Way-too-early look at next season: Real Madrid land Mbappe?
Will Jadon Sancho head to the Premier League? Is Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid bound? Here’s ESPN’s way-too-early look at next season. (2:14)
OK so the 2018-19 season isn’t over yet, but with the international break upon us, we thought it would be a good time to look ahead to next season.
Here, our writers and correspondents give their predictions for what will happen over the summer and how Europe’s biggest teams will line up for their first game.
MAN CITY — Jonathan Smith
Who will be signed?
The spectre of a potential transfer ban is hanging over Manchester City. It’s possible that they may be busy in this summer’s window, with Pep Guardiola talking about signing “three or four” new players. A defensive midfielder to take some of the pressure off 33-year-old Fernandinho remains a priority. Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele is a target, while Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez could play that role. Two long-term injuries to Benjamin Mendy caused City problems at left-back, and they will look to bring in a new face: Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell has emerged as their top target.
–Sources: Man City close on £80m Saul deal
–Sources: City tracking ‘new Ronaldo’ Joao Felix
Who will be sold?
City have spent heavily in recent seasons, and most of those arrivals have made an impression on the first team, so it will only be fringe players who will be allowed to leave. Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has missed much of the season with an Achilles injury, and academy player Aro Muric has impressed as his stand-in, which could mean the Chile international departs. Defender Eliaquim Mangala has not played all season after a knee injury, and although he recently signed a one-year contract extension, he should go.
Who will be manager?
There isn’t a safer manager in world football than Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. The Catalan has the unwavering backing of the club’s hierarchy after doing exactly what he was brought in for — transforming City into an entertaining, ruthless side capable of challenging for the biggest trophies available. Guardiola has a young squad, which should get even stronger over the next few years.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20
LIVERPOOL — Nick Miller
Who will be signed?
Jurgen Klopp claimed recently that Liverpool won’t spend huge amounts in the summer, instead focusing on improving last year’s new arrivals. Liverpool certainly have deficiencies: Their central defenders other than Virgil van Dijk can be shaky, they sometimes lack creativity in midfield and they could do with another top-class striker. Last year, a move for Lyon’s Nabil Fekir was called off at the last minute, but don’t be surprised if that’s revived, while RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner has been mentioned for the striking option and wild reports last week linked them with Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane.
Who will be sold?
In the last few years, Liverpool have sold their biggest stars — Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho — and while they will want to get away from that reputation, it’s inevitable their key men will attract attention. Sadio Mane already is, so the biggest saga could be over his future. Elsewhere, there are certainly some relatively high-profile names on the fringes that may leave. Adam Lallana, Divock Origi, Nathaniel Clyne, Daniel Sturridge and Alberto Moreno are all on that list (the contracts of the latter two expire this summer), while backup goalkeeper Simon Mignolet won’t fancy another season on the bench.
Who will be manager?
Klopp isn’t going anywhere … probably. Club and manager seem like such a perfect fit that it’s hard to imagine him being tempted away anywhere. More pessimistic Liverpool fans might have the thought of him leaving for Bayern Munich nagging away at the back of their minds, but Klopp should stay at Anfield.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20
MAN UNITED — Alex Shaw
Who will be signed?
United need a right-back, as well as a commanding centre-back to partner Victor Lindelof. Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly is a target, while Toby Alderweireld is another option, with a clause in his Tottenham contract allowing him to leave for a cut-price £25m. With Antonio Valencia set to depart, Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a ready-made replacement. Elsewhere, a commanding presence at the base of midfield is needed, and the glaring absence of a skilful right winger continues to hamper United’s attack. Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho is the club’s No.1 forward target, and he ticks all the right boxes for United: young, marketable, a key position, resale value … and a chance to get one back on Manchester City, which let him leave for just £8m in 2017.
VOTE: Where will Griezmann end up?
Who will be sold?
Valencia will leave the club in the summer, after 10 years of distinguished service, and joining him will be Marcos Rojo, who will go down as one of the club’s worst centre-backs of recent times. If United can entice Juventus’ Paulo Dybala or Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann — who is a long-term target — to move to Old Trafford, Romelu Lukaku would probably have to make way, while Alexis Sanchez has been a flop of epic proportions and the club would be foolish not to try to get his astronomical wages off their outgoings.
Who will be manager?
For many fans, there’s only one man: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The caretaker has passed so many tests, from improving the club’s form, to getting the players smiling again, to winning away at big rivals, to dealing with an injury crisis, to masterminding one of the biggest European nights in the club’s recent history. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is highly thought of, but the job is Solskjaer’s to lose.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20
TOTTENHAM — Mark Ogden
Who will be signed?
Spurs have a long-standing interest in Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler, with ESPN FC reporting in January that Mauricio Pochettino is plotting a £30m summer move for the Spain under-21 international. At 22, Soler fits the template that Spurs are looking for: young, up-and-coming talent ahead of spending big money on more established players. Gareth Bale‘s situation at Real Madrid will generate speculation linking the Welshman with a return to Spurs, but don’t expect the 29-year-old to head back to his old club this summer.
Who will be sold?
With Toby Alderweireld available for £25m until the final two weeks of the summer transfer window due to a clause in his contract, Spurs may be fighting a losing battle to hold onto the Belgian defender, who is a target for Manchester United. Christian Eriksen‘s reluctance to sign a new deal could also see the Danish playmaker sold, with Real Madrid monitoring and Spurs keen to avoid him leaving on a free transfer in 2020. Vincent Janssen, the out-of-favour Dutch striker, will be allowed to leave, while the club are also likely to listen to offers for Fernando Llorente and Victor Wanyama.
Who will be manager?
Tottenham are desperate to hold onto Pochettino, and recent managerial upheaval at Real Madrid and Manchester United now appears to have increased the likelihood of the Argentine coach staying at the club. Zinedine Zidane’s return to Real has closed off the prospect of Pochettino leaving for the Bernabeu, while United are expected to hand Solskjaer the permanent job following his impact since replacing Jose Mourinho in December. There will be a sense of anxiety at Spurs until Solskjaer is confirmed by United, but with the two biggest available jobs seemingly going elsewhere, Pochettino has no obvious option if he decides to leave Spurs this summer.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20
ARSENAL — Jon Molyneux-Carter
Who will be signed?
Arsenal will only have a reported £40m to spend, so there won’t be any megadeals. Unai Emery wants a winger and has a number of options: Atletico Madrid’s Gelson Martins, Rennes’ Ismaila Sarr, or perhaps Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic and Dalian Yifang’s Yannick Carrasco (both of whom came close to joining in January). A midfield replacement for Aaron Ramsey could come in the shape of PSG’s Christopher Nkunku or Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz, while a defender and possibly a right-back are also needed — Antonio Valencia, Fabian Schar and Matthias Ginter have been linked.
Who will be sold?
If Arsenal can find a buyer, the inconsistent Shkodran Mustafi should depart. Mohamed Elneny hasn’t had many chances to play in midfield, and despite right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner‘s contract expiring, Carl Jenkinson may be allowed to leave if the club can find a replacement. Calum Chambers may be loaned again, while goalkeeper David Ospina wants to make his Napoli loan move permanent, but the club can promote Emiliano Martinez to replace the retiring Petr Cech. The injury-prone Danny Welbeck likely won’t get a new contract, and Emery would probably take any offers over £30m for Mesut Ozil to reduce the wage bill if they land Havertz.
Who will be manager?
He won’t last as long as Arsene Wenger did, but Arsenal have no plans to sack Emery after a decent season. They will, however, be looking for a sporting director after missing out on Monchi and Marc Overmars.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20
CHELSEA – Liam Twomey
Who will be signed?
Christian Pulisic‘s arrival from Borussia Dortmund is already confirmed, but Chelsea’s stale and aging squad urgently needs refreshing in other areas — provided, of course, that the club’s army of lawyers can succeed in getting the two-transfer window ban delayed beyond the summer. The key area of reinforcement is up front. Gonzalo Higuain‘s loan spell looks unlikely to be extended or made permanent after an underwhelming start, but unsettled Inter striker Mauro Icardi could be a good marquee target. There is also interest in Eintracht Frankfurt sensation Luka Jovic, though he is being tracked by Barcelona.
Marcotti: Chelsea’s transfer ban explained
Who will be sold?
Chelsea fear there is nothing they can do to prevent Eden Hazard joining Real Madrid this summer, and their main hope is that Callum Hudson-Odoi does not follow the Belgian out the exit door. David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Olivier Giroud are all out of contract, while one of Willian or Pedro could also leave if Hudson-Odoi is retained. It would not be a surprise to see defender Andreas Christensen push for a move given his lack of opportunities under Maurizio Sarri, though Chelsea don’t want to lose him.
Who will be manager?
This is a tricky one. Provided he finishes in the top four or wins the Europa League, the odds of Sarri earning a second season are good. But if he fails to secure a return to the Champions League, all bets are off. History suggests Roman Abramovich will court the biggest coaches on the market, but even if this summer is too soon for him, there are many who believe Frank Lampard will manage Chelsea one day.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20
ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti rates the likelihood Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappe arrive and Gareth Bale departs Real Madrid this summer.
BARCELONA — Sam Marsden
Who will be signed?
After securing the €75m signing of Frenkie de Jong from Ajax, Barcelona have now turned their attention to a €60m deal for his teammate Matthijs de Ligt. Barca are also looking for a striker who they hope will become Luis Suarez’s long-term heir. Luka Jovic and Rodrigo are two names on the table, but there’s a suggestion there could be a third as-yet-unnamed option. A less-pressing matter is bringing in some backup for left-back Jordi Alba and a second-choice goalkeeper, too, if Jasper Cillessen leaves.
Sources: Barcelona optimistic over De Ligt
Who will be sold?
Barca are keen to move on Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez permanently this summer. The duo, currently on loan at Everton and Arsenal, respectively, are both available for around €20m. Rafinha and Cillessen may feel it’s time to leave too. Bigger decisions will have to be made on Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal and Philippe Coutinho as, if De Ligt joins, the wage bill will be getting dangerously high. In that event, Barca will have to sell a big earner, and it will be interesting to see what happens with Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti too.
Who will be manager?
Unless they throw away a 10-point lead in La Liga, lose the Copa del Rey final to Valencia and get humiliated in the Champions League, Ernesto Valverde will be in charge next season. After much debate, the coach extended his deal last month by an additional year.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20
REAL MADRID — Dermot Corrigan
Who will be signed?
Real Madrid have already made a start on next summer by agreeing a €50m deal for Porto defender Eder Militao and €54m on Brazilian forward Rodrygo, though president Florentino Perez would like to make a much bigger splash by signing Kylian Mbappe, or Neymar, or ideally both if he could. Returning coach Zinedine Zidane has already spoken about Mbappe, while Premier League stars Christian Eriksen, Eden Hazard, N’Golo Kante and Sadio Mane continue to be linked. Some less-high-profile emerging stars such as Real Betis’ Junior Firpo, Espanyol’s Mario Hermoso and Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt are also reported targets.
Who will be sold?
Madrid’s shocking 2018-19 season has seen the futures of Isco, Marcelo, Keylor Navas, Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale in doubt. Zidane’s team choice last week suggested those players are still in his plans, although the Frenchman does keep repeating that “there will be changes, for sure” next season. Indeed, not even the biggest stars’ futures are secure, and a surprise could be the breaking up of central defensive pair Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos. Meanwhile, younger talents, including Theo Hernandez, Jesus Vallejo and Dani Ceballos, might be moved out to raise funds.
Marcotti and Hunter: Keep or dump at Real?
Who will be manager?
After disastrous but short spells on the Bernabeu bench for Julen Lopetegui and Santi Solari, Zidane has come back after only eight months and is excited to build a “second project” at the club. History warns us not to predict too far into the future at Real, but it does seem that the Frenchman has Perez’s long-term backing to shake things up and start a new era of success.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20
JUVENTUS — James Horncastle
Who will be signed?
Aaron Ramsey is coming on free transfer from Arsenal and an experienced centre-back (Atletico Madrid’s Stefan Savic) will likely arrive along with Cristian Romero, Genoa’s highly rated 20-year-old defender. Ajax’s De Ligt and Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele have been intensively scouted, while players entering the final year of their contract like Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen are being closely monitored — as are the prospects of signing Marcelo and Isco from Real Madrid. A list of names left by Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici in a Milan hotel included those of Brescia playmaker Sandro Tonali, Fiorentina winger Federico Chiesa, Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo and RB Salzburg’s Dominik Szoboszlai.
Who will be sold?
A lot depends on who the coach is next season, but patience in Douglas Costa will be thin regardless. Martin Caceres was brought in as a stop-gap for Mehdi Benatia and is expected to leave; Alex Sandro penned a new deal in December but had his head turned 18 months ago and could be on his way. Keep a close eye on Paulo Dybala’s future, particularly in the event that coach Massimiliano Allegri stays. That’s not to say the two have clashed, but the Argentine has not played as regularly as he would have liked and has had to go from face of the franchise to supporting actor now that Cristiano Ronaldo is at the club.
Who will be manager?
Allegri will meet the Juventus hierarchy whenever their Champions League campaign ends to discuss an extension. If he lifts the trophy in Madrid, he may think that his work is done; if he misses out, he may instead wonder what more he can do and choose either a sabbatical or another challenge. Whatever happens, Juventus believe he is the perfect coach for them, and the contingencies are limited now that Zidane is back at the Bernabeu.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20
BAYERN MUNICH — Raphael Honigstein
Who will be signed?
President Uli Hoeness has vowed making big investments next season, and €35m has already been spent on Benjamin Pavard. Atletico Madrid left-back/centre-back Lucas Hernandez could move if Bayern trigger his €80m release clause, while RB Leipzig striker Werner and Chelsea winger Hudson-Odoi are also confirmed targets. Both are out of contract in 2020, which should put pressure on their clubs to sell. Despite some reports to the contrary, Bayern also retain a strong interest in Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz, but the player looks set to stay for one more year at the BayArena.
Who will be sold?
Veterans Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Rafinha are set to leave. Bayern might also be tempted to sell centre-back Jerome Boateng if a suitable offer comes in for the 2014 World Cup winner — he was close to leaving last summer when PSG and Manchester United had made enquiries. Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches is also surplus to requirements even if Bayern have no chance of recouping their €35m outlay from 2016.
Who will be manager?
Niko Kovac was appointed last summer because Bayern couldn’t get who they wanted (Jupp Heynckes and Thomas Tuchel, in that order). The Croatian is likely to stay because Bayern can’t get who they want this summer, or to be more precise: They don’t know who they should get. Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp is unattainable, former midfielder Mark van Bommel (PSV) is still too inexperienced to get the job, and bringing back Erik ten Hag (Ajax), who was let go after coaching Bayern’s second team, would be a tough ask. Kovac looks set to survive this season, but the doubts about his suitability won’t go away.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20
PSG — Jonathan Johnson
Who will be signed?
That totally depends on how PSG’s financial fair play situation shakes out this summer, but there is no reason to suspect that they will be as limited as in previous years — for now. What is certain is that coach Thomas Tuchel will want the midfield situation sorted above all other areas after they missed out on Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona. With that in mind, expect PSG to go back in for Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Weigl — Tuchel’s top choice since his appointment.
Who will be sold?
After another Champions League setback, it is shaping up to be a summer of change at Parc des Princes. Adrien Rabiot will leave as a free agent after an acrimonious past few months in the reserves, while striker Edinson Cavani might have reached the end of his PSG journey if a suitable offer arrives. Right-back Thomas Meunier has fallen out of favour under Tuchel, while Layvin Kurzawa and Christopher Nkunku could also raise funds.
Who will be manager?
Despite the club’s failure in the Champions League yet again, Tuchel has already received assurances over his future and plans to stay in charge for the long term. PSG intend to activate an additional year in his contract, so expect to see the German in the dugout next season, even if Jose Mourinho is still available.
Predicted XI for the first game of 2019-20