Ranking the Hottest Transfer Targets This Summer: Will They Join Your Club?

Ah, the summer transfer window.

It’s a time when the hearts of football fans are broken, as their heroes seek out pastures new. Just check out how Liverpool supporters have responded to Trent Alexander-Arnold following his move to Real Madrid for proof of that. 

But it can also be a vital time for clubs with ambitions of winning trophies, qualifying for Europe, securing promotion or avoiding relegation. The decisions taken in the summer transfer window can have ramifications for a football club for years to come – for better or worse.

These sultry summer months could be particularly vital, with clubs seeking to balance the books, with PSR accountants looming, and consolidate or, in the case of a few fallen giants, rebuilding from the ground up.

So who will be the hottest targets during this summer transfer window? 

Florian Wirtz 

With Xabi Alonso officially announcing his decision to leave Bayer Leverkusen, there’s a feeling that the squad of the 2023/24 Bundesliga champions could be picked apart by vultures.

Speculation is mounting that Florian Wirtz could be the first, with the rumour mill suggesting that he is subject of a tug-of-war between Liverpool and Bayern Munich for his services.

And why wouldn’t they be keen? The 22-year-old has racked up 22 Bundesliga goal involvements this term from the number ten role, notched six goals in nine Champions League outings and established himself as a regular in the German national team.

Bruno Fernandes

“If the club thinks it's time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it's what it is.”

Those are hardly the words of a man dying to stay with his current employer, so don’t be surprised if Bruno Fernandes’ time at Manchester United comes to an end this summer.

Although the Portuguese ace is now the wrong side of 30, his output is still excellent. 17 Premier League goal involvements this term, in a failing team, is outstanding.

Fernandes is also maturing into a leader on and off the pitch, so there will be no shortage of suitors.

Viktor Gyokeres

In the summer of 2023, Viktor Gyokeres left Coventry City for Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth a reported £17 million. It could cost four times that to tempt the striker away from Portugal this summer.

But plenty will be willing to try, as the Swede has established as one of the most prolific goal-getters on the continent.

Gyokeres has scored an astonishing 63 goals in all competitions in 2024/25, with 39 of those coming in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. But he also notched six in six in the Champions League and ten goals in seven games for Sweden, so his pedigree on the big stage is growing. 

Nico Williams

Last summer, Nico Williams was named in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament at EURO 2024.

Things haven’t quite gone as well at club level in 2024/25, with the winger suffering a series of injury setbacks, but 17 goal involvements in 33 combined LaLiga and Europa League starts confirms that Williams still has star quality.

As is sadly often the case for Athletic Bilbao, another young talent appears to have outgrown the Basque club and buyers will be queuing up for miles to get their hands on the 22-year-old.

Jeremie Frimpong

With Alexander-Arnold moving on to the Bernabeu, there’s an opening for a new right back at Liverpool.

Conor Bradley, who has signed a new four-year deal at Anfield, might be given first crack at the role, although rumours are heavily linking the Reds with a move for Jeremie Frimpong.

Those that watch German football regularly will tell you that Frimpong is, probably, better going forward than he is defensively as 13 goal involvements in 34 Bundesliga and Champions League starts attests.

So the 24-year-old looks a good fit to replace TAA, and even if he doesn’t end up at Liverpool, it seems a certainty that Frimpong will be one of the other players to jump from the Leverkusen ship.

Martin Zubimendi

It looked for all the money like Martin Zubimendi would join Liverpool in the summer of 2024, but the midfielder got cold feet and ended up staying with Real Sociedad.

However, reports suggest that Zubimendi has felt like he made a mistake in rejecting the switch to Anfield, and is now agitating for a transfer away from the Basque club this summer.

As is often the case with defensive midfielders, the stats don’t really do the 26-year-old justice, but he’s a regular starter for Spain, the European champions, which suggests he has plenty to offer.

Dean Huijsen

Bournemouth are developing into a fascinating club that is something of a finishing school for emerging talents.

The next player off the conveyor belt could be Dean Huijsen, who has caught the eye for the Cherries this term courtesy of a series of commanding defensive displays.

He may only be 20, but Huijsen carries himself with the maturity of a multi-season veteran. He ranked fourth for interceptions in the Premier League this term and seventh for clearances, combining old-fashioned central defensive play with the modern requirements of the more technical centre back.

Rayan Cherki

He tore Manchester United asunder in the Europa League, scoring twice and assisting another in two legs against the Red Devils, and the Lyon attacker Rayan Cherki could be heading for England to torture them once again in domestic action.

Lyon’s parlous financial state is such that they are now prone to any reasonable bid for their players, with Cherki, contributor of a whopping 31 goal involvements in 44 Ligue 1 and Europa League games this season being their most sellable asset.

A versatile 21-year-old that can play out wide or through the middle, Cherki looks set to be the next superstar off French football’s endless conveyor belt of talent.

Liam Delap

Notching 12 Premier League goals for a hapless relegated team is no mean feat.

It’s almost a certainty that Liam Delap won’t be at Ipswich Town in the Championship next season, with a number of EPL sides keen on the 22-year-old.

In a more progressive, successful team, it will be interesting to see how Delap’s goal output is enhanced. 

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