Ranking the Week's 25 Hottest Transfer Rumours: Mario Balotelli to Napoli?

Instead of scouring the internet for the latest football transfer gossip, Bleacher Report makes your life easier by providing you a weekly power 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 several standards:

• Career accomplishments.
• Name recognition.
• Recent form.

25. Martin Odegaard

Stromsgodset's Norwegian central attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard, 15, is being wooed by Ajax manager Frank de Boer.

"If I were him [Odegaard] I would choose Ajax because of the good academy and he can take the next step from here," De Boer said, per Metro. "If he chooses somewhere else, like England, he will not get many opportunities."

The England reference was De Boer's way of pacifying Odegaard's love for Liverpool.

Odegaard should move to Ajax when Davy Klaassen leaves.

Joining Ajax now is risky since Klaassen is six years older and one of the best young prospects in Europe, while Odegaard is just a teenage phenom in an obscure Scandinavian league. 

24. Romulo Borges

Epsilon/Getty Images

Arsenal are considering a €12.1/£9.5 million deal for Spartak Moscow's Brazilian central midfielder Romulo, 24, per Anthony Chapman at the Express.

When Romulo can string games together, then maybe consider him. But signing him on his potential is not a good idea. 

How about Udinese's Allan Marques?

He has played more minutes in league play this season (796) than Romulo's last two seasons combined (606).

23. Bakary Sako

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Wolverhampton Wanderers are hoping to keep Malian left attacking midfielder Bakary Sako, 26, from being poached by Aston Villa in the January transfer window, per the Express and Star.

Villa are on a five-game losing streak and have accumulated 10 points from nine league games. 

If Sako is attracted by Premier League money, he and his agent need to negotiate into his contract that his salary will not be cut if Villa suffer relegation. 

You know what would be an awkward situation?

If he signs with Villa in the January transfer window, then endures relegation to the Championship at the end of the season, while Wolves are promoted into the Premier League.

22. Alex Bruce

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Hull City's Northern Irish centre-back Alex Bruce, 30, is not sure if he will be offered a new deal.

"I realise a lot of people out there will say, 'He's only in the Premier League because of his dad [Steve; Hull manager]'. But I have a thick skin when it comes to comments like that," Bruce said, per Philip Buckingham at the Hull Daily Mail. "I will just sit and wait to see if the club think I merit a new deal. It is out of my hands."

Strong in the tackle, passionate, professional and a team-first player, it would be a surprise if Bruce is not offered a contract extension, especially with his father managing the club. 

The allegations of nepotism should not apply to Bruce.

He has to wait for his chance, even though he is good enough to be a regular starter for a bottom-tier Premier League club, or a Championship team striving for promotion. 

21. Ayoze Perez

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Newcastle United's Spanish centre-forward Ayoze Perez, 21, claims he was a transfer target for Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"Yes, there was interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid," Ayoze said, per Matt Law at The Telegraph. "I have always loved the Premier League, but the main reason to come here was how Newcastle valued myself."

Perhaps, Ayoze's comments were lost in translation.

But it seems inconceivable that Barca or Real would have been interested in him. Therefore, you presume their B teams wanted to sign him, but even that scenario seems odd.

• Barca B would not have signed Ayoze as it would have disrupted Jean Marie Dongou's development.
• Real Madrid Castilla were relegated from the Segunda Division (the division Ayoze was playing in at Tenerife). 

Just something to note, which will turn into a red flag if he ends up being a bust. 

Hopefully for Newcastle, Ayoze is Premier League quality, rather than being another Xisco.

20. Kiko Casilla

David Ramos/Getty Images

Liverpool view Espanyol's Spanish goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, 28, as a viable successor to Simon Mignolet, per Fichajes.net (h/t Metro).

With Victor Valdes' move to Liverpool collapsing, Casilla has become the alternative.

Why don't Liverpool target Mainz's 21-year-old German Loris Karius?

He is an immense goalkeeping prospect, who has a higher upside than Casilla.

19. Harry Kane

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino wants English centre-forward Harry Kane, 21, to stay at the club.

"Harry is a very important player and I am sure he will stay with us for a long time," Pochettino said, per the London Evening Standard. "There will be many changes and maybe Harry will be in the first 11."

Kane has only played 63 minutes in the Premier League despite scoring four times in three UEFA Europa League games.

He deserves an extended starting run in league play, otherwise he should consider offers from other clubs that are willing to make him their main No. 9. 

18. Giannelli Imbula

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Manchester United are competing with Chelsea to sign Marseille's French central midfielder Giannelli Imbula, 22, per Ben Jefferson at the Express.

Imbula is an adventurous midfielder, who enjoys taking on opposing players, and is also a passing outlet in midfield.

He has a style comparable to Bayer Leverkusen's Borussia Monchengladbach loanee Christoph Kramer.

17. Grzegorz Krychowiak

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Arsenal are tracking Sevilla's Polish defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, 24, per Antony Kastrinakis at The Sun (subscription required).

Krychowiak is playing the same way he did at Reims, so if Arsenal really want him, why didn't they sign him based on his Ligue 1 performances?

He combines brute physicality with finesse passing. 

16. Jay Rodriguez

Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to sign Southampton's English left attacking midfielder/deep-lying forward Jay Rodriguez, 25, per Sami Mokbel at the Daily Mail.

If Spurs want to buy an inactive Rodriguez, which is an idea fraught with danger, then that is their prerogative. 

He would be a welcome addition to Southampton when he is fully fit, but he is expendable given Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane are upgrades.

15. Omer Toprak

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing Bayer Leverkusen's Turkish centre-back Omer Toprak, 25, per Adrian Kajumba at the Daily Star.

Leverkusen have negotiating power having extended Toprak's contract till 2018. 

Since Tin Jedvaj is on loan from Roma and Kyriakos Papadopoulos is on loan from Schalke, Leverkusen don't have a long-term replacement for Toprak.

This will strengthen Leverkusen's stance of not selling Toprak, one of their most important players, unless a bid of excessive proportions is lodged.

14. Andre-Pierre Gignac

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Newcastle United are interested in signing Marseille's French centre-forward Andre-Pierre Gignac, 28, per Lee Ryder at the Evening Chronicle.  

With three successive seasons of 10 goals or more in league play, Gignac has a dependable track record.

He is currently in career-best form with 10 goals from 11 Ligue 1 games.

13. Karim Bellarabi

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur are all scouting Bayer Leverkusen's German right attacking midfielder Karim Bellarabi, 24, per John Cross at the Daily Mirror.

Bellarabi is a streaky player who morphs into a world-class footballer when he is happy.

When he is out of sync, he looks like a second division player.

If not for a loan to Eintracht Braunschweig, he would not have had the chance to rescue his Leverkusen career.

He needs to stay at Leverkusen and improve his consistency. 

12. Saido Berahino

Stu Forster/Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion's English centre-forward/right winger Saido Berahino, 21, is a €31.8/£25 million transfer target for Liverpool, per Anthony Chapman at the Express.

There is a lot to like about Berahino: English, young, prolific scorer, accurate passer and presses opposing defenders.

Is he worth €31.8/£25 million? Not right now. 

If he continues his scoring streak, West Brom need to offer him bigger wages and extend his contract. It keeps him happy and also increases his transfer stock. 

11. Stephan Lichtsteiner

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Arsenal are targeting Juventus' Swiss right wing-back Stephan Lichtsteiner, 30, according to Sky Sports Italia, via talkSPORT.

Lichtsteiner has been playing in Serie A since 2008 and has adjusted to playing in a back three defence, so Arsenal signing him would be unconventional from a tactical fit.

Hector Bellerin needs to be given a fair chance to see if he is cut out for the Premier League.

If Bellerin struggles, instead of signing Lichtsteiner, go for someone younger.

Target the boring, conservative, but safe option of Montpellier's Mathieu Deplagne (four fouls in 725 minutes).

It worked with Bacary Sagna. 

10. Pedro

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Arsenal are open to signing Barcelona's Spanish right-forward Pedro, 27, per Nick Lustig at the Daily Star.

It would make more sense if Arsenal go for Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria, a powerful central midfielder, than add Pedro, who has only scored once from 454 minutes in La Liga this season.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague claims while Pedro is regretting not leaving Barca in the past, the board have told him he is not going anywhere, per Team Stream Now.

9. Mario Balotelli

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Napoli sporting director Riccardo Bigon has ruled out signing Liverpool's Italian centre-forward Mario Balotelli, 24, in the January transfer window.

"It's a rumour told in Spain, England and Italy but I don't think it is a possibility [signing Balotelli]," Bigon said, per Mediaset (h/t Nadia Carminati at Sky Sports). "Nothing of what has been posted is true."

Balotelli has struggled at Liverpool having failed to score in 516 minutes of Premier League play.

A goal against Swansea City in the League Cup provided some respite for Balotelli.

8. Marco Reus

Lars Baron/Getty Images

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United will continue to chase Borussia Dortmund's German deep-lying forward/left attacking midfielder Marco Reus, 25, per David Wright at the Express.

Dortmund's struggles in the Bundesliga (seven points from nine games) increases speculation of Reus' future. 

But if he starts playing like a world-class player in the Bundesliga, Dortmund will overcome their sluggish start.

7. Edinson Cavani

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Uruguayan centre-forward Edinson Cavani, 27, claims he is happy at Paris Saint-Germain, even though he has not been content with how the club have used him. 

"I expressed my frustration, but that didn't mean I had a bad relationship with [PSG]," Cavani said, per L'Equipe (h/t Sky Sports). "Sometimes these things can lead to a problem, but other times to a solution. We found a solution."

Playing out wide and being the second option have contributed to Cavani (four goals) being outscored by five players in Ligue 1 (five goals plus).

6. Alexis Sanchez

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Arsenal's Chilean deep-lying forward Alexis Sanchez, 25, is unhappy with the lack of emotional support from teammate Mesut Ozil, per Luis Rivera Talpen at La Tercera (h/t the Metro).

The timing of the article is bizarre. It would have made more sense to release the report when both Alexis and Ozil were playing poorly at the same time. 

Alexis has scored five times and accumulated two assists in eight Premier League games, so he is doing fine.

Even if Talpen's report is true, there is an explanation: Ozil's personal life is in tatters, so obviously he will be distant. 

If you had to choose between Alexis or Ozil making an exit, it wouldn't be Alexis, which is alluded by the Metro.

It would be Ozil, since he has struggled immensely in the Premier League. 

5. Ashley Cole

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Roma's English left-back Ashley Cole, 33, will be signed by Manchester United to provide cover for Luke Shaw, per Anthony Chapman at the Express.

United manager Louis van Gaal prefers to interchange players, so if he needed cover for Shaw, Marcos Rojo will slot in. 

Another reason why Van Gaal should not sign Cole is it would nullify any chance of Reece James getting a look-in.

4. Rio Ferdinand

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Queens Park Rangers' English centre-back Rio Ferdinand, 35, is unpopular in Harry Redknapp's dressing room. 

Schadenfreude is the word that describes some of Ferdinand's QPR teammates when they found out about his three-game ban and €31,771/£25,000 fine for tweeting offensive content. 

"Mirror Sport understands some of his [Ferdinand's] Queens Park Rangers team-mates will welcome the suspension," per James Nursey at the Mirror. "They believe the Hoops' side is stronger without the former England regular."

Ferdinand has contributed to QPR having the worst defence in the Premier League (18 goals conceded in nine games), so perhaps he should consider making a last-ditched cash-grab move overseas before he retires.

3. Arjen Robben

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Dutch right winger Arjen Robben, 30, has revealed lifestyle reasons are why he will commit his future to Bayern Munich.

"My family is happy, we have lived here for five years and I am exactly at the place I want to be," Robben said, per Mark Ogden at The Telegraph. "At the moment, there is not even one percent of me thinking about going to England or anywhere."

If Robben can stay fit, he would be able to extend his career, because his inverted wing-play is so difficult to stop.

2. Gerard Pique

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Chelsea are ready to sign Barcelona's Spanish centre-back Gerard Pique, 27, as the replacement of John Terry for €30.4/£24 million, per Fichajes.net (h/t Alex Harris at the Daily Star).

Instead of signing Pique on a name basis, Chelsea should trust Kenneth Omeruo and Kurt Zouma, two elite centre-back prospects. 

Regardless of Barca's clean sheet record this season, Pique was not stellar when it mattered, looking unconvincing in a 3-1 Clasico defeat to Real Madrid. 

1. David Villa

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Instead of continuing for Melbourne City, Spanish centre-forward David Villa, 32, will cut short his A-League journey and return to New York City.

Despite lacking match fitness, Villa has been class in the A-League and has given Australians a glimpse of top-flight football. 

There seems to be a power struggle between the City franchises with New York desperate to retain their star assets.

If Frank Lampard's loan at Manchester City is extended, then it "would all but end Melbourne's hopes of Villa returning," per David Davutovic at the Herald Sun (h/t FOX Sports). 

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