Transfer Rumours: 15 Biggest Names in the Gossip Columns Right Now

The summer is almost here, which means gossip and rumours are at an all-time high.

Players come and go, as do managers, owners and titles.

Summer is the time that the sport's biggest names are more likely to seek fame and fortune elsewhere, and this year is no different to any other.

Here are the 15 biggest names currently in the gossip columns. Whether the stories are accurate or not is open to personal interpretation.

David Luiz

Barcelona are reported to be chasing Chelsea defender David Luiz in a move that could be worth £35 million if you believe what you read in the newspapers.

Luiz has had an indifferent season for Chelsea and would be seen as a long-term replacement for Carlos Puyol.

In fact, Puyol and Luiz could almost be twins.

Robin Van Persie

Barcelona are also thought to be chasing the signature of Robin Van Persie.

The Arsenal contract rebel will be available for a reduced fee in the summer due to his contract only having 12 months to run.

Arsene Wenger is keen to get the Dutchman to commit to new contract but Barcelona may spoil the party with a summer bid.

Van Persie has recently declared his admiration for the club.

Sergio Aguero

Real Madrid are thought to be keen on acquiring the services of Manchester City's Sergio Aguero.

Aguero's father-in-law—Diego Maradona—has urged the player to make the move to the Spanish giants in the summer.

The Aguero camp has been quiet, but Manchester City have stated they have no intention of selling the player.

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez marks the first of a three-player transfer link to cash rich Paris St Germain.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi—the Chairman of Qatar Sports Inverstment—has confirmed that Suarez is on his wish list for next season.

Gonzalo Higuain

Second on that wishlist is Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

Manchester City and Juventus may rival Paris St Germain for the Argentinean's signature which is valued at £35 million.

Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres completes Paris St Germain's round-up of high profile targets for the summer.

The former Spanish international is starting to find his scoring touch again under Roberto Di Matteo, but it may come too late for the impatient Roman Abramovich.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has reportedly signed for French second division side Angers, but don't panic Barcelona fans.

The signing is a Cameroonian 16 year old who shares the same name as the Argentinian superstar—pictured above—but doesn't quite share the players ability on the field just yet.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Mega-rich Manchester City are reported to be chasing the signature of Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo in a deal worth £80 million.

City are also reported to be preparing a wage offer of £400-500,000 a week which would smash any previous deals in place at both clubs.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor is the latest striker to be linked with a move to Liverpool after difficulties negotiating wages with Tottenham have emerged.

Adebayor is a proven Premier League goalscorer and would surely help Liverpool in their quest to be more ruthless in front of goal.

Dirk Kuyt

It seems Dirk Kuyt's time on Merseyside could be numbered as talkSPORT reports that the player could be interested in a move to Serie A side Roma.

Kuyt has struggled to hold down a first team place under Kenny Dalglish this season and only has a year remaining on his contract.

There is no fee mentioned at present.

Alessandro Del Piero

Alessandro Del Piero is out of contract in the summer and is the subject of speculation linking him with a move to Premier League side Arsenal.

With Arsene Wenger yet to tie up a deal for Lukas Podolski, Del Piero may provide an easier contract to arrange.

Neymar

It just seems inevitable that Neymar will sign for Barcelona at some point in time, and now there's talk that Barcelona have agreed a deal already, just not a move period.

The Independant has suggested €14 million has already been paid to Santos, with the overall deal being worth €58 million.

Hulk

Chelsea are reportedly back on the trail of FC Porto forward Hulk.

Hulk has an £85 million release clause in his contract, but any deal is expected to be significantly lower than that amount.

Olivier Giroud

Prices are extreme in top flight football, and Olivier Giroud is an example of how ridiculous things are in 2012.

Undoubtedly talented, Giroud is reported to be a target for Arsenal in a £50 million deal.

Surely that is a figure Arsene Wenger will never play.

Glen Johnson

According to the Guardian, Real Madrid are apparently lining up a bid of £16.5 million for Liverpool defender Glen Johnson.

The move could spark a mass summer exodus at Anfield with their league position subject of much speculation.

Afterthoughts

There are 15 separate stories in this article, and in honesty I can only see one of them occurring.

Transfer gossip feeds off the fact that the public loves a good story. Whether these stories are true or accurate no longer seems to apply any more.

If it's not a player who stars for your team, then you probably enjoying hearing about these fantasy rumours, but as always in the world of football, only time will tell whether there is any basis to the tabloid print.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out Anton Ferdinand and 20 Footballers Who Should Be In A Band.

On Twitter? Follow me @petercwebster where I post all my B/R content.