5 players who still have a chance of breaking Neymar's transfer record this window

The implications of Neymar's world-record transfer fee are still being felt around the footballing world. Prior to this summer, several players were touted to break Paul Pogba's transfer record of £89 million in the summer of 2016. Neymar was definitely one of them.

However, no one expected Paris Saint-Germain to activate the £198 million release clause in the last contract the Brazilian signed with Barcelona. In the end, the French club went ahead with it and in the process, pushed the transfer fee record over two times.

The shockwaves from that transfer are such that every player's value is being revalued by their clubs like never before. Every top club's best player is now valued at over £100 million as a matter of fact.

Further, Neymar's transfer once again raises questions over the role performed by Financial Fair Play (FFP). While one can find ways in which PSG can balance books, there is no doubt that the capital club are not too worried about it. This is a worrying sign for FFP but an encouraging one for clubs with money to spend.

Thus, one cannot rule out another big-money transfer from happening pretty soon. In such a case, there is a good possibility of Neymar's record getting broken. While there are not many players who can command such a fee in this window, here are 5 of them who can break the transfer world record given their calibre and circumstances.

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#5 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has a reported release clause of €1 billion.

Talking of the world's most expensive players, there cannot be a list without Cristiano Ronaldo. The 4-time Ballon d'Or winner is one of the greatest footballers of all time and is known to have a release clause of €1 billion at Real Madrid.

Ronaldo is a part of one of the greatest Madrid sides of all time, managed by French legend Zinedine Zidane. The Spanish club has won 3 Champions League titles in the past 4 years and is looking better than ever. However, a tax evasion case against the Portuguese superstar led to talks of him moving out of Spain.

While those rumours could have subsided, there is no doubt Manchester United, the club where he became a star, will be interested to snap him up at any price. Between now and the end of the window, if Ronaldo decides it's time to move on, then expect United and other clubs to jump at the chance.

In such a scenario, there is no doubt that he will go for no less than becoming the most expensive player in the world in the process.

#4 Harry Kane

Harry Kane is the most consistent striker in England since his debut

In a summer where most top English clubs have signed strikers in the form of Alvaro Morata, Alexandre Lacazette and Romelu Lukaku, it is a wonder that no one tried to sign Tottenham's Harry Kane.

The 24-year old is the most consistent striker in the Premier League since his debut and has won the Golden Boot twice in a row in 2016 and 2017. Thus, there is no doubt that any transfer related to him will involve big money.

Now, throw in the British premium and the PL TV deal and the price shoots up. Finally, taking into consideration the negotiation skills of current Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, one can expect that an earth-shattering fee would be needed to prise Kane away.

No wonder Levy made Gareth Bale the most expensive player ever in 2013 and Kyle Walker the most expensive defender in history for a short period of time.

A recent rumour linking Kane to United led to an apparent quote of £200 million as the starting price. This was even before Neymar's deal was done.

Thus, any team looking to sign Harry Kane will have to break the transfer record. Therefore, a shock transfer in this window is not outside the realm of possibility, especially due to lack of signings at Tottenham.

#3 Paulo Dybala

Juventus' crown jewel Dybala is a target for Barcelona to replace Neymar

Rightly nicknamed "La Joya", or "The Jewel", Paulo Dybala is one of the hottest attackers in world football. If the world did not know this left-footed Argentine, then it definitely did after the 23-year-old starred for Juventus as the Italian side knocked out Barcelona in last season's Champions League.

Further, Dybala was considered to be one of the replacements for Neymar at Barcelona before the Catalan club turned towards Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho. Meanwhile, Juventus did the best possible thing to consolidate their asset for this season by bestowing the famed Juventus no.10 jersey on Dybala, a truly worthy candidate.

However, Barcelona's pursuit of both Dembele and Coutinho looks to be in cold water as both Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool are refusing to sell. As time is running out, the Spanish giants can very well turn their attention toward Italy to strengthen their team.

In such a short time, Juventus will very likely refuse to sell and even if they are willing to, one can expect them to play hardball knowing Barcelona have the Neymar money with them. Thus, Barcelona will have to shell out a record sum and this could very well break the Neymar transfer fee right away.

#2 Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe is already considered to be world-class at only 18

Even before Neymar's transfer and even before this summer, everyone expected Kylian Mbappe to become the world's most expensive player at just 18 years of age. The AS Monaco youngster became an instant sensation with his stellar season in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

In fact, comparisons to Thierry Henry are on since then and the kid is on the radar of every top club. As we approach the end of this summer transfer window, the French striker is still at AS Monaco. However, PSG are rumoured to be very much interested in him apart from the various transfer links to Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, Arsenal and Liverpool.

AS Monaco are apparently ready to do business in the upward of £160 million. While that can seem a lot for an 18-year old, Mbappe is unlike any other with his talent truly similar to the legends of the game.

Thus, the defending Ligue 1 champions must have reassessed their player's value in the light of Neymar's transfer. This implies any team wanting to sign the young prodigy will very well have to make him the most expensive player ever and it is a distinct possibility in this window.

#1 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi and transfer news have never gone hand-in-hand. The Argentine has been with Barcelona for close to two decades now, making any transfer talk sound ridiculous. However, if there was any time when circumstances pointed towards the exit door, then the current scenario presents the best proposition.

Barcelona are at their weakest this season since Messi made his debut more than a decade back. An ageing squad and boardroom squabbles have badly affected the team and losing Neymar was a big body blow. Further, the famous La Masia production line has dried up due to a number of reasons as well.

Messi no longer has the regular service from the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta or Neymar anymore. The new contract he agreed to in the summer is yet to be signed and the Barcelona faithful will not breathe easy till the 30-year old extends his contract that expires in 2018. Even if he does, the release clause is rumoured to be €300 million.

While that figure definitely felt out of reach till July, Neymar's transfer has changed the landscape. Signing arguably the greatest player of this generation, if not of all time is a lure in itself. Now, taking into consideration that Messi has been a one-club man, any transfer that takes him away from Barcelona will create much more mind-boggling fracas than Neymar's transfer.

A recent reveal brought to light how Messi reportedly wanted to leave Barcelona last summer and move to former manager Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. While Messi considers his options given the state of his team and Madrid's domination in the final stages of this transfer window, there is no doubt that teams will not hesitate to move for him if the Argentine even drops a hint.

If that happens, then Messi will end this summer transfer window as the most expensive player ever.