7 Talented Young Footballers That Will Be Linked To Absolutely Everyone This Summer

Transfer silly season is upon us and it seems like every big team in Europe is looking to cherry-pick the best young talent from around the continent (and Brazil) in a desperate attempt to remain relevant in the Champions League picture.

The Metro, The Daily Mail, and The Mirror will be working overtime to generate as many EXCLUSIVE transfer stories as they can, so we are trying to give you the heads up on the players that you are going to see referred to as "ACE" and "STAR" while you read quotes from a source close to them.

The following players are hot property, with good reason, so it's important that you know a few things about them in order to fill yourself with hope and expectations that they will sign for your club, only to see them go to your rival instead. Football transfer rumours, you've got to love them.

Memphis Depay - PSV Eindhoven

Mauro Icardi - Inter Milan

22 year old Argentine striker Mauro Icardi has 15 league goals in Serie A this season, which has forced him to publicly insist that he remains committed to Inter Milan as speculation has been mounting linking Europe's top clubs with a swoop for "the next Aguero". Expect every club who could do with a striker being linked to this kid, who does look to be an expectationally clinical finisher.

Douglas Costa - Shaktar Donetsk

Former Manchester United target Douglas Costa is sick of the Ukraine and wants out. He's made it clear that he fancies Chelsea above anyone else having declared that Mourinho would get the best out of him, but his name will no doubt be thrown around in links with top sides in all major leagues. Liverpool and Spurs fans can look forward to many meaningless links to this bag of tricks from Brazil.

Paulo Dybala - Palermo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP8YWoLoGTI
Expect to see Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool "battling it out" with Real Madrid and Barca for the signing of young Argentinian playmaker Paulo Dybala, who in fairness does look a sensational prospect, and is having a great season in Serie A. The Palermo chairman has admitted he won't be able to hold on to Dybala, which is a green light for every gossip column to go wild. Expect to see his name pop up a lot.

Kevin De Bruyne - Wolfsburg

All Premier League fans will be familiar with Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne from his unsuccessful stint with Chelsea, but that was more down to the outrageous options in his position rather than a lack of ability. De Bruyne is absolutely killing it in his second spell in the Bundesliga, popping up with goals and assists nearly every week, and his name will definitely be linked to both Manchester clubs this summer.

Robert Kenedy - Fluminense

Yes, he sounds like that lad you went to school with, but Kenedy is the next hot prospect out of the Liga do Brasil. Pace, tricks, flashy passes and goals, the Neymar comparisons write themselves. It remains to be seen which European club wishes to take a punt on this potential star, but you can expect the likes of United, City, Arsenal, and Liverpool to be linked continuously.

Alexandre Lacazette - Lyon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfORVaZW8Vw
Goal machine Lacazette has bagged 27 goals in 26 games in all appearances this season. He's banging them in left, right, and centre, so obviously he will be the subject of a staggering amount of transfer stories. Arsenal will be the front runners, obviously, because he's the top scorer in Ligue 1 and Arsenal have first option on all Ligue 1 players (not actually true), but expect any team who needs a striker to be heavily linked as well.

Thanks to ScoutNation on YouTube for the excellent highlight videos.

See also: 7 Things That Have Really Been Bothering Us About Football Recently