We are just over a week through World Cup 2018, and already a few previously unheralded talents have made their mark in front of a worldwide audience.
Hirving Lozano’s winner against Germany certainly caught the eye, while Ante Rebic’s lively performance against Argentina helped his Croatia side to a resounding win.
We are waiting more established names to make their presence felt, but you sense it is only a matter of time before the tournament bursts into life.
Scouts from clubs great and small will have descended upon Russia to dig out the next gem to announce their arrival on the big stage, and the transfer rumour mill is already in overdrive with the domestic campaign little over six weeks away.
So who are the names being linked with moves to pastures new?
Robert Lewandowski
It is no secret that Lewandowski has instructed his agent to find him a new club after becoming disillusioned with Bayern Munich’s attempts at winning the Champions League, with Real Madrid, PSG and Chelsea all lurking.
All of those sides will be scouting the World Cup in great detail, and so it is up to the Polish frontman to remain at the head of their shopping list with some big performances in Russia.
After losing their opening game with Senegal, the Poles have it all to do to progress to the last 16 however, so expect some big performances from Lewandowski to propel his side to the knockout phase.
Nabil Fekir
The Lyon man has been on the bench for France’s opening two matches, but with Les Bleu guaranteed a last 16 berth he will surely have plenty of game time to come.
A skilful left-footer with an eye for a pass, Fekir can play in the traditional number ten role or come inside of the right flank, and that ability has clearly not passed Jurgen Klopp by, with Liverpool the 6/5 favourites to land his signature.
The move has been on and off for months, but you do wonder if the Reds will continue to pursue the 24-year-old as they plan a double assault on the Premier League and Champions League titles next term.
Fekir scored 23 goals and assisted many more in his breakthrough campaign in 2017/18.
Toby Alderweireld
To be fair, this transfer has been rumbling on since before the World Cup even began, but Toby Alderweireld is now odds-on with every sportsbook to join Manchester United before the end of the summer transfer window.
Having fallen out of favour at Tottenham, the Belgian defender is naturally keen to reassert himself elsewhere, and the loving embrace of Jose Mourinho has reportedly sealed the deal for the 29-year-old.
Alisson
The Brazilian shot-stopper is almost guaranteed to leave Roma this summer, with a number of clubs queuing up for his signature.
Liverpool would love him to replace error-prone Loris Karius between the sticks at Anfield, but it is looking increasingly as if Real Madrid is his likely destination.
Alisson is odds on to join the Galacticos with a couple of sportsbooks, and that’s no surprise given that their goalkeeping options – the occasionally calamitous Keylor Navas and the ageing Kiko Casillas – could do with a shake-up.
Hirving Lozano
The feisty winger scored Mexico’s winner against Germany in their Group F encounter, and his pace and trickery certainly caught the eye in a perfect counter-attacking performance from the Central Americans.
In truth, fans of the Eredivisie will already be familiar with his exploits. His PSV side won the league title in 2017/18, and Lozano’s 17 goals in 29 games was a key part of that triumph.
Any interested suitors may have to be willing to put up with his naughty side, though. He was sent off for the Dutch champions twice last season, and the 22year-old does not seem to be able to handle being kicked and roughed up by rugged defenders tired of his silky dribbling. That is a side of the game he will need to work on.
The bookmakers have the Mexican priced at 5/6 to leave PSV this summer, although at the minute a list of most likely destinations that includes Everton (9/4), Valencia (8/1) and Chelsea (16/1) doesn’t seem quite accurate.
If Lozano continues World Cup 2018 as he started it, expect plenty of big European names to come calling.