The likes of Manchester United and Barcelona are expected to make more personnel changes before the market slams shut
We've already seen several high-profile transfers this summer, including Erling Haaland moving to Manchester City and Robert Lewandowski joining Barcelona. However, there are still massive names on the market, with several clubs scrambling for their signatures to jolt their struggling on-field products.
Top European clubs such as Manchester United and Barcelona are still reportedly working on a selection of major deals with the 2022-23 campaign now underway.
Poor early season form often leads to a sharp increase in transfer market activity, with this year likely to be no different, and there are more than a few stars pushing for a change of scenery.
Numerous top players could yet make big-money moves before the window closes on September 1, but which are the biggest deals still on the cards?
GOAL is on hand to provide a rundown of the most exciting transfers that could still be completed before the deadline.
Getty ImagesFrenkie de Jong
One of the summer's longest-running transfer sagas, Frenkie de Jong's proposed move to Manchester United might not be finalised for some time yet – if at all. As previously reported by GOAL, Barcelona agreed to a deal worth an initial £63m ($74.5m), with a further £8m ($9.6m) in add-ons.
However, De Jong remains locked in a dispute with the Catalan club over deferred wages. He'd also rather stay at Camp Nou and Barca president Joan Laporta has insisted that they are not under financial pressure to sell.
Still, given De Jong is one of their most valuable assets but not a certain starter, it seems likely that he will eventually leave Barca.
United are willing to wait until the close of the window, with Erik ten Hag desperate to be reunited with his former Ajax charge at Old Trafford, but there is a growing fear at United that if De Jong does move, it will be for Chelsea, as the Londoners can offer Champions League football this season.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesSergej Milinkovic-Savic
Not a summer goes by without Sergej Milinkovic-Savic being linked at least once with either United or Juventus. This year, it's both.
Juve would appear to have less need for the Lazio midfielder, given they've just brought Paul Pogba back to Turin, but the Frenchman has now been ruled out for a couple of months through injury.
It's not as if Massimiliano Allegri couldn't do without another powerful presence in midfield anyway. Juve need to clear some dead wood – terminating Aaron Ramsey's contract was a fine start – but they might be able to put themselves in a position to at least make a move.
As for United, everything hinges on De Jong. If the Dutchman stays at Barca – or worse, from United's perspective, joins Chelsea instead – they could finally launch a bid for Milinkovic-Savic.
Getty ImagesAdrien Rabiot
United seem set to land at least one midfielder before the end of the month, with a deal having already been struck with Juventus for Adrien Rabiot. However, the club have yet to agree terms with the player's agent and mother Veronique, and that's proving a cause for concern at Old Trafford.
Indeed, fears are growing that this deal might collapse.
The fans may not have been exactly enthused by the prospect of Rabiot arriving at Old Trafford, given his average performances in Turin, but his reputation as a troublemaker is unfair and he would at least be an upgrade on nearly every other midfielder currently at United.
GettyLeandro Paredes
Rabiot should be promptly replaced in Turin by Leandro Paredes, one of Juve's long-term transfer targets.
New PSG coach Christophe Galtier certainly won't stand in the Argentine's way, having already strengthened his midfield with the likes of Vitinha and Renato Sanches this summer.
The one question is whether another club will beat Juve to Paredes' signature.
"Leandro has many offers and I don’t know what will happen between now and the end of the transfer market," Galtier told reporters at the weekend.