Summer Transfers: Predicting the 50 Biggest Moves of the Summer

The summer transfer window is notorious for gossip-mongering and rumour-spreading.

As the world's love affair with football grows by the season, so does the amount of gossip being spread.

The actual percentage of true stories that arrive from these media outlets must be fractional—but I love it all the same.

To add fuel to an already blazing inferno, here are 50 big transfers that could happen this summer.

Eden Hazard

As time has worn on, the suitors have diminished for Eden Hazard.

We're now seemingly left with Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City in the frame for the Belgian's signature.

My money is on Chelsea.

Robert Lewandowski

Alex Ferguson may have to replace a few strikers this summer, and Robert Lewandowski could be just the ticket for Manchester United.

The Borussia Dortmund forward is seen as an ideal player for the club, and Alex Ferguson is reportedly keen to sign him before the European Championships.

Dimitar Berbatov

Following on from the last slide, Dimitar Berbatov could become part of the deal involving Manchester United and Robert Lewandowski.

Berbatov is out of contract next summer and has already accepted that he will leave Manchester United in this transfer window.

Michael Owen

The Lewandowski deal may be critical for Manchester United as Michael Owen has already left the club following the expiration of his contract.

Stoke City are reportedly in the race for his signature.

Robin Van Persie

Robin van Persie still hasn't signed a new Arsenal deal, and rumours are still rife regarding the fact that he'll be moving on this summer.

With the upcoming European Championships looming ever closer, Arsene Wenger will be keen to wrap up a new deal before the reported vultures of Manchester City and United begin to feed on the apparent discontent.

Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba has already waved the white flag at Chelsea.

Scoring the equalising goal in the Champions League final and then stroking home the winning penalty will become the Ivorian's final acts for the club—unless clearing out your locker counts as an act.

Drogba is odds on to join former Chelsea teammate Nicholas Anelka at Shanghai Shenhua.

Hulk

Hulk has apparently stated he is ready to open talks with Chelsea about becoming the man to replace outgoing Didier Drogba.

Hulk was valued at £80 million earlier in the year due to his contract release clause, but now the price could be around £35 million.

Radamel Falcao

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao has been mooted as a possible target for Chelsea, with Fernando Torres going the other way.

Falcao had an excellent debut season in La Liga whereas Fernando Torres has continued to stutter.

Roberto Di Matteo has stated he believes Fernando Torres will still be a Chelsea player next season.

Jan Vertonghen

Jan Vertonghen looks set to be playing Premier League football next season after Tottenham Hotspur closed in on the Ajax defender.

Tottenham are at £10 million, Ajax want £12.1 million. It seems just a matter of time.

Luka Modric

And with the news that Tottenham are set to splash some money on Vertonghen, comes the news that they could lose Luka Modric.

Real Madrid are the team that could be courting the Croatian international.

Lassana Diarra

Spurs fans needn't fret about Modric though.

Real Madrid's well-thought-out offer is to send Lassana Diarra to Tottenham as part payment for Modric.

Diarra played for Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth FC.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Nope, I'm not finished with Tottenham yet.

Emmanuel Adebayor is hoping that a deal can be thrashed out to turn his loan move into a permanent one at White Hart Lane.

The Manchester City striker declared his love for Spurs last week. 

Loic Remy

Even if Tottenham secure the permanent deal for Adebayor, Harry Redknapp will still be hoping that Loic Remy fancies a spell in London.

Remy apparently rebuffed an offer from Spurs back in January, but now he has had the chance to see what direction the club are heading.

Okay, now I'm done with Tottenham.

Neymar

Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira has moved to quell speculation linking his star forward Neymar with a move away from the Brazilian club.

Naturally that just makes us believe that he will be moving away from the club.

Oliveira himself mentions Barcelona in his statement.

Joe Cole

Moving clubs is a decision that Joe Cole may have to face in the coming months, but with Liverpool currently manager-less, it's hard to say what options the Englishman has.

Playing out of the English media eye in France meant that Joe Cole missed out on a Euro 2012 squad place, something he will be keen to avoid for World Cup 2014 if possible.

Cole thinks he has unfinished business; Lille lauded his contributions for the season.

Decision time is looming.

Alberto Aquilani

In almost the same boat as Joe Cole is another Liverpool player.

Alberto Aquilani didn't quite play enough games to activate a signing option for AC Milan, but the Italian seems a lot more settled in his homeland than he ever did on Merseyside.

Perhaps The Telegraph is correct.

Emile Heskey

Does anyone care that Emile Heskey is set to become a free agent this summer? Scratch that. Heskey has already been released by Aston Villa according to FoxNews.com

The 34-year-old "striker" scored...ahem...nine goals during his three year spell at the Premier League club.

Anybody want him? Anyone? Seriously...anyone at all?

Chris Kirkland

Chris Kirkland is a great goalkeeper. Problem is that he doesn't have a great back.

Kirkland spends more time on the treatment table than the football pitch which is why Wigan have decided to release him from their care.

He could make an excellent acquisition for a team with a good physiotherapist.

As I write this story I note that Sheffield Wednesday have signed Kirkland. Wednesday's head of physiotherapy is Paul Smith.

Niko Kranjcar

Sorry we're back to Tottenham Hotspur again.

Niko Kranjcar is set to make a big money move to Russia—possibly to Anzhi Makhachkala.

Kranjcar said:-

"

Whether we admit it or not, money is important. Football in the east has progressed. The teams are always high up in the Champions League or are in the Europa League final. It's not like it was 10 years ago.

"

Russian teams have appeared twice in the Europa League final in the last 10 years, the most recent being Zenit St Petersburg in the 2007/08 season.

Niko sounds like he has sold that to himself.

Leighton Baines

Manchester United are once again rumoured to be putting together a bid for Everton left-back Leighton Baines.

The Mirror has reported that talks are underway already for a move valued between £12-£15 million.

Edin Dzeko

Edin Dzeko could be set to depart Manchester City following his crucial contribution to their recent Premier League title victory.

The Mail reports that several German and Italian clubs could be interested in the big Bosnian.

Yann M'Vila

The Telegraph has declared that Yann M'Vila could be playing for Arsenal next season after the Gunners allegedly agreed a £17.7 million deal for the player with Rennes.

M'Vila would mark the second major signing of the summer behind Lukas Podolski.

Etienne Capoue

The Mail on-line have contradicted The Telegraph since then, suggesting the M'Vila deal has stalled.

With that in mind, Etienne Capoue has become the replacement name for Arsene Wenger.

Capoue would cost around £10 million—significantly less than M'Vila.

Junior Hoilett

Meanwhile Spurs (yawn) and Bayern Munich will battle Arsenal for the signature of Canadian ace (not often I write that) Junior Hoilett.

With Blackburn Rovers relegated to the Championship and Hoilett out of contract in the summer, his destination is anyone's guess.

Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuyt is apparently reassessing his options now that Kenny Dalglish has been sacked by Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group.

Kuyt was initially thought to be on his way out of Anfield due to lack of first-team opportunities, but that may change under a new manager.

My guess is that he'll be on his bike.

Maxi Rodriguez

Kuyt won't be walking alone though as Maxi Rodriguez looks set to share a taxi ride out of the stadium gates.

With just seven starts this past season, Rodriguez could cancel his contract and seek playing time elsewhere.

The Argentinian international would be a great signing for many a team.

Adam Johnson

Being a Manchester City misfit seems to have cost Adam Johnson a place in the England team for Euro 2012 according to The Mirror.

That could urge Johnson to seek football elsewhere with Sunderland a possible destination for £10 million.

Bargain alert!

Steven Pienaar

Everton would be foolish not to try and sign Steven Pienaar back from Tottenham Hotspur (yawn again).

Pienaar hasn't had a look in at Spurs and his loan spell at Goodison Park rejuvenated both the player and club.

Sunderland are rumoured to be preparing to steal the player for £5 million.

Clint Dempsey

Clint Dempsey to Liverpool?

Martin Jol says no...but does he really think he can keep the in-demand American?

Shinji Kagawa

Shinji Kagawa has announced that he has already held talks with Manchester United's Alex Ferguson, and that he would like to move to a Premier League club.

Putting the two clues together could provide insight as to where the Japanese midfielder will be playing next season.

Marouane Chamakh

Paris St Germain are the favourites to land Arsenal flop Marouane Chamakh in a £6 million summer raid.

Fiorentina and former club Bordeaux could also yet make a bid for the Moroccan international who has failed to make much of an impact in the Premier League.

Rasmus Elm

The fact that Rasmus Elm has declared he will wait until after Euro 2012 before making a decision on his future, suggests that there is in fact a decision to make.

Could that decision be whether to join Liverpool FC?

Nicklas Bendtner

For some reason Borussia Dortmund have apparently made an enquiry as to the availability of Nicklas Bendtner

It's not April Fools, is it?

Victor Moses

After a superb display of ability towards the end of the season, Victor Moses' days at Wigan are surely numbered after he refused to discuss a new contract.

Moses is capable of playing at a better club than Wigan, with Queens Park Rangers rumoured to be testing the waters with a £5 million carrot.

Andrei Arshavin

Andrei Arshavin may wait until after Euro 2012 before deciding on his footballing future.

Shunned by Arsenal fans, Arshavin is currently on loan with Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg, who hope they can convince the player to stay with them permanently.

Milos Krasic

Milos Krasic's agent states that his player will most certainly leave Juventus in the summer.

Krasic doesn't fit the system for Juventus' style of play, leading to speculation that Liverpool, Tottenham (yawn) and possibly some team in Russia could be interested in his services.

Kudos to Spurs for having a record number of transfer stories in the media.

Sergio Aguero

It's no secret that Real Madrid are interested in signing Sergio Aguero, or that Diego Maradona—Aguero's father-in-law—thinks the player should sign for Los Blancos.

However, it has recently emerged that Real Madrid might be willing to pay £50 million for the Argentinian's services, just a season after his £34 million move from Atletico Madrid to the Etihad.

David Silva

Believe it or not, David Silva has also become a target for Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid according to The Mirror.

Having already touted Sergio Aguero as a potential summer signing, Madrid are also keen to bring in Silva as a replacement for an outgoing star (see next slide for identification.)

Silva has two years left on his Manchester City contract.

Kaka

That outgoing star is reported to be Kaka.

Paris St Germain are apparently ready to offer €25 million cash for the Brazilian who is halfway through his six-year contract.

Kaka—30—hasn't hit the form he enjoyed when at former club AC Milan, so Real Madrid may see the offer as smart business sense considering the Brazilian's age.

Gonzalo Higuain

Paris St. Germain forward Javier Pastore has recently revealed that he is regularly in touch with Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain in an attempt to lure him to the big-spending French club.

PSG were recently pipped to the Ligue Une title by Montpellier and Pastore believes that Higuain could prove the difference next season if he were to sign.

Sebastien Squillaci

There's not much meat on the bone with this story from the Mirror, but apparently Arsenal are hoping to get rid of Sebastien Squillaci.

No teams involved, no fee or contract expiration mentioned. They just want rid of him!

Ibrahim Afellay

Ibrahim Afellay is apparently surplus to first-team requirements at Barcelona these days, so it's no surprise to hear that the talented Dutchman could be set to exit in the summer—albeit it's possible on loan.

Liverpool and Tottenham (seriously now...this is getting ridiculous) are the teams that Talksport reckons could be in the frame for the player.

Andre Villas-Boas

Villas-Boas wants a stable club, Liverpool want a stable manager who can attract some big-name foreign signings.

It seems like a perfect match but Liverpool seem intent to interview a few other people before selecting their desired managerial candidate.

My money is on AVB arriving at LFC.

Roberto Martinez

With Liverpool hiring Andre Villas-Boas, it will pave the way for Aston Villa to finalise a deal with Roberto Martinez to take over at Villa Park.

Wigan—unfortunately—will be left to pick up whatever managerial scraps are left over.

Matt Jarvis

Forget getting back into the Premier League, Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Matt Jarvis is reportedly the target of Serie A side Udinese.

The fee mentioned is £5 million—an offer Wolves may not be able to afford to accept or decline.

Demba Ba

Apparently £7 million is all it will take to trigger the release clause in Demba Ba's contract.

Ba had an excellent start to the Premier League season but suffered from being played out of position following the arrival of Papiss Cisse on Tyneside.

Manchester United, Chelsea and...ahem...Tottenham Hotspur are all rumoured to be in the running for the players signature.

Luuk De Jong

Newcastle may already have a replacement lined up for Demba Ba in the form of Luuk de Jong.

de Jong is expected to be able to be purchased for a fee in the region of £7 million—the same amount the Geordies are predicted to get from the sale of Ba.

Luis Nani

Manchester United are believed to have sounded out who would be interested in Portuguese winger Nani should contract negotiations between the team and player take a turn for the worst.

Nani has two years remaining on his current deal and is 25 years old.

Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure's agent has fueled speculation about the Manchester City midfielder's future after stating:-

"

Toure has done all he can at City and needs new motivations. He would not cost much and would like a new challenge. He could sign for many big clubs, like Chelsea or Bayern Munich. We would like to see Barcelona join the race.

"

Whilst some see the statement as a come-and-get-me plea, the Mail online sees it as a blatant attempt to garner more money for the agent and player.

You decide for yourself.

Gareth Bale

No transfer gossip round-up would be complete without the inclusion of Gareth Bale.

Barcelona are still the team rumoured as favourites to sign the Welshman, but Harry Redknapp is still playing the ignorance card when it comes to the subject.

£32 million was the figure mentioned in Metro earlier this month.

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