Tottenham made a late attempt to sign Joao Moutinho from Porto towards the end of last summer’s transfer window as a replacement for the departing attacking midfield duo of Luka Modric to Real Madrid and Rafael van der Vaart to Hamburg. Andre Villas-Boas knows Moutinho from when the two were together at Porto, and saw the playmaker as an ideal addition to his squad. However, a move failed to materalise and the 26-year-old stayed in Portugal.
It is now being rumoured that Spurs will try for him again this summer, with Villas-Boas determined to land his man. Moutinho would still be useful at White Hart Lane as adequate replacements for Modric and van der Vaart were never really found; Gylfi Sigurdsson and Clint Dempsey have had inconsistent seasons and may even be sold this summer to fund a move for Moutinho, who they hope would help push them to that elusive fourth spot. The North Londoners may face competition from Monaco for his signature, but he’s certainly unlikely to be at Porto for much longer.
9. Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea)
Chelsea nearly signed this talented German winger last summer, and remain fond of his skills. A year on, his stock has risen even higher, with more fine performances in the Bundesliga, confirming him as one of the best of many talented young players coming through in Germany at the moment. The 22-year-old attacker has 11 goals and 7 assists this season and is being widely tipped to seal a move to Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks, as the club’s owners have confirmed he will be leaving.
Schurrle himself has also said himself that he has played his last game for Bayer Leverkusen, and unless someone else makes a late bid, Chelsea will surely be his destination. He will cost around £20million and looks a promising signing for the Blues, who will hope he can provide something a bit different in their attacking midfield positions, or even play upfront on occasion and prove more of a goal threat than the misfiring Fernando Torres.
8. Leighton Baines (Everton to Manchester United)
Leighton Baines has been one of the best full-backs in the Premier League for a number of years now, looking set for big things ever since impressing as a youngster at Wigan. Last season he finally looked like making a big move to Manchester United, though a deal was never completed between the two sides. He has gone on to improve even more this season, scoring 5 goals and providing 5 assists from left-back, and showing himself to be a great attacking threat with his forward runs, long range shots and teasing crosses.
With David Moyes leaving Everton to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, he is understandably keen to push a deal through this summer. United could do with strengthening at left-back, where Patrice Evra looks somewhat past his best, and backup Alexander Buttner has not looked like becoming first choice with his displays this season. Baines looks like an excellent signing, and he will surely welcome the chance to link up with Moyes once again.
7. Bacary Sagna (Arsenal to PSG)
Bacary Sagna has been something of an unsung hero for the Gunners, proving a reliable and consistent performer in his six seasons at the Emirates Stadium. However, the French right-back’s time at the club may now be coming to an end, as speculation has increased over the last few months that he will leave the club. The 30-year-old has failed to agree on a new contract after being locked in talks for much of the season, and criticised the club earlier in the year for selling key duo Robin van Persie and Alex Song last summer.
PSG have been monitoring his situation and seem his most likely destination, as he has admitted he would not rule out a move to the French capital. Sagna has one year to go on his current contract, and may leave on a free at the end of next season, though it seems more likely that Arsenal will want to cash in on him now, with PSG and others willing to offer around £12million for his services. It will be another big blow to Arsene Wenger, as he faces the inevitable exit of a key player due to a lack of ambition and progress in recent years.
6. Carlos Tevez (Manchester City to…?)
Carlos Tevez looked certain to be leaving Manchester City early last season after a major falling out with manager Roberto Mancini, when he refused to come on as a substitute against Bayern Munich in a Champions League game. The Argentine had long made it clear that he wanted to leave England to be closer to his family in Argentina, but had failed to agree a move away in the summer. A number of Italian clubs, such as AC Milan and Inter Milan, were reportedly close to signing him that January, but were perhaps not willing to pay City’s asking price due to understandable worries over the player’s attitude and discipline.
Tevez ended up staying at the club, and worked on his fitness and form to get himself back in the team towards the end of the season, aiding them in their title triumph. He continued to improve this season, playing regularly without any fuss, but is still understood to be keen on a move away. Juventus and Monaco are now said to be the main contenders to sign him, and he could be one of many players to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer as they look to make some changes to a team that gave Manchester United a fairly easy ride in winning the Premier League title this year.
5. Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich)
The Polish striker’s name has been on everyone’s lips for the last year after emerging as one of Europe’s best strikers at Borussia Dortmund. The goals have flowed once again for the 24-year-old in another superb season, and he really put himself in the shop window with an incredible four goals in his side’s 4-1 win against Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Manchester United wanted to sign him last summer, but ended up signing Robin van Persie from Arsenal instead.
The Red Devils are still keen on him this year, as their search for strikers continues with the likely departures of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez, and Chelsea have also been linked with him. However, this transfer saga looks likely to end with Lewandowski joining Dortmund’s fierce rivals Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga champions are understood to be his preference, and that will hurt Dortmund fans, even if he can give them a parting gift with some goals against Bayern as they meet in this weekend’s Champions League final.
4. Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina to Arsenal)
The Montenegro forward has been strongly linked with Arsenal since January, and rumours are hotting up that a deal is now close to bring him to the Emirates Stadium this summer. Manchester City have previously been linked with the 23-year-old, and Juventus have been said to be considering a late bid to hijack the deal, but it seems increasingly likely that he will be wearing an Arsenal shirt next season.
Jovetic is one of Serie A’s brightest talents, making an impact since joining Fiorentina from Partizan Belgrade as a teenager, and continuing his fine form with 13 goals and 5 assists for La Viola this season. The skilful player should slot perfectly into Arsenal’s system, and will likely be confirmed as an Arsenal player in the next few weeks.
3. Andy Carroll (Liverpool to…?)
The bizarre story of Andy Carroll’s time at Anfield should finally come to an end this summer. Despite signing for a club-record fee of £35million, the former Newcastle man has flopped spectacularly for the club and they now can’t wait to get rid of him. He barely featured for the team last season and they did their best to offload him last summer, with Newcastle supposedly keen on taking him back to St James’ Park. In the end he was farmed out on loan to West Ham, where he has done fairly well this season.
A seemingly archetypal Sam Allardyce type of player, the Hammers are keen to keep him permanently for next season, though negotiations are ongoing. Liverpool’s asking price may still be too high at £17million, as they look to make back a decent chunk of the fee they paid for him. His style of play means he is very unlikely to stay at the club under Brendan Rodgers, but it remains to be seen who will take him on next year. It’ll either be West Ham or Newcastle, though big-spending French club Monaco have also shown a surprise interest in the England international.
2. Daniele De Rossi (Roma to Manchester City)
Roberto Mancini is known to be a big fan of Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi, and tried several times to sign him when he was at Manchester City. Though the Italian manager has now been sacked by the club, their interest in the 29-year-old remains, and it seems likely that with Gareth Barry and Javi Garcia possibly leaving the Etihad Stadium in the summer, new boss Manuel Pellegrini will bid for the Italy international again.
The 29-year-old could be available for just £10million due to a slight dip in form with Roma making him no longer considered to be such a key player, but City still see him as a better option than many of their current central midfielders. Other players of this kind have been linked with City, such as Fernandinho of Shakhtar Donetsk, though the Brazilian would be far more expensive than De Rossi. All signs point to City finally landing their man, who has spent his entire career so far in Rome.
1. Neymar (Santos to Barcelona)
Probably the best young player in the world, everyone has been waiting for Santos star Neymar to make a move to Europe ever since he burst onto the scene a few years ago as a teenager. Now 21, he has an incredible 136 goals for the Brazilian side and regularly dazzles defenders with his superb dribbling skills. He looks like being the next Lionel Messi, and could be lining up alongside the Argentine star at Barcelona next season. Barca are favourites to land him, and have been for a number of years, due to an obvious compatibility between the club and the player in terms of style of play and a philosophy at the Nou Camp of nurturing talented young players.
Neymar is said to prefer a switch to Barcelona, though recent reports suggest there could be a snag in the deal to bring him to the club, due to a disagreement between the two clubs over a transfer fee. Real Madrid may look to make a late move for him, and Chelsea and Manchester City are also monitoring the situation, but from a neutral point of view, most football fans will probably be hoping he ends up at Barcelona, as it seems the best place for him to make the most out of his talents. They will still be favourites to get him, though, and this deal, which would be one of the signings of the summer, could be completed after the Confederations Cup, in which Neymar will be representing Brazil.
Tottenham could allow a number of first team players to leave this summer as they plan to make wholesale changes to their squad. Emmanuel Adebayor, Clint Dempsey and Scott Parker are those who will be allowed to leave.
A round-up of Monday’s biggest transfer rumours and gossip. Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts Andre Villas-Boas will look to strengthen his midfield this summer with the signing of Joao Moutinho from Porto, who is also a target for Monaco…
The veteran Brazilian goalkeeper is likely to be on the move again this summer despite only arriving at QPR from Inter Milan a year ago. Arsenal are on the lookout for a goalkeeper and may turn to Cesar if they cannot land some of their other options. A return to Brazil has also been mooted for the 33-year-old, who will surely depart Loftus Road following Rangers’ relegation from the Premier League, as his manager Harry Redknapp has admitted he is too good for the Championship. Perhaps some good news at last for Rob Green!
99. Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla)
The Spanish international striker came close to joining Everton in January, and has admitted a liking for English football. Arsenal and Tottenham may move for him this summer as both are keen to sign strikers, but the 27-year-old could be persuaded to stay in Spain as Atletico Madrid are reportedly eyeing him up as a replacement for Radamel Falcao if he leaves. After showing his quality with 81 goals in the last four years with Sevilla, he may feel he has earned a chance at a bigger club next season.
98. Adil Rami (Valencia)
One of the most solid defenders in Spain, Adil Rami is on the lookout for a move to a bigger club this summer to boost his chances of a starting place in France’s squad for the 2014 World Cup. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be the frontrunners for his signature, and he would certainly be a bargain at Valencia’s supposed asking price of just £10million.
97. Andreas Weimann (Aston Villa)
The young Austrian has been something of a revelation for Aston Villa this season, with some eye-catching displays to help Paul Lambert’s side survive relegation. The attacking midfielder, who can also play upfront, has got himself on Liverpool’s radar with his performances and his 12 goals in all competitions. His agent has admitted he is unlikely to stay at Villa Park, but wants a move to another Premier League club.
96. Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City)
The £16million signing from Lazio has not really looked the part for City, and could be heading back to Serie A this summer with champions Juventus showing an interest in the left-back. With City offering Gael Clichy a four-year contract, it is clear that he has become first choice on the left side of defence, as Kolarov has not shown the same defensive discipline in that role, possibly operating better as a wing back, which would suit Juventus’ 3-5-2 formation.
95. Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
Sagna’s six-year stay with Arsenal could be coming to an end, as the right-back has reportedly refused to sign a new contract. PSG have shown the strongest interest in the 30-year-old, and he has not ruled out a move to the French giants. Monaco are also said to be interested, and Arsenal will surely choose to sell him this summer rather than risk losing him on a free next season – a similarly sticky situation to the one they found themselves in with Robin van Persie last year.
94. Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham)
The Bulgarian forward only joined Fulham from Manchester United last summer, but is reportedly unhappy at Craven Cottage already. The 32-year-old has had a good season for Martin Jol’s side, and his displays have attracted the interest of big-spending Turkish giants Galatasaray, who will to carry on their ambitious January spending which saw big names such as Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba join the club. Fulham may decide to take the reasonable £5million offer for an ageing player and reinvest in their squad to improve their displays next season.
93. Anders Lindegaard (Manchester United)
West Ham are said to be monitoring the situation of Manchester United’s backup goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard. The 29-year-old is unlikely to break past David de Gea in the pecking order, and could be tempted by the Hammers’ offer of first team football.
92. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (St Etienne)
This highly rated young forward has caught the eye of many top clubs with his performances for St Etienne this season. The 23-year-old has scored 20 goals in Ligue 1 and is being watched by Premier League trio Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle. Though the player himself has said he dreams of playing for Real Madrid.
91. Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
The former Chelsea winger has been a key player for Bayern Munich over the last few years, but may be on the way out this summer after falling down the club’s pecking order. However, his talents are still admired by Manchester City, who are being tipped to make a move for the speedy Dutchman.
90. Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)
This young Barcelona midfielder is reportedly holding talks over a summer switch to Tottenham, as he does not fancy his chances of breaking past the likes of Xavi and Iniesta into Barca’s vastly talented midfield.
89. Ashley Williams (Swansea City)
The Swansea captain has had another impressive season, helping his team to glory in the Capital One Cup. Arsenal and Liverpool are showing a strong interest as they look to add a centre-back to their squads this summer, and have been told by Swansea that they will have to pay £10million for the Welshman.
88. Tim Krul (Newcastle)
The talented Dutch shot stopper is being tipped to leave St James’ Park this summer after Newcastle have had a poor season fighting relegation. Roma are said to be leading the way for the 25-year-old, and AC Milan are also admirers of his. This will come as a blow to Alan Pardew, as he will also lose backup ‘keeper Steve Harper, who has made the decision to retire at the end of the season.
87. Angelo Ogbonna (Torino)
A whole host of clubs have been watching Angelo Ogbonna of Torino. The talented 24-year-old centre-back could be approached by any one of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or AC Milan this summer, as a big move surely beckons for the Italian international. Reports suggest he would cost around £17million.
86. Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk)
The Brazilian midfielder has pleaded for Shakhtar Donetsk to lower their asking price so that he can move to Manchester City, who have made him one of their main targets for this summer’s transfer window. At the moment he could cost around £42.5million due to the release clause in his contract, but he is a top talent who could improve City’s midfield for the title race next season.
85. Leighton Baines (Everton)
With Everton manager David Moyes leaving the club to join Manchester United, he is apparently keen to take left-back Leighton Baines with him. The former Wigan man has been a stand-out performer at Goodison Park this year and would be an upgrade on Patrice Evra in United’s defence. Everton will be determined not to lose him, but he could go for around £15-20million.
84. Dani Alves (Barcelona)
The Brazilian right-back has been a world class player over the last few years at Barcelona, though his form has dipped this season. He has been linked with a summer move to PSG, and the Catlans are willing to sell the player as they make some changes to their inconsistent squad, which has been unconvincing despite their La Liga title win.
83. Alvaro Pereira (Inter Milan)
Former Porto left-back Alvaro Pereira says he will stay and fight for his place at Inter Milan, but the Serie A club may decide they’d rather let him go if interest from Tottenham and his old boss Andre Villas-Boas continues. Spurs are keen to recruit a new player to replace Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Danny Rose, who are unlikely to be kept at the club for next season.
82. Gervinho (Arsenal)
The Ivorian forward is somehow a target for Turkish giants Galatasaray, who are willing to pay an incredible £12million for the 25-year-old who has been such a flop for Arsenal. With just eight league goals in two seasons, the former Lille man does not look like Premier League quality at all, often getting himself into a muddle with his wayward dribbling and missing easy chances when they are presented to him. Arsenal will be hoping to take the money and run if Galatasaray really rate him.
81. Florian Thauvin (Lille)
This exciting 20-year-old attacking midfielder is attracting a lot of interest after his displays this season for Bastia, where he has been on loan. Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle are all said to have made enquiries about him in January and could move for him again as they look to strengthen their squads this summer.
80. Younes Belhanda (Montpellier)
Arsenal and Spurs target Younes Belhanda will leave Montpellier this summer, his club have confirmed. The talented 23-year-old has been a key player for the French side over the last couple of years and is said to be keen on a new challenge, with a particular liking for English football. Newcastle are also likely to show an interest given their recent liking for players from France, and Belhanda could be one of the bargains of the summer with just an £8million asking price from Montpellier.
79. Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund)
One of many players impressing in the Bundesliga at the moment, Ilkay Gundogan’s displays for Borussia Dortmund have attracted a lot of interest from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Barcelona. The 22-year-old is a skillful defensive midfielder who could add a lot of quality to any of those sides’ squads. United appear to be leading the way for his signature, as they look to improve on their current options in the middle of the park, which will be weakened with Paul Scholes’ retirement and possible departure of Anderson.
78. Esteban Granero (Queens Park Rangers)
Esteban Granero has not had the best of seasons at QPR, despite looking like a quality signing from Real Madrid. The team have struggled as a whole this season, finding themselves surprisingly relegated when they were expected to aim for a top half finish after all the money they spent. Granero is one of many big-name flops, scoring just one goal and providing just one assist. The 25-year-old is still highly rated however, and is reportedly a target for Serie A side Fiorentina.
77. Adem Ljajic (Fiorentina)
Chelsea are said to be leading the chase for Fiorentina’s Adem Ljajic, one of the best young players in Serie A. The talented 21-year-old was once a target for Manchester United when he was younger, though a move fell through. He is now hot property after developing into a fine player in Italy, and will also attract interest from Arsenal and Manchester City this summer. With 8 goals and 8 assists for La Viola in Serie A, imagine what he could do in one of the top Premier League sides.
76. Heung-Min Son (Hamburg)
One of the best young players in the Bundesliga, Hamburg forward Heung-Min Son is much in demand this summer, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund all said to be vying for his signature. Hamburg have recently said they are confident of keeping him as they have not yet received any bids for the skillful 20-year-old, but it is surely only a matter of time before the young South Korean moves on to bigger things.
75. Hernanes (Lazio)
Manchester City are said to be hot on the heals of Lazio’s Brazilian star Hernanes, and the player himself has welcomed their interest. The 27-year-old has a great reputation after moving to Serie A a few years ago, perhaps known best for his powerful long range shots, as well as his overall passing and playmaking abilities from the middle of the park. City would be lucky to have him as he could form a great midfield partnership with Yaya Toure and help get them back on track for a title challenge next season.
74. Pepe Reina (Liverpool)
Barcelona have apparently identified Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina as a top priority target this summer, as they expect Victor Valdes to leave the club. Valdes himself could make his way to the Premier League, while Reina could return to the club where he started his career. The 30-year-old’s departure may be a blessing in disguise for Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, as Reina has not been at his best for a couple of years now, and could be improved on. Liverpool could make some decent money from his sale and get someone more reliable between the posts for next season.
73. Michel Vorm (Swansea City)
Liverpool could in fact target Swansea City’s Michel Vorm if Reina leaves. The Dutch shot stopper is also another target for Barcelona, but he may be keen to reunite with Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, after it was he that brought him to the Premier League in his time at Swansea. The 29-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the country at the moment and is also a target for Arsenal, who are looking out for a new goalkeeper to replace or at least challenge the off-form Wojciech Szczesny for his place in the team.
72. Mohamed Diame (West Ham)
West Ham could lose Mohamed Diame this summer, just one season after they signed the Senegalese midfielder from Wigan. The 25-year-old has had an excellent season for the Hammers, and was reportedly close to joining Arsenal or Tottenham in January. The move never materialised, but his £3.5million minimum release fee clause is likely to see the North London pair sniffing around again in the summer transfer window. Both clubs could do with reinforcements in the defensive midfield position, as Arsenal are still to find a suitable replacement for Alex Song, who left for Barcelona last summer. Tottenham could also do with strengthening in that area, as Sandro and Scott Parker have had lengthy spells out with injury this season. Parker has also been linked with a move to relegated QPR. At this kind of price, a talent like Diame is unlikely to remain at West Ham.
71. Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)
The talented French centre-back is reportedly a target for Pep Guardiola, who will be taking over as manager of Bayern Munich next season. The 27-year-old has proved a good find by Arsene Wenger since joining as a relative unknown from Lorient in 2010, establishing himself as one of the club’s best defenders. Now valued at around £20million, he would be a good addition to this strong Bayern side, though Wenger will be hoping not to lose another important and experienced member of his squad this summer. Barcelona have also been linked, as they look to strengthen in central defence after a season of injuries and poor form from Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique.
70. Tom Ince (Blackpool)
This exciting young winger is earning rave reviews after his performances in the Championship, and is wanted by his old club Liverpool, as well as Tottenham and Inter Milan. Blackpool are keen to tie down the 21-year-old to a new contract, though it seems unlikely that they will be able to fight off so much interest in their star player. Having started his career at Anfield, he could be a good addition to a squad lacking in talented wingers at the moment, and looks good value at around £7million. The son of former England captain Paul Ince is arguably a better player than Manchester United-bound Wilfried Zaha, who earned his move to Old Trafford in January after his displays for Crystal Palace.
69. Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid are planning something of a summer clear-out, and Angel Di Maria could be one to go. The talented Argentine has not had his best season this year, and may fall further down the pecking order with some of the big names that are expected to join at the Bernebeu. Manchester United are rumoured to be interested, with their need for wingers to improve on the likes of Nani and Ashley Young, and AC Milan are also said to be considering a move. He would apparently be available for around £15million and could do with a move to get his promising career back on track.
68. Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
Another player said to be leaving alongside David Moyes for Manchester United, the talented Belgian has apparently welcomed the interest from Old Trafford. Everton will be keen not to lose him as well as Leighton Baines, but the towering midfielder has been another stand-out performer this year and has expressed a desire to play in the Champions League. Chelsea and Arsenal have also been linked with him, and he has a minimum release fee clause of around £25million, which would be decent money for a player who guarantees you goals, assists, an aerial threat and good defensive work in midfield. He is a very influential player and looks to have outgrown Everton at this stage in his career.
67. Asmir Begovic (Stoke City)
The Stoke City goalkeeper has arguably been their best player this season, in a disappointing campaign for the Potters in which they fought against relegation. The Bosnian shot stopper is now on the radar of the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. The 25-year-old would cost around £15million and prove a good option for any of those sides. He has said he is happy at Stoke, but with manager Tony Pulis already bringing in young goalkeeper Jack Butland from Birmingham City in the summer, he may be expecting Begovic to be sold, and they may not feel they are able to turn down that kind of money if the offers come in.
66. Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle)
After a poor season for Newcastle, it would be no surprise to see a number of key players depart, and Hatem Ben Arfa is certainly one of them. On his day the exciting French winger can win games on his own with remarkable dribbling skills and powerful long range shots. Still only 26, he would be a good investment for any top club and supposedly already has offers from Tottenham and Liverpool, with PSG also monitoring his situation. The one problem with the former Marseille star is that he has been plagued by injuries during his time in England, but it’s no surprise to see top clubs showing an interest given what he can do if he stays fit. His absence this season has played a big part in Newcastle’s worsening fortunes.
65. Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea)
This talented Chelsea youngster has really put himself in the shop window with his displays on loan at Bundesliga side Werder Bremen this season. The Belgian still seems unlikely to force his way into the Chelsea team, so will reportedly attract a bid from Borussia Dotmund. Jurgen Klopp’s side see the 21-year-old as a good replacement for Bayern Munich-bound Mario Goetze, which is some compliment. Bayer Leverkusen may also ask for him in return for long-time Blues target Andre Schurrle, though many Bundesliga fans cannot understand why Chelsea don’t want to keep him.
64. Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)
Lukas Podolski has had a decent start to life in English football, but due to some fitness problems and recent omissions from the team, it has been suggested that he could leave the club just one season after joining from Cologne. Atletico Madrid and Juventus have been linked with the German forward, but the strongest interest seems to be coming from Galatasaray, who could make a double swoop on Arsenal as they also look to sign Gervinho from the Gunners. They will offer £12million for the 27-year-old, and Arsenal don’t have a great recent track record of keeping their big names at the club.
63. Micah Richards (Manchester City)
Micah Richards has been unfortunate to find himself out of the Manchester City team this season, after some problems with injuries and the fine form of Pablo Zabaleta. Now 24, the talented right-back needs regular first team football if he has any hope of getting back into the England squad, and it is said that Liverpool and Arsenal may come in for him this summer. Richards can also play at centre-back and deserves a chance to be playing regularly at a top club, though a high asking price of £15million may put some clubs off, due to his recent lack of regular action.
62. Burak Yilmaz (Galatasaray)
This Turkish striker has shown himself to be something of a goal machine this season for Galatasaray, in both the league and the Champions League. Arsenal and Liverpool are known to be looking for strikers this summer and have been linked with the 27-year-old, as have Manchester United and Napoli. Galatasaray have made it clear they will expect around £15million for their star striker, though they have also admitted that they don’t hold out much hope of keeping him. However, with plenty of summer spending plans of their own, they might not miss him so much.
61. Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)
The speedy Spurs winger has never quite looked like becoming the world class talent that he looked like as a youngster in his days at Leeds. The 26-year-old has been at White Hart Lane for most of his career now, but could be subject to a summer bid from Serie A giants Inter Milan. Spurs may feel it is time for the England international to move on while they pursue other targets, and Lennon could also do with a new challenge in Italy, and certainly improve this Inter side that is struggling so much at the moment.
60. Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)
West Ham’s search for a goalkeeper could see them approach Aston Villa for Brad Guzan. The Hammers, as already mentioned, are keen on Manchester United’s backup ‘keeper Anders Lindegaard, but with the Danish shot stopper supposedly happy to stay at Old Trafford, Guzan could be a good second choice. The American has been in fine form for Villa this season after replacing Shay Given as first choice at Villa Park. the 28-year-old could be sold at a very healthy profit for Villa, now valued at around £5million – not bad for a player that cost £600,000 when he was signed from MLS side Chivas in 2008.
59. Jesus Navas (Sevilla)
The Sevilla winger has been highly rated since a young age, but has spent his entire career with his boyhood club due to suffering from chronic homesickness, which also affects him when he travels with the Spanish national team. However, he continues to attract interest from top clubs as there is no doubting his quality. The skillful winger is wanted by Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund, as both sides hope to strengthen their attacking midfield options.
58. Koke (Atletico Madrid)
This talented young Atletico Madrid playmaker is one of many in this generation of impressive Spanish midfielders, and has previously been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal. Roma are now rumoured to be stepping up their interest, and other big clubs may soon follow for a 21-year-old who surely has a great future in the game.
57. Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund)
With Bacary Sagna likely to leave Arsenal, the Gunners have been linked with Borussia Dortmund’s Polish right-back Lukasz Piszczek. The 27-year-old has emerged as a key performer for both club and country in recent years, combining great defensive work with a high work rate and ability to get forward. Piszczek won’t come cheap, but he could actually be a significant improvement on Sagna for Arsenal, as the Frenchman has not been at his best this season and is surely past his peak at the age of 30. Chelsea have also watched him in the past and with a number of players likely to leave Dortmund this summer, there could be a few clubs who try their luck with Piszczek.
56. Aymen Abdennour (Toulouse)
Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona have all watched this highly rated Ligue 1 defender in recent months, and it now seems Liverpool will step up their interest and table a £6million bid for the Tunisian international. The versatile 23-year-old defender can play both centre-back and left-back, and would be a very useful addition to any of these clubs, due to their current defensive problems. He has certainly established himself as one of the best defenders in the French league, and interest in him is no surprise.
55. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
Romelu Lukaku will be a wanted man this summer, even if it is only on loan. The young Belgian has been in great form on loan at West Brom from Chelsea, but it seems he still won’t quite work his way into the Blues’ starting lineup next season. West Ham appear to be leading the chase for the talented 19-year-old, who will certainly help the club deal with the loss of Andy Carroll if they don’t manage to sign him permanently. Lukaku’s form has also attracted interest from Swansea, Fulham and even Italian giants Juventus, but as with Kevin De Bruyne it’s hard to understand why Chelsea can’t find a use for him – he would surely be an improvement on Fernando Torres and Demba Ba.
54. Luke Shaw (Southampton)
It’s incredible to think Luke Shaw is only 17 and playing his first season in the Southampton first team. The young left-back has slotted in seamlessly for the Saints in the Premier League this season, and looks to be the latest in the line of great players produced by the academy at St Mary’s, along with Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He has played with great maturity in defence this season, and also looks a skillful attacker going forward. Chelsea and Tottenham are the main clubs that seem to be in for him, and despite saying he’s a Chelsea fan, he is said to be torn between the two options. Arsenal have also shown an interest, and it looks like Southampton will have a big job on their hands fighting off interest in their young prodigy this summer.
53. Franco Di Santo (Wigan)
West Brom are keen to land Franco Di Santo from relegated Wigan. The 24-year-old is a free agent this summer after his deal at the DW Stadium is set to expire, and the Baggies will need a new striker as loan star Romelu Lukaku heads back to Chelsea. Shane Long could also leave the club, and want-away striker Peter Odemwingie will probably be shown the door after his antics in the January transfer window. This will leave Steve Clarke’s side desperately short of options upfront and Di Santo has shown himself as a very capable Premier League player in the last couple of seasons with Wigan, despite their regular battles with relegation and their eventual drop this year.
52. Daniele De Rossi (Roma)
If Jose Mourinho rejoins Chelsea, he has reportedly made Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi a prime target. The Blues could do with extra options in midfield and could land the 29-year-old for just £10million after he has had a relatively disappointing season in Serie A. He has been linked with moves to the Premier League before, with both Manchester United and Manchester City showing an interest, and this could finally be the year he leaves the club he’s been with for his whole career.
51. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Manchester United are known to be on the lookout for strikers this summer, and Karim Benzema could be available after falling down in the pecking order at Real Madrid. The talented French finisher still has an impressive record of 19 goals and 20 assists this season, and could surely reach world class form again if given the chance. Manchester United are currently being linked with a move for the France international who should cost around £30million.
50. Scott Sinclair (Manchester City)
Scott Sinclair’s move from Swansea to Manchester City has been nothing short of a disaster this season, as the 24-year-old has hardly featured for Roberto Mancini’s side. Mancini admitted he was unfair on him and didn’t give him enough opportunities, but even with the Italian being sacked following his side’s shock defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup final, City are sure to welcome offers for the unwanted winger. The most likely moves for him at the moment seem to be either a return to Swansea or to Liverpool where he would play under his old Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers.
49. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)
After a falling out with Leonardo at PSG, Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be set for a move back to Italy with Juventus, after just one season (and another league title in another country) in France. The talented but eccentric Swede has arguably shown the best form of his career in Serie A, originally with Juventus, and then Inter Milan and AC Milan. Juve are keen to sign some strikers this summer, and Ibrahimovic remains one of the best in the game, bringing success with him wherever he goes.
48. Thiago Alcantara (Barcelona)
Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara could be a good option for a number of clubs this summer, as he remains a wasted talent at the Nou Camp. The 22-year-old is one of the club’s brightest prospects, but he has been unfortunate to be around when such star names such as Xavi and Iniesta are always going to be picked ahead of him. Manchester United are on alert after hearing he could be sold, and he has been previously linked with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal. He’s certainly too good to be on the bench for much longer, so is sure to be on the move this summer.
47. Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle)
Yohan Cabaye has really impressed since joining Newcastle from French side Lille for what now looks like a real bargain at just £4million, and was almost immediately linked with Arsenal. The talented playmaker could now be a £20million target for Manchester United as they seek a long-term replacement for the retiring Paul Scholes. The 27-year-old could also be tempted by a move away after a difficult season of fighting relegation with Alan Pardew’s side.
46. Papiss Cisse (Newcastle)
Borussia Dortmund are on the lookout for a number of strikers this summer due to the inevitable loss of star man Robert Lewandowski, and Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse is the latest to apparently be on their shortlist. The Senegalese forward made an explosive start to life in the Premier League last season with an incredible 13 goals in 14 games – including an absolute wonder-strike against Chelsea – but has struggled somewhat this time round, albeit in a team that has been worse overall this season. He could be tempted by a return to the Bundesliga, where he first made a name for himself with Freiburg.
45. Jackson Martinez (Porto)
Borussia Dortmund may also go head-t0-head with Liverpool for in-form Porto striker Jackson Martinez. The Colombian has had a great breakthrough season in Portugal, scoring an excellent 33 goals in 38 games in his first season with the club. Manchester United and Chelsea have also been linked, though they appear to have more pressing targets.
44. Nemanja Matic (Benfica)
This former Chelsea youngster has made a real name for himself at Benfica, impressing this season in his team’s run to the Europa League final. Chelsea have been unsurprisingly linked with a return for the Serbian, though Manchester United are also keen on him to improve their midfield options this summer. He would supposedly cost around £45million, which may be a stumbling block in the deal. One of a few Benfica players who could be snapped up by bigger clubs in the upcoming transfer window.
43. Victor Valdes (Barcelona)
Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has confirmed his desire to leave Barcelona after a fantastic eleven years with the club. The Spaniard wants a new challenge and could be signed by any one of a number of interested parties. Arsenal are considering him as one of several options for a new goalkeeper, and Manchester United and PSG are also keen on the 31-year-old. His experience and history of winning things would be a great addition to any side’s dressing room, and it’s certainly Barca’s loss. They are reportedly targeting the uninspiring Pepe Reina of Liverpool as a replacement.
42. Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen)
The signing of Andre Schurrle from Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea looked like being a done deal not so long ago, though the move hasn’t progressed from there. Still, the Blues are determined to land this long-standing target and add to their attacking midfield options next season. He should cost around £20million and looks worth every penny as another great prospect emerging from German football at the moment.
41. Callum McManaman (Wigan)
With Wigan relegated from the Premier League, a number of their best players are sure to leave for bigger clubs, and none have caught the eye more recently than Callum McManaman. The young winger played a great part in the club’s miraculous FA Cup win and is now a target for Liverpool, though boss Roberto Martinez has pleaded with him to reject a move and continue his development with Wigan in the Championship. Not sure he’ll listen to that particular piece of advice.
40. Loic Remy (Queens Park Rangers)
The January signing from Marseille has proved a hit in the Premier League, though his six goals in thirteen games have not been enough to keep Queens Park Rangers from avoiding relegation. The French striker was wanted by Arsenal and Newcastle as well in January, and they may move again this summer as he is sure to be available following Rangers’ drop to the Championship. He apparently has a minimum release fee clause of £8million and Liverpool are also keen on him, though he has described Arsenal as a ‘dream move’.
39. Joao Moutinho (Porto)
Joao Moutinho came close to joining his old Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas at Tottenham last summer, though a move didn’t materialise in the final hours of the transfer window. Spurs are expected to rekindle their interest in the Portuguese playmaker, though he is also a target for big-spending Monaco, who may be more able to offer his £33million fee than Spurs are.
38. Alex Song (Barcelona)
Alex Song has had a tough time since joining Arsenal from Barcelona, which may come as no surprise. He had a good season for the Gunners last year, but he never exactly looked capable of dislodging Sergio Busquets in Barca’s defensive midfield position. He is now understandably unhappy after a season on the bench and pining for a return to Arsenal. Arsene Wenger has ruled out a move, but he often likes to keep his cards close to his chest, and may be tempted to bring back a player he has so far failed to replace. Spurs and Manchester City have also been linked with the Cameroon international.
The Italian centre-back has earned rave reviews for his performances with Torino this season, and as well as being chased by the bigger teams in Italy, he is said to be a target for Premier League trio Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. The 24-year-old is a solid and competitive defender and a full Italian international, and is set for big things in the game.
9. Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan)
The former Arsenal man has had a difficult time in Italy after joining Milan on a free transfer from the Gunners. The 29-year-old could leave on a free once again, as his contract expires at the end of the season. Arsenal have unsurprisingly been linked with a return for a player who looked to be developing into a top defensive midfielder under Arsene Wenger, but his recent poor form is more likely to see him go to Aston Villa or Southampton, two clubs who are said to be showing an interest in the Frenchman.
8. Adem Ljajic (Fiorentina)
This talented 21-year-old was close to joining Manchester United from former club Partizan Belgrade in 2010, but the Red Devils pulled out of the deal and he moved to Serie A with Fiorentina. Three years later he is regarded as one of the best young players in the Italian league and is being targeted by the likes of Chelsea. The Serbian can play in a variety of attacking positions, either out wide or upfront, and could still make a move to England in the near future.
7. Alvaro Pereira (Inter Milan)
The former Porto left-back is reportedly a target for Tottenham, as manager Andre Villas-Boas worked with Pereira during their time at Porto. The 27-year-old has not been a regular for Inter Milan, and Spurs may pounce as they see him as the best replacement for Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Danny Rose, two left-sided defenders who are expected to be sold this summer. The Portuguese coach also tried to sign the Uruguayan when he was at Chelsea, so he’s clearly a fan and will surely bring him to the Premier League eventually.
6. Hernanes (Lazio)
This talented Brazilian midfielder is supposedly one of Manchester City’s main transfer targets this summer. The 27-year-old has a great reputation in Italy since joining Lazio in 2010, showing himself to be a great playmaker and goal-scoring midfielder, reaching double figures in each of this three seasons with the club. His thunderous shots with his powerful right foot would certainly go down a treat at the Etihad Stadium next season.
5. Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
Manchester United are said to be keen on Claudio Marchisio as a replacement for the retiring Paul Scholes. The Italian midfielder is a similar type of box-to-box player as Scholes, and has always been a reliable source of goals during his time with Juventus. He is a key player for the Serie A champions, so he won’t come cheap, but United are ready to offer around £30million for his services, and are supposedly keen on his team-mate Arturo Vidal as well.
4. Erik Lamela (Roma)
Tottenham and both Manchester clubs are watching the progress of Roma’s Erik Lamela. The 21-year-old Argentine initially struggled when he moved to Serie A from Argentina’s River Plate, but has hit his best form this season with 15 goals and 4 assists. This young talent can operate as a striker or just behind, and definitely has the ability to add something to both of these Premier League title challengers.
3. Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan)
The German-born Ghana international has had a strange career, but is finally emerging as a top talent in Serie A with AC Milan. The 26-year-old was brought to Tottenham as an exciting prospect in 2007, but failed to make the grade at White Hart Lane. He had a failed loan spell at Borussia Dortmund and then made the move to Portsmouth, where he caught the eye in his single season with the club, helping them reach the FA Cup final. Milan then moved for him and he has slotted in well, and is now thought to be attracting Manchester City and Arsenal, so a return to the Premier League could be on the cards.
2. Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)
The talented 23-year-old has been linked strongly with Arsenal all summer, and could complete a move to the Gunners in the coming weeks. Manchester City were also interested in the skillful Montenegro forward, who has caught the eye over the last couple of seasons in Serie A with Fiorentina. Juventus will aim to keep him in Italy with a £25million bid, but La Viola will be keen not to sell to a rival, and should see to it that he joins Arsenal.
1. Edinson Cavani (Napoli)
Serie A’s leading goal scorer is surely set for a summer exit after an impressive few years with Napoli and previously Palermo. Edinson Cavani is wanted by many of Europe’s top clubs, but a move to England seems likely with Manchester City and Chelsea both desperate to secure his signature this summer. He will cost close to £50million, but looks well worth it as he could fire whoever manages to get him to the Premier League title next season. Even Sunderland have been rumoured to have made an audacious bid for him!
Barcelona will reportedly turn their attention to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after falling behind in their bid to land Brazilian star Neymar from Santos.
A deal was supposedly wrapped up for the 21-year-old to move to the Nou Camp, before Santos claimed they had fallen into disagreement with Barcelona chiefs over a fee for their star forward.
Real Madrid are now expected to up their bid for the Brazilian, and the Bernebeu may now be the destination for one of the world’s most highly rated young players.
Barcelona will still be hoping to strengthen upfront though, and will make Suarez their next target, after the Uruguayan has impressed with 30 goals and some dazzling displays at Anfield this season.
The 26-year-old was the favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award, though he missed out to Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, perhaps due to his controversial bite on Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in a match between the two sides.
This latest incident has made Suarez ever-more unpopular in English football as his time here has been marred by controversy, and it is thought that the former Ajax man himself may be tempted by a move abroad to escape the British media.
Barcelona would be an ideal destination for him, as their attacking and technical style of play would suit the exciting forward’s strengths and skills, and they are said to be willing to offer as much as £50million to bring him to La Liga.
Tito Vilanova is keen to improve on his title-winning side, as they have struggled for consistency in the latter half of the season, often being found wanting against the bigger teams in particular. The Barca boss will be under pressure to retain the team’s title and push on in the Champions League, where they were eliminated at the semi-final stage in humiliating fashion to Bayern Munich, losing 7-0 on aggregate to the Bundesliga champions.
Bayern are another club that have been linked with a move for Suarez, along with Juventus and Manchester City, though Barca will now step up their interest after their surprise failure to land their main target Neymar.
A number of players could also leave the Nou Camp in the summer transfer window, as squad members such as Alexis Sanchez, Cristian Tello and Thiago Alcantara are expected to be moved on. Interestingly, both Sanchez and Tello have been linked with Liverpool, and could be used as part of the Suarez deal if Barca’s cash offer is not seen as sufficient.
Suarez has previously been compared by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers to Barca star Lionel Messi, and fans may now see the two combine together and terrorize defences in Spain.
Barcelona have also recently been linked with Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger needs to get it right in the transfer window this summer, after eight years without silverware. Deadwood players such as Andrey Arshavin, Andre Santos, Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh and Sebastien Squillaci should finally be shown the door and the likes of Gervinho and Emmanuel Frimpong may also follow, as they don’t currently look like first-team quality. A new goalkeeper could arrive to replace the off-form Wojciech Szczesny, though it remains to be seen if the Pole will stick around as backup to Simon Mignolet, Asmir Begovic, Michel Vorm or whoever the Gunners decide to bring in. Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic is being strongly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, as Wenger looks to strengthen a strike force still missing Robin van Persie. West Ham’s Mohamed Diame was a target in January and may be so again as the defensive midfield void left by Alex Song remains to be filled.
The likes of Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny are key players being linked with moves away, to PSG and Bayern Munich respectively, but Arsenal won’t want to endure yet another summer of losing important members of their squad, though Swansea’s Ashley Williams and Valencia’s Adil Rami could come in to shore up the team’s defence. Promising youngster Joel Campbell is also set to return after a loan spell at Real Betis, and could be involved in the first team more next season.
Aston Villa
After a difficult season of fighting relegation, Paul Lambert faces the very real prospect of losing a couple of star players in Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann. The in-form strike duo have helped Lambert’s side survive in the Premier League and may feel they want to move on to bigger things now.
Benteke is very much in demand, being linked with Arsenal, Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, while Weimann is supposedly a target for Liverpool. After a frustrating season spent on the bench, Darren Bent is likely to be moved on, with Fulham monitoring the 29-year-old’s situation. Another player who could leave is goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who is being eyed up by West Ham. Villa owner Randy Lerner is reportedly set to give his manager a lot of money to spend this summer to improve the club’s fortunes, and Manchester City flop Scott Sinclair is said to be one of the club’s main targets. Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini could also join on a free transfer, with his contract at AC Milan set to expire at the end of the season, though they will compete with Southampton for his signature.
Cardiff City
After winning promotion to the top flight as champions of the Championship, Cardiff are expected to spend big to make sure they can survive in the Premier League. They may have a fight to start off with to keep hold of their manager Malkay Mackay, who is being linked with the Everton job, but backed by their wealthy Malaysian owners, the club have been linked with a number of big names already.
Former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, now of Ligue 1 side Lille, is said to be a target, as is Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who started his career with the Welsh club. With Aston Villa likely to sell Darren Bent, his name has also been mentioned as a realistic option. They may also pounce for Welsh winger Hal Robson-Kanu from relegated Reading.
Chelsea
There is bound to be a summer of change ahead at Stamford Bridge, with changes in both the management and the playing staff. Firstly, Chelsea legend Jose Mourinho is expected to return to the club as manager to replace Rafael Benitez, after making it clear he wants to leave current club Real Madrid. The Portuguese tactician is expected to be given a massive £100million from owner Roman Abramovich to spend on building a title-winning team. The obvious problems are upfront, as Fernando Torres has failed to live up to expectations since signing from Liverpool and may finally be sold.
Demba Ba has also been slightly unconvincing since his move from Newcastle in January, so it’s no surprise to see the likes of Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani being linked with the Blues. They will face plenty of competition for these star names, and will no doubt have to fork out a lot of money for them, but they seem the ideal big-name boost that the club needs if they are to mount a serious challenge domestically and in Europe again. Robert Lewandowski is also said to be a target, and Chelsea may offer youngster Kevin De Bruyne in return for the Pole, as Dortmund are admirers of the young attacking midfielder.
Exciting young German winger Andre Schurrle is widely expected to join from Bayer Leverkusen for around £20million, while a defensive midfielder is also on the list. The injury-prone Michael Essien is likely to leave, and Mourinho is said to want either Sami Khedira or Daniele De Rossi as a replacement. Backup players like Yossi Benayoun, Victor Moses and Marko Marin may be shown the door, as may long-time captain John Terry, who has been linked with a surprise move to Galatasaray. It has been confirmed however, that another club legend, Frank Lampard, will stay with the club for one more season after signing a new deal. And finally, young striker Romelu Lukaku will likely be sent out on loan again after a successful spell with West Brom, with Swansea and West Ham interested in the Belgian.
Everton
With long-serving manager David Moyes confirmed as leaving for Manchester United, a number of key players have been rumoured as set to follow. Whether or not they follow their manager to Old Trafford remains to be seen, but Moyes is apparently keen on Marouane Fellaini, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka. Belgian midfielder Fellaini has also been linked with moves to Arsenal and Chelsea after an impressive season, and it may be hard for the club to persuade their star players to stay at Goodison Park under a new manager.
Roberto Martinez, whose Wigan side just became the first team to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season, has been linked with the vacancy, as has Cardiff City’s Malkay Mackay, and their choice for Moyes’ replacement will no doubt have some bearing on which players are brought in. Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo nearly joined in January, and they may move for him again or for Queens Park Rangers’ Loic Remy as they have lacked a regular goal scorer upfront this season. Former Toffees star Joleon Lescott has been linked with a return to the club after falling out of favour at Manchester City. Club captain Phil Neville will also be leaving the club at the end of the season and is expected to retire, which may lead to a return in a coaching capacity.
Fulham
Martin Jol’s side have endured a difficult end to the season with no win in eight games, and the manager is now under pressure. If he stays he will be given money to strengthen his squad, but former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has been linked as a replacement. Star player Dimitar Berbatov is also unhappy at the club, and may leave after just one season since joining from Manchester United, with Turkish giants Galatasaray preparing a bid of around £5million for the Bulgarian. On-loan Arsenal man Emmanuel Frimpong is expected to join on a permanent deal, though Urby Emmanuelson will probably return to parent club AC Milan.
There could be change between the sticks as veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has reportedly turned down a new contract and Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has been targeted. Another of the club’s ‘keepers David Stockdale has spent the season on loan at Hull, and will join the newly-promoted side on a permanent basis next season. Other transfer targets include Romelu Lukaku from rivals Chelsea, who is set for another season out on loan, though he is more likely to go to Swansea or West Ham.
Hull City
Steve Bruce’s side will look to strengthen after finishing second in the Championship, and will perhaps exploit the loan market for some bargain deals. The former Manchester United defender’s relationship with his old club may mean he can sign one or two squad players on loan, and has been linked with a move for young midfielder Nick Powell. Reading striker Noel Hunt has also been linked after some impressive displays in spite of his club’s relegation from the Premier League this season, while Leicester City’s Andy King is also a target, after his club failed to get past Watford in the Championship playoff semi-finals. On-loan Egyptian striker Gedo is also keen to join Hull on a permanent basis in the summer. Another loan player, Fulham’s David Stockdale, is also likely to stay at the club permanently. On the way out are Sonny Bradley and Danny East, who have joined Portsmouth after being released.
Liverpool
Brendan Rodgers is expected to be given a lot of money to spend this summer as he hopes to help the club break back into the top four and maybe even sustain a genuine title challenge. There may have to be a few sales first, though that hopefully won’t include star player Luis Suarez, who is wanted by Bayern Munich and Juventus. The likes of Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Martin Skrtel have been in poor form and are likely to be shown the door, while £35million flop Andy Carroll will either return to old club Newcastle or make his current loan move to West Ham permanent after a good season at Upton Park. Goalkeeper Pepe Reina is reportedly wanted by Barcelona, and Liverpool may be tempted to sell as he is arguably past his best and the likes of Michel Vorm have been linked with a move to Anfield.
The club may make an audacious attempt to bring back Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid, as they miss the playmaking abilities of the Spaniard who they sold to the La Liga giants four years ago. The main priority, though, is a striker, with Rodgers keen to make sure his team aren’t over-reliant on Suarez again as they have been many times this season. Daniel Sturridge was brought in from Chelsea in January and he has given them more options, but with Suarez also banned for the first few games of next season, they won’t want to fall behind early on. Free-scoring Porto striker Jackson Martinez has been linked, as have Aston Villa duo Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann, though the club may miss out to Tottenham for Barcelona’s out-of-favour forward David Villa. They could also move to bring back Tom Ince, their former youngster who is now attracting a lot of interest after impressing in the Championship with Blackpool.
Manchester City
After a poor showing in their attempt to retain the Premier League title this season, as well as a shock defeat in the FA Cup final, Roberto Mancini has been sacked and all signs point to Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrini coming in to replace him. The new manager is likely to bring new players as the club’s wealthy owners will want to bring in better players to try and win back the title from rivals Manchester United. A poor transfer window last summer saw the likes of Scott Sinclair and Maicon join and then barely play, and these are players who could certainly be sold this year. Other squad players such as Micah Richards, Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott, Aleksandar Kolarov and James Milner could also make way, with Lescott possibly set for a return to former club Everton, as previously mentioned, and Kolarov supposedly wanted by Juventus.
Carlos Tevez has had an improved year with the club, but is still understood to favour a move away from England and is a target for big-spending Monaco. Edin Dzeko is another striker who could go, after failing to impress consistently since joining the club two years ago. The Bosnian is being targeted by a number of Serie A clubs such as Juventus and AC Milan, and could also move to Napoli as part of a deal to bring Edinson Cavani to the Etihad Stadium, though City will face competition from Chelsea for the 26-year-old. Pellegrini is said to be plotting a raid on Malaga, bringing star player Isco with him when he departs. He may also move for other La Liga stars, such as Sevilla’s Jesus Navas and Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria, as well as a big-money move for Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus.
A new playmaker to take the weight off the jaded David Silva’s shoulders is a must, and AZ Alkmaar youngster Adam Maher is also reportedly a target for this role.
Manchester United
United will have to be busy this summer, as their big-spending rivals City will surely be doing everything in their financial power to build a team to win back the Premier League title. United were arguably unconvincing in some areas of their pitch despite their title win this season, with the team often looking over-reliant on Dutch striker Robin van Persie to score all the goals. The former Arsenal man has had a great first season with the club, but could do with extra support as the likes of Nani, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia have not offered much in the way of assists from the wings.
Nani has been linked with a move to Juventus and it may be time for the Portuguese winger to leave after failing to live up to his potential at Old Trafford, and a number of attacking midfielders and wingers have been linked to the club as replacements. United could make an ambitious bid to compete with Real Madrid for the signing of Gareth Bale, though they may not feel they can compete financially with the Spanish giants. Nicolas Gaitan of Benfica has also been linked, though Bayer Leverkusen are also interested as they will probably lose Andre Schurrle to Chelsea. Elsewhere, with Paul Scholes retiring, midfielders such as Juventus duo Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal, and Benfica’s Nemanja Matic. With David Moyes taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson, there have also been inevitable links to Everton players, with Marouane Fellaini, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka all reported to be targets. Rio Ferdinand is coming to the end of his contract and could be on the way out, and Valencia centre-back Adil Rami has been linked as a replacement, though Arsenal are also said to be interested.
The biggest story, however, is that Wayne Rooney is sure to leave the club after submitting a transfer request. The 27-year-old is unhappy with his role at Old Trafford and is wanted by a host of Europe’s top clubs, such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG, as well as United’s Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, and Moyes will face a big decision straight away when he takes this high-pressure job over what to do with the unsettled star.
Newcastle United
Alan Pardew may be sacked after a disappointing season with the club. Despite pushing for the top four in 2011/12, Newcastle flirted with relegation this term and that could mean a host of changes are made at St James’ Park. Demba Ba left for Chelsea in January, and no doubt the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse will be considering their futures as they may feel the club is not progressing as they would like, and they would not be short of suitors elsewhere. Ben Arfa has been linked with Spurs and Arsenal in the past, while Cabaye is also seen as a potential Paul Scholes replacement in United’s midfield. Borussia Dortmund are on the lookout for a striker due to the likely departure of Robert Lewandowski, and Cisse is supposedly one of their targets along with Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke.
The club spent big in January but it did not help them a great deal in their relegation fight, so they may have to rethink their transfer policy this summer, going for more established Premier League players rather than youngsters from Ligue 1. Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy could be available after Harry Redknapp’s side went down, and Newcastle did try to sign him from Marseille in January before he eventually went to Loftus Road. A sensational return for Andy Carroll has also been mentioned, as Liverpool are unlikely to keep the tall target man who spent the season on loan at West Ham.
The Hammers also want to keep him permanently, but Carroll would probably favour a return to his old team where he first made a name for himself in the Premier League. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Tim Krul is wanted by Serie A duo AC Milan and Roma, and Fabricio Coloccini is reportedly hoping to leave the club to return to his native Argentina due to homesickness. Long-serving goalkeeper Steve Harper has also announced he will be retiring from the game at the end of the season.
Norwich City
The Canaries have already completed a decent signing with the announcement that on-loan left-back Javier Garrido will make a permanent transfer to the club from Lazio next season. A player who has been loaned out from the club will do the opposite, and make a permanent move away from Norwich, with Derby keen on signing striker Chris Martin. James Vaughan, on the other hand, is expected to return to Carrow Road from his loan spell at Huddersfield Town. Burnley midfielder Chris McCann is available on a free tranfer this summer and is being watched by Norwich as well as other Premier League clubs. Manager Chris Hughton is also reportedly keen on bringing former Blackburn Rovers defender Zurab Khizanishvili back to England.
Southampton
There have been recent rumours that Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino could already leave the club despite only joining in the middle of this season, and the search for a new manager would certainly affect the club’s transfer plans. The Argentinian manager is widely tipped to make a raid on La Liga if he does stay, as he knows a number of talented players playing in Spain from his days in charge of Espanyol. Malaga defender Jesus Gamez is one from Spain that has been linked and could move to St Mary’s for £5million. Other targets include free agent Mathieu Flamini from AC Milan, who is also wanted by Aston Villa, and highly-rated Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama, who has also been watched by big clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.
Squad players such as Billy Sharp, Emmanuel Mayuka, Tadanari Lee, Guly Do Prado, Steve De Ridder, Richard Chaplow and Danny Butterfield have reportedly all been told that their future’s lie away from the South coast club. However, they will hope to keep hold of Inter Milan target Morgan Schneiderlin and teenage sensation Luke Shaw, the young left-back who has impressed the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham with his displays this season, drawing comparisons to a young Gareth Bale.
Stoke City
A big high profile departure from Stoke this summer will be former Liverpool, Manchester United and England star Michael Owen, though the 33-year-old’s retirement from the game will arguably not have a great deal of impact on Tony Pulis’ side, as he has barely featured since joining on a free transfer at the start of the season. Elsewhere, striker Kenwyne Jones could leave for newly-promoted Cardiff City and ageing goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen may not have much of a future at the club with the arrival of promising young shot-stopper Jack Butland from Birmingham City. Butland will probably become the Potters’ number one straight away, with current first-choice Asmir Begovic a target for big clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. The Bosnian could leave in a £15million deal and give Pulis money to strengthen a team that battled relegation this year with a poor run of form in the second half of the season. Peter Crouch could also leave the club after a drop in form, and is wanted by Sam Allardyce as a replacement for Andy Carroll at West Ham.
Charlie Adam, something of a disappointment since signing from Liverpool, could also be set for an exit to Crystal Palace if the Eagles win promotion under Adam’s old boss at Blackpool, Ian Holloway. There have not been many names linked as coming in to the club so far, apart from Granada left-back Guilherme Siqueira and Arsenal misfit Nicklas Bendtner, who is unlikely to be kept by the Gunners and who could replace Crouch if he leaves for West Ham.
Swansea City
Swansea had a great transfer window last summer, bringing in one of the signings of the season in Michu, who signed for just £2million. Michael Laudrup will be hoping for similar success this year – that is, if he doesn’t take the Everton job after emerging as another possible candidate. First, they might have to deal with the departures of key duo Michel Vorm and Ashley Williams, who are both targets for Arsenal and Liverpool. It has been rumoured that Vorm could be replaced by Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. They have already tried to sign young Sporting Lisbon defender Eric Dier, though he has rejected a move. They will be hoping to keep loan star Jonathen De Guzman on a permanent deal from Villareal, and will also likely look to La Liga again for some bargain transfers, having already agreed a deal to sign Real Betis midfielder Jose Canas. Scott Sinclair could also return to the club just one year after leaving, due to his inability to get into the Manchester City team, and other wingers are said to be on Laudrup’s shortlist, such as Queens Park Rangers’ Junior Hoilett and Chelsea’s Victor Moses. Romelu Lukaku could also join on loan from the Stamford Bridge club.
Sunderland
After recently inheriting a struggling side from previous manager Martin O’Neill, Paolo Di Canio will be keen to put his own stamp on this Sunderland team, and is reportedly targeting some players from the Italian league that he knows well. Lazio centre-back Modibo Diakité has already been identified as a target, as Di Canio looks to improve on current defensive pairing John O’Shea and Carlos Cuellar. Danny Rose has impressed on loan from Tottenham and Di Canio has expressed his hope of keeping the England Under-21 international on a permanent deal, but he may lose in-form goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, whose displays this season have attracted interest from Arsenal and Napoli. Former striker Darren Bent could be an option for the club, as he is likely to leave after being frozen out at Aston Villa by Paul Lambert this season. The club apparently made an audacious attempt to sign Napoli’s Edinson Cavani, though it is likely to be little more than a joke offer.
Tottenham Hotspur
It could be a big summer at White Hart Lane, with Spurs’ future in the balance as they go into the final day of the Premier League this season. The club could be set for Champions League football if results go there way, and that will play a big part in determining whether or not star player Gareth Bale stays at the club. The Welsh winger has been in phenomenal form for the club this season and Real Madrid have made no secret of their interest, offering as much as £65million and possibly players like Gonzalo Higuain in return for the PFA Player of the Year. Andre Villas-Boas has said he hopes to keep Bale and may even tie him down to a new bumper deal of around £170,000 a week even if they don’t finish in the top four, though the money brought in from his transfer could strengthen many areas of the squad.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto could leave the club and Danny Rose may make his loan to Sunderland permanent, meaning Spurs will step up their interest in Inter Milan left-back Alvaro Pereira, whom Villas-Boas knows from his Porto days and is keen to work with again. Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to leave after a poor season and is wanted by Monaco, so a striker could be on the agenda for Spurs, as the likes of David Villa and Christian Benteke have been linked to the club. Scott Parker hasn’t had the best season either and could be shifted to Queens Park Rangers, meaning a midfielder could also join. Manchester United’s Anderson has been linked, and they could try again for Mohamed Diame, who they were close to signing in January, though they may face competition from rivals Arsenal for the Senegalese international.
There have even been suggestions that long-serving striker Jermain Defoe could make way after a poor run of form, with a possible return to old club West Ham being mooted, as they will need a replacement for Andy Carroll when his loan deal ends. Andros Townsend could give AVB more options and compete for a place in the team following his return from a promising loan spell with QPR, perhaps replacing Aaron Lennon who has emerged as a surprise target for Serie A side Inter Milan. It perhaps looks like more outs than ins at the moment for Spurs, but a top four spot will ensure that it’s mainly their unwanted squad players that depart, rather than their star names.
West Bromwich Albion
West Brom had a great start to the season under Steve Clarke, but have faltered slightly in the latter half of the campaign, showing perhaps that there is room for improvement at the club. One blow for the Baggies boss is that they will lose loan-star Romelu Lukaku as he either returns to Chelsea or goes on loan again elsewhere, being strongly linked with West Ham and Swansea City.
That will leave gaps upfront as Peter Odemwingie is also likely to leave after falling out with the club following his failed attempt to force through a move to Queens Park Rangers in January. Franco Di Santo is reportedly a target following his relegation with Wigan Athletic, as is Anderlecht striker Dieumerci Mbokani. They are also one of many clubs who are looking at Scott Sinclair’s situation, after the 24-year-old is likely to be sold by Manchester City this summer. Also on the way out of the Hawthorns could be Graeme Dorrans, with the club saying they will listen to offers for the attacking midfielder. They will be determined, however, to hold on to Shane Long, who has been linked with Bundesliga duo Schalke and Hoffenheim.
West Ham United
A priority for West Ham manager Sam Allardyce this summer will be to keep hold of on-loan striker Andy Carroll, who will surely be sold by Liverpool. Newcastle are also interested in the 24-year-old target man, but Allardyce is a big fan of his and he has integrated well at Upton Park this season. Stoke City striker Peter Crouch is a backup option if Carroll leaves, and Romelu Lukaku could arrive on loan from Chelsea. Highly-rated Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes is also a target, though they would face much competition for the Championship goal-getter.
In other areas of the pitch, they might make a move for Chelsea’s Michael Essien, who is unlikely to stay at Stamford Bridge after an injury-hit few years and an unsuccessful loan spell with Real Madrid. Essien would be the ideal replacement for Mohamed Diame if he leaves, and the Senegalese midfielder has been attracting strong interest from both Arsenal and Tottenham, who may activate his £3.5million release fee clause. Marouane Chamakh will presumably not be kept on after his failed loan spell from Arsenal, and another loan player Emmanuel Pogatetz could also leave, with AC Milan veteran Massimo Abrossini coming in as a replacement. They may also make a change to their goalkeeper, after being linked with Aston Villa shot-stopper Brad Guzan and Manchester United backup ‘keeper Anders Lindegaard.
Watford/Crystal Palace
It is not yet clear which of these sides will be joining the other teams in the Premier League next season, as the two London sides have the small matter of the Championship Playoff final still to play. Watford may have a lot of work to do in the summer transfer window, as a lot of their current team is made up of loan players such as Chelsea’s Nathaniel Chalobah and Udinese’s Matej Vydra, both of whom have emerged as targets for bigger clubs such as Arsenal and Tottenham following their fine form in Gianfranco Zola’s side’s promotion push.
Birmingham City’s Nathan Redmond is a target for them, but is also being watched by other Premier League clubs, but Zola has previously hinted that he himself is not in control of transfers at the club. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, will have to prepare for life without star striker Wilfried Zaha, who has agreed a deal to join Manchester United. They could also use another highly rated young player, midfielder Jonathan Williams, and much will depend on whether they achieve promotion. If they do, another target for manager Ian Holloway is Stoke City’s Charlie Adam, whom he worked with to good effect at Blackpool a couple of years ago. They are also said to be one of several clubs chasing Leicester City’s Andy King. Veteran striker Kevin Phillips is also expected to play on for the club next season, whether it is in the top flight or not.
It may be time for Manchester United to bid farewell to Patrice Evra. The French defender is now 32 and looks past his best. After seven fine years at Old Trafford the left-back is being strongly linked with a move to his former club Monaco, who will spend big money upon their promotion to Ligue 1 next season. Although United have a history of keeping experienced players around for a long time, new United manager David Moyes may feel this is a position that could be strengthened, and his predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson obviously thought so too by bringing in Dutch left-back Alexander Buttner last summer, though the Dutchman has so far failed to settle at the club.
Out: Ashley Young
The England winger has been a real disappointment since joining Manchester United from Aston Villa for close to £20million. Despite earning a reputation at Villa Park as a consistent source of goals and assists from the flanks, the only reputation he has earned at Old Trafford is one for being something of a diver. After struggling with fitness and form this season, he is definitely one that Moyes will consider showing the door when he takes over at United. Other wingers have been disappointing too, such as Nani and Antonio Valencia, but Young arguably stands out as the worst and least worth keeping around.
Out: Anderson
The Brazilian midfielder has not lived up to his potential since joining Manchester United from Porto for £20million. Once considered an exciting young talent, he is now something of a liability at the club, looking slow and lazy in midfield, and unable to provide much of a cutting edge going forward either. With Paul Scholes retiring, Moyes will need to bring in a replacement, and Anderson is not the player to do it. The 25-year-old has been linked with Spurs, and may too feel it is time to move on to further his career with more regular first team football.
Out: Javier Hernandez
The Mexican striker looked like an excellent acquisition in his first season with United, when he settled quickly and fired the team to the Premier League title with 20 goals. However, the 24-year-old has for some reason been used sparingly since then, perhaps due to a weakness in his overall play. As harsh as it may be, he seems to have accepted his fate and wants to move on. He has been linked with Atletico Madrid and Juventus, and United may feel they could sell him for a decent profit and use the money to pursue some bigger targets.
Out: Wayne Rooney
In what will undoubtedly be one of the biggest transfer sagas of the summer, Wayne Rooney looks set to leave Manchester United after nine years with the club. The England star has submitted a transfer request due to being continually played out of position and feeling undervalued by Sir Alex Ferguson. Perhaps with David Moyes taking over, the 27-year-old could be persuaded to stay, but United may also be tempted to cash in on a player who is attracting a great deal of interest from a number of Europe’s top clubs. He has wanted to leave before, and may be seen as a disruptive presence in the dressing room. Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG and Bayern Munich have been linked with Rooney, as have United’s Premier League rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal. One thing’s for sure, United won’t have a hard time selling him if they choose to do so, and it looks like it’s probably the right time.
In: Leighton Baines (Everton)
With Evra possibly on the way out, Moyes has been linked with a raid on one of his star players at Everton, Leighton Baines. The England left-back has been in great form at Goodison Park this season, showing himself to be one of the best attacking full-backs in the game, with his ability to bomb forward and create chances for team-mates with his excellent delivery of crosses. The 28-year-old could arguably improve on his defensive habits, but he would also be likely to spend less time defending in a talented attacking side such as United’s. Moyes may also consider bringing Marouane Fellaini from his old club, but Baines should be a priority.
In: Adil Rami (Valencia)
Arsenal are also interested in a defender who is thought of as one of the most solid and consistent in La Liga. The 27-year-old Frenchman is said to be keen on a move to a bigger club to further his career and work his way into the French national side, and there aren’t many bigger than Manchester United. Moyes may look at his current options in the centre of defence and see room for improvement, as Rio Ferdinand is now 34 and Nemanja Vidic has had a lot of recent problems with long-term injuries. Rami would give the team extra depth in this position, and it’s always good to beat a rival to a talented player. Rami would cost around £12million and that looks a decent price for a player who could shore up United’s backline for a good five years or more.
In: Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
A new central midfielder is a must for Moyes, and it’s no surprise to see Juventus’ Claudio Marchisio linked as he is an excellent all-rounder. The 27-year-old has been at Juventus his whole career, and has established himself for club and country as a reliable goal-scorer from the middle of the park. With Scholes retiring and Anderson likely to be sold, United could do well to land this big name from a big team who have won two Serie A titles in a row. His team-mate Arturo Vidal has also been linked to United, but has expressed his desire to stay in Turin, so they may now prioritise Marchisio.
In: Nemanja Matic (Benfica)
Benfica have slapped a big £45million price tag on the head of talented Serbian playmaker Nemanja Matic, but the 25-year-old could be something of a marquee signing for Manchester United this summer. Matic is a skillful and elegant midfielder who could offer the kind of creativity that United will miss from the retiring Scholes. The sales of the likes of Anderson should help fund a move, and it looks like it would be worth it, and Matic himself would surely welcome a move to a bigger team after he and Benfica endured a painful defeat to Chelsea in this season’s Europa League final. Once of Chelsea as a youngster, he would surely relish the chance to prove himself in the Premier League again.
In: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Wayne Rooney’s name could quickly be forgotten by Manchester United fans if David Moyes can pull off the signing of the summer and bring Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford. The Portuguese winger developed into one of the best players in the world at United under Sir Alex Ferguson before his record-breaking £80million move to Real. He has gone on to enhance his reputation further, with an incredible record of 200 goals in 198 games in his time at the Bernebeu, and would form a mouth-watering partnership with Robin van Persie to surely guarantee that the club retain their Premier League crown. He will no doubt be expensive, but if rumours are to be believed, Moyes could offer the likes of Nani and Hernandez in return along with cash, and this signing of a United legend would be a great way for the new manager to endear himself to the United fans.
Reports strongly suggest that this transfer will happen soon enough. The talented Bayer Leverkusen winger has lit up the Bundesliga with his displays this season and is one of many highly rated young players coming through in German football at the moment. The 22-year-old has 13 goals and 8 assists this season and for £20million will give Chelsea more options both out wide and upfront, where they are somewhat lacking in goals from unreliable and off-form pair Fernando Torres and Demba Ba. There’s always potential for late snags to derail a deal, but this looks as close as possible to being a certainty. 9/10.
Carlos Tevez from Manchester City to Monaco.
It’s been a relatively quiet year in the eventful career of Carlos Tevez, and it would not be surprising to see something come of the rumours that he is being lined up by big-spending Monaco, who will look to strengthen their team for a challenge in Ligue 1 next season. The Argentinian striker was close to leaving City last season after a falling out with Roberto Mancini, and remains keen on a move away from England, despite getting back to close to his best form at the Etihad Stadium this season. There aren’t many clubs who could afford his enormous wages, so a move to billionaire-owned Monaco makes sense. 8/10.
David Villa from Barcelona to Tottenham.
One of the most composed finishers of the last ten years, David Villa would be an excellent signing for Tottenham if they can do it. The Barcelona forward has still managed 15 goals at the Nou Camp this season despite limited playing time, showing he hasn’t lost the goal scoring touch. With Spurs’ shortage of goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe, a new striker is a must for Andre Villas-Boas in the upcoming transfer window. At 31 years of age and with recent injury problems, Barca are willing to let the former Valencia striker leave, but if he goes on the cheap he could be a smart move for Spurs. He has also been linked with Arsenal and they would love to beat their North London rivals to the Spaniard. 8/10.
Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk to Manchester City.
Manchester City are looking for new midfielders to improve on their current options of Gareth Barry and Javi Garcia, and have identified Shakhtar’s Fernandinho as a prime target after some impressive displays for the Ukranian side this season. The 28-year-old is also keen on a move to the Premier League as he looks to catch the eye of Brazilian national team manager Luiz Felipe Scolari in time for next summer’s World Cup. 8/10.
Cristian Tello from Barcelona to Liverpool.
Liverpool are keen to sign this talented young forward from Barcelona to take some of the weight of Luis Suarez’s shoulders next season. With Barcelona also keen on Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina, rumour has it that a swap deal could take place between the two sides. Either that, or Liverpool and a few other clubs may look into activating his relatively cheap £8.5million minimum release fee clause. The offer of first-team football could lure the Spaniard away from the Nou Camp. 7/10.
Nani from Manchester United to Juventus.
The Portuguese winger has been an inconsistent performer this season for United, simply failing to do his job in providing enough goals and assists from the flanks. However, Juventus are said to be willing to offer him a lifeline in Serie A, as they look so strengthen their title-winning squad for a better challenge in the Champions League next year. Sir Alex Ferguson recently denied rumours that Nani would be sold, but he won’t be in charge next season and new United boss David Moyes may have other plans. An exit seems likely, though it remains yet to be seen if it will be Juventus he ends up at. 6/10.
Claudio Marchisio from Juventus to Manchester United.
In the other direction, Manchester United have been linked with a couple of Juventus midfielders. Arturo Vidal probably won’t be moving, after saying he is happy at the club. However, Claudio Marchisio has also been lined up by United as possible replacement for the retiring Paul Scholes. The Italian is an experienced and combative box-to-box player who would give the Red Devils some much-needed bite in the middle of the park alongside Michael Carrick. Marchisio is highly valued by Juventus though, and won’t come cheap, which could prove a stumbling block in a potential deal. 5/10.
Edin Dzeko from Manchester City to Napoli.
Napoli appear to be leading the chase for out-of-favour Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian striker is surely on his way out of the Etihad Stadium this summer after an inconsistent couple of years with the club. Despite the occasional scoring streak, the former Wolsburg man has not looked worth the £28million City paid for him, and they will look to make a number of changes to their strike force after a disappointing season in which they failed to win a trophy. City’s interest in landing Napoli’s Edinson Cavani could push the deal through. 7/10.
Edinson Cavani from Napoli to Manchester City.
If the deal above goes through, then Manchester City will surely be favourites to land their long-term target Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan striker has been in tremendous form for Napoli over the last couple of seasons and City will hope to be able to offer the most money to both him and his club to fight off other suitors such as Chelsea and Real Madrid. This world class talent would give City a big edge in regaining the Premier League title next season. 7/10.
Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid to Arsenal.
Arsenal have apparently been told by Real Madrid that an offer of £22million would get them Gonzalo Higuain. The talented Argentine has been placed on the transfer list at the Bernebeu as the Spanish giants hope to raise some money for some summer spending of their own. Arsenal are in need of a striker to fill the void left by Robin van Persie, which Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski have not quite managed to fill so far. However, with Higuain also wanted by Juventus and Tottenham, will Arsenal really fancy their chances of winning a bidding war for the 25-year-old? 5/10.
Leighton Baines from Everton to Manchester United.
The England left-back has been one of Everton’s stand-out performers this season, and departing manager David Moyes is apparently understandably keen to take the 28-year-old with him to Manchester United. With current United left-back Patrice Evra looking past his best, this move would make a great deal of sense, and Baines will be keen to play Champions League football at this point in his career, feeling he has probably given all he can to Everton. 8/10.
Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich.
Borussia Dortmund are likely to be dealt the blow of losing their star striker to rivals Bayern Munich this summer. The 24-year-old has been in lethal form for the Bundesliga side over the last couple of seasons, attracting interest from Manchester United and Chelsea, but the Polish striker himself seems to favour a move to the current Bundesliga champions, and could play his final game for Dortmund against his future employers in this season’s Champions League final. Mario Goetze has already been confirmed as making the same move, and all rumours suggest Lewandowski will follow his team-mate. 9/10.
Christian Benteke from Aston Villa to Borussia Dortmund.
Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke has enjoyed a great first season in English football, scoring 19 goals and providing 4 assists in the league to help his side fight relegation from the Premier League. The talented youngster’s form has not gone unnoticed, attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham, and also Dortmund, who will need to replace the goals of Bayern-bound Robert Lewandowski. Villa will struggle to hold on to such a talent, but would prefer not to lose him to a rival English club, which may give the Bundesliga giants an edge in landing their target. 7/10.
Zlatan Irahimovic from PSG to Juventus.
The enigmatic Swedish striker has just won Ligue 1 with PSG, adding yet another league title in another country to his fine collection. However, the team’s title celebrations were marred by Ibrahimovic getting into a heated argument with club director Leonardo, fueling speculation that he could return to old club Juventus this summer. The 31-year-old has spent most his career in Serie A and would welcome a return to a Juventus team that look like going places in the next couple of years. However, the Italian giants have not been known to splash out huge amounts of money in recent years, which could make this deal tricky, given Ibrahimovic’s high wages in Paris. 6/10.
Gareth Bale from Tottenham to Real Madrid.
One of the biggest stories of the last few months is that in-demand Spurs star Gareth Bale will make a big-money move to Real Madrid this summer. The Spanish giants are known for their ‘galactico’ signings and are prepared to offer as much as £65million for the talented Welsh winger. Spurs are keen to hold on to him, but may understandably feel they cannot turn down such a big offer. Real tend to get their way in the transfer market, and it will be harder for Bale to say no if there is no offer of Champions League football at White Hart Lane next season. 8/10.
Neymar from Santos to Barcelona.
One of the most sought-after young talents in the world looks to have agreed a deal to join Barcelona this summer. Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid were all keen on him, but despite rumours of a late effort from Real, he is keen to link up with the likes of Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta at the Nou Camp next season. The deal is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks. 9/10.
Isco from Malaga to Manchester City.
Isco has earned rave reviews for his performances in La Liga with Malaga this season, getting himself onto the radar of many top clubs. Chelsea were known to be keen on him, but with Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini looking the likely candidate to replace Roberto Mancini as manager at Manchester City next season, it seems he will bring his star player with him to the Etihad Stadium. The 21-year-old would prove an excellent addition to the squad and City will be glad to bring in a big name such as him to help them in their title quest next season. 8/10.
Javier Hernandez from Manchester United to Atletico Madrid.
With Atletico Madrid certain to lose star striker Radamel Falcao this summer, they have reportedly identified Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez as a decent replacement. Although the Mexican has struggled for games at United, his finishing ability is obvious and he will feel he is deserving of more first team opportunities. United could let him leave for £12million, and it looks a good piece of business by the La Liga outfit. 8/10.
Radamel Falcao from Atletico Madrid to Monaco.
In the last couple of days, Monaco have emerged as the surprise favourites to sign Atletico Madrid’s in-demand striker Radamel Falcao. The Colombian’s fine form this season has attracted interest from Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid, but he now looks likely to be tempted by the big money on offer at the newly-promoted French club. It is a blow for the others, but a massive boost for Monaco as they look to wrestle for the Ligue 1 title with fellow big-spenders PSG. 8/10.
Wayne Rooney from Manchester United to Chelsea.
In what would be a sensational move, all signs now point to unwanted Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney joining rivals Chelsea. Chelsea currently look like missing out on their other main targets, with Cavani going to City, Falcao going to Monaco and Lewandowski going to Bayern, meaning they could turn to the England striker to be their long-term Didier Drogba replacement. Bayern had been linked with the 27-year-old, but then denied the rumours, and there aren’t many other clubs that could afford his high wages. Although United would rather not sell to another English club, they are certainly not planning on keeping Rooney after some poor displays this season and his submitted transfer request. This would be something of a shock, but it seems ever more likely that it will happen. 7/10.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is the latest to be linked with an exit from the club this summer, as the 24-year-old apparently wants a new challenge.
Borussia Dortmund could beat Liverpool to the signing of highly-rated Porto striker Jackson Martinez, as they seek a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
West Brom do not hold out much hope of keeping on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku next season, and have targeted Anderlecht striker Dieumerci Mbokani as a replacement.
Tottenham and Fulham are eyeing up a move for young Watford striker Matej Vydra, who could be available if his side do not win promotion to the Premier League.
New Manchester United manager David Moyes will offer veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs a place on his coaching staff after he calls an end to his playing career.
A group of Everton players were left embarrassed after turning up at the wrong venue for Phil Neville’s leaving party, finding themselves at a Manchester United players’ celebration instead!
The Cameroon left-back had been a key first team player under previous boss Harry Redknapp, but has found games harder to come by under Andre Villas-Boas this season. Understood to be on the transfer list, the 29-year-old former Lens defender is being linked with moves back to France’s Ligue 1, possibly with big-spending Monaco. Despite his ability to score the occasional wonder goal, Spurs could probably benefit from his sale as it would give them an opportunity to improve the left-back position.
Out: Danny Rose
Another left-back who is likely to be shown the door by Tottenham this summer is Danny Rose. The youngster has impressed on loan at Sunderland this season, earning special praise from Black Cats manager Paolo Di Canio. The north east side hope to sign the 22-year-old permanently, and could do so as Spurs are probably not going to keep him. A few other Premier League clubs might show an interest in the talented England Under-21 international, and Spurs may regret letting Rose go in the long run, as likely as it seems now, with Villas-Boas eyeing up a few of his own targets in the transfer market.
Out: Emmanuel Adebayor
The former Arsenal striker has been a big disappointment for Tottenham this season, after the club fought hard to sign the Togo international from Manchester City on a permanent basis following a good loan spell last year. The 29-year-old has just five league goals this season and has to go down as a flop who will surely be shown the door at the end of the campaign. He is one of many big names being targeted by big-spending Ligue 2 side Monaco for their return to Ligue 1 next season. Despite his reputation as a strong target man, he simply hasn’t done enough to justify his place at a top Premier League club, after a poor few seasons at City as well since leaving Arsenal.
Out: David Bentley
Incredibly, Spurs once paid £15million for David Bentley, and will now struggle to offload the attacking midfielder. The 28-year-old has had numerous loan spells at Birmingham City, West Ham, Blackburn Rovers and even a short-lived spell in Russia with FC Rostov. Another player formerly of Arsenal that has somehow managed to fool Spurs into signing him, but who they will now be desperate to get rid of if anyone will take him. With his contract expiring at the end of next season, they may have to wait and keep hold of him a little longer, as it’s hard to see why anyone would want to spend significant money on this flop.
Out: Jermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe has spent most of his career with Tottenham, and there have been many ups and downs along the way. Despite a decent goals record for the club, he is perhaps a good example of a player who should have been improved on earlier for Spurs to step their game up to another level. The 30-year-old has always been a talented finisher, but his all-round game is not good enough to make him a crucial part of the Spurs team. Once highly rated as one of the best young talents in England, he has not really developed into the player everyone thought he would be when he was at West Ham. A return to his old team at Upton Park has emerged as a possibility, and it may be time for Spurs to call time on his White Hart Lane career and sign a player who can help them go from top four hopefuls to genuine title challengers.
In: Alvaro Pereira (Inter Milan)
Given that Spurs will probably let go of their two left-backs Assou-Ekotto and Rose this summer, their link to Alvaro Pereira makes sense. The Uruguayan, currently at Inter Milan, worked under Andre Villas-Boas during their time at Porto, and the Spurs boss therefore knows him well. The player himself insists he is happy to stay at Inter, but he may not have a say as the club will probably sell him if a good offer comes in, due to him not being seen as a key first team player at the San Siro.
In: Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Another player who could be a great long term solution to Tottenham’s left-back problem is exciting Southampton youngster Luke Shaw. The 17-year-old has had a tremendous season in the Premier League this season and is now considered hot property, with Chelsea and Arsenal considering offers for the player. Spurs have also been linked, and selling the likes of Rose and Assou-Ekotto could be a masterstroke if it raises funds for one of the best young English players in the country, who could be a star down their left hand side for many years to come, and follow in the footsteps of Gareth Bale, who also left the Saints for Spurs as a youngster, and became one of the best players in the world. Kyle Walker on the right and Shaw on the left has the potential to be a fantastic attacking full-back combination for both Spurs and England, and it would be wonderful to see.
In: Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla)
The Spanish striker has been a top forward in La Liga for a number of years now, and is said to be keen on a move to England. The 27-year-old nearly joined Everton in January, and reports suggest they could compete with Spurs for him this summer. Arsenal have also been linked with him, and Atletico Madrid apparently see him as a decent replacement for when Radamel Falcao surely leaves the club this summer. Still, Spurs would be wise to take advantage of Negredo’s desire to move to English football and do their best to land this talented finisher, who would surely be more reliable in front of goal than the current inconsistent pairing of Defoe and Adebayor.
In: Anderson (Manchester United)
The Brazilian midfielder has not lived up to his potential at Manchester United, and they are likely to move him on this summer. A move way be just what he needs as well, and Spurs would be wise to recognise his great potential and help him achieve it at White Hart Lane. With the likes of Scott Parker and Sandro having injury-plagued seasons, and Moussa Dembele and Gylfi Sigurdsson struggling for consistency, Anderson’s all-round box-to-box ability in midfield could be a great addition to Villas-Boas’ side. Still only 25 and possibly available for cheap, this looks like being a good piece of business if it happens.
In: Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid)
The news that Real Madrid have put the immensely talented Gonzalo Higuain up for sale is good news for Tottenham, who have been linked quite strongly with a move for the Argentine. The 25-year-old has an impressive tally of 120 goals in 262 appearances for Real, and is very unfortunate to find himself down the pecking order at the club. The truth is, as much as he’s rated at the Bernebeu, he is probably one of the players being transfer listed to help raise funds for a mega bid for Spurs’ Gareth Bale.
Of course they won’t want to lose their Welsh wing wizard, but they could soften the blow by landing themselves Higuain as part of a swap deal, as it’s not often strikers as good as that will come along so easily. The world class finisher would be a big step up from Defoe and Adebayor and would surely be a hit in the Premier League. Big clubs like Juventus, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City obviously think so, as they have all been chasing him as well, though Spurs may hold an advantage with the Bale situation. This would be a fantastic acquisition and give Villas-Boas’ side a massive boost in their bid for Champions League football and trophies next season.
A lot of excitement surrounded the signing of Alberto Aquilani when he joined Liverpool for £17million in 2009. Seen as the ideal replacement for Xabi Alonso, who had left for Real Madrid, the Italian playmaker was well over-hyped, considering he wasn’t even a regular at old club Roma. The midfield playmaker looked well out of his depth in English football, and it took them years to sell him, with two loan spells at Juventus and AC Milan before finally sealing a permanent move to Fiorentina. A bizarre waste of money by Rafael Benitez.
9. Joe Cole
He may have been a free transfer, but the former Chelsea star was a disaster for Liverpool. Already past his best when he moved to Anfield, injury problems meant he never really settled into the team, though he didn’t seem to suit their style of play anyway. He was sent off before half time on his debut, and that set the tone for a disappointing time with the club. The 31-year-old is now back at his first club West Ham.
8. Fernando Morientes
Often described as a ‘typical English centre forward’, the Spaniard never looked the part in the Premier League after joining Liverpool from Real Madrid. Despite his great years at the Bernebeu, he was shifted pretty quickly from Liverpool back to Spain with Valencia, after just 8 goals in two seasons at Anfield.
7. El Hadji Diouf
Signed for £10million by Gerard Houllier on the back of a promising World Cup with Senegal in 2002, El Hadji Diouf’s purple patch did not last long. Despite a good start, the forward scored just 6 goals in his first season with Liverpool, and none the following year. More than anything, he earned himself a reputation as a diver and a cheat, and has gone on to play for a number of clubs in England and Scotland, never looking particularly special again.
6. Salif Diao
Diouf’s Senegal team mate Salif Diao was also signed after the unfancied African nation surprised many at the 2002 World Cup. Even though he was relatively cheap at £5million, the midfielder was another flop in the Premier League, and it took the Reds years to finally get him off their books, with unsuccessful loan spells at Birmingham and Portsmouth before he finally moved down to the Championship with Stoke City.
5. Andriy Voronin
Another free transfer who still wasn’t worth it, Ukranian forward Andriy Voronin arrived in 2007 alongside Fernando Torres. After just 6 goals in his first season, he was sent out on loan to Bundesliga side Hertha BSC. He didn’t make much of an impression there either, and returned to Anfield for a dreadful 2009/10 season in which he failed to find the back of the net and was criticised for poor attitude. Incredibly, the club made a profit of £4million on him when he was sold to Dynamo Moscow in 2010.
4. Stewart Downing
The £20million signing from Aston Villa brought 0 goals and 0 assists in the Premier League for Liverpool in his first season. Although things have improved slightly this year under Brendan Rodgers, the ineffective winger will surely be moved on this summer after looking nowhere near the player he should have been for that kind of price. One of many big-money flops brought in during Kenny Dalglish’s brief and bad return as Liverpool manager.
3. Paul Konchesky
He may only have cost £4million, but Paul Konchesky was a bizarre signing for Liverpool from Fulham, and did Roy Hodgson no favours in his short spell at Anfield. The left-back looked well out of his depth at that level, and his spells at Nottingham Forest and Leicester City since then suggest he isn’t really even a Premier League footballer, never mind a Liverpool one.
2. Robbie Keane
One of the most bizarre transfer stories in recent years, Robbie Keane was signed for £19million after a brilliant few seasons with Tottenham. For some reason, the talented Irish forward looked lost in a Liverpool shirt, scoring only 5 goals, and lasted just half a season at the club before going straight back to Spurs in January for around £12million. He never recaptured his best form again at White Hart Lane and was sent out on loan to the likes of Celtic and West Ham before making a permanent move to the MLS with LA Galaxy.
1. Andy Carroll
The most expensive British player of all time. Liverpool signed Andy Carroll from Newcastle for a massive £35million and looked a bizarre signing at the time, given his inexperience in the top flight, though no one could have predicted quite how badly things would go for the tall Geordie at Anfield. 11 goals in two seasons would be pretty poor form for a £10million player, but for the club’s biggest signing it was really unacceptable. Now on loan at West Ham, he looks likely to leave the Reds for a smaller club this summer, if they can accept that they’re unlikely to make back anywhere near the kind of money they paid for him.
The latest exciting talent to be coming through Barcelona’s La Masia production line, Gerard Deufoleu has been a prolific goal scorer at youth level, excelling in Barca’s B team for the last three seasons, as well as for Spain at Under-16 through to Under-21 level, earning himself the accolade of UEFA Under-19 Golden Player in 2012. Still only 19, he has made six appearances for the senior Barcelona team as they ease in another potential hero at the Nou Camp.
49. Will Hughes (Derby County)
The 18-year-old midfielder is really starting to make a name for himself in the Championship with Derby County, establishing himself as a key part of the first team in the 2012/13 season, making 35 appearances. Described as a skillful midfield playmaker, he has been eyed by by big clubs such as Barcelona, and compared with legendary midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Also watched by Arsenal, the England Under-21 international has a big future in the game and will surely not be at Derby for much longer.
48. Joel Campbell (Arsenal)
Many at Arsenal are excited at the prospect of Costa Rica youngster Joel Campbell returning to the club once he is finally granted a work permit to play in England. The 20-year-old has found himself out on loan, impressing both in Ligue 1 with Lorient and in La Liga with Real Betis. The forward has a powerful left foot, and has already made waves on the international scene, scoring 7 goals in 22 appearances for the senior Costa Rica international side.
47. Daniel Carvajal (Bayer Leverkusen)
The young right-back was initially a product of Real Madrid’s youth system, before being snapped up by Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen at the start of the season. At £4million he looks a real bargain after proving a revelation for the German side in his first year there. Strong in the tackle, and getting forward to good effect with 1 goal and 7 assists, he is undoubtedly one to look out for in the next few years. Real Madrid know it too, and have made sure to put a buy-back clause in the 21-year-old’s contract in case they decide to bring him back to the Bernebeu.
46. Tom Ince (Blackpool)
Another exciting young talent developing in the second tier of English football, the former Liverpool youngster may yet earn himself a return to Anfield on the back of a great season in the Championship with Blackpool. The 21-year-old has 18 goals this season from the wings, and gets fans of their seats with his pace and trickery. Tottenham are also looking at the winger, who is the son of Blackpool manager and former England captain Paul Ince.
45. Adem Ljajic(Fiorentina)
The young Serbian has earned rave reviews in Serie A this season, with 8 goals and 8 assists. The 21-year-old attacker can play in a variety of forward positions, usually either wide on the left or behind the striker. He is an all-round technical talent with an eye for a pass and long range shot. However, he is not without controversy, as he found himself in trouble with the Serbia national team after choosing not to sing along to the country’s national anthem.
44. Mattia De Sciglio(AC Milan)
The 20-year-old AC Milan defender has enjoyed his breakthrough season this year, and is already a full international for the Italian national team. The right-back has been described by his coaches as “a fast runner, with good technique” and “a versatile footballer”, and looks set to be a mainstay in the Milan back line for many years to come.
43. Jack Butland (Stoke City)
The young England goalkeeper really caught the eye at last summer’s Olympic Games for Team GB, and was snapped up by Premier League side Stoke City in the January transfer window. Immediately loaned back to Birmingham City, Butland will be looking to make a name for himself in the top flight next season, and could already challenge Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart for the number one spot in the England team.
42. Oliver Torres (Atletico Madrid)
The latest in the line of talented midfield playmakers coming through in Spain, the 18-year-old Atletico Madrid youngster is already being eyed up by Manchester City and talked up as the next big thing – and he’s not even a regular in the Atletico team yet. Definitely one to look out for in the next few years.
41. Lucas Digne (Lille)
The 19-year-old left-back has been a Lille regular for the last two seasons now, and could leave the club this summer for around £8million after catching the attention of Liverpool. The Frenchman is strong in the air and has shown great maturity in defence considering his age.
40. Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool)
The 21-year-old midfielder may divide critics at Anfield, but it’s easy to forget how far he’s come for a player his age. With good technique and an eye for goal, the former Charlton man looks like a real prospect for the Reds over the next few years. He has five goals for Brendan Rodgers’ side this season despite limited appearances, and is already a full England international. He could arguably benefit from having a stronger team around him, and should develop further if Liverpool can become a Premier League force again.
39. Luke Shaw (Southampton)
The Southampton youngster has had a brilliant breakthrough season for the Saints, becoming their first choice left-back in the Premier League at only 17 years of age, and showing a great deal of potential. Coming from a youth system that produced the likes of Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale, Shaw looks to have all the ingredients to become another Premier League star, and has attracted a lot of interest already from big clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal. It would certainly be exciting to see the skillful full-back at a bigger club soon.
38. Serge Gnabry (Arsenal)
Little has been seen yet of the 17-year-old German winger, but he has caused a lot of excitement at youth level for the club since signing from Stuttgart in 2011. In limited first team appearances he looks like a confident player who likes to run at defenders and take shots, and he has shown this form in a stand-out campaign in both the Next Gen series and FA Youth Cup. With Arsenal’s fondness for nurturing young talent, he looks to be in the right place for his development and should appear more for the Gunners in the next few years.
37. Marquinhos(Roma)
One of the best defenders in Serie A this season, despite being in only his first season at Roma since joining from Brazilian side Corinthians. The 18-year-old looks a solid, tall and strong centre-back and has kept his experienced team-mate Nicolas Burdisso on the bench at the Stadio Olimpico for almost the whole season.
36. Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea)
Another young talent for England to be excited about, the 18-year-old Chelsea man has caught the eye this season on loan at Championship side Watford, aiding their push for promotion to the Premier League. They hope to keep him permanently, but may face competition from big names such as Arsenal for his signature. Chelsea are also keen to tie him down to a new deal after many clubs have shown an interest in him. A strong and physical player, he can play in both defence and a defensive midfield role and is a regular for the England Under-21 side.
35. Florian Thauvin (Lille)
The Lille youngster has put himself on the radar of Premier League clubs Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle with his displays on loan at Bastia this season. The 20-year-old has scored 10 goals from midfield in Ligue 1 this year and Lille will struggle to hold on to the France Under-20 international.
34. Son Heung-Min (Hamburg)
The 20-year-old forward has alerted Arsenal and Tottenham with his performances for Hamburg this season. The versatile attacker can play in a number of positions upfront, and is a hard-worker tracking back as well, earning him a reputation as one of the best young players in the Bundesliga – certainly no mean feat. He already has 13 caps for the South Korea national team.
33. Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)
This product of the Barcelona youth system was snapped up by Arsenal two years ago, and could follow in the steps of Cesc Fabregas in making a name for himself in the Premier League. The Spanish winger is another stand-out performer in the club’s youth team with his pace and skill, and will surely feature in Arsene Wenger’s Capital One Cup squads soon enough.
32. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Raheem Sterling has been thrust into the first team by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, and has shown enough quality to be a star player for the Reds when he matures. Still raw and in need of experience, the 18-year-old possesses great natural ability and has already been called up to the senior England team.
31. David Alaba (Bayern Munich)
The 20-year-old left-back has not looked at all out of place in Bayern Munich’s star-studded all-conquering team this season, looking solid defensively and useful going forward. The youngster has had a great start to his career, and has already been a full Austrian international for the last four years.
30. Erik Lamela (Roma)
It’s taken the young Argentine a bit of time to settle at Roma, but the 21-year-old has been one of the team’s best performers in Serie A this season, scoring 15 goals from an attacking midfield position. Manchester City and Chelsea are suitably impressed, and have been linked with a summer move for the former River Plate youngster.
29. Phil Jones (Manchester United)
Phil Jones’ talent was already clear when he broke into the Blackburn Rovers team as a teenager, and it’s becoming ever more clear why Sir Alex Ferguson paid a massive £16.5million for him when he was just 19. The versatile defender has not quite found his best position yet, but is tipped to become a Manchester United great.
28. Koke (Atletico Madrid)
Another midfield playmaker coming through at Atletico Madrid, the 21-year-old has been one of the best young players in La Liga this season, providing an impressive 3 goals and 8 assists for Diego Simeone’s side. His displays have already caught the attention of Arsenal and Chelsea.
27. Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich)
After making a name for himself at Swiss side FC Basel, the 21-year-old earned himself a big move to Bayern Munich. Although not always a regular in the team this season, he has shown glimpses of his great talent, and should establish himself as a world star in the next few years, even though there is great competition ahead of him at the Allianz Arena.
26. M’Baye Niang (AC Milan)
The 18-year-old forward is regarded as one of the best French talents at the moment, though he has struggled at times since his big move to AC Milan. Definitely one to watch though, as he has been compared with eccentric talent Mario Balotelli.
25. Adam Maher (AZ Alkmaar)
This exciting young Dutchman is reportedly being lined up by Manchester City next season after his impressive displays for AZ Alkmaar. Still only 19, he has four caps for the full Netherlands national team and has been a first team regular for the club since he was just 17.
24. Yaya Sanogo (Auxerre)
Although only playing in the second tier in France with Auxerre, Yaya Sanogo is wanted by Premier League duo Arsenal and Tottenham, showing himself to be an effective target man, putting his height and aerial ability to good use for the French side.
23. Paul Pogba (Juventus)
Inexplicably let go by Manchester United, Paul Pogba has proven a great signing for Serie A champions Juventus. The 20-year-old looks like the next Yaya Toure, breaking forward from midfield with skill and strength, and showing a great eye for the odd long range strike. Definitely one that United will live to regret letting leave.
22. Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea)
An exceptionally gifted young goalkeeper, the 20-year-old Belgian may compete with Chelsea stalwart Petr Cech at Stamford Bridge next season, after two impressive seasons on loan in La Liga with Atletico Madrid, who would ideally like to keep him permanently.
21. Pedro Mba Obiang(Sampdoria)
This young Spaniard came through the ranks at Atletico Madrid and is now making a name for himself in Serie A with Sampdoria. 1 goal and 5 assists from the middle of the park this season have shown him to be a good all-rounder as he looks to become a regular with the Spain Under-21 side.
20. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)
The 19-year-old winger arrived with a big reputation from Southampton, and looked the part in his first season with Arsenal. Appearances have been harder to come by for him this year, but he remains a regular in the senior England side and his talent when running with the ball is obvious. A loan spell could do the youngster some good, but he’s bound to be a Premier League star in good time.
19. Coutinho (Liverpool)
The talented Brazilian first caught the eye as a teenager at Inter Milan, and looks a good signing by Liverpool after arriving in January. The 20-year-old has 2 goals and 7 assists in his first 12 appearances, showing that there’ll be plenty more to come from him next season.
18. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
One of the best young defenders in the world, Raphael Varane has shone in his breakthrough season at Real Madrid. The tall and commanding 20-year-old plays with a maturity beyond his years, and has given the fans at the Bernebeu plenty to be excited about with some great displays against Barcelona, showing himself able to stand up against the best attackers in the world.
17. Marco Verratti (PSG)
Dubbed the ‘next Andrea Pirlo’, Marco Verratti earned himself a big money move from Serie B side Pescara to PSG this season, and doesn’t look out of place among the star names of the big-spending French side.
16. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
Signed for big money from Anderlecht when he was just 18, Romelu Lukaku has not been given enough of a chance to shine at Chelsea. Compared to Blues legend Didier Drogba, the young Belgian has shown his talent on loan at West Brom this season, scoring 14 goals and looking a real handful for Premier League defenders. The strong and pacey striker has surely shown enough to get into the first team at Stamford Bridge next year?
15. Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United)
Manchester United were determined to beat Arsenal to the signing of 20-year-old Wilfried Zaha after his impressive displays in the Championship with Crystal Palace. The forward will join up with the Red Devils next season, and is currently being loaned back to Palace in a bid to help their push for promotion. Could be the latest young talent to make a name for himself at Old Trafford.
14. Cristian Tello (Barcelona)
Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal are all keen on signing this talented Barca youngster, who would be a regular if not for some fierce competition ahead of him at the Nou Camp. The 21-year-old has a big future in the game, showing great dribbling and finishing skills from wide positions.
13. James Rodriguez (Porto)
This Colombian talent has been compared with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo for his ability as a goalscoring winger. Currently at Porto, he has been watched by Manchester United and other top clubs, and looks destined to be a world class performer in the next few years.
12. Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea)
The young Belgian is unlucky not to be valued by Chelsea, after a great season on loan at Werder Bremen. Despite his 8 goals and 9 assists, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder will probably be sold by the Blues this summer, with Borussia Dortmund keen on signing him to replace Mario Goetze – which shows how highly they rate him.
11. Iker Muniain(Athletic Bilbao)
Dubbed ‘the Spanish Messi’, Iker Muniain is not short of admirers for his silky displays for La Liga side Athletic Bilbao. The 20-year-old has already been called up for the Spanish national team and been watched by Arsenal and Manchester City. At 5 foot 7, he is a tricky customer, usually playing on the wing for Bilbao.
10. Matija Nastastic (Manchester City)
The Serbian defender has had a brilliant first season at the Etihad Stadium after signing from Fiorentina. At only 20 years of age he has been one of the team’s most consistent performers, keeping the experienced Joleon Lescott out of the team all year. Well worth the £14million City paid for him last summer.
9. Lucas Moura (PSG)
The fact that PSG held off competition from Manchester United to sign Lucas Moura for £38million when he was just 19 says all you need to know about this Brazilian talent. The attacking midfielder is one of the best youngsters in the game and is sure to pay back his big transfer fee for the French side once he settles.
8. Oscar (Chelsea)
Chelsea pulled off the signing of a great young player when they brought in Oscar for nearly £20million this summer. Compared with former AC Milan star Kaka, the 21-year-old settled quickly at Stamford Bridge, scoring some stunning goals against Juventus in the Champions League, and linking up with Juan Mata and Eden Hazard in a skillful attacking trio for the Blues.
7. Christian Eriksen (Ajax)
The Danish youngster has been rumoured to be leaving Ajax for the last few years, after quickly showing himself to be a world class young talent. He is still with the Amsterdam club, but almost every big club in Europe will be tracking him again this summer after another great season in which he has contributed 13 goals and 23 assists from midfield.
6. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Tipped by many to be a future England captain, Jack Wilshere plays with both skill and maturity which is very rare for his age. The 21-year-old has been unlucky with injuries so far in his career, but has had a good comeback season for the Gunners this year. Probably the best talent to come through Arsenal’s youth system since Ashley Cole.
5. Julian Draxler (Schalke)
Schalke will be delighted to have recently secured Julian Draxler to a long-term contract, with the 19-year-old showing himself to be another excellent youngster coming through in Germany at the moment. The attacking midfielder has already worked his way into the German national side and will surely get a move to a bigger club in the near future.
4. Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan)
Undoubtedly one of the best young talents in world football, the 20-year-old Milan winger is the joint-third highest goal scorer in Serie A this season, showing tremendous ability with a range of great strikes for the club. Manchester City are understood to have made him a target this summer, and they will have to pay big money for a player who looks like being on Messi and Ronaldo’s level in a few years’ time.
3. Mario Goetze (Borussia Dortmund)
Bayern Munich have landed themselves one of the signings of the summer after securing the transfer of Mario Goetze from rivals Borussia Dortmund. The skillful playmaker has been a crucial part of Dortmund’s success in the last few years and is still only 20. He will be one to fear as he grows and develops in this current Bayern side.
2. Isco (Malaga)
Manchester City are hoping to sign La Liga’s best young talent this summer, after 21-year-old Isco enjoyed yet another great year with Malaga. The midfielder has all the components to be a great player, with an eye for a pass and a good goal-scoring touch. Chelsea and PSG are also interested in the exciting Spaniard.
1. Neymar (Santos)
Considered for many years now as the best young player in the world, Neymar looks like finally moving to showcase his skills in Europe with a move to Barcelona rumoured to be wrapped up. The Catalans have spent big money on the Brazilian, who will form a mouth-watering partnership with Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp next season. The 21-year-old has the world at his feet, and looks to have picked the right club for expressing himself and his immense skill.
The Metro are claiming that Arsenal could receive a big boost in that they could land Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic for £10million less than the Serie A club’s original asking price.
The Montenegro forward has been linked with the Gunners for much of the season, and could be the Gunners’ first major signing of the summer, joining for as little as £15million, as opposed to the £25million originally mooted.
Manchester City and Juventus have also been linked with the 23-year-old, but he has previously spoken of his honour at being linked with Arsenal.
With 12 goals in Serie A this season, Jovetic would add some extra quality to Arsenal’s attack, which has struggled at times since the departure of Robin van Persie last summer.
Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski were signed by Arsene Wenger to plug the gap, but have been inconsistent in their first seasons in English football, and the Gunners could do with more depth in that area.
The North London club have also been linked with Barcelona striker David Villa, but he now looks set to join rivals Tottenham for around £12million.
New Manchester United manager David Moyes will make a double swoop on old club Everton for key duo Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines in a £39million deal.
Spurs could make another raid on Barcelona, with Andre Villas-Boas’ team being the latest Premier League side to be linked with veteran forward David Villa.
Out-of-favour Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko says he has not yet made a decision on his future. The Bosnian has been linked with Napoli and Juventus.
Juventus lead the race for Real Madrid striker. Check in to Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur Italian giants Juventus are favourites to poach Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid under the noses of Premier League duo Arsenal and Tottenham, according to the Da…
The Daily Express claims that Arsenal will face competition from Juventus and Roma for Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic.
The Montenegro forward is in high demand after some impressive displays in Serie A, and has also previously been linked with Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Manchester City.
However, Italian champions Juventus have stepped up their interest in adding to their strike force next season as they look to win a third consecutive title and progress further in the Champions League.
Antonio Conte’s side may lose another Montenegro forward Mirko Vucinic to Manchester United and will need a replacement. They have also been linked with Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko.
Arsenal will hope to land their man as they want extra options upfront, having lost Robin van Persie last summer. Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski were brought in as replacements but have had mixed campaigns, and the Gunners lack depth in that position.
The Gunners were rumoured to have opened talks with Fiorentina over a £21million move for Jovetic, but Juventus are said to be willing to offer more, and Arsene Wenger will be keen as ever not to over-spend in the transfer market.
Roma are also keen on Jovetic as they face the possibility of losing striker Pablo Osvaldo to Tottenham.
Bayer Leverkusen’s general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser claims that star player Andre Schurrle has already agreed a move to join Chelsea for next season.
Promising Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama is a target for Premier league pair Liverpool and Southampton. The 21-year-old has previously attracted interest from Arsenal and Manchester United.
Liverpool’s Luis Suarez has been targeted by Juventus as part of a triple swoop also involving Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain and Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez.
Arsenal’s French forward Olivier Giroud says there is more to come from him after saying he has made a better start to life in English football than Premier League legends Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba.
Roberto Mancini has controversially said that he will stick with his cup goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon ahead of Joe Hart in his side’s crucial FA Cup final against Wigan.
Jose Mourinho will make a surprise addition to his coaching staff if he returns to Chelsea, with the Portuguese coach lining up an approach for former Blackburn manager Steve Kean, who had a disastrous time in charge at Ewood Park.
Juventus to compete with Chelsea and Manchester City for Higuain. Check in to Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur Serie A giants Juventus have entered the race for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, according to talkSPORT. Chelsea have also stepped up th…
Often thought of as a slightly wasted talent, the French winger has made a great contribution to Bayern Munich’s all-conquering team this season. With 8 goals and 10 assists, his skill and trickery when running with the ball have made him an important weapon in the Bayern attack as they won the Bundesliga title in record time and thrashed Barcelona en route to the Champions League final.
49. Diego (Wolsburg)
The Brazilian midfielder is statistically one of the best playmakers in Europe this season, and has 9 goals in the Bundesliga to boot. Despite Diego’s great form, his club Wolsburg have struggled in the league, which could mean the 28-year-old former Juventus man makes a return to a top club in the near future.
48. Arturo Vidal (Juventus)
The Chilean midfielder has impressed again for the Italian giants as they look like retaining their Serie A title. With 9 goals, 7 assists and a pass accuracy of 87.4%, Vidal is an all-round box-to-box midfielder and an important cog in the Juventus machine. His form has not gone unnoticed and Manchester United are looking into signing the player.
47. Stefan Kießling (Bayer Leverkusen)
One of many talented players coming from Germany at the moment, Kießling has shone this season and finds himself among Europe’s top scorers, with 23 goals. More than just a target man, the 6″3 striker has been essential to Bayer Leverkusen’s impressive season in the Bundesliga.
46. Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
One of the finest playmakers in the game, Andrea Pirlo continues to sparkle despite his age. After a title win with Juventus last season and an eye-catching performance at Euro 2012 with Italy, the former AC Milan man has had another fine season and looks to be a champion once again in Serie A.
45. Michu (Swansea City)
The little-known Spaniard was signed by Swansea City from Rayo Vallecano for just £2million and has been a revelation in his first season in the Premier League. 17 goals in the league have helped the Swans to the top half of the table and a few more in the Capital One Cup have earned his side some surprise silverware. Will surely be a target for bigger clubs now after this breakthrough campaign.
44. Rafael Da Silva (Manchester United)
Brazilian right-back Rafael has come into his own for Manchester United this season, forming an important part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s title-winning team. As well as being solid defensively, the 22-year-old has an eye for an assist and the occasional spectacular goal, with tremendous and important strikes against Liverpool and QPR.
43. Leighton Baines (Everton)
The Everton man has shown himself to be a real talent with his performances this season. With his excellent left foot, Baines has at many points during the season been Europe’s most accurate crosser and creator of most scoring chances for his team-mates. A regular England spot and transfer to a bigger club surely beckons if his form continues like this.
42. Mario Goetze (Borussia Dortmund)
The talented German playmaker may not be so popular with his own fans now after confirming he will be leaving Borussia Dortmund for rivals Bayern Munich at the end of the season, but there’s no doubting his ability and contribution to their achievements this season, with an incredible run to the Champions League final at Wembley.
41. Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
The Napoli star often goes unnoticed due to the presence of Edinson Cavani at the club, but Hamsik is a crucial part of the team and one of the best midfielders in Europe at the moment. Joint top with Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta on assists (14) this season, the Slovakian playmaker continues to develop into a fine player.
40. Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
Santi Cazorla has had an excellent debut season in English football with Arsenal since joining from Malaga. The Spaniard has reached double figures in both goals and assists and many other top clubs may be scratching their heads as to how they missed out on the 28-year-old.
39. Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen)
The exciting winger has impressed for Bayer Leverkusen this season and attracted the interests of Chelsea. Still only 22, he has an exciting future and could move for big money sooner rather than later.
38. Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
After signing from Borussia Mönchengladbach, Marco Reus has done brilliantly to replace the departing Shinji Kagawa at Borussia Dortmund. The exciting forward is one of many young talents coming through in Germany at the moment and may not be at Dortmund for long if the likes of Manchester City have their way.
37. Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
Manchester City may not have had their best season in attempting to retain the Premier League title, but Yaya Toure remains a Premier League star, driving forward from midfield with both power and skill. With an eye for an important goal as well, the Ivorian is certainly a player who any club would want in their team.
36. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
It’s hard to believe Thomas Muller is still only 23, as his maturity and professionalism is a vital part of Bayern Munich’s immense success this season. After scoring in the Champions League semi-final thrashing of Barcelona, Muller will be hoping for a richly-deserved winner’s medal.
35. Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
After arriving with much hype to Chelsea from Lille this summer, the young Belgian hasn’t disappointed. 9 goals and 9 assists in the Premier League earned him a nomination for PFA Player of the Year.
34. Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)
Like Michu, Christian Benteke arrived pretty much unnoticed from Genk in the summer, but has gone on to be a hit with Aston Villa. His goals and assists should be enough to keep his side in the Premier League almost single-handedly. Paul Lambert will now be fighting off the bids for his star player in the summer.
33. Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan)
Still only 20, El Shaarawy is one of the most exciting young talents in the world and currently the third highest scorer in Serie A with 18 goals for AC Milan, many of them of exceptional quality.
32. Thiago Silva (PSG)
The former Milan defender moved for big money to PSG, but hasn’t disappointed, establishing himself as one of the most solid and reliable centre-backs in the world.
31. Francesco Totti (Roma)
Like Pirlo, a classy Italian who just seems to get better with age. The 36-year-old has been in fantastic form for Roma this season, becoming Serie A’s second highest goalscorer of all time with 226 career goals.
30. Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham)
The classy defender has really shone in his first season in England since arriving at Tottenham from Ajax. Showing that total football is alive and well in Amsterdam, the Belgian combines great defensive awareness with skill and composure in attack too, contributing six goals from the back.
29. Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
Another Premier League star from Belgium, Fellaini has really impressed for Everton this year with 12 goals from midfield, helping David Moyes’ side to a fight for a Champions League place.
28. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
One of the most talented young defenders in the game made his breakthrough for Spanish giants Real Madrid this season. Raphael Varane looks a star in the making after some imposing displays against rivals Barcelona.
27. Etienne Capoue (Toulouse)
The Toulouse midfielder is on the radar of many top clubs after a great season in Ligue 1. A tough defensive midfielder, he looks to have a bright future in the game.
26. Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan)
The former Fiorentina man has not disappointed since his big move to Milan, showing himself to be another Andrea Pirlo in the making.
25. Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
His best season yet for Arsenal, Theo Walcott has weighed in with 20 goals and 14 assists in all competitions, helping ease the pain of Robin van Persie’s departure.
24. Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich)
After an impressive Euro 2012, the Croatian striker has maintained his fine form at the head of Bayern Munich’s impressive attack, with 19 goals.
23. Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona)
Despite a slightly disappointing year at Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas has 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions for the Catalans, who for a while were running away with La Liga before a late-season slump. The former Arsenal man should still win the first league title of his career.
22. Angelo Ogbonna (Torino)
The young Italian defender has been immense for Serie A side Torino this year, catching the eye of several top clubs such as AC Milan, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
21. Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid)
The Real Madrid playmaker is one of the most polished attacking midfielders in the game, and despite a slightly disappointing year at Real, the German has continued to shine with his individual displays.
20. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
Leading Europe’s assist charts with 14, Iniesta remains one of the best playmakers in the game. Despite some poor recent form from the whole Barcelona team, the Spaniard was helping his team-mates thrash all before them earlier in the season.
19. Thibault Courtois (Atletico Madrid)
Chelsea will have a selection headache next season when Thibault Courtois returns from his loan spell at Atletico Madrid. The Belgian shot-stopper looks an excellent prospect and could even force Petr Cech out of the team.
18. Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
A surprise for some as a nominee for PFA Player of the Year, but Michael Carrick has had one of his best seasons and played an important part in Manchester United’s title triumph.
17. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Liverpool may not be what they used to be, but inspirational captain Steven Gerrard shows no signs of slowing down. With 9 goals and 9 assists this term, the 32-year-old is still one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
16. Hernanes (Lazio)
The Brazilian midfielder has lit up Serie A this season with some fantastic displays and stunning long range strikes. A star in the making, Hernanes has emerged as a target for Manchester City.
15. David De Gea (Manchester United)
After an uncertain first season with Manchester United, David De Gea is finally living up to his potential, and has shown himself to be a top goalkeeper with his displays this season.
14. Burak Yilmaz (Galatasaray)
A target for Arsenal and Manchester United, exciting Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz has been in excellent goalscoring form for Galatasaray this season, with 28 goals.
13. Julian Draxler (Schalke)
This exciting 19-year-old is surely set for a big move this summer after some great performances for Schalke this season. The youngster has struck 12 times for the Bundesliga side.
12. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)
The third-highest scorer in Europe, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has shone at yet another club after joining PSG from AC Milan. His displays should earn himself yet another league title in yet another country in his illustrious career.
11. Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)
The Montenegro forward has caught the eye for Fiorentina this season, being among the top scorers in Serie A and helping his side challenge for a Champions League place. Wanted by both Arsenal and Manchester City.
10. Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Until his controversial biting incident and subsequent ten-match ban, Luis Suarez was being talked about as one of the best players in the Premier League. His talent is obvious and he’ll be a player to fear if he sorts out his attitude.
9. Juan Mata (Chelsea)
An exceptionally skillful player, Juan Mata has really staked his claim for a place in Spain’s star-studded national side with his performances for Chelsea this season.
8. Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund)
The Polish striker is the top scorer in the Bundesliga this season after another great year with Borussia Dortmund. His recent individual excellence was highlighted with four goals in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
7. Isco (Malaga)
One of the most sought-after young talents in the world, 21-year-old Isco has earned rave reviews at Malaga this season, and is surely set for a big money move, with PSG, Manchester City and Chelsea all fighting for his signature.
6. Edinson Cavani (Napoli)
One of several who could quite rightly claim to be the best striker in the world, Edinson Cavani continues to get better and Napoli won’t be able to keep hold of the Uruguayan goal machine for much longer.
5. Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
Voted both PFA and Writers’ Player of the Year in the Premier League this season, the Welsh wing wizard could become one of the most expensive players of all time this summer, with Real Madrid willing to pay £65million for the Spurs star.
4. Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
After an excellent season with Arsenal, Robin van Persie made a shock move to Manchester United and has not disappointed. The lethal Dutchman has been excellent and helped fire his new team to the title.
3. Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid)
Falcao has continued to get better and better and is regarded by some as the most deadly finisher in world football. Atletico Madrid will struggle to keep the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid from signing their star player.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Although Real Madrid have not had their best year, Ronaldo’s world class ability is still there for all to see, with an amazing 53 goals in 52 games this season.
1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Although this list is in no particular order for the most part, Lionel Messi is a deserved first place. Injuries have disrupted his season, but the Argentinian remains the best in the world and maybe the best of all time, with an incredible record of 58 goals in 48 games this season. Also joint second on assists this season with 12. An all-round amazing talent.
Real Madrid have confirmed that Argentinian hot shot Gonzalo Higuain does not feature in their plans and will be sold this summer. Popular in England, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been linked with him already, and the Premier League seems a realistic destination for the 25-year-old.
9. Marco Reus
The talented German has only been at Borussia Dortmund for one season, but with a number of players set to leave the Bundesliga outfit this summer, Reus will surely be on the radar of many top clubs. Manchester City are supposedly making him a prime target as they look to regain the Premier League title next season, and the 23-year-old certainly has the quality to improve their fortunes.
8. Andre Schurrle
Chelsea are currently leading the race for the talented Bayer Leverkusen attacker. The Blues are in need of extra quality in attack if they hope to sustain a serious title challenge next year, and Schurrle’s ability to get goals from out wide or upfront would give them something a little different from £50million flop Fernando Torres.
7. David Villa
The 32-year-old Spain striker is unwanted by Barcelona and could be set for a move to England. Despite his age and recent fitness worries, the instinct for goals is still there and he would be a useful signing for Liverpool and Arsenal, both of whom have been linked with the former Valencia man in recent months.
6. Isco
Manchester City and Chelsea will compete with big-spending PSG in a bid to lure the supremely talented attacking midfielder Isco to the Premier League. Malaga’s financial troubles mean they have had to sell key players over the last year, with Santi Cazorla and Nacho Monreal both joining Arsenal. Isco would surely light up the English top flight with his skills and goal-getting ability.
5. Claudio Marchisio
Manchester United are being linked with the Italian, who they see as a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes. With the veteran United man likely to retire at the end of the season, Marchisio would be an excellent choice to replace his goals and assists from the middle of the park. Sir Alex Ferguson has also been sniffing around his Juve team-mates Arturo Vidal and Mirko Vucinic.
4. Robert Lewandowski
Although the Polish striker is said to favour a move to Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester United still hold out some hope of luring him to England. The 24-year-old is the top scorer in the Bundesliga this season and would be an excellent addition to either side, whether he’s partnering Robin van Persie at Old Trafford or replacing Fernando Torres at Stamford Bridge.
3. Edinson Cavani
The Napoli striker has emerged as one of the most sought-after talents in world football over the last couple of years, and is surely set to leave the Serie A outfit at the end of this season. Wanted by Chelsea and Manchester City, it is understood that City’s option of Edin Dzeko moving the other way could tempt Napoli into letting the Uruguayan move to the Etihad. If he joins, he has the talent to have a big say in next season’s title race.
2. Radamel Falcao
Falcao has been subject to much transfer speculation since he started the season in such blistering form. His four goals against Chelsea in the European Super Cup alerted them to his talents, and they will go head to head with Manchester United and Manchester City for his signature. Real Madrid are also keen on him, but he wouldn’t be short of suitors in England.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
In what would perhaps be the story of the summer, Real Madrid super star Cristiano Ronaldo could be set for a sensational return to his old club Manchester United. After lighting up the Bernebeu since his record-breaking £80million move a few years ago, the Portuguese winger has grown unsettled with life in Spain, and remains loyal to United. He would command a heavy transfer fee of around £65million, as well as a couple of players in return, but it would be an excellent signing of the Red Devils can pull it off. Sir Alex Ferguson has a habit of getting his way, so expect more from this story soon.
A look at ten players that could be snapped up by English clubs on their way out of the Nou Camp. Check in to FC Barcelona vs Real Betis 10. Victor Valdes The Spanish shot-stopper announced earlier in the season that he would not be extending his …
Serie A champions elect Juventus are hoping to stump Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Real Madrid full back Fabio Coentrao, according to The Express.
The 25-year-old has been on Spurs’ radar for some time with boss Andre Villas-Boas an admirer from the pair’s time in Portugal when they were at Benfica and Porto respectively.
However, reports coming out of Italy suggest that Juventus are ready to follow through on their interest in order to get the jump on their rivals from North London. Spurs have been in the market for a new left back following the news of Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s impending departure but have yet to firm up any interest as they are also interested in Lyon’s Samuel Umtiti.
Plus any Spurs deal for the Portuguese international could be hit by Real’s insistence that he be used as a makeweight in the deal that sees Gareth Bale head to the Spanish Capital.
Juventus are also looking at new options at left back as Kwado Asamoah hasn’t fit in as well as they were hoping and the reported fee of £21 million for Coentrao is thought be suit the Italian club more than it is Spurs unless they can secure Champions League football next term.
Coetrao joined Real from Benfica in 2011 and has so far made 27 appearances for the Spaniards, scoring just once.
A look at the top ten players who Spurs could sign to replace Gareth Bale if he leaves the club. Check in to Stoke City vs Tottenham Hotspur 10. Alexis Sanchez The Barcelona wide-man has had a tough time since his greatly anticipated move from Udi…
A look at ten flops that Manchester City will look to clear out in this summer’s transfer window.
10. Maicon
The Brazilian right-back was undoubtedly a great player a few years ago, but a few eyebrows were raised when City signed him after his best years were seemingly behind him. These concerns proved fair after an unimpressive campaign from the former Inter Milan man, who has hardly featured for Roberto Mancini’s side. There’s little reason to see why City wouldn’t allow him to leave in the summer transfer window.
9. Scott Sinclair
The former Chelsea youngster joined after a highly impressive season with Swansea City, but has made just eleven appearances in the Premier League for City. Although it would be fair to say he hasn’t been given much of a chance by Mancini, Sinclair never really looked like the kind of signing City needed to be making, given that the arguably more talented Adam Johnson was sold because he couldn’t break into the team. Needs a move this summer to re-start his career and one would imagine City won’t stand in his way.
8. Aleksandar Kolarov
The Serbian has enjoyed a few glory moments in his time in Manchester, but the occasional free-kick or long-range belter isn’t enough to cover up his defensive deficiencies. He is now behind Gael Clichy in the pecking order and being linked with a return to Serie A with Juventus. Impressive during his time at Lazio, the slower pace of the Italian game might be more suited to his playing style. Simply not Premier League standard, nor a player to help the club push on in Europe.
7. Micah Richards
After a very strong campaign in 2011/12, Richards has perhaps been unfortunate with injury this time round, but has also failed to force his way past the superior Pablo Zabaleta at right-back. Occasionally played in the centre of defence, Richards has not really shown enough adaptability to prove a useful member of Mancini’s squad. Still only 24, he could prove a useful signing for Arsenal and Liverpool, who have both been linked, but his days at City are surely over.
6. Gareth Barry
The aging Gareth Barry will surely be one of the first to go this summer. The 32-year-old looks past his best, which was arguably never that good in the first place. Despite suggestions that Mancini will keep the experienced England international around if he takes a pay cut, City simply have to do better if they want to win the league again and progress in the Champions League.
5. Javi Garcia
Javi Garcia looked a good signing from Benfica, but hasn’t lived up to his reputation in England. Often a little sluggish and off the pace, Garcia doesn’t offer enough bite in midfield, nor enough creativity to bring the team forward. The Spaniard must be one of the players in Mancini’s mind when he complains about last summer’s transfer activity, as he was the club’s second choice to fellow countryman Javi Martinez, who went to Bayern Munich instead. A good example of how looking good in the Portuguese league doesn’t necessarily mean a Premier League club should pay big money for you.
4. James Milner
Milner is a reliable, hard-working grafter, but that’s not really enough at this level. Signed on the back of a good season with Aston Villa, it would appear that is probably his level. Although popular with the fans, he has not really proven popular with Mancini and has spent most of his time at City on the bench. A number of other Premier League clubs might show an interest, but the reality is that they probably wouldn’t if he wasn’t English.
3. Kolo Toure
It’s easy to forget that the former Arsenal defender is still at City, as he’s hardly played for about two years. He has perhaps been kept around for his good rapport with his more successful brother Yaya, but he will also be keen to play more first-team football. He had been linked with PSG, but as time goes on and he continues not to play, a less glamorous move might be on the cards for the 32-year-old.
2. Edin Dzeko
The occasional purple patch in front of goal has sometimes kept us guessing, but it seems that Dzeko’s time at Manchester City is surely up. The former Wolfsburg man has not really adjusted to the pace of English football and has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga with the likes of Borussia Dortmund. Juventus are also said to be interested as it seems ever more clear that his future lies away from the Etihad Stadium.
1. Samir Nasri
It’s time for City to cut their losses and accept that Samir Nasri has been a flop. Definitely one of the club’s worst signings in recent times, looking nothing like the player who sparkled at Arsenal before his £25million transfer. Mancini has admitted he finds the Frenchman’s inconsistency infuriating, and a return to France with PSG seems likely, with City already on the lookout for replacements, being linked with several attacking midfielders over the last few months. After similar failure with Emmanuel Adebayor, City will be careful before signing players from Arsenal again!
Reds boss will have final say on Liverpool’s signings. Check in to Liverpool vs Everton Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has made it clear that the club will sign players of his choice in this summer’s transfer window, according to the Liverpool Ech…
Barcelona have risen 99 per cent in value over the last 12 months while the Red Devils see their top position crumble as the Blancos take over in Forbes’ top 20 rankings
Barcelona have risen 99 per cent in value over the last 12 months while the Red Devils see their top position crumble as the Blancos take over in Forbes’ top 20 rankings
Bale has been the star of the Premier League this season and is a £50million summer transfer target for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich, while Manchester United have also expressed an passing interest.
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is confident of keeping the 23-year-old Welsh international at White Hart Lane beyond the end of the season providing Champions League football is secured via a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.
And Tottenham are set to tempt him into committing his future to the club by offering him a new four-year contract worth £130,000 a-week in an attempt to head off the interest from Europe’s biggest clubs.
Bale currently has three years of his contract to run with it not expiring until the end of the 2015/16 season, and although the new deal would only extend his terms by a further year it is the £55,000 a-week increase in his salary that is most significant.
Real Madrid are understood to be in pole position to sign Bale should he leave Tottenham in the summer with the two clubs having signed a “partnership agreement” last summer when Luka Modric moved from White Hart Lane to the Bernabeu in a £33million deal.
Tottenham transfer target Leandro Damiao is set to turn down a move to the Premier League in favour of switching to Italy where Napoli and Juventus are interested in signing him.
The White Hart Lane club tried to sign 23-year-old Leandro in both the summer and January transfer windows, but failed to agree a £17million deal with his club Internacional because of the complicated third-party ownership of the striker.
Tottenham had not completely ruled out another swoop for the forward, who impressed Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas during the London Olympics, at the end of the season as he looks to add to his firepower options.
But it appears that Leandro prefers a switch to the Italian Serie A with Napoli leading the race for his signature as they hunt for options to replace Edinson Cavani, who is expected to leave at the end of the season. Juventus are also understood to be considering a move for the forward.
Manchester City and Chelsea among those interested in the Uruguayan international, with the Etihad Stadium reportedly preparing a £52milion offer for Cavani to trigger a release clause in his contract.
“The Italian championship is a goal for Damiao,” Leandro’s agent Vinicius Prates told the Daily Star. “He is focused on succeeding in Brazil but anything can happen in June, although we have no agreement with European teams. Few European clubs have the ability to hire [Damiao] right now,”
As clubs across Europe prepare to shut up shop until the end of the season, Arsenal and QPR are among the English top-flight sides expected to push through late deals
Spain’s big two lead the way once again, and a renegotiation of contracts mean a new influx of cash, but are certain regions over-reliant on this trend continuing?
Deloitte’s football money league 2013 is out and it reveals that Real Madrid has not only topped the list once again but that the Spanish club has become the first sports club to surpass the €500m revenue threshold in a single year.
The 16th edition of the annual guide to the globe’s top revenue-earning teams places Real Madrid top, with FC Barcelona and Manchester United taking second and third place respectively.
Real Madrid recorded a 7% increase in revenue to achieve a total revenue of €512.6m in 2011/12. The club have held their place as leading club on the list for the eighth consecutive season. The report highlights the considerable revenue growth Real Madrid have achieved.
It should be noted that broadcasting revenues in La Liga are negotiated individually, with the result that Madrid and Barcelona each pocketed €140m last season out of a league total of €655m, giving a top-to-median ratio of almost 10:1.
The top 20 clubs on the list generated over €4.8bn in 2011/12 – a 10% increase on the previous year. It is also four times the combined revenues of the top 20 in 1996/97.
There are seven English clubs in the list; Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle. Drops in ranking were seen by Internazionale, Schalke 04 and AS Roma, with each falling by four places.
Newcastle have re-entered the top 20 after a three year absence. Deloitte attribute a £7.1m increase in broadcast revenue as the main reason behind the return to the list. Newcastle also finished fifth in the Premier League in 2011/12.
Broadcasting revenues, particularly for more performance-volatile teams such as Newcastle, Hamburg and Marseille, can fluctuate considerably from one season to the next, tied as they are to performance levels and tournament participation.
By this logic, Hamburg’s place in the top 20 is the most secure of this particular trio, with TV money accounting for 19% of its revenues last season, compared to 52% and 59% for Marseille and Newcastle respectively.
Hamburg’s revenue mix is typical of the Bundesliga’s representatives in the top 20, all of whom bring in 48% or more of their total from commercial sources.
For the purpose of the international comparisons, all figures for the 2011/12 season have been translated at 30 June 2012 exchange rates (£1 = €1.236) by Deloitte. The tables below show the top 20 teams on the football money league with details of revenue by club for 2011/12 and 2010/11 and where the money comes from. The spreadsheet includes additional data including clubs immediately below the money league top 20.
The Spanish giants continue to lead the way in the Football Money League as they have expanded their lead over the top clubs from England, Germany and Italy
Strikers won’t be joining Juventus. Check in to Arsenal vs Manchester City Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is not on the way to Juventus and transfer target Fernando Llorente is expected to opt for Arsenal and Tottenham rather than move to Italy, coach Antonio Conte has revealed. Speaking to news agency ANSA, Conte denied that [...]
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Stack trace:
#0 /home/aj_thomas/spurslatest.com/wp-content/themes/spurslatest/sidebar.php(13): SimpleXMLElement->__construct('<!DOCTYPE html>...')
#1 /home/aj_thomas/spurslatest.com/wp-includes/template.php(407): require_once('/home/aj_thomas...')
#2 /home/aj_thomas/spurslatest.com/wp-includes/template.php(383): load_template('/home/aj_thomas...', true)
#3 /home/aj_thomas/spurslatest.com/wp-includes/general-template.php(92): locate_template(Array, true)
#4 /home/aj_thomas/spurslatest.com/wp-content/themes/spurslatest/archive.php(94): get_sidebar()
#5 /home/aj_thomas/spurslatest.com/wp-includes/template-loader.php(47): include('/home/aj_thomas...')
#6 /home/aj_thomas/spurslatest.com/wp-blog-header.php(16): require_once('/home/aj_thomas...')
#7 /home/aj_thomas/spurslatest.com/index.php(17): require('/home/aj_thomas...')
#8 {main}
thrown in /home/aj_thomas/spurslatest.com/wp-content/themes/spurslatest/sidebar.php on line 13
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