The Premier League transfer window closed last Thursday, but clubs from across Europe still have until September 2 to complete their wheeling and dealing.
We take a look at the state of play for five big-name stars across the continent to decide which transfer deals are likely — and which rumours are just hot air.
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Paul Pogba
Manchester United’s record signing started the new campaign brightly, delivering two assists in the 4-0 romp over Chelsea on the opening weekend of Premier League action.
He was also the last player to leave the pitch, applauding fans and gifting one his shirt, leaving Red Devils faithful optimistic he would remain at the club.
That optimism wouldn’t last long, when the French midfield maestro after the match insisted “there’s always that question mark” over a potential exit from Old Trafford.
Both Juventus and Real Madrid have indicated interest in the midfield maestro, but it is highly unlikely he will depart, given United failed to sign any central midfielders this transfer window and will not be able to do so if he does leave the club.
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Pogba’s agent publicly declared in May that the player wanted to leave the club, but the only solid bid to emerge for his services was a cash-plus-player move from Real Madrid.
Madrid offered £27.4 million ($A49m) plus Colombian striker James Rodriguez — an almost insultingly low figure for a player United value at £150m ($A266m).
Having already spent big on Eden Hazard from Chelsea and Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt, Madrid look unlikely to be able to put together a bid anywhere near the vicinity of that asking price.
United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has maintained the club won’t sell for any price — and we see little chance of that changing.
Alexis Sanchez
One goal in 16 appearances last season since Solskjaer arrived in December. Just three Premier League goals in 32 appearances for Manchester United since his arrival from Arsenal in January 2018.
The 30-year-old Chilean forward has — to put it simply — flopped at Old Trafford. And Solskjaer wants him gone, despite public declarations to the contrary.
Having returned to pre-season late after appearing in Chile’s Copa America run to the semi-finals, Sanchez is ‘four or five weeks behind’ his teammates in fitness terms, according to Solskjaer.
If anything, a training-ground bust-up with young teammate Mason Greenwood could be the final nail in the coffin of Sanchez’s time in Manchester.
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The biggest issue blocking a potential exit is Sanchez’s monstrous wages — in the order of £400,000-per-week plus an array of bonuses including a reported £75,000 ‘appearance fee’ whenever he plays.
Roma have been interested in taking the Chilean on loan, but not for anywhere near that pay packet.
If United want him off their books, they will likely be forced to cover some of his wages, a sacrifice recent reports claim they are willing to accept.
By the time Sanchez is fit and challenging for a place on the team — in two or three weeks time — Solskjaer could well have moved on.
Christian Eriksen
Another Premier League superstar on the rumour mill throughout the transfer silly season, Tottenham’s Danish playmaker has been repeatedly linked to Real Madrid.
Eriksen’s family were even spotted househunting in the Spanish city last month, and the star has repeatedly refused numerous offers from Spurs to extend his contract beyond the current season as he eyes a fresh challenge.
If they cannot convince him to stay for the longer term, Tottenham will almost certainly look to sell him either this window or in January, so as to not lose him on a free transfer when his deal expires in a year’s time.
While Tottenham have brought in plenty of quality this window — with club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele having made an immediate impact on his Premier League debut — losing Eriksen would be a crushing blow to Spurs’ title ambitions.
As his performance off the bench against Aston Villa indicates, he’s still an incredibly important player for the club.
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Tottenham had been down a goal and unable to hit back for fifty minutes before Eriksen was brought in off the bench.
He immediately transformed Spurs’ attack, hitting three shots and setting up three chances for others.
Only three players were involved in that many efforts on goal in the first PL round — Eriksen did it in just 26 minutes.
With Manchester United optimistic about keeping Pogba, Madrid could turn to the Dane to bolster their faltering midfield.
Don’t rule this one out.
Philippe Coutinho
Former Liverpool ace Philippe Coutinho has scored 21 times in two seasons for Barcelona, helping the Catalan giants to consecutive La Liga titles.
Even so, things have not worked out perfectly for the diminutive Brazilian and he could be headed for the exit door.
Reports on Wednesday reveal Bayern Munich are interested in signing the attacker on a two-year loan move, but the player’s is reportedly
The Bundesliga club having successfully brought in star players on extended loan deals, such as a two-year loan for Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez in 2017.
Barcelona have smacked an £80m price tag on Coutinho and would prefer a permanent exit, while a swap deal for PSG star Neymar is still very much in play.
Neymar
Another Brazilian who could be on the move is 27-year-old Neymar, who has been pressing for a return to Spain for months.
Officials from Barcelona have flown to France to open discussions with Paris St Germain over a transfer, while Real Madrid have also held talks over a deal.
Barcelona are reportedly willing to include Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic alongside a cash package of $A130 million for Neymar, who was sold to PSG for a world-record £198m ($A350m) two years ago.
Neymar scored 51 goals in 56 appearances for PSG, guiding them to back-to-back Ligue 1 titles.
Because of the multiple players, agents, and expensive valuations involved in this deal, it will be immensely tricky to get it across the line.
But there’s plenty of time remaining, and it’s still a strong possibility.
