The stage is set for another massive, record-breaking summer of spending in the Premier League and beyond.
A host of world-class players could be on the move, with England stars like Harry Kane, Mason Mount, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham potentially joining new clubs.
Liverpool lead the race for three midfielders as Jurgen Klopp seeks a summer rebuild, while Manchester City have moved ahead in the race for defender Josko Gvardiol.
Other ‘Big Six’ clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea will strengthen too and there are plenty of promising stars across the globe attracting the interest of the richest league on the planet.
So, with less than three months until the summer window jolts open, Sportsmail looks at the biggest transfer sagas set to come and rates the chances of the deals happening.
The stage is set for another huge, record-breaking summer of spending in the Premier League
England stars like Harry Kane, Mason Mount and Declan Rice could all be joining new clubs
Liverpool are keen on a midfielder like Jude Bellingham for a summer rebuild under Klopp
Harry Kane (Manchester United, Bayern Munich)
This year could finally be the year Harry Kane leaves Tottenham, potentially representing the end of the will-he-won’t-he saga that has rumbled on for several years – and Manchester United are at the head of the queue.
Spurs fans won’t like us saying it but he is a massive fish in a medium-sized pond and it seems likely that this season will be his last in north London, two years after he wanted to leave for Manchester City, who now have Erling Haaland as the focal point of their attack.
The England captain is clearly a world-class player – perhaps the club’s only one – and is the top performer in a turgid team, with 20 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions this season.
Only Haaland (27) has scored more than his 18 league goals this campaign and he is a good bet to be the all-time top scorer for the Premier League, England and Tottenham by the end of his career.
His current deal expires in summer 2024 and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will be determined not to lose their golden goose for nothing at the end of his contract. At 29 years old, Kane also knows his next deal could be the last big one of his career.
Spurs are fourth, in the final Champions League qualification spot, but Liverpool and Newcastle immediately behind them have games in hand and are probably favourites to overtake them.
If Spurs aren’t in the Champions League next season, it is felt the club will lower their £100million asking price, with United growing in confidence they can land him in this scenario given Kane’s desire to compete at the top level and win trophies.
United are also said to be encouraged by a response they received after contacting Kane’s camp through a third party.
He is highly unlikely to join Arsenal or Chelsea given their rivalries with Tottenham, and the main factor hindering a move to United is Levy’s vow not to sell to an English club. Kane’s contract situation may force him to rethink that.
Chances of leaving: 7/10
It could be the perfect opportunity for Tottenham striker Kane to leave the club this summer
Jude Bellingham (Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Man United, Chelsea)
Jude Bellingham is arguably the most highly coveted footballer in the world. The Borussia Dortmund star is already one of the best players in Europe at the tender age of 19.
Pretty much every top English side was in for him last summer, but Dortmund were unwilling to lose two of their best players in the same window after selling Haaland to City.
This summer, it is all but a mathematical certainty that he will leave the Signal Iduna Park for the Premier League.
And there is fresh interest from Liverpool, City, United and Chelsea this year. Liverpool are leading the race as they look for a much-needed midfield revamp, with title-chasing City very keen on the teenager as well.
Spanish giants and Champions League title holders Real Madrid are in the running too, but have spent big recently on French youngsters Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga to bolster their midfield.
United and Chelsea hold an interest but are less likely to pursue him as a real priority. Bellingham liking Reds right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold’s post celebrating their 7-0 win over Man United – maybe a hint at his next club – sent Liverpool fans into a frenzy.
And no wonder. Bellingham could swing the Premier League title for whoever he joins – he’s that good.
Chances of leaving: 10/10
Talented midfielder Bellingham, 19, is almost certain to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer
Declan Rice (Arsenal, Man City, Man United)
Another player who has probably outgrown his current club is Declan Rice.
Manchester rivals City and United admire the 24-year-old but both spent big last summer on midfielders Kalvin Phillips (£42m) and Casemiro (£70m) respectively, while Chelsea’s probable lack of Champions League football will count against them.
In any case, Arsenal have moved ahead in the race for the ‘Basmati Busquets’ as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of a near-certain return to Europe’s elite competition. The Gunners have identified Rice as their main transfer target in the summer.
In the centre of the park, Thomas Partey is talented but injury-prone, Granit Xhaka is 30, Jorginho is a short-term stop-gap, Mohamed Elneny is just a squad player, Albert Sambi Lokonga could well be sold this summer and Fabio Vieira is still raw.
A young, mobile, dynamic central midfielder with room to improve, Premier League experience and capable of playing as both a No 6 or a No 8 in Arsenal’s typical 4-3-3 system, like Rice, would be highly prized.
Gunners icon and Under-18 coach Jack Wilshere is on a mission to lure his friend to north London too.
As revealed by Sportsmail’s Sami Mokbel last week, the pair formed a close relationship during their time playing together at West Ham and have remained tight – and that bond could well be an influencer as Rice decides his next destination.
Even if West Ham do avoid relegation, his time in east London is likely to be coming to a close, although the nine-figure sum the Hammers are likely to demand could
Chances of leaving: 8/10
West Ham defensive midfielder Rice is likely to leave the relegation-threatened Hammers
Moises Caicedo (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, Man United)
Brighton must be sick of massive clubs coming in for their best players. Marc Cucurella (Chelsea, £62m), Yves Bissouma (Tottenham, £25m), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal, £27m) and Ben White (Arsenal, £50m) have all left in the last two seasons.
On second thoughts, perhaps not that sick, given the club have generated £164m for the quartet, and given the struggles of Cucurella and Bissouma at their new clubs.
Ecuadorian wonderkid Moises Caicedo could be the latest to be plucked from the south-coast club – despite the Seagulls star signing a new four-year deal, with the option for a further year, last week.
The 21-year-old – a £4.5m signing from Independiente del Valle in August 2021 – putting pen to paper on the long-term contract does not, however, preclude a summer move.
It was a win-win for Brighton, who know even if interested clubs approach Caicedo again this summer, they can whack up their asking price, having protected and increased his value with the contract.
It seems to be a coin-flip as to whether Caicedo will stay or go. On the one hand, he has a long-term contract and is playing every week for an exciting, progressive, improving side who are genuine contenders for European football.
His £80m asking price in January was enough to ward off interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, and the Gunners’ pursuit of Rice could put them out of the running for Santo Domingo-born star.
On the other hand, Brighton will be more likely to sell in the summer, when they have a better chance of replacing him.
Also, Caicedo astonishingly posted a plea to the club on social media in January, asking owner Tony Bloom to allow him to leave. If he pulls another stunt like that, Roberto De Zerbi may treat him like Trossard – and let him go.
Chances of leaving: 5/10
Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea will still try to sign Moises Caicedo this summer
Mason Mount (Liverpool, Newcastle)
Liverpool, keen for a midfielder or three to spark their engine room into life, also lead the race for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
Fan favourite Mount, a graduate of the club’s academy, has been at the club 18 years and is a dyed-in-the-wool Blue.
But with his contract running out in 2024, the club – similar to Kane’s situation at Spurs – are desperate not to lose their prized asset for nothing.
New owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are stunned at how their predecessors allowed the deals of international defenders Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen to run down last summer.
So Chelsea will look to sell him if they cannot agree an extension at the end of the campaign, with the Reds leading the queue.
Rumours of Mount demanding £300,000 per week are wide of the mark, but it is believed to be a complicated situation, with bonuses, image rights and add-ons key sticking points.
Chelsea want him to commit for the best part of a decade, while the player would prefer a slightly shorter deal. The Athletic state there were positive talks in November, with both sides optimistic a deal can be reached.
Liverpool also lead the race for Chelsea star Mason Mount as they seek midfield reinforcements
The attacking midfielder’s contract at Stamford Bridge is set to expire in the summer of 2024
But if not, his status as an academy graduate means a sale would count as profit on the Blues’ balance sheets, helping them comply with FFP regulations.
As reported by Sportsmail on Tuesday, Newcastle have joined Liverpool in the race, but an extension at Stamford Bridge is considered more likely than a switch to the Toon. Sportsmail understands Man United, Man City and Juventus are also keen.
Chances of leaving: 5/10
Josko Gvardiol (Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea)
City, as well as being extremely keen on Bellingham, are also very interested in RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, according to Sportsmail’s sources.
The 21-year-old Croatian was one of the standout players of the Qatar World Cup, exploding onto the radar of almost every top European club.
Indeed, Liverpool and Chelsea – among others – are keen on signing the gifted centre-half, who can also cover left-back.
However, City also like Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and want an out-and-out left back to compete with Nathan Ake, Sergio Gomez and (possibly) the returning Joao Cancelo, which will eat into their budget.
As such, City’s pursuit may depend slightly on whether defenders like Aymeric Laporte leave, or other sales.
Nonetheless, this summer looks to be Gvardiol’s last in Leipzig.
Chances of leaving: 8/10
While several top Premier League sides are in for RB Leipzig centre half Josko Gvardiol (above)
Matheus Nunes (Liverpool)
Matheus Nunes was meant to be Wolves’ marquee signing, the player wanted by Liverpool and other top clubs who would galvanise and inspire those around him.
The Sporting Lisbon attacking midfielder has, or had, the kind of bright reputation that persuaded the Midlands side to splash out £38million for him, their record signing.
But the 24-year-old has only recorded one assist and zero goals in his 1,673 Premier League minutes so far this season.
Though the 11-cap international has shown some nice touches, he has generally failed to impress the Wolves faithful.
Despite this perceived underperformance, the Reds are still willing to revive their interest from last summer and bring him to Anfield, with Wolves potentially happy to let him go if they can recover most or all of their initial outlay.
If star playmaker Ruben Neves leaves too, however, Julen Lopetegui may prefer to keep him.
Chances of leaving: 6/10
Liverpool are keen on signing Wolves’ record acquisition, midfielder Matheus Nunes (right)
Newcastle could take advantage of Kieran Tierney’s lack of game time at Arsenal to swoop in
Kieran Tierney (Newcastle)
Also potentially leaving his club this summer is Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney.
The Scot, previously almost always first choice for Mikel Arteta’s side, has been ousted by summer signing Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has starred for the Gunners in their unlikely Premier League title push after moving from Man City in July.
Tierney, 25, is still well capable of performing for a European-level English club and may ask Arteta for the chance to leave in search of more regular first-team football.
If he does, Newcastle could be the perfect destination.
They are on the brink of qualification for European competition, are an ambitious club keen to break into the traditional ‘Big Six’ and have been playing Dan Burn, perhaps more comfortable at centre-half, at left-back.
Tierney could be an astute signing for boss Eddie Howe – but equally, he may stay at the Emirates Stadium if Arteta can persuade him that he is an important squad player in his future plans.
Chances of leaving: 4/10