Players who will be looking to make an impact this season to help their push their case for prominent involvement in Brazil next summer.
The World Cup is the pinnacle for every footballer and next summers tournament in Brazil could prove to be one of the best, with several teams all thought to be in the running to lift the golden trophy at the Maracana. While some players will be assured of their place at next summers showpiece event, their are many who are sweating on their place due to a lack of first team football or the fact that they aren’t playing at a high enough level, meaning they may need to move clubs now. Here are ten players who may need to move clubs this summer in order to go to Brazil next year.
Loic Remy- QPR
Remy is one of France’s most talented footballers and has scored goals at every club that he has played at. He has also played a role in France’s national team and would certainly like to be on the plane to Brazil next summer. In January, after months of speculation that the striker would be coming to the Premier League, the striker finally agreed to move to England and joined relegation threaten QPR. Despite being impressive during the last half of QPR’s season, the Hoops were still relegated down to the Championship. Since then Remy has been linked with a move away from Loftus Road but so far no club has come forward with a formal offer for the Frenchman.
This will worry Remy, who won’t want to spend next season playing in England’s second tier. France have several strikers that they could call on and Remy could find himself missing out on next years World Cup if he doesn’t make a move away from QPR. Newcastle are reportedly interested in Remy but Alan Pardew also has his eyes on Darren Bent and is unlikely to have the money to sign both strikers.
Yoann Gourcuff- Lyon
Gourcuff was once regarded as one of the most exciting play makers in European football and was right at the centre of an excellent Bordeaux side. However, in 2010 the midfielder made a big money to another French club, Lyon. A lot was expected of the midfielder and unfortunately, Gourcuff has failed to live up to that expectation. Last season at Lyon, Gourcuff only made 18 league appearances for the club due to injury and poor form and it is thought that in order for Gourcuff to get back to his best, he needs to move clubs. Arsenal are known to be tracking the midfielder and Arsene Wenger has a lot of history when it comes to signing talented French players and then turning them into world beaters. That maybe the best option for Gourcuff if he wants to make it into France’s highly competitive international squad for next summers World Cup.
Xabi Alonso- Real Madrid
Alonso has long been regarded as one of the best central midfielders in the world and has been a key part of Spain’s success at international level. At Real Madrid, Alonso was one of Jose Mourinho’s key players and the two are known to have had a good relationship during the Portuguese coaches three years in Madrid. However, things could be about to change for Alonso with Mourinho’s departure to Chelsea. At 31, Alonso is getting into the twilight of his career and Madrid have seen that. Already the club have signed two young central midfielders this summer in Isco and Asmir Illarramendi. The signing of Illarramendi is interesting as the former Real Sociedad midfielder is seen as a direct replacement for Alonso. The experienced Spaniard may longer get a starting spot in the Madrid first team, putting his participation at next summers World Cup at risk. Alonso may need to move in order to get plenty of game time and reports suggest that the midfielder could be heading back to the Premier League, with former club Liverpool and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea thought to be interested.
Nani- Manchester United
Although talented, Nani has been a frustrating figure at Old Trafford, often showing promise but failing to turn that into long term consistency. At Manchester United, Nani has struggled to hold down a regular place in the Red Devils first team and this season will be no exception, with the Portuguese winger competing with likes of Antonio Valencia and Shinji Kagawa for a starting spot. In order to be sure of a place in Portugal’s team for next summers World Cup, Nani must be playing regularly and that is not something he is guaranteed at Old Trafford. A move away from Manchester maybe Nani’s best option, with Arsenal and AS Monaco reportedly interested in signing the skilful winger. At Monaco especially, Nani could get a lot of game time which may mean he can finally become a most consistent player while Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has always been an admirer of Nani and could get the best out of him.
Micah Richards- Manchester City
Richards has long been regarded as one of English footballs most talented defenders and won his first England cap at the tender age of 18. Since then he has been in and out of the England team, mainly due to the amount of injuries that he has suffered. At Manchester City, he is no longer first choice, at either right back or centre back. Pablo Zabaleta has been exceptional at right back for City, meaning when Richards is fit he is unable to get a game in one his favoured positions. City want him to sign a new contract but Richards knows that if he is not playing he won’t be playing for England, meaning he will miss out on the World Cup. A move away from the Etihad maybe Richards best option and many clubs are thought to be ready to offer the defender first team football.
Inter Milan are thought to be very interested in signing Richards and would give him the opportunity to put together a run of games that he has been unable to do at City. At 18, Richards was one of English footballs brightest talents and unless he does something now, that promise maybe be wasted on the City bench.
Leighton Baines- Everton
Baines is regarded as one of the Premier League’s most reliable full backs and has been a key part of Everton’s success in recent years. However, his path to becoming England’s first choice left back has been blocked by Ashley Cole, undoubtedly one of English footballs best players of the last 10 years. Cole is getting older but is still an excellent left back and that means Baines is facing a battle to get into England’s squad for next summers World Cup. In order to compete with Cole, Baines may need to move to a club that is in the Champions League and Manchester United are reportedly ready to offer him just that.
David Moyes is the Red Devils new manager and the Scot enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Baines during the pairs time together at Everton. Moyes is hoping to be re-united with Baines at Old Trafford and has already submitted a bid to Everton. However, the Toffees rejected Moyes approach and have said that they are not willing to sell Baines. It may take the defender telling Everton that he wants to join United for a move to actually go through.
Julio Cesar- QPR
Cesar is desperate to play in summers World Cup because it is being played in his home country of Brazil. Every player would love to have the opportunity to play in a World Cup in their own country and Cesar is no exception. However, the goalkeeper has struggled to find regular first team football over the past few years. He signed for QPR last summer and was impressive in the Hoops goal, making many exceptional saves and being reliable in goal. However, that didn’t stop QPR being relegated and know Cesar will have to move on again or face a season playing in the Championship. The Brazilian wouldn’t want to be playing in England’s second tier as it would mean that the his chances of playing in World Cup would diminish.
QPR also want to sell the goalkeeper as they want to trim their wage bill. Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing the Brazilian but they have told him that he will need to lower his wage demands if he is to join the club. Cesar may not have a choice if he wants to play in a home World Cup next year as playing for Arsenal would give him the opportunity to play in the Champions League, against some of the best players in the world.
Thomas Vermaelen- Arsenal
For awhile, Vermaelen was regarded as one of the Premier League’s most under rated defenders, often helping the Gunners keep a clean sheet in difficult circumstances. However, last season wasn’t a particularly successful one for the Belgian defender, as injury and poor form meant that he lost his place at the heart of the Gunners defence to Per Mertesacker and Laurent Kosicelny. This was a disappointment to Vermaelen, who wants to go to Brazil with Belgian next summer. The Belgium national teams defence is extremely competitive, with the likes of Vincent Kompany providing competition to Vermaelen. Their is a real danger that the defender may not make it into Belgium’s World Cup squad if he isn’t playing first team football, so a move away from Arsenal maybe needed. Napoli manager Rafa Benitez is looking to strengthen the Italian clubs defence this summer and he has identified Vermaelen as a possible target. Barcelona have also been linked with a move for the Belgian defender. Whatever happens, Vermaelen needs to playing a lot to be on the plane to Brazil next summer.
Jermaine Defoe- Tottenham
Defoe had a reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in Premier League and has scored goals at every club that he has been at. However, as he has got older he has become more susceptible to injuries and this has meant that he has struggled to stay in Tottenham’s first team. One of the major reasons for Spurs failure to finish in the top four last season was the lack of goals from the likes of Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor. Manager Andre Villas-Boas looks set to change that by signing Valencia’s prolific Roberto Soldado, and the Spanish striker will certainly be first choice striker for Spurs next season. This means that Defoe will probably be on the bench more often than not and he is unlikely to make England’s World Cup squad if he is warming the bench at White Hart Lane. Defoe has been linked with a move to several Premier League clubs, with Stoke thought to be the most interested. If Defoe can get a run of games together, then he could become prolific again and stay in Roy Hodgson’s England plans.
Cesc Fabregas- Barcelona
The midfielder left Arsenal to join Barcelona two years ago after a long summer of negotiations. Fabregas was going back to his boy-hood club and it was dream come true for him. However, things haven’t gone quite to plan for the midfielder since his move to Catalonia. Fabregas has often been played out of position at the club, with Barcelona preferring to use Xavi and Andres Iniesta in central midfield. The Catalan club recently sign Brazilian star Neymar from Santos at great expense, meaning it will be even more difficult for Fabregas to get into the Spanish Champions first team.
This could mean that Fabregas place in Spain’s World Cup squad is in jeopardy as their is plenty of competition for places in the World Cup winners squad. A move away from Barcelona maybe Fabregas only option in order to get regular first team football. Manchester United are known to be interested in the striker and have already submitted two bids for the midfielder. Should Fabregas move to Old Trafford, he would be able to play the majority of the Red Devils games, meaning he could get some form for the World Cup. Fabregas would love to stay at Barcelona but if he wants to be in Brazil next summer, he may need to move on.