Bale, David Luiz, Nani & More: Playing Fact or Fiction with Transfer Rumours

The summer transfer period would seem at a logjam.

While obvious names such as Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani have moved for big money, there has so far been little to whet the transfer-watcher’s appetite the past few weeks.

That is, of course, other than rumours.

There have been no shortage of those, and well near every club in every major league with even a bit of money to spend has been linked with one player or another, all of them waiting for that one big move to release the floodwaters.

In the following five slides, we’ll examine five of those rumours involving some of the biggest names on the transfer market so far this summer. We’ll assign each piece of gossip a number between one and five—one indicating the transfer is unlikely to happen and five suggesting it almost certainly will.

Let’s get to it.

Gervinho: Arsenal to Roma

In two seasons at Ligue 1 side Lille Gervinho scored a total of 36 goals in all competitions. That sort of production encouraged Arsenal to shell out more than £10 million for him in 2011, but since then the Ivory Coast international has tallied just 11 times.

It would seem Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has run out of patience with the 26-year-old and, according to Football-Italia, the attacker is bound for AS Roma.

If, as the Independent has suggested, Roma striker Pablo Osvaldo is headed to Tottenham Hotspur, then the Giallorossi would almost certainly need to bring someone in, especially as Mattia Destro is still injured.

4/5

Roberto Soldado: Valencia to Tottenham Hotspur

It’s hardly surprising that Spurs figure heavily in this game of fact or fiction (we’ll get to even more regarding the North London side a few slides from now), but one piece of gossip that looks certain to be proven as fact is that linking Valencia striker Roberto Soldado to White Hart Lane.

Los Che’s tattered finances mean they’re in no position to resist serious bids for any of their players and, according to the Daily Mail, Spurs have already triggered Soldado’s £25 million release clause.

Soldado, 28, has never scored fewer than 25 goals in a season since joining Valencia from Getafe in 2010 and last season tallied 30 times in 46 matches in all competitions.

4.5/5

Nani: Manchester United to Monaco

A Monday article in French daily L’Equipe and subsequently published by the Telegraph claims Nani has already been offered to Monaco.

Vadim Vasilyev, who is Monaco’s sporting director, has reportedly stated that the Portugal international has been made available to the Principality side, adding, “He is a very good player, but at the moment there have been no talks yet.”

Nani, 26, appeared in only 10 Premier League matches for the Red Devils last season, scoring twice.

2/5

David Luiz: Chelsea to Barcelona

Having missed out on Thiago Silva, who has agreed a contract extension at Paris Saint-Germain, it seems Barcelona have turned their attention to Chelsea defender David Luiz in an effort to bolster their aging and undermanned backline.

A Monday article in the Mirror suggested Chelsea would have to dig in their heels to avoid the Brazilian leaving, but having enjoyed a mostly successful season at Stamford Bridge last term—and with so many fellow Brazilians at the club—it would seem highly unlikely that the 26-year-old would opt to leave the English capital.

The article also claimed Barcelona would go after Inter Milan’s Walter Samuel if their approach for David Luiz was rejected—a far more likely turn of events.

1.5/5

Gareth Bale: Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid

If this transfer goes through, and if Real Madrid get their way, the next few days could see a new world transfer record established, breaking the £80 million the Spanish giants paid for Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2009.

According to Marca, Madrid have already had an identical bid for Gareth Bale turned down by Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy, and with Meringues president Florentino Perez insistent that his club secure the services of the Welshman, another significantly higher bid can be expected in the coming days.

Bale, who scored 21 Premier League goals for Spurs last season, was named Player of the Year by both the Professional Footballers Association and Football Writers Association, but with Levy keen to retain the 24-year-old, the likelihood of this rumour coming to fruition would truly seem to be a case of 50-50.

2.5/5