It's nearly over!
On Sunday, we'll discover which country wins the 2022 World Cup after four weeks of pulsating action. The tournament has been hugely controversial due to Qatar's poor human rights record, yet the quality of the football has been as good as ever.
We've witnessed huge shocks - such as Saudi Arabia's win against Argentina and Germany's early exit - as well as vintage displays from Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. It's also hard to forget about that quarter-final between Argentina and the Netherlands.
Dreams are made at World Cups, but so are careers. At each tournament, there are always a handful of players - unbeknown to many - who produce some outstanding performances to put themselves in the show window. The names El Hadji Diouf, Marcos Rojo, Asamoah Gyan, James Rodriguez and Keylor Navas spring to mind.
And the 2022 World Cup is no different. We've witnessed several standout talents in Qatar and it's likely some of them will be on the move in the near future. Here, Mirror Football names an XI of players who've picked up admirers during the ongoing tournament.
We only have one favour to ask - please forgive our formation!
Goalkeeper - Dominik Livakovic
Which player do you think will bag themselves a big-money transfer after the World Cup? Let us know in the comments below!
The 27-year-old has spent his entire career playing in Croatia - winning five consecutive league titles at Dinamo Zagreb - but has now entered the consciousness of several top sporting directors after saving four penalties in the shootout wins against Japan and Brazil.
Leeds and Leicester have both been linked with Livakovic, who has 18 months remaining on his existing deal. The Premier League is his most likely destination after Bayern Munich chief Executive Oliver Khan ruled the German giants out of the running for his signature.
Bayern will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for the rest of the season after he broke his leg during a skiing trip. "It's terrible because he is one of the best in the world," Khan told RG. "A very serious loss for the team."
Khan added: "We have to solve the problem of a replacement... Livakovic is worthy of praise. Such a goalkeeper must play at a top club. I have no doubt that this will be the case in the new season, but at the same time, he is not within the scope of our interests."
Defender - Diogo Dalot
The Portugal international was nowhere near Manchester United's starting XI two years ago but is now one of their prized assets. Dalot displaced Aaron Wan-Bissaka as their first-choice right-back during last season and has started 13 league games this term.
The 23-year-old wasn't expected to start at World Cup but managed to leapfrog Manchester City ace Joao Cancelo - one of the best right-backs in Europe - towards the back end of the campaign. He even picked up an assist in the 2-1 defeat to South Korea.
Man Utd want to keep Dalot, but he has just six months remaining on his contract. They can extend his deal by a further 12 months, although that's only a temporary solution. A transfer would become realistic if United fail to agree a new contract by the summer.
If that happens, several top European clubs will be on red alert. One possible destination is Barcelona, as manager Xavi has often played left-back Alejandro Balde at right-back this season. Dalot will have plenty of options on the table during the coming months.
Defender - Josko Gvardiol
Premier League fans were stunned when Chelsea reportedly offered around £77million to sign Gvardiol from RB Leipzig in August. The Croatia international was relatively unheard of in the UK and it seemed a huge amount on money for a 20-year-old defender.
Yet Chelsea's interest now seems obvious after a string of impressive performances from Gvardiol in Qatar. As reported by Foot Mercato, the likes of Manchester City, Man Utd, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are expected to join the Blues in the bidding war.
Gvardiol is also set to command a transfer fee in excess of the £80m Man Utd paid for Harry Maguire when he arrived from Leicester in August 2020 - which would make the Croatian the most expensive defender in history.
Defender - Jurrien Timber
Man Utd were reportedly interested in signing Jurrien Timber from Ajax last summer and it's clear why. The Netherlands defender, 21, was superb for his country in Qatar during their run to the quarter-finals, as he kept Bayern talent Matthijs de Ligt out of the side.
Timber is unlikely to be on the move in January but has admitted he is interested in a transfer next summer. He told Algemeen Dagblad in September: "Deciding whether to stay or go was the most difficult choice in my career.
"I have only been playing in the first team for a year and a half. Having to make such a choice at 21 is not easy. Money did not play a role for a second. Whether agreements have been made to make a transfer next year? That’s the intention, yes, but you never know how it will go. But that has been discussed well together with Ajax."
Midfielder - Sofyan Amrabat
The Morocco international, 26, played a vital role in their surprise run to the semi-finals and will surely be courted by a number of Premier League clubs. He has just 18 months remaining on his existing deal, but Fiorentina will not want to lose him in January.
According to The Athletic, Fiorentina will allow Amrabat to leave the Serie A club when he enters the final year of his existing deal. It's believed they want to recuperate the €20m (£17.2m) they paid Club Brugge for his services in the summer of 2020 at the very least.
Amrabat is not expected to join a club in the lower reaches of the Premier League. Top European sides are set to closely monitor the midfielder's progress for Fiorentina during the second half of the season to see if he continues his superb World Cup form.
Midfielder - Enzo Fernandez
The 21-year-old has established himself as one of Argentina's best midfielders in Qatar and has made Europe's biggest clubs take notice. Fortunately for Benfica, they snapped him up from River Plate six months ago in a relatively modest €18m (£15.5m) deal.
Benfica are now expected to cash in on Fernandez. It's claimed Liverpool have reached an agreement with the player's representatives to sign him next summer, but he won't come cheap. Benfica have reportedly inserted a €120m (£103m) release clause in his deal.
It's unclear whether Liverpool are willing to pay such an amount for Fernandez, although they must be considered as the favourites for his signature. The Reds have a good relationship with Benfica after signing Darwin Nunez from the Portuguese giants in June.
Midfielder - Jude Bellingham
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder, 19, was expected to light up the World Cup and didn't disappoint. He started all five of England's games at the tournament and was arguably Gareth Southgate's best player, which has only enhanced his superb reputation.
Bellingham has previously admitted he's in no rush to leave Dortmund, yet a number of top clubs will try to sign him next summer. Liverpool and Real Madrid are believed to be leading the race for his signature, with Man City and Chelsea in hot pursuit.
The former Birmingham City youngster is tipped to cost in excess of £130m because he still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his existing deal.
Speaking in September, Bellingham said: "The club [Dortmund] have done loads for me and made me feel very welcome since I first came and gave me the opportunities to develop even further. To look past that and into the future would be disrespectful."
Attacker - Joao Felix
The 23-year-old was billed as European football's next big thing when he joined Atletico Madrid in a £113m deal in July 2019. Yet the former Benfica star has scored just 24 goals and provided 14 assists in LaLiga since becoming the fifth most expensive player in history.
The World Cup was Felix's chance to remind everyone of his ability - a chance he took. The Portuguese talent scored once and provided two assists in his four tournament outings. That return will leave many clubs wondering whether he's worth a cheeky bid.
A sensational move to Aston Villa was rumoured, although that now seems unlikely. It's believed Arsenal are keen on signing Felix to in January to provide cover for the injured Gabriel Jesus - with PSG, Chelsea and Man Utd also in the frame. Watch this space!
Attacker - Mohammed Kudus
The Ghana international, 22, hit the headlines after scoring a brace in the 3-2 victory against Ghana, yet he's been in great form for Ajax all season - scoring 10 goals and providing two assists. As such, it's no surprise that several clubs are keeping tabs on him.
Kudus, who was close to a move to Everton last summer, is full of confidence. He believes he can become one of the world's best players and so does Ghana's World Cup coach Otto Addo. "He's a great player, although he's very young and has a lot to learn," he said.
"He’s fast, good in one-on-ones, intelligent but he has to work more defensively. I’ve known him for the past six or seven years since he arrived at Nordsjaelland in their ‘Right to dream’ academy. On and off the pitch, he’s an extraordinary character."
Kudus has two-and-a-half years remaining on his Ajax contract and is valued at €15m (£12.9m) by Transfermarkt. He would be a bargain at that price.
Attacker - Goncalo Ramos
The 21-year-old forward scored a superb hat-trick in Portugal's 6-1 win against Switzerland. He was picked at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo, and the talented Benfica star could be on the verge of succeeding the veteran at the top of European football.
Ramos has been in blistering form this season - scoring nine goals and providing three assists in 11 league games. His exploits ahead of the World Cup left the likes of Wolves, Brighton and Newcastle interested in signing him - but bigger teams will be after him now.
Ramos reportedly has a buyout clause of €120m (£103m) and Benfica have no interest in selling him in January - unless that clause is triggered. "We have the sole objective of having a winning season, no player will leave – unless it is due to the clause – which at this moment is fundamental for the squad," said the club's president Rui Costa.
"What I can promise our supporters is what I did at the beginning of the year. This is a sporting project, not a financial one. Fortunately, we are not experiencing financial problems and we have no need to sell players."
Attacker - Cody Gakpo
The Netherlands international, 23, will not be short of potential suitors after scoring three goals at the World Cup. He's also enjoyed a tremendous season for PSV Eindhoven after scoring 14 goals and providing 16 assists in all competitions before the tournament.
Man Utd are the favourites to sign Gakpo after Ronaldo's exit last month. PSV's director of football Marcel Brands has admitted: "You have to be realistic. When you talk about Cody Gakpo and the price tag, how many clubs are able to buy a player of that calibre?
"You are talking about maybe 10 or 12 clubs in Europe. You have to need a player in that position and be able and willing to spend the money in January, which is normally less hectic than the summer. We have yet to see if it all happens. He has no clause or anything.
"And no amounts have been agreed on either. The agreements that were made were there before my time. Amounts have not been discussed, but if the right club comes that Cody would like to go... It must be a record transfer for PSV, anyway."
PSV's club-record sale was Hirving Lozano's €40m (£34.4m) move to Napoli in August 2019. If Gakpo is available for a similar amount, he'll be snapped up in January.
