Stars in demand:
As the European festival of football draws to an end, the transfer window is set to move into overdrive. Premier League clubs know that major tournament form can be misleading, but there can also be some gems to be found. DARREN LEWIS looks at players who
DOMENICO BERARDI (Italy, forward, Sassuolo)
Tottenham and Leicester are both sniffing around the 26-year-old who scored 17 goals last season. Berardi also provided seven assists, helping his club to a second consecutive eighth-placed finish in Serie A.
During this European Championship the forward has provided two assists for the Azzurri, leaving Leicester keen to follow up their interest and Spurs needing to catch up, with AC Milan and Roma also interested.
ALEXANDER ISAK (Sweden, forward, Real Sociedad)
Fascinating one this as the striker did not actually score at Euro 2020. The 21-year-old did, however, catch the eye of a number of good judges with his powerful running and his game intelligence.
Isak, above, had two assists and almost conjured up one of the goals of the tournament during the victory over Slovakia.
Yes, he has recently signed a new deal with Sociedad, but that is understood to have been designed to wipe out the £35million buy-back clause Borussia Dortmund had included in his initial contract. Arsenal could be a contender in the marketplace for the Swede.
DENZEL DUMFRIES (Holland, wing-back, PSV Eindhoven)
While the Dutch were sent packing by the Czech Republic in the round of 16, their rampaging right wing-back left the tournament with a clutch of new admirers.
Catching the eye in his country’s 3-5-2 formation, 25-year-old Dumfries bagged two goals and missed a stack of chances to score even more. Everton are leading the chase for his services and they could yet win it given the fact that Tottenham are looking elsewhere. All the indications are that he is likely to end up in the Premier League.
JOAKIM MAEHLE (Denmark, wing-back, Atalanta)
A player who has earned rave reviews for his performances in the Danes’ resurgence. Southampton are interested and have been long before this European Championship.
He was a regular in all but four of his club’s Serie A games since his arrival in January and looks to have enhanced his value over the past three weeks. Two goals and an assist in his five appearances before last night’s semi-final, have had even bigger clubs taking a peek under the bonnet.A few may walk away with Atalanta asking for around £25m for him. But some clubs could yet be ready to invest.
RENATO SANCHES (Portugal, midfielder, Lille)
A player who has restored his towering reputation after struggling to live up to the hype as a teenager.
He is 23 and could be a superb signing for a Premier League club on the evidence of the past few weeks.
Sanches, left, was crowned Young Player of the Tournament in 2016 as Portugal lifted the European Championship.
His move to Lille in 2019 has been a huge triumph. Christophe Galtier’s side went on to beat Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title this season. Liverpool, Everton, and Spurs are among the clubs keeping tabs. This time they could get the player they are seeking.