Power Ranking the Biggest 25 Prizes in the Summer Transfer Market

This summer is certain to see some major movement in the transfer market.

With many big name players either out of contract or nearing the end of their current deal, it is likely to be a spending frenzy for many clubs as they look to get back to the top of their respected leagues.

Players like Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie and Lille youngster Eden Hazard are eating up the press as massive summer movers and are likely to not get out of the news soon.

As the summer window is only a few months away, we start counting down the days once more until our clubs get a chance to strengthen and rebuild after either positive or frustrating campaigns.

Honorable Mention

Here are some of the many potential players on the move this coming summer transfer window:

Jan Vertonghen—Ajax Amsterdam

Nicolas Gaitan—Benfica

Granit Xhaka—FC Basel

Luca Toni—Juventus

Alessandro Del Piero—Juventus

Michael Ballack—Bayer Leverkusen

Mathieu Flamini—AC Milan

Hugo Rodellega—Wigan Athletic

Oguchi Onyewu—FC Twente

Ederson—Lyon

Ivica Olic—Bayern Munich

Salomon Kalou—Chelsea

Claudio Pizzaro—Werder Bremen

Isaac Cuena—FC Barcelona

Juanlu—Levante

Christian Chivu—Inter Milan

Christian Pander—Hannover 96

Jordi Gomez—Wigan Athletic

Brad Guzan—Aston Villa

Tomas Rosicky—Arsenal

Andrei Arshavin—Arsenal

Sebastian Kehl—Borussia Dortmund

Jefferson Farfan - Schalke 04

Markus Rosenberg - Werder Bremen

Junior Hoilett

Blackburn Rovers are looking almost certain to find themselves in the Npower Championship next season.

Youngster Junior Hoilett is one of Rovers' brightest talents and is being linked with Arsenal and Tottenham, as well as German side Bayern Munich.

Gaston Ramirez

Gaston Ramirez has made a name for himself in a short time at Serie A side Bologna. The 21-year-old Uruguayan has been linked with Liverpool and Juventus since early December of 2011, according to both the Daily Mirror and Metro.

The last week of February 2012 saw the rumors of his move to Liverpool once again resurface on Givemefootball.com, given the Reds' problems on the right side of attack.

Riccardo Montolivo

AC Milan are set to be the first in line to make a move for soon-to-be out-of-contract  Riccardo Montolivo of Fiorentina.

Yahoo Sports New Zealand has the Italian international linked with AC Milan, while Montolivo himself claims multiple teams are in contact with his agent:

"

There are several possibilities between these [sides] and there is also AC Milan. But now is the time to be thinking about Fiorentina.

"

Raul Gonzalez

Former Real Madrid legend and current Shalke 04 striker Raul Gonzalez has been linked with a move to the New York Red Bulls or Major League Soccer by Total Football Madness.

Gonzalez would also be a big boost to several English Premier League teams that are struggling with not only veteran leadership but an out-and-out goal scorer in their lineup.

Pavel Pogrebnyak

About a month ago, 28-year-old Russian VfL Stuttgart striker Pavel Pogrebnyak was believed to be content with just coming over to England and biding his time before hopefully making a decent summer transfer.

However, after this weekend's hat trick for Fulham, he has taken his goal tally to five in three games for the Cottagers and is looking like he could be a much more sought-after signing than was thought before his move to England.

Tim Howard

Everton's American shot stopper Tim Howard is one of the best keepers set to be on the market this summer.

In all likelihood, the Toffees should resign him for at least another three to four seasons in my opinion, but that remains to be seen.

In a recent interview with Bleacher Report Lead Writer Will Tidey in his column Set Piece, Howard touched on continuing his career at Everton or possibly seeking a return to Major League Soccer with this answer:

"

I find it difficult talking about moving to other clubs. I love it at Everton and my ambitions can be met here. I've played the best football of my career there and it's a wonderful place. It matches my thoughts and beliefs on football. Anyone who's been touched by the club will know that. When it comes to MLS, I just can't say. Time will tell.

"

Javi Garcia

Benfica midfielder Javi Garcia has been linked with a number of moves this coming summer.

Most recently, he looks to be one of Liverpool and Manchester United's summer targets, according to the Guardian and Goal.com.

Olivier Giroud

Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud has been in sensational form for the last two seasons and has been linked with several major moves across Europe.

He may be part of Arsenal's summer transfer plans according to The Week and also Examiner.com.

Tottenham are also tipped to be making a run for Giroud in a North London Derby transfer battle over the attacker, as claimed by the Daily Mirror.

Milos Krasic

Serbian winger Milos Krasic has been frozen out with current club Juventus. It was believed that he was sure to move during the January transfer window, but nothing came to pass.

Liverpool and Chelsea have both been linked to the player according to the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror.

Tottenham and Zenit St. Petersburg also have been considered as possible suitors.

Didier Drogba

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is now a wild card to leave or stay at the London club.

With Andre Villas-Boas now gone, the Ivorian goal machine could remain under a new regime if he is given a primary role.

Otherwise, he is believed to move to whichever club will offer him the biggest paycheck. That could be Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, according to the Guardian.

Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott is believed to be a possible exit from Arsenal in the summer as the Gunners are eying other options to go along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gervinho.

Chelsea is a reported possibility, according to the Guardian, and Walcott has also been linked with a move to Liverpool and Aston Villa by TalkSport.

Keisuke Honda

CSKA Moscow right-side midfielder Keisuke Honda looked all but packaged and delivered to Serie A side SS Lazio in the winter transfer window.

However, the deal fell apart at the last moment. Honda has remained in Moscow but is still believed a major transfer target for clubs come summer time.

Arsenal and Liverpool were both linked to him in January and could once again be in the position to chase him come June.

Clint Dempsey

Clint Dempsey has been a sensation this season and has singlehandedly put American soccer players abroad on the map with his record-breaking campaign so far at Fulham.

With his ambitions to keep pushing up the ladder at the club level to reach the UEFA Champions League, as stated by Sky Sports, he may find a new home at Arsenal, according to the International Business Times.

However, Liverpool's American owners are also thought to have an interest in acquiring the former New England Revolution playmaker, as the Reds are desperate for a right-side attacker that also knows how to score.

Fernando Torres

What is to become of Fernando Torres?

His career is currently in the worst shambles he could have possibly imagined. Just over 13 months ago, he was still in Liverpool Red with a new boss in Kenny Dalglish, hoping to reignite his passion at Liverpool.

Then he moved to Chelsea, where two bosses and only a few goals later he found himself off of the Spanish national team and a questionable starter.

Despite what people think of him as of late, he is a world class player. He just needs confidence and a boss that believes in him. He is not the only Chelsea player that has faltered in the last year of turmoil at Stamford Bridge. His price tag compared to all the rest causes him to be the scapegoat for his poor form.

Unless Rafael Benitez takes the Blues' helm, Torres needs to find a new home, and plenty of clubs would welcome him, no matter his recent tough run.

Alexandre Pato

Inside futbol is linking Alexandre Pato with a move to Paris St Germain this summer, as his former boss, Carlo Ancelotti, is believed to be courting his former charge.

Marek Hamsik

Napoli midfield maestro Marek Hamsik was linked with a move to Chelsea during the January transfer window, but he is yet to make any indication that he is willing to part ways with Napoli just yet.

After his side punished Chelsea in the opening leg of their UEFA Champions League matchup, it's hard to see why he would want to trade sides.

However, Metro has the player linked with a move to Stamford Bridge nonetheless, and it is always a possibility if the price is right.

Lukas Podolski

FC Cologne and German international forward Lukas Podolski is looking to be headed out of Germany this summer.

Arsenal are considered the primary destination by Goal.com, but his move could be hijacked by either Inter or AC Milan, according to the International Business Times.

Wesley Sneijder

Wesley Sneijder has already been linked to Chelsea by Crunch Sports.

Since he's also been a primary target on multiple occasions for Manchester United, and apparently Zenit St. Petersburg (according to Goal.com), the Dutch midfielder is likely to move on from Inter this summer.

Javi Martinez

Real Madrid and Liverpool are both believed to be strong admirers of Athletic Bilbao's young Spanish midfielder Javi Martinez.

The Daily Mirror has him as one of Liverpool's main summer targets  while Fan IQ is claiming that both the Reds and Real Madrid will break the bank to sign the youngster.

Martinez, in an interview quoted by ESPNsoccernet.com, believes he is not worth all the money hype that is being heaped on him:

"

I do not think there's anyone who wants to pay so much for me.

I see it as too much money for me. I do not think I'm worth so much; I do not think that I'm worth €40m.

"

While Liverpool and Bilbao have a good history with their purchase of Xabi Alonso in the past, if Martinez were to move to Real Madrid, it would be a local tragedy due to the political affiliations of each club.

Ezequiel Lavezzi

Ezequiel Lavezzi has seen his stock rising all season, and his recent high profile performance against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League is just one display of the 26-year-old at his best.

The Blues are one of the teams said to be chasing a summer signature from him, according to Givemefootball.com.

Spain is also beckoning the Argentine international, according to ESPNsoccernet.com. But he looks content to stay in Naples at the moment and see out the project that his current side are undertaking as they look to return to Italy's elite.

Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain closed out this past weekend with a brace for Real Madrid, but the Argentine striker's name has been in the transfer gossip over the last few weeks.

Manchester City is believed a possible summer destination for him, with Sergio Aguero headed to Madrid as part of a make weight. However, City boss Roberto Mancini has rubbished the thought of losing Aguro but would welcome Higuain with open arms, according to Goal.com.

International teammate Javier Pastore has cried out for Higuain to join him at Paris St Germain over the summer, according to Fan IQ.

Other major clubs could also be interested in the goal scorer this summer, as he is still believed to be just surplus for Madrid despite his form.

Mario Goetze

German international and Borussia Dortmund sensation Mario Goetze has quietly built a name for himself in the last 18 months.

The 19-year-old is linked with major moves all across Europe and is believed a key target of three English Premier League clubs.

Examiner.com has linked him with both Arsenal and Manchester United, and Metro claim that Chelsea are interested in the playmaker.

Edinson Cavani

Napoli's Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani has been the talk of the market for many big clubs heading into the summer.

Liverpool and Manchester City are two of the biggest chasing the hit man, according to Sports News Ireland and Bleacher Report's Mikhail Turner, while he appears more than content to remain in Naples.

Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard has been chased by almost every major club in Europe so far.

However, it seems that his move this summer is going to be down to either Arsenal or Tottenham, with Spurs currently believed the most likely, according to Examiner.com.

The Daily Mirror has also linked Hazard with a move to Liverpool.

Robin Van Persie

Arsenal will have a fight on their hands to ensure that Robin Van Persie does not force a move this summer.

If the Gunners manage to maintain their current fourth-place spot in the English Premier League, then they should have the upper hand in securing RVP for the long term.

However, the Dutch striker has been linked to a host of top clubs, with the Daily Mirror believing that both AC Milan and Juventus are set to make major offers to send him to Serie A over the summer.

Likewise, Manchester City have also been linked with the player since December.

Conclusion

This summer is going to be a blast for all those that love to speculate and see where players land.

Get the discussion going with your top five prizes in the transfer market below.

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