The Champions League semi-final stars set for summer moves

  • Bayern Munich to face Real Madrid and PSG take on Borussia Dortmund in Champions League semi-finals
  • Several star players could find new clubs this summer
  • Kylian Mbappe and Alphonso Davies among those on verge of exits

Three men on the move?
Three men on the move? / Pedro Salado/Getty Images, Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images, Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

We have our four Champions League semi-finalists, and in the words of Alan Hansen, it's bad news for the English game.

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain are into the last four of this year's competition, emerging victorious from a pulsating set of quarter-finals.

This could be the last shot at European glory with their current club for quite a few star players. Here are those we expect to move on for pastures new in the summer transfer window.


Kylian Mbappe

FC Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain: Quarter-final Second Leg - UEFA Champions League 2023/24
Here we go again / Christian Liewig - Corbis/GettyImages
  • Current club: PSG
  • Potential destination: Real Madrid
  • Reason for leaving: This is his destiny

Kylian Mbappe's contract expires in the summer, as was the case at this stage in 2022. He is widely expected to join Real Madrid, as was the case at this stage in 2022.

So what's different this time around? Well, it was foolish to stay at PSG the first time. To do it twice would warrant the Eiffel Tower to be renamed after him.

The fun part if Mbappe's last PSG game could come against Madrid in the final. Everyone get your narratives ready.


Luka Modric

Luka Modric
Modric's future remains uncertain / James Baylis - AMA/GettyImages
  • Current club: Real Madrid
  • Potential destinations: Dinamo Zagreb, Inter Miami
  • Reason for leaving: Father Time

As has been proven in recent months, Luka Modric still has a lot of quality left in his boots. There's just a fairly big question mark over how often he can conjure such magic.

His contract with Madrid expires at the end of the season, and while it wouldn't surprise anyone if he renewed again on a rolling deal, it's starting to look more likely his future lies away from the Santiago Bernabeu.


Alphonso Davies

Alphonso Davies
Davies is expected to be sold by Bayern / Alexander Hassenstein/GettyImages
  • Current club: Bayern Munich
  • Potential destination: Real Madrid
  • Reason for leaving: Why not I guess

Bayern Munich have a few star players whose contracts are up in 2025. They're working hard to extend most of those, but it seems as though Alphonso Davies is the one who will get away.

Like Mbappe, it seems inevitable he will end up wearing the famous white of Los Blancos.


Jadon Sancho

Borussia Dortmund v Atletico Madrid: Quarter-final Second Leg - UEFA Champions League 2023/24
Sancho went further in this season's Champions League than his parent club / Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/GettyImages
  • Current club: Borussia Dortmund (on loan from Manchester United)
  • Potential destination: Borussia Dortmund (not on loan from Manchester United)
  • Reason for leaving: Picked a fight with some guy who likes his team to concede 30 shots a game

Though it is quite funny that Jadon Sancho is into the semi-finals of the Champions League while Manchester United were dumped out in the group stage, it should be noted such success with Borussia Dortmund was the intention behind the Red Devils' decision to loan him out.

Okay, noting's over. You can go back to laughing if you like.


Ian Maatsen

Borussia Dortmund v Atletico Madrid: Quarter-final Second Leg - UEFA Champions League 2023/24
Maatsen earned his redemption against Atletico / Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/GettyImages
  • Current club: Borussia Dortmund (on loan from Chelsea)
  • Potential destination: Borussia Dortmund (not on loan from Chelsea)
  • Reason for leaving: Just didn't want to go back to Burnley probably

Is Ian Maatsen a suitable left-back in the Premier League? Probably not, but he's thriving over in Dortmund.

Chelsea must be licking their lips at the prospect of getting £35m for him. Take that, pesky PSR!


Andriy Lunin

Andriy Lunin
Lunin was Madrid's quarter-final hero / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
  • Current club: Real Madrid
  • Potential destination: Any team in need of a half-decent goalkeeper
  • Reason for leaving: Emi Martinez-style breakout

Based on this season's pretty decent sample size, Andriy Lunin is too good simply to serve as Thibaut Courtois' understudy.

The Ukrainian has earned his spurs and is deserving of a starting spot elsewhere.


Nacho Fernandez

Nacho Fernandez
Captain, leader, legend (maybe) / Rafa Babot/GettyImages
  • Current club: Real Madrid
  • Potential destination: Inter
  • Reason for leaving: Desire for a new challenge

Be careful what you wish for, Nacho Fernandez. One minute you're the Sergio Ramos of the Bernabeu. The next minute you're battling relegation and picking fights in a not-cool way.


READ THE LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE

feed