TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The summer transfer window, which opened on June 16, allows clubs across Europe’s top leagues to make moves until September 1. However, several players may find it difficult to secure transfers due to unresolved issues in this year’s market.
A number of well-known players, including Marcus Rashford and Darwin Nunez, are struggling to leave their current clubs despite falling out of favor. According to ESPN, various factors are complicating their potential exits.
Marcus Rashford
Manchester United is dealing with several problems this summer, with one of the biggest being the challenge of offloading Marcus Rashford. His high salary of £325,000 per week (around Rp 7.2 billion) makes it difficult to find a club willing to take him.
Rashford has not played for United since a Europa League match against Viktoria Plzen last December, after failing to meet expectations under coach Ruben Amorim. During a six-month loan at Aston Villa, he scored only four goals in 17 appearances.
Although Rashford is interested in joining LaLiga champions Barcelona, the Spanish club prefers Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, limiting his chances of a move to Camp Nou.
To avoid financial losses, United would need to sell Rashford for at least £45 million, a figure that makes a permanent move unlikely. A loan deal appears to be the most practical option.
Darwin Nunez
Darwin Nunez is on Liverpool’s transfer list after spending much of last season on the bench under new manager Arne Slot. Despite scoring just 40 goals in 143 appearances since his €75 million move from Benfica in 2022, Liverpool still values the Uruguayan at €50 million.
Napoli has shown interest in the 26-year-old striker. However, they must first address Victor Osimhen’s situation. Osimhen spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, and his future needs to be settled before Napoli can move forward with Nunez.
Liverpool, having spent over £150 million this summer on Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, may need to sell players to afford Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, who is valued at £40 million.
Jack Grealish
Jack Grealish was left out of Manchester City’s squad for the 2025 Club World Cup. Manager Pep Guardiola has publicly stated that the winger needs regular playing time, suggesting that a departure from Etihad could be on the cards.
Grealish has struggled with injuries since helping City secure the treble in 2023. His exclusion from both the Club World Cup and England’s Euro 2024 squad highlights his current challenges.
City is open to selling the 29-year-old, but his high salary and the remaining two years on his contract, worth £15 million per year, make a move difficult. Grealish was signed for £100 million in 2021, making him the most expensive Premier League signing at the time. Although Newcastle and Everton are interested, City has yet to receive formal offers.
Antony
Antony is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s most disappointing signings. His £81 million move from Ajax to Manchester United in 2022 has not delivered the expected results, and the club is now struggling to find a permanent buyer.
He performed well during a six-month loan at Real Betis, helping the Spanish club reach the UEFA Conference League final. However, Betis cannot afford to buy him outright, as United would need at least £32 million to avoid financial losses.
Although his weekly salary of £70,000 makes him a more affordable option for a loan deal, United prefers a permanent transfer to cut their losses. Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by former United coach Erik ten Hag, and Betis are both exploring loan options, but no concrete offers have emerged so far.
Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker’s future at Manchester City is uncertain. A potential permanent move to AC Milan failed to materialize after his loan stint there in January. With just one year left on his contract, this summer is City’s final opportunity to sell the 35-year-old defender.
His underwhelming performance in Serie A has made it difficult to attract interest from top European clubs. A return to Sheffield United, his boyhood club, is no longer possible after the team failed to gain promotion to the Premier League. Turkish clubs, including Fenerbahce, are now seen as potential destinations.
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling has fallen out of favor at Chelsea and is not generating strong interest from other clubs. The 30-year-old scored only once in 28 appearances while on loan at Arsenal, most of them as a substitute. This poor form means Arsenal is not considering a permanent deal.
Sterling has two years remaining on his £300,000-a-week contract. Leaving Chelsea would require him to accept a significant pay cut or spend the next two seasons out on loan.
He has ruled out a move to Saudi Arabia, and a switch to Major League Soccer would depend on Chelsea waiving the transfer fee and Sterling accepting lower wages.
Jadon Sancho
Chelsea has shown interest in keeping Jadon Sancho after his loan from Manchester United. However, talks have stalled because the player is unwilling to reduce his current £300,000-a-week salary.
According to the loan agreement, Chelsea must now pay a £5 million penalty for failing to complete the permanent transfer. Sancho has one year left on his contract, with United holding an option to extend for another year, although this seems unlikely.
Fenerbahce is reportedly considering a move for the 25-year-old, while Juventus and Borussia Dortmund remain interested. A loan deal with United covering part of his wages may be the most realistic outcome.
Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku has only managed 17 goals in 58 appearances for Chelsea since joining from RB Leipzig for £52 million in 2023. Chelsea attempted to sell him in January, but no deal was reached. The French forward is now once again available.
Nkunku has missed over 50 matches in two years due to injuries. His inconsistent fitness record makes a permanent transfer difficult. He still has four years left on his Chelsea contract, placing the responsibility on the club to find a buyer or loan arrangement
Given his lack of impact in London, that task will not be easy.
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