Five players who could return to the Premier League this summer | OneFootball

It is shaping up to be another major summer of transfers in the Premier League but not every recruit will be a new face.

Some former Premier League stars are being heavily linked with returns to the division. Here are five big names who could return to the Premier League this summer.

Five players who could return to the Premier League this summer

Viktor Gyokeres

Watching Viktor Gyokeres’s goalscoring in recent seasons certainly raises questions as to just how the Swedish striker slipped through the Premier League net.

Formerly of Brighton, the forward failed to make a league appearance for the Seagulls and totalled just eight appearances in all competitions. Gyokeres might not have evolved as hoped at the Amex, but Brighton’s talent identification has been vindicated since his exit.

After a productive spell at Coventry City, Gyokeres signed for Sporting Lisbon in 2023 where he’s since put up Erling Haaland-esque numbers. The 27-year-old’s netted 97 times in 102 appearances for Sporting, winning successive Primeira Liga crowns and top scorer awards.

His astonishing record has alerted Europe’s elite and Arsenal are now closing in on winning the race. Mikel Arteta’s search for a number nine could soon be over.

Joao Palhinha

Joao Palhinha’s peerless ball-winning shone during his time in the Premier League, as the Portugal midfielder led the league for tackles in successive seasons at Fulham.

Suitably impressed, Bayern Munich made Palhinha a £47.4m player last summer but the transfer to the Bundesliga has not worked out as hoped. The 29-year-old failed to convince head coach Vincent Kompany and started just six league games in a bit-part role.

Bayern are open to offers for Palhinha this summer and the Portuguese’s presence would certainly benefit many a Premier League engine room. English clubs have enquired.

Douglas Luiz

Another midfielder whose marquee move has proven to be a frustrating experience. Luiz left Aston Villa to join Juventus last summer in a deal worth around £44m.

Having been a driving force in Aston Villa’s qualification for the Champions League, the midfielder has struggled to make an impression in Turin.

He made just three league starts in Serie A and is understood to be exploring his options. Manchester United, Everton and Fulham have been named as suitors.

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Aleksandar Mitrovic joined the Saudi Pro League’s remarkable recruitment drive in 2023, becoming Fulham’s record sale after a £50m move to Al-Hilal.

The Serbian striker was an instant success in Saudi Arabia, scoring 40 times in 44 appearances during his debut season as Al-Hilal won a Pro League and King’s Cup double.

Despite netting another 28 goals in 2024/25, Al-Hilal are prepared to sanction his sale with Marcos Leonardo emerging as the club’s long-term focal point.

In a summer that looks set to represent a merry-go-round of centre-forward talent, Mitrovic’s uncompromising brand of football would be welcomed back in the Premier League.

Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman has expressed interest in leaving Atalanta with the Premier League a potential destination. Despite the exit of Gian Piero Gasperini as head coach, there is an expectation that Lookman will explore his options with Juventus, Napoli and English teams all credited with interest.

The former Fulham and Everton winger has taken his game to new heights in Italy, scoring 52 times in 117 games for Atalanta. That return includes a hat-trick in the club’s 2023 Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen, a year that saw Lookman named African Footballer of the Year. Tottenham Hotspur have been mentioned as an option for the Wandsworth-born attacker, as Spurs seek a long-term replacement for Heung-min Son.

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