Silly season has certainly already begun.
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Arsenal transfer news
Chelsea transfer news
Manchester United transfer news
It certainly doesn’t feel like Financial Fair Play is having an impact on Premier League clubs and their transfer ambitions with some monumentally huge deals being reported for the upcoming window.
CaughtOffside takes a look at the biggest and most expensive transfer rumours once the window flies open come January 1st.
Mario Mandzukic
Where: Atletico Madrid to Manchester City
Cost: £25 million
Atletico’s summer signing has been in great form this season scoring 14 goals in 22 games for Diego Simeone – form that has apparently not gone unnoticed with the Daily Star reporting that Manuel Pellegrini is keen on the big Croat.
City have been impacted by injuries with 18 year old Juan Angel Pozo and James Milner being forced to start the Manchester side’s recent games.
Kevin Strootman
Where: Roma to Manchester United
Cost: £32 million
The Daily Mirror claim United are just one step away from signing long term target Kevin Strootman from Roma for £32 million come January.
The Dutch midfielder is said to be keen on teaming up with Louis Van Gaal once again.
Jackson Martinez
Where: FC Porto to Liverpool or Tottenham
Cost: £35 million
The Colombian striker has caught the attention of both Liverpool and Tottenham as they search for long term strikers to bolster their faltering forward lines.
Martinez is believed to have a release clause of £35 million according to Evening Standard which may dampen any potential move until the summer.
Karim Benzema
Where: Real Madrid to Liverpool
Cost: £50 million
Brendan Rodger will make a £50 million bid for Benzema in January according to Daily Express as he looks to solve his striker crisis following the poor form of Mario Balotelli and long-term injury to Daniel Sturridge.
Edinson Cavani
Where: Paris Saint Germain to Arsenal
Cost: £50 million
Arsenal have been given the all clear to sign long-term target Edinson Cavani in January for around £50 million.
The Daily Express claim PSG boss Laurent Blanc has become frustrated at Cavani’s inconsistency and is looking to offload him as soon as possible.
Gareth Bale
Where: Real Madrid to Manchester United
Cost: £120 million
Now we really enter silly season with reports in Spain claiming Bale could be returning to England in the near future with United attempting an astonishing £120 million transfer bid.
Louis Van Gaal refused to discuss the transfer at his pre-Christmas press conference saying: “I discuss that with my CEO and not with anyone of the media,” according to the Daily Mirror.
Lionel Messi
Where: Barcelona to Chelsea
Cost: £200 million
Despite a whopping £200 million price-tag, Chelsea may be preparing an incredible bid to sign the Argentinian superstar from Barcelona.
According to reports, the gargantuan cost would be partly paid for by Messi and Chelsea’s sponsor Adidas who are keen to stop the Argentine from playing for major rival Nike who sponsor Barcelona’s kits.