The 2026 World Cup is proving to be the ultimate showcase for football talent, with 48 nations providing a vast pool of players attracting serious Premier League interest.
BBC Sport journalists have identified a number of key names being discussed by top-flight clubs across England this summer.
Newcastle have not ruled out making a third attempt to sign England goalkeeper James Trafford, with Manchester City’s cup keeper openly acknowledging he needs first-team football to fulfil his international ambitions.
Fulham’s Antonee Robinson is attracting Manchester United interest as a potential defensive left-sided option, having featured prominently for the USA in their opening World Cup fixtures.
Brighton have already had two bids rejected for Tottenham’s Luka Vuskovic, the 19-year-old Croatian defender who started his country’s opener against England in a three-man backline.
Nottingham Forest are holding out for a British transfer record fee for midfielder Elliot Anderson, whose commanding 90-minute display against Croatia made Luka Modric look every one of his 40 years.
Manchester City’s second offer of £120m has already been turned down by Forest, and Anderson’s stunning tournament debut may have added a further £10m to his already substantial valuation.
Anderson has won possession 78 times since Thomas Tuchel took charge of England in January 2025, an impressive 51 more than the next player on that list, Declan Rice.
Liverpool are tracking RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, with the 19-year-old Ivory Coast star valued at around £100m after a series of dazzling World Cup displays.
Diomande earned a player-of-the-match award in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 win over Ecuador and played a key role in his side’s goal during a 2-1 defeat against Germany, further underlining his enormous potential.
Bradley Barcola of Paris St-Germain has also been linked to both Liverpool and Arsenal after scoring for France against Senegal, with the 23-year-old subsequently rewarded with a start against Iraq.
Arsenal are targeting Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, who is part of the England squad and battling Jude Bellingham for a starting role, with the Gunners looking to build on their Premier League title success.
West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville is among Manchester United’s targets for their left-sided slot, with the 24-year-old finishing top of the Fifa rankings in the Netherlands’ World Cup opener against Japan before also scoring in a 5-1 win over Sweden.
Manchester United have already agreed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta for £35m, though the move has been delayed by the Brazil midfielder’s late call-up to the World Cup squad.
Tottenham are pressing ahead with their radical overhaul following last season’s narrow relegation escape, with Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson all signed ahead of Roberto de Zerbi’s first full season.
Crystal Palace, fresh from winning the Conference League, must now invest again with new boss Pierre Sage needing reinforcements at full-back, with Daniel Munoz only recently returning from knee surgery.
Sunderland will adopt a far more conservative approach than last summer, with Regis le Bris planning a squad of around 20 players to accommodate European football, with central midfield and attack the priority areas.
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has expressed interest in Croatian league players, with Rijeka’s Toni Fruk, an unused substitute against England, among those on the club’s radar as they return to the Premier League after nearly a decade away.
