A selection of top tier talents who could still pull off major departures this summer.
With about half of the transfer window already finished, many deals have been done to sign top quality players for most sides in the Premier League. However their are several big name players who could still move on this summer. Here are five big name players who could be moving clubs this summer.
Marouane Fellaini- Everton
Fellaini has been of the Premier League’s top performers for sometime and Everton have certainly got their moneys worth for a player that they signed for £15 million from Standard Liege. Many thing are impressive about Fellaini, from his versatility to his ability to score of plenty of goals from midfield. He is a huge physical presence at the heart of Everton’s midfield and he is certainly regarded as one of the best midfielders currently playing in the Premier League.
However, Fellaini looks set to be on the move this summer, with several Premier League sides said to be chasing his signature. Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all interested in signing the Belgian midfielder and could make a move for the midfielder before the end of August. Manchester United boss David Moyes worked with Fellaini during his time at Everton and the pair struck up an excellent relationship which the Scot is looking to rekindle at Old Trafford. Moyes is desperate to strengthen United’s midfield this summer and he feels that Fellaini will be an excellent box to box midfielder that will make powerful attacking runs but also be excellent defensively.
Arsenal have been looking for a midfielder in the mould of Patrick Viera ever since the Frenchman left in 2005 and Arsene Wenger believes that he has found that in the form of Fellaini, while Jose Mourinho likes to have a strong physical presence at the heart of his midfield and their isn’t many better than the Belgian. All three clubs will have to try and activate Fellaini’s buy-out clause, which is thought to be set at around £23.5 million. However, time is running out to activate that clause, with the deadline thought to be August 14th.
After that date, the buy-out clause will expire and Fellaini’s valuation will shoot-up to around £30 million. All three interested clubs will have to move fast if they want to sign the Belgian, who may not be cheap but will certainly be very effective.
Leighton Baines- Everton
Baines is one of the most reliable defenders currently playing in the Premier League and is currently in a battle with Ashley Cole to be England’s number one left back. Baines is excellent in defence but really excels when he goes forward as he can deliver an excellent cross whilst also having plenty of pace. He is also capable of scoring excellent free-kicks, which is certainly a plus when a club looks to sign a defender. Despite his excellent spell with Everton, the defender could now be set to leave Goodison Park, with Old Trafford his most likely destination.
David Moyes recently left Everton to become Manchester United’s new manager and it is widely known that he wants to bring Baines with him. The 28 year old was one of Moyes most trusted lieutenants during the Scots time at Everton and he would love to bring that reliability with him to Old Trafford. Manchester United recently offered Everton £10 million for Baines but the Toffess quickly rejected United’s bid, saying that Baines isn’t for sale and certainly not for a lowly £10 million. Moyes won’t give up that easily and reports suggest that the Scot will soon go back to Goodison Park with an improved offer, thought to be around £12 million. However, Everton value Baines at around £18 million and are unlikely to accept United’s newest bid.
Many at Old Trafford are thought to be reluctant to go much over £15 million for a player that will turn 29 in December and will have relatively no sell on value. It maybe down to the player himself to try and force through a move to Old Trafford but that seems unlikely at the moment. Baines is a very loyal individual and will not try and force his way out of Everton due the support they have shown him during his time at the club. At the moment is appears to be a stalemate in the race to sign Baines and it looks to be up to United to decide how much they really want to spend on the left back.
Luis Suarez- Liverpool
Luis Suarez is an incredibly controversial figure in the Premier League at the moment following another rollercoaster of a season involving the Uruguay international. The striker is currently in the middle of a 10 game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and also looks to set leave current club Liverpool this summer following several very public statements from the striker. Initially, the striker said that he wants to leave Liverpool for a foreign club, stating that he couldn’t handle the way the British press were treating him. Now however, he has revealed the real reason for wanting to leave Anfield and that is to play in the Champions League.
The Reds fell well short of Champions League qualification last season and will face a battle to get into the top four next season. It seems that Suarez isn’t willing to wait and is trying to force his way out of Anfield. Real Madrid are thought to be his preferred destination, with the striker making several declarations about how much he would love to play for the Spanish giants. Real Madrid are thought to be interested in signing Suarez but recent reports suggest that Los Blancos are only willing to pay £25 million for the striker, well below Liverpool’s valuation. The Reds have said that they won’t consider selling the striker unless a club pays £40 million and the club are in no hurry to sell the Uruguayan as they have him under contract for another three years. With Real Madrid not wanting to pay that, Arsenal have become frontrunners to sign Suarez.
Arsene Wenger had originally tried to sign Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid but he turned his attentions to Suarez after it was revealed that the Uruguayan would be interested in a move to the Emirates. The Gunners have already submitted a bid to Liverpool for the striker, believed to be around £35 million but that was rejected by Liverpool. Now, Arsenal look set to come back to Liverpool with an improved £40 million offer, meeting the Reds valuation. Brendan Rodgers recently stated that the club would consider a £40 million bid, so Suarez could end up at the Emirates very soon.
Wayne Rooney- Manchester United
Wayne Rooney’s future at Manchester United has been the subject of speculation for many months, ever since the striker was left out of a vital Champions League game against Real Madrid. Since then, Rooney has looked like being on the verge of leaving the club with the striker having fallen out with former manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of last season. Ferguson said that Rooney had asked for a transfer but the striker denies ever saying this and wants an apology from Ferguson, which is very unlikely to happen. Despite several meeting with new manager David Moyes, the England international still looks to be on his way out of Old Trafford. Rooney was reportedly upset at comments Moyes made about the striker being second choice behind Robin Van Persie.
Reports suggest that Moyes comments were the final straw and Rooney will now actively look to leave United. Chelsea are believed to be his preferred destination, with Blues boss Jose Mourinho confirming that the club want to sign the England international. Mourinho even said that the striker is his only transfer target for the rest of the summer. The Blues have already had an offer rejected by United, believed to be around £20 million.
Reports suggest that the Blues will come back to Old Trafford with an improved £24 million offer and will go as high as £30 million if they need to. United however, continue to state that Rooney isn’t for sale at any price and the club believe that they are in a good position to keep hold of the striker. Rooney’s contract runs out in two years time and David Moyes wants to give him a year to prove himself before offering him a new deal. It looks as though Rooney will have to submit a formal transfer request if he wants to leave United but even then reports suggest that United will still try and keep him at the club. Moyes won’t want to sell Rooney to another Premier League rival unless they offer big money and if he really does have to sell the England striker he may have to offer him to clubs abroad. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris St Germain and AS Monaco are monitoring the situation and maybe interested in signing the striker should he come onto the market.
Gareth Bale- Tottenham Hotspur
Bale had a wonderful 2012/2013 campaign with Spurs, scoring 23 goals for the club and winning three major individual accolades. However, his excellent performances for Tottenham could not get the club into the Premier League’s top four, meaning they also missed out on a place in next seasons Champions League. Bale is desperate to play in the Champions League and test himself against the world’s best players and because of this he has been linked with a move away from White Hart Lane. Real Madrid were thought to be frontrunners in the race to sign Bale but their interest has waned slightly due Tottenham’s stance.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is desperate to keep the Welshman at the club and will not entertain any bids for the player unless it is a huge offer. However, Manchester United are now interested in signing the winger, with reports suggesting that the club a willing to make a £60 million offer for the winger. United boss David Moyes wants to sign a top quality player this summer to get his first season as Red Devils boss off to a good start and sees Bale as an excellent proposition. The Welshman would add pace and skill to United’s squad whilst also scoring some goals from midfield, something United have been lacking of late. However, recent reports have suggested that Real Madrid are set to renew their interest in Bale.
The club are selling plenty of fringe players in order to raise money for a bid for Bale and could make a huge £85 million offer the winger, which would be a world record if it were to be accepted by Tottenham. It is unknown which club Bale would prefer to move to with some pundits suggesting he go to Madrid and some suggesting he go to United. Former Spurs midfielder Glenn Hoddle has said that Bale should stay in the Premier League, even if it means he moves to Manchester United. It would certainly be true that if Bale were to move to Madrid, the Premier League would be poorer without him. There is still a possibility that he could stay at Spurs, with Daniel Levy set to offer him a new contract and will try and persuade him that the club will be in the Champions League soon.