The Premier League season is underway, and the transfer window is in its final week, with some of the division's biggest clubs still looking to get some key business done.
Tottenham Hotspur are the biggest spenders of the summer so far, spending well over £300m to bring in Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, and Savio, alongside free agents Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Martin Dubravka. Man City are not far behind them, having signed Elliot Anderson for £116m, while a £87m deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi has also been agreed, and the club are still keen on Enzo Fernandez in a deal worth in excess of £120m.
Liverpool are some of the lowest spenders of the summer, with Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet joining Andoni Iraola's squad, while Ronald Araujo has joined on loan for the campaign from Barcelona. But there is one deal that is linking all three clubs at this stage, and it could be the key to unlocking business in the final stretch of the window.
After losing Mohamed Salah at the end of last season, Liverpool are in the market to bring in a new marquee winger, and PSG star Bradley Barcola is understood to be the top target.
The France international has already agreed personal terms ahead of a move to Anfield, but the European champions' £140m asking price is proving prohibitive, although talks between the sides remain ongoing. Should he arrive, it could spark the departure of another forward in Cody Gakpo.
Gakpo has been a key target for Spurs all summer, and is understood to be open to a move to north London despite their consecutive 17th-place finishes in the top flight in the last two seasons. Man City have also now entered the race for the Netherlands star, having agreed a move for Omar Marmoush to sign for Tottenham on an initial loan move.
Marmoush joins Savio at Spurs, as Roberto De Zerbi looks to strengthen the attack before September 1st, and it now looks as though that could be the catalyst for the dominoes to begin to fall in the window for attacking signings.
The Egyptian's arrival is expected to be confirmed imminently, and that will spark City into action. Talks have reportedly been held with Liverpool over a deal for Gakpo, as they look to hijack Spurs' interest in the former PSV Eindhoven star.
The player has already agreed terms with Spurs, but could be open to joining City too, and Liverpool may look to cash in in order to fund their move for Barcola. However, if they lose Gakpo and then don't sign Barcola, they would be incredibly short of options in attack.
Transfer Dominoes Set to Fall
Big-money transfers have regularly been a waiting game, especially when big clubs are dealing with each other. However, with just days remaining, something has to give.
The players involved are all pushing to make the moves happen, and the clubs would all prefer to see the moves happen, rather than have to stick with the options they currently have.
But it takes one deal being advanced to trigger the dominoes to start falling, and Marmoush's move to Spurs being confirmed could be the one that was needed.