Will transfers be a distraction for England at World Cup?

You would think representing your country at a World Cup would be the sole focus for England's players this summer.

The reality is a lot more complicated.

The tournament arrives in the middle of a busy summer of transfers, with several players in Thomas Tuchel's 26-man squad facing uncertain club futures.

Clubs will continue to pursue deals during the five-week long tournament, agents will remain in constant contact with their players and rumours will follow the England stars into the national team camp.

Which players could be on the move? Will it affect their performances? And how can Tuchel keep his players focused on the job at hand?

A major international tournament offers players a platform to showcase themselves to the world.

Performances on this stage can raise stocks and accelerate interest from top clubs.

Remember James Rodriguez lighting up the 2014 World Cup before a big-money move to Real Madrid? Enzo Fernandez followed a similar path to Chelsea in 2023 while Harry Maguire's 2018 showings piqued interest from Manchester United.

But for every Rodriguez, Fernandez and Maguire, there are just as many cases that prove transfer talk can just as easily shift focus away from performances on the pitch.

That is why Tuchel has a tricky task on his hands to deliver England's full potential at the World Cup while managing the background noise of the transfer market.

"If I said to the players not to deal with it now, their telephone will still blow up," said Tuchel.

"I can see the distraction if clubs want to sign you, and sporting directors, agents and coaches are trying to get you on the phone, of course it is a distraction.

"It's a reality, though. We will always recommend a player to take a decision before a tournament starts and as early as possible and go with the decision, but it's not always possible for the player. We're not alone in this, it's just how it plays out."