20 Best Central Midfielders in the Summer Transfer Gossip Columns

Silly Season is in full swing, with some of the biggest names in world football linked with the titan clubs.

One position that has attracted plenty of interest already is central midfield, both in an attacking and defensive sense.

This article will bring you the 20 best central players listed in the transfer gossip columns, and the clubs that are currently leading the race for their signatures.

Take your pick.

Christian Eriksen

Club: Ajax

Leading the Race: Borussia Dortmund

Christian Eriksen has long been hyped as one of the best young prospects in European football.

The 21-year-old playmaker has shone for Ajax in the Eredivisie and Champions League, but now may be the time for him to seek greener pastures.

Borussia Dortmund, fresh from losing their own trequartista, Mario Gotze, are reported by the Daily Mail as having an interest in the Denmark international.

Eriksen would fit with manager Jurgen Klopp's philosophy perfectly and also help soften the blow the German side suffered losing to Bayern Munich in the UCL final.

Marouane Fellaini

Club: Everton

Leading the Race: Manchester United

Since manager David Moyes swapped Everton blue for Manchester United red, he has reported to have shown interest in several of his former players.

Top of that list is Marouane Fellaini, a hard-hitting box-to-box midfielder who would add plenty of grit to the Red Devils' midfield.

Last month, the Belgium international said "If I’m leaving Everton, I say if, it will depend on lots of factors. I only want to go to a club where the manager ­really wants me," according to The Mirror.

"In 2008, Everton did everything to convince me, especially David Moyes. He made me the player I am now," he said, seemingly appealing directly to the Scotsman.

Clement Grenier

Club: Lyon

Leading the Race: Arsenal

Arsene Wenger will have a considerable transfer kitty at his disposal this summer.

His Arsenal side fell too far behind the pack in the first half of last Premier League season but rebounded well to finish in the top four.

One player on Wenger's radar is French side Lyon's Clement Grenier, a 22-year-old playmaker who has been capped for France.

Speaking about his future earlier this month, Grenier said "I have made the choice for sporting reasons above all. Arsenal? It could well be them," as reported by The Sun.

Fernandinho

Club: Shakhtar Donetsk

Leading the race: Manchester City

Shakhtar Donetsk have been one of the most fashionable clubs in European football the past couple of seasons.

The Ukrainian side play brisk, attractive passing football, with central midfielder Fernandinho at the heart of the action.

A host of Premier League clubs have been linked with the Brazilian's signature, with Manchester City leading the race.

According to Sky Sports, "Fernandinho has been photographed leaving a hospital in Manchester where the club conduct their medicals."

Ezequiel Cirigliano

Club: River Plate

Leading the race: Inter Milan

Ezequiel Cirigliano is a highly rated holding midfielder from Argentina.

The 21-year-old was raised in River Plate's famous youth system but now seems ready for a move to an elite European club.

Inter Milan are reportedly one of his suitors. According to Sportmediaset, the club have been keeping tabs on him for some time (h/t ForzaItalianFootball.com).

A deal could be struck in the coming weeks.

Thiago Alcantara

Clubs: Barcelona

Leading the race: Manchester United

Manchester United's need for a central midfielder will see them feature heavily in this list.

One target they have reportedly got their eye on is Barcelona's prodigious Thiago Alcantara.

The Spain international is a creative holding midfielder, raised in the vein of Xavi. He has the potential to be a future great for both club and country.

According to Fox Sports, last month Thiago told reporters: "I enjoy it in Barcelona because I have lived through some great times, but we will see what happens after the Euros."

Younes Belhanda

Clubs: Montpellier

Leading the race: Tottenham Hotspur

The physical central midfielder Younes Belhanda has been featured in the transfer gossip columns for what seems like forever.

Yet he remains at Montpellier, a French side that struggled to repeat past title-winning heroics this season.

He is ready to leave Ligue 1, and a number of Premier League clubs are hot on his trail.

Tottenham Hotspur are one contender, with Metro claiming "Spurs are believed to see Belhanda are the first part of a mini summer squad overhaul."

Victor Wanyama

Club: Celtic

Leading the race: Arsenal

A few miles away in North London, Tottenham rivals Arsenal also have their sights set on acquiring a central midfielder.

Victor Wanyama is coming off a breakthrough campaign for Scottish club Celtic, impressing both domestically and on continental soil.

The burly Kenyan is one of many transfer targets for Arsene Wenger.

Wanyama's mentor reportedly told the Daily Mail: "Wenger spoke to Celtic around a month ago and Victor’s father and his mother, Mildred, says he would prefer to go there before any other club" (h/t ESPN).

Xabi Alonso

Club: Real Madrid

Leading the race: Chelsea

Despite having a slightly frustrating season at the Bernabeu, Xabi Alonso remains one of the very best holding midfielders in the game.

The Real Madrid man's name has been touted as a possible transfer target for several British sides this summer.

There is his former club, Liverpool; and Chelsea, now managed by Alonso's former manager, Jose Mourinho.

The player himself has moved to squash these rumours, according to The Telegraph, telling Spanish reporters last month: "Of course I'm going to be here next season."

Alessandro Diamanti

Club: Bologna

Leading the race: Juventus

Alessandro Diamanti seems to get better with age.

The 30-year-old creative midfielder is coming off the back of an excellent season for Bologna, for whom he scored seven goals in 30 Serie A appearances.

Juventus are reportedly interested in bringing the former West Ham player to Turin.

Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini told Sky Sport Italia last month: "I'd be delighted [if Diamanti came]. First of all because Alessandro is a great player" (h/t Football-Italia).

Kevin Strootman

Club: PSV Eindhoven

Leading the race: Manchester United

Manchester United fans will be the first to tell you that Kevin Strootman would be a terrific acquisition for the Red Devils.

The Dutch box-to-box midfielder would suit the Premier League style to a tee.

The 23-year-old was linked with United last summer, but a move this time around seems more realistic.

Last month, Strootman's Dutch coach, Dick Advocaat, told De Telegraaf: "This guy fits everywhere. He's a fantastic player because he knows exactly what his qualities are" (h/t Goal.com).

Ganso

Club: Sao Paulo

Leading the race: Paris Saint-Germain

A few years ago, Ganso was touted as one of the best Brazilian talents of his generation.

Such hype has since cooled a little, but his name remains a bid-seller in the transfer gossip columns.

Free-spending French side Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with a move for the Sao Paulo midfielder.

But ESPN quotes the Brazilian club's director of football, Adalberto Batista, as saying "Sao Paulo are not interested in letting Ganso go."

Claudio Marchisio

Club: Juventus

Leading the race: Manchester United

One of the more intriguing rumours of the summer so far has been that linking Claudio Marchisio with a move to Old Trafford.

Marchisio's current club, Juventus, don't seem remotely interested in selling the 27-year-old, but that hasn't stopped the tabloids in their tittle-tattle.

Manchester United's out-of-form winger, Nani, has even been touted as a potential makeweight in a deal.

Last month, The Mirror reported that "Nani has only one year left on his contract, and failure to soon agree a new deal could see him used as part of the deal to bring in Marchisio."

Josip Ilicic

Club: Palermo

Leading the race: Fiorentina

Palermo's relegation from Serie A is a sorry state of affairs.

A few seasons ago, a team led by the likes of Edinson Cavani and Javier Pastore were pushing for a European place. Now Serie B football beckons for the Sicilian club.

Slovenia star Josip Ilicic will lead the list of notable exits this summer.

AC Milan have been linked with a move for his services. But in an interview with Nogomania, reported by Football-Italia, Ilicic said "Fiorentina are the team who inspire me the most."

Paulinho

Club: Corinthians

Leading the race: Shakhtar Donetsk

Corinthians' marauding midfielder Paulinho has the playing style to succeed in just about any European league.

He has become a regular for a Brazil side eager to claim World Cup glory on their own turf next year.

The 24-year-old has a €20 million buyout fee in his contract, one that has reportedly attracted the interest of Shakhtar Donetsk.

Brazilian journalist Juca Kfouri believes he will move to either the Ukrainian club or Inter Milan this summer, according to Sambafoot.

Kevin De Bruyne

Club: Chelsea

Leading the race: Borussia Dortmund

Last season it seemed as if Chelsea had enough young players out on loan to comprise a pretty decent team by themselves.

Kevin De Bruyne was one, spending an impressive term in Germany at Werder Bremen.

The Belgium international scored 10 goals in 30 Bundesliga appearances from an attacking midfield position.

He is back at Chelsea, but Borussia Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc believes De Bruyne "only wants to join us," as reported by ESPN.

Isco

Club: Malaga

Leading the race: Manchester City

Malaga's Isco was probably the breakthrough player throughout all of world football last season.

The attacking midfielder was an adroit presence both in La Liga and the Champions League, scoring 12 goals in both.

With Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini headed to the Etihad stadium, his star pupil could soon follow.

According to The Guardian, Isco recently said of Pellegrini "He's been my footballing father and I know that he likes me and of course I would like to continue with him."

Ilkay Gundogan

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Leading the race: Manchester United

Ilkay Gundogan was a key member of the Borussia Dortmund side that reached the Champions League final last season.

The holding midfielder was particularly impressive in the semi-final clashes with Real Madrid, outshining Xabi Alonso.

Manchester United are reportedly in the frame to sign the Germany international.

In May, The Express reported that "United have turned their attentions to [the] Dortmund midfielder."

Hernanes

Club: Lazio

Leading the race: AC Milan

Hernanes is another proven attacking midfielder linked with a move in the gossip columns.

The imaginative Brazilian has excelled at Lazio, scoring 37 goals in his three seasons in Italy.

Now AC Milan are reported to be keen on a transfer, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Sambafoot.com).

They'll have to do battle with Juventus, though, who are also rumoured to be interested in a potential switch.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Club: Shakhtar Donetsk

Leading the race: Liverpool

Henrikh Mkhitaryan may have an impossible-to-pronounce name, but his talent is as clear as day.

The Shakhtar Donetsk player scored 25 goals in 28 league games last season. It may be a stretch to call him a central midfielder, but anything to have him on this list.

Liverpool are reportedly keen on acquiring his services, possibly as a replacement for the wantaway Luis Suarez.

The Guardian claim that the Reds are "not deterred by the £22 million price tag."

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