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The ongoing 2020-21 season has been a surreal one in many ways. Owing to the COVID-19 outbreak last year, the previous season ended late, which has had a knock-on effect in this campaign.
With the pandemic wrecking the finances of most top clubs, there were very few big-money moves. However, this summer could see a lot of top players make some high-profile transfers.
On that note, let's have a look at ten such transfers, in no particular order, that could happen this summer. Let's get started.
#10 Jules Kounde to Manchester United
Jules Kounde is regarded as one of the best young centre-backs in the game.
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The 22-year-old, who plies his trade with La Liga outfit Sevilla, has been the subject of interest from many top clubs from around the continent.
Since arriving at the Andalusian club in the summer of 2019, Kounde has scored five times in close to 80 appearances. But his performances at the other end of the pitch have often belied his age.
The young Frenchman could have arrived in the Premier League last summer, but Manchester United and Arsenal were put off by Sevilla's €90 million valuation of the player.
With the reigning Europa League winners reportedly slashing Kounde's asking price by €30 million, Old Trafford could be his most likely destination this summer.
#9 Declan Rice to Manchester United/Chelsea
Declan Rice has long been the subject of interest from Chelsea, with Manchester United also entering the fray in recent times.
The 22-year-old West Ham United player is one of the best young defensive midfielders in the Premier League. He has scored four times in 140 appearances for the London club, but it is in the middle and defensive third of the pitch where Rice has truly impressed.
With the Hammers lowering Rice's asking price from £70 million to £50 million, Manchester United could offer three players for the services of the young Englishman.
With Chelsea's interest in the player having reportedly cooled down, Rice could land up at Manchester United in the summer.
#8 Memphis Depay to Barcelona
Memphis Depay has been a transfer target for Barcelona since last summer. But the move did not happen, as the Blaugrana did not have enough cash to table an offer.
With Barcelona enjoying a revival of sorts under Ronald Koeman, the Blaugrana are looking to sign the player on a free transfer this season, which would also help their finances.
Having seen his younger compatriot play under him with the Dutch national team, Koeman is keen to reunite with the Olympique Lyon forward. However, a move for the player will likely require the approval of new Barcelona president Juan Laporta.
#7 Jadon Sancho to Manchester United
Manchester United could make yet another big-money move this summer - that of Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho.
The young Englishman was heavily linked with a move to the Old Trafford club last summer after a breakthrough campaign with BvB. However, the move didn't materialize, as Manchester United didn't agree with the Bundesliga club's valuation of the player.
With Sancho enduring an indifferent 2020-21 campaign - he scored his first league goal of the season in January - Dortmund could hope to capitalize on one of their prized assets this summer.
BVB CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke recently admitted that the club could let Sancho leave for a cut-price. That means Manchester United could finally have one of their much sought-after targets this summer.
#6 David Alaba to Real Madrid/ Barcelona/ PSG
David Alaba has been a standout performer for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, winning two continental trebles among a plethora of domestic and continental honors with the club.
Still only 28, the Austrian is regarded as one of the finest defenders in the world; he recently transitioned from left-back to centre-back and has performed remarkably well.
But with Alaba unwilling to sign a contract extension with Bayern Munich, he is all set to leave Bavaria as a free agent. Real Madrid, Barcelona and PSG are among the top European clubs reportedly interested in the services of Alaba.
Real Madrid apparently have a verbal agreement with Alaba, but with PSG entering the fray recently with a more 'solid' offer, it remains to be seen where the Austrian international ends up next season.
#5 Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid/ Liverpool
Kylian Mbappe is one of Real Madrid's most sought-after targets as the club look to a big summer after not doing any incoming business in last summer's transfer window.
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has been a long-term admirer of his younger compatriot. But with Mbappe, one of the best attacking players in the world, still having a year on his PSG contract, he won't come cheap.
Recent transfer rumors also seem to suggest that Liverpool are another club, apart from Real Madrid, where Mbappe could end up next summer.
#4 Erling Haaland to Chelsea/ Real Madrid
Ever since his blistering Champions League debut in 2019, Erling Haaland's stature has been on the rise.
The Borussia Dortmund striker is a goal machine, especially in the Champions League, where he recently became the youngest player to score 20 goals.
Haaland has scored almost 50 goals for BvB, doing so at better than a goal per game. Unsurprisingly, a lot of top clubs are interested in the services of the 20-year-old.
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos spoke about Haaland, fuelling speculation about the player's move to Los Blancos in the summer.
"It would never be bad to reinforce Madrid with a 9 like Haaland, who has something that we do not have: speed, hunger, height ... Mbappe has it too, of course, but it would be much easier today to come to terms with Haaland."
Interestingly, Chelsea are also in the fray for the player's services, with the club's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich proclaiming that signing Haaland is his number one target.
It remains to be seen where the young striker will eventually land this summer, as BvB may not be too keen to part ways with their most prized asset.
#3 Romelu Lukaku to Manchester City
Romelu Lukaku is one of the hottest strikers in the game at the moment. Since arriving at Inter Milan in the summer of 2019, the Belgian has plundered 59 goals in 85 games.
With 19 goals this campaign, Lukaku is leading Inter Milan's title charge and only trails Cristiano Ronaldo in the season's goal-scoring charts.
Considering his red-hot form for club and country, Lukaku is being pursued by a number of top clubs across Europe.
However, Manchester City could be his most likely next destination as Pep Guardiola looks for a replacement for Sergio Aguero.
#2 Lionel Messi to Manchester City/ PSG
Lionel Messi is arguably one of the finest players to have graced the beautiful game.
A Barcelona legend, Lionel Messi came close to leaving his 'beloved' club last summer after the Blaugrana endured a first trophyless campaign in more than a decade.
With Barcelona understandably not wanting to lose their best player in history, Messi, who had submitted a formal transfer request, reluctantly stayed put for the season.
Even though the Blaugrana are faring better this campaign, they could yet endure another trophyless season. With Lionel Messi in the last few months of his contract with Barcelona and the player yet to sign a contract extension, there is a possibility that he could leave the club for free in the summer.
Considering the player's mammoth wages, PSG and Manchester City have emerged as his two most likely destinations should Messi depart Camp Nou at the end of the ongoing season.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players ever to have played the game, has plundered 95 goals in only 122 games for Juventus.
However, after his latest Champions League disappointment with the Bianconeri - Juventus lost to Porto on away goals in the Round of 16 - speculation is rife that the player might make a shock return to Real Madrid.
The player responded with a blistering first-half hat-trick in his next game. But with Juventus struggling to keep pace with league leaders Inter Milan - they are a whopping ten points behind the runaway leaders - Ronaldo may not win a major title in a season after quite some time.
With Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane refusing to rule out Ronaldo's return to the club this summer, the player's exit from Juventus at the end of the season may not be an unlikely proposition.
