We have our four Champions League semi-finalists, and in the words of Alan Hansen, it’s bad news for the English game.
Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain are into the last four of this year’s competition, emerging victorious from a pulsating set of quarter-finals.
This could be the last shot at European glory with their current club for quite a few star players. Here are those we expect to move on for pastures new in the summer transfer window.
Kylian Mbappe’s contract expires in the summer, as was the case at this stage in 2022. He is widely expected to join Real Madrid, as was the case at this stage in 2022.
So what’s different this time around? Well, it was foolish to stay at PSG the first time. To do it twice would warrant the Eiffel Tower to be renamed after him.
The fun part if Mbappe’s last PSG game could come against Madrid in the final. Everyone get your narratives ready.
As has been proven in recent months, Luka Modric still has a lot of quality left in his boots. There’s just a fairly big question mark over how often he can conjure such magic.
His contract with Madrid expires at the end of the season, and while it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he renewed again on a rolling deal, it’s starting to look more likely his future lies away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
Bayern Munich have a few star players whose contracts are up in 2025. They’re working hard to extend most of those, but it seems as though Alphonso Davies is the one who will get away.
Like Mbappe, it seems inevitable he will end up wearing the famous white of Los Blancos.
Though it is quite funny that Jadon Sancho is into the semi-finals of the Champions League while Manchester United were dumped out in the group stage, it should be noted such success with Borussia Dortmund was the intention behind the Red Devils’ decision to loan him out.
Okay, noting’s over. You can go back to laughing if you like.
Is Ian Maatsen a suitable left-back in the Premier League? Probably not, but he’s thriving over in Dortmund.
Chelsea must be licking their lips at the prospect of getting £35m for him. Take that, pesky PSR!
Based on this season’s pretty decent sample size, Andriy Lunin is too good simply to serve as Thibaut Courtois’ understudy.
The Ukrainian has earned his spurs and is deserving of a starting spot elsewhere.
Be careful what you wish for, Nacho Fernandez. One minute you’re the Sergio Ramos of the Bernabeu. The next minute you’re battling relegation and picking fights in a not-cool way.