Now confirmed in Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad, James Maddison heads a pool of five high-profile players linked with a move in the January transfer window.
For many players, the World Cup is a platform to prove their place among the elite. Put simply, big performances on the world stage will always catch the eye of the biggest clubs.
Senegal’s El-Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao landed in Liverpool after helping Senegal to beat France, while more recently Mesut Ozil’s exploits with Germany in 2010 brought about a move to Real Madrid and James Rodriguez followed suit in 2014 after winning the Golden Boot with Colombia.
We look at five players looking to earn that big move at the World Cup 2022.
James Maddison
Leicester’s star man has been in excellent form this season and has the fourth most goal contributions in the Premier League behind City’s star duo Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne and England captain Harry Kane, despite his side struggling.
In the form of his life, there is no surprise that Maddison is being tipped with a move away this coming transfer window and making an impact at the World Cup could accelerate this.
Newcastle is the club talked about most as Maddison’s next destination, with Eddie Howe’s side 9/4 favourites to land the talented number 10.
The Magpies have already added some serious attacking talent to their ranks with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak, but Maddison could be the missing piece that really propels them to the top table of English football. Tottenham is another option for the Leicester star, but they are currently only at 8/1 with Conte more likely in the market for a wide forward.
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Jude Bellingham
England’s star boy has been in incredible form with Borussia Dortmund and caught the attention of Europe’s elite. The teenager has five goal contributions in five Champions League games this season, making history by becoming the youngest player in Bundesliga history to captain his side.
Like many youngsters at Dortmund, Bellingham is sure to be sold to a top European side for a premium, but where will he go? He is a 3/1 favourite to follow his former teammate and friend, Erling Haaland, to Manchester City and could prove the natural successor to Kevin De Bruyne.
However, Liverpool come closely behind at 4/1 and will be looking for him to resurrect Jurgen Klopp’s ageing midfield. The rest in the Premier League are long shots with Man United at 16/1, Chelsea at 20/1 and Arsenal at 33/1.
England World Cup Squad
— oddschecker (@oddschecker) November 10, 2022
The England squad for the #WorldCup2022 has been announced!
What would you change from the 26 players selected?
Gareth Southgate's men are best odds of 19/2 to win the tournament compared to a worst price of 7/1. pic.twitter.com/XjLOnFa85O
Youri Tielemans
Despite his team struggling, the Belgian is having a fine season and has been proving that he has the ability to play at the very top. This has been shown in consecutive weeks with technically brilliant goals that have even rival fans standing and applauding.
Tielemans is still only 25 and has the best years of his career to come. He already has clubs sniffing around him but should he perform well with Belgium at the World Cup these will surely intensify, especially with his Leicester side struggling.
Arsenal (6/1) are current favourites to sign the talented midfielder with Liverpool (8/1) second favourites to help solve their midfield woes. Manchester United are at 10/1 but this move seems unlikely unless some of their existing midfield department move on.
Christian Pulisic
Pulisic is considered USA’s golden boy but he has seemed to fall out of favour in West London with rumours of a strained relationship spilling out of Cobham.
After failing to really impress at the Bridge, the tricky winger could see the World Cup as a platform to really prove his doubters wrong and trigger interest from other clubs in Europe. Newcastle (6/1) are the current favourites to land the USA international, with the Magpies looking to build out their squad.
Leeds are joint second favourites at 10/1 with Borussia Dortmund at 10/1 to re-sign their former starlet three years after selling him to Chelsea for over €60 million. Juventus (12/1) are slight outsiders to sign Pulisic and pair him with fellow American Weston McKenna in Turin.
Ruben Neves
The Portuguese maestro is playing for a Wolves team struggling at the bottom of the league but Neves himself still remains highly thought of. He has been a bright point in Wolves’ season and has kept up his good form since helping them win promotion to the Premier League back in 2018.
The 25-year-old, who won the Nations League with Portugal, is set for another tournament with his nation and will be heavily watched alongside Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo.
He already has admirers across Europe but should he perform for his country this winter his stock is sure to rise. Barcelona are said to be interested in Wolves’ star man as 6/1 favourites, while Manchester United (10/1) and Arsenal (12/1) are also rumoured to be keeping an eye on him.
