The FTSE 100 is experiencing a major wave of corporate mergers and acquisitions. It’s no surprise as, like the broader stock market, there is a persistent valuation gap between the UK’s blue-chip shares and their global peers.

In 2026 alone, the following five FTSE stocks have agreed to be taken over, with completion expected by the end of the year or in early 2027:

• Segro
• DCC Energy
• Intertek
• Beazley
• Schroders

Given how cheap many FTSE 100 shares remain, I’m expecting the buyouts to keep on coming. But which large-cap UK share could be next? Here are three possible contenders.

FTSE 100 fashion star

Years of weak performance could make Burberry (LSE:BRBY) an attractive fit for another luxury goods firm. The iconic trenchcoat manufacturer’s plunged 44% in the last five years, reflecting strategic missteps and weak consumer spending in Asia.

But there’s no doubting Burberry’s brand still have enormous prestige. Its products have stood the test of time, attracting the gaze of fashion lovers since 1856. It could be a perfect buy for an international rival seeking an iconic British brand to add to and expand its portfolio.

Think LVMH, for instance, which owns ‘super luxury’ brands like Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. Now could be a good time for a suitor to strike, as the FTSE firm’s ‘Burberry Forward’ programme refocuses on its core products and British cultural roots, and ahead of a potential sales recovery in China.

Copper giant

Anglo American (LSE:AAL) was the subject of takeover interest from BHP Group last year. The Australian group walked away after failing to agree terms, but it’s easy to see why Anglo remains a potential takeover target.

The FTSE 100 company has diversified operations, and produces iron ore, crop nutrients, and nickel. But what makes it so valuable to a potential buyer is its world-class copper portfolio. This includes assets like the low-cost Collahuasi mine in Chile, and the enormous new Quellaveco project in Peru.

Copper is seen increasingly as a major strategic asset, reflecting its key role in areas like renewable energy infrastructure, data centres, and electric vehicles. With red metal supply struggling to keep pace with demand, red metal assets like this are becoming increasingly valuable.

Game on?

Games Workshop (LSE:GAW) may look like an unlikely candidate for a takeover. Why? A 68% share price rise over three years means it might not come cheap.

But look a little closer and its appeal becomes obvious. As a holder of Games Workshop shares myself, I’d say it deserves its princely premium today despite the problem of rising competition (its forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 31.7 times). What makes it so attractive is its dominance of the tabletop gaming industry, a niche but fast-growing industry that enjoys sky-high margins.

Its Warhammer IP is what really sets the firm apart, and which gives it enormous growth potential as the fantasy genre grows internationally. But that’s not all — media adaptations with Amazon could supercharge merchandise sales and bring in enormous royalty revenues, unlocking major value.

This could make it a hot target for media companies (like an Amazon or Netflix), or a board game manufacturers (such as Hasbro). If so, Games Workshop shareholders could enjoy a huge windfall, as a buyer would likely have to pay a large premium for the FTSE 100 firm.

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Royston Wild owns shares in Games Workshop.