We’re all set for a genuinely thrilling final two days of the transfer window – and these are the whoppers that could still happen.

1. Virgil van Dijk (Southampton to Liverpool/Chelsea/Arsenal)

The latest stories suggest Chelsea and Arsenal have both joined the race for Van Dijk, but Liverpool remain favourites to land the Dutchman. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Southampton will hold on to the ex-Celtic defender, particularly as he signed a new six-year deal with Saints as recently as May.

Jurgen Klopp has put all his eggs in one basket as far as his pursuit of a new centre-back is concerned; only time will tell whether that proves to be a mistake.

2. Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal to Man City)

Monday’s rumours that Sanchez had handed in a transfer request at the Emirates Stadium turned out to be false, but he could still depart before the window closes on Thursday night.

The Chile international’s contract expires in 10 months, and although Arsenal seemed willing to retain his services for another season before letting him leave for nothing next June, City look set to test their resolve. There’s even been talk of Raheem Sterling or Sergio Aguero being included in a cash-plus-player deal, but Pep Guardiola would prefer to have all three men playing for his team this term.

3. Diego Costa (Chelsea to Atletico Madrid)

Having been exiled from the squad before accusing Chelsea of treating him like a ‘criminal’, Costa’s future clearly doesn’t lie at Stamford Bridge. With the Chinese Super League no longer an option, former club Atletico Madrid appear to be the only suitors in town – but that proposed deal is complicated by the fact that Diego Simeone isn’t able to field any new faces until January due to a transfer ban.

Atleti still seem keen to push through a £41m move for the striker, but a loan spell elsewhere could be on the cards until the start of 2018.

4. Ross Barkley (Everton to Chelsea/Tottenham)

The whispers linking Barkley with Tottenham began before the end of last season, but the north Londoners haven’t exactly gone all out for the attacking midfielder. Chairman Daniel Levy tends to prefer to leave his business until late in the window, though, so Spurs could launch an official bid on Thursday.

But they’ll face competition from Chelsea, who have emerged as favourites to sign Barkley – currently sidelined by a hamstring injury which could rule him out for months. A deadline-day tussle between the two capital clubs isn’t out of the question.

5. Jonny Evans (West Brom to Man City/Arsenal/Leicester)

West Brom appear willing to sell Evans in the next 36 hours or so – but only for the right price. Manchester City have already had a £23m offer rejected and are likely to increase their bid before the market closes, while Arsenal have since thrown their hat into the ring as the ex-Manchester United centre-back weighs up his options.

Leicester have had two bids rejected this summer, meanwhile, but Craig Shakespeare will realise his side are clear outsiders at this stage.

6. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal to Liverpool)

Having turned down a move to Chelsea, apparently due to concerns over his probable position, Oxlade-Chamberlain has set his sights on Liverpool. Whereas Antonio Conte viewed the England international as a right wing-back option, Jurgen Klopp may be willing to use him in midfield – although if the performances of Emre Can, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum against Arsenal at the weekend are anything to go by, he’d have to fight hard for his place.

If Liverpool decide against pursuing a deal for Oxlade-Chamberlain, the 24-year-old is likely to spend one final season at Arsenal before leaving the club, once his contract expires next June.

7. Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal to Inter)

A year after signing Mustafi from Valencia, Arsene Wenger is willing to sanction his departure. The German hasn’t exactly thrived at the Emirates Stadium, but this still feels like a puzzling move by Arsenal – unless, that is, a replacement has already been lined up.

A season-long loan to Inter beckons for Mustafi, after which he’s unlikely to return to north London for any significant period of time.

8. Serge Aurier (PSG to Tottenham/Man United)

Tottenham have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Aurier from PSG, but there are two potential complications.

Firstly, it’s not entirely clear whether the Ivorian right-back will be granted a work permit: Aurier was unable to enter the UK when PSG faced Arsenal in the Champions League last year due to his conviction for assaulting a police officer in France. Secondly, Manchester United have made their interest known and would purportedly be the player’s preferred destination.

9. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool to Barcelona)

Liverpool have been adamant all summer that Coutinho is going nowhere, but Barcelona haven’t called off their pursuit just yet. The Catalan club’s recent acquisition of Ousmane Dembele doesn’t really affect their interest in the Brazilian, who’s been touted as a potential long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta.

Liverpool’s excellent start to the season has led some to doubt whether Coutinho would even get into Jurgen Klopp’s XI right now. With the former Inter man seemingly keen to swap Anfield for the Camp Nou, a spectacular £148m transfer may come to pass on deadline day.

10. Riyad Mahrez (Leicester to Arsenal/Man United/Chelsea)

Leicester are braced for a bumpy final two days of the transfer window, with Mahrez, Danny Drinkwater and Demarai Gray all the subject of major interest from other clubs. Mahrez will be disappointed he’s still in this situation, having declared his intentions to leave the Foxes before the transfer window even opened.

His club have spurned the advances of Roma this summer, but the Italian side have been the only club to make a serious offer for the Algerian. That could change before Thursday night, though: Manchester United and Chelsea have both emerged as possible late destinations, while Arsenal may well need a ready-made replacement for Sanchez. Mahrez’s early-season performances suggest he’s good enough to get the big move he wants – but Leicester need the right bid.

11. Thomas Lemar (Monaco to Liverpool)

Kylian Mbappe’s imminent loan move to PSG aside, it looked as if Monaco had bolted the exit door at the Stade Louis II after the sales of Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva and Tiemoue Bakayoko earlier in the window.

However, Liverpool have come from nowhere to try to tempt Lemar away from the principality, two weeks after Arsenal supposedly gave up on landing the French wideman. A fee of £75m plus Divock Origi on loan could tempt Monaco into letting the 21-year-old go.

12. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid to Man United)

A summer hasn’t gone by without Bale being linked with United ever since he first moved to Spain in 2013 – but there’s reason to believe a sensational deal might be possible on deadline day.

For a start, the Welshman’s spot in the Madrid side is no longer guaranteed, with Isco and Marco Asensio arguably now ahead of him in the pecking order. Bale was even booed by the Bernabeu faithful at the weekend (although even Cristiano Ronaldo has been subjected to such treatment), and Jose Mourinho didn’t exactly rule United out of a move when questioned on the issue earlier this month.

It would still be a surprise to see Bale return to the Premier League on Thursday, but this is one worth keeping an eye on nonetheless.

-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za