We have already seen one huge deal for a young star completed this summer, with Jude Bellingham joining Real Madrid, in what is expected to be the start of a trend for the transfer window.
No deal may prove as expensive as the 19-year-old’s, with Borussia Dortmund pocketing an initial £88.5million and could receive up to £115m, but Arsenal appear to be doing their best to splash the cash.
Plenty of other starlets have set their sights on making headline moves to Europe’s top clubs this summer.
Here, Standard Sport provides an update on six of the biggest names.
Moises Caicedo
The Ecuadorian midfielder was the subject of two bids from Arsenal in January, the last worth £70m, but Brighton rejected both. Arsenal retain interest in Caicedo, though it is diminishing due to Brighton’s eyewatering £100m valuation of the player.
Chelsea are leading the race for the 21-year-old, but they wish to sell more players in this mass summer exodus before tabling that sort of money.
Romeo Lavia
Arsenal are the frontrunners to sign Southampton’s defensive midfielder, who is already a full Belgium international at the age of 19.
Manchester City have a buy-back clause worth £40m in his Southampton contract, but it is only active in 2024 and while still at Saints. Manchester United and Chelsea are monitoring Lavia, but they have other priorities and Arsenal are ahead.
Nicolas Jackson
Gambian-born Senegal international Jackson has emerged as a key target up front for Chelsea.
Nine goals in his last eight goals of the season for Villareal alerted Europe’s leading clubs to Jackson, and Chelsea are expecting to wrap up a deal for Jackson for his £30m release clause rather than the £70m valuation slapped on his head by Villareal CEO Roig Negueroles.
Declan Rice
Rice has been vague when asked whether he will leave West Ham this summer, but he is fully expected to. The Hammers want £100m for the experienced England international, and Arsenal have already seen two bids of around £90m rejected.
Manchester City and Chelsea are also tracking Rice, but the midfielder has set his sights on moving to the Emirates.
Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund, born in 2003, has scored at a mediocre rate for Atalanta since signing for the Italian side last summer, yet six goals in his first six Denmark games have alerted top clubs to the 20-year-old.
He is reportedly keen to move to Manchester United, who are interested, but Atalanta now want £60m rather than the £51m price they first touted.
Goncalo Ramos
The Portugal striker shot to fame at the World Cup in Qatar when he started instead of Cristiano Ronaldo against Switzerland in the round of 16, scoring a wonderful hat-trick and winning man of the match.
Ramos, 22, has a £103m release clause, but Benfica have said he can go for around £68m. United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are keen.
