After Liverpool and Tottenham wrapped up an incredibly exciting club season with an admittedly less-than-exciting final, it's now time for World Football to focus on the fireworks of the summer transfer market. A LOT of moves are on the cards this summer, some announced already, some waiting for the right time. Antoine Greizmann has already confirmed his Atletico Madrid exit, and Eden Hazard has all but confirmed his exit from Chelsea. James Rodriguez's career is in limbo and Gareth Bale continues to be unsettled in Madrid. Though many other huge signings are possible, we've picked out the tip of the iceberg by selecting the most likely massive moves of the summer:
1. Antoine Griezmann
The 28-year-old French striker dropped an official goodbye video to his current club a few weeks ago, but so far he has not said hello to anyone. Rumors of Griezmann going to Barcelona have flown for years, but some sources have claimed that Barcelona's players don't want him in the squad. Time will tell the truth of this rumor, but other clubs will not be waiting around to see. Manchester United, who looked SO close to signing him last summer, appear to be chasing his services once again. A link-up with national teammate Paul Pogba would make sense, but it seems a bit unlikely considering United's 6th-place finish in the Premier League and subsequent failure to qualify for the Champions League next season.
2. Eden Hazard
Another 28-year-old star is on the move this summer by the name of Eden Hazard. The Belgian superstar said "I think this is goodbye" after winning the Europa League with Chelsea last week. Real Madrid is sure to be the destination for the winger as the disgraced club rebuilds their squad after a horrible season in Spain and Europe. Nothing is set in stone yet, but Madrid seems to be the end-all goal for Hazard, who has hinted at a move to the club for years.
3. Matthijs de Ligt
The backbone of Ajax's unexpected run to the semi-finals of the Champions League was 19-year-old Dutch captain and defender Matthijs de Ligt. That's right: 19. The maturity required to play center-back at a high level is very intense, let alone the maturity required to captain your team, but it's all there with de Ligt. His list of suitors is a mile long, but the most likely seem to be one of Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester United, or perhaps Liverpool. Barcelona and Juventus offer him the chance to shoot straight to the top of the world, playing alongside Messi or Cristiano, respectively, and Barcelona allows him to stay with his friend and fellow Ajax alum, Frenkie de Jong. The only problem with one of these clubs is that he may not fit directly into the starting lineup, which could be a factor in his decision.
If money is a big factor for him, Manchester United will likely provide it. The club are desperate to rebuild their back line, but--as with Griezmann--the club's poor outlook for next season could turn him away from the club. The somewhat outside choice here would be Liverpool. Despite being fresh off a Champions League win, the club is not without its defensive question marks. Joel Matip and Joe Gomez will get the job done alongside de Ligt's fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk, but Liverpool will surely hope to win the Premier League next year, as well as seek to defend their trophy in Europe. This requires a deep squad, and they have the money from their win to afford a big move. de Ligt may be convinced by his national teammate van Dijk and the impressive UCL victory Liverpool achieved this year, but Barcelona is definitely still the favorite.
4. Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez
The out-of-favor duo in Madrid has question marks all over the place. James has come back after Bayern declined to extend his loan or trigger his buy clause, and Gareth Bale has seemed unsettled for a long time at Madrid. With Zinedine Zidane looking to rebuild the squad from the ground up this summer, these two are very likely to the ones on the chopping block to raise cash for the likes of Hazard and others.
Where exactly these two might end up is a mystery. James has been linked to Juventus, which does make sense. Fellow Colombian Juan Cuardrado is there, along with former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. The Italian side is looking to revamp its midfield after its disappointing exit in the Champions League, and James provides the quality a top team requires. Another loan could be an option as well.
Bale is most heavily linked to a move back to the Premier League, which would also make sense. Many reports of the Welshman's *ahem* below average (too be generous) Spanish-language skills likely would help push him back to English-speaking lands, along with his memories of glory days at Spurs. Spurs would seem a good fit with their lack of recent transfers and influx of cash after an outstanding season, but on the flip side, their conservative spending policies don't exactly seem in line with the huge fee Bale would cost. Chelsea could use him as a replacement for Hazard, but their transfer ban rules them out of the race. Manchester United are also in the conversation, but, as you're probably tired of reading, it doesn't seem super likely because of their current state, meaning Bale's future is a bit more hazy than James'.
5. Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil (maybe?)
If they can find a way to get rid of the Chilean winger, Manchester United seem like they will take it. Sanchez is a huge earner at the club, but hasn't really been involved on the field in months. Both sides seem eager to separate in the summer. The same can be said of his former teammate and current Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil, who swiftly fell out of favor with the club's new manager this past season. Both of these players, however, are in the same situation. They don't want to stay, but there's not a huge chance they can leave. With the huge salaries they command ($33m a year for Sanchez, $20m a year for Özil), it is unlikely that other clubs will want them in the terrible form they have shown over the past few months. Their destinations are both completely up in the air, but a move would likely be on the cards for either one that is willing to take a pay cut.