A look at 50 potential late deals for players whose futures remain unresolved.
It’s been one of the busiest summer transfer windows ever, with some of the best talents and most exciting youngsters in world football making big-money moves to big clubs.
For months there was speculation over the future of the likes of Radamel Falcao, Edinson Cavani, Neymar and Isco, and now most of these stories have been settled. However, deadline day is known for bringing about a lot of last-minute surprises, and there are still plenty of players hoping to get their dream move, and plenty of summer-long sagas still unresolved.
Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United
After a storming season for Everton last year, it’s no surprise to see Marouane Fellaini being linked with a move away from Goodison Park, particularly with his former manager David Moyes making the move to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. The Belgian would be a great addition at Old Trafford, giving them a new dimension in a midfield currently lacking options. United have been unsuccessful in their pursuit of Fellaini so far, having two bids rejected, but with the 25-year-old keen to be playing Champions League football, this certainly seems like one that’s going right to the wire.
Leighton Baines to Manchester United
Along with Fellaini, left-back Leighton Baines was one of Everton’s most impressive performers last season, and Moyes has been keen to bring both players with him to his new club. Baines’ ability going forward and excellent delivery with his left foot would make him an upgrade on the ageing and inconsistent Patrice Evra, but understandably Everton are keen to hold on to him. Some rumours suggest he has submitted a transfer request at the club, though his manager Roberto Martinez has moved to deny this. It seems probable that United will come back with one final bid on deadline day to bring in these two top targets.
Ashley Williams to Arsenal
Arsenal desperately need reinforcements in defence, and have been linked several times with a move for impressive Swansea centre-back Ashley Williams. The Welshman has been a key performer for the Swans since their promotion to the Premier League, and even led the side to silverware last season as they won the Capital One Cup. The 29-year-old may be a crucial ingredient in tightening things up at the back for Arsenal, which could see them finally end their eight-year wait for a trophy. Swansea say they haven’t received any formal offers yet, but that could still change late on.
Peter Odemwingie to Swansea
After trying to force a move to Queens Park Rangers in January, Peter Odemwingie has been frozen out at West Brom ever since, and has been linked with several moves away from the Hawthorns all summer. Newly-promoted sides Hull and Crystal Palace have been his main suitors, though it now seems that he could be part of Michael Laudrup’s plans to strengthen Swansea’s attack. Despite his disciplinary problems, the Nigerian remains a proven Premier League striker, and could fit in well at the Liberty Stadium.
Tiago Ilori to Liverpool
Liverpool are in trouble at the back due to recent injuries to Sebastian Coates and new signing Kolo Toure, leaving just Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel as the club’s fit central defenders after the retirement of Jamie Carragher at the end of last season. Sporting Lisbon youngster Tiago Ilori is one player who has been a target for Brendan Rodgers for much of the summer, and although this exciting talent won’t come cheap, the Reds boss may now feel he is willing to pay up to bring a new player in for that area.
Mamadou Sakho to Liverpool
Another centre-back being linked with a move to Anfield is PSG’s Mamadou Sakho. The 23-year-old is regarded as a top talent in France, but is unsure of his current status in the French champions’ first-team, with recent big-name arrivals of the likes of Thiago Silva and Marquinhos. PSG are keen to keep him though, and Liverpool may be forced to pay around £13million to sign him, as well as facing competition from Serie A giants AC Milan.
Julio Cesar to Arsenal
Amazingly, Queens Park Rangers’ Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar has not been snapped up yet this summer. The 33-year-old was one of the few top performers for Harry Redknapp’s side last season as they suffered a surprise relegation from the Premier League. Many of their other under-performing stars have already left, but Cesar somehow remains. Moves to Fiorentina and Benfica have fallen through, and Arsenal are said to be his other main admirers, particularly with their current problems in goal. Will Arsene Wenger cave on the final day and make a move for this excellent short-term option?
Martin Demichelis to Manchester City
Despite having already moved this summer from Malaga, Atletico Madrid defender Martin Demichelis has become a top target for Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini due to his injury crisis at the back. The 32-year-old Argentine played under Pellegrini at Malaga and is a solid and experienced defender, who would make an ideal addition to City’s backline at the moment. Talks are believed to be ongoing, and this seems like one that could finally go through late on.
Pepe to Manchester City
Alternatively, Pellegrini may try to strike a late deal to sign one of his prime targets this summer, Real Madrid’s Pepe. The Portuguese centre-back played under the Chilean during their time together at the Bernabeu, and City have so far seen a bid of £17million turned down for his services. The 30-year-old is an experienced winner and looks like he would fit in perfectly with the physical and aggressive style of the Premier League. Real have been firm in their desire to keep him, but a bid of £20million or more could see him make a late move to the Etihad Stadium.
Thomas Vermaelen to Napoli
Currently out of favour with Arsenal following a severe drop in form last season, it is unclear if Thomas Vermaelen is really out injured at the moment, or waiting for a club to make a late move. Napoli have been linked with the Belgian, and even though the transfer window is almost over, his future at the club is by no means assured – a surprise turn of events after a great start to his Arsenal career back in 2009.
Jack Butland to West Brom
Promising young goalkeeper Jack Butland was signed by Stoke in January before being loaned back to former club Birmingham City for the rest of the season. Presumably intended as a replacement for Asmir Begovic, Butland completed his switch to the Britannia this summer, though he looks to be second choice behind the Bosnian who has ended up staying at the club. Another loan move seems increasingly likely for the 20-year-old, who would certainly get into most Premier League teams. West Brom looks like being his destination, due to an injury sustained by Ben Foster. Talks are ongoing, and Butland is unlikely to still be at the club by the end of the transfer window.
Micah Richards to Arsenal
After struggling for first-team football for much of last season after losing his place to Pablo Zabaleta, Micah Richards has been linked several times with a move to Arsenal. However, with Manchester City now short of defenders, they may be more willing to offer him the regular action he wants. Still, the Gunners are short of defensive options themselves, and may revive their interest in the versatile 25-year-old, who could do a job for them both at right-back and centre-back.
Lacina Traore to Monaco
This highly promising young striker looks set to be the latest to move on in Anzhi Makhachkala’s recent fire-sale, which has seen star players such as Willian and Samuel Eto’o leave the club for Chelsea. A six foot eight target man, Traore has all the skills to make it as one of the top strikers in Europe, and could be another high-profile signing made by big-spending Monaco this summer. A move is yet to be confirmed, but it seems that Claudio Ranieri will be keen to get another player in before the end of the summer.
Vicente Guaita to Arsenal
Arsenal’s search for a new goalkeeper could also take them to Valencia, after they were recently linked with their goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. Although the 26-year-old is not always first choice at the Mestalla, they certainly seem to value him highly, and are said to be demanding close to £25million for him. Arsenal are not known for spending big on goalkeepers, or indeed on anyone, but if Wenger fails to bring in his other options then he may be tempted to splash out late in the day for the Spaniard.
Bafetimbi Gomis to Newcastle
It’s been a quiet summer for Newcastle in the transfer market, but there are suggestions that they will look to pull off some late deals. Manager Alan Pardew has said he feels his squad could do with another striker, and they have been linked throughout the summer with prolific Lyon star Bafetimbi Gomis. The Magpies have done well in their recent transfer business in France, and Gomis looks like another player who could make the step up to the Premier League and shine at Newcastle.
Eric Dier to Chelsea
Chelsea have been linked recently as admirers of one of English football’s brightest prospects making a name for himself abroad. 19-year-old defender Eric Dier has been at Sporting Lisbon for his entire career, since his family moved to Portugal when he was 10 years old. Now an England Under-21 international, several clubs are said to have looked at bringing him home, and Chelsea may feel he is a good long-term replacement for John Terry, and a very capable backup to his current first-choice defenders. Dier could be a bargain as well, available for just £4.2million, and it will be interesting to see if the Blues make a late move for him.
Eliaquim Mangala to Manchester City
Talented Porto youngster Eliaquim Mangala has been a target for many top clubs this summer, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona, but with Manuel Pellegrini’s recent defensive crisis and seeming inability to bring in his main target Pepe, Mangala could now be subject to late bid from Manchester City. The 22-year-old Frenchman is one of the best young defenders in the world and looks more than ready to compete in the Premier League with a big club. With City’s defensive problems, this move makes sense, the only question is whether City can tempt Porto into selling so late on.
Oscar Cardozo to Barcelona
Short of options upfront since the sale of David Villa to Atletico Madrid, Barcelona are reportedly keen on bringing in Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo as a backup. The 30-year-old, who was also a surprise target for West Ham, has enjoyed prolific form in his time in Portugal, scoring 105 goals in 160 appearances for the club. He was also on the score sheet in last season’s Europa League final defeat to Chelsea as he had one of his best seasons yet. A late bloomer perhaps, and a player who could certainly do a job for Barcelona if they manage to complete the deal in time.
Nicklas Bendtner to Hull City
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made a surprise announcement that Nicklas Bendtner could end up staying at the club this summer, after being linked with numerous clubs for the last couple of years. The Dane had failed loan spells with Sunderland and Juventus, and is now finding that no one will take him. Newly-promoted Hull City seem to be his biggest admirers, but have had some struggles to meet his wage demands. Arsenal fans will be hoping to see the back of him, and as he surely has no future in the first-team plans of Wenger, a late compromise could see him make the move to the KC Stadium, where he would be reunited with his former manager Steve Bruce, whom he played under in a loan spell at Birmingham City.
Yohan Cabaye to Arsenal
It is perfectly possible that Arsenal will try again to sign Newcastle playmaker Yohan Cabaye. The Frenchman has been one of the Premier League’s most impressive midfielders since signing for the club in 2011, and his playing style would make him a great fit at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners have already seen an offer of £10million rejected by the Magpies, but with Wenger losing players to injury and short of options in midfield, he may be tempted to push through a late deal for the 27-year-old, who looks good value for Newcastle’s asking price of £20million.
Yoann Gourcuff to Newcastle
If Cabaye does leave Newcastle for Arsenal, it is thought that Alan Pardew has already identified Lyon playmaker Yoann Gourcuff as an ideal like-for-like replacement. Gourcuff is seen as something of a wasted talent in his career so far, but could be the latest in a growing French contingent to succeed at St James’ Park. A naturally gifted and technical player, the 27-year-old could certainly do a job for Newcastle, and may be available on the cheap due to the unfortunate baggage that comes with him.
Gareth Barry to Everton
With Everton facing the prospect of losing Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United, manager Roberto Martinez has been forced to keep on the lookout for a midfielder to replace him. One option for the Spaniard could be out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry. The 32-year-old doesn’t seem to be part of new manager Manuel Pellegrini’s plans at the Etihad Stadium this season, and could be available on loan, though Everton may find his high wages could be a detrimental factor in their efforts to sign him.
James McCarthy to Everton
Another option for Everton in that area could be Wigan midfielder James McCarthy, whom Martinez will know well and be keen to be reunited with after their time together at the DW Stadium. McCarthy was one of Wigan’s more impressive performers in their relegation last season, and has been linked with a move to Everton ever since Martinez took the job at Goodison Park. He would be an expensive purchase at around £15million, and much will depend on the future of Fellaini and the possibility of loaning Barry, but Everton may have to act fast as the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle could also be sniffing about in the final hours of the transfer window.
Colombian striker Jackson Martinez has become one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe this summer after an excellent first season with Porto last year. The 26-year-old scored 34 goals in 43 appearances for the club, and looks like another great piece of business by the Portuguese side, who have a recent habit of finding talent before selling it on for big money. Martinez had been linked strongly with Chelsea before they signed Samuel Eto’o, and it seems possible that Liverpool could revive their interest in him after missing out on several other big-name targets.
Kaka to Manchester United
Recent reports suggest that Manchester United could make a late move for Real Madrid midfielder Kaka. The Brazilian has announced that he wants to leave the Bernabeu after a disappointing four years in Spain, and may be given the chance to reignite his career in the Premier League. Still only 31, there is time for Kaka to find his best form again, and he could be the ideal short-term solution for David Moyes at the moment as he seeks a new playmaker to replace the recently-retired Paul Scholes. Arsenal may also be in for him, and this latest development could make for a tense final few hours on deadline day.
Ander Herrera to Manchester United
After a long summer of being linked with one midfield target after another, Manchester United may have turned their attention late on to talented Athletic Bilbao man Alder Herrera. The 24-year-old showed plenty of promise in his last visit to Old Trafford, starring with a superb all-round midfield display as Bilbao sprung a shock 3-2 defeat on United. This key player may cost as much as £31million as stated in the buy-out clause in his contract, as the Basque club won’t want to lose another key player after selling both Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente in the last year. United have made an opening offer of £25million, and it will be interesting to see if they look to activate his release clause late on.
Iker Casillas to Manchester City
Bizarrely, the future of legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas at Real Madrid is under serious doubt after new manager Carlo Ancelotti carried on where previous boss Jose Mourinho left off, by leaving the Spaniard on the bench in favour of Diego Lopez. Casillas has been with Real for his entire career and become one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not ever, but could now be set for an exit with Manchester City in particular need of a new shot-stopper, following a drastic drop in form from current first-choice Joe Hart. A late £15million might be enough to bring the 32-year-old to the Premier League in what would be one of the signings of the summer.
Fabio Quagliarella to West Ham
West Ham have been chasing another striker for some time, and look to be making some progress in their attempts to land Fabio Quagliarella from Juventus. The Italian international may still be waiting on an offer from Arsenal, but with the Gunners looking at other, more high-profile options, Quagliarella could still be a West Ham player by next week, and become another good addition by Sam Allardyce this summer.
Nani to Roma
An inconsistent talent, Nani had a highly disappointing season for Manchester United last year. That hasn’t stopped a lot of top clubs showing an interest in him this summer though, and with Roma said to be the latest side to be chasing him, he could still be seen as surplus to requirements by David Moyes. Roma will be keen to bring in the Portuguese winger after losing Erik Lamela to Tottenham, and will surely work right to the deadline to make sure a move happens.
Angel Di Maria to Arsenal
Part of a proposed triple swoop on Real Madrid by Arsenal, Angel Di Maria could make a dramatic late move to the Emirates Stadium this summer. The Argentine winger suffered a slight drop in form last season, and may not feature as regularly this year with the club chasing a host of new signings. A move could be right for him at this time, and he would certainly be an excellent addition for Arsenal, providing them with something a bit different on the flanks.
Mesut Ozil to Arsenal
Arsenal’s raid on Real Madrid could continue with German playmaker Mesut Ozil. The skillful attacker has been at the club since 2010, establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the world, though he is another who was thought to be considering his future at the club with the imminent arrival of Gareth Bale from Tottenham. He has since denied these rumours and committed his future to the club, but a late bid from the Gunners could still tempt the Spanish giants into cashing in on the former Werder Bremen man.
Karim Benzema to Arsenal
Finally, Arsenal will look to Real Madrid again to solve their problems upfront. Having failed to sign Gonzalo Higuain from the Spanish giants earlier in the summer, Karim Benzema could be another option for Arsene Wenger. The prolific Frenchman is no doubt one of the best strikers in the world on his day, and would give Arsenal the kind of class upfront that they arguably haven’t had since Thierry Henry. Benzema has also stated his desire to stay at the Bernabeu, but will the Gunners have something up their sleeves on deadline day?
Christian Eriksen to Tottenham
Despite surely being about to lose Gareth Bale, Spurs fans have been in dreamland this summer with the arrival of so many big names. Next up could be Ajax starlet Christian Eriksen, who seems to be closing in on a move to White Hart Lane. Along with fellow new arrival Erik Lamela, Eriksen is one of the best young players in the world and Spurs will be beating the likes of Liverpool and Juventus to his signature if they manage to bring him in. There’s not long left in the transfer window, but Spurs will surely try right to end to bring in this world class addition. DEAL DONE
Toby Alderweireld to Atletico Madrid
Another talented youngster from Ajax, Toby Alderweireld, has caught the attention of several Premier League clubs this summer, including Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton and Newcastle, but seems to be moving ever closer to a move to La Liga with Atletico Madrid, in a deal that could be completed by the final day of the summer.
Tom Ince to Everton
Highly-rated Blackpool winger Tom Ince looks sure to be a Premier League star of the future, and has seemed close on several occasions this summer to joining a bigger club. Cardiff City came in with a surprise offer for him, but he turned the Welsh side down, but the right offer could still come along, and it is thought that Everton are the club currently leading the chase for the 21-year-old, though Aston Villa are also keen. A pacey and skillful winger, Ince scored 18 goals for Blackpool last season, and was definitely a stand-out performer in the Championship.
Will Hughes to Liverpool
Another one of English football’s finest prospects currently plying his trade in the lower leagues is Derby County midfielder Will Hughes. The 18-year-old is a skillful playmaker who has drawn comparisons with Barcelona duo Xavi and Andres Iniesta. He looks certain to be a star in the near future, and Liverpool are hoping to snap him up this summer, though they have been told they will have to pay £15million to do so. Depending on their other targets, this could be a player they pursue right to the final day.
Burak Yilmaz to Lazio
Highly prolific striker Burak Yilmaz really caught the eye last season with his performances for Galatasaray in the Champions League. The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea were linked with him at points this summer, though they may be set to miss out on the Turkish international now, as he closes in on a late switch to Serie A side Lazio.
John Obi Mikel to Galatasaray
A player who could be heading in to Galatasaray is Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel. The Nigerian has been at Stamford Bridge for almost his entire senior career since controversially pulling out of a deal to join Manchester United as a youngster. Although a solid performer for the Blues, Jose Mourinho is supposedly keen on bringing a better all-round midfielder to the club, and Mikel could make way if the Portuguese coach is successful in landing his other main targets.
Daniele De Rossi to Chelsea
One of Mourinho’s top targets is Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi. The 30-year-old has spent his entire career in Rome so far, though he has been linked with an exit on several occasions. The Italian international was a target for Manchester City last year, though the move never materialised. His future is now under speculation again after missing some of Roma’s pre-season games, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Blues make a late attempt to sign him in the dying hours of the transfer window.
Sami Khedira to Chelsea
Failing a move for De Rossi, Chelsea could turn their attention to Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira, another player at the Bernabeu to be linked with an exit this summer. The German international has been at the club since signing from Stuttgart in 2010, and was a favourite of Mourinho during his time in charge at the Bernabeu. PSG have also been chasing the 26-year-old, and though he has committed his future to the club, there’s always time for a late twist on deadline day if Chelsea are serious about landing him.
Michu to Arsenal
Arsenal have been strongly linked with a second raid on Swansea as they chase additions upfront. After missing out on the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez, and a big-name target like Karim Benzema perhaps seeming a bit ambitious, Michu could be the ideal signing for Arsenal right now. The Spaniard was in fantastic form for the Swans last season after joining the club for just £2million, and although they are keen not to lose a key player, they could be set to make a huge profit on Michu with their slapping a price tag of over £25million on his head. Arsenal may find he is the cheapest option available, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wenger force a deal through late in the day.
Andriy Yarmolenko to Liverpool
Having missed out on attacking midfielders such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Willian and Christian Eriksen, Liverpool may now look to bring in Ukrainian attacker Andriy Yarmolenko. The 23-year-old is a skillful goal-scoring winger and has been in fine form for Dynamo Kiev for the last few years. With AC Milan also said to be battling it out for his signature, a deal for this £20million talent could be another that goes right to the wire, though the Reds won’t want to be missing out on a top talent once again this summer.
Victor Moses to Liverpool
Another option on the flanks for Liverpool following the sale of Stewart Downing to West Ham and the loan of Oussama Assaidi to Stoke could be Chelsea’s Victor Moses. The Nigerian seems unlikely to be part of Jose Mourinho’s first-team plans at Stamford Bridge this season due to the arrival of so many new players in that position, including Willian, Andre Schurrle and the return from loan of Kevin De Bruyne. A move to Anfield could be a good chance for the 22-year-old to revive his career, as his old team-mate Daniel Sturridge has done since leaving Chelsea for Liverpool.
Demba Ba to Newcastle
In a surprise turn of events, Newcastle are keen to bring Demba Ba back to the club just eight months after selling him to Chelsea. The Senegalese striker was in fine form for the Magpies in the first half of last season, scoring 13 goals in 22 appearances, though he only managed 6 goals in the same number of games with Chelsea in the second half of the year. Roma are also interested in the 29-year-old, though he may feel a return to his old club may be what he needs to rediscover his best form again. Chelsea are asking for £10million, while Newcastle want a loan, and it will be interesting to see who eventually budges as the transfer deadline draws closer.
Javier Hernandez to Tottenham
After falling down the pecking order at Manchester United, Javier Hernandez has been linked with a number of clubs throughout the summer, including big names such as Juventus and Real Madrid. After recently turning down a move to Valencia to fight for his place at Old Trafford, Tottenham are said to be hoping to make a late attempt to change his mind. Given the summer they’ve had and the project growing under Andre Villas-Boas at White Hart Lane, it could be a good move for Hernandez, and it will be interesting to see if he has a change of heart before the summer comes to an end.
Luis Suarez to Real Madrid
Although Luis Suarez looks finally to have put a summer of speculation behind him to stay at Liverpool, rumours of interest from Real Madrid have not died down. Arsenal were the main team in for him for much of the summer, before the Uruguayan appeared to commit his future to the club, though the uncertain futures of the likes of Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu could tempt Real into making a late bid to prise Suarez away from Liverpool. It might be a tall order, given that the Reds wouldn’t have much time to find a replacement, but deadline day is always full of surprises, and this particular saga may not quite be over just yet.
Fernando Torres to Liverpool
In what would be one of the more surprising footballing returns, Liverpool could make a late effort to re-sign Fernando Torres from Chelsea, with the Spaniard’s future at the club looking bleak after the signing of Samuel Eto’o. Torres has been unpopular with his old fans since making a £50million move to Stamford Bridge in 2011, but Brendan Rodgers may still feel he has what it takes to become a hero at Anfield once again. The 29-year-old never managed to find his best form with Chelsea, and may also be tempted to return to the club where he became regarded as one of the best players in the world. There isn’t long left until deadline day, but Chelsea could be ready to listen to offers if they come along.
Juan Mata to Atletico Madrid
In one of the more bizarre decisions by Jose Mourinho in his career, the Portuguese boss looks to be willing to lose star playmaker Juan Mata this summer, after dropping him to the bench for his first few games in charge of the club while pursuing the signings of other attacking midfielders. It’s hard to understand why Mourinho wouldn’t want Mata in his team, but the situation has alerted the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham to his availability. Atletico Madrid have also asked about taking the Spaniard on loan, and may be the more realistic option as Chelsea won’t want to lose him to a rival. We may not know for sure what happens with Mata until the very end of the transfer window, but Chelsea fans will be hoping the Special One doesn’t make a big blunder here.
Zakaria Bakkali to Manchester City
After bursting onto the scene for PSV this season with a hat-trick in just his second appearance for the club, 17-year-old sensation Zakaria Bakkali is now the talk of all of Europe, with Manchester City and Arsenal particularly keen on snapping up the exciting young winger. PSV have admitted they may need to sell him if a good offer comes along, and City in particular will definitely have the money if they are serious about landing this top talent.
Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United
This sensational story has been floating around at points all summer. With Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly unhappy about Real Madrid’s very public pursuit of Gareth Bale, he has hinted at a desire to return to his old club Manchester United. There is possibly no signing that could signal a better start to David Moyes’ reign at Old Trafford, and if a deal is still alive on deadline day, you can bet that everything will be done to make it happen. This would undoubtedly be the story of the summer, eclipsing even Bale’s big-money move to the Bernabeu, as the Premier League welcomes back one of its best-ever players.