A run down of the 50 biggest names strongly linked with moves this summer.
50. Nikica Jelavic – Everton to West Ham United
The Everton striker has suffered from a classic case of ‘second season syndrome’ this term but West Ham boss Sam Allardyce remains keen to bring him in as a replacement for Andy Carroll.
49. Asmir Begovic – Stoke City to Manchester United
The Bosnian has been impressive for Stoke this season and with Andres Lindegaard set to leave the Champions the Stoke stopper is seen as the ideal man to pressure David De Gea for the number one spot.
48. Razvan Rat – Shakhtar Donetsk to West Ham United
The Romanian international has been linked with a move to the Premier League for a while now and the Hammers are in poll position to finally make the move a reality.
47. Alvaro Negredo – Sevilla to Swansea City
Michael Laudrup us set to dip into the Spanish transfer market and and bring in the proven goal scorer from Southern Spain to ease the burden on star attacker Michu.
46. Maarten Stekelenburg – Roma to Fulham
The Roma goalkeeper is wanted so badly by Fulham that they are desperately trying to offload David Stockdale to raise the cash. The Dutch international is seen as the ideal replacement for the outbound Mark Schwarzer.
45. Christopher Samba – QPR to Anzhi Makhachkala
The 29-year-old has been lined up for a return to his former club in Russia after the West London club prepare wholesale changes. Anzhi are perhaps one of the very few clubs that would be willing to pay his astronomical wages.
44. Nathan Redmond – Birmingham City to Norwich City
Canaries boss Chris Hughton is lining up a move for the player he helped to bring through at Birmingham. The highly rated 19-year-old has been chased by a number of Premier League sides but the ex-blues boss is thought to be utilising his connections to bring Redmond to his current club.
43. Tomas Kalas – Chelsea to West Bromwich Albion
The young Chelsea defender is currently making waves in Holland where he is on loan at Vitesse Arnhem. Baggies boss Steve Clark has travelled to watch him in action several times and is primed to make a move for the talented 19-year-old.
42. Esteban Granero – QPR to Southampton
Mauricio Pochettino has identified the classy former Real Madrid midfielder as the man to add a fresh range of passing to the Saints midfield. The manager will know all about Granero from the pair’s time in Spain and will hope to land him on a cut price deal.
41. Matt Lowton – Aston Villa to Arsenal
The Villa full back has won many admirers in his maiden Premier League campaign and will be best remembered for a wonder strike against Stoke last month. The 23-year-old has emerged as a surprise target for Arsenal as Bacary Sagna’s form has taken a dramatic dip.
40. Kelvin Wilson – Celtic to Newcastle United
The Celtic stopper emerged as a surprise target for Newcastle as they seek to line up a replacement for Fabricio Collocini should he force a move away from the club this summer. The ex-Forest man has picked up some valuable Champions League experience along the way.
39. Leroy Fer – FC Twente to Everton
The 23-year-old Dutch international was on the verge of signing for The Toffees in January only to see the deal collapse at the last minute. However, David Moyes is still keen on bringing him to the club and will try again this summer.
38. Phil Neville – Everton to Aston Villa
The experienced ex-England man is leaving Everton at the end of the season and has expressed a desire to stay in the Premier League or another year. Villa have had their problems with a naive young squad this season and could offer the 36-year-old a short term deal to help steady the ship.
37. Diego Novaretti – Toluca to Manchester City
Little is known about the Argentine defender other but he has surprised many in Mexico by verging on a free transfer to City. Reports suggest that he is one of the best defenders in the country and Roberto Mancini has been watching him for some time. A defensive reshuffle has been on the cards at the Etihad and the 27-year-old is just the start.
36. Alex McCarthy – Reading to Liverpool
The 23-year-old Reading stopper has impressed so much this season that he has even been mentioned as a future England international with many believing that Roy Hodgson is set to give him his chance in one of the several friendlies lined up over the summer. He has emerged as a target for Liverpool as question marks have been raised over Pepe Reina.
35. Luke Shaw – Southampton to Chelsea
Chelsea have a habit of buying young English talent for high premiums and there is a mutual affection that exists between the teenager and the club. A summer swoop is mooted with Shaw remaining at the south coast club on loan for another year to gain more valuable first team experience.
34. Djibril Cisse – QPR to Marseille
The French striker is currently on loan in Qatar but is not expected to play for The Hoops again following their demotion to the Championship. He still harbours hopes of featuring for Les Bleus at next years World Cup and has set his sights on a return to former club Marseille to make his ambitions come true.
33. Tim Krul – Newcastle United to AC Milan
The Magpies ‘keeper has quickly become one of the best shot stoppers since making his breakthrough into the United side. The links with Milan have come as a shock, but they Rossoneri are hoping to land a younger model than Christian Abbiati and Marco Amelia to mould into a future long term star.
32. Aiden McGeady – Spartak Moscow to Sunderland
The Irish international has long been linked with a move back to Britain virtually ever since stepping off the plane in Moscow. Rumours have it that his girlfriend doesn’t want to raise their child so far away from their respective families and the former Celtic man has been strongly connected with a move to the Northeast.
31. Borja Valero – Fiorentina to Tottenham Hotspur
The ex-West Brom midfielder endured a difficult time during his first spell in the Premier League but has since gone on to make a name for himself since. Spells at Villarreal and Fiorentina have seen him targeted by Spurs who hope to add more creativity into the middle as they hopefully prepare for another season in the Champions League.
30. Federico Macheda – Manchester United to Stuttgart
The goal shy Italian striker has failed to make the grade at United so far and a series of loan spells have confirmed that his future lies away from Old Trafford. He joined Bundesliga side Stuttgart on loan recently and both club and player have made noises about turning the loan agreement into a permanent deal.
29. Martin Skrtel – Liverpool to Zenit St Petersburg
The big Slovakian is used to being a regular name on the team sheet at Anfield but he has seen his influence diminish this season due to poor form. Although he’s said that he will fight for his place at the club the rumours linking him with a return to Zenit have refused to go away.
28. Hatem Ben Arfa – Newcastle United to Liverpool
The tricky French winger has never entirely managed to get his career off the ground at Newcastle thanks to a series of injuries. However, what Liverpool have seen has suggested that he is a man they very much want on their side and have been linked with him to the point where Newcastle were forced to issue a ‘hands off’ warning.
27. Adrian Lopez – Atletico Madrid to Southampton
Once an Arsenal target, the Spanish striker emerged as a name high on Southampton’s wish list recently. The Saints are capable of a shock swoop, proving that with the signing of Gaston Ramirez last summer. If anyone can persuade Lopez to swap the highlife in Madrid for the relative quiet of Southampton it’s Pochettino.
26. Dejan Lovren – Lyon to Everton
Although both Liverpool and Chelsea have been linked with the player too, it is Everton who are thought to be the keenest to land him. Lovren has quickly established himself at the French club but wants the chance to impress on a higher stage with Les Gnomes having fallen behind PSG and Marseille in the race for French football supremacy.
25. Federico Fazio – Sevilla to Arsenal
The Argentine has steadily become one of Sevilla’s most important players and now looks set to finally earn the move he deserves. He had previously been linked with a move to North London in 2005 upon Kolo Toure’s departure to Manchester City, which was turned down. However, with the club now struggling with financial difficulties they may be forced to cashi in.
24. Danny Rose – Tottenham Hotspur to Sunderland
Villas-Boas has suggested that he would like the young full back to return to White Heart Lane this summer, though Rose will try to seek assurances over his future first. Currently on loan at Sunderland, the club want to make his loan deal permanent after the 22-year-old has impressed.
23. Joleon Lescott – Manchester City to Aston Villa
Effectively surplus to requirements at City, the 30 year old has admitted thinking about leaving to aid his England credentials. A Villa fan as a boy, he was linked with a return home in January but no deal was struck. However, the time may be right for a move this summer with Paul Lambert hoping to add some more experience to his defence.
22. Geoffrey Kondogbia – Sevilla to Arsenal
The 20-year-old only joined the La Liga outfit last summer and he’s already being linked with a host of Europe’s top clubs. However, it is Arsenal who remain the keenest to push a deal through. The club have needed a quality defensive midfielder ever since Patrick Viera left and now with fresh injury concerns surrounding Abou Diaby that need has been multiplied.
21. Diego Capel – Sporting Lisbon to Liverpool
The Spanish winger was once a spiky character known for causing trouble, but he’s now matured into a cultured and tricky player who is the latest in a talented pool of Sporting Lisbon players set to head for the exit this summer, Crippling financial difficulties have forced Lisbon to let a handful of talent leave and Capel has been linked with a £12 million switch to Merseyside.
20. Jackson Martinez – Porto to Manchester United
With the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes coming to the end of their careers now and question marks over the future of Nemanja Vidic, Sir Alex Ferguson is taking to the transfer market this summer with a particular interest in younger talent. The evergreen boss wants ti usher in a new era of player at the club and Martinez is thought to be high on his wishlist.
19. Andy Carroll – Liverpool to Newcastle United
There’s no doubt that Carroll left Newcastle too soon. He’d barely made an impression before being carted off in a £35 million deal for a player with so many clear limitations. However, despite impressing in parts for West Ham this season he is being given the opportunity to return to where it all started at the cut price of £17 million.
18. Tom Huddlestone – Tottenham Hotspur to Aston Villa
It’s easy to forget that Huddlestone isn’t a youngster anymore and is n fact 26-years-old. At his age he needs to be playing regularly and he isn’t doing that at Spurs. Villa were linked with him last summer and in January, expect them to make their move at a knowck down price this year.
17. Samir Nasri – Manchester City to PSG
The French international has looked nowhere near the player that helped City win their first Premier League title last year and the moody winger may find himself out the door as Roberto Mancini prepares to shuffle the pack this summer. Undoubtedly a precocious talent, but it could be a case of ‘last chance saloon’ before the bog offers finally cease to come.
16. Scott Sinclair – Manchester City to Everton
The talented winger was set to go from strength to strength this season but has failed to make any impact at all. A reported falling out with the manager only seems to have confirmed his exit with Villa and Everton battling it out for his signature. Everton will have considerably more money with the looming sale of Marouane Fellaini to Chelsea so they should be expected to push on and land him.
15. Anderson – Manchester United to Porto
Things haven’t gone according to plan for the Brazilian. He has won his fair share of medals at United but has never threatened to make a starting spot his own and has featured less and less as the seasons tick by. A return home has been mooted, something the player himself has been quoted as being open to.
14. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang – Saint Etienne to Arsenal
A player who has been linked with virtually everybody this season as his form has helped propel Les Verts to the verge of Champions League qualification. Newcastle, Spurs, Liverpool and the Gunners have all been linked but it’s Arsene Wenger’s men who are thought to have the upper hand.
13. Ashley Williams – Swansea City to Liverpool
It’s been a fine season for the boyhood Liverpool fan as he’s won his first domestic trophy and captained club and country to some more than respectable displays. With Jamie Carragher set to retire this season, Brendan Rodgers is thought to be keen to bring his former charge with him to Merseyside.
12. Loic Remy – QPR to Liverpool
Perhaps one of the few QPR players to have his resale value still in tact following their relegation. He has a huge number of clubs casting admiring glances his way and the reds are thought to be keen on bringing him in as cover for Luis Suarez whilst he serves out his ten game ban.
11. Marouane Fellaini – Everton to Chelsea
A deal that was said to be done in January will most likely go ahead in a £25 million deal this summer. The Belgian has hit the ceiling at Everton and requires a fresh challenge on the very highest stage. The prospect of him linking up with international teammates Edin Hazard and Romelu Lukaku has got Chelsea mouths watering.
10. Christian Benteke – Aston Villa to Tottenham Hotspur
The Belgian striker has undoubtedly been one of the signings of the season as his goals have helped an inexperiences Aston Villa side keep their heads above water. The 22-year-old is wanted by a whole list of clubs but it is Spurs who lead the chase as they seek a replacement for the disappointing Emmanuel Adebayor.
9. Stevan Joetic Fiorentina to Arsenal
The Montenegrin forward has made the transformation from gangly awkward teenager to one of Europe’s most cultured and sought after players. He has returned the complements Arsenal have paid him be expressing his desire to play for the club one day but he is settled in Florence and Arsenal will need to be able to offer him Champions League football if they hope to land him.
8. Victor Valdes – Barcelona to Arsenal
The ever present goalkeeper shocked the world earlier this season by declaring his desire to leave the club with a fresh challenge in English football firmly in his mind. He has reponded positively to Arsenal’s advances as they look to ease their goalkeeping worries by signing a world class custodian.
7. Xabi Alonso – Real Madrid to Liverpool
Alonso has been quoted as saying that he misses life in the northwest of England but has decided to not say any more until the end of the season. Liverpool fans didn’t want him to leave in the first place and would welcome him back with open arms despite his advancing years.
6. Wayne Rooney – Manchester United to PSG
When Rooney first joined United, nobody ever would have imagined his relationship with the club going sour. However, an empty threat to leave recently has backfired as he has found his position in the squad under question thanks to the prowess of Robin Van Persie. There aren’t many who could afford him, but the French giants are one and they hope to make an audacious bid to take him to the capital.
5. David Villa – Barcelona to Arsenal
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Villa, having made his comeback from a potentially career ending injury at the age of 31 he then fell out with the club’s star player, the one they would never drop, and now finds himself on the way out of the club after a tempestuous few seasons. Arsenal had hoped to bag him in January but nothing materialised and he has spoke of his desire to link up with Arsene Wenger this summer.
4. Robert Lewandowski – Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United
The Polish sttriker is one of the hottest properties in Europe this season and it was a three way tug between Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester United to land his signature. However, noises from his current club recently have suggested that he is going nowhere, but United won’t give up easily and will look to force the issue this summer.
3. Edinson Cavani – Napoli to Manchester City
The big Uruguayan has been prolific for Napoli again this term and finally looks to be sailing off into the sunset. PSG had thought to have won the race when reports from France had announced that the club had agreed personal terms with him, however, this turned out to be untrue and City are very much still in the hunt. Roberto Mancini is looking to add new firepower to the City squad and the 26-year-old fits the bill perfectly.
2. Radamel Falcao – Atletico Madrid to Chelsea
A deal largely thought to be done already has only to be confirmed now. Falcao is arguably the most complete striker in Europe right now with an impressive strike rate and tireless work ethic. The move is also supposed to signal the end of the line for Fernando Torres, who, despite scoring 20 goals this season, still hasn’t found the kind of form that prompted the club to pay £50 million for him.
1. Gareth Bale – Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid
A move that is largely dependent on whther Spurs manage to reach fourth place at the end of the season as Bale has suggested that failure to qualify for the Champions League will prompt him to seek a move elsewhere. And he certainly deserves to be at the tournament. A fine season has seen him score over 20 goals from the wing and with two PFA awards. He has been mentioned in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo and will require a platform to prove those accolades correct if he is to continue his development into a truly world class player.