Caughtoffside lists and looks at 10 potential high-profile transfers that have every chance of happening this summer.
Eden Hazard – Chelsea to Paris Saint-Germain
Hazard has been Chelsea’s main attacking spark this season. The 23-year-old is the Blues’ leading scorer with 14 goals in 33 Premier League appearance. He has also provided seven top-flight assists.
Despite his fine offensive form, Hazard is not in manager Jose Mourinho’s good books after he criticised the Special One’s tactics earlier this week. Mourinho responded by saying that the Belgian was not prepared to “sacrifice himself for the team”.
Paris Saint-Germain are believed to be long-term admirers of Hazard. Chelsea will only consider selling the player if they can make a profit on the £32m that they spent on him two years ago, but this is unlikely to deter the mega-rich French champions.
Leighton Baines – Everton to Manchester United
In one of the biggest transfer sagas of last summer, Manchester United tentatively tried and failed to reunite David Moyes with England left-back Baines.
Moyes has, of course, since left Old Trafford, but several United bigwigs remain thoroughly smitten with Baines.
The 29-year-old signed a new four-year deal at Goodison Park in January, but he and his current employers will struggle to resist if the Red Devils make a serious bid using a significant chunk of their reported £200m war chest this summer.
Javier Hernandez – Manchester United to Aston Villa
Despite being only a bit-part player during his four years as a Manchester United player, super sub Hernandez has netted 59 goals for the Red Devils.
He has won two Premier League titles at Old Trafford, but, at the age of 25, he could be ready to leave the 20-time champions of England to become a first-team regular elsewhere.
Aston Villa are said to be very keen on Chicharito, whose tunnel-vision style of play would make him a perfect fit for Paul Lambert’s side.
Steven Caulker – Cardiff City to Tottenham Hotspur
Andre Villas-Boas’ decision to allow commanding centre-back Caulker to leave Tottenham Hotspur last summer surprised many fans of the North London club.
The 22-year-old had been tipped for a bright future at White Hart Lane, but he was sold to Cardiff City for just £8m.
Caulker has started all 37 of the Bluebirds’ Premier League matches this season and, while he has enjoyed being a first-team regular in South Wales, he is unlikely to fancy a year in the Championship.
Cardiff’s relegation to the second tier could present Tottenham with an opportunity to buy Caulker back for a modest transfer fee.
With Jan Vertonghen’s long-term Spurs future in doubt, head coach Tim Sherwood, or his successor, could well make this happen.
Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid to Manchester City
Left-sided centre-back Godin has been a rock at the heart of Atletico Madrid’s defence this season. The 28-year-old has played a key role in the capital club’s fairytale campaign, which could yet end with a La Liga and Champions League double.
Although Atletico have excelled this term and have shown that their current crop of players have what it takes to compete with and beat Europe’s elite, they are a club that have a history of selling their star players.
Manchester City will be in the market for a defender this summer, with Joleon Lescott set to leave on a free transfer and questions being asked about the long-term reliability of Martin Demichelis.
City parted with £38m to land Sergio Aguero from Atletico in 2011 and the two clubs are on good terms. The Premier League title chasers could be willing to send another monstrous check to the Vicente Calderon Stadium to bring Godin to the Etihad this summer.
Diego Costa – Atletico Madrid to Chelsea
There is a growing sense of inevitability that Costa will swap Madrid for West London this summer.
The 25-year-old goal machine, who has netted 35 times in 41 club appearances so far this season, should be confirmed as a Chelsea player before the World Cup, where he is expected to add to his solitary senior international cap for Spain.
It is understood that the Blues will pay Atletico a buyout-clause-triggering transfer fee of £35m for Costa.
Paul Pogba – Juventus to Manchester City
Manchester City have annoyed neighbours United by signing a trio of former Old Trafford favourites since the turn of the century – Andy Cole, Peter Schmeichel and Carlos Tevez.
Pogba’s Red Devils career never really got going, as he made just seven substitute appearances, but the prospect of the 21-year-old joining City is still likely to infuriate United fans.
The French midfielder left England on a free transfer two years ago and has since become one of the finest midfielders in Serie A, but he could be itching for a move this summer.
Reports claim that Pogba is seeking a big pay-rise, something that Juve seem reluctant to provide.
However, City would have no problem meeting Pogba’s wage demands and the youngster is one of the few talents in world football that has the potential to fill Yaya Toure’s boots when the 30-year-old’s powers begin the fade.
Adam Lallana – Southampton to Liverpool
Lallana has been a revelation at St Mary’s this season.
The 25-year-old midfielder, who has played in three different divisions during his eight-year Southampton career, has featured in all 37 of the Saints’ Premier League games this term, contributing nine goals and six assists.
His fine form has made him one of the favourites to be included in England manager Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad and it has also caught the attention of Manchester United and Liverpool.
Both clubs are expected to move for Lallana this summer, but Liverpool hold the edge because of their superior league position and United’s managerial uncertainty.
Loic Remy – Queens Park Rangers to Arsenal
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger loves French forwards and, over the years, they have brought him great success.
The goals of Nicolas Anelka, Sylvain Wiltord and, of course, Thierry Henry led the Gunners to Premier League titles in 1998, 2002 and 2004.
Current French frontman Olivier Giroud is in dire need of support, though. The 27-year-old, who has netted 15 top-flight goals this season, is the only Arsenal player to reach double figures in the league so far.
Wenger has openly admitted that he rates Remy, who has bagged 14 goals during his loan spell at Newcastle United this term.
Remy is still under contract at parent club Queens Park Rangers until June 2017, but Arsenal should be able to secure his services for a modest eight-figure sum.
Daniel Agger – Liverpool to Barcelona
Barcelona are on course to end a season without a trophy for the first time since 2008. The Catalan club are also preparing to lose one of their longest serving players.
Experienced centre-back Carles Puyol, 36, will leave the Camp Nou this summer after 15 years in the Barca first team.
His departure will leave a big hole, which Liverpool defender Agger could well to fill.
Agger ranks highly on Barca boss Gerardo Martino’s wish-list and the Reds are prepared to sell the 29-year-old, who has only made 15 Premier League starts this season, for the right price.
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