A look at five big players who could leave the Premier League this summer, and who could replace them.
Out: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has rocked the footballing world by submitting a transfer request. The 27-year-old has been a big success in his nine years at Old Trafford, scoring 197 goals in 400 games for the club, and helping the Red Devils to five Premier League title wins and the Champions League.
However, he had a difficult season this year, often being played out of position to accommodate the club’s new star player Robin van Persie, and sometimes simply being left out of the team altogether. He seems to feel it is time for a new challenge, and there are plenty of big clubs who would be happy to have him.
Since news of his transfer request, the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG have been linked with big-money moves for him, as well as United’s Premier League rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal. Rooney almost left the club in 2010, and will surely do so this time as his heart is clearly not in it anymore. United seem to have a number of targets in mind to replace him, so they may too feel it is time to cash in and wave goodbye to the former Everton prodigy.
In: Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund)
A fine replacement for Rooney would be Robert Lewandowski of Borussia Dortmund. The Polish striker was linked with the club last summer before they opted to sign van Persie, and could now be the ideal partner for the Dutchman with Rooney failing to produce the partnership that was expected with him.
Lewandowski is one of the best strikers in the game at the moment, scoring 36 times for Jurgen Klopp’s side this season as they finished second in the Bundesliga and reached the Champions League final. He famously scored four times in Dortmund’s amazing 4-1 semi-final victory over Real Madrid, and his enhanced reputation has seen him linked with a number of top clubs, including Chelsea and Barcelona.
Lewandowski himself preferred a move to Dortmund’s rivals Bayern Munich, but his club have blocked the move, meaning he could well end up in England. With just a year remaining on his contract he could come cheap at around £20million, and he looks made for a stage as big as Old Trafford, where he would surely continue his great success.
Other targets for United have included Colombian hot-shot Radamel Falcao, though he ended up joining Monaco for £51million. Galatasaray’s Burak Yilmaz has also been linked, but Lewandowski seems like the best choice for United, given his fine form and desire to leave his current club.
Out: Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Luis Suarez has just had his best season in a Liverpool shirt, scoring 30 goals in a superb campaign in which he has lit up the Premier League with his exciting displays.
However, once again his good work was undone with major controversy, as he was seen biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during a game at Anfield, earning himself a ten-game ban and more negative press, possibly seeing him lose out on winning the PFA Player of the Year award, which went to Tottenham’s Gareth Bale.
Suarez feels victimised in England, and is desperate to leave the country and its press. Liverpool are desperate to keep their best player as they look to build a promising new team under Brendan Rodgers, but although Suarez is not seeking an escape from Anfield, his desire to get away from the English media has seen him call for a move abroad, with Spanish giants Real Madrid supposedly interested.
There’s no doubt Suarez would be a superb signing for the Bernabeu club, as he could go on to become one of the best players in the world if he cleans up his act. It would be a big blow for Liverpool to lose him just as he approaches his peak, but it would be some consolation that he would bring in around £50million as he becomes Real’s latest ‘galactico’ signing, giving Rodgers plenty to work with as he seeks to replace the Uruguayan.
In: Jackson Martinez (Porto)
One player that has been linked as a possible replacement for Suarez is Porto star Jackson Martinez. The Colombian has had an excellent first season with the club, scoring 34 goals in 39 games. This kind of goals-to-games ratio would make Suarez quickly forgotten if he could replicate it in England, and at 26 he still has time to develop into an even better player than he already is.
Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund have also been linked with this prolific forward, and he certainly wouldn’t come cheap after his achievements this year, commanding close to £33million. Dortmund are said to be considering him as a replacement for Lewandowski, though they may not have the financial power that Liverpool will have once they make the lucrative £50million sale of Suarez.
Although Rodgers will probably not want to spend too much of his new transfer fund on one player, a quality striker is of utmost importance for the Reds as they look to break into the top four next season, especially considering how reliant they were on Suarez for goals this term, and Martinez looks like he would be well worth spending the money on.
Out: Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
Carlos Tevez came close to being back to his best at points this season, showing himself to still be a crucial player for Manchester City after spending much of the previous year on the sidelines after his high-profile public falling out with Roberto Mancini. The Argentine star overcame his fitness problems and started looking like one of the most dangerous forwards in the league again, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, helping his side to second place and an appearance in the FA Cup final.
However, although he seems happier and settled now, he is still understood to be keen on leaving England, and would be tempted by an offer if it came along. The likes of AC Milan were linked with him last year and could be back in for him, joined by Italian rivals Juventus and big-spending French side Monaco.
It may be time for City to move on from Tevez, and their pursuit of several big-name strikers suggest they are expecting him to leave along with Edin Dzeko, as new manager Manuel Pellegrini looks to put his own stamp on the squad he has inherited from Mancini.
In: Stephan El Shaarawy(AC Milan)
With Milan interested in Tevez, there are reports that a swap deal could be done between the two clubs, which would see the immensely talented young forward Stephan El Shaarawy move to the Etihad Stadium.
The 20-year-old is one of the best young players in the world at the moment, already among the top attacking players in Serie A with 19 goals this season. City are said to have had an opening offer of £34million rejected by the San Siro club, who are keen to hold on to their star player. However, they are also said to be open to negotiation, and that would be very good news indeed for City fans as they would be signing a true star of the future.
Capable of playing out wide or upfront, the Italian international is a very skillful and dangerous attacker, who would improve on City’s current options instantly, and be a Premier League great for many years to come. Arsenal have also been linked with the youngster, but City’s financial power should surely make them favourites to land him from Milan.
Out: Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
Gareth Bale has had the season of his life this year, scoring 26 goals from a new, more central role in the Tottenham team. Previously a winger and even a left-back in his early days, he is now one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, playing in a manner similar to Lionel Messi of Barcelona in a free role behind the main strikers.
Inevitably, his fine form has seen him become a target for the world’s biggest clubs. Real Madrid have been chasing him for some time, and may be willing to make him the most expensive player of all time with a bid of £85million. Manchester United and PSG have also shown a strong interest and could match Real’s enormous bid.
Wherever he ends up, Spurs look unlikely to keep hold of him, and he is a player who deserves to be playing at the highest level with other world class players. Despite his best efforts this season, he could not guide Andre Villas-Boas’ side into the Champions League, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he took the temptation to move on to bigger things.
In: Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid)
If a deal is struck with Real Madrid, Spurs could do well to enquire about Argentine winger Angel Di Maria. The 25-year-old is a very similar style player to Bale, capable of playing a number of attacking midfield roles to good effect with his dribbling, passing, crossing and shooting.
Di Maria has not had his best season for the Spanish giants this year as the team in general struggled to keep up with rivals Barcelona in La Liga, and it is thought that he could be one of many players that they would be happy to let leave this summer as they embark on a reshuffle of their squad under new management.
Manchester City have also shown an interest in Di Maria, though that may have cooled now that they have brought in a similar player in Jesus Navas in from Sevilla. Spurs could possibly request Di Maria as part of a swap deal with Bale, or come back to him after considering other options. Hatem Ben Arfa of Newcastle has also been linked with a move to White Hart Lane, but his injury record makes him a more risky option, and there seem few better or more realistic options at the moment than the former Benfica star.
Out: Juan Mata (Chelsea)
For unclear reasons, Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge looks to be signalling the end to Juan Mata’s short but fantastic Chelsea career. The Portuguese coach is supposedly content to let the talented Spaniard leave as he looks to put his own stamp on this team he has inherited from Rafael Benitez.
Mata has been one of the Premier League’s best attacking players since joining Chelsea for £23.5million from Valencia in 2011, but may not fit in with Mourinho’s more defensive and direct tactical approach. The small, skillful player is not quite in the mould of Mourinho’s typical player, who would ideally be taller and stronger. Still, it is a surprise to be seeing him linked with a move away, and many Chelsea fans will surely feel aggrieved if they lost their best player this summer, despite Mourinho’s popularity at the club.
Mata’s performances would ensure Chelsea received big money for him, and his availability has attracted interest from big clubs such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, who would be able to pay £30million or more for him, leaving Mourinho with plenty to work with as he re-shapes his squad.
In: Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg)
A prime target for Chelsea, and a player more in keeping with Mourinho’s approach, is Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk. The Brazilian first emerged as a world class talent in his days at Porto, before making a big-money move to Russia. However, he has not managed to find his best form with Zenit and is likely to move on this summer.
Monaco have also been linked with the 26-year-old, but other reports suggest Chelsea are closing in on the bulky and skillful attacker. He is a great all-round player who could fit into Mourinho’s system as a main striker or on the wing, with incredible physique and a rocket of a shot on his left foot. With Zenit paying around £50million for him, it could take that kind of sum to sign him again, but Chelsea are one of the few clubs who can afford that without too much trouble.
Although a very different player from Mata, Hulk should make his departure easier to swallow, as he has the qualities to be a dominant player in this league, and it would be great to see such a talent at a bigger team.