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The domestic football season isn’t even over yet, and we still have what should prove to be an outstanding World Cup to look forward to this summer. But for many fanatics, they are already thinking about the potential transfer deals that their favourite club will pull off during the summer transfer window.
From the audacious to the underwhelming, we all have big dreams about the type of players that our club is going to bring in. Often they fall short of the mark, but there is always hope….
If you are already drawing up your shortlist of preferred names, or believe that you have an idea of who will turn up where, then the bookmakers’ odds are always a handy sign of how the window will unfold. After all, the bookies very rarely get things wrong….
So who are the sportsbooks suggesting will be on the move this summer?
Antoine Griezmann: Atletico Madrid to Barcelona
The French forward has long been touted with a move away from Atleti, with the Madrid club hitting something of a glass ceiling given that they don’t have the finances to compete with Barcelona or Real Madrid.
And so, sooner or later, an exodus is expected, especially with manager Diego Simeone being so highly rated and a number of key players, including Juan Fran, Diego Godin and co, entering their mid-thirties.
Outstanding shot stopper Jan Oblak is also expected to exit stage left, and so Griezmann’s departure is unlikely to be delayed beyond the summer.
The bookies have him down at just 2/5 to join Barcelona this summer. The Catalan outfit haven’t replaced Neymar properly, in terms of on-pitch ability and world star status, and the French winger ticks both boxes. With plenty of La Liga experience already, his signing is a no brainer.
Antoine Griezmann will make a televised announcement on whether he’s staying at Atletico Madrid or leaving for Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/VAYNLQpeTi
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 14, 2018
Riyad Mahrez: Leicester to Manchester City
In one of the longest-running transfer sagas in English football, Riyad Mahrez is an eye-watering 1/6 to leave Leicester this summer – not good news for Foxes fans.
According to the same odds-makers, Manchester City remains his most likely port of call, with 11/8 offered.
Other alternative destinations for the Algerian to potentially consider include Liverpool (6/1), Arsenal (8/1), who he apparently nearly joined last summer, and Chelsea (8/1).
Gareth Bale: Real Madrid to Manchester United
SkyBet have Gareth Bale in as an 8/11 chance to leave the Galacticos this summer.
And according to the prices of his next possible employer, Jose Mourinho is looking to build his own British version of football’s Harlem Globetrotters by signing the Welsh ace.
Bale is as short as 15/8 to join Manchester United, while a transfer to former club Tottenham – which on paper makes sense – is an intriguing 7/2.
Man Utd are working on a deal to sign Gareth Bale. The transfer fee is expected to exceed £85m. [Duncan Castles]
— Man Utd Channel (@ManUtdChannel) June 2, 2018
Danny Rose: Tottenham to Manchester United
It’s a transfer that has long been mooted, and it appears as if Danny Rose to Manchester United is back on the cards this summer.
The England man is in as short as 8/13 to leave Tottenham with some bookmakers, and yet others have him as a 4/5 chance to stay at the London outfit.
Either way, if he does leave then Jose Mourinho’s men are his most likely destination; the Red Devils are 5/4 to snap up the left back.
Jack Butland: Stoke to Liverpool
As if life could not get any worse for relegated Stoke’s fans, they are likely to have to wave goodbye to their shot-stopper this summer with Jack Butland poised for a move away.
It’s not a surprise that the England international would want to protect his international career by playing Premier League football, although his next move could prove crucial.
Will he play second fiddle to the improving Loris Karius at Liverpool? It’s a possibility, and while he is as short as 6/4 to join the Reds, perhaps a move to Arsenal (3/1), where he would be primed for the number one jersey over the ageing Petr Cech, would be a smarter move.
Alfie Mawson: Swansea to Tottenham
Following Swansea’s likely relegation, it is expected that their better players will leave for pastures new, and they don’t come much better than commanding centre back Alfie Mawson.
He’s been touted for England honours at the World Cup despite playing in a demoted side, and that is a mark of the impression Mawson has made with a series of towering performances in a losing team.
Tottenham have taken notice, and Mawson is priced at just 5/4 to join Mauricio Pochettino’s side this summer. With the future of Toby Alderweireld still up for debate, the 24-year-old would represent a canny acquisition.
Eden Hazard: Chelsea to ?
Will he or won’t he? The Belgian is a fraction of odds-on to stay at Chelsea this summer, but just 5/4 to link up with Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid.
It seems faintly ridiculous for a player of Hazard’s ability not to be playing Champions League football next season, and so he might just be tempted to move to pastures new – especially if Real free up funds by selling Gareth Bale.
Football’s transfer merry-go-round rarely stops for long; who will hop on and who will stay put?