Five breakout Champions League stars set for huge summer transfers
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 13 Apr 2022 21:44 BST
- 3 min read
The pinnacle of club football, the Champions League has historically been the centre stage for superstars to stamp their mark on Europe.
This season has been no different and a host of new names have made headlines with performances that will have certainly captured the attention of major sides.
With teams already planning for next season, here are five players who could end up continuing their Champions League careers with some of Europe’s elite clubs.
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Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
Arguably the most in-form player in the Bundesliga, Frenchman Christopher Nkunku has been a revelation for RB Leipzig this season.
The 22-year-old scored nine Champions League goals from midfield despite his side being knocked out in the group stages.
His form saw him make his debut for France earlier this year and he has reportedly been strongly recommended to Manchester United by former RBL chief Ralf Rangnick.
Darwin Nunez (Benfica)
Benfica forward Darwin Nunez will undoubtedly be one of the most in-demand stars this summer, partially due to his six European goals this season.
The Uruguayan has been in prolific form domestically for his side, scoring 24 goals in 24 games, and helped them reach the quarter-finals in the Champions League.
Benfica already turned down numerous bids from English clubs in January and are rumoured to be holding out for more than €100 million for the 22-year-old.
Arnaut Danjuma (Villarreal)
Villarreal have been the surprise package of this season’s Champions League, largely down to the goals of Arnaut Danjuma.
The Dutch winger has scored six times in the competition this season as they reached the semi-finals.
Danjuma could command a big fee for any suitors, having only joined last summer for €25m from Bournemouth, where he scored 15 goals in the Championship.
Antony (Ajax)
Brazilian forward Antony has been a creative threat for Ajax this season, with five assists in seven Champions League games before his side were knocked out in the round of 16.
The tricky winger has also scored 22 goals in all competitions since joining Ajax from Sao Paulo two years ago, with three of those coming in the Champions League.
Antony, 22, has been capped nine times for Brazil and has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United where he could reunite with manager Erik ten Hag.
Pedro Goncalves (Sporting)
Pedro Goncalves’ braces in the group stage against Besiktas and Borussia Dortmund made him the first player to score two or more goals in back-to-back Champions League games since Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 23-year-old has scored 30 goals in his two seasons with Sporting Lisbon and can play in attacking midfield or on either wing.
Goncalves is a two-time winner of the Primeira Liga’s Young Player of the Year award and has been capped twice by Portugal’s national side.
Having spent one season at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017, Goncalves’ progress since then could see him be a target for English sides this summer.
