Joel Piroe

Only two players scored more goals in the Championship last term than Swansea's Piroe and both of them ended up in the top flight (Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic and Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke).

The fact he notched 22 times in his first taste of English football's frantic second tier shows just how well acclimatised the Dutchman has already become to his new environment.

Swansea paid a fee reported to be in the region of £1m last summer when they recruited him from PSV Eindhoven, but his value has increased vastly, so much so that reports suggest the Welsh side value him at close to £20m.

Maxwell Cornet

Burnley's relegation from the Premier League didn't see many players come out of it with much credit, but Cornet was definitely one who did. The winger chipped in with nine goals in his maiden term in England, although ultimately it wasn't enough to keep the Clarets up.

Nevertheless, there is interest from the top flight with Everton said to be readying another bid, having seen a loan invitation knocked back. Burnley will certainly want a strong return on the reported £12m they forked out to sign the Ivory Coast international from Lyon a year ago.

Ismaila Sarr

When Watford were last in the Championship, Sarr chipped in with an impressive 13 goals and four assists as the Hornets sealed automatic promotion. Despite being unable to replicate those numbers in the Premier League last season, Sarr still retains plenty of admirers.

West Ham were recently linked with a swoop, whilst there is said to be plenty of interest from abroad. With his Vicarage Road contract still having plenty of time to run, a big-money offer will be needed to entice them to sell.

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