With this year being the first to hold a winter World Cup, many players took to the transfer market to secure moves that would guarantee them first-team football, with the hope of ensuring their selection to the national team for Qatar 2022. Here are some of the players who will benefit most from their summer transfers.

Raheem Sterling (Man City to Chelsea)

With a plethora of options at his disposal, Gareth Southgate consistently selected Raheem Sterling on the wing during England’s Euro 2020 campaign. The decision paid dividends for the Three Lions boss, with Sterling grabbing vital goals against Croatia, Czech Republic and Germany. Despite being a favourite at national level, the 27-year-old didn’t feature in every game for City in 2021/22, with many of his 30 appearances coming from the bench.

The motive for Sterling’s move to Chelsea was undoubtedly more game time, an element which England should benefit from. They will need Sterling at full throttle if they are to end their 56-year wait without a major trophy, with Paddy Power’s current World Cup odds placing them at 13/2 to win the tournament. Paddy Power also offers World Cup predictions on all things England and other teams, so users can be sure they are well-informed before placing their bets.

Timo Werner (Chelsea to RB Leipzig)

With a significant number of transfers brought in at Chelsea, it was only natural that the club would have to let players go the other way. Along with former strike partner Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner found himself at the exit doors of Stamford Bridge. With just ten goals in 56 appearances for the Blues, the German was considered surplus to requirements by new owner Todd Boehly.

Given his poor form in England, a return to RB Leipzig appeared to make perfect sense for Werner. The 26-year-old enjoyed life in his last spell in Saxony, where his staggering 78 goals in 127 appearances helped secure a move to the Premier League in the first place. Now an undoubted starter for his club, Werner is likely to regain a great deal of confidence going into Qatar 2022, should Hansi Flick choose to call upon him for his Germany side.

Gabriel Jesus (Man City to Arsenal)

Returning to Man City, the story of incomings and outgoings was a familiar one for Gabriel Jesus. Given a certain sensational signing from Borussia Dortmund – who has hit the ground running in the Premier League – it would have been hard for Jesus to envisage any sort of consistent game time. Arsenal were the first to snap up the Brazilian, and both club and striker haven’t looked back since.

The 25-year-old has adapted rather well to life in North London. With four goals in just seven league appearances so far this season, Jesus is one of the most in form players in the Premier League. It seems inevitable that the striker will transfer this form to international duty with Brazil, who are already clear favourites for Qatar 2022 – they currently have odds of 4/1 to win the tournament.

While the summer transfer merry-go-round has long since finished, the knock-on effects of the deals secured will be felt for some time. While this may have an immediate effect on club football, it won’t be long before these players can make an impact on the national stage too.

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