The 2023-24 campaign has almost drawn to a close and clubs across the world will soon be shifting their attention towards the summer transfer window.
Whether they have won the title, secured promotion, endured mid-table mediocrity or suffered relegation, clubs are sure to have already identified top targets to strengthen their squads ahead of delving into the market.
Global spending records were broken in the summer of 2023 as more than £6.5bn was forked out on over 1,600 players, with Premier League (£2.1bn) and Saudi Pro League (£728m) clubs leading the way by splashing out mouthwatering sums.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at when the 2024 summer transfer window opens and closes in some of the top leagues across the globe, and picks out some of the high-profile deals that could be completed ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
When does the 2024 summer transfer window open and close?
At the time of writing, none of the leagues above have officially confirmed the dates for when their respective transfer windows open and close this summer, but FIFA have issued a list of the current registration dates for each member association.
The majority of the suggested dates are set to follow a similar pattern to previous years, with the Premier League's window opening around three weeks after the season has ended and a few weeks before their top European counterparts such as La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
Almost all of the European leagues will see their transfer windows close between the final day of August and the first week of September, but there are a few exceptions, including Turkey where their window is set to close on September 13.
Both Brazil and USA follow a similar pattern to the European leagues, but Saudi Arabia's transfer window will be open for much longer as they will not be shutting up shop until October 6, giving the Middle Eastern powerhouses an additional month or so to recruit their desired targets - something the European leagues must be wary of when conducting their business.
One aspect to consider is the fact that there are a few major tournaments taking place this summer that could have an impact on when deals are completed - both Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 are scheduled between mid-June and mid-July, before the Men's Olympic Football Tournament takes place between July 24 and August 9.
What high-profile deals could take place this summer?
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Arguably the biggest deal set to be completed this summer will be a free transfer, as Kylian Mbappe - who has confirmed he will be departing Paris Saint-Germain upon the expiration of his contract in June - looks increasingly likely to make his dream move to Real Madrid.
Los Blancos have also been tipped to lure Alphonso Davies away from Bayern Munich, while keeping hold of midfield lynchpin Joshua Kimmich could also prove challenging for the Bundesliga giants amid reported interest from a number of Premier League clubs.
The addition of a new centre-forward seems to be high on the agenda for a number of top European clubs this summer, with Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Brentford's Ivan Toney among the in-demand strikers keen to seek pastures new. Big spenders Chelsea and London rivals Arsenal have been heavily linked with the pair, although the latter are reportedly prioritising a move for either Sporting Lisbon hotshot Viktor Gyokeres or Newcastle United star Alexander Isak.
If interested suitors opt against a big-money move for any of those £100m-rated strikers, then Stuttgart talisman Serhou Guirassy would be a cheaper alternative, as he allegedly possesses a €17.5m (£15m) release clause.
One high-profile club where plenty of change could materialise is Manchester United following the arrival of minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The futures of first-team stars such as Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro are believed to be uncertain at present, and the same can be said for Jadon Sancho, who is set to weigh up whether he should reignite his Old Trafford career or continue to excel at current club Borussia Dortmund, who are said to be keen to make his loan deal permanent.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is one name on Man United's radar, while the Englishman's teammate Amadou Onana is wanted by several clubs including Arsenal - both players seemingly face uncertain futures at Goodison Park amid the Toffees' financial predicament.
Elsewhere, the threat of Saudi Pro League's PIF-owned quartet (Al-Ahli, Al Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr) is set to resurface this summer, with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne believed to be two of their primary targets.
