Socceroos star linked with $32.5m transfer after World Cup heroics

Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda is being linked with a record breaking move to Sporting Lisbon – the club that produced Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to sporting media outlet in Portugal Record, Sporting have already approached Irankunda’s current club Watford and negotiations are under way.

The 21-year-old, who scored an incredible goal for Australia against Turkiye, is being linked with a move to the Portuguese capital that would be worth in excess of $27.5 million plus $5 million in add-ons

Should a transfer go anywhere close to the aforementioned valuation, it would be an Australian record, shattering Harry Souttar’s $24.4m move to Leicester City in 2023.

Hull City and a number of Serie A clubs are also reportedly interested in Irankunda.

The 2024/25 season was Irankunda’s first with Watford. He scored four goals in 40 appearances having transferred from Bayern Munich.

His group stage goal made him the youngest Socceroo in history to score at the World Cup. Australia went on to the Round of 32 where they fell to Egypt.

After returning from the World Cup, Irankunda was asked about his future: “I see myself playing at a top level soon, whether that’s now or next season.

“It will happen eventually in my opinion. I have that belief in myself that I can get to that level one day.

“Time will tell.”

Watford are under no illusions about the fact they stand to lose the star with “everyone talking about him”.

“I’m super happy for the boy but a lot of big clubs are watching him. Now we have to fight to keep him,” Watford group technical director Gian Luca Nani said recently.

“I’m happy when a top club is asking for some of our players because it’s a certification that we’ve done a good job, I’m more scared if no-one is asking for our players.

“It’s also not that we want to sell everybody, but it’s also part of our job.

“Nestory is a great guy and he’s doing super well. We are proud of what he’s doing and all the world is talking about him. In Italy, everybody is talking about him.

“We would really like to have him with us but let’s see what the market says.”

OTHER WORLD CUP STARS ON THE WANTED LIST:

Marcus Rashford: Back from England's semi-final run at the World Cup, his future with Manchester United is in doubt and his name will be one of the biggest attractions for other clubs this transfer window.

Rodri: Who wouldn't want a World Cup winner in their side? Man City are said to be adamant he is not for sale but Real Madrid are said to be pushing hard. His current deal is up in 2027.

Ferran Torres: Liverpool are said to be leading this race from PSG and who can blame late comers to this bid after he scored the World Cup final winner. His contract is up next year and Barcelona are yet to make any decisions.

Bradley Barcola: Another Liverpool target and UK media reports an opening bid has already been tabled. There will be multiple suitors in this race with Arsenal also interested but PSG want to keep their man.

Folarin Balogun: One of the more controversial figures at this years World's Cup but that was more because of Donald Trump than the man himself. His 19 goals for Monaco last season have made him a wanted man and Sunderland, Newcastle, Forest and Fulham are said to be interested. Outside of England, Monaco are also understood to have had enquiries from Juventus and Atletico Madrid.