10 Bold Predictions for the Summer Transfer Window

The winter transfer window is closed. That means one thing: It's time to start thinking about the summer.

Less than two days after the January window shut, the rumor mill is still warm. Given a few more weeks, it should be piping hot again with all the summer rumors.

That's because while the winter window is fun, the summer is when deals really happen. And with Euro 2012 scheduled for this summer, teams across the continent figure to have their scouts on high alert.

The 2011-12 season still has more than three months left, but it's never too early to start speculating about what the summer might hold.

That's why we've put together 10 bold predictions for the summer transfer window. Enjoy.

Eden Hazard to Seal a Mega-Transfer

Eden Hazard is leaving Lille. The only questions are (1) where to? and (2) for how much?

The speculation has been simmering since last summer, when Arsenal of all clubs were linked with a £27 million move for the Belgian winger, now 21. Since then, the price reportedly climbed to £40 million and Chelsea reportedly rushed to the front of the pack.

But Hazard's suitors aren't just English. Real Madrid, AC Milan and Inter Milan have all been linked with him.

Hazard will transfer somewhere, it will be for a lot of money and it will happen this summer.

But Not Neymar

If you're counting on seeing Neymar in Europe next season, we've got some advice for you: Don't.

The Brazilian wonderkid, who turns 20 on Sunday, has signed a contract extension that would keep him with Santos through the 2014 World Cup. More importantly, the new deal made his pay package competitive with Europe.

What's more, holding onto Neymar has become something of a national issue for Brazilians, who view the youngster as nothing less than a national hero.

The next World Cup is set to be played in Brazil in about two-and-a-half years. For now, Neymar is a national hero under contract with his childhood club. He has reason to stay, all the way through the World Cup, which really isn't so far away now.

And we have reason to believe he'll do so.

Arsene Wenger Out

That's right. Arsene Wenger will be done at Arsenal.

The outcry has been building for years now, and between the Andrei Arshavin situation and yet another disappointing transfer window, Arsenal fans are fed up.

We think this summer will present the perfect opportunity for Arsenal and Wenger to part ways after 16 mostly blissful years.

Robin Van Persie Will Follow Him out the Door

Once Wenger leaves, so will Robin Van Persie—possibly to the same club.

It would be a shame, too. Van Persie, 28, is in the best form of his life, with 25 goals in all competitions so far this season.

All the same, Van Persie will turn 29 this year, and his days as a top-tier striker are probably numbered. Or is that the kind of thinking that would leave with Wenger?

Busy Summer at the Bridge

Andre Villas-Boas' revolution picked up steam this winter as the Blues signed Gary Cahill and sold Alex and Nicolas Anelka (the deal for Kevin De Bruyne was apparently not AVB's idea, at all).

In other words, the first-year Chelsea manager is making over the club in his own image. Look for that to continue in the summer on a large scale—though probably not quite as large as 2004.

Kia Joorabchian Unmasked

OK, so we bombed on our boldest prediction for the January transfer window. Kia Joorabchian, the "advisor" of Carlos Tevez, was not, in fact, the leader of the Legion of Doom.

Sorry. We should have figured this out earlier, but dark forces were obscuring our judgment. That's because Kia Joorabchian is, for real this time, an evil Sith Lord. And Carlos Tevez is his latest apprentice.

This raises a few concerns. As you know, Sith Lords and apprentices are always undermining each other while trying to appear united. That's why we think Darth Kia will be offed by Darth Caveman sometime this spring.

And he'll be replaced by Darth Kun in time for the summer transfer window.

Or not.

Mario Götze to Stay

Mario Götze is another young star who's been lighting up the rumor mill for months. The German midfielder, 19, has been linked with just about every big-name club in Europe.

Götze reportedly has a contract that lasts until 2014, so Borussia Dortmund can hold his potential suitors ransom for outrageous sums of money for at least another year or so. And if he plays well this summer at Euro 2012, his price will only go higher.

The months immediately after a major international tournament usually serve as the best time for up-and-coming stars to secure a huge deal. But we really think Götze will stick around Dortmund for one more season.

Euro 2012 Will Make Someone Lots of Cash

But that's not to diminish the role Euro 2012 will play in the summer transfer market.

As everyone knows, the months immediately following a major international tournament are the worst time to dish out big money for new players. But as everyone knows, it will happen again this summer.

Some young star will impress everyone. And by doing so, he'll earn a huge contract that, despite his undoubted skill, will be viewed as too big in hindsight.

Here's a good candidate.

Months of Speculation over Eriksen

Christian Eriksen is yet another big-star-in-the-making. He's 19, he's Danish, he plays for Ajax and he has a ton of talent.

Eriksen has been continually linked with moves to greener pastures, and even while denying the rumors, he has somehow fueled them on. Take a look:

"

"I will definitely not leave Ajax this month, and I probably won't move in the summer either. I have an ongoing contract and I feel like I'm in the right place at the moment," Eriksen said to De Telegraaf.

"Of course, I'm flattered that these big clubs are watching me. A transfer has to be a real step forward for me, though."

"

This pattern will continue for months and months and months.

Sneijder to United

Yes, it's finally going to happen.

The deal almost went down last summer. Now, with Sir Alex Ferguson having resorted to bringing Paul Scholes out of retirement to temporarily solve his midfield crisis, the Sneijder-to-United deal is more likely than ever.

Sneijder, 27, would present an ideal long-term solution for United's midfield worries. Now it's up to the two sides to figure out a deal.