A collection of players who could be representing clubs at a higher level than they currently do.
With the summer transfer window nearly at the half way stage, many more players look set to be changing clubs, with several players hoping to make a step up to a bigger club and possible the prospect of playing European football. Here are 10 players who want to move to bigger clubs this summer.
Michu- Swansea City
The striker had a remarkable debut season for Swansea, scoring plenty of goals that helped the Swans win the League Cup and finish in a top ten position in the Premier League. Swansea only signed Michu for £2 million last summer and many saw the Spaniard as the bargain of the last transfer window. The strikers excellent form hasn’t gone unnoticed, with many clubs monitoring the Spaniards progress at Swansea. It appears that Arsenal are looking to sign the Spanish striker this summer as Arsene Wenger looks to add more fire power to his squad for the forthcoming season.
Michu to is interested in a move to the Gunners, seeing the opportunity of playing in the Champions League as irresistible. Michu feels that playing for Arsenal would be a great way for him to showcase his talents, even if at the beginning of the season he wasn’t a regular starter at the Emirates. Swansea won’t want to let their star striker go but have recently signed Wilfried Bony from Vitesse Arnhem, so they have a ready made replacement if Michu does decide to swap Swansea for North London.
Asmir Begovic- Stoke City
Begovic had an excellent season for Stoke despite the Potters relatively poor performance in the Premier League last term. The club were dragged into a relegation fight during the back end of the season and only just secured their survival and Begovic was a big reason behind the club eventually securing safety. The goalkeeper made a series of excellent saves that kept Stoke in matches and the Potters could have been in even more trouble had it not been for Begovic. The goalkeepers excellent performances have not gone unnoticed and it is believed that several Premier League clubs are tracking the player this summer.
While Liverpool were interested in the goalkeeper, they recently signed Simon Mignolet, meaning they no longer need a new keeper. Arsenal, however are still in the market for a goalkeeper and look set to miss out on one of their main targets, Julio Cesar, who is set to leave QPR for Napoli. Arsene Wenger wants a reliable keeper at Arsenal this summer and could look to Begovic now that his move for Cesar has failed. Begovic to would be interested in a move to the Gunners as he would be able to play in the Champions League and compete for trophies regularly, something that is unlikely to happen at Stoke.
Darren Bent- Aston Villa
Bent has had a frustrating season at Villa Park, failing to get into the clubs starting eleven with manager Paul Lambert preferring to use Christan Benteke as Villa’s main striker, despite the clubs brush with relegation. Bent was once one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers but he has failed to recreate his goal scoring touch during his time in Birmingham and he will almost certainly leave Villa this summer. Reports suggest that Lambert has told him that he will never play for the club again and that he has been told to stay away from pre season training. Several Premier League clubs are reportedly interested in signing Bent and the most high profile of those appears to be Newcastle United, who are searching for a proven goal scorer following their own brush with relegation last term.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has made Bent one of his main transfer targets this summer and the club look set to pay around £5 million if they are successful in signing the former England international. Should Bent rediscover his goal scoring touch at Newcastle, he will certainly be a very good buy for the Magpies.
Yohan Cabaye- Newcastle
The Frenchman played a huge role in Newcastle finishing fifth in the Premier League during the 2011/2012 season and is regarded as one of the best central midfielders currently playing in the Premier League. Many pundits still rate Cabaye highly despite a disappointing 2012/2013 season at Newcastle and it seems that the player looks set to leave Tyneside this summer for a new challenge. Paris St Germain and AS Monaco are battling it out for the French midfielder, who could cost them around £20 million.
The Magpies would like to hold onto their star midfielder if they possibly can but it seems that Cabaye is looking for the exit door at St James’s Park. A move to French Champions PSG looks most likely at this stage with the lure of Champions League football encouraging Cabaye to go to Paris. However, Manchester United are in the market for a central midfielder and the player recently stated that he would like to play for the Red Devils so should United enter the race, Cabaye may think again about a move to the French capital.
Ashley Williams- Swansea City
Williams has played a huge role in Swansea’s recent success, being a rock at the back for the Welsh side as they won the League Cup and finished in the Premier League’s top ten last season. The defenders excellent performances haven’t gone unnoticed, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Napoli all interested in the Welshman. The Gunners appear to be favourites for Williams at this stage as Arsene Wenger looks to bolster his defence for the coming season. Originally, Arsenal weren’t going to pay Swansea’s £10 million asking price for Williams but club captain Thomas Vermaelen will miss the start of the new season, meaning the Gunners may have no choice but to accept Swansea’s terms and take the £10 million hit.
It is understood that Williams wants to move away from Swansea this summer as he would like to test himself at a top club and play in the Champions League. The defender would like to play for a top club while he is playing at his best and he knows that at 29 he will not have many years left at the top.
Marouane Fellaini- Everton
The Belgian has been one of the most highly rated midfielders in the Premier League for awhile now and he has been right at the centre of Everton’s success in recent years. Fellaini is versatile, being able to play in number of different positions and also being a towering presence at set pieces. After many summers of speculation about Fellaini, it seems that the Belgian midfielder will leave Goodison Park this summer, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all chasing the player. Reports suggest that Fellaini has a buy-out clause in his contract at Everton and interested clubs can activate it when they pay around £23 million. Arsenal look the most likely to make a move for Fellaini at the moment and the Gunners have the money to pay the midfielders buy-out fee.
Manchester United are also considering making a move for Fellaini, with the players former manager David Moyes now at Manchester United. Moyes wants to sign a top quality central midfielder this summer and may make a move for Fellaini following the pair’s good relationship at Everton. Chelsea are also looking to bolster their midfield this summer and have identified Fellaini as a possible target so it looks like it will be a three way fight for the Belgian international.
Christan Benteke- Aston Villa
The striker had a wonderful debut season in the Premier League, scoring 23 goals in all competitions but it was his 19 in the Premier League that was the most crucial as they helped keep Villa in England’s top flight. Without Benteke, Villa probably wouldn’t have stayed up and it looks like manager Paul Lambert will have to plan for life without the Belgian striker with Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea all interested in adding Benteke to their squads this summer. The striker recently handed in a transfer request at Villa in a bid to force his way out of the club and his preferred destination is believed to be White Hart Lane.
Benteke wants to play under Andre Villas Boas and feels that he will get a lot of first team football at Spurs, something that he is not guaranteed of should he move to Chelsea. Although the Blues have the lure of the Champions League, Benteke regards first team football as being more important to him as he wants to be a part of Belgium’s squad for next summers World Cup. Liverpool are also interested in the striker and may step up their interest should Luis Suarez leave the club this summer.
Leighton Baines- Everton
Baines is regarded as one of the most talented full backs in the Premier League and has become a regular fixture of Roy Hodgson’s England squads. He has played a key role in Everton’s recent successes and was a key lieutenant of former Toffees boss David Moyes. Now the Scot has become Manchester United manager and wants to bring Baines with him to Old Trafford. United have already submitted a £10 million bid for Baines which was rejected by Everton but Moyes is set to come back to the Toffees with an improved offer. Everton are likely to demand around £18 million for Baines, an amount United are unlikely to pay meaning their could be a standoff between the two clubs.
It is understood that Baines would like to join United, feeling that a move to Old Trafford would enhance his chances at international level. He would also like the opportunity to play in the Champions League. If he were to make it clear to Everton that he wants leave, the club may think about being more reasonable when it comes to talks with United.
Luis Suarez- Liverpool
The striker has had yet another controversial season at Anfield and he has continued to court the back pages of newspapers even after the end of the football season. Suarez is currently serving a 10 match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and despite Liverpool publicly backing the player, Suarez could have played his last game for the Reds. Suarez is desperate to play in the Champions League and wants to compete for trophies, something Liverpool haven’t been doing for awhile. The striker has made it clear that he sees his future away from Anfield and he has no shortage of potential suitors.
Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in signing the striker, with the Gunners having had a £30 million bid rejected by Liverpool. It looks certain that Arsenal will come back to Liverpool with an improved bid but they may have to pay as much as £40 million for Suarez as Liverpool have said that they won’t consider offers that are less than that. Real Madrid are believed to be Suarez preferred destination and the striker has spent most of the summer flirting with Los Blancos. It is thought that Madrid are interested in Suarez but were hoping to wait until the end of the transfer window before making a move. With Arsenal bidding for Suarez, Madrid may have to enter the race early if they really do want to sign the controversial striker.
Pepe Reina- Liverpool
The Spanish goalkeeper has been one of the first names on the Reds team sheet for many years now and has been a wonderful servant for the club. Reina didn’t have as good a season last term however, making several high profile mistakes and Liverpool have since signed Simon Mignolet from Sunderland, increasing the competition that Reina will face for a starting spot at Anfield.
Many pundits predict that Reina will start next season on the bench, meaning he may have to move elsewhere for first team football. Barcelona are reportedly interested in bringing Reina back to the Nou Camp, where he started his career and see him as a replacement for current number Victor Valdes, who only has one year left on his contract at the club and will leave Barca next summer for free. It is no secret that Reina would love to return to Barcelona one day and there is also the lure of Champions League football for the Spaniard, with Liverpool not playing in Europe’s top club competition this season.