EURO 2012 players that are likely to play in the Premier League next season

The European Championships are often a great chance for a player to put himself in the shop window, and this year looks like it will be no different. A host of players are already being linked with Premier League teams.

Here I’ll look at the most likely, and what they will bring to their new teams.

Already In

A transfer which had been on the cards for most of the season is the transfer of Lukas Podolski from FC Koln to Arsenal. The deal was being discussed for most of the season and there were rumours in January of a possible deal but on April 30^th 2012 the deal was confirmed for him to move to the Emirates.

Arsenal fans should have plenty to enjoy from the big centre forward in the Summer, with him boasting an impressive 43 goals in 95 appearances at international level. He is usually employed on the left hand side of a forward three, a weak area for Arsenal so they will get a good view of him in the position he will most likely play for The Gunners. He also had his best goal scoring season in the Bundesliga last year with 18 in 29 games.

Arsenal certainly have an exciting forward to look forward to watching at Euro 2012 and next season but need to hope he’s not a replacement for Van Persie.

Striking Talent for The Red Devils?

It has been much publicised recently that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his assistant Mike Phelan attended the German Cup final. Rumours emerged about two players Japanese international Shinji Kagawa and the man they will be watching at the Euro’s Robert Lewandowski of Poland.

With them set to lose Dimitar Berbatov Manchester United desperately need someone to help out Wayne Rooney in the goal scoring stakes and the Pole fits the mould of the player they will want alongside the Englishman.

Until about two years ago few people in world football had heard of the big Pole, he had plied his trade in the Polish league with Lech Poznan and an impressive 2009-2010 season saw him fall on to the radar of Dortmund. He moved there in 2010 and had an unimpressive first season despite them winning the league. This season though he has been on fire, with an impressive thirty goals.

At just 23 Lewandowski fits the Manchester United mould, as senior players retire the next generation is being brought in. He hopes to lead hosts Poland to some form of Euro 2012 glory and in the process this may lead to a move to Manchester in the future.

Crossing the Channel?

An influx of French players came across from France to Tyneside in the last eighteen months. The likes of Sylvain Marveaux, Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye and youngster Medhi Abeid have caused something of French revolution. There have been varying degrees of success with these, Marveaux spent most of the season sidelined through injury for example.

However the rest of the Premier League have taken notice. The bargain price of four million pounds for Cabaye in particular has caught the attention of many. He has been a central figure in Newcastle’s brilliant season and now the rest of the division look to follow suit by trying to bring the best of French to the UK.

Arsenal again look to lead the way with interest in Rennes central midfielder Yann M’Vila. The twenty one year old is already a regular starter for his country and Wenger is thought to be a huge fan.

Arsenal struggled defensively far too many times this season and M’Vila is hailed in France for his defensive qualities. With Wenger having a history of signing the best of French this could be another masterstroke. M’Vila won’t wow so to speak at Euro 2012 but his confident, steady defensive performances will give Arsenal fans plenty to be hopeful about.

Another man who could be heading to the Emirates is Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud. He was instrumental in Montpellier’s title victory and it is believed Arsenal have already made an enquiry. Scoring 21 in 36 games is a great record and Arsenal need to boost their striking options as they have relied all too heavily on Van Persie of late.

Big Names

These will all look like good signings should they come to the Premiership. However, few of these are world superstars, so can we expect any of these to come to the Premiership?

Potentially we can. Arjen Robben had a night to forget in the recent Champions League final and the Bayern fans seem to have turned on him. His extra time penalty miss is seen as the decisive moment in the game and at a recent charity match he was jeered and whistled by his own fans.

Rumours have now emerged the winger could be on the way out of Bayern. The front runners appear to be Manchester City. The cash is available and one of the issues City faced this season was a lack of title winning experience, Robben has this and could be tempted to ply his trade in England.

It could be a great move for City. He knows the Champions League, he knows the Premier League and most importantly would add bags of creativity and goals to Manchester City’s team. No deal has yet to be discussed but City are thought to be keen and Robben on the wings would definitely aide their title defence.

The other big name who could be on the move to the Premiership is Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The Schalke striker has almost averaged a goal a game and is believed to being tracked by a host of Premiership teams.

Huntelaar brings goals something several teams are looking for, he could be another man brought in to help Wayne Rooney, replace Didier Drogba at Chelsea or replace Adebayor at Spurs. The Dutch striker is going to be in high demand. He could only add to his price tag as he is lethal at international level with thirty one goals in just fifty caps for the Dutch.

The summer silly season is already under away and any number of players playing at the Euros could attract a move to a big Premiership club but these are just a few of those who could be set to light up the Euro’s before lighting up our fantastic division. I for one couldn’t be more excited.