The plans for a European Super League has fallen apart in recent days with eight of the 12 founder clubs announcing their withdrawal.
The Premier League ’s six most profitable clubs – Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool – have all distanced themselves from the proposals along with Inter and Atletico Madrid.
Whilst Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and Milan all remain part of the proposals, it does not appear to be viable in the short term.
For the six English clubs, they will be looking to make amends to their fans after a wave of criticism and protests against the proposals.
We take a look at which signing each club could pull off to partly appease their fans and bring back a sense of positivity ahead of next season.
Manchester United – Jadon Sancho
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England international Jadon Sancho has blossomed into a star at Borussia Dortmund and has been a long-term transfer target at Old Trafford.
Having left Manchester City for the Bundesliga side in 2017, Sancho swiftly established himself as a regular on the right flank of the German club’s fearsome attack.
Sancho’s form last season – netting 20 goals and providing 19 assists – saw his profile and price tag soar, but with Dortmund now struggling to qualify for the Champions League and the downturn in football finances generally, he is likely to become more affordable this summer.
Despite suffering a slight dip in his productivity this campaign, Sancho has still netted 12 goals and provided a further 12 direct assists and would solve a long-term problem solution at United.
Chelsea – Erling Haaland
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Another Borussia Dortmund star, the price tag and status of Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has rocketed over the past year.
Having only joined the side from RB Salzburg in January 2020, Haaland has already clocked up 51 goals in 55 appearances for Dortmund – he has scored 79 goals since the start of the 2019/20 campaign.
Furthermore, the 20-year-old has also taken the Champions League by storm as he has scored 20 goals in just 16 appearances in Europe’s premier club competition in that timeframe.
In demand at every top European club, he would be the ideal fit at Chelsea – where the futures of Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud are both uncertain, and Timo Werner better suited to a wide position.
Arsenal – Martin Odegaard
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Haaland is not the only Norwegian prodigy with a huge future ahead of him, with playmaker Martin Odegaard blossoming into a huge star.
Arsenal secured a stunning coup to secure his loan signing from Real Madrid in January, but it has widely been accepted that he is likely to return to the Spanish capital this summer.
Odegaard has struggled to fit into Madrid’s strict 4-3-3 system, with Zinedine Zidane’s initial attempts to accommodate him swiftly scrapped for the old guard to be restored.
However, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are unlikely to play as frequently next season and Odegaard – who starred on a loan spell at Real Sociedad last season – is tipped to be restored next season.
Relations between Los Blancos and Arsenal – where Dani Ceballos has also made a loan move – are strong but a permanent move would be a huge statement of intent.
Manchester City – Lionel Messi
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Despite the emergence of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, the best player in the world remains Lionel Messi.
The Argentine superstar, now aged 33, continues to carry the weight of Barcelona on his shoulders but he is out of contract this summer and with the club in mass financial problems, renewing his contract may prove problematic.
Messi has spent the entirety of his professional career at the Camp Nou and this summer may be his final big chance to play at another elite club and carry his legacy outside of Catalonia.
Realistically, only Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain could fund such a move and the chance to be reunited with former boss Pep Guardiola may prove a decisive factor for City.
Liverpool – Kylian Mbappe
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Whilst a huge part of Liverpool’s erratic form this season has been their defensive injuries, there are also notable issues around their attacking output.
Their Premier League goal return of 54 in 32 matches is only the fifth highest in the campaign, while Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are now both 29 and Mohamed Salah celebrates that birthday this summer.
Diogo Jota has added life to the attack but a superstar arrival would transform their ambitions, and Mbappe would be the perfect fit.
The Frenchman’s devastating pace and lethal finishing is precisely the combination that would fit the Reds attack, and there have been suggestions he is open to a move to Anfield.
If Paris Saint-Germain make an attempt to sign Lionel Messi, they may have to sell a superstar to accommodate the deal which could lead to an Mbappe exit.
Tottenham – Julian Nagelsmann
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It was almost missed in the intensity of European Super League news this week, but Tottenham sacked boss Jose Mourinho.
Ryan Mason is in temporary charge until the end of the season but the club are now targeting a permanent replacement and RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann could be top of the list.
Aged just 33, Nagelsmann worked wonders at Bundesliga club Hoffenheim before joining league rivals RB Leipzig in 2019.
In his first full season at the helm he guided them to a Champions League semi-final place and a top three spot in the league – while they look set to go one better domestically this time round.
