Power Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours: Kaka to Orlando City?
Bleacher Report presents a power ranking of the 20 hottest transfer rumours, news and signings.
So, how will these 20 transfer window rumours be ranked? The rumours will be ranked according to name recognition.
The less identifiable the rumoured player is, the lower the rumour will be ranked and vice versa.
20. Adam Taggart
1 of 20
Australian national team centre-forward Adam Taggart is relishing his chance to succeed at Championship team Fulham.
"The opportunity came to me and I jumped at it straight away," Taggart said, per the ABC. "I'll be looking forward to improve and develop."
Signed from Newcastle Jets, Taggart is a promising Socceroo who has the X-Factor.
He is a threat from long-range, he can poach goals and he works hard without the ball.
Granted, it would have been more beneficial to play in the Eredivisie or the 2. Bundesliga, but Taggart is good enough to be an invaluable member of Fulham in England's second tier.
19. Lamine Kone
2 of 20
West Ham United want to sign Lorient centre-back Lamine Kone, per talkSPORT.
Kone started 14 Ligue 1 games last season, making 32 tackles and intercepting 27 passes.
A low-risk tackler, Kone would be a good acquisition for West Ham. But an even better target would be Nantes defender Papy Mison Djilobodji.
18. Jefferson Montero
3 of 20
Jefferson Montero has announced his departure from Mexican Liga MX team Monarcas Morelia in order to re-ignite his European dream.
"It's certain that I'll leave the league," Montero said, per ESPN Deportes (h/t Paulo Freitas at Sky Sports). "I already have an offer [from a European club]."
When Montero was in Spain, he was one of the most feared dribblers.
Stocky, fleet-footed and immensely gifted, Montero set the league alight with his fancy footwork.
Alas, he constantly choked in front of goal: scoring once from 60 shots during the 2011-12 season for Real Betis.
17. Luis Alberto
4 of 20
Liverpool have loaned Luis Alberto to Malaga, per Chris Shaw at Liverpool's official website.
Light on his feet, silky dribbling ability and possessing a sleek first-touch, Alberto looks the part, but never got an extended run at Liverpool last season.
Several young guns at Malaga failed to consistently start last season, so that will be a worry for Alberto.
- Bartlomiej Pawlowski
- Fabrice Olinga
- Juanmi
- Roberto Chen
That said, hopefully the move works out for Alberto, whose career is in-limbo.
16. Emmanuel Riviere
5 of 20
West Bromwich Albion could break their £6 million transfer fee record in order to sign Monaco centre-forward Emmanuel Riviere, per the Express and Star.
Despite only starting 63.3 percent of Ligue 1 games, Riviere scored 10 goals.
Is he a product of James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho being elite facilitators for Monaco, or a future elite No. 9?
Two seasons ago, Riviere only scored four goals in 18 league games for Toulouse, so that is a red flag.
15. Divock Origi
6 of 20
Liverpool are close to completing a deal to bring in Lille centre-forward Divock Origi, per Tony Barrett at the Times.
Having scored a winning goal against Russia, Origi is striving to become a household name.
While he is not a finished product, he has immense upsides. He is 6'1", has good instincts inside the box and is still only 19 years old.
14. Fernando Reges
7 of 20
Manchester City have announced the signing of Fernando Reges from Porto.
"I am so happy to finally be joining Manchester City," Fernando said, per City's official website. "City fans can be assured I will give my all every time I play and I'm looking forward to many happy years in Manchester."
The rich get richer.
A world-class defensive midfielder will now warm City's benches—wow.
13. Toby Alderweireld
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Liverpool are trying to sign Atletico Madrid centre-back Toby Alderweireld, per the Metro.
Alderweireld, who can also play at right-back, suits how Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers wants his defenders to play: taking the ball out of defence.
The upside of Jose Gimenez could give Atleti a valid reason to sell third-choice centre-back Alderweireld.
12. Alberto Moreno
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Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno's planned move to Liverpool has collapsed, Sevilla sporting director Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo revealed.
"The matter of Alberto is practically settled," Verdejo said, per Marca (h/t Pete O'Rourke at Sky Sports). "We couldn't reach an agreement [with Liverpool] and I don't think it can be revived."
Moreno intercepted 73 passes last season.
Able to play as a left-winger and as a left-back, Moreno, 21, is one of Spain's brightest prospects.
11. Ander Herrera
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Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera's buyout fee will increase to €40/£32 million on July 1 as his proposed move to Manchester United gains momentum, per Guillem Balague at Bleacher Report.
Herrera is an all-round midfielder, who completed 103 tackles, scored five goals and registered five assists last season.
Starting mainly as a No. 10, Herrera can also play in central midfield.
The problem with Herrera's mooted transfer fee is there are an abundance of elite midfielders in Europe, who would be cheaper alternatives.
Udinese's Allan is one suggested target.
10. Dejan Lovren
11 of 20
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Southampton centre-back Dejan Lovren, per Darren Lewis at the Mirror.
Linking up with former manager Mauricio Pochettino would be the main advantage in Lovren joining Spurs.
Lovren resuscitated his career at Southampton after his spell at Lyon was marred by red cards, errors leading to goals and hazardous defending.
9. Luke Shaw
12 of 20
Manchester United are prepared to pay Southampton £34 million for left-back Luke Shaw, per Tom Sheen at the Independent.
If Shaw was German, the fee would be £12 million maximum.
Shaw is still 18 years old and he should consider playing several more seasons with Southampton before moving on.
In that scenario, he would still be in his early 20s, so he should not rush to leave right now.
8. Nicklas Bendtner
13 of 20
Nicklas Lord Bendtner is one of 11 players that have ended their association with Arsenal, per the club's official website.
Bendtner generated more memes than goals for Arsenal.
He is the archetypal early bloomer as he has been the same player since his loan spell at Birmingham City.
7. Xherdan Shaqiri
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Bayern Munich wide forward Xherdan Shaqiri is set to move to Liverpool, per David Amoyal at GianlucaDiMarzio.com.
Shaqiri can play across the forward-line.
He could have a future as a deep-lying forward because he is lethal when he zips past opposing players and gets into scoring opportunities.
6. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez
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Manchester United centre-forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez has spoken of his unhappiness hinting at a move away.
"Players need confidence more than anything else, and I've been very short of it," Chicharito said, per FIFA.com. "Very few people have shown faith in me over this past year."
Chicharito should seriously consider signing with a La Liga club because his style would fit in Spain.
United only see him as a super-sub, whereas he can take his game to the next level if he was a week in, week out starter.
5. Thomas Vermaelen
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Manchester United's bid for Arsenal centre-back/left-back Thomas Vermaelen has been rejected, per Gary Jones at the Daily Star.
Vermaelen only started seven games for Arsenal last season.
While he is experienced, he is not in form and is injury-prone. If he wants to be a squad player, just stay at Arsenal, because it is unlikely that his status will change at United.
4. Alexis Sanchez
17 of 20
Barcelona right-forward Alexis Sanchez could be joining Liverpool according to former stalwart Phil Thompson, per Jamie Sanderson at the Metro: "Just yesterday I heard things from people, newspaper guys who are very close to the ground at Liverpool, saying that the Sanchez deal was actually done."
Alexis scored 19 times and created 10 goals for Barcelona last season.
He stepped up when deep-lying forward Lionel Messi looked disinterested.
Why would Barcelona management deny Alexis the chance to better his season?
3. Mario Balotelli
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AC Milan centre-forward Mario Balotelli will not leave the club in the summer transfer window, amid the striker being singled out as a factor for Italy's underwhelming FIFA World Cup campaign, according to Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani.
"I do not understand why you only talk about Balotelli," Galliani said, per Milan's official website. "Balotelli will remain at Milan."
Aside from a header against England, Balotelli was anonymous in 1-0 defeats to Costa Rica and Uruguay.
2. Yaya Toure
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Manchester City central midfielder Yaya Toure claims management refused to give him extra time to spend with his dying brother, Ibrahim, per France Football (h/t the Guardian):
"At the end of the season, I wanted to stay for four or five days with my brother before I flew to prepare for the World Cup with Ivory Coast, except that City did not want to give me a few days.
I went to celebrate the title championship in Abu Dhabi while my brother was in his sickbed. By fortune, Kolo was at his bedside. After that I blame myself for not insisting and for not leading them to respect me.
These last four months have probably been the hardest in my life.
"
Explosive accusations from Yaya.
He isn't threatening to burn bridges at City, he is bombing them.
Yaya was City's most valuable player last season scoring 20 times and creating nine goals in the Premier League.
While he is a world-class footballer, he is moody, petulant and his sense of entitlement means he is difficult to handle.
1. Kaka
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AC Milan central attacking midfielder Kaka is in "advanced negotiations" to join new MLS franchise Orlando City for the 2015 season, per Greg Lalas at MLSsoccer.com.
Kaka has nothing to prove in Europe.
He has won it all and the move to Milan gave him back the self-worth he lost after an injury-afflicted tenure at Real Madrid.
Kaka would be a franchise-changing player for Orlando.
Statistics via WhoScored.com
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