Top players who could be on the move during soccer’s transfer window

MANCHESTER, England — The transfer window in England opened on June 14 and for the major leagues in Europe it will open on July 1.

Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema have already kicked off the window in spectacular fashion, and more of soccer’s biggest stars could also be on the move this off-season.

Kylian Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain he will not sign a 12-month extension on his current contract, which is expected to spark an auction for the France striker, with Real Madrid likely to be at the head of the queue.

The Spanish club is in need of a center forward following Benzema’s move to Saudi Arabian champion Al-Ittihad.

Madrid, along with Manchester United, has also been linked with Harry Kane, who has a year to run on his deal at Tottenham.

United is also trying to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.

Manchester City needs to add to its midfield, with Ilkay Gundogan leaving for Barcelona.

City is among a host of teams linked with West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, along with Arsenal, United and Bayern Munich.

Here are some of the biggest potential transfers to watch out for.

KYLIAN MBAPPE (Paris Saint-Germain)

Mbappe is widely expected to take over from Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer’s biggest superstar and has put Europe’s biggest teams on alert after announcing he will not sign a new deal with PSG.

Out of contract next year, he will be a free agent. PSG does not want to risk losing him for nothing, which could see him put up for sale soon if a new deal cannot be agreed.

Madrid had a bid of $190 million rejected in 2021 and the timing would appear to be perfect to launch a fresh move after Benzema’s exit.

Mbappe, however, says he will see out the final year of his deal.

HARRY KANE (Tottenham)

After years of speculation about his future, Kane could finally leave Tottenham. With a year on his contract, the pressure is on Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to either sign him to a new deal or cash in.

Madrid and United continue to be linked with him, with Tottenham reportedly valuing its all-time leading scorer at about $127 million.

Both of those clubs are in the market for a new striker. Madrid needs to replace Benzema, while United still hasn’t filled the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure last year.

Perhaps PSG could be added to the list of potential suitors if Mbappe does leave this year.

Kane has never won a major trophy and turns 30 before the start of next season, which is another reason why the time might be right to make the move.

DECLAN RICE (West Ham)

Jude Bellingham’s move to Real Madrid has left Rice as probably the most wanted midfielder in Europe.

Arsenal and City are reportedly leading the race for the England international, who has also been linked with United and Bayern Munich.

He led West Ham to triumph in the Europa Conference League, which was widely considered to be his final act for the London club.

City is in the market for a top midfielder following the departure of Gundogan to Barcelona, while Arsenal has also made that area a priority after finishing runner-up in the Premier League last season.

NEYMAR (Paris Saint-Germain)

Messi and Mbappe have dominated the headlines as far as PSG is concerned ahead of the transfer window, but Neymar’s future also remains uncertain.

The French champions are planning a change of strategy, which focuses on young and home-grown talent. Neymar would not appear to fit that shift in direction, so could potentially follow Messi by becoming the next star name to depart.

Much could depend on who wants the Brazilian, with Saudi Arabia already linked with a move for him as part of the country’s ambitious recruitment drive.

JOSKO GVARDIOL (Leipzig)

Having won a treble of trophies last season, it is hard to know how Pep Guardiola can improve his all-conquering Manchester City team.

Gvardiol, who was one of the stars of last year’s World Cup, could be one way.

The Croatia defender has continually been linked with a move to City in what could be a world record fee for a defender, with Leipzig reportedly wanting more than the 80 million pounds (then $97 million) United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019.