The Champions League is a tournament that has long allowed fans to watch the biggest teams and players do what they do best: compete for the biggest club title in world football.
This year’s competition will be no different, although there are a few different contenders from the usual quartet that often represent their nations in the semi-finals. For instance, there isn’t an English representative this year, as both Arsenal and Manchester City were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Of course, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are perhaps among the usual suspects that many often predict ahead of the campaign to reach this stage. At the same time, PSG can often be another, even though they often underachieve given the quality of their squad. Borussia Dortmund is the other contender, which makes things interesting as they don’t usually get to this stage.
As is the norm in a tournament of this calibre, several players will be on the field that could attract interest from elsewhere. With the summer transfer window on the horizon, who could we potentially see making a move despite reaching this stage of the competition with their clubs?
What are the UCL Semi-finals to be played?
Before taking a look at the players, it’s perhaps a wise idea to take a look at the ties that have been scheduled. These fixtures can give us an idea of who could potentially be on the move, whether there is any speculation at the moment or not. The ties to have been created for the Champions League semi finals are:
- Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund vs PSG
Given the ties, the latest Champions League odds have been made available across several markets, including the first leg ties. However, bettors may want to look at the outright winner if they want a better idea of who the bookies think will win and progress to the final. Currently, they have Real Madrid (2.90) and PSG (2.40) as the most likely winners, therefore suggesting these two power weights could be meeting at Wembley on June 1.
Which players could be on the move?
If this happens, this could be interesting for one player this summer…
Kylian Mbappe
Perhaps the worst-kept secret in all of football, Kylian Mbappe looks set to swap the French capital for Spain’s. If the two sides were to meet in the UCL Final, as the betting odds suggest, there will be plenty of interest in what happens and how the French international plays…
Alphonso Davies
Another player rumoured to be on the radar of Real Madrid’s, Alphonso Davies will also come up against Los Blancos, albeit a stage earlier as he continues to play for Bayern. The Canadian is one of a few who have their contracts expiring in the near future, and it appears he doesn’t want to commit his future to the Germans presently. Without wanting to lose him on a free, Bayern may have no choice but to cash in and let Davies join David Alaba at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
Nacho Fernandez
It won’t all be arrivals in Madrid this summer, with some older faces likely to leave. Nacho Fernandez has already confirmed that he will be leaving once his contract expires as he seeks a new challenge.
Luka Modric
Luka Modric is a little less obvious in terms of his stance about potentially leaving Madrid this summer, but it’s a very real possibility. His contract is up in the summer, and with Father Time catching up, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to go somewhere else to produce his midfield magic.
Jadon Sancho
Borussia Dortmund will likely see changes this summer, with Jadon Sancho perhaps the most likely. He is currently on loan from Manchester United following his fallout with the Red Devils and Erik ten Hag. However, he could see his move back to the Club he made his name with being made permanent once again.
Ian Maatsen
Another loanee at the BVB who could return to the club in the summer is Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen. The youngster has been impressive in the Bundesliga and has clarified that he would like to remain. With a release clause in the loan available to trigger, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Germans executed it.
