B/R Football's 2025 Summer Transfer Big Board
It’s going to be a busy summer.
It feels like most of Europe's top sides have glaring needs this year. The striker market is suddenly crammed with potential stars who could command a major fee, while the lure of Saudi Arabia creeps closer for those who fancy a major payday.
Rumours are flying. Fans are expectant. It's time to look at some of the biggest names who will likely end up somewhere new.
Editor's note: Completed transfer moves and expected future transfers were not included on the list.
Marcus Rashford, Manchester United
1 of 10
Front-runners: Barcelona
Dark horses: Paris Saint-Germain, Aston Villa
Marcus Rashford enjoyed an uptick in form during his loan spell with Aston Villa. He was down in the dumps at Manchester United and doesn't fit into Ruben Amorim's plans.
Four goals and six assists in 17 appearances for the Villans was a real improvement, although not quite the "OMG Rashford is Back" headlines people loved to throw at the ailing Red Devils.
It’s well-documented the 27-year-old is available for around £40 million. He's still a talented player with plenty of top-quality natural attributes. He needs to play with freedom and in a team where his sometimes questionable level of effort isn't massively detrimental to the rest of the side.
That worked at Villa, but it seems the player now has his heart set on a switch to Barcelona instead.
Barca would make some sense if the financials can be worked out, as the England international can offer cover for Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski if needed.
Would he offer more than Ferran Torres does, especially considering the money that would be involved? It seems unlikely. But Hansi Flick is effective at helping players find their best form, so it will be interesting to see if Rashford gets that chance.
- Nick Akerman
Alejandro Garnacho, Manchester United
2 of 10
Front-runners: Napoli
Dark horses: Chelsea
When Rashford left Old Trafford in January, it looked for a moment that Alejandro Garnacho was making strides at United.
The 20-year-old seemed to be working harder in Amorim's system. He was taking care of the ball and showing up for teammates. A few months on, though, and he's been told he can leave.
Napoli were interested in the winger back then, and they are sure to be among the favourites to land him now. Chelsea's decision to opt out of their obligation to sign Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal could also reignite their interest in a player who has so much to improve and so much time to do it.
Garnacho already has a ridiculous highlight reel. That bicycle-kick strike against Everton sums up a player who is capable of producing special moments.
His finishing and decision-making, such as when to hold on to the ball and when to pass, desperately need work if he's to reach his immense potential. And he almost certainly won't be trying to do that at United.
- Nick Akerman
Benjamin Sesko, RB Leipzig
3 of 10
Front-runners: Arsenal
Dark horses: Liverpool, Chelsea
How was Earth created? What's the secret to everlasting life? Could Benjamin Sesko be the answer to Arsenal's striker problem? These questions have been around since the dawn of time. We might finally get the answer to one of them this summer.
Sesko is a well-known and heavily scouted prospect at this point. His combination of physicality and quality on the ball would work well in tandem with the Gunners' wingers.
The fact that the 22-year-old would provide a focal point and finishing quality in place of Kai Havertz or the constantly injured Gabriel Jesus is also a huge plus.
Mikel Arteta's project rests on finding the right striker. There are no more opportunities to avoid buying one.
Sesko is a fine choice for any top team in England and should suit the Premier League well. I may need to start refusing to write about this team until they actually do the obvious thing. No more can be said.
- Nick Akerman
Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting CP
4 of 10
Front-runners: Arsenal
Dark horses: Liverpool, Atletico, Manchester United
Take everything I wrote about Sesko and Arsenal, then apply it to Viktor Gyokeres?
Few strikers are as hyped as the brilliant Sporting frontman right now. He's rightfully gained attention after scoring over 60 goals for club and country in the last calendar year. Hat-tricks seem to arrive like rain, washing away some already unbelievable stat and replacing it with another.
The Sweden international is very much right there and waiting for his next team. He's a player who has put in the hard yards and is getting the pay-off. It seems weird to think just two years ago he was ripping up the Championship with Coventry City.
Gyokeres never got the shot at making it in the Premier League, so he may feel like he has some unfinished business in England.
Could he be the final part of former manager Amorim's new forward line at Manchester United? With Matheus Cunha confirmed and Bryan Mbeumo likely, Gyokeres feels like an excellent fit ahead of them. That's, er, if Arsenal don't go for him zzz…
- Nick Akerman
Hugo Ekitike, Eintracht Frankfurt
5 of 10
Front-runners: Chelsea
Dark horses: Liverpool
Chelsea's need for a striker is likely to lessen with the imminent arrival of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town. The Blues have severely bloated numbers for head coach Enzo Maresca to work with, so you wouldn't put it past them to go for Hugo Ekitike as well.
The former PSG striker enjoyed a fantastic season in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt and should be considered one of Europe's hottest properties heading into the summer.
His performances have improved with consistent starts, so there's a question as to whether moving somewhere for rotational football is a smart choice at this stage of his progression.
He will be 23 when next season begins and should have aspirations of leading France's line for a long time to come. But battling with other hungry prospects seems a difficult situation when he could maintain his sharpness elsewhere.
Either way, Ekitike is set to land a major deal and has the talent to thrive anywhere if he's given the opportunity.
- Nick Akerman
Jadon Sancho, Manchester United
6 of 10
Front-runners: A Saudi league club
Dark horses: Borussia Dortmund
Jadon Sancho is running out of options.
Just a few months ago, he wrote about "freedom" after Rashford left Manchester United on loan for Aston Villa.
This week, Chelsea decided they would rather pay United £5 million to take Sancho back than go through with their obligation to sign the winger for £25 million.
Nobody is going to match his reported £300,000 per week wages at Old Trafford, so it's on the player himself to work out if he wants to rot away or take a pay cut (which let's face it, still means ridiculous money).
Right now, it looks like Sancho is waiting for a Saudi club to rescue him, pretty much ending his reputation as a top-tier star (Remember Jhon Duran?).
Or more likely the better move would be trying to secure some kind of cut-price deal with Borussia Dortmund, who have already galvanised his career with one loan move.
It's sad to see such a talented individual on such a tainted path. Whoever comes in for the 25-year-old next will be taking a leap of faith.
- Nick Akerman
Luis Diaz, Liverpool
7 of 10
Front Runners: A Saudi league club
Dark Horse: Barcelona
Normally, a player in his prime with 23 goals and assists in 50 appearances combined for a season would be someone you would want to keep.
But Liverpool work differently from most clubs. Luis Diaz, the Reds' electric left winger, is 28 and has two years left on his contract. A decision has to be made on whether the Colombia international will re-sign or be sold before his valuation drops in the transfer market.
Liverpool are well-stocked on the wing with Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa (don't laugh) as depth should Diaz leave. A £72 million bid from the Saudi league has been speculated, while a move from Barcelona shouldn't be discounted.
Barca sporting director Deco has been a keen admirer of Diaz in the past.
- Lucky Ngamwajasat
Darwin Nunez, Liverpool
8 of 10
Front runners: A Saudi league club
Dark horses: AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Napoli
Liverpool's famed transfer committee rarely gets things wrong, but in the case of Darwin Nunez, they may have made a huge error. A reported fee of £76.8 million seems to be money wasted on a striker who has failed to live up to expectations.
The Uruguay international has had his moments in a red shirt, including 90th-minute winners against Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Brentford, but those thrilling moments were overshadowed by the 25-year-old's maddening inconsistency and lack of clinical finishing.
However, the forward will still have suitors looking to find an elusive No. 9 and unlock the hidden potential the Reds have been unable to do so. Saudi clubs have been rumored to be interested, along with interest from Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Napoli.
Imagine Nunez being coached by Diego Simeone. Now that's a frightening prospect.
- Lucky Ngamwajasat
Heung-Min Son, Tottenham Hotspur
9 of 10
Front runners: A Saudi league club
This might be the perfect time for a fond farewell for Tottenham Hotspur's club captain.
The 2024-25 season was one of extremes for Spurs fans. Twenty-two losses in the Premier League, a 17th-place finish and a win in the UEFA Europa League final over Manchester United, punching their ticket into the Champions League.
For Heung-Min Son, a loyal servant to the club who could have left for trophies earlier in his career, the Europa League win would be the right way to call time on his career in north London. According to the Telegraph, the forward is subject to interest from Saudi clubs.
Son is 32 years old and seemed like he lost a step during this season: His goal return dropped from 17 in the 2023-24 campaign to just seven this season.
With Tottenham needing reinforcements across the squad, getting Son off the books could be the prudent move for all parties involved.
- Lucky Ngamwajasat
Jack Grealish, Manchester City
10 of 10
Interested Clubs: Everton, Napoli, Newcastle United, Aston Villa
It appears as if Jack Grealish's time at Manchester City is up.
Not included in the final matchday squad against Fulham and with City expecting to revitalize their squad, the 29-year-old seems likely to be a necessary casualty in order to make way for new recruits.
Grealish has never lived up the hype of being a £100 million transfer for City, and this season's return of a goal and an assist in 20 Premier League appearances may have been the last straw for Pep Guardiola.
Could Grealish make a return to Aston Villa? Perhaps a move abroad is the right one for the England international?
Whatever the move, don't expect the club to be Manchester City.
- Lucky Ngamwajasat
