2024: 15 top European league footballers who are looking for urgent exit

Here are Clement Lenglet, Ansu Fati, Federico Chiesa and 15 players who must change teams before the transfer market closes.

A look at the players who are hoping for a change of scenery in the coming days.

The summer has flown by and we are now less than a week away from the transfer window closing on Friday 30th August. So far, it has been a fairly quiet few months on the transfer front.

Last summer, the Saudi Pro League was making waves, but that particular market has shrunk considerably, which has had an effect on activity in Europe’s top leagues.

As a result, there is a long list of players who have been trying to secure a move away from their current clubs, but are finding that no one is willing to pay for their services.

However, all this could change in the coming days. As the transfer window draws to a close, sporting directors are operating with urgency.

Here’s a look at some of the players who are hoping there’s still time to secure a transfer this summer…

Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)

Had you forgotten that the most expensive goalkeeper in history was still at Chelsea? The €94m the Blues paid Athletic Club in 2018 for Kepa’s services has proved to be a shocking investment and the Spaniard has been training away from the first-team group this summer after a disappointing loan spell at Real Madrid. His wages will make a permanent exit difficult, but Bournemouth are exploring a loan move in what would be a significant downturn.

Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)

Following his fall-out with Pep Guardiola at the start of 2023, there is no turning back for Cancelo at Manchester City, with the Premier League champions keen to get him out of their ranks permanently this summer. Barcelona were initially keen on bringing the Portuguese international back to Spain after his loan spell last season, but the Catalans’ financial problems mean that is no longer an option. Instead, Saudi Arabia’s Pro League looks like his most likely destination.

Federico Chiesa (Juventus)

Chiesa has gone from being one of Italy’s Euro 2020 heroes to being overshadowed at Juventus following a run of injuries and the appointment of Thiago Motta as the Bianconeri’s new coach. Still just 26, there is no doubt the striker has plenty more to offer, with Barcelona among the clubs considering a move at the end of the transfer window.

Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)

Bayern already had a wide variety of attacking flanks before Michael Olise arrived from Crystal Palace, and it seems it has been decided that Coman is now expendable. The man who scored the winning goal in the 2020 Champions League final certainly has plenty more to offer at the age of 28, and Barcelona are said to be considering a potential loan move for the French international.

Christian Eriksen (Manchester United)

Eriksen has never quite fit in since joining United. And now that he is entering the final stages of his career, it is best that he leaves Old Trafford to get his smile back. A reunion with his former club Ajax has been repeatedly mentioned this summer and that would seem to be some sort of fairytale ending to his iconic career.

Ansu Fati (Barcelona)

When Fati first burst onto the scene as an exciting 16-year-old, it seemed to be the start of an unstoppable rise to the top of world football. Injuries have severely hampered his development since, and after failing to revive his career on loan at Brighton last season, Barcelona are likely to be willing to let him go to ease their financial pressures. It would be a sad exit, but it could be the best decision for Fati.

Clement Lenglet (Barcelona)

When Fati first burst onto the scene as an exciting 16-year-old, it seemed to be the start of an unstoppable rise to the top of world football. Injuries have severely hampered his development since, and after failing to revive his career on loan at Brighton last season, Barcelona are likely to be willing to let him go to ease their financial pressures. It would be a sad exit, but it could be the best decision for Fati.

Gio Lo Celso (Tottenham)

Lo Celso has been close to a permanent exit from Tottenham on several occasions, but this summer looks set to bring an end to his time in north London. The Argentina international previously shone during a loan spell at Villarreal, and a return to Spain seems the most likely outcome on this occasion too.

Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)

It wouldn’t be a summer transfer window without speculation surrounding Lukaku’s future. His decision to return to Stamford Bridge in 2021 continues to blow up in his face, with the Blues having no intention of welcoming him back after loan spells at Inter and Roma. Napoli appear to be next on the Belgian’s growing list of clubs, although there are still plenty of details to be ironed out.

Scott McTominay (Manchester United)

McTominay has made some important contributions to the United cause over the years, but it increasingly feels like he has come to the end of his Old Trafford career. Fulham have been pushing hard to sign him all summer, with Everton also in contention, and the Scotland international must surely be keen on a fresh challenge after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford last season. If Manuel Ugarte arrives, as is expected, minutes will be even harder to come by too.

Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

Osimhen is too good not to be playing in the Champions League, and even if Antonio Conte improves Napoli’s fortunes this season, the Nigerian cannot afford to waste one of his best years. But as he discovered last summer, clubs who can afford to pay his transfer fee and wages are few and far between. At least there is still time for things to change.

Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund)

It hasn’t been the best of 18 months for Reyna. Now back at Dortmund, he remains way down the pecking order under new manager Nuri Sahin and desperately needs to find a club where he can play regular minutes in a bid to impress new United States manager Mauricio Pochettino over the next few campaigns.

Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)

Sancho seemed certain to depart Old Trafford. However, after his clash with Erik ten Hag last season, a route back into the first team seemed to open up, with the Manchester United manager adopting a conciliatory tone and giving him some minutes in pre-season. But once the season began against Fulham, Sancho was nowhere to be found. A return to Borussia Dortmund would seem to make the most sense, although Chelsea have also been linked for some reason.

Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)

Sterling is not the first victim of Chelsea’s reckless transfer policy and won’t be the last either. All the rumours in pre-season seemed positive, with Enzo Maresca describing him as one of his “most important players”. This made it all the more shocking when the winger was left out of Chelsea’s matchday one squad. It’s far from clear where he will end up, but his time at Stamford Bridge is over.

Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)

While Lookman doesn’t necessarily need a transfer, given that he’s a key figure in a team like Atalanta that is on the rise and in the Champions League this season, it’s pretty clear that the Nigerian winger wants to leave Bergamo. As a result, Lookman was left out of the squad for the Serie A opener, with Paris Saint-Germain seemingly set to beat Arsenal to the punch in the race for the former Everton man.