Summer transfer special
With the transfer window set to fly into overdrive, the
biggest clubs across Europe have their eyes firmly set on a clutch of superstar
signings to join up with them in time for the new campaign.
Here, I list the top ten targets in European football and attempt
to predict which clubs will clinch the deals to stun the football world this
summer.
Name: Mario Gomez Position(s): Striker Current
club: Bayern Munich
German international Gomez was the golden boy at Bayern until
Mario Mandzukic was introduced last summer, causing the former Stuttgart
striker to play second fiddle as his club stormed away with a fabulous treble
of the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League under veteran head coach
Jupp Heynckes. The incoming Pep Guardiola suggested Gomez could have a future
at the Allianz Arena under his leadership, but Chelsea and Fiorentina are
amongst a host of clubs linked to the tall forward. His agent has suggested he’ll
be moving on shortly and a move to Spain or Italy will appeal greatest of all.
Favourites to sign Gomez: Fiorentina
Name: Alvaro Negredo Position(s):
Striker Current
club: Sevilla
Negredo’s current club seem intent on engineering a major
clear-out this window, having already parted with defender Antonio Luna and forward
Luis Alberto. Prize-asset Negredo is next in line for the exit door with a
queue of clubs waiting to pounce, including teams from England and elsewhere in
Spain. The player himself recently indicated his intention to quit the Andalucía-based
outfit for a Champions League participant, thus ruling out the likes of West
Ham United, Everton and Spurs, who’ve all made enquiries within the last few
months. One option that would present him with the opportunity to feature in Europe’s
elite club competition is to join Atletico Madrid as a replacement for the
departed Radamel Falcao and they appear in pole position for his signature.
Favourites to sign Negredo: Atletico Madrid
Name: Roberto Soldado Position(s):
Striker Current
club: Valencia
Soldado has long struggled for continent-wide kudos due to
his inability to score against major opposition in La Liga. He’d often bag a
hatful of goals against mediocre foes, but then fail miserably against the
likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. However, that has all changed in the last
couple of seasons and Soldado appears ready for a move to another league at the
age of 28. His lethal finishing from inside the penalty box illustrates a
predatory instinct to rival the best strikers in the world and the likes of
Spurs are said to be very interested in benefitting from that unerring ability
to find the net; Atletico Madrid also like the look of Soldado, who looks
odds-on to leave Valencia after they missed out on a top-four finish.
Favourites to sign Soldado: Tottenham Hotspur
Name: Thiago Alcantara Position(s): Central midfielder Current club: Barcelona
Son of Brazil World Cup winner Mazinho, Thiago made a big
splash in La Liga last season with his current side FC Barcelona. He followed a
fantastic season up with victory at the Under-21 European Championships
recently, starring for Spain as they rode away with the title. He played a
pivotal role in the final by scoring a hat-trick to help the young Spaniards
overcome Italy 4-2. The eyes of Manchester United and Real Madrid scouts were stuck
on the Italian-born midfielder way before that extraordinary performance and
United have made a determined pitch to capture his signature. To muddy waters,
Barcelona put forward a proposal for a contract extension that could scupper
any potential move.
Favourites to sign Thiago: Manchester United
Name: Gonzalo Higuain Position(s):
Striker Current
club: Real Madrid
A move to Arsenal is said to be at an advanced stage for Argentina
international Higuain, but Juventus are still peering over from Turin in case
it all falls through. The former River Plate star has long been an in-and-out
pick for Real Madrid, never quite convincing the several head coaches he’s
played under that he’s the best man for the job. That is despite an excellent
goalscoring record and a fine campaign just gone. He feels now is the time to
switch to a different league with new coach Carlo Ancelotti expected to bring
in his own players. Should the Gunners
clinch the signing of the 25-year-old, they’ll be gaining a player approaching
his peak years and relishing the thought of a new challenge.
Favourites to sign Higuain: Arsenal
Name: Isco Position(s):
Attacking central/left midfielder Current
club: Malaga
The young midfielder starred for Malaga under new Manchester
City manager Manuel Pellegrini last season, stirring up a two-way fight for his
services between his mentor’s new club and Real Madrid. Initially, it appeared
City were in the driving seat, but recent reports suggest Real have put on a
charm offensive to grab Isco from Champions League quarter-finalists Malaga.
The skilful, probing midfield man helped Thiago Alcantara and his compatriots
to the Under-21 European Championship title and is imminently set to choose
between the blue half of Manchester and the Spanish capital as his next destination.
Favourites to sign Isco: Real Madrid
Name: Wayne Rooney Position(s):
Forward Current club: Manchester United
Three years after reportedly slapping in a transfer request
before backtracking, Rooney indicated once again that he’s ready to leave at
the end of this past season. A whole host of suitors have come to the fore, but
only a handful of teams have the finances to realistically afford his wages
plus transfer fee. Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Arsenal threw their hats
into the ring early, while Barcelona and Real Madrid have been mentioned in
connection with the versatile forward more recently. Should Manchester United identify
a replacement, it’s likely the England man will be granted his wish to jump
ship, though it’s expected they’d be keen to push him in the direction of mainland
Europe, as opposed to a rival Premier League outfit.
Favourites to sign Rooney: Paris Saint-Germain
Name: Edinson Cavani Position
(s): Striker Current
club: Napoli
Uruguay star Cavani is set for a £49.3 million transfer to
Chelsea according to reports in Italy, but the saga of his move may not end
there. Real Madrid and Manchester City are both interested and ready to make a
play for the talented forward, while Manchester United have been faintly linked
in the English press. New Napoli boss Rafa Benitez will be loathe to let slip
of his star man, but accepts it is inevitable. The Spaniard’s first signing
since moving to Naples occurred today in the shape of Belgian goalscoring
winger Dries Mertens from PSV to make up some of the shortfall between the
posts that Cavani’s departure would cause. If Benitez can add an out-and-out
striker to the squad, then Cavani will be off.
Favourites to sign Cavani: Chelsea
Name: Cristiano Ronaldo Position(s):
Forward Current
club: Real Madrid
Real desperately want Ronaldo to pen a new deal and
eventually retire at the Bernabeu, but Spain’s increased taxes could push the
Portuguese superstar to seek pastures new. A move back to former club Manchester
United could be in the offing, a switch that would simply astound observers.
Talk of interest from PSG, Monaco and oil-rich Russian clubs all go into the
mix, making it difficult to pinpoint a possible next destination for the ‘second
best player in the world’. The potential loss of his guaranteed glut of goals
and assists would leave a huge void in the Madrid line-up and president
Florentino Perez will be doing all he can to ensure he sticks around.
Favourites to sign Ronaldo: Manchester United
Name: Gareth Bale Position(s): Left winger/central
mid. Current club: Tottenham
Bale burst on the European scene with a hat-trick for Spurs
in the San Siro against Inter back in 2010 and a star was born. Envious eyes
were cast in the direction of White Hart Lane from Serie A, La Liga and several
of Spurs’ rival Premier League clubs as they witnessed Bale develop into a
world-class player. His powerful, lung-busting runs from midfield have become
his trademark and Bale crucially added an invaluable commodity to his game during
the last campaign in the form of 26 goals in all competitions. Comparisons with
Cristiano Ronaldo have become common place and it may well be that Bale goes on
to break Ronaldo’s world transfer fee record should he leave Spurs this summer.
Favourites to sign Bale: Real Madrid
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