28 quarter-final stars who could make 2023 transfer move

We have reached an exciting time at Qatar 2022 as major nations are guaranteed to exit the World Cup over the next couple of days.

The quarter-final stage is a marker every serious team aims for – and with it comes a bigger platform to showcase talent.

We have seen some magnificent individual performances already at this tournament but for some players these games are going to have a significant impact on their future – the next transfer is looming.

Here we reveal 28 players across the next four fixtures that could be heading towards potential moves in 2023…

Croatia

Josko Gvardiol is the headline name in this team with Chelsea leading the pursuit of the 20-year-old RB Leipzig centre-back but there has been interest too from Tottenham, Juventus and PSG. He will discuss all options with his agency soon.

Outside of that we need to keep an eye on his defensive teammate Josip Juranovic, who is set to leave Celtic and has caught the eye of Manchester United. Other Premier League clubs including Chelsea are also believed to him on the radar. The Blues are drawing up candidates to compete with Reece James. 

Brazil

Most of their players are well settled or have recently moved clubs. Leeds United are being linked with Flamengo forward Pedro and while there have been scouting reports done on the player sources indicate a move in the near future is not likely. 

Fabinho’s long-term future at Liverpool is in some doubt but insiders at Anfield expect no decision until the end of the season. 

Argentina

Enzo Fernandez is hot property on the back of recent displays but Benfica knew this might happen and are confident they can ward off interest, given he has only just joined and can continue his rise with them.

Goalkeeper Emi Martinez has plenty of clubs looking to see how things go at Aston Villa. He could be tempted to move in the summer, while Marcos Acuna has been looked at very closely by Wolves and that pursuit is considered active.

Netherlands

Cody Gakpo has been so frequently linked with Man United that it would feel surprising if he did not end up at Old Trafford soon. Even though he did not arrive in the summer, United have never closed the door on this deal. His performances have underlined why they were interested and the fact he wants to play centrally in attack is very appealing. 

Denzel Dumfries is open to a transfer and it will probably happen as long as Inter Milan do not use his World Cup form to price him out of a move. 

Meanwhile, Memphis Depay will become one of the best value deals on the market if he leaves Barcelona. A move for him in January can not be ruled out, with a host of Premier League clubs being kept in touch with anything that may happen—Arsenal may yet emerge as a potential destination as they seek to solve their problem around Gabriel Jesus’ injury. 

The other players to look out for in this team that will be available in the coming months are Stefan De Vrij (Tottenham interest), Noa Lang (Leeds and West Ham interest) and Jeremie Frimpong (Man United interest). 

Read more: January Transfer Window 2023: When Does It Begin, Rumours and Everything You Need To Know

Portugal

We all know Cristiano Ronaldo is on the lookout for a new club and that Al Nassr are willing to line his pockets with gold if he agrees to move to Saudi Arabia. He would prefer one more competitive challenge in Europe but no offers have landed. 

Joao Felix and Rafael Leao are the two big-money moves that would become game-changers for any club able to sign them. Felix is unlikely to be available on loan, as some clubs have been hoping, but offers in the region of £100million would be expected. So many clubs have admiration for Felix, with Man United, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal all still understood to retain varying levels of interest. Leao has contract talks at Milan, so let’s see how those go. If he doesn’t re-sign then Chelsea will lead the race for him.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa is also being looked at by Chelsea and Spurs while man-of-the-moment Goncalo Ramos looks a golden ticket that could move anywhere from Benfica – but he has a big release clause and holds more value than ever. Look out for interest from Leeds, Southampton and Wolves but also Newcastle, Arsenal and Man United.

Morocco

Sofyan Amrabat’s agent is publicly declaring him as the best holding midfielder from this World Cup and with that in mind we can expect some big interest around the Fiorentina player. In Italy Inter Milan hold some interest while in the Premier League both Tottenham and Liverpool seem keen. It’s unclear whether Spurs will sign a midfielder in January, the Reds are more likely to do so. 

Hakim Ziyech remains almost certain to leave Chelsea in 2023 given the club’s direction and AC Milan retain interest in him from last summer. 

England

Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are going to be the two biggest stories from this team.

Moves for both are most likely in the summer—by which time Bellingham will be about twice the price of Rice – The Telegraph report he could be sold for £70m – given their contract situations at Borussia Dortmund and West Ham. Rice, labelled as “phenomenal” by journalist Tom Clark, is almost certain to remain in England, with Chelsea the favourites then Manchester United just behind. Bellingham will have more options – Real Madrid are keen – but Liverpool have made his camp aware they are seriously interested. Manchester City will look to be included in any discussions before he makes a choice and Chelsea like him too if Rice does not work out. 

Away from those two, James Maddison is going to be on the move in 2023 and Newcastle United are growing in confidence that he might join them. They are now profiling him as the top target. 

One to look out for is Jordan Pickford, who is in line for the Golden Glove at this World Cup and could be tempted to make a move to a better performing club than Everton. Tottenham are interested.

France

The reigning world champions have most of their star performers well settled at clubs. There is always a chance Kylian Mbappe will look to move on at the end of the season but there has been no serious sign of that so far.

Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot has had a great tournament so far and that might be enough to elevate him into the thinking of other big clubs around Europe. Manchester United considered him last summer and sources indicate that Arsenal, Newcastle and West Ham have him marked as a watching brief. 

Marcus Thuram is being touted around England as he seeks a switch from Borussia Monchengladbach and while he is good value that the likes of Crystal Palace and Aston Villa might consider, there is a feeling he is more likely to join a club in Italy, with Napoli and Inter Milan potential landing spots. 

Axel Disasi is another player to look out for. He plays as a defender for Monaco and has been scouted by the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham, sources say.

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