They are among the world's leading footballers and, unsurprisingly, the most coveted by rival teams.
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With no competitive matches in Europe, it's the intrigue about the futures of Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas that is largely filling the void during the offseason.
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European clubs could be on the verge of completing hundreds of millions of dollars in transfer business before the September 2 cutoff, defying the economic climate on the continent and Uefa's relatively new Financial Fair Play rules.
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Or, quite possibly, very little money could change hands. Instead, the leading players will stay put and the European footballing landscape will remain largely unchanged.
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It's a situation that would become far clearer with public clarity from the players, who have gone very quiet recently.
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One of the biggest transfers to be mooted in the offseason has been for Bale, with Real Madrid the most active in the chase for the Tottenham forward. Leaving north London would seem logical.
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Financial considerations aside - the weekly pay packet in Madrid would likely be worth at least $300 000 a week - Bale's chances of lifting a trophy would be significantly enhanced, and he would be able to display his talents in the Champions League again.
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While there has not been an official bid, Marca - the Spanish sports newspaper renowned for its close links to Madrid - has ramped up coverage of "Operation Bale," claiming in recent weeks that a transfer exceeding $100 million is imminent.
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So has Bale reaffirmed his loyalty to the team that turned him into one of Europe's hottest properties? Not quite.
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"I'm hoping to improve from last season," is one of the few vague public comments from the speedy Wales star this month.
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And in an usual move, Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, went on Marca's television station in May to declare that they would listen to an offer from Madrid. Not that Bale and his agent have much say in the matter, since there are three years remaining on the player's Tottenham contract.
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"The player is under contract at Tottenham," Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said Friday, confirming that talks over extending that deal are ongoing but unresolved.
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If Bale wanted to leave why not hand in an official transfer request? It's a question many have been asking of Rooney, who wants to end his nine-year Manchester United career, and Suarez, who wants to upgrade Liverpool for a more competitive club.
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"It's a bit of a red herring, there's no requirement you submit a transfer request," sports lawyer Ian Lynam said in a telephone interview. "Most players who move don't move on the back of a transfer requests."
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Suarez is one of the few leading players to publicly agitate for a transfer. Taking to the airwaves in his native Uruguay, the striker made it clear in repeated radio interview he wants to leave Liverpool despite having with three years to go on his contract.
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Madrid is his preferred destination - a move that could hinge on the Spanish side's pursuit of Bale - but the only offers so far have come from Liverpool's Premier League rival, Arsenal - the latest worth 40 million pounds ($61 million).
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That Suarez is keen on joining Arsenal, which is in Europe next season unlike Liverpool, seems to be at odds with comments in May that escaping the English media "who are trashing me unfairly" is his reason for wanting to exit Anfield.
Luis Suarez's move to Arsenal is most likely.....But I honestly do not think Wayne Rooney is going anywhere....He is still a Red Devil!