With the transfer window now open and the rumour mill churning out an unrelenting torrent of gossip and idle conjecture, Premier League clubs begin the process of consolidating their summer shopping lists and tendering offers for the main transfer targets.
With a lucrative TV deal likely to signal a further increase in spending by clubs in England’s top-flight, the premium talent available on the foreign market will once again appeal to chairman and managers alike.
A number of overseas players have been linked with a move to the Premier League during the transfer window and these are five we believe will be plying their trade on English soil next season.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
Mitrovic’s prolific goal record in the Belgian Pro League with Anderlecht across the last two seasons has earned him a myriad of admirers on English shores, and he seems destined to move to the Premier League this summer.
Newcastle appears to be the most likely destination for Mitrovic, with the Tyneside club apparently willing to spend around £12 million to bring the Serbian international to St James’ Park as they look to defy belief that the club will be a strong outside bet for relegation.
The 20-year-old, who has scored 44 goals in 90 games for Anderlecht, will be familiar to Premier League audiences having scored a 90th minute equaliser in a 3-3 draw with the Gunners in last season’s Champions League group stage.
Sergio Ramos
Manchester United have already had a £28.6 million offer rejected by Real Madrid for the Spain international, who looks certain to depart the Bernabeu after a decade of service.
Ramos is reportedly keen on a move to United after his relationship with Real deteriorated after discussions about an extension to his contract, which has two years to run, reached an acrimonious deadlock.
However, the 29-year-old could yet find himself embroiled in one of the biggest transfer window sagas of the summer, and Louis van Gaal will be aware that he holds the strongest bargaining chip given Real’s eagerness to sign David de Gea.
Alexandre Lacazette
Speculation that Lacazette has failed to agree a new contract with Lyon – for whom he scored 27 goals in 33 games last season – has fuelled suggestions that he will seek to depart the Stade Gerland during the transfer window.
The 24-year-old’s name has been regularly featured in Premier League gossip columns in recent seasons and there is talk in France that he may submit a transfer request in an effort to force through a move to England.
Arsenal are long-term admirers of Lacazette, while Liverpool are in the market for striking reinforcements this summer and could turn to the France international should they abandon interest in Christian Benteke.
Pedro
The arrival of Luis Suarez at the Nou Camp in the summer of 2014 saw Pedro warm the bench for much of last season, prompting speculation that he would end an 11-year association with Barcelona.
Entering the prime of his career, the 27-year-old has been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool during the transfer window, although it’s understood the Premier League champions are the front-runners for his signature.
And with the recent arrival of Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal, a move to England looks ever the more likely for the Spain international.
Denis Cheryshev
They’ve already spent heavily this summer but a £49m bonus leaves Liverpool with more dealing power in the wake of the Raheem Sterling sale. The England international proved to be a problem player in his final weeks at Anfield but he needs to be replaced and Real Madrid’s talented winger Cheryshev could be a worthy acquisition.
