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Euro 2024: Five Spain stars who could move clubs this summer
Spain won two European Championships in a row, between 2008 and 2012, and are currently reigning holders of the Nations League with a new crop of players.
La Roja possess tremendous balance in their squad, benefitting from the extensive and consistent work undertaken at youth and underage level by the football association as well as La Liga’s top clubs.
Luis de la Fuente may not be a household name as manager but he is in charge of a very good squad of players, who carry a goal threat and defensive strength in abundance.
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Spanish players are always in demand and this summer will prove no different. This Spain squad is largely home-based but expect to see plenty of movement from some of those La Liga stars this summer.
Martin Zubimendi
The 25-year-old Real Sociedad central midfielder appears to have made a decisive breakthrough under current Spain manager De la Fuente and looks a good bet to go to the Euros.
Zubimendi is among the most sought-after players in his position ahead of this transfer window with Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus and Bayern Munich all keen on adding the midfielder.
He is under contract at Sociedad until 2027 but his contract is believed to contain a €60 million release clause.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE 🚨
Arsenal to double Zubimendi's wages to beat Liverpool to €60m star 💸
By @stevek9KS1TV ✍️ https://t.co/ALRfzD44dp— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) March 13, 2024
Arsenal, under Basque manager Mikel Arteta, are reckoned to be ahead of the competition for Zubimendi, with FootballTransfers revealing in February that the Gunners were already working on a package to entice the Spaniard to London.
They should have a position available come summer with Thomas Partey and Jorginho rumoured to be on the way out of the Emirates.
Nico Williams
Nico Williams signed a new Athletic Club contract earlier this season, extending to 2027, but that has done nothing to prevent the rumours that he is set to leave his boyhood club this summer.
The 21-year-old’s previous deal was due to expire in the summer of 2024 and the new contract offered to him by the club is seen as an attempt to generate some transfer income when the time comes to wave goodbye.
⚽️ ¡¡GOOOOOOL DEL NICO WILLIAAAAMS!! ¡¡SE VIENE ABAJO SAN MAMÉS!!
Qué definición del atacante del Athletic con el exterior. ¡¡MUCHA CLASE!!
🆚 @AthleticClub | 4-2 | @FCBarcelona_es | 121'
📺 @La1_tve
ℹ️ Minuto a minuto: https://t.co/CAQw8fCr6Y#LaCopaMola🏆 | #CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/C0kb7QZZ5J— RFEF (@rfef) January 24, 2024
The winger’s contract is believed to contain a €50 million buyout clause, a tantalisingly low sum for a player of such ability. Williams has scored six goals and provided 13 assists across all competitions this season and was in devastating form when Athletic knocked Barcelona out of the Copa del Rey.
Barca are among the candidates to sign the left-sider this summer while Real Madrid, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal are also reported to be potential destinations.
Williams will play a key role for Spain this summer, having scored two goals in 13 caps thus far.
Dani Olmo
RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo has got a €60 million buyout clause in his contract, which becomes active this summer, and there will be no shortage of interest in the Catalan-born playmaker.
Olmo was on the books of Barcelona as a teenager but was persuaded to move to Dinamo Zagreb in search of first-team football before moving on to Leipzig.
Conor Gallagher vs Dani Olmo this season 💫
Who is the better player? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ehnqxUgT5g— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) March 26, 2024
He has been a superstar for the Bundesliga outfit, netting a hat-trick in the pre-season DFB Super Cup against Bayern Munich, but has suffered an injury-hit campaign this term.
Olmo, whose deal runs out in 2027, has looked back to his best in recent weeks and scored a magnificent goal in the recent 3-3 draw between Spain and Brazil at the Bernabeu.
Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea have all linked with the 25-year-old attacking midfielder, who looks destined to move on to bigger things this summer.
Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal may be only 16 years old but he is already well on the way towards becoming a star name for both club and country.
The winger has been Barcelona’s chief attacking threat this season, scoring six goals and providing seven assists, and he has been included in the senior Spain reckoning to boot.
Lamine Yamal is RIDICULOUS 🤩🤩🤩pic.twitter.com/NIQXzqycdG
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) March 12, 2024
Barca have got Yamal under contract until 2026 and the club are said to be optimistic of tying him to a new deal and boosting his buyout clause.
Club president Joan Laporta has been vocal in recent weeks about turning down a €200 million bid from Paris Saint-Germain, who need a big-name replacement for Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappe.
Although Barca believe they are safeguarded for the time being against having to sell any of their star names, should their financial situation deteriorate any further then they could be forced to cash in.
PSG will need no second invite to strike.
Aleix Garcia
The once-capped Spain international might be an outside bet for a place in De la Fuente’s squad for the final tournament given the riches at La Roja’s disposal but Aleix Garcia has been among the star performers in La Liga this season.
No tengo palabras para expresar lo que siento hoy. Debutar con la selección absoluta de tu país era algo que soñaba desde pequeño, y hoy 1️⃣6️⃣/1️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ he cumplido mi sueño! Gracias a todos por los mensajes!🫶Con ganas de seguir disfrutando! ✨💫 pic.twitter.com/XML8bZXkCy
— Aleix Garcia Serrano (@97_aleix) November 16, 2023
Surprise package Girona have fallen away from title contention in recent weeks but the 26-year-old’s consistency has remained.
Garcia is under contract at Girona until 2026, meaning the time could soon come to make a decision on his future.
The central midfielder played four times in the Premier League for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola and looks like an absolute bargain for any interested teams.
If he gets his wish, however, it will be Barca, a club he once described as a “dream” destination.
