A number of quality players of different profiles in the Premier League are primed for a move this summer. Without knowing all the facts or indeed their interests, Fulltime Herald picks a club for each one.
Mateus Fernandes
Despite playing for two ultimately relegated sides over the past two seasons, Fernandes has demonstrated enough quality to make himself one of the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League.
Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Arsenal are circling as West Ham open up to the idea of selling the player they signed for £38m deal last summer.
Fernandes has close ball control, aggression and energy in the midfield. He is a decent passer of the ball to keep his team in possession and on the front foot, and he can play with both legs. He deserves to be in a side with more ambition than just remaining in the Premier League.
The Portuguese would fit nicely at Old Trafford alongside Kobbie Mainoo in the heart of Michael Carrick’s midfield, just behind his compatriot, namesake and role model Bruno Fernnandes.
Club to join: Manchester United
Fernandes in focus 🔍 pic.twitter.com/Grj3X9QJLZ
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 10, 2026
Elliot Anderson
Anderson has played himself into the heart of Thomas Tuchel and England fans on pure merit, ready to be one of the key men as the Three Lions battle for the elusive World Cup trophy in the Americas.
But come next season, Anderson could probably do with a club competing at a much higher level than Nottingham Forest. Evangelos Marinakis has shown himself to be a tough nut to crack as far as transfer interest in his players are concerned, but the City Ground seem resigned enough to losing Anderson this summer.
Manchester City are reportedly frontrunners for his signature, but it is unclear how things stand with Pep Guardiola having left the building and Enzo Maresca due to arrive. Manchester United are the other club said to be interested but may be less inclined/able than their neighbours to pay the quoted £100m fee.
Club to join: Manchester City
Elliot Anderson. 🔝 pic.twitter.com/pmHi7SE8RV
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) March 9, 2026
Jarrod Bowen
Bowen has been faithful to West Ham for years, perhaps not always delivering for them when needed but a loyal servant, and one of undoubted quality. The fact that he always seems to be the forgotten England talent just shows how much staying in East London has hampered his career.
With West Ham now in the Championship and needing to sell players to avoid falling into financial hot waters, it is time for Bowen to leave. The clubs rumoured to be keeping an eye out for him include Liverpool, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Everton.
Both Newcastle and Liverpool have lost wingers this season in the form of Anthony Gordon, now set to join Barcelona, and Mohamed Salah, who has ended his stay on a free. In the cast of the latter club, they never really replaced Luis Diaz either.
Liverpool are targeting Yan Diomande but Bowen seems like the profile of player the club would sign in the Jurgen Klopp era, even if he is a little older at 29. If Liverpool show serious interest in Bowen, it is hard to make a case for him choosing Newcastle instead, when he could play at the top level and try to chase some of the glory that has eluded him since in his monastic East London life.
Club to join: Liverpool
Adam Wharton
Wharton missed out on an England call-up this summer and will no doubt be devasted by that. But it shows where he ranks on the list of English midfielders given that Kobbie Mainoo’s return to action for six months basically kept him out of the team.
Based on that evidence, he won’t be joining Manchester United, who already have a Mainoo. He is also unlikely to join Liverpool, who will prioritise their wings and defensive areas this summer having shelled out upwards of £100m to sign Florian Wirtz last summer. A switch to Real Madrid has been mooted but there are legitimate reasons to doubt whether Wharton is ready for such a move.
Crystal Palace is a good enough place to develop for one more year at least, although there could be some disruption with a new manager implementing a new style of play. Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-3 system highly favoured Wharton’s current abilities.
Decision: Remain
Come for the Adam Wharton goal, stay for the Adam Wharton backflip…
Powered by @SunExpress Airlines 🛫 pic.twitter.com/zzcxFsiwD1
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 17, 2026
Carlos Baleba
Unfortunately for both the player and Brighton, Baleba has looked very little this season like the player he was when Manchester United made an informal approach for him last summer. Brighton rejected a move in the belief that they still needed the player and would be in a much better position to make bigger profits down the line. A year later and his value has plummeted.
United have still been linked to him but the chances of that happening are low, and there seems to be no other club in the conversation. There is a chance that Baleba’s form picks up next season and perhaps Brighton can convince United or another club to pay one of their outrageous prices for him. For now, the best decision for him is to stay.
Decision: Remain
