Gareth Bale, Petr Cech, Raheem Sterling and other transfer targets for Premier League clubs – in pictures

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  Gareth Bale – The Welshman has insisted he does not want to leave Real Madrid and the Spanish club seem unlikely to sell just yet. But if they change their minds, expect a scramble for Bale’s services and for Manchester United to be at the front of the queue. The double PFA Player of the Year is a match-winner. REUTERS/Juan Medina

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  Kevin de Bruyne – Any midfielder who scores 16 goals and creates a further 27 more in a season can expect attention. De Bruyne, right, has progressed so swiftly that he has probably become too good for Wolfsburg to keep him. Manchester City are interested, but so are many of Europe’s major clubs. A return to Chelsea would be particularly intriguing. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

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  Raheem Sterling – Sterling’s exit strategy seems to entail antagonising as many people at Liverpool as possible. His talent, however, has earned him fans. Young, quick and English, he ticks a lot of boxes for Manchester City, while Real Madrid seem interested, but Sterling’s preference may be for a move to London. Andrew Powell/Getty Images

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  Bastian Schweinsteiger – One of the most fascinating possible moves. United are interested in the World Cup winner, who could be an intelligent alternative to Michael Carrick or a clever box-to-box presence. The key factors are if Bayern wants to sell and if Schweinsteiger is willing to leave his only club to link up with Louis van Gaal again. EPA/ANDREAS GEBERT

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  Paul Pogba – Probably the most coveted player in the transfer market this summer. Whoever prises Pogba from Juventus is unlikely to get much change from €100 million. City and Chelsea could face competition from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain for the dynamic midfielder. United are an outside bet. AP Photo/Massimo Pinca

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  Antoine Griezmann – There has been plenty of traffic between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea over the last few years. There could be more. Griezmann’s 25-goal debut year in Spain has brought suggestions he could add flair and a finishing touch to Chelsea’s forward line. The key may be if Jose Mourinho is willing to pay £43 million. AFP PHOTO / JOHN MacDOUGALL

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  Petr Cech – Chelsea have reluctantly accepted they can’t expect a goalkeeper of Cech’s calibre to sit on the bench again next season. While his agent raised the prospect of a move to United, to replace David de Gea, Arsenal are the favourites to sign him. It should be Arsene Wenger’s first piece of business. Reuters / Tony O’Brien

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  Charlie Austin – Scoring 18 goals for a relegated club is a feat which is bound to earn admirers. Austin has admitted he is likely to leave QPR. The only question is where he heads next. Southampton, West Ham and Newcastle have been tipped to lead the bidding, though he could replace Benteke at Villa. Reuters / John Sibley

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  Christian Benteke – The Belgian’s end-of-season run of 13 goals in 14 games was a timely return to form for him and Aston Villa. Yet the £32.5 million release clause in his contract means the FA Cup finalists could be powerless to keep him. He may well form a part of Liverpool’s remodelled attack next season. Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Our European football correspondent Richard Jolly looks at 10 of the most likely transfer targets for Premier League clubs this summer. The transfer window opens in two weeks.

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