There are a few common factors that can cause a footballer’s potential transfer value to skyrocket. Those characteristics include youth, while at the same time possessing a decent level of experience, individual skill, soccer brains, attacking prowess and some those more nebulous intangibles that draw fans to stadiums and televisions to see them play. This summer, three players who possess all of those attributes, and who sit near the top of the list in terms of transfer values, all ply their trade in Italy. And Serie A fans are hoping they won’t leave for richer pastures.

Edson Cavani of Napoli, Alexis Sanchez of Udinese, and Javier Pastore of Palermo are Serie A’s hottest commodities this summer, and Europe’s elite are circling for a chance to grab them. The problem for Serie A fans is that none of them play for any of Italy’s biggest clubs, and therefore these exciting young stars will most likely be lured away from Italy by the promise of big money.

Coincidentally, all three players are currently playing in the Copa America. And as history tells us, success at the international level can often inflate the value balloon even more. It also means any potential transfer will likely have to wait until the tournament’s conclusion, after which we can expect the rumor mill to hit a fever pitch. Already the potential fees associated with each of these players is in the tens of millions of euros. But should any of them truly impress at the Copa America, who knows how much they will demand.

Having said all this, it would be a great shame for Serie A fans if all three stars move off the peninsula. Pastore has lead Palermo to respectable finishes each of the last two seasons and has made them a difficult team to beat, while Sanchez and Cavani saw their respective teams qualify for the Champions League while finishing ahead of some of Italy’s traditional powerhouses. This coming season has the potential to be quite fascinating, with more teams competing at the top of the table than we are used to seeing. Should these three all move away, their clubs, and Serie A in general, will suffer for it.