Will these top strikers be on the move next summer?

The January transfer window is unlikely to deliver any eye-catching news, with clubs extremely reluctant to sanction mid-season moves for their high-value assets.

The January transfer window is unlikely to deliver any eye-catching news, with clubs extremely reluctant to sanction mid-season moves for their high-value assets. On that basis, we're looking ahead to the summer transfer window which will likely deliver some high-profile moves, particularly in the attacking department.

Several world-class strikers could switch allegiances, so let's delve into the realm of potential transfers by assessing four elite stars who could secure headline transfers next summer.

Evan Ferguson

Despite recently committing to a new long-term contract at the Amex Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion sensation Evan Ferguson may be the subject of a summer transfer saga. The 19-year-old has consistently turned heads with his performances over the past two seasons, and his upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing down in the current campaign. Ferguson has already notched six Premier League goals this term - as many as he bagged in 19 league outings last season - attracting the attention of some of the best clubs in the division. While he's on course to record his most prolific top-flight campaign, online bookmakers think it will be a big ask for the Republic of Ireland international to top the scoring charts.

Nonetheless, he'll likely attract interest on betting sites in Ireland with odds of 67.00 to emerge as top scorer, although beating Erling Braut Haaland to the punch is a near-impossible task.

Brighton Chief Executive Officer Paul Barber has hinted it'll take a mammoth proposal to pry Ferguson away from the club - perhaps one that exceeds the £115 million Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo.

Kylian Mbappe

The future of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe remains uncertain as his contract situation hangs in limbo, paving the way for a potential high-profile move next summer. The World Cup winner was subject to an earth-shattering €300m bid from Al-Hilal, who were determined to land his signature as contract talks with PSG hit a stumbling block. However, Mbappe was uninterested in a move to the Saudi Pro League and wasted no time turning down a €700m a year contract offer, reaffirming his commitment to the French champions. Speculation surrounding his future has cooled, but his reluctance to pen a new deal suggests a summer exit could still be on the cards, with Real Madrid lurking in the shadows. Mbappe's current deal with PSG runs out at the end of the season - although the 23-year-old can decide to trigger a 12-month extension.

All indications point to him leaving the club on a free transfer next summer.

Victor Osimhen

Napoli are bracing themselves for a flurry of summer proposals for Victor Osimhen, who has garnered significant interest from Premier League giants Chelsea. The Blues are in dire need of a world-class marksman, and the Nigerian stands tall among several centre-forwards on their extensive shortlist, but pulling off a transfer for him will be complicated. Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis is renowned for being a tough negotiator and will likely demand a staggering fee to part ways with last season's Serie A top scorer. Osimhen led the Partenopei to their first Scudetto since the days of the legendary Diego Maradona, scooping the top scorer award with 26 goals in 32 Serie A games.

Establishing himself as a Napoli cult hero only added to his inflated valuation. However, with his contract set to expire in 2025, Napoli may be forced to cash in on the former Lille man next summer.

Romelu Lukaku

Chelsea will have mixed emotions about seeing Romelu Lukaku in top form, with the exiled striker banging in goals for both loan club and country. The Roma loanee was one of the stars in the recently concluded 2024 European Championship qualifiers, notching four goals as Belgium thrashed Azerbaijan 5-0 to seal their place in Germany as group winners. Lukaku has bagged nine goals in 15 appearances for Roma across all competitions, endearing himself to the club's hierarchy, who are now considering snapping him up on a permanent deal. His relationship with Chelsea is effectively dead in the water, and his goalscoring adventure is unlikely to earn him any form of redemption. The Blues are more than open to cutting him loose next summer, and Roma will be able to sign him permanently if they trigger his £37m release clause. That sum could be problematic for the Serie A club to muster considering their financial limitations, which leaves the Saudi Pro League as Lukaku's next likely destination, although he rejected a move to the Middle East last summer. Perhaps he could complete his Italian tour through the top clubs in Serie A by joining Juventus, who were heavily linked with him last summer.

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