11 World Cup stars who’ve put themselves in the transfer shop window including Gakpo to Man Utd and Gvardiol to Chelsea
THE World Cup is always a glorious chance for stars to make a name for themselves and put themselves in the shop window.
And even though Qatar 2022 has been staged in November and December, rather than the normal summer festival, plenty of players certainly made their mark.
Now with the transfer window just a fortnight away, clubs will no doubt be clamouring to beat off the competition and land their targets.
SunSport has picked out 11 Qatar heroes who may have secured big-money moves in the New Year thanks to their performances at the World Cup…
Cody Gakpo, 23, PSV & Holland
Arguably the most obvious choice of all, Gakpo was the main man for Holland with goals in all three group games to fire them to the top of Group A.
He is currently tearing it up for PSV in his homeland but is a primary target for compatriot Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
The axe of Cristiano Ronaldo means another forward is needed – but the Red Devils have been warned it will take a record fee for PSV to sell.
Goncalo Ramos, 21, Benfica & Portugal
Talk about hitting the ground running – Ramos hit a superb hat-trick on his full international debut after replacing Cristiano Ronaldo.
And immediately the transfer rumour mill started spinning in overdrive.
Manchester United are considering a swoop for the Benfica man with 14 goals and six assists for his club this term – but they face competition from Newcastle and Bayern Munich.
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Josko Gvardiol, 20, RB Leipzig & Croatia
Yes he was linked with Chelsea in the summer before they landed Wesley Fofana – but Gvardiol’s stock has gone through the roof after his performances in Qatar.
Gvardiol – the masked defender – was rarely beaten and proved a dominant force, helping Croatia reach the semis before Lionel Messi weaved his magic.
Chelsea lead the race for a January deal although Manchester City and Real Madrid are also weighing up bids.
Sofyan Amrabat, 26, Fiorentina & Morocco
Amrabat was arguably Morocco’s standout player in a team of record-breaking heroes with his dominant displays in midfield.
His game against Spain was particularly impressive and has got plenty of clubs taking notice of former Watford man Nordin’s younger brother.
Secret talks have already taken place with Liverpool – but Nordin wants his sibling to join PSG.
Enzo Fernandez, 21, Benfica & Argentina
The central midfielder has been a key cog in Argentina’s run to the final in Qatar, breaking up play and helping deliver the ball for the attack to cause chaos.
Liverpool are said to have “agreed” a deal with Benfica for the rising star, who is also a target for City, United and Wolves.
However, recent reports state Fernandez has a staggering £104million release clause in his contract.
Mohammed Kudus, 22, Ajax & Ghana
The attacking midfielder was poised to join Everton in the summer before a late deal fell through – and he proved what the Toffees were missing at the World Cup.
Kudus scored twice in the thrilling win over South Korea and bolstered his reputation – then declared he is no worse than Neymar.
Everton look to be in pole position over a £40m transfer to England with the likes of Tottenham and Barcelona also circling.
Youssoufa Moukoko, 18, Borussia Dortmund & Germany
Somehow Moukoko has only just turned 18, having burst on to the scene with Borussia Dortmund what feels like years ago.
Now a first-team regular with 11 goals in 59 appearances, he was named in Hansi Flick’s Germany squad – and left as one of the few to come away with much credit.
Despite only coming on in the 90th minute in the Japan defeat, Moukoko is wanted by some of Europe’s elite as Chelsea and Barca on a cut-price deal with his contract ending in the summer.
Azzedine Ounahi, 22, Angers & Morocco
Let’s be honest, not too many outside of France and Morocco had heard much about Ounahi four weeks ago.
But his brilliance for the Atlas Lions in Qatar thrust him onto the world stage.
Leicester were the first club linked with making a £39m bid to Angers for the box-to-box midfielder but West Ham and Newcastle may rival the Foxes for his signature.
Dominik Livakovic, 27, Dinamo Zagreb & Croatia
There were question marks over the Croatian goalkeeper situation heading to Qatar – but now it is simply exclamation marks instead.
Livakovic kept clean sheets against Morocco and Belgium before saving a record four penalties in the shootout wins over Japan and Brazil.
He could have joined United or Nottingham Forest in the summer but now Leeds are leading the race after Bayern pulled out.
Harry Souttar, 24, Stoke & Australia
Born in Scotland, representing Australia.. and flourishing in Qatar…
Souttar was a colossus at the heart of the Socceroos defence.
He played a key role in the Aussies reaching the knockout stages where they were beaten by Argentina.
Now back with Championship side Stoke, the club he joined from Dundee in 2016, and fully fit after his ACL injury in 2021, he will surely be snapped up by a Premier League club in the New Year – but the Potters want £25m.
Randal Kolo Muani, 24, Eintracht Frankfurt & France
Muani has grabbed his sliding doors moment after Christopher Nkunku limped out of France’s final training session before the World Cup and the new Frankfurt ace stepped up.
Despite 12 minutes of international football under his belt, he played well in the full 90 of the Tunisia defeat but then came off the bench and scored 44 seconds later to wrap up the semi-final win over Morocco.
Tottenham and Liverpool were both keen on Muani before the World Cup – but now they are likely to need to stump up at least £69m if they can prise him away from the Bundesliga, where he has scored five and assisted ten in 14 games.