Joselu to Mbappe and five potential transfer upgrades this summer

Tom Weber

Updated: 10 May 2024 20:44 BST
5 min read

Joselu, Kylian Mbappe, level up — © IMAGO

Every year, clubs attempt to upgrade their existing options.

The task of making your team better is one that is never completed in football. There is always that one player who could take a side to the next level, that one player who will definitely score more goals than the striker already at the club.

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Sometimes, it is an exercise in futility, but sometimes, managers and sporting directors hit the jackpot. Declan Rice, for example, proved a transformative signing for Arsenal, Darwin Nunez at Liverpool, on the other hand, very much did not.

This year, club bosses will yet again attempt to improve their team and we can already make some educated guesses as to which transfers will actually achieve this. Here are five potential transfer upgrades this summer...

Joselu to Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

Kylian Mbappe has officially announced that he is leaving PSG at the end of the season after refusing to extend his contract. It is one of football's worst-kept secrets that the French megastar is heading to Real Madrid.

Los Blancos have spent most of the season playing without a classic number nine. Joselu is the only player who fits that mould and despite his stunning late heroics against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, it is unlikely that he will be a first-choice option next term. Mbappe isn't particularly keen on playing at centre-forward, but he will have to get used to it at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Antony to Michael Olise (Man Utd)

Antony has been one of the worst signings in Premier League history. Man Utd shelled out €95 million on the Brazilian in 2022, but the former Ajax man has been nothing short of a disaster.

Michael Olise was the first transfer target officially approved by new Man Utd part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Crystal Palace would be an immediate upgrade on the 24-year-old should the Red Devils indeed manage to land him. When fit, the Frenchman is one of the most scintillating players in the Premier League.

Nicolas Jackson to Victor Osimhen (Chelsea)

Chelsea are in desperate need of a reliable number nine. Criticism of Nicolas Jackson has often been exaggerated, but there is no getting around the fact that the Senegal international is simply too wasteful to become an elite centre-forward.

Victor Osimhen doesn't have that problem and the prolific Napoli man will be on the move this summer. Chelsea have been keen on the Nigerian for a year and they will do everything in their power to sign him in the upcoming window. They will face competition from PSG, though.

Gabriel Jesus to Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)

Gabriel Jesus is a brilliant player when fit and firing. Unfortunately for Arsenal and the Brazilian, he is too often sidelined with injury and also not particularly reliable in front of goal.

The Gunners are in the market for a new centre-forward this summer and Viktor Gyokeres has been one of the players most keenly scouted by the north London giants. While there are concerns over his €100m release clause, there is no doubt that he would be an upgrade on Jesus after notching half a century of goal contributions in 2023/24.

Thomas Partey to Bruno Guimaraes (Arsenal)

Staying with the Gunners, Mikel Arteta is not only looking to bolster his frontline but also his midfield. The Spaniard wants to sign a new partner for Declan Rice and Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes is a player greatly admired by the Arsenal hierarchy.

Though the 26-year-old has a release clause in excess of €100m, it has been claimed that Champions League sides will be able to get him for a fee more in the region of €80m-€90m. Guimaraes would be a brilliant upgrade on injury-prone Thomas Partey at the base of Arsenal's midfield.