20 big names missing from the English top flight.
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20) Isco (Real Madrid)
After a difficult first season breaking into the starting lineup at Real Madrid, Spanish starlet Isco has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs this summer, most notably Liverpool. Manchester City were also known to be interested this time last year while he was still at Malaga, where he established himself as one of the best youngsters in the world. The 22-year-old can certainly recover his best form and would be the calibre of player warmly welcomed to England.
19) Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan)
A classy and technically gifted player, but also a fierce competitor in midfield, Inter Milan star Fredy Guarin looks ideally suited for Premier League football. Manchester United have been strongly linked with him this summer, while Chelsea have also shown an interest in the past. Inter may be ready to sell the Colombian international for the right price this summer, and it would be great to see him in the Premier League this season if possible.
18) Sami Khedira (Real Madrid)
A Champions League and World Cup winner in the space of a few months, Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Sami Khedira has a trophy cabinet befitting of his ability on the pitch. The 27-year-old has been strongly linked with Arsenal for much of this summer as he enters the final year of his contract at the Bernabeu. There’s no doubt Khedira would make a top class signing for the Gunners, and be a great arrival for English football as a whole.
17) Kevin Strootman (AS Roma)
A classy and intelligent midfield playmaker, AS Roma star Kevin Strootman would be another welcome addition to the Premier League from abroad. The Netherlands international has been linked several times with Manchester United in recent months, after also emerging as one of their top targets last summer.
16) Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
One of the best defenders in the world, a host of top clubs are supposedly chasing Borussia Dortmund and Germany centre-back Mats Hummels this summer. Arsenal and Manchester United are linked as his main suitors in England, while Barcelona and Juventus are also known to be tracking him as he surely looks set to make the move to a bigger club sooner or later.
15) Mehdi Benatia (AS Roma)
A rock-solid defensive player, AS Roma centre-back Mehdi Benatia is another top target for Manchester United in defence, while Chelsea are also believed to be stepping up their interest in him. The Moroccan international doesn’t look like he’d have any trouble settling into life in English football, and it would be great to see him make the move to these shores before the end of the transfer window.
14) Koke (Atletico Madrid)
One of La Liga’s best midfielders last season, Koke was a superb performer for Atletico Madrid as they shocked the footballing world to claim the La Liga title. This young Spaniard certainly has all the makings to be world class if he isn’t already, and although he recently signed a new contract at the Vicente Calderon, he has attracted strong interest from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea in recent times, and it would be great to see him play over here.
13) Mario Balotelli (AC Milan)
A player that Premier League fans already know all about, Mario Balotelli could make a hugely popular return to English football after attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool this summer. The controversial Italian has impressed for AC Milan since he left Manchester City, but his attitude remains a problem and the club may be happy to send him packing back over here to wow us with his performances and crazy off-the-pitch antics again.
12) Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina)
One of the most in-demand wingers in world football at the moment, Fiorentina star Juan Cuadrado has just enjoyed a superb campaign in Serie A and with the Colombian national team at this summer’s World Cup. Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been linked with him in this transfer window, thought it currently looks like being a two-way battle between Manchester United and Barcelona for his signature – a battle we hope United win as it would be great to see this vastly entertaining attacker play in the Premier League.
11) Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)
With the departure of one world class Uruguayan this summer, another one could be set to come in as Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is reportedly a top target to replace Luis Suarez at Liverpool. Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked with the former Napoli star, who is thought to be keen on the chance to play in the Premier League. He would certainly be very welcome here, with his performances in recent years showing him to be one of the best centre-forwards in the world.
10) Radamel Falcao (AS Monaco)
Another top class striker currently playing in Ligue 1, AS Monaco’s Radamel Falcao is a player who will surely end up in the Premier League at some point after being linked with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City for so long last summer, and with Liverpool this year. Still, Real Madrid are thought to be keen on the prolific Colombian international, and it may be that English football fans will miss out on this superb goalscorer once again.
9) Arturo Vidal (Juventus)
Undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment, Juventus and Chile star Arturo Vidal could be the next big-name arrival in the Premier League as rumours of Manchester United’s interest continue to dominate the headlines. The 27-year-old would make an excellent addition at Old Trafford due to their shortage of quality options in the middle of the park, and he could go on to become one of the best players in the English top flight if he does move here.
8) Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Despite numerous links to Premier League clubs in the last few years, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema looks like one that will be getting away from us again as he recently signed a new contract at the Bernabeu. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have all been linked with the prolific Frenchman many times, and there’s no doubt he would be a big hit in England after proving so reliable in front of goal for Madrid.
7) Paul Pogba (Juventus)
Perhaps the best young player in the world, Premier League fans never got to see a great deal of Paul Pogba during his spell with Manchester United earlier in his career. The French starlet only made a handful of first-team appearances for the Red Devils before joining Juventus on a free transfer, and he has since risen to world class status with his superb displays in Serie A. United have been linked with a bid to bring him back, while Chelsea and Manchester City are also known to be admirers of his, though he would now cost them around £60m.
6) Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich)
A player unlikely to leave Bayern Munich anytime soon, but still one who would be a great addition to the Premier League. Thomas Mueller was in superb form for Germany at the World Cup this summer, continuing his reputation as the man for the big occasion as his side went on to lift the trophy. Despite some links to Manchester United earlier in the summer, he signed a new contract at the Allianz Arena to commit his future to the club.
5) Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
An extremely classy attacking midfielder, Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus could still make his way to the Premier League this summer after being linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in recent times. The 25-year-old is certainly one of the best players in the world at the moment, and would improve any side he ended up going to. Barcelona are also interested, however, so English clubs may have to act fast to bring the talented German in this summer.
4) Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
A truly world class striker, there doesn’t appear to be much hope of Robert Lewandowski making the move to the Premier League anytime soon after only joining Bayern Munich this summer. The Polish goal machine has been linked with English clubs in the past, however, and the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United were all reportedly in for him while he was still at Borussia Dortmund, though he eventually made the decision to run down his contract and join their fierce title rivals instead.
3) Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid)
Fans will be holding out hope that Angel Di Maria could still make his way to England this summer, with Manchester United now thought to be leading the chase for his signature after Paris Saint-Germain pulled out of the race to sign him. The Argentine winger was in superb form for Real Madrid last season as his 11 goals and 26 assists proved vital for the club in their Champions League and Copa del Rey double-winning campaign, but he now looks to be out of favour following the £63m signing of World Cup star James Rodriguez. Arsenal and Manchester City have also been linked with him in the past, and he would be a very exciting addition to the Premier League indeed.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Already a Premier League great for his time with Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo has arguably only got better during his time with Real Madrid. The Portuguese superstar is perhaps the best player on the planet at the moment, and has not ruled out a return to Old Trafford in the future. It would certainly be great to see one of the modern greats play over here again, so we hope to see some more developments to this possibility in the next few years.
1) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain)
A truly world class star of the game who has played almost everywhere except England, it would be absolutely wonderful for Premier League fans to get a closer glimpse of Zlatan Ibrahimovic at some point in his career. The charismatic Swede is currently with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, and it would no doubt take a big-money offer of mammoth proportions to lure him away, but if neutrals were to pick any player from around the world to come and play over here, it would surely be Zlatan.