The 2022 Qatar World Cup is progressing nicely, with the quarter-finals on the horizon as of the time of this writing. The competition has been a series of highs and lows for teams and supporters alike.
While a set cheer on their team for progressing deeper into the tournament, others are left to commiserate with themselves and try to move on from the disappointment of being dumped out. Coaches and managers are also not left out as some have had to resign from their positions due to the disappointment and the feeling of not doing enough; all in all, the mark of a great tournament.
With the end of the 2022 Qatar World Cup getting nearer and the resumption of the local leagues beckoning, clubs will no doubt be preparing to hit the ground running while finalising their plans for the upcoming January transfer window. The World Cup is the most renowned event in the sport, and many clubs make their decisions on which players perform well on the grandest stage when deciding which ones to add to their ranks.
Real Madrid is a regular user of this model with the famous “GALACTICOS” put together by Florentino Perez. The Los Blancos president is well versed in the art of signing great players who would bring not only sporting success but also the commercial aspect, and the World Cup is one of his favourite hunting grounds. Below are some players Florentino Perez famously signed after a World Cup tournament;
- In 2002, one of Real Madrid’s Galactico, Ronaldo De Lima, was signed. He is an icon in his own right who has been applauded as the greatest striker ever to roam the earth. Despite only winning two La Liga titles in his five years with the club, El Fenomeno is unrivaled as a transfer coup in the history of the beautiful game. His shows in Japan and South Korea have practically reached mythological proportions. The living superstar continues to receive adulation from fans in Madrid and beyond.
- In 2010, Sami Khedira, Angel Di Maria, and Mesut Ozil were snapped up despite not being a household names at the time. All have left the club, but not without lifting some silverware at the Bernabeu Stadium.
- In 2014, Germany’s World Cup-winning midfielder Toni Kroos was a steal of the century for Florentino Perez. Eight years after the tournament in Brazil, Kroos is still a vital cog in the Real Madrid midfield. Even while nobody had any questions about the German midfielder’s talent, no one could predict that he would cement his place as one of the best central midfielders to ever turn out at the Bernabeu. In the same year, Real Madrid signed James Rodriguez, the tournament’s highest goalscorer goal of the tournament and golden ball winner. Also, Keylor Navas was signed (while many people overlook his contributions to Real Madrid’s success, diehards never will, as he was the backbone of the Los Blancos squad that won three consecutive Champions Leagues).
- Thibaut Courtois was signed in 2018 despite the relative quietness of the transfer market following the World Cup. Real Madrid was able to acquire one of the tournament’s top players and the winner of the Yashin trophy is still one of the best in the glove world and shows no signs of dropping out of the top rank soon.
In Qatar, many players who already have some sort of interest from other clubs are already adding a few million to their transfer fees with the scintillating performances they have put up at the World Cup. The demand around them will also shoot up, and Betting Tips Africa is here to reveal three such players. You can make extra money by placing bets on such players moving to other clubs on Bookies like 1xBet which is being featured on this site.
Cody Gakpo
There is absolutely no doubt that Netherlands Cody Gakpo is having an amazing performance at the World Cup in Qatar. He is building upon his impressive last season performance in which he scored 21 goals in all competitions and was crowned the best player in the Eredivisie.
Gakpo’s profile is one that fits into modern football perfectly. He is built like a striker, standing at a height of 1.93 metres with a thick body and broad shoulders. However, with his frame, Gakpo has the abilities of a winger. He is deceptively quick, agile, and has bags of technique in his Arsenal-he can easily pass as a regeneration of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
It is no coincidence that he has been linked with Old Trafford Giants Manchester United again this season as he was throughout the last summer transfer window. This season, Gakpo has boosted his value well past the estimated £25 million to £30 million that was quoted last summer. Interest in him has only grown since then, thanks to his continuity and strong play in Qatar.
With new reports claiming that Liverpool and Real Madrid are interested in Gakpo and already sent scouts to track him on multiple occasions, where do you see him playing next?
You can stake on the attacker to make a transfer on 1xBet, who are offering 3.5 odds for his transfer to Manchester United, a whopping 15 odds to Liverpool, and 11 odds to Barcelona, all after the January transfer window.
Mohammed Kudus
Ghanaian Forward Mohammad Kudus has shone in recent months, with his performances winning over a lot of people, including rival fans. The pacy forward is having a great time in Amsterdam, and his overall qualities are beginning to portray him as a star in the making. The 22-year-old’s effect in Qatar is not unexpected, as he has been a promising player for some time. However, he struggled initially after making the move from FC Nordsjaelland to the Dutch club.
An explosive, technically efficient, and chaotic orchestrator, Kudus has the tools to propel himself to the top of the game. There is now a lengthy list of wealthy clubs reportedly monitoring his progress after he came close to signing with Everton last summer. With his recent performances despite Ghana’s group stage elimination, his price tag is expected to increase. In a league where Brazilian winger Antony left for Manchester United for around 85 million pounds, you can expect kudus to command a significant fee.
After the January transfer window opens, you may bet on the attacker to move to bigger clubs at Betting sites like 1xBet when they become available.
Josko Gvardiol
The Croatian defender is one of the best progressive defenders in world football despite his tender years. Being left-footed, it is no coincidence that he is highly coveted and courted by some of the biggest clubs on the planet, with Chelsea’s half-failed plan to sign him last summer well-documented.
This World Cup, Gvardiol has really shone his abilities on the biggest stage. Gvardiol has a reputation for being a progressive defender, with his left-footedness also opening a wide range of passing angles for ball progression. His forward carries and penetrative passes proving the icing on the cake. His defensive alertness is also top-notch, and he is the archetypal specimen for the modern day positional play tactic known as Juego De Posición.
It is believed that Leipzig has placed a price tag of more than €80 million on Gvardiol, and that figure is likely to increase with his World Cup performances.
