10 Transfer Targets Who Really Shouldn't Switch Leagues

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During the summer transfer window, it seems like half of the players across Europe's major leagues are linked with moves to clubs in different countries.

However, for every success story of a footballer making a cross-border move—often leaving their hometown or somewhere they have grown settled in the process—there are those for whom such a transfer does not quite work out.

Here are 10 players linked with moves away from the leagues they currently play in, who would do well to stick rather than twist this summer.

Wesley Sneijder

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A transfer window just wouldn't be complete without the Dutch midfielder being linked with a move out of Inter Milan.

In previous years, it has been the likes of Manchester United who were supposedly Sneijder's next employers. This summer, it's big-spending Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala although, as ESPN reports, they have since dismissed such claims as "baseless."

Inter may be going through a major overhaul under new boss Andrea Stramaccioni, but if Sneijder can show he warrants a place in a new era for the Nerazzurri, then he is best off staying put.

Gonzalo Higuain

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The Real Madrid striker has gone through quite a journey since arriving at the club six years ago.

Initially, the Bernabeu crowd did not take to him, and some even booed the Argentinian when he had a bad spell in front of goal. 

However, he is now firmly established as a fan favourite with an exemplary scoring record. With Jose Mourinho very much putting Higuain in his plans, ambitious clubs like Tottenham (as reports caughtoffside.com) will have to look elsewhere for a new striker.

Neymar

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Another perennial character who is the fresh soap opera of every transfer window, Neymar is at the top of many club's wish lists.

The Brazil striker has been linked with just about every major club in Europe since he burst onto the scene for Santos, but he will not be leaving them anytime soon.

And why should he? He is on a huge salary at his hometown club, and will continue to be so until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at the very least.

Miralem Sulejmani

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The Ajax forward enjoyed a breakout season last term, scoring 10 goals in 15 Eredivisie games as the Amsterdam club retained the title.

Such form would lead to many young players, or their agents at least, agitating for a move to a bigger club, but the Serbian has kept his feet on the ground.

Before last term was even through, he was denying links with Arsenal and Liverpool (as reported by givemefootball.com), preferring instead to spend another year in the Dutch capital. With so many players with great scoring records in Holland failing to match them elsewhere, he is right to spend more time developing at Ajax rather than warm the bench somewhere else.

Igor Denisov

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Once the bad boy of Russian football, Denisov showed how much he has developed as a player with some impressive performances for Russia at Euro 2012.

His good showing in Poland and Ukraine has led to reported interest from Liverpool, according to Metro, as new manager Brendan Rodgers seeks to rebuild that squad.

The defensive midfielder has spent his entire career at Zenit St Petersburg, and at 28 years of age, there may be question marks over whether or not a move to the other side of Europe would be good for him at this stage of his career.

Lima

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Lima, or Rodrigo Jose Lima dos Santos to his mother, has had something of a journeyman career, playing for 11 different clubs in Portugal and Brazil before finally settling at Braga.

The striker had a consistently poor record in front of goal for much of his career, but after his arrival at the Estadio Municipal something just clicked, as he has scored 20 goals in 30 league games last season.

However, at the age of 28 and after such an unremarkable career, Lima has the hallmarks of a one-season wonder, and should be left to flourish in his niche at Braga rather than take off for pastures new.

Alexandre Pato

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Almost before Carlo Ancelotti even had his feet under his new desk at Paris Saint-Germain, the French club were linked with a move for AC Milan striker Pato.

The move never materialised, as ESPN reports, with PSG eventually poaching two other players from the San Siro.

Pato was arguably the most highly-rated teenager in world football when he joined Milan in 2007, but the 22-year-old is yet to fully make his mark following poor luck with injuries and form.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic now out of the picture, the Brazilian should concentrate on finally carving out a legacy at Milan before he thinks about moving anywhere else.

Fernando Llorente

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As a tall, strong centre-forward it seems only natural that Llorente would be linked with several different English clubs, especially after starring against Manchester United in the Europa League last season.

The Spain striker has been linked with several Premier League clubs, with the Daily Mail claiming Arsenal as the latest, but he should not feel the need to come across the Bay of Biscay.

If Llorente's contract dispute with Athletic Bilbao does lead to his exit, long-standing interest from both Real Madrid and Barcelona would surely mean he could fulfill his ambitions without straying too far from the Basque country.

Julian Draxler

Hearing talk of a highly-promising attacking talent from Germany is hardly news to anyone these days, but even by Teutonic standards Julian Draxler looks a special player.

The 18-year-old has been a revelation for Schalke on the left wing, and has attracted interest from Liverpool, according to Goal.com.

However, he and Schalke are no fools, and last month pen was put to paper on a new contract committing him to the club until 2016.

Younes Belhanda

Arsenal were apparently not satisfied with raiding French champions Montpellier for striker Olivier Giroud. According to Metro, they were planning on coming back across the channel for midfielder Younes Belhanda.

The Moroccan playmaker played his part in Montpellier's success too, scoring 12 goals in their championship-winning campaign.

In spite of interest from England and elsewhere, the 22-year-old has decided to stay and embark upon his first Champions League campaign at Montpellier.