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With the 2018-19 season all but over, attention would turn to the summer transfer window as clubs make attempts to strengthen their squads ahead of their assault next season.
In the early stages of the window, some clubs have been more active than others, with Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund unarguably being the pacesetters, having announced the arrival of three players for the combined sum of €72 million, while Chelsea and Barcelona have announced pre-concluded deals of Christian Pulisic and Frenkie De Jong respectively.
However, with a little over three months to go until the official shutting of the transfer window, it can be expected that a number of other deals would still be completed.
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Big clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich among others have been linked with a host of marquee names as they seek to augment their squads in light of their underperformance in 2018-2019 season, and in this piece, we shall be taking a look at six big-money moves which could take place this summer.
#6 Philippe Coutinho to Manchester United / PSG / Liverpool
Philippe Coutinho was made the most expensive signing in Barcelona’s illustrious history when the Catalans paid the sum of €142 million to Liverpool for his signature in January 2018.
The Brazilian international had been a long-term target of the Blaugrana and there was widespread celebration at the Camp Nou when he arrived as it was believed that he would be the long-term successor to Andres Iniesta.
Coutinho largely impressed in his first half season at the club, scoring 10 goals and creating eight assists from 22 matches in all competitions to help Barcelona to a domestic double and it was expected that he would only get better once he had the complement of a pre-season with his teammates.
However, that proved not to be the case as the 26-year-old struggled horribly for form, scoring just 11 goals and creating five assists from 53 matches in all competitions this season.
The former Liverpool man saw himself thrust out of the first team as he lost his starting position to Ousmane Dembele, while he rarely completed the full 90 minutes, doing so on just eight occasions in 34 appearances in La Liga and twice in 12 Champions League matches.
He was the target of numerous boos from the Camp Nou crowd as fans of Barcelona got fed up with his constant underperformance and non-contribution to the Blaugrana cause.
Coutinho looked nothing like the confident player he was at Liverpool and reports emanated that he is seeking a transfer away from the club.
On his day, the Barceona No. 14 is still among the best attacking midfielders in the world and as such would have no shortage of suitors, with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool among the clubs said to be interested.
He would however not come cheap as Barcelona would be eager to recoup a tangible size of the huge amount expended to sign him.
#5 Kalidou Koulibaly to Manchester United
Prior to Jose Mourinho’s acrimonious departure as Manchester United manager, the Portuguese had highlighted the centre of defense a gray area which needed addressing.
A list of five players was drawn up to bolster the defense, but rather shockingly, the club failed to land any of its defensive targets.
One name which has featured extensively at the top of Manchester United’s defensive wishlist has been that of Kalidou Kouibaly and rightly so, as the Senegalese international has proven to be a world beater in the art of defending.
Since his arrival at Napoli in 2014, the 6 ft 5’ towering center-back has proved his value, growing from strength to strength and showcasing his abilities as one of the finest defenders in the world.
The 27-year-old made it into the Serie A team of the Year for three consecutive seasons from 2015-16 to 201-18 and was named the Best Defender in the Italian league for the 2018-19 season.
His large and intimidating physique means he is a physical presence in the heart of defense, while he also possesses considerable technique despite his size and height and poses an aerial threat in the opposition box.
Manchester United reportedly had a staggering bid of £95 million turned down, as Napoli president Angel de Laurenitis does not consider his prized gem for sale, but the Italian outfit's stance could be tested with an improved offer in the coming weeks.
#4 Paul Pogba to Real Madrid
When Manchester United paid Juventus the sum of £89.4 million for the signature of prodigal son Paul Pogba, they were making a world-record purchase which was expected to kick-start their renaissance under Mourinho.
The 26-year-old had impressed significantly for four seasons in the Serie A and it was believed that he would bring that level of performance with him to Old Trafford.
However, things did not exactly pan out to plan for both parties as the French international was accused of lacking the right attitude and consistency needed to thrive as a Manchester United player.
He was the subject of criticism from both fans and ex-players, while he also had a very public falling out with Mourinho which reached a head during the course of the just concluded Premier League season.
Things got so hostile between the pair that a feasible working condition was not possible such that one of them had to leave and as it turned out, that happened to be Mourinho, with the Portuguese being dismissed unceremoniously last December after a string of disastrous results.
Former Old Trafford darling Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed in his stead and one of the first things the Norwegian promised was to build the team around Pogba, having coached the World Cup winner at youth level.
Solskjaer supposedly had the Midas touch as in the first few months of his tenure; Manchester United were reborn, with Pogba being the driving force behind the renaissance.
The midfielder was unplayable, banging in goals and creating assists for fun, and helping United launch a top four assault which looked unlikely a few months prior.
However, the honeymoon period soon ended and Manchester United once more found themselves spiraling downwards without control, with Pogba one of the players to take stick for his shambolic performances.
A large scale clearout is expected at Old Trafford this summer, with Pogba one of the players anticipated to depart and with his super agent Jorge Mendez pulling the strings behind. It would not come as a surprise if the hugely divisive figure ends up at the Santiago Bernabeu next season.
#3 Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United / Barcelona / Juventus
For the average 19-year-old, the world is just past adulthood, battling with studies, hoping to land a dream job upon graduation, is only known by a handful of friends and family and is nowhere to being world famous.
However, Matthijs de Ligt is not your average 19-year-old. While most of his professional colleagues of the same age are still turning out for youth teams, happy to make an appearance or two for the senior side, the Ajax academy trained centre-back is already living the dream.
Having been named the 2018 winner of the prestigious Golden Boy award, De Ligt has only grown from strength to strength, captaining his boyhood Dutch club to a domestic double and capturing hearts from all over the world over with his domineering displays at the heart of defense.
During the course of Ajax’s fairytale run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, he came up against some of the most iconic forwards in the world, but he more than held his own and came out with his head standing high and his stock improved.
He is already an established international with the Netherlands national team and has won admiration for his leadership ability and composure on the ball.
It therefore, comes as no surprise to see his name linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs as a move to a bigger stage beckons for the highly-rated youngster.
Barcelona, Manchester United, Juventus among other are among the clubs being linked with De Ligt and while he might not come cheap, you can be sure that he would be worth every penny spent to get him.
#2 Gareth Bale to Manchester United / Tottenham
Having been twice named the PFA Player of the Year in the Premier League with Tottenham, Real Madrid made Gareth Bale the then-most expensive player in history, paying Spurs the sum of £86 million for his services.
Despite winning four Champions League titles among a host of other trophies at the Bernabeu, and putting in some wonderful displays over his six-year spell, Bale has not quite been able to win the notoriously demanding Real Madrid fans over as his performances were seen as too inconsistent for a player of his ability and the amount expended to get and keep him.
The recently concluded season was unarguably the worst of his Real Madrid spell as the Welshman was one of the players most responsible for Real Madrid’s slump, failing to step up to the plate in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and found himself the target of boos on numerous occasions by fans.
Zinedine Zidane has all but stated that he has no plans for Bale in the future, with his actions and comments suggesting that the 29-year-old’s interests would be best served elsewhere.
A return to the Premier League has been mooted for Bale as Manchester United are said to be interested, while a return to Tottenham could also be on the cards.
#1 Eden Hazard to Real Madrid
This has perhaps been the most frequent transfer headline in the last few years as Eden Hazard has found himself linked with a move to Real Madrid in virtually every transfer window.
The Bernabeu has long had a history of being linked to the very best players in the world, and there have not been many better than Hazard over the years.
However, one stumbling block to his Real Madrid transfer had always been the presence of Ronaldo as the Portuguese icon occupies the same role as the Belgian and there was always going to be space for one of them, with Ronaldo justifiably the pick of the pair.
The departure of Ronaldo last summer paved the way for Hazard’s arrival, but in rather shocking scenes, the club opted against making a concrete bid, preferring not to replace Ronaldo and that is a move which backfired spectacularly and the club are said to be confident of securing his services this summer.
Hazard is just coming off the best year of his career, having inspired Belgium to a third-placed finish at the 2018 World Cup, making it into the FIFPRO XI as well as posting his best goals involvement rate in the Premier League, hence is in prime form to head to Real Madrid.
The 28-year-old has stated in the past that it would be a ‘dream’ to move to Real Madrid and with time running out, he might not get many more opportunities to complete his dream move.
