As if the reopening of the transfer window next month wasn’t enough to fill the gossip columns, a major international tournament always fuels the rumour mill fire. A number of prodigious talents will be hoping to put their names in lights this summer, adding to their price tags as scouts flock to France. With the incoming managerial heavyweights, this could be a big summer for transfers in the Premier League. Here are some young stars who could be on their way to England.
André Gomes, Portugal
Just how much we will see of Valencia playmaker André Gomes at the Euros is unclear given the wealth of midfield talent available to Portugal boss Fernando Santos but, if the 22-year-old is given his chance, there will be plenty of scouts analysing his performances. It has been a difficult season for the youngster, who started just 27 league games under three different managers.
He weighed in with modest tallies of three goals and three assists for Valencia but he has quality in the final third, with his close control enabling him to work his way out of tight spaces and average an impressive 1.7 dribbles per game. A confident player who likes to get stuck in but often finds himself in the referee’s bad books – amassing 18 yellows and one red card in two seasons in La Liga – he still has a way to go to fulfil his potential. Nevertheless, Manchester United and Juventus have been credited with a strong interest.
Reports that Michy Batshuayi will move to the Premier League have accelerated since he was linked with a switch to England last summer. Marseille endured a bitterly disappointing campaign but the Belgian was one of very few players to emerge with any credit. Were it not for his 17 goals and nine assists, they could easily have been relegated.
Batshuayi is unlikely to start for Belgium this summer, but if Romelu Lukaku flops like he did at the World Cup two years ago – allowing Divock Origi to profit and earn a move – Batshuayi will hope to be given the opportunity to impress in France.
Only Zlatan Ibrahimovic (51) and Ángel Di María (28) had a direct hand in more goals in Ligue 1 last season than the 22-year-old, and his ability to score vital goals and provide his team-mates is impressive. With Tottenham strongly touted with an interest, it’s little surprise that Pochettino wants to add competition for Harry Kane up front given that the Spurs marksman registered just a solitary assist last season. Batshuayi might not be as strong a finisher as the Englishman but his link-up play would be a real asset at White Hart Lane.
Breel Embolo, Switzerland
Seen as an alternative for Tottenham if they fail to land Batshuayi, Switzerland hotshot Breel Embolo has been linked with a number of the biggest clubs on the continent. The 19-year-old has pace and power and could well be on show in Vladimir Petkovic’s first choice XI, as he is capable of starting wide in a front three or through the middle.
Embolo featured 27 times in the league for Basel last season, scoring 10 goals, and was also a regular for the Swiss champions in the Europa League. The teenager’s performances in Europe not only highlighted his threat, but also the fact that he is unsurprisingly still a very raw talent. The striker scored twice and registered an assist in eight appearances for a rating of 7.09, completing the third most dribbles in the tournament (25). However, having been dispossessed more times per game (4.6) than any other player, he has bags of potential but a lot to learn.
Federico Bernardeschi, Italy
It promises to be a difficult summer for the Azzurri, who have been handed a tough group and will miss both Marco Verratti and Claudio Marchisio through injury. Antonio Conte will want to sign off a relatively underwhelming stint in style but he needs a player to step up and make a name for himself if Italy are progress in the tournament. In what looks likely to be a 3-5-2 formation, with plenty of importance on the wing-backs in that system, that man could
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