Ten transfer sagas that could take all summer to conclude.
10. Leighton Baines (Everton)
The Everton man was one of the best attacking full-backs in Europe last season, and his fine form has seen him attract serious attention from Manchester United this summer, particularly with his former boss David Moyes making the move from Goodison Park to take over at Old Trafford. So far, new Toffees manager Roberto Martinez seems confident of keeping the England international, turning down an initial £12million bid from United. However, reports over the last couple of days suggest the saga might not be over, with Moyes keen to persuade Baines to submit a transfer request at Everton to help force through a move. With Everton keen not to sell, and United keen not to over-pay, this one could still be some way from conclusion, and may only go through at the last minute.
9. Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers)
The Brazil international has seemed a dead certainty to be leaving relegated QPR all summer, but so far a move has not transpired. Arsenal are believed to be his main admirers, but with their recent track record they may now have taken themselves out of the running as they won’t want to pay too much for a 33-year-old. Still, the former Inter Milan star is a top ‘keeper, and would be a good addition for most of the major European clubs. Although a deal doesn’t currently look close, surely Cesar is too good to be playing in the Championship, so will someone try their luck late on for the Rangers shot-stopper?
8. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
After a disappointing first season in Spain, former Tottenham star Luka Modric has been linked with a return to the Premier League through several interested parties. Earlier in the summer, Chelsea and Manchester City were believed to be keen on the Croatian playmaker, though it now seems to be between Manchester United and his old club Spurs for his signature. United see him as a good solution to their midfield problems, and a decent alternative to their other targets such as Thiago Alcanatara and Cesc Fabregas, while Spurs are hoping to lure him back to White Hart Lane as part of the Gareth Bale deal.
Modric is reportedly keen on a United move, but not on a return to Spurs, but how much choice will he have in the matter? Depending on how other deals go, this one could still be unresolved going into the final hours of the transfer window.
7. Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund)
Talented Polish striker Robert Lewandowski was angling for a move to Bayern Munich earlier in the summer, seemingly preferring them above all other interested parties. However, he later seemed to settle his dispute with Borussia Dortmund and stay on for another year on a pay rise. Still, the 24-year-old is much-admired around Europe, and recent rumours suggest Chelsea could be back in for him if they fail to land other targets. Although Lewandowski may simply be biding his time on a move to Bayern next summer, perhaps a good enough offer could tempt Dortmund into selling him now to avoid him joining their rivals? It certainly feels like we haven’t heard the last of this one.
6. Marouane Fellaini (Everton)
Marouane Fellaini enjoyed a superb season for Everton last year, and has unsurprisingly been a top target for his old manager David Moyes at Manchester United. The powerful Belgian midfielder has also been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea at points this summer, and is still considered hot property despite the expiry of his minimum release fee clause, which would have allowed him to move for just £21million before August. Although it’s something of a puzzle as to why these clubs did not move for him earlier, United in particular are still thought to be willing to pay close to £30million for the 25-year-old. Everton manager Roberto Martinez has hinted that he could listen to reasonable offers for Fellaini, so he may yet get his big move. Watch this space.
5. Radamel Falcao (Monaco)
One of the most talked about strikers in the world going into this summer, Radamel Falcao was linked with almost every big club before he eventually left Atletico Madrid in a surprise move to big-spending Monaco. In a bizarre turn of events, however, the prolific Colombian could be set to leave the club after just a few months with the news that Monaco’s players may have to adhere to French tax laws and pay the top income tax bracket of 75%. This has led to a number of the club’s big earners questioning their future with the Ligue 1 side, and unsurprisingly Falcao is now being talked up as a target for the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United again. Falcao has denied these rumours so far, but with Monaco’s wealthy Russian owner facing a massive £85million fine, he may prefer to let his star player go. Amazingly enough, a transfer saga that looked finished long ago could now spark into life again.
4. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
The future of Wayne Rooney has been up in the air ever since the end of last season, when former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson left him out of the team and revealed he had submitted a transfer request at Old Trafford. Since then, Rooney has been linked with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, as well as United’s Premier League rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, though new manager David Moyes has remained firm all the while that the England striker would not be sold for any price.
Still, the saga looks like running on, with Chelsea still focused on him as their main transfer target, and Arsenal possibly re-entering the chase after missing out on Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez. It is thought that the Blues have raised their offer to a massive £40million, and it would not be surprising if there was some last-minute action surrounding this transfer, as United will surely feel this unhappy and unsettled player has a price.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Despite an excellent few years in Spain with Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo has become unsettled at the Bernabeu for a number of reasons. The Portuguese winger came under some criticism from a section of the club’s fans in a disappointing season last year, and he has now stalled on signing a new contract with the club, despite claims from Fiorentino Perez that he wanted to make the 28-year-old the best paid player in the world.
Ronaldo is also reportedly unhappy with Real’s highly public pursuit of Tottenham’s Gareth Bale, who could make an £86million move to the Spanish giants and break the world record transfer fee currently held by Ronaldo in the process. All this speculation has seen Ronaldo linked strongly with a return to former club Manchester United, who have vacated the number 7 shirt for him just in case. PSG have also been linked with the free-scoring winger, and there were stories earlier in the summer that they could pay as much as £100million for him. One feels there is certainly potential for new twists and turns in this story before the end of the transfer window.
2. Willian (Anzhi Makhachkala)
Following news of financial trouble at Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala recently, a number of their star players have entered the headlines, none more so than Brazilian forward Willian. The former Shakhtar Donetsk star has attracted serious interest from Arsenal and Chelsea in the past, and he is now thought to be the centre of a two-team tussle between Liverpool and Tottenham, who are both willing to pay £30million or more for the 25-year-old. It is not yet clear where Willian will end up, but his future seems incredibly unlikely to be with Anzhi, and with Manchester City and Chelsea still possibly keen to enter the chase to sign him, we may not know where he ends up right until the end of the summer.
1. Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
Tottenham have stood firm on Gareth Bale all summer, and this may or may not see them pocket a great deal of money for their star player. Real Madrid have put all their efforts into signing the Welshman, and are not likely to shy away from spending world-record fees on their main target. Supposedly their most recent bid was of £86million, and it is thought that they could still raise their offer to as much as £100million. Bale is seemingly keen on leaving White Hart Lane, and has fueled speculation further by his recent lack of involvement in Spurs’ pre-season matches and their first game of the Premier League season.
Although Real seems his most likely destination, Manchester United have also shown a strong interest in the talented winger, and that could make things interesting as we head towards the end of the transfer window. Spurs won’t want to sell Bale to a rival, and this could work in Real’s advantage.