The summer is here and with no major international tournaments, all eyes will be on the transfer window for the next few weeks.
There have already been some notable deals completed. Diego Carlos and Philippe Coutinho have both departed LaLiga clubs to join Aston Villa, Betis have sealed the capture of young Brazilian winger Luiz Henrique, Mathias Olivera has left Getafe for €11m to join Napoli while Antonio Rüdiger has moved to Real Madrid on a free transfer.
We’ve also had quite possibly the biggest non-transfer of all time, with Kylian Mbappe ultimately deciding to stay at PSG rather than head to the Santiago Bernabeu. That whole saga offers a cautionary tale as to how even the strongest links can go cold.
With the rumour mill currently in overdrive once more, here’s a look at some of the players who look most likely to be on the move this summer, either into or out of Spanish clubs.
The Big Money Deals
Jules Kounde, Sevilla
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €60m
- Age – 23
- Possible Destination – Chelsea
After three impressive years at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, Jules Kounde is widely expected to leave Sevilla to join Chelsea, potentially before the end of the month, with the fee likely to be in the region of £50m (€59m). With his central defensive partner Diego Carlos having already moved to the Premier League for around half that sum, Sevilla’s legendary Sporting Director Monchi will have some significant funds to commence the club’s latest rebuild with defensive reinforcements sure to be the number one priority.
Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €60m
- Age – 25
- Possible Destination – Manchester United
The rise of the likes of Pedri and Gavi has seen De Jong’s stock fall somewhat at Camp Nou, and Barça now seem like they’d be tempted to cash in on the Dutch midfielder, who remains one of their most valuable assets. Often it can take one big deal to get done, for the rest of the market to spring into action. This summer it feels like Frenkie de Jong’s potential reunion with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford could be that transfer. The bad news for everyone else is that United are notoriously slow at getting deals over the line.
Carlos Soler, Valencia
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €50m
- Age – 25
- Possible Destinations – Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Napoli
With Valencia’s need to raise funds well documented and with Soler having just one year left on his present deal, everything points to Carlos Soler leaving Mestalla this summer. Valencia will be hoping there is interest from more than one party amid rumoured Serie A interest from Juventus and Napoli which could drive the price up, although it’s hard to see anyone going as high as his €50m valuation. Barcelona viewed him as a potential replacement for Frenkie de Jong, but that interest appears to have cooled with the Wanda Metropolitano now looking a more likely destination for the midfielder.
Aurelien Tchouameni, Monaco
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €60m
- Age – 22
- Possible Destination – Real Madrid
After the whole Mbappe saga, you’re hesitant to say it, but this looks and feels like a done deal with a “Comunicado Oficial” expected imminently from Los Blancos. After missing out on the Frenchman, it looks as though Madrid have perhaps wisely not gone down the road of just buying the next best available forward and have instead opted to strengthen in other areas. Tchouaméni is a very highly rated holding midfielder who should provide some long overdue competition for Casemiro in the deep role.
Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €50m
- Age – 33
- Possible Destination – Barcelona
In every summer, there are market opportunities that unexpectedly arise and this feels like one for Barcelona with Polish goal machine Robert Lewandowski having gone public about his desire to leave Bayern in recent weeks. The German champions appear reluctant sellers and Barça aren’t really in a position to spend big on a 33 year old, so this one may rumble on for some time, but if they can pull it off, it’s a signing which would be a huge boost to the Catalan club’s chances of competing with Real Madrid for the league title next term.
Pau Torres, Villarreal
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €50m
- Age – 25
- Possible Destinations – Tottenham, Manchester United
With Villarreal dropping down into the UEFA Conference League after two wonderful years in Europe, Pau Torres is another player who may be looking for a big move this summer. With two years to run on his present deal, this feels like it could also be the optimum window for the Yellow Submarine to cash in on their homegrown centre-back. Manchester United have been admirers for a while but a move to Tottenham is looking more likely and the deal may see Giovani Lo Celso move the other away after a promising loan spell at the Cerámica.
Other Significant Potential Transfers
Goncalo Guedes, Valencia
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €40m
- Age – 25
- Possible Destination – Roma
The latest Valencia fire-sale may also see one or two other big names depart. Selling both Soler and fellow academy graduate Jose Gaya in the same summer would spark a fresh wave of fury in the city, so the club may seek alternative options to raise cash and Goncalo Guedes will be right at the top of that list. The Portuguese international had a good season under the now ex Valencia boss José Bordalás with 11 goals, his best ever league tally. Jose Mourinho is believed to be keen on bringing him to Rome, although the fee would most likely be less than his €40m valuation.
Raul De Tomas, Espanyol
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €25m
- Age – 27
- Possible Destination – Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Sevilla
The 2021/22 season saw Raul De Tomas return to the top flight with Espanyol and once again showcase his status as a proven goalscorer at this level with 17 league goals in a stellar campaign that also saw him break into the international set-up. However it wasn’t all smooth sailing behind the scenes with a fallout with boss Vicente Moreno fuelling talk of a summer exit. Moreno has since left the club, but De Tomas may follow him out of the door with three of last season’s top four reportedly keen.
David Garcia, Osasuna
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €20m
- Age – 28
- Possible Destination – Sevilla
While Sevilla do often look overseas for their recruitment, there is an obvious potential replacement for their departing centre-backs this summer a bit closer to home in the shape of Osasuna’s David Garcia. The long-serving defender has won plenty of admirers for his form over the past couple of seasons and is perhaps unfortunate not to have earned international recognition. Osasuna may be willing to accept an offer in the region of €20m which would allow them to bring several players in to strengthen their options across the pitch.
Bryan Gil, Tottenham
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €18m
- Age – 21
- Possible Destinations – Valencia, Real Sociedad
Seemingly surplus to requirements at Tottenham, Bryan Gil may return to LaLiga on a permanent deal this summer. He ended the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Valencia but Los Che would need to move a number of players out first before being able to contemplate making the deal permanent. That may offer Real Sociedad a window of opportunity to close a deal with Gil an option as they seek to bolster their squad in the wide areas.
Javi Galan, Celta Vigo
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €12m
- Age – 27
- Possible Destinations – Lazio, Fiorentina, Fulham, Barcelona
Javi Galan is only one year into a five year contract at Balaidos after joining Celta from Huesca last summer but he is already being strongly linked with another move. The left-back has an eclectic mix of admirers with Barcelona recently believed to be looking at him to come in and provide cover for Jordi Alba. There is also thought to be Serie A interest while Premier League new boys Fulham are the latest to be linked.
The Best of the Relegated Players
Luis Milla, Granada
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €5m
- Age – 27
- Possible Destination – Valencia
This feels like an exceptional summer in terms of the number of proven performers who have been relegated from the top flight and many of those teams that did survive will be looking on with interest. One of the most attractive potential signings is Granada’s Luis Milla who has stood out in Andalusia over the past two seasons. A return to Tenerife (should they win their Play-Off Final) would be the romantic solution but a switch to Valencia as a budget replacement for Carlos Soler looks more likely at this stage.
Luis Suarez, Granada
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €9m
- Age – 24
- Possible Destinations – Sevilla, Real Valladolid
Granada will be hoping to hold on to some of their best players as they prepare for a promotion push, but the financial realities of relegation may force them into at least a few sales. Another of their biggest assets is Luis Suarez who netted 8 goals in LaLiga last term and has shown signs of developing into a strong all-round forward. Sevilla may look at him as a useful squad player while new boys Real Valladolid could seek to spend a significant chunk of their budget on an audacious bid to bring the Colombian back to the club following a loan stint with their B team in 2017/18.
Luis Maximiano, Granada
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €12m
- Age – 23
- Possible Destination – Napoli
There is rumoured interest from Napoli but Luis Maximiano’s next destination is unclear at this stage, with the 23 year old one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Europe last term. He was certainly one of Granada’s best performers and his capture for just €4.5m last summer already looks like a fantastic piece of business. The Andalusians may try to convince him to stay and be part of their bid to build a really competitive young team that could eventually flourish back in the top flight, but the Portuguese shot-stopper may have other plans.
Jose Campaña, Levante
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €6m
- Age – 29
- Possible Destination – Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia, Espanyol, Celta Vigo, Osasuna
With just one year to run on his current deal and Segunda División football on the horizon, it’s hard to see Campaña extending his stay at Levante with a summer transfer likely to suit both club and player. The talented midfielder has had his injury problems in the past two seasons which may put some off, but at his best, Campaña is somebody who would be a useful addition for almost every club in LaLiga. There have been plenty of links but no firm offers at this stage.
Jorge de Frutos, Levante
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €10m
- Age – 25
- Possible Destination – Getafe, Real Sociedad
Winger Jorge de Frutos is another Levante player who has shown more than enough to suggest he belongs in the top tier and he’s likely to attract bids this summer. The firmest interest right now appears to be from Getafe but a move to Real Sociedad may appeal more with the Basque club keen to reinforce their options on the right flank with Adnan Januzaj set to depart.
Fernando Pacheco
- Value (Transfermarkt) – €5m
- Age – 30
- Possible Destinations – Rayo Vallecano, Celta Vigo, Espanyol, Real Madrid
With a number of Spanish clubs in need of a new goalkeeper ahead of the 2022/23 season, Fernando Pacheco seems an obvious target. Aside from Joselu, who is believed to have already agreed to join Espanyol, he has been the standout player in an otherwise poor Alavés side and has shown over a number of years that he is one of the most dependable goalkeepers in LaLiga. He looks capable of going to the likes of Celta or Espanyol and establishing himself as the new number one, although a return to Real Madrid as back-up to Thibaut Courtois may also be an option with Andriy Lunin likely to depart on loan.
Featured Image of Carlos Soler via Valencia CF, CC BY 3.0
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