The 2023 summer transfer window opens on Wednesday June 14 and will close at 11pm on Friday September 1. It is set to be a busy and thrilling one that could see some top transfers take place.
Already, there have been some huge transfers with Jude Bellingham joining Real Madrid from Borrusia Dortmund, Alexis Mac Allister moving to Liverpool from Brighton, Lionel Messi heading to Inter Miami from PSG, and Karim Benzema transferring to Saudi Arabian side, Al-Ittihad, from Real Madrid.
More mouth-watering deals are still on the cards. In this article, FootballOrbit brings you the top 25 transfers that could happen in the 2023 summer transfer window.
1. Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Kylian Mbappe has sensationally informed PSG that he has no intention of activating the clause in his contract that would see him remain at the club beyond next season.
Hence, Mbappe will be available on a free next summer and PSG are now seriously considering cashing out on him this summer to avoid losing him for nothing.
Real Madrid see Kylian Mbappe has the perfect replacement for Karim Benzema at the Santiago Bernabeu.
2. Harry Kane (Tottenham)
Harry Kane has been linked with a move away from Tottenham for several years and still remains at Spurs. But a transfer could actually happen in the ongoing 2023 summer transfer window though.
Kane’s current contract with Tottenham expires next summer, and the striker is not willing to sign a new deal in North London. The club now have to sell him this summer or watch him leave on a free in 2024.
Moreso, the striker wants to stay in England in order to break the Premier League’s all-time goalscoring record, but Spurs do not want to sell him to a Premier League rival.
This makes him an alternative to Mbappe for Real Madrid. Harry Kane will cost a potential buyer more than €100m.
3. Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Several top clubs in Europe want to sign a striker this summer. Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen, is one of the hottest on the market right now after a sensational season where he led Napoli to the Serie A title.
However, Napoli want to keep him as they look to defend the Scudetto, but an astronomical fee will force them to reconsider their stance.
4. Declan Rice (West Ham)
Most top sides want Declan Rice, but his £120m ($149.6m) price tag is proving to be a stumbling block.
West Ham remain adamant on the asking price, with the likes of Man United, Arsenal, Man City and Bayern interested in the midfielder.
Arsenal have already seen a £80 million plus £10m in add-ons offer rejected.
5. Kai Havertz (Chelsea)
Kai Havertz wants to leave Chelsea this summer, which has alerted several top sides.
Real Madrid want the German as a likely replacement for the departed Karim Benzema, and are willing to pay €60m (£52m/$64m) to secure his services.
With Bayern and Arsenal also interested, Chelsea are holding out for about €70m. It remains to be seen whether Havertz will force a transfer out of Stamford Bridge.
6. Bernardo Silva (Man City)
For years, Bernardo Silva has been a reliable performer for Pep Guardiola’s trophy-winning juggernaut. After helping City win the treble last season, the Portuguese midfielder is being linked with a transfer to PSG.
PSG reportedly want to sign Bernardo as a replacement for Lionel Messi.
7. Dusan Vlahović (Juventus)
Chelsea want to sign a proven top striker this summer. New manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has identified Juventus striker Dusan Vlahović as a prime target.
Juventus want Chelsea to pay up to €80m (£68m) for the Serbian — the same amount they spent on Vlahovic when signing him from Fiorentina in January 2022.
Furthermore, to reduce the cost, Chelsea want to include Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevor Chalobah in the deal.
8. Andre Onana (Inter)
Andre Onana is being linked with a transfer away from Inter Milan in the 2023 summer transfer window. Several clubs are looking for a new goalkeeper and the Cameroonian is the best available right now.
9. Moises Caicedo (Brighton)
Moises Caicedo impressed throughout the 2022/23 season. He almost moved to Arsenal in January, but Brighton stopped him from doing so, and even managed to convince him to sign a new 4-year contract.
That new deal hasn’t stopped other clubs from chasing him, though. Brighton are open to offers for Caicedo this summer, but they hold the aces in negotiations; and want between £70m to £80m for the Ecuadorian.
10. Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Randal Kolo Muani has developed into a more well-rounded forward this season, but still maintains his incredible direct style of play.
A move to PSG seems very likely this summer, but Real Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have also been following the Frenchman for a while.
Due to his valuation being below €100m, Kolo Muani is a cheaper alternative to the other top strikers in the market.
11. Joao Cancelo (Man City)
Joao Cancelo spent the second half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Bayern Munich after falling out with Pep Guardiola at Man City. The Bavarian giants had the option to make his transfer permanent for €70 million, but they decided not to do so.
With no future at Man City, Cancelo quickly needs to find a new club.
Barcelona want the versatile full-back to address their right-back issues. However, given their financial situation, the Blaugrana are only looking for a loan deal; whereas Manchester City prefer to offload him on a permanent transfer.
This has opened the way for Arsenal to make a move for Cancelo, with the Gunners open to the possibility of a permanent deal.
12. Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)
After helping Manchester City win an historic treble, Ilkay Gundogan is set to depart the club this summer on a free transfer.
Barcelona are long-term admirers, but the La Liga champions need to guarantee that they can pay his huge salary, and also that they will be able to complete his registration with La Liga.
Arsenal are also interested in the German midfielder and could pounce if Barca hesitate.
13. Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)
Joao Felix failed to impress Chelsea enough to pay the huge price that will make his loan move from Athletico Madrid become permanent.
The Portuguese had already fallen out with Athletico manager, Diego Simeone, and now has his future elsewhere. A return to another Premier League club is very likely.
14. Kim Min-jae (Napoli)
Napoli signed Kim Min-Jae from Fenerbahce as a direct replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly last summer. He was instrumental as the club won the Serie A title and also established himself as one of the top 10 best centre-backs in the world.
A typical modern centre-back, the South Korea international would walk into any team in Europe but at a high cost; as he is highly valued by the Serie A champions.
Kim Min-Jae reportedly has a £60m release clause in his contract. Manchester United have been keeping tabs on him for a while.
15. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea)
Mateo Kovacic has just one year left on his contract at Chelsea, and doesn’t want to extend it beyond that. To avoid losing him on a free transfer, the Blues are ready to cash in on the Croatian this summer — with Manchester City being his most likely destination.
16. Neymar (PSG)
PSG are desperate to get Neymar off their books this summer, as the Brazilian has failed to meet huge expectations in the French capital.
A return to Barcelona or a move to the Premier League is on the cards, but sealing a transfer to a Saudi Pro League club looks increasingly likely at this stage.
17. Romeo Lavia (Southampton)
Romeo Lavia was a standout performer in a poor Southampton side that got relegated from the English top flight last season. He is now almost certain to leave the Saints this summer due to interest from several clubs in the Premier League.
Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham are keen to get their hands on the teenage midfielder. But Southampton are not prepared to accept a cut-price fee for the youngster despite their relegation.
The Saints want somewhere around £50m before agreeing to sell the 19-year-old midfielder in the ongoing 2023 summer transfer window.
Manchester City inserted a £40m buy-back clause in the agreement with Southampton, but it will only come into effect next year.
18. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
Inter Milan are open to keeping Romelu Lukaku, but only on loan. Meanwhile, Chelsea don’t want to send the player out on loan again; they want him gone for good.
This dispute has given Saudi club, Al-Hilal, the chance of recruiting Lukaku — but only at the right price.
The Belgian has reportedly rejected an approach from Al-Hilal because he wants a bigger salary. The Saudi giants and record Asian Champions League winners are currently targeting some huge names in soccer after missing out on Lionel Messi.
19. James Maddison (Leicester City)
James Maddison regularly gets linked with a transfer away from Leicester City, but the Foxes’ relegation last season makes it almost certain that the midfielder would depart the King Power Stadium this summer.
Newcastle, Tottenham and Arsenal are all interested and more clubs could join the race as the transfer window progresses.
20. Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich)
Sadio Mane’s transfer to Bayern from Liverpool has not worked out as planned. The Senegalese forward failed to settle in Germany. He is considering calling time on his Bayern career early to move elsewhere.
Mane is currently being linked with a move to join Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.
21. Mason Mount (Chelsea)
Amid tough competition for places at Chelsea, Mason Mount is set to depart his boyhood club this summer.
The midfielder has just one year left on his contract at Chelsea, and the Blues are willing to sell him this summer to avoid losing him for free next summer.
Mauricio Pochettino wants to keep Mount, but the Argentine has seemingly been unable to convince the Englishman to stay amid a contract stand-off with Chelsea.
Manchester United are keen to sign Mount, but Chelsea are holding out for up to £70m after United had an opening bid of £40m rejected for the midfielder.
Manchester United are expected to return with an improved offer for Mount, who is equally keen on a move to Old Trafford.
22. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
For a long time, Wilfried Zaha desires to move to a UEFA Champions League club, and that is likely to happen this summer. There are interest in the Ivorian’s services from Saudi Arabia, but he still wants to continue playing at the highest level.
PSG have been credited with an interest.
23. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)
The 2022/23 campaign was very horrible for Christian Pulisic. Apart from Chelsea’s overall struggles as a team, injuries and poor form limited the USA forward’s playing time.
He needs to move elsewhere to revive his career. Pulisic is attracting interest from several clubs across Europe.
24. Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach)
In early March, Borussia Monchengladbach announced that Marcus Thuram would not renew his contract at the club, and would leave on a free transfer in June.
At a time when strikers are going for a premium in the transfer market, the idea of signing a young forward as excellent as Thuram free should have caused an almighty scramble, yet the 25-year-old striker’s future remains unclear.
Inter Milan, Napoli, AC Milan, PSG, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are potential suitors.
25. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
James Ward-Prowse is set to leave Southampton this summer after the club got relegated from the Premier League. But prospective buyers have so far been put off by the Saints’ £50million asking price for their captain.
There is a growing feeling that Southampton will drop their asking price towards the end of the window — with Newcastle, Liverpool, Tottenham and West Ham all monitoring the player’s situation.
Notable Mentions
¶Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
¶Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)
¶Adrien Rabiot (Juventus)
¶Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Chelsea)
¶Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
¶Eden Hazard (Real Madrid)
¶Harry Maguire (Manchester United).
