Ranking the Week's 25 Hottest Transfer Rumours: Yaya Toure to Inter Milan
Instead of scouring the Internet for the latest football transfer gossip, Bleacher Report makes your life easier by providing you with a weekly power ranking of the 25 hottest transfer rumours/deals 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 various standards:
- Current playing ability.
- Upside.
- Projected transfer value.
- Projected transfer resell value.
- Social media buzz.
25. Damien Duff (Melbourne City)
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Irish winger Damien Duff, 36, has confirmed that he will leave Melbourne City once his contract finishes to return home in the hopes of securing a contract with a League of Ireland club.
"The only flight I'll be taking now is back to Dublin. I've enjoyed Australia, but I think Ireland will be my next port of call," Duff said, per RTE. "I'll be home for good then, so I'll be looking for a job. [Well], that's the plan."
There are seven games left in the A-League season before the final series starts in May should Melbourne City qualify.
Duff would be emulating Liam Miller, once a Manchester United player, who left Melbourne City to sign for Cork City.
24. Rafael Paez (Liverpool)
2 of 23Liverpool centre-back Rafael Paez, 20, is caught in a vexing situation after his loan to Eibar was not ratified, as revealed by his agent, Luis Carlos Fernandez.
"[Paez] plans to stay at Eibar just training until the end of the campaign," Fernandez said, per Eduardo Fernandez-Abascal of the International Business Times. "In Spain, he cannot play this season either at Eibar or in another club because it is impossible to register him out of the two transfer windows."
Prior to the Eibar fiasco, Paez spent the first half of this season on loan at Bologna, playing eight Serie B games before being an unused substitute for seven of his final nine games at the club.
This is terrible for Paez's development.
23. Wellington Silva (Arsenal)
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Arsenal attacking midfielder Wellington Silva, 22, an Almeria loanee, will rejoin the Gunners next season.
"It's a dream for me to play [at the Emirates]," Wellington said, per Jamie Sanderson at Metro. "If all goes well, I'll be out there next season."
When you watch Wellington, you see glimpses of brilliance, but he is so hit and miss.
One play, he takes on multiple defenders. Then, you hardly see him for the rest of the game.
Considering how long Wellington has waited for his chance at Arsenal, he should be given one extended run in the first team.
If he is unproductive, then demote him and give Daniel Crowley a run.
22. Sami Khedira (Real Madrid)
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Schalke's sporting executive Horst Heldt has revealed that his club would be open to signing German Real Madrid central midfielder Sami Khedira, 27, despite the injury red flags.
"Sami Khedira would look good with Schalke and we'd certainly take him if he were on the market," Heldt said, per Sky (h/t Stephan Uersfeld at ESPN FC). "But let's not get carried away. There are many clubs who can imagine working with Sami."
Khedira is often injured, and when he has played this season, he has been a step behind play.
He was one of the worst players on the field during Real Madrid's recent 4-3 defeat to Schalke in the UEFA Champions League.
That's an eye-opener, because Schalke's central midfield is weak, and they need to reinforce that area if they want to remain among Europe's elite.
21. Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg)
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Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, 32, is mulling over the idea of signing for Roma, per talkSPORT.
Targeting Van der Vaart is in line with Roma's preference of having veterans on the squad:
- Francesco Totti (38 years old).
- Morgan De Sanctis (37 years old).
- Seydou Keita (35 years old).
- Ashley Cole (34 years old).
- Maicon (33 years old).
Van der Vaart will have to decide between being a rotation player at Roma or being pampered as the face of the franchise at Sporting Kansas City, per Sam McDowell at the Kansas City Star.
According to Kicker's Bundesliga player rankings, Van der Vaart is rated No. 208—ouch!
A new environment might rejuvenate Van der Vaart's career.
20. Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)
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Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski, 29, on loan at Inter Milan, has clarified his contractual situation.
"There isn't an option to buy since from my [talks] with Inter Milan, I made it clear that I didn't want one," Podolski said, per David Amoyal at GianlucaDiMarzio.com. "Inter Milan and Arsenal are free to decide what to do [with me] at the end of the season."
It seems Podolski is trying to say he is stuck in limbo, not good enough for Inter Milan, yet unwanted at Arsenal.
Podolski has gone 559 minutes and counting without a goal or assist for Inter Milan in Serie A.
19. Matija Nastasic (Schalke)
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Schalke have triggered a clause in the contract of Serbian centre-back Matija Nastasic, 21, which extends his loan from Manchester City into a permanent deal.
"From day one, I was immediately a part of the team. I'd like to help the team achieve our goals in the future," Nastasic said, per the club's official website. "I am proud and happy to remain at Schalke."
Nastasic was replaced by Eliaquim Mangala, who has been inconsistent.
From a financial perspective, Manchester City recording a loss in their dealing of Nastasic is a baffling decision
However, Manchester City would probably point to Nastasic's unconvincing displays for Schalke as a reason not to wait until the end of the season in fear of further diminishing his transfer stock.
If Nastasic qualified for Kicker's Bundesliga rankings, his current rating would see him placed as the 101st-best player in Germany's top flight.
18. Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers)
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Blackburn Rovers centre-forward Jordan Rhodes, 25, is a loan option for Derby County and Norwich City, per John Percy at The Telegraph.
Blackburn Rovers manager Gary Bowyer insists that Rhodes will not be moving.
"Why would you loan our top [league] goalscorer out? I think my five-year-old nephew might be able to work that one out," Bowyer said, per Paul Wheelock at the Lancashire Telegraph. "[Rhodes] just handles the speculation enormously well."
Rhodes has scored 14 goals in 35 Championship games this season.
In Rhodes' last eight games, he has scored five times.
17. Michael Krohn-Dehli (Celta Vigo)
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Celta Vigo central midfielder Michael Krohn-Dehli, 31, is seen as a viable squad addition to Tottenham Hotspur, per AS (h/t Simon Osborn at Metro).
Before you disparage Krohn-Dehli as a footballer, he is a much-improved player.
He is tidy in possession, has some neat tricks and orchestrates play in Celta Vigo's midfield.
If Krohn-Dehli was 22 or 23 years old rather than 31 years old, then Tottenham should go for him.
However, there are alternative hypothetical options with higher upside.
Assuming the media reports are accurate in speculating that Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino wants more variation in his midfield, Ruben Pardo, who controls the tempo of play for Real Sociedad, is just as good as Krohn-Dehli and nine years younger.
16. Aleksandar Dragovic (Dynamo Kiev) and 15. Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)
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Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacker, 30, is headed for an exit in the summer transfer window, per Sami Mokbel at the Daily Mail.
According to Lewis Rudd at Metro, Dynamo Kiev centre-back Aleksandar Dragovic, 24, is a possible Mertesacker replacement.
Mertesacker has been off kilter of late, hence why he has looked so out of place trying to organise Arsenal's defence.
You presume Gabriel Paulista, a more athletic and proactive centre-back, was signed to help lessen Mertesacker's burden.
If the media reports are true but the proposed Dragovic move does not come to fruition, here is an alternative.
Tony Jantschke might be diminutive in stature, but he is one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga and has stabilised Borussia Monchengladbach's back line.
Jantschke would be a smart signing since he can also alternate from centre-back to right-back.
14. Domenico Criscito (FC Zenit)
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FC Zenit left-back Domenico Criscito, 28, does not regret moving from Serie A to the Russian Premier League.
"I would make the choice of coming to Russia 10 more times," Criscito said, per David Amoyal at GianlucaDiMarzio.com. "I hope to extend my contract [at FC Zenit] and return to [the Italy] national team."
Criscito is FC Zenit's primary left-back, starting 15 of 18 league games and helping the club to the top of the Russian Premier League ladder.
Averaging 3.1 tackles and 3.3 interceptions per game, Criscito is a prolific ball-winner at FC Zenit.
13. Ayoze Perez (Newcastle United) and 12. Andre Ayew (Marseille)
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Newcastle United want to sign Marseille attacking midfielder Andre Ayew, 25, per Stuart Rayner at the Evening Chronicle.
Meanwhile, Arsenal and Manchester United are willing to roll the dice on Newcastle United's Spanish centre-forward Ayoze Perez, 21, per Mark Douglas at the Evening Chronicle.
Ayew will refuse to commit his future to Marseille if they ask him to take a reduced salary, per RTL (h/t Stephen Amos at SuperSport).
This is why Newcastle United are trying to take advantage of the situation and opening the door to Ayew's potential exit from Marseille.
A goalscoring threat, create chances and take on opposing players, Ayew is an all-round footballer who can also win back the ball.
With this playing style, Ayew interchanges from being a No. 8 to a No. 11 and vice versa.
Regarding Perez, who is living out a Santiago Munez-like dream, staying at Newcastle United is imperative for his development.
Perez has good scoring instincts and looks to be a class footballer, but he needs to be more consistent.
His five goals from 1,632 Premier League minutes spread over 27 games does not reflect his upside.
11. Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City)
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Manchester City deep-lying forward Stevan Jovetic, 25, has begun talks with Inter Milan over a possible summer transfer, per David Amoyal at GianlucaDiMarzio.com.
Jovetic has been evaluating his future at Manchester City after he was excluded from the recent UEFA Champions League squad.
Scoring just five goals in the Premier League, Jovetic has been a bit-part player at City rather than a star like he was at Fiorentina.
Jovetic is likely to be sold for a loss a la Matija Nastasic.
10. Mario Mandzukic (Atletico Madrid)
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Atletico Madrid centre-forward Mario Mandzukic, 28, has an uncertain future after falling out with manager Diego Simeone, per Sky Sports.
While not in the class of Diego Costa, Mandzukic is a goalscoring No. 9 who also brings his teammates into play.
If Mandzukic does not clear the air with Simeone, this could be the second chance Raul Jimenez has been begging for.
9. Danny Ings (Burnley)
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Burnley centre-forward Danny Ings, 22, is being monitored by Manchester United, per Kieran Gill at the Daily Mail.
It would be natural to assume Ings would fill the slot vacated by Radamel Falcao once Manchester United opt against extending his loan into a permanent deal.
Ings is an upgrade over Falcao, but so are plenty of other No. 9s in the Premier League.
Falcao is Manchester United's version of Fernando Torres.
If Manchester United were to target a young English centre-forward, they should go for Harry Kane, who has been elite for Tottenham Hotspur.
Either that or give James Wilson an extended starting run.
8. Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers)
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Queens Park Rangers centre-forward Charlie Austin, 25, is being targeted by Crystal Palace and Southampton, per Simon Jones at the Daily Mail.
| Premier League 2014-15 | Goals/Games | Shots Per Goal | Shooting Accuracy % |
| Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers) | 15/25 | 6.9 | 39.4 |
| Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace) | 5/20 | 5.2 | 34.6 |
| Graziano Pelle (Southampton) | 8/28 | 11.8 | 29.8 |
Austin would be an upgrade for both Crystal Palace and Southampton.
Though, Southampton would be the ideal move, given it is a better club and he would be a realistic alternative to Pelle, whose performances have drastically dipped.
Should Queens Park Rangers suffer relegation, keeping Austin won't be an option unless they pay him Premier League money for a season in the Championship, presumably hoping he will score more than 30 goals to help them get re-promoted.
7. Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion)
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West Bromwich Albion centre-forward Saido Berahino, 21, is being linked to Manchester United after watching the Red Devils at Old Trafford, per Liam Corless at the Daily Mirror.
You get the impression that Berahino does not fully appreciate how well West Bromwich Albion have treated him.
Despite Berahino's attitude and behavioural problems, which should be a red flag to potential suitors, West Bromwich Albion have handled him with kid gloves.
Berahino has repaid that leeway with 12 goals in the Premier League this season, but his hubris will be his downfall.
If Berahino's representatives truly care about him, he will stay with West Bromwich Albion for another season, regardless of whether they are in the Premier League or the Championship.
The talent is there, but the maturity isn't.
If he plays out one season without any misdemeanours while showing considerable improvement on the pitch, that is when Berahino should transfer to a bigger club.
6. Dani Alves (Barcelona)
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Barcelona right-back Dani Alves, 31, has agreed terms with Paris Saint-Germain, per Marca:
- Alves will exercise his right to a free transfer in the summer.
- Paris Saint-Germain will pay Alves €27/£19 million over three years at around €9/£6.3 million per annum.
Why are Paris Saint-Germain obsessed with spending big on luxury role players?
Reims' Aissa Mandi is not a household name, but he would have been a more economically efficient option, not to mention his higher upside—he is eight years younger than Alves.
If Alves joining Paris Saint-Germain is a reality, then this is not great news for Serge Aurier, who is on loan from Toulouse. Aurier's season has been interrupted by being benched, the Africa Cup of Nations and injury.
5. Samir Handanovic (Inter Milan)
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Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, 30, is a €14.2/£10 million summer transfer window target for Roma, per talkSPORT.
Handanovic's agent, Federico Pastorello, is currently attempting to negotiate a contract extension for his client, per LaRoma24.it (h/t Football Italia).
- Handanovic has a contract with Inter Milan until 2016.
- All parties are cordial toward each other, but a request for an increase in salary is hindering the process.
- Pastorello admitted meeting with Roma but denied discussing about Handanovic.
If Roma are looking for a Handanovic alternative, they should consider Marco Sportiello.
Sure, there is a lack of experience, but Sportiello has become one of the best goalkeepers in Serie A, routinely making remarkable saves to keep Atalanta afloat.
4. Felipe Anderson (Lazio)
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Liverpool are scouting Lazio forward Felipe Anderson, 21, who is valued at €28.3/£20 million, per John Cross at the Daily Mirror.
It appears Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is focusing on helping Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling reach the next level.
Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic are also vying for starting roles while Jordon Ibe and Harry Wilson are projects.
Anderson is a slow starter—he registered no goals and one assist in 13 Serie A games last season—and was on course to be a bust at Lazio.
He only turned it around due to their willingness to stick by him rather than abandon the project, as Liverpool effectively have with Luis Alberto.
This season, Anderson has had world-class moments. He is an outstanding dribbler, scores, creates and defends.
Yes, Anderson is good enough to play for Liverpool, but it is safer for his development if he stays at Lazio.
3. Danilo (Porto)
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Porto right-back Danilo, 23, is expected to move to Real Madrid, per Manu Sainz at AS:
- Real Madrid will pay Porto €30/£21.2 million.
- Danilo will receive an annual salary of €2/£1.4 million.
- Casemiro, on loan at Porto, has not been included in the deal and will return to Real Madrid.
Dani Carvajal-Danilo would be excellent for Real Madrid's right-back depth, which means Alvaro Arbeloa will probably be let go in the summer transfer window.
When Danilo was involved in a dangerous collision with teammate Fabiano, you would have thought: "Oh, this might derail the Real Madrid deal."
However, Porto announced via a tweet: "[Danilo] has done medical exams, there's no serious injury. He's in observations at the hospital. Get well soon!"
2. Hakan Calhanoglu (Bayer Leverkusen)
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Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, 21, is unperturbed by Barcelona attempting to reach a verbal agreement for his signature, according to his agent, Bektas Demirtas.
"I don't want this to sound arrogant, but Hakan isn't bothered by the interest in him from Barcelona," Demirtas said, per Express (h/t Marca). "Hakan has everything he needs at Bayer Leverkusen."
Before you react, you need to understand that Barcelona are in theory allowed to sign players this summer, per Sky Sports:
"In April 2014, [Barcelona] were banned from making any signings for 14 months after being found guilty of breaking the governing body's rules on the transfer of players aged under 18 [years of age].
...
FIFA say, although it would go against the spirit of the ruling, there is nothing to stop [Barcelona] from talking to potential targets or clubs—or even purchasing players—this summer as long as those new recruits are not registered before January 2016
"
This is why Demirtas is uninterested and probably has told Barcelona: "Come back once the transfer ban is over."
Calhanoglu is a showman capable of conjuring up some of the most awe-inspiring moments you will ever see in a top-flight football game.
What he needs to work on is ball retention (his passing accuracy percentage of 66.7 is not Barcelona quality) and being more consistent.
Should Calhanoglu continue to improve, he has the potential to become one of the greatest footballers of his generation.
1. Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
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Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini is speculating that Manchester City central midfielder Yaya Toure, 31, is considering a move to Serie A.
"[Toure has] played in almost every league except Germany and Italy," Mancini said, per BBC Sport. "If, as seems to be the case, he wants to try Serie A we'll look into the possibility but it won't be easy."
Toure's €307,303/£220,000-a-week wages combined with his inconsistent form mean it will be hard to convince Inter Milan to make such a colossal financial investment.
Instead of being a complete midfielder, Toure is a quasi-deep-lying forward.
He would be better off playing without any defensive duties, considering he commits more fouls (1.2) than makes successful tackles (1.1).
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.
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