Sport
Premier League transfers | 4 players still waiting for a move
Premier League transfers had to be concluded before the big kick-off in recent years but that isn’t the case this season, with the Premier League transfer window running to October. This has led to some big names being stuck in limbo as the season begins.
As usual, the merry-go-round probably needs one major move to kickstart a chain reaction throughout the league but plenty of deals will go right down to the wire.
That uncertainty is a problem for a series of big name stars who appear to be stuck at their clubs and are awaiting to be picked up here are four Premier League transfers just waiting to happen.
Premier League transfers – 4 players still hoping for a move
Wilfried Zaha – Crystal Palace
A year after Arsenal signed Nicolas Pepe from Lille instead of Wilfried Zaha, the Crystal Palace star is still being linked with a switch across London but the Eagles might be asking for too much money.
Palace reportedly value Zaha at as much as £80 million, though a return of just four goals and five assists last term did not appear to indicate the 27-year-old is ready for a big step up.
Ivory Coast winger Zaha has been in fine form during pre-season and Palace will hope to be able to hold on to their prized asset, though they have apparently lined up Sassuolo forward Jeremie Boga as his successor if they are forced to cash in.
Zaha has been linked with Borussia Dortmund and Monaco, as well as Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain, so his future could lie outside of the Premier League.
Jack Grealish – Aston Villa
Like Zaha, Grealish has stood out in a mediocre team but, thus far, no other club has been willing to splash out for the Villa captain, who is said to be valued by the club at around £80 million.
Manchester United have long been linked with Grealish but Dortmund star Jadon Sancho appears to be their primary attacking target as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to add more elite Premier League transfers.
If United cannot land Sancho – and the latest indications are the England international could stay in the Bundesliga for the coming campaign – it is possible they move on to Grealish.
Though Grealish can operate in midfield, United have already snapped up Donny van de Beek from Ajax for that position, where they also have the likes of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes.
With such a large fee being demanded by Villa, Grealish’s options for a move away from his boyhood team are limited and he might have to spend another season at the club.
James Tarkowski – Burnley
Statistically one of the best defenders in the Premier League over the past two years, James Tarkowski is being surprisingly ignored by both bigger clubs and England’s Gareth Southgate.
In a recent newspaper interview, Tarkowski made clear it is his goal to play in the Champions League but Burnley will hope to persuade him to remain a key part of their project after he played every minute in the Premier League for the Clarets last season.
A £50 million release clause in his contract does not appear to be prohibitive in a world where Harry Maguire cost Manchester United £80 million. Tarkowski was linked with replacing Maguire at Leicester City last year before they opted to put their faith in Caglar Soyuncu instead.
Tarkowski has won two England caps in friendlies but he might feel a move is needed to force his way back into the international reckoning, with Southgate seemingly unconvinced by him so far. The latest Premier League transfer news suggests that West Ham made an opening bid of £27 million for Tarkowski over the weekend.
Declan Rice – West Ham
The Hammers may be trying to buy Tarkowski, but they face a battle to hold on to Declan Rice despite the 21-year-old being contracted to the club through to 2024.
Chelsea are at the front of the queue to buy Rice as the Blues continue their spending spree, with Frank Lampard apparently tempted by his ability to play in both defence and midfield.
Rice has developed into an England regular under Southgate and it is hard to see his long-term future being at West Ham, with a return to his first club Chelsea seemingly on the cards as long as there is still cash to spend at Stamford Bridge.
West Ham are said to want £70 million for Rice, which could price Chelsea out of a deal unless they can raise funds through sales of some fringe players in the coming weeks. However, Rice will be hoping that his name is added to the list of this summer’s Premier League transfers.
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