Three Players That Could Be on the Move Following Stellar Showings at UEFA Euro 2024

UEFA Euro 2024 has been the festival of football that it always promised to be. Hostts Germany did themselves proud both with their hosting of the tournament and their performances en route to the quarterfinals.

Record-champions Spain and final opponents England also impressed, with the former’s attacking displays compared to the grit and determination of the Three Lions.

But with the curtain coming down on an enthralling tournament, attention now turns back to domestic matters. Several players shone at the Euros this summer and they have put themselves in the shop window to secure a big money transfer this summer. Here are three such players, and where they may end up in the not-too-distant future.

Riccardo Calafiori

Riccardo Calafiori’s performances for Italy at UEFA Euro 2024 were one of the few shining lights of the Azurrii’s ill-fated defense of their crown. The young Bologna defender was somewhat of a shock starter for the Italians in their opening game against Albania, starting ahead of Alessandro Buongiorno, Gianluca Mancini, and Matteo Darmian, however, he immediately rewarded manager Luciano Spalletti’s faith in him.

Calafiori has proven to be a throwback, almost stereotypical Italian center-half. With flowing long locks and a Rolls Royce-like ability on the ball, he follows in the blueprint set by the likes of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta from decades ago.

He was instrumental in Italy’s progression from the group stage, marauding from defense to set up Mattia Zaccagni’s last-gasp equalizer against Croatia in his side’s final group game. As the clock ticked into injury time, Italy securing a draw was pushed out to +800 with Bovada live betting odds, but thanks to their central defender’s moment of genius, they managed to find the back of the net and secure the point they needed to progress.

One of the reasons why the Azzurri were dumped out of the tournament by Switzerland is because Calafiori was suspended. That left the Italians without a key playmaker from defence and of course, without his natural defensive abilities. His side were duly dumped out courtesy of a 2-0 defeat, and now attention turns to the future.

Calafiori’s ability to balance defensive duties with offensive support makes him a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who are reportedly keen on securing his services. The Gunners have been in search of another reliable center half to provide competition and cover for the imperious duo of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, who have both been impressive but may now struggle to feature in every Premier League and Champions League game.

Bologna’s willingness to part with their young star may hinge on their financial standing and the allure of a lucrative offer from Arsenal. If the North London club can meet the Serie A side’s valuation, Calafiore could find himself making the switch to the Premier League, where his development would be eagerly awaited.

Georges Mikautadze

Georges Mikautadze was one of the breakout stars of Euro 2024, playing a key role in Georgia’s surprising run to the knockout stages. The 23-year-old forward currently plies his trade with Metz in Ligue 1 and he has displayed a lethal combination of speed and clinical finishing that has turned heads throughout the tournament. His standout performances came in the group stage and despite his side’s elimination, he remains the joint top scorer in the tournament with three goals.

Georgia was expected to be the whipping boy this summer. However, they gave Turkey all they could handle in their opening game before drawing with the Czech Republic and shockingly beating Portugal in one of the European Championships’ greatest-ever upsets to secure a stunning progression to the second round.

Mikautadze was on target in all three of those clashes, and now he could be set for a megamoney move. West Ham United have been in search of a prolific striker to bolster their attacking options and they have identified Mikautadze as a prime target.

The Hammers’ current strike force has struggled with consistency, with the veteran Michail Antonio returning to lead the line throughout the latter stages of last season. And incoming boss Julen Lopetegui sees the Georgian hitman as a player who can not only lead the line but also adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League.

His knack for scoring crucial goals and his agility make him a perfect fit for West Ham’s counter-attacking style of play, and it will be interesting to see if he can make the step up to the uber-competitive English top-flight.

Marc Guéhi

Marc Guéhi’s commanding presence in defense was a cornerstone of England’s impressive run at Euro 2024. The 23-year-old centre-back has been a revelation at Crystal Palace and he showed maturity beyond his years to step into the Three Lions backline and replace the injured Harry Maguire.

His physicality, intelligent positioning, and composure on the ball led to him being arguably England’s player of the tournament, and now he could be set to replace Maguire once again, during his time at Old Trafford.

Manchester United are on a quest to reinforce a backline that has shown vulnerabilities in recent years. France World Cup winner Raphael Varaane has already departed and the only elite-level centrebacks remaining at the club are the aforementioned Maguire and Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez.

Erik ten Hag’s side needs a reliable man at the heart of their defense, and Guéhi’s attributes make him an ideal candidate. His experience in the Premier League, coupled with his new international exploits, suggests that he could seamlessly transition into the Red Devils’ defensive setup.