10 Players On The Move

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – APRIL 26: Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Ipswich Town FC at St James’ Park on April 26, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

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It’s been a typically busy summer for Premier League clubs so far, with over $2.34 billion (£1.77 billion) spent on transfers, as per from Transfermarkt.

Liverpool set a new British transfer record by signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for $158 million (£116 million), while Arsenal have finally landed Viktor Gyokeres after a long pursuit.

Manchester City have reshaped their squad after finishing empty-handed last season, while across town United have signed Matheus Cunha and Brian Mbeumo for a combined $177 million (£135 million) .

But with another month still to go before the transfer window shuts, a number of high profile players could still be on the move.

1. Alexander Isak

There really is no other man to start this list with. Alexander Isak is the most-wanted man in English football and if Liverpool have their way he will be wearing red come the end of the transfer window.

Throughout the summer, all along Newcastle’s stance has been that the Sweden international is not for sale, but their resolve is being tested.

Isak, who is under contract for two more years with the Magpies, did not travel on their pre-season tour to Singapore and South Korea and has told the club he intends to explore new options.

“I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe admitted last week.

“My wish is that he stays, but that’s not in my full control.”

Newcastle are understood to want at least £120m ($160m) for the 25-year-old, who has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances in all competitions since joining from Real Sociedad three years ago.

But even if their financial demands were to be met – the fee would represent a record transfer for a British club – Newcastle may struggle to replace Isak with just over a month left in the transfer window and world class strikers at a premium.

2. Ollie Watkins

From one striker who wants to leave his current club to one who may have to be sacrificed for financial purposes.

Aston Villa are walking a financial tightrope when it comes to meeting the Premier League’s Profity and Sustainability Rules (PSR), a task made even harder by their failure to qualify for the Champions League last season.

In that respect, selling Ollie Watkins makes sense, even though his departure would leave Unai Emery’s worryingly short of options up front.

According to The Athletic, Watkins, who scored 16 goals in the Premier League last season, was on Manchester United’s radar before the club opted to pursue a deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko instead.

United were reportedly spooked by Villa’s £60m demands for a player who will turn 30 this season.

Could Newcastle, who are also chasing Sesko, turn to Watkins next should they fail to land the Slovenia international?

3. Jack Grealish

It is only four years since Jack Grealish became the most expensive British player in history as he signed for Manchester City for £100m ($133m) and only two years since he helped them with the Treble.

But time moves quickly in football and Grealish found himself at the periphery of Pep Guardiola’s plans last term, starting just seven Premier League games.

“I know that he can do it, because I saw him,” the City manager said in January, suggesting Grealish’s application fell somewhat short of the required standards.

“I saw his level and I want that, every single training session and every single game.”

Left out of the squad for the Club World Cup in June, Grealish’s spell in Manchester is surely over.

Predicting his next move is more complicated, as high wages could provide a major stumbling block for any potential suitors. Like Watkins, Grealish turns 30 this year and with a World Cup on the horizon he needs to be playing regularly to convince Thomas Tuchel he deserves an England call-up.

4. Eberechi Eze

It has not been a particularly good summer for Crystal Palace so far.

Relegated from the Europa League into the less prestigious Europa Conference League following an administrative imbroglio, the Eagles have made just two signings so far, much to Oliver Glasner’s frustration.

And the German’s mood could sour further were the Eagles to lose Eberechi Eze, who scored the winner in last season’s FA Cup final.

Arsenal are understood to be interested in signing the England international, but Palace want a fee of at least £67.5m ($89.7m) including bonuses.

Such a significant windfall may speed up Palace’s recruitment, but losing a player of Eze’s calibre would be a major blow for Glasner.

5. Marc Guehi

Eberechi Eze may not be the only Crystal Palace star through the departure gates at Selhurst Park this summer, with club captain Marc Guehi also tipped for a move.

The England centre-back is in the final year of his contract and is on the radar of both Newcastle and Liverpool, after attracting interest from Chelsea in the January transfer window.

Last summer, Palace rebuffed Newcastle’s £65m ($86m) bid but now face losing Guehi for free at the end of the season unless he signs a new deal.

6. Alejandro Garnacho

Having moved on Marcus Rasfhord to Barcelona last week, Manchester United remain keen to offload another number of players who are not in Ruben Amorim’s team.

Alejandro Garnacho is one of them. Like Rashford, the Argentine was told to train away from the first team squad when he returned to Manchester earlier this summer.

Chelsea remain interested in the 21-year-old, who scored 10 goals in 58 appearances in all competitions last season and Napoli were linked with the Argentine in January.

Amorim, however, has also suggested Garnacho may have a future at United if the club’s financial demands were not met.

“If they [suitors] don’t reach that number, they will be Manchester United players, no doubts about that,” the Portuguese said earlier this month.

7. Jadon Sancho

Like Garnacho, Sancho is also on the departure list at Old Trafford and he has also been told to train away from the first team squad.

But while the Argentine should have suitors, finding a buyer for Sancho may be more problematic and not just because he will be a free agent at the end of the season – United have the option to extend his £250,000-a-week ($340,000) deal for another 12 months, but they are highly unlikely to do so.

Chelsea signed the 25-year-old on a temporary transfer last summer with an obligation to buy worth up to £25m ($33.7m), but in June opted to pay a £5m ($6.7m) penalty charge to pull out of the deal.

Considered one of European soccer’s outstanding talents when he joined United from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021 for £85m ($115m), Sancho never reached the same heights at Old Trafford, scoring a combined 12 goals in all competitions in two seasons despite starting 56 of his 79 appearances.

He was loaned back to Dortmund in the summer of 2023 after he publicly fell out with Erik ten Hag, who had questioned his commitment, and has failed to earn Ruben Amorim’s trust too.

8. Lucas Paqueta

Lucas Paqueta looks set to be cleared of any wrongdoing following a two-year probe on his alleged involvement in spot-fixing.

When the allegations first surfaced, the Brazilian was on the verge of an £85m ($113m) move to Manchester City, which subsequently collapsed.

The Hammers are now reportedly keen to cash in again, but their prospects of commanding a fee in that region are remote.

At the same time, Paqueta is still only 27 and should attract suitors from England and abroad.

9. Darwin Nunez

Liverpool’s spending would rocket past the £400m ($530m) mark were they to land Alexander Isak before the end of the transfer window.

Signing the Swede would also leave Arne Slot with a surplus of forwards, a scenario which would leave Darwin Nunez as the obvious candidate to be moved on.

The Uruguay international is a cult hero at Anfield but has never quite lived up to the £73.5m ($97.2m) fee Liverpool paid for him three years ago.

Nunez started just 17 of his 47 appearances in all competitions last season and has attracted interest from Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ahli, Serie A champions Napoli and Juventus.

As is the case for Grealish, Nunez will be desperate to play regularly with a World Cup on the horizon.

10. Christopher Nkunku

Chelsea have been busy in the transfer window again and must now make room for some of their new signings, with Christopher Nkunku headlining the list of potential departures.

The Blues valued the 27-year-old at £65m ($86m) back in January, but according to The Athletic the figure has been drastically cut to £43m ($57m).

The France international started just a third of his 27 Premier League appearances last season and he has attracted interest from Premier League clubs as well as in Serie A and the Bundesliga.