- Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been linked with all the big English clubs
- Manchester City are preparing a move for Lars Bender as a contingency plan
- Manchester United have earmarked Bastian Schweinsteiger for their midfield
- Former Chelsea man Kevin De Bruyne could move to City in a £45m switch
- Karim Benzema could quit Real Madrid for the Premier League's top clubs
The Premier League is crying out for new stars to sparkle next season yet our clubs are facing an arduous task in convincing Europe's elite that England is the place to be.
Italy, led by Juventus, are enjoying a renaissance; Spain's big two remain dominant; Bayern Munich want to build again while the nouveaux riche at Paris Saint-Germain want it all.
Here, Sportsmail spotlights some of the stars in demand.
PAUL POGBA
Juventus
Cost: £65million
Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea would all like the Juventus midfielder but his agent Mino Raiola is blunt about the player going to the highest bidder.
PSG want the French international to spearhead their Champions League push next season as do Barcelona who can do a deal from January 2016.
Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea would all like to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba
Raiola said: 'Offers are already coming in, but Juventus don't want to sell, they must make it an auction. His transfer would be one of the most expensive in history.
LARS BENDER
Bayer Leverkusen
Cost: £22m
City have drawn up contingency plans should they fail to land Pogba and Germany international Bender is one of the names on their list.
The 26-year-old has also been watched extensively by Arsenal and Manchester United. Twin brother of Dortmund's Sven, Lars is a rangy defensive minded midfielder who is comfortable bringing the ball out of defence.
City have drawn up contingency plans should they fail to land Pogba with Lars Bender a potential target
He is a German international and is contracted to Leverkusen until 2019 but has had injury problems throughout his career.
CHANCES: 2/5
GONZALO HIGUAIN
Napoli
Cost: £37m
The Argentina international wants to leave Napoli but the club is reluctant to sell without getting their money back.
He is 27 and carrying a little extra weight which has concerned some observers including scouts at United.
Gonzalo Higuain wants to leave Napoli but the club is reluctant to sell without getting their money back
Juventus have expressed an interest in recent weeks while Arsenal and Chelsea have monitored his progress. Jose Mourinho is a fan from his time at Real Madrid. United want two strikers but have yet to bid for Higuain despite reports in Italy.
CHANCES: 3/5
BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER
Bayern Munich
Cost: £8m
United have earmarked Schweinsteiger as one of their options for midfield where they are also considering Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin.
Schweinsteiger is on big wages and turns 31 years old on August 1.
United have earmarked Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger as one of their options for midfield
Economically it may not seem the best signing but Louis van Gaal wants someone to share the burden with Michael Carrick of pulling the strings and recognises the experience, calm and technique that the Germany international can bring to his squad.
CHANCES: 2/5
KEVIN DE BRUYNE
Wolfsburg
Cost: £45m
One of the outstanding performers in Europe this season, former Chelsea midfielder De Bruyne has just been named the best player in the Bundesliga.
City sporting director Txiki Begiristain has spoken to his agent Patrick De Koster and is keen to make a deal happen, his club want him to sign a new contract while Bayern Munich, PSG and Juventus have also expressed interest.
Former Chelsea midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has attracted interest from City with his Bundesliga displays
De Koster said: 'I will have informal talks with Wolfsburg this week so we will have to wait and see.'
CHANCES: 3/5
DOUGLAS COSTA
Shakhtar Donetsk
Cost: £24m
The Brazilian has made his love of Chelsea and Mourinho clear and very nearly made that move happen in January.
Instead Chelsea pushed ahead with a deal for Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina, one that has not been successful. Indeed, Inter Milan are trying to take Cuadrado on loan with view to a permanent deal and that could pave the way for Costa's arrival.
Brazilian forward Douglas Costa could be joining international team-mate Filipe Luis at Chelsea
Liverpool and Arsenal have also shown a keen interest in the attacking midfielder who has a Portuguese passport.
CHANCES: 4/5
KARIM BENZEMA
Real Madrid
Cost: £35m
A striker all the Premier League would want and one who could be struggling to make the starting line up at Real Madrid next season.
Rafa Benitez is considering playing Cristiano Ronaldo as his centre forward and Benzema may start on the bench.
Karim Benzema could be struggling to make the starting line up at Real Madrid next season
His agent Karim Djaziri is undeterred however. 'I haven't met with any club in London,' he said. 'Not with United and not with anyone else. Benzema would only leave if Real Madrid told him he was surplus to requirements, because he isn't going to leave of his own accord.'
CHANCES: 1/5
Here's a few that should arrive in England this summer:
YOHAN CABAYE (PSG) £10m
The stylish midfielder has been pushed out by PSG's all-star cast so is looking for a return to the Premier League and Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is keen to sign him
Yohan Cabaye has been pushed out by PSG's all-star cast so is looking for a return to the Premier League
ANTHONY MARTIAL (Monaco) £18.5m
Raw but exciting French forward who has shone in the Champions League. The teenager is a big favourite with Tottenham who will push for a deal in the coming weeks.
Anthony Martial (right) is a big favourite with Tottenham who will push for a deal in the coming weeks
CEDRIC SOARES (Sporting Lisbon) £3.5m
Attacking Portugal international right back has been watched by Arsenal, Barcelona, Wolfsburg and Schalke but is the subject of a £3.5m bid from ambitious Stoke City.
Cedric Soares (left) has been watched by Arsenal, Barcelona, Wolfsburg and Schalke, plus Stoke City
CRISTIAN BENAVENTE (Real Madrid) £4m
The 'Peruvian Ronaldinho' has been starring under Zinedine Zidane's tutelage for Castilla but is now in talks over a move to West Bromwich Albion where Tony Pulis will make him his playmaker.
Cristian Benavente has starred under Zinedine Zidane's tutelage for Castilla and is wanted by West Brom
PEDRO OBIANG (Sampdoria) £4.4m
Tough and technically good central midfielder brought up in Atletico Madrid's academy prior to moving to Italy and now the 23-year-old is heading to West Ham United.
Tough and technically good central midfielder Pedro Obiang is heading to West Ham United this summer
SHINJI OKAZAKI (Mainz) £9m
Japan international striker has been a target for Leicester City since December and the 29-year-old looks increasingly likely to move to the Midlands after the club offered £8m.
Shinji Okazaki (left) has been a target for Leicester City since December and looks likely to move for £8m
FRANCK TABANOU (St Etienne) £3.5m
The French left back almost joined Swansea City in January but is pushing for the deal to be done now and all parties are inching towards an agreement for the 26-year-old.
Franck Tabanou (left) almost joined Swansea City in January but is pushing for the deal to be done now
