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Ranking the Week's 25 Hottest Transfer Rumours

Allan JiangNov 6, 2014

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 a combination of several standards:

  • Career accomplishments.
  • Name recognition.
  • Transfer interest.

25. Awer Mabil

1 of 25

Adelaide United manager Josep Gombau is hesitant in letting Australian right/left wingerย Awer Mabil, 19, leave for Ajax.

"This is true, Ajax and another club contacted us [asking] to send him [Mabil] on a trial,"ย Gombau said, perย Omnisport (h/t SBS). "You cannot go to Europe if you are not an important player here, if you are not one of the best in the league."

Mabil is speedy, technicallyย skilfulย and loves to take on opposingย players.

But he needs to work on his decision making and his composure in front of goal.ย 

He is way too raw forย Ajax.

Yes, he has talent, but so do the myriad of Australians 23 years or younger playing abroad.

Mabil is receiving playing time, has a support system atย Adelaide and is learning under a genius manager in Gombau (tactically brilliant having coached atย Barcelona).ย 

Mabil, please don't emulateย Kwame Yeboah.

24. Riccardo Saponara

2 of 25

AC Milan's Italian central midfielderย Riccardo Saponara, 22, is being targeted byย Fiorentina and Parma, perย TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Football Italia).

Even though Milan were defeated 2-0 byย Palermo,ย Saponara made a positive impression, completing 65 passes as a central midfielder positioned on the left-side.

Recently,ย Milan have cut bait on prospects such asย Alex Pontons Paz,ย Bryan Cristante,ย Kingsley Boateng, et al.ย 

23. Teofilo Gutierrez

3 of 25

River Plate'sย Colombian centre-forwardย Teofilo Gutierrez, 29, is a No. 9 transfer target forย Tottenham Hotspur managerย Mauricio Pochettino, perย John Cross at theย Mirror.

Gutierrez has generally been a live wire when he hasย appearedย for the Colombian national team.ย 

He is a talented player, but there are more cons than pros to signing him:

  • Limited upside as a 29-year-old.ย 
  • Failed in his last foray into Europe (Trabzonspor; lasted a season).
  • Has character issues having pulled an air gun on his teammates while playing atย Racing Club, per Ed Malyon at Sports Illustrated.

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22. Vlad Chiriches

4 of 25

Tottenham Hotspur's Romanian centre-backย Vlad Chiriches, 24, could move to either Inter Milan or Juventus, perย David Amoyal atย GianlucaDiMarzio.com.

Chirichesย is theย Romanianย David Luiz: has the traits to dominate opposing centre-forwards.ย However, low concentration levels lead to positional mistakes, hence whyย Chiriches is not a regular starter for Spurs.

Hasย Chiriches ever thought about converting into a box-to-box midfielder?

21. Winston Reid

5 of 25

West Ham United'sย New Zealand centre-backย Winston Reid, 26, will turn down aย โ‚ฌ95,893/ยฃ75,000-per-week valued contract renewal, perย Andrew Dillon at The Sun.ย 

Reid needs to evaluate his options carefully, becauseย West Ham have been outstanding in recent transfer windows.ย 

Unless he will receive a better offer from a bigger European club, he should be wary of elongating the situation.ย 

Yes, he is a solid centre-back.

Butย West Ham can hypothetically replace him withย Nantes centre-backย Papy Djilobodji, who could be a cheaper alternative.ย 

Djilobodji is a main factor whyย Nantes have the best defensive record (tied withย Paris Saint-Germain) in Ligue 1 this season (eight goals conceded from 12 games).

20. Joel Campbell

6 of 25

Arsenal'sย Costa Rican centre-forward/left attacking midfielderย Joel Campbell, 22, wants to leave in the January transfer window, perย John Cross at theย Mirror.

Campbell has only played a combined 53 minutes in Premier League/UEFA Champions League play forย Arsenal this season.

Since playing in Europe forย Arsenal,ย Lorient,ย Real Betis andย Olympiakos,ย Campbell has yet to score 15 league goals or more in one campaign.

19. Mario Suarez

7 of 25

Atletico Madrid's Spanish central midfielderย Mario Suarez, 27, will be pursued byย Napoli in the January transfer window, perย David Amoyal at GianlucaDiMarzio.com.

Suarez has not been a security blanket forย Atleti, like in the 3-2 defeat toย Olympiakos.

His proposed move toย Napoli hinges on the future ofย Rafa Benitez.ย 

After a tough start to the season (two defeats in opening three games),ย Napoli are unbeaten in their last seven Serie A games.

As long as Benitez stays, thenย Suarez is a viable option to be added to the emerging Spanish clique atย Napoli.ย 

18. Bruno Martins Indi

8 of 25

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is preparing aย โ‚ฌ12.8/ยฃ10 million bid for Porto's Dutch centre-back Bruno Martins Indi, 22, perย Neil Custis at The Sun.ย 

Porto are not looking to make a marginal profit withย Indi.

Having soldย Eliaquim Mangala toย Manchester City forย โ‚ฌ40.8/ยฃ32 million,ย Porto will hold on toย Indi until a substantial bid is lodged.

17. Divock Origi

9 of 25

Lille manager Rene Girard has categorically ruled outย Liverpool cuttingย Divock Origi's loan short.

"They have failed to score at Liverpool? Us too. We need him [Origi] a lot,"ย Girard said, perย RTBF (h/t theย Metro). "It was agreed [with Liverpool]ย that Divock would stay the year with us."

League OnlyDivock OrigiMario Balotelli
Goals/Games3/100/8
Goals Per Game0.300
Shots Per Goal5.70
Shots On Target %47.135.3

Origi has outperformedย Liverpool centre-forwardย Mario Balotelli in goals scored, goals per game, shots per goal and shots on target in league play this season.

16. Simon Kjaer

10 of 25

Lille's Danish centre-backย Simon Kjaer, 25, has plans of playing for a Premier League club down the line.

"I have to plan for the best years of my career and England could very well be my next destination,"ย Kjaer said, perย Robin Bairner at Goal.com. "I've considered a move to England before, but next summer it could happen."

Kjaer was a liability atย Wolfsburg and Roma, but has turned his career around atย Lille.

15. Wilfried Bony

11 of 25

Swansea City are close to agreeing a new deal with Ivorian centre-forwardย Wilfried Bony, 25, per Gareth Vincent at the South Wales Evening Post.ย 

How aboutย Gylfi Sigurdsson getting his contract upgraded? Seven assists in 10 Premier League games is astonishing.ย 

Whenย Bony is in full flight, he could be a 20 goals-per season No. 9 forย Swansea,ย assumingย Sigurdsson continues his creative streak.

14. Fabio Borini

12 of 25

Inter Milan are targeting Liverpool's Italian centre-forward Fabio Borini, 23, perย Darren Lewis at the Mirror.

Borini's decision to block a proposed permanent transfer toย Sunderland is being vindicated.

He started inย Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, whileย Sunderland were beaten 8-0 byย Southampton last month.

If Inter make a move forย Borini then it would be an indictment on struggling centre-forwardย Rodrigo Palacio, who has yet to score a goal in 546 minutes of Serie A play for Inter this season.

13. Anderson

13 of 25

Manchester United's Brazilian central midfielderย Anderson, 26, could have hisย โ‚ฌ76,675/ยฃ60,000-per-week contract cancelled, perย Mark Ogden at The Telegraph.

Here are three reasons whyย Anderson has been a majorย disappointment.ย 

  • Consistent injuries.
  • Lack of professionalism.
  • Positional change from central attacking midfielder to central midfielder.

12. Jermain Defoe

14 of 25

Toronto FC's English centre-forwardย Jermain Defoe, 32,ย will join Queens Park Rangers in the January transfer window, perย Joe Ridge at the Daily Mail.ย 

Defoe scored 11 goals in 18 Major League Soccer games forย Toronto, but finished the season on a six-game goalless run.ย 

Despite the hype,ย Toronto missed the MLS playoffs.

Toronto have no intentions of letting him leave cheaply, per the Toronto Star.

11. Kevin Strootman

15 of 25

Manchester United will monitor Roma's Dutch central midfielderย Kevin Strootman, 24, as he eases back into football, perย James Ducker at The Times.ย 

Strootman'sย cruciate knee ligament injury could be potentially debilitating to his career.ย 

While keeping an eye onย Strootman, United should also heavily scoutย PSV Eindhoven central midfielder Adam Maher.

He is three years younger thanย Strootman and possesses an all-round playing style.ย 

Maher has made 18 tackles, intercepted nine passes, scored six times and registered two assists in 10 Eredivisie games this season.

10. Fabio Coentrao

16 of 25

Manchester United are ready to sign Real Madrid's Portuguese left-back Fabio Coentrao, 26, per Anthony Chapman at theย Express.

Luke Shaw started 35 Premier League games forย Southampton last season, so if he remains fit then it would be pointless to signย Coentrao.

Given United managerย Louis van Gaal's tendency to give young players a chance,ย Reece James should be afforded an extended starting run ifย Shaw gets injured.

9. Adriano

17 of 25

Le Havre president Jean-Pierre Louvel claims Brazilian centre-forwardย Adriano, 32, will still move to the club in spite of his legal predicament.ย 

"Former Brazilian football international Adriano has been charged with links to a drug lord in Rio de Janeiro," per BBC. "Prosecutors said that Adriano gave a drug dealer a motorbike that was used in criminal activities."

Whenย Louvel says "I do not see how this would affect the transfer," he is speaking strictly on his end. Le Havre may still want the novelty and attentionย Adriano will bring to the minnow club.ย 

But if Adriano'sย passport gets revoked, then his alleged criminal links to the underworld will have affected his proposed transfer toย Le Havre.

8. Marco Reus

18 of 25

Bayern Munich and Manchester City are both vying forย Borussia Dortmund's German left attacking midfielder/deep-lying forwardย Marco Reus, 25, perย Ralph Ellis at the Daily Mail.ย 

Reus can avoid inflaming tensions with theย Dortmund fans by going overseas and playing for City rather than signing for Bayern.

If City offered himย โ‚ฌ254,854/ยฃ200,000-per-week, he would be a fool to turn down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to set himself up for life.ย 

Given his injury record, it would be a smart decision to lock down a five-yearย ยฃ200,000-per-week contract at City.ย 

He only needs to look atย Owen Hargreaves andย Sebastian Deisler to see how quickly injuries can debilitate a career.ย 

7. Esteban Cambiasso

19 of 25

Leicester City's Argentine central midfielderย Esteban Cambiasso, 34, is not in talks to extend his contract, according to the Foxes assistant managerย Craig Shakespeare,ย perย Rob Tanner at the Leicester Mercury.ย 

Cambiasso is class in midfield, but he is not playing at the same standard he was at Inter Milan.ย 

  • 83.1 pass accuracy percentage (Inter)ย โ†’ 77.1ย (Leicester).
  • 49.1 passes per game (Inter)ย โ†’ 29.1 (Leicester).
  • 5.1 long passes per game (Inter)ย โ†’ 2.5ย (Leicester).
  • 1.3 key passes per game (Inter; pass leading to scoring chance)ย โ†’ 0.7ย (Leicester).

Granted, it would be wiser to judge him in March when he's had enough time toย acclimatiseย to the change ofย pace in the Premier League.

6. Radamel Falcao

20 of 25

Manchester United are unsure of extending the loan ofย Colombian centre-forwardย Radamel Falcao, 28, into a permanent transfer, perย Neil Custis at The Sun.

Signed on loan fromย Monaco,ย Falcao has been satisfactory in the limited minutes he has played for United.ย 

In his last four league games, he has scored once and created two goals.ย 

Monaco's current No. 9,ย Dimitar Berbatov, has lookedย lacklustre having failed to score in his last sevenย combined Ligue 1/UEFA Champions League games.ย 

Ifย Berbatov continues his below-par form,ย Falcao will walk straight back intoย Monaco's starting XI ifย United pass on signing himย permanently.ย 

5. Robin van Persie

21 of 25

Fenerbahce areย enquiringย about the possibility of signing Manchester United's Dutch centre-forwardย Robin van Persie, 31, perย Alex Harris at the Daily Star.ย 

Ifย David Moyes was the manager ofย United, then perhaps it may have been on the cards.

But sinceย Van Persie's compatriot Louis van Gaal is managing United,ย Fenerbahce should seek other alternatives.ย 

4. Steven Gerrard

22 of 25

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is ready to signย Liverpool's English central midfielder Steven Gerrard, 34, if he opts out of his Reds contract.ย 

"I don't ever rate players on their age.ย Like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard is a top player,"ย Pellegrini said, per The Telegraph. "It depends on the money they cost and the number of years they can play for."

Gerrard has yet to extend his contract atย Liverpool.

He needs to accept a super-sub role because he does not adequately protectย Liverpool's defence.

3. Gerard Pique

23 of 25

Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are open to signingย Barcelona's Spanish centre-back Gerard Pique, perย Dave Wood at the Daily Mail.

The English media's fascination withย Pique is bizarre.ย 

Can he still do a job? Yes.

But what type of wages would he be seeking? How ambitious is he after winning everything there is?ย 

His positioning inย Barca's 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid was inconsistent, which is the ideal word to describe his form in recent years.ย 

Chelsea, City and United are better off trusting one of their young gun centre-backs.

2. Thierry Henry

24 of 25

New York Red Bulls' French centre-forward/left attacking midfielderย Thierry Henry, 37, is intrigued at the idea of playing in theย Indian Super League, perย L'Equipe (h/tย Saumyajit Basu atย The Times of India).

One reason whyย Henry is interested is the significantย French contingent in the ISL:

  • Bernard Mendy (Chennaiyin FC).
  • Cedric Hengbart (Kerala Blasters).
  • David Trezeguet (Pune City).
  • Gennaro Bracigliano (Chennaiyin FC).
  • Johan Letzelter (Mumbai City).
  • Mikael Silvestre (Chennaiyin FC).
  • Nicolas Anelka (Mumbai City).
  • Raphael Romey (Kerala Blasters).
  • Robert Pires (FC Goa).
  • Sylvain Monsoreau (Atletico Kolkata).
  • Youness Bengelloun (FC Goa).

Henry has scored 10 goals andย registeredย 13 assists in 32 Major League Soccer games for theย Red Bulls.

He is in the power position to negotiate another big money deal, whether it is in the MLS, China, India, the Middle East, etc.

If money is not such a big factor and lifestyle ranks high on his criteria for his next destination, he should seriously consider playing in Australia for an A-League club.

1. Xavi

25 of 25

Barcelona's Spanish central midfielderย Xavi, 34, will be offered a contract byย FC Tokyo, per Nikkan Sportsย (h/t Japan Today).ย 

Theย wear and tear ofย having played professional football since 1997 is whyย Xavi is a defensive liability and cannot play at a high intensity for 90 minutes atย Barca.

Understandably, he has been a role player, but that doesn't mean he should retire.

He can play out another six years at a lower level while being an ambassador of the game.

He should consider playing in Australia, China, Japan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United States,ย et al.ย 

Statistics viaย WhoScoredย 

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