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The lure of the Champions League is unlike anything football has to offer.
It's long considered the sport's Holy Grail and almost every player dreams of participating in the competition at least once, not to mention, winning it.
Some even go to great lengths to accomplish that dream, even if it means forcing their way out of their current clubs.
Most recently, Andre Silva joined RB Leipzig from Eintracht Frankfurt, who finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season for this reason, despite the Portuguese ace netting 28 league goals for the club.
In the coming weeks, we could see more of the same. Here are the top five players who could leave in search of Champions League football.
#5 Declan Rice (West Ham)
The Premier League is replete with several talented young players under the age of 23. Declan Rice is one such player.
The midfielder's rise to stardom has been meteoric and now the big clubs with Champions League pedigree are vying for his signature.
Rice has all the qualities to succeed at such a stage too, and at 22 years old, will certainly be looking for a more challenging environment to level up.
Currently, the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United are reportedly interested in the star, who's already turned down two contract offers from the Hammers.
Watch out for this transfer saga.
#4 Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes)
Among the many rising stars of Ligue 1 is Eduardo Camavinga, who's been in the news for quite some time now.
The 18-year-old teenager's prodigious talent has long garnered interest from top European clubs, mainly in the Premier League.
However, this could be the summer where a transfer finally materializes.
With Arsenal rumors now falling silent, Manchester United have now appeared to be the leading club to sign him and are currently weighing up a transfer offer.
#3 Jack Grealish (West Ham)
Here's another West Ham star who could leave Stratford in search of more glamorous surroundings.
Since his breakout in the 2019/20 season, Jack Grealish has been continuously featured in the transfer gossip columns.
And why not. The midfielder has posted seriously impressive numbers with a relatively average West Ham side for back-to-back seasons.
He now seems like a giant fish in an absurdly medium-sized pond, and with his 26th birthday coming up, now is the right time to take the leap.
If rumors are to be believed, Grealish is edging closer to a move to Manchester City, where he could continue his development into a superstar under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola.
#2 Mikkel Damsgaard (Sampdoria)
Denmark were the team that surprised everyone at Euro 2020 and among their star performers was Mikkel Damsgaard.
The 21-year-old set the stage alight with his youthful exuberance and boisterous energy.
He made one assist and scored twice, including an outrageous 25-yard free-kick in the semi-finals against England.
All this has generated interest from top clubs around Europe, with Barcelona, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly linked with the Sampdoria talisman.
A talent like him could really use the Champions League platform to elevate himself.
#1 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Harry Kane's future at Tottenham Hotspur has been called into question several times over the past year.
The player has long made his desire to play in the Champions League and compete for trophies known, neither of which Spurs were able to offer him last season.
He'll be 28 by next week, which means the Englishman will be at the peak of his career, and now seems like the most optimal time to jump ship.
Having struck 221 times in 336 games in his career, Kane will be no short of options, although Manchester City are rumored to be leading the race as the reigning Premier League champions seek a replacement for Sergio Aguero.
New Spurs manager Nuno Santos has tried to play down transfer rumors by reiterating he's "our player," but Kane has already hinted at a potential departure.
