Top ten signings that will finally be completed in the upcoming summer transfer window.
10. Joao Moutinho (Porto to Tottenham)
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.