After a series of dramatic and ill-tempered quarter-finals, the Copa America is down to the final four.
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Hosts Chile will meet Peru on Monday evening, before favourites Argentina take on Brazil’s vanquishers Paraguay 24 hours later.
While numerous Premier League transfer targets have already fallen by the wayside in this summer’s showpiece—not least Douglas Costa of Brazil and Carlos Bacca of Colombia—several potential eminent EPL recruits are still alive in the South American showpiece.
In this feature, we present the top five Copa America semi-finalists and EPL transfer targets we’re excited about potentially welcoming to the Prem next season.
Nicolas Otamendi
Rio Ferdinand believes that Sergio Ramos’s apparent desire to move to Old Trafford is little more than smoke and mirrors in order to engineer an improved deal at Real Madrid.
The 29-year-old has been heavily linked to the defender, but according to Ferdinand, the Red Devils have little chance of signing the World Cup winner.
Instead, they may turn back to Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi, who has a €35 million release clause at current club Valencia [ESPN], and represents a younger, cheaper alternative to Ramos.
Arturo Vidal
Arturo Vidal has endured a troubled tournament. Despite being the face of the 2015 Copa America, the midfielder courted controversy after writing off his £230,000 Ferrari, but was handed a reprieve by the national side.
He will surely be looking to repay La Roja by helping the hosts to the continental title.
Vidal may well be set for a move to the Premier League, with La Stampa [via the Daily Mail] reporting that Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign the Chile international.
At £21 million, the current Juventus star could represent a major coup and a difference-maker for the Gunners ahead of the coming campaign.
Gonzalo Higuain
Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain has been heavily linked with a departure from Napoli, particularly following Rafael Benitez’s switch to Real Madrid.
Despite the club’s insistence that the Argentine striker will not be leaving the San Paolo this summer [Standard], a handful of major sides may attempt to sign the 27-year-old.
Arsenal are believed to be keen on the forward, who is under contract until 2018, and if they meet his £67 million buy-out clause, Napoli may be unable to prevent a departure.
Ezequiel Lavezzi
Having already signed Roberto Firmino this summer, could Liverpool be set to move in the market for another Copa America star?
Brendan Rodgers’s side have long been linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, and according to the Mirror, the Reds could be set to launch a bid for the Argentine forward imminently.
Will the former Napoli striker arrive to Anfield as a South American champion?
Derlis Gonzalez
It’s been a mixed tournament for Paraguay star Derlis Gonzalez; on the pitch, the attacker has shone, and scored the winning penalty against Brazil in the quarter-final.
However, his achievement was tinged with tragedy, as the player’s uncle passed away hours after the national side’s unlikely triumph.
21-year-old Gonalez’s performances have generated attention from Manchester City, with the City believed to be considering a move for the FC Basel man [Goal].