With the Premier League transfer window set to close next Thursday – August 9 – the 20 top-flight clubs face a mad scramble to complete their summer business in time.
While some have been organised and efficiently went about completing signings early, others will be frantically trying to plug gaps in their squads ahead of the Premier League kick-off on August 10.
And while Premier League sides won’t be able to buy any more players after August 9, remember that European clubs can still sign their players all the way until the end of the month.
We take a look at 10 last-minute deals involving Premier League teams that could happen in the next nine days.
HARRY MAGUIRE
Leicester City to Manchester United
The way Jose Mourinho keeps making pointed comments about Manchester United’s inadequate transfer business this summer, you’d think they didn’t have any defenders.
The manager is adamant that United need a new centre half and Leicester’s Maguire is flavour of the month following his excellent performances in England’s run to the World Cup semi-final.
Harry Maguire’s stock has soared following strong performances for England at the World Cup
United have made signing Maguire their top priority before the deadline but Leicester hold all the aces. They know United have the need and will happily inflate a transfer fee already well above £50million.
Leicester manager Claude Puel insists they will not sell, but that decision may be taken out of his hands if the bidding gets high enough.
But United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, tasked with doing the deal, may be reluctant to dance to Mourinho’s tune after such public criticism and could look to an alternative centre back such as Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld.
THIBAUT COURTOIS
Chelsea to Real Madrid
It’s one of the worst kept secrets in football that Thibaut Courtois is keen on joining European champions Real Madrid – and who can blame him.
For one thing, they will be playing Champions League football this season – unlike Chelsea – and his two children still live in the Spanish capital from his time with Atletico.
The Belgian returned home from the World Cup with his reputation enhanced, having played an instrumental part in their run to the semi-finals, collecting the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper.
It looks likely that Courtois will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge, so long as Chelsea sign a replacement, such as Jack Butland of Stoke City, before the deadline.
Given that the Spanish transfer deadline remains on the usual date of August 31, Real will have plenty of time to wrap up the deal if that happens.
WILLIAN
Chelsea to Real Madrid or Manchester United
Another player likely to leave Stamford Bridge following what has been a chaotic summer is Brazilian midfielder Willian.
After doing well at the World Cup, it looked likely the 29-year-old was going to join Barcelona, but the Catalan club baulked at Chelsea’s £70m asking price and signed Bordeaux’s Malcom for half that fee instead.
However, Real Madrid have emerged as competition, wanting to sign Willian alongside Courtois in a combined £100m package.
With Chelsea more likely to sell to Real than a direct domestic rival, this presents United with a problem but they do remain the front-runner if Willian is to leave London.
MARCOS ROJO
Manchester United to Everton
With a new centre back likely to arrive in the coming days, someone has to make way at United and the favourite to depart is the Argentine Marcos Rojo.
Everton have expressed an interst in signing the 28-year-old centre half, who has never really gained Mourinho’s trust, and the deal could be worth £30m.
It could certainly represent decent business for United, who signed Rojo from Sporting Lisbon for just £16m four years ago.
Given that the Sporting boss at the time was a certain Marco Silva, now installed at Everton, the transfer does make sense.
But with Mourinho already alarmed by a mounting injury crisis ahead of their season opener against Leicester next Friday, it will all depend on who they manage to bring in.
MATEO KOVACIC
Real Madrid to Chelsea or Manchester City
Chelsea have made enquiries about the Real Madrid midfielder, who is a player admired by the new Blues coach Maurizio Sarri from his days in Italy with Inter Milan.
Croatia international Kovacic is currently regarded as an alternative if Chelsea are unable to sign £30m-rated Aaron Ramsey from London rivals Arsenal.
To make things easier, Kovacic has told Real of his desire to move on this summer, though the European champions are reluctant to allow him to leave.
But Chelsea may face competition for his signature from Manchester City, who have already missed out on their lead midfield targets Fred and Jorginho, who joined United and Chelsea respectively.
AARON RAMSEY
Arsenal to Chelsea
Which brings us on to Ramsey as another seemingly in-demand midfielder. The Welshman has just one year left on his contract, though is in talks with Arsenal over a renewal.
But with Sarri keen to sign a reliable passer in central midfield, Chelsea could capitalise if Arsenal decide they wish to cash in now rather than let Ramsey leave for nothing next summer.
Having been through contract sagas with other key assets Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in the recent past, Arsenal won’t want the situation to drag on.
But Chelsea are monitoring developments over at the Emirates Stadium with the player likely to cost something in the region of £30m.
EDEN HAZARD
Chelsea to Real Madrid
This was expected to be the transfer saga of the summer but the plot hasn’t really got going yet.
With Cristiano Ronaldo joining Juventus for £100m, Real were left with a Galactico-shaped hole in their squad and Hazard was surely the man to fill it.
The Belgian further enhanced his reputation at the World Cup and given that Real have a habit of signing their stars post-tournament, we all expected the move to happen.
Chelsea have pulled out all the stops to keep him, with Sarri saying he may entrust Hazard with the captaincy and the club slapping a world record £200m price tag on their star man.
But the Belgian still hasn’t agreed to a new contract worth £300,000 a week and Real have until the end of the month to make something happen.
DANIELE RUGANI
Juventus to Chelsea
In yet another potential transfer involving Chelsea, the club are hoping to set the wheels in motion to sign the Juventus and Italy centre-half Rugani this week.
Owner Roman Abramovich and director Marina Granovskaia met in the south of France as Chelsea played Inter Milan in a friendly in Nice to discuss transfer targets.
Rugani, 23, would cost them around £45m but Sarri has identified the centre-back position as one which requires strengthening.
Another potential option could be Rugani’s Juve team-mate Mattia Caldara, who is valued at about £40m and spent last season on loan at Atalanta.
YERRY MINA
Barcelona to Manchester United
If United are unable to sign Maguire, a potential alternative could be Barcelona’s Colombian centre-back Mina.
Though the 23-year-old only arrived at the Nou Camp back in January, he has struggled to settle and the Spanish champions could look to move him on for the right amount.
Everton have also been linked with Mina, who played and scored for Colombia in their World Cup last-16 loss to England.
However, as with any Premier League target, United would have to act quickly to make a deal next week depending on how long they continue their pursuit of Maguire.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC
Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea
Pulisic has become one of the hottest properties in European football since Borussia Dortmund made it known they are prepared to sell the American teenager for something in the region of £65m.
Chelsea and Liverpool from the Premier League, plus continental powerhouses Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, have all been linked with the 19-year-old playmaker.
Bayern have long been the favourites to sign Pulisic, who can play on the wing or behind the striker, but could be blown out of the water by one of the Premier League clubs.
Chelsea could also have leverage in negotiations if they make striker Michy Batshuayi part of the deal, after the Belgian enjoyed a successful loan spell at Dortmund in the second half of last season.