Ranking the Week's 25 Hottest Transfer Rumours
Instead of scouring the Internet for the latest football transfer gossip, Bleacher Report makes your life easier by providing you with a weekly ranking of the 25 hottest transfer rumours in one slideshow.
Whether it is the Bundesliga, Eredivisie, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League, Serie A, alternative European leagues or non-European leagues, this slideshow will be inclusive.
These 25 players will be subjectively ranked via name recognition.
25. Stephane Sparagna
1 of 25
Marseille → Arsenal
French centre-back Stephane Sparagna, 19, could be signed by Arsenal to bolster the team's defensive stocks, per Ben Jefferson at the Daily Express.
Cheap, French, young and unknown.
Talk about Sparagna having the stereotypical qualities of an Arsene Wenger target.
24. Lucas Silva
2 of 25
Cruzeiro → Real Madrid
Brazilian central midfielder Lucas Silva, 21, will be targeted by Real Madrid if Sami Khedira leaves, per Marca (h/t Sport).
Isn't the whole point of loaning Casemiro to Porto and forcing Khedira out to enable Asier Illarramendi to justify his inflated €32.2/£25.8 million transfer fee?
If Silva arrives and is a gun in midfield, then Real president Florentino Perez will have another failed transfer on his record in Illarra.
23. Marcelo Brozovic
3 of 25
Dinamo Zagreb → Arsenal
Croatian central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, 21, will begin talks with Arsenal next month.
"Croatia plays [the United States] in November in London and during our stay there we will hold meetings and negotiate with several English teams," Brozovic's agent Miroslav Bicanic said, per Simon Jones at the Daily Mail. "Yes, I can confirm Arsenal are one of them."
Brozovic had lively moments when Dinamo were beaten 1-0 by Celtic in a UEFA Europa League game.
He led the game in passes (79) and key passes (passes leading to scoring chances: four).
22. Ante Rebic
4 of 25
Fiorentina → Tottenham Hotspur
Croatian centre-forward Ante Rebic, 21, is being monitored by Spurs, per Tutto Mercato Web (h/t talkSPORT).
Wrong transfer target.
Spurs should be targeting Federico Bernardeschi, who has scored twice and registered an assist in his last five games in Serie A and the Europa League combined.
Rebic has only played 42 minutes on loan at 2. Bundesliga club RB Leipzig this season.
21. Ched Evans
5 of 25
Free Agent → Sheffield United Return
According to Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough, the Blades' management have yet to make a decision on re-signing Welsh centre-forward Ched Evans, 25, once he is released from prison.
"First of all [Evans is] not out yet and secondly the club haven't made a decision and until those two things happen it is irrelevant," Clough said, per the Press Association (h/t The Guardian). "It is very much a decision for the owners and when the time is right to say something as a club we will do that."
Since Clough did not emphatically reject the idea of Evans being given a second chance, it suggests the club are seriously considering signing him.
Convicted of rape in 2012, Evans returning to Bramall Lane could prompt widespread backlash.
20. Sebastien Pocognoli
6 of 25
West Bromwich Albion → Napoli
Belgian left-back Sebastien Pocognoli, 27, has become a viable target for Napoli, per Serena Perfetto at GianlucaDiMarzio.com.
Pocognoli is a starter at West Brom. Leaving for Napoli where he will compete with Juan Zuniga and Faouzi Ghoulam for the left-back spot is risky.
Then again, Pocognoli played a season-and-a-half at Hannover 96 before leaving for West Brom, so he could be mapping out his next transfer.
19. Virgil van Dijk
7 of 25
Celtic → Arsenal
Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk, 23, is a €10/£8 million Arsenal transfer target, per the Daily Express (h/t Aaron Flanagan at the Daily Mirror).
In the past, Celtic have sold Premier League-ready players to English clubs: Fraser Forster, Mark Viduka, Stiliyan Petrov, Victor Wanyama et al.
Van Dijk was a standout for Groningen, so it is no surprise he has continued to attract attention from major European clubs.
18. Anthony Reveillere
8 of 25
Free Agent → Sunderland
French full-back Anthony Reveillere, 34, is in talks to sign with Sunderland, per Simon Jones at the Daily Mail.
He was an alternative to Napoli right-back Christian Maggio and lacked the upside of left-back Faouzi Ghoulam, hence why Reveillere was expendable to Napoli.
A mainstay during Lyon's dynasty, Reveillere would be a satisfactory squad addition for Sunderland.
17. Alen Halilovic
9 of 25
Barcelona B → Sunderland
Croatian central attacking midfielder Alen Halilovic, 18, is a loan transfer target for Sunderland, per Simon Jones at the Daily Mail.
Staying at Barca B is the logical move for Halilovic because he is seen as a potential starter for the first team in the next few years.
Also, Barcelona taking away a wunderkind from their feeder team, which is meant to develop prospects, makes no sense.
16. Saido Berahino
10 of 25
West Bromwich Albion → Tottenham Hotspur
English centre-forward Saido Berahino, 21, continues to be a transfer target for Spurs, per Sami Mokbel at the Daily Mail.
Berahino has become the man at West Brom, and he has the green light to shoot on sight as long as he keeps scoring.
Don't do a Francis Jeffers and jump at a chance to sign for a major club too early.
15. Oriol Romeu
11 of 25
Chelsea → Stuttgart
Spanish defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu, 23, is open to making his loan at Stuttgart a permanent deal.
"I will never say no to staying in Stuttgart because they have treated me amazingly so far and I'm really happy here," Romeu said, per Metro, also calling the Bundesliga "a good league to grow and to become a better player."
Stuttgart are in dire straits, having only accumulated five points from seven Bundesliga games, so having a quality midfielder like Romeu is vital.
While Romeu has been an excellent interceptor, cutting off 29 passes this season, he needs to improve his tackle completion percentage (59.1).
14. Anderson Talisca
12 of 25
Benfica → Arsenal
Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca, 20, will be Arsenal's primary January transfer window target, per Nick Lustig at the Daily Star.
Talisca is a once-in-a-generation talent. He has already scored six times in seven league games.
He is technically brilliant, can glide past opposing players in an Abou Diaby-like manner and has already acclimatised to European football.
13. Divock Origi
13 of 25
Loan Recall
Liverpool are planning on recalling Belgian centre-forward Divock Origi, 19, from his loan spell at Lille, per Anthony Chapman at the Daily Express.
Stunting Origi's development so he can start in several Premier League games and warm the benches is a short-sighted idea.
Give struggling Liverpool No. 9 Mario Balotelli more time and let Origi continue playing and developing at Lille.
12. Ron Vlaar
14 of 25
Aston Villa Contract Negotiations
Dutch centre-back Ron Vlaar, 29, is using his leverage over Villa.
Before he commits his long-term future to Villa, he is seeking at least £50,000 a week, per Dave Armitage at the Daily Star.
Even if Vlaar overachieved, he was immense for the Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup.
11. Tom Cleverley
15 of 25
Manchester United Return?
English central midfielder Tom Cleverley, 25, could have a future at Manchester United after spending this season on loan at Aston Villa.
United academy director Brian McClair spoke of Cleverley's resilience and refused to rule out the unlikely possibility of the maligned midfielder returning to the club.
"At 16 we didn't offer him a scholarship," McClair said of Cleverley, per John Brewin of ESPN FC. "He stayed at school and he worked as hard as he possibly could...at the end of that two-year period, because he had developed more physically, he had a professional contract."
While McClair has good intentions, it is improbable.
Cleverley has suffered so much at United that returning would reopen the deep psychological scars.
He looks more comfortable on loan at Villa, where he can play his style of football, without being slated for not being world-class.
Another reason why Cleverley will be moving away permanently is United need to offer him a new contract (his current deal expires at the end of this season).
Given his (at best) average and (at worst) Championship-level displays, Cleverley is likely to settle for a mid- or bottom-tier Premier League club.
10. Xherdan Shaqiri
16 of 25
Uncertain Bayern Munich Future
Swiss forward Xherdan Shaqiri, 23, continues to talk about the possibility of leaving Bayern Munich.
"We had a sit down and discussed things with Bayern Munich. I received a clear message: I have to stay. I accepted that," Shaqiri said, per Neue Zuricher Zeitung (h/t Thomas Zocher at Sky Sports). "We will have a look at things again in the winter."
Shaqiri has no defined position at Bayern, and he has not put forward a case for being a starter when he has been afforded a chance.
9. Adriano
17 of 25
Free Agent → Le Havre
Brazilian centre-forward Adriano, 32, has been handed a chance to resuscitate his career with Ligue 2 club Le Havre, per France Football (via Goal.com).
Adriano is one of the most frustrating talents in recent memory.
At his best, he was a tank with a rocket of a left foot and could take over games.
But his lack of professionalism hindered him from reaching his full potential.
8. Ezequiel Lavezzi
18 of 25
Paris Saint-Germain → Liverpool
Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, 29, seems to always be a transfer target for Liverpool, per Sports Mediaset (h/t Aaron Flanagan at the Daily Mirror).
The Reds signing an out-of-form 29-year-old contradicts the club's policy of signing the best young talents in the world.
Lavezzi has yet to score or create a goal in Ligue 1 this season.
7. Juan Mata
19 of 25
Manchester United → Juventus
Spanish attacking midfielder Juan Mata, 26, is in the process of moving to Juve, per Anthony Chapman at the Daily Express.
The move would make sense if Juve deep-lying forward Carlos Tevez was out of form and on his way out. But he has scored six goals in five Serie A games this season and is looking to extend his contract according to his agent, who was speaking to Tutto Mercato Web (via Sky Sports).
Given the promise of Kingsley Coman, Juve signing Mata is unnecessary.
6. David de Gea
20 of 25
Manchester United → Real Madrid
Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea, 23, is seen as the successor to embattled Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, per Jack de Menezes at The Independent.
De Gea knows how it feels to be criticised, doubted, mocked and ridiculed.
He worked hard in training to justify his position at Manchester United. Why leave when he has yet to even maximise his full potential?
He can become a legend at United.
5. Sami Khedira
21 of 25
Real Madrid → Chelsea.
German central midfielder Sami Khedira, 27, will be offered a pre-contract by Chelsea, per Simon Johnson at the London Evening Standard.
Khedira will not waltz into Chelsea's starting XI, so why are the Blues targeting him?
Until he is able to prove his fitness, signing him to a big-money contract is fraught with danger, given his lengthy injury record.
4. Mats Hummels
22 of 25
Borussia Dortmund → Arsenal
German centre-back Mats Hummels, 25, is a €39.9/£32 million transfer target for Arsenal, per Anthony Chapman at the Daily Express.
Hummels is only two months into his job as full-time captain of Dortmund, yet he is still being linked with a move away.
When he is focused, he is a world-class centre-back, hence why he is a FIFA World Cup winner.
But his concentration levels been known to wane.
One viable Hummels alternative is Hoffenheim centre-back Niklas Sule, a 19-year-old behemoth.
3. Lukas Podolski
23 of 25
Arsenal Exit
German forward Lukas Podolski, 29, is frustrated with his lack of playing time.
"I have assessed my position in the team, and it has to change now," Podolski said, per the London Evening Standard. "Let's see what happens in the winter. The fact is that I'm not happy with it, that's clear."
Podolski has played 37 minutes in the Premier League and 13 minutes in the UEFA Champions League this season for Arsenal.
2. Petr Cech
24 of 25
Chelsea → Real Madrid
Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech, 32, is primed to be the next Galactico transfer, per Simon Johnson at the London Evening Standard.
Cech is no longer an undisputed starter at Stamford Bridge, having been replaced by Thibaut Courtois.
From a footballing perspective, it is reckless for Real to sign Cech. Iker Casillas' replacement is already at the club: Keylor Navas.
1. Edinson Cavani
25 of 25
Paris Saint-Germain → Arsenal
Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani, 27, wants out of PSG, and Arsenal is a likely destination, per Metro.
If Cavani's problem with PSG is his playing out wide, then Arsenal is not going to be an option.
If he is keen on the Gunners, then he has not been following Mesut Ozil, one of the most expensive players to be played out of position.
Statistics via WhoScored.com
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