The end of the Premier League season means clubs will now be turning their attentions to summer transfer targets.
Liverpool and Manchester United are both looking to strengthen in central defence while Manchester City have their eye on Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, who is valued at £100million.
While the coronavirus pandemic has decimated football finances, it is widely agreed that the Premier League are in the best position for summer deals, and therefore there could be a lot of big-name arrivals this summer.
Here are 11 of the biggest transfer deals in the making ahead of huge few months…
IBRAHIMA KONATE – Red Bull Leipzig to Liverpool
Talks were held on Tuesday as Liverpool agree to pay the £40m release clause for the 22-year-old centre back, who has impressed at the heart of RB Leipzig’s defence this season.
The deal will see Ozan Kabak return to Schalke following his loan spell at Anfield, but Kabak has offers from Premier League and Bundesliga sides after filling in for the likes of Virgil van Dijk admirably.
Liverpool are set to pay the £40million release clause to sign RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate
JACK GREALISH – Aston Villa to Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has built his success on possession football and has great admiration for the £100million-rated Grealish.
Early talks are understood to have taken place with Grealish viewed a better fit to City’s system than Tottenham’s Harry Kane.
Grealish has been linked with a big-money move away from Villa Park for years now, but is yet to leave his boyhood club.
Pep Guardiola has great admiration for £100m-rated Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish
JOE WILLOCK – Arsenal to Newcastle United
Steve Bruce wants Willock to return after his impressive loan spell. The 21-year-old is unsure though and Arsenal will command £20m.
Newcastle’s budget is £15m and Bruce also wants Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury and Celtic’s Kristoffer Ajer so talks will be strained.
Newcastle fans, though, will be pushing for the loanee to stay given his seven goals in seven games to help steer them away from relegation trouble.
Steve Bruce wants Joe Willock to return to Newcastle following his impressive loan spell
TAMMY ABRAHAM – Chelsea to West Ham
Chelsea would offer Abraham as a makeweight in a bid for Declan Rice but David Moyes would only sell his captain for an astronomical fee.
He would like Abraham but thinks £25m is a fairer price. Moyes has alternatives in mind while Abraham has interest from Wolves and Villa.
His future does appear to be away from Stamford Bridge, though, with his minutes very limited under Thomas Tuchel.
David Moyes wants to sign Tammy Abraham but he also has interest from Villa and Wolves
RAPHAEL VARANE – Real Madrid to Manchester United
Varane tops United’s list of defensive targets, but the key is whether they can get Madrid’s £60m price down for a player who has one year left on his contract.
Sevilla’s Jules Kounde is considered too short for the Premier League and Varane has the experience and winning mentality United crave.
After Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof started in the heart of defence for United’s Europa League final defeat, the club are keen to find a long-term partner for Harry Maguire.
Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane is top of Manchester United’s list of defensive targets
TOM HEATON – Aston Villa to Manchester United
The 35-year-old is returning to his first club as a free agent to provide experienced cover for Dean Henderson and David de Gea.
Lee Grant and Sergio Romero are leaving and Heaton, who was also offered to Liverpool, will be vital as United look to kick on.
He considered other clubs where he is more likely to get game-time but has now decided to return to his old club.
Tom Heaton is set to return to his first club as back-up for David de Gea and Dean Henderson
EMI BUENDIA – Norwich City to Arsenal
Norwich have accepted Buendia can go and want £40m as they also have to pay a sell-on clause to the Argentine’s former club Getafe.
Fans will be disappointed given their promotion to the Premier League and may have hoped to get one more year out of their star man.
Aston Villa are the main threat to Arsenal and have the financial muscle to outbid Arsenal and increase the pressure on Kroenke’s ownership.
Norwich will accept bids of £40m for Emi Buendia, who has interest from Arsenal and Villa
GINI WIJNALDUM – Liverpool to Barcelona
The popular Dutchman is close to agreeing a three year contract at Barcelona as a free agent. Bayern Munich and PSG had shown tentative interest.
He said his emotional goodbyes at Anfield on the final day of the season and leaves with plenty of goodwill among the Liverpool faithful.
Barca will add Sergio Aguero from Manchester City and his club-mate defender Eric Garcia, though the latter will command a compensation fee.
Gini Wijinaldum is close to agreeing a three-year contract at Barcelona as a free agent
BOUBAKARY SOUMARE – Lille to Leicester City
A deal worth up to £21m is agreed for the powerful midfielder to join Leicester. Brendan Rodgers is also hoping to add a striker, winger and full-back.
The lack of Champions League football could impact their budget but Rodgers wants to add Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard and free agent Ryan Bertrand.
For Lille, it is set to be a chastening summer as their Ligue 1 title-winning squad is decimated.
Leicester have agreed a deal for powerful midfielder Boubakary Soumare from Lille
NOA LANG – Ajax to Leeds United
The Dutch winger has impressed on loan at Club Brugge this season, who have an option to make his signing permanent and are likely to sell for quick profit.
Leeds have held talks and want the 21-year-old to decide soon. Marcelo Bielsa also remains keen on Stade Brest 23-year-old left-back Romain Perraud.
Leeds are in a strong negotiating position with players keen to play under Bielsa, and with the team having finished in the top half of the Premier League in their debut season back in the top flight.
Leeds have held talks with Ajax winger Noa Lang, who impressed on loan at Club Brugge
HARRY KANE – Tottenham to ?
The England captain has made his feelings known but there is a sense it has come a year too early with suitors ill-prepared financially to meet his valuation.
Chelsea could pay but will struggle to get a deal with Daniel Levy. Manchester United would offer Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek and Jesse Lingard to boost their bid but that would not suit Tottenham.
Manchester City admire Kane but are not sure the figures stack up against alternative targets… it will certainly be the saga that runs and runs. Kane wanted his future tied up before the Euros, but that certainly looks unlikely at the moment.
Harry Kane is looking to leave Tottenham but it will not be easy for clubs to strike a deal