Ranking the Week's 25 Hottest Transfer Rumours: Mats Hummels Wants Out
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.
So what's the latest for Mats Hummels, Raheem Sterling, Xavi et al.?
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. Fernando Cavenaghi (River Plate)
1 of 24
River Plate's Argentinian centre-forward Fernando Cavenaghi, 31, is considering playing in Major League Soccer, per Paladar Millonario (h/t Dan Itel of the league's official website).
Twelve years ago, Cavenaghi was the joint-top scorer with Eddie Johnson, Daisuke Sakata and Dudu Cearense at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.
All three, along with the Golden Ball recipient Ismail Matar, seemingly peaked as prospects.
Cavenaghi never lived up to the hype.
Instead of being Gabriel Batistuta 2.0, Cavenaghi was serviceable in Europe before returning to River Plate.
24. Ben Amos (Manchester United)
2 of 24
Bolton Wanderers will consider signing Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Amos, 24, on a free transfer in the summer window.
Amos made 24 saves in eight Championship games for Bolton Wanderers as a temporary loanee.
He has impressed Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon.
"Ben has certainly been beneficial for us," Lennon said, per Trevor Baxter at the Manchester Evening News. "He has enhanced his reputation and the fact he's out of contract as well, this has really put him in the shop window. I'm sure there will be potential suitors for him and we may be one of them."
The harsh reality of football is Amos' minuscule chance to make it at Manchester United essentially ended when he allowed Miralem Pjanic to score from inside his own half in a 3-2 friendly win over Roma last summer.
23. Carlos Carmona (Atalanta)
3 of 24
Atalanta central midfielder Carlos Carmona, 28, is a summer transfer window target for Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, per ABC de Sevilla (h/t Sky Sports) [1].
This is not the first time Sevilla have zoned in on Carmona, having attempted to sign him in the 2014 summer transfer window, per Tutto Mercato Web (h/t Jen Evelyn at Inside Spanish Football).
Atletico Madrid may see Carmona as a squad player.
He is a top-flight standard player who keeps it simple when in possession and plays like Lucas Leiva.
The concern with signing Carmona is that teammate Luca Cigarini failed to make a lasting impression at Sevilla.
Cigarini is a substantially better footballer than Carmona from a defensive and possession point of view.
[1] 0:840 update via Sky Sports Transfer Centre.
22. Douglas Costa (Shakhtar Donetsk)
4 of 24
Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Douglas Costa, 24, is a €27.4/£20 million summer transfer window target for Chelsea, per John Cross at the Daily Mirror.
Chelsea fans should hope this transfer rumour does not come to fruition.
Costa has not proven to be a €27.4/£20 million-valued footballer in the UEFA Champions League. In 36 UEFA Champions League games, he has scored six goals and provided seven assists.
Decent numbers but not world class.
Just because Chelsea can afford him, doesn't mean they should buy him.
21. Andriy Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kyiv)
5 of 24
Dynamo Kyiv attacking midfielder Andriy Yarmolenko, 25, is a summer transfer window target for Paris Saint-Germain, per Marco Macca at GianlucaDiMarzio.com.
Having played for Dynamo Kyiv since 2007, Yarmolenko should move outside his comfort zone and attempt to make the grade in one of Europe's elite leagues.
Yarmolenko has been impressive in the UEFA Europa League, scoring four goals and providing seven assists in nine games this season.
20. Dennis Aogo (Schalke)
6 of 24
Schalke central midfielder-cum-left-back Dennis Aogo, 28, is a viable summer transfer window target for Roma, per Tutto Mercato Web (h/t Football Italia).
If Roma are looking for a full-time left-back, Aogo is not their man.
He has been interchanging from defence to midfield and seems more comfortable in a central role, where he can control the tempo of play.
However, should Roma want another utility player in their squad, Aogo is a logical candidate.
The concern regarding Aogo relates to his injury issues.
19. Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid)
7 of 24
Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao, 27, is hopeful of a summer transfer window move to Manchester United.
"I already showed that interest in playing [at Old Trafford for Manchester United]," Coentrao said, per O Jogo (h/t Sky Sports). "It's one of the best clubs in the world, a club that I admire a lot. It would be an honour to play there."
Daley Blind, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo are three reasons why Manchester United should not consider signing Coentrao.
In addition, Coentrao has fitness problems.
18. Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)
8 of 24
Stoke City want to revitalise the career of Mexican centre-forward Javier Hernandez, 26, per talkSPORT, who has gone from Manchester United's bench to Real Madrid's bench.
Hernandez has started 7.7 percent of the games he has been involved in for Real Madrid in La Liga this season.
He averages 16.7 minutes per game, so you presume the next club he chooses will be a step down.
If Hernandez chooses to go to Stoke City, he would be joining a squad filled with players who at one point during their careers probably never even contemplated joining the Potters.
- Bojan Krkic (Barcelona, Roma, AC Milan, Ajax).
- Charlie Adam (Liverpool).
- Mame Biram Diouf (Manchester United).
- Marc Muniesa (Barcelona).
- Marko Arnautovic (Inter Milan).
- Peter Crouch (Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur).
- Peter Odemwingie (Lille).
- Phil Bardsley (Manchester United).
- Philipp Wollscheid (Bayer Leverkusen).
- Ryan Shawcross (Manchester United).
- Steve Sidwell (Arsenal, Chelsea).
- Victor Moses (Chelsea, Liverpool).
- Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur).
17. Radamel Falcao (Monaco)
9 of 24
River Plate vice-president Matias Patanian dreams of re-signing Colombian centre-forward Radamel Falcao, 29, who is on the trading block at Monaco and struggling on loan at Manchester United.
"It depends on [who] is sold to bring [Falcao] in mid-year," Patanian said, per Esto es River (h/t ESPN FC). "We are dreaming of Falcao, the doors are open."
Unless River Plate receive external funding, you surmise they would not be able to afford to keep Falcao long term.
Falcao returning to River Plate would be more realistic toward the end of his career.
Scoring four goals in 19 Premier League games this season for Manchester United, Falcao has been a disappointment, which has been exacerbated by his inconsistent playing time.
16. Angelo Henriquez (Manchester United)
10 of 24
Juventus are focusing their attention on Manchester United centre-forward Angelo Henriquez, 20, who is currently on loan at Dinamo Zagreb, per Football Italia.
Henriquez has scored 11 goals in 18 Prva HNL games.
In a 4-2 UEFA Europa League defeat to Red Bull Salzburg, Henriquez poached two goals in seven minutes, so there is potential there.
Given that Juventus successfully projected Paul Pogba's upside, Manchester United should be wary of the Bianconeri's interest in Henriquez.
15. Simone Zaza
11 of 24
Tottenham Hotspur are not interested in signing Sassuolo centre-forward Simone Zaza, 23, per Tom Collomosse at the London Evening Standard.
Zaza is a physical No. 9 who throws himself into challenges and has a tendency to hack down opposing defenders.
In terms of playing style, Zaza should have no issues adjusting to the Premier League.
The problem is his lack of goals; he has more yellow cards (10) than goals (eight) in Serie A this season.
14. Arkadiusz Milik (Ajax)
12 of 24
Ajax have announced the signing of Poland centre-forward Arkadiusz Milik, 21, from Bayer Leverkusen.
Milik, who arrived on loan with an option to buy, cost Ajax €2.8/£2 million and is contracted until 2019.
Having failed to impress in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen and on loan at Augsburg, Milik has revived his career at Ajax.
Milik has scored 11 goals in 20 Eredivisie games this season.
13. Neto (Fiorentina)
13 of 24
Fiorentina goalkeeper Neto, 25, is a summer transfer window target for Liverpool, according to his agent, Stefano Castagna.
"We've been evaluating offers that are interesting for the lad in England, Germany, Spain [and] Italy," Castagna said, per Gazzetta TV (h/t David Prentice at the Liverpool Echo). "One of those in England is Liverpool and then there is a top Spanish club interested in him."
Neto would be vying with Simon Mignolet to be Liverpool's No. 1.
Statistically, Neto makes more saves per game and has a better saves-per-goal average than Mignolet.
Neto is running down an expiring contract and is expected to exercise his Bosman right to a free transfer at the end of this season.
12. Kevin Wimmer (Cologne)
14 of 24
Cologne centre-back Kevin Wimmer, 22, is hopeful his proposed summer transfer move to Tottenham Hotspur does not collapse.
"'It would be a dream to move to a top club like Tottenham Hotspur. For me, the transfer is a big step, a step with which I can develop myself. That's why I want to take the chance," Wimmer said, per Laola TV (h/t Simon Jones at the Daily Mail). "[Cologne and Tottenham Hotspur] are still negotiating."
Wimmer is a work in progress.
His defensive positioning is sometimes suspect, hence why he pulled down Haris Seferovic and was sent off in Cologne's recent 4-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Wimmer needs to be more careful with his passing from the back, as he gives possession away 26.3 percent of the time. However, Wimmer has room to improve and is a young centre-back on the rise.
Wimmer has the 10th-highest rating for a defender in Kicker's Bundesliga rankings this season.
11. Davie Selke (Werder Bremen)
15 of 24
RB Leipzig have secured a coup by signing centre-forward Davie Selke, 20, from Werder Bremen for €8/£5.8 million.
While Selke has, at times, been anonymous, he has shown flashes of promise this season, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 23 Bundesliga games.
In terms of Bundesliga footballers 20 years or younger, Selke leads in scoring, so he has immense upside.
- Davie Selke, 20, Werder Bremen (2014/15): 6 goals, 5.2 shots per goal, 71 shooting-accuracy percentage.
- Max Meyer, 19, Schalke (2014/15): 5 goals, 3.8 shots per goal, 42.1 shooting-accuracy percentage.
- Maximilian Arnold, 20, Wolfsburg (2014/15): 4 goals, 7 shots per goal, 46.4 shooting-accuracy percentage.
- Marc Stendera, 19, Eintracht Frankfurt (2014/15): 3 goals, 6 shots per goal, 38.9 shooting-accuracy percentage.
- Timo Werner, 19, Stuttgart (2014/15): 3 goals, 9 shots per goal, 29.6 shooting-accuracy percentage.
Selke is a significant transfer win for RB Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick, who is tasked with superintending the ambitious club.
"[Selke is] one of the most interesting talents in the U21 department and has shown his qualities in the Bundesliga," Rangnick said, per DieRotenBullen.com (h/t Stephan Uersfeld at ESPN FC). "He's one of only a few players who still embodies the classic striker. Big, fast, dynamic and always dangerous."
The "shown his qualities in the Bundesliga" remark is vital because Selke will be expected to push RB Leipzig into Germany's top flight.
That is presuming the Red Bull-backed club do not get promoted from the 2. Bundesliga this season—they are currently seventh in the 2. Bundesliga.
10. Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
16 of 24
Arsenal forward Theo Walcott, 26, is being monitored by Chelsea, per Matt Hughes at The Times.
Instead of getting a substantial paycheck to be a glorified backup at Chelsea, Walcott should sign with a mid-tier club and negotiate into his contract that he must be played as a No. 9.
In hindsight, Arsenal pigeonholing Walcott as a winger has hindered him from maximising his potential.
When you factor in the constant injuries, you have what has been an underwhelming career.
9. Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City)
17 of 24
Manchester City centre-forward Stevan Jovetic, 25, will be offered a lifeline by Inter Milan, per Simon Jones at the Daily Mail.
Jovetic has not lived up to expectations at Manchester City. However, he has not received enough opportunities this season, only starting 52.9 percent of Premier League games he has been involved in, averaging 46.3 minutes per game.
Jovetic has scored five goals and provided three assists in 17 Premier League appearances.
8. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
18 of 24
Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling, 20, has dismissed rumours of him wanting more money after turning down a €137,802/£100,000-a-week deal.
"I don't want to be perceived as a money-grabbing 20-year-old. I don't talk about how many cars I'm going to drive, how many houses I've got," Sterling said, per Natalie Pirks at BBC Sport. "I talk about winning trophies throughout my career. That's all I talk about."
Sterling has scored six goals and registered seven assists in 28 Premier League games this season.
The player has the potential to pressure Liverpool into overpaying, but he has not yet been productive enough to suggest he would be a bona fide star at another major club.
This means Liverpool still have leverage over Sterling and should not cave in to his demands.
7. James Milner (Manchester City) and 6. Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
19 of 24
Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini is targeting Manchester City utility player James Milner, 29, and Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure, 31, per ESPN FC.
Milner is a more feasible signing for Inter Milan because he will be a free transfer and become a team-first player. Toure would not only command a high salary but is overrated, so Inter Milan should avoid him.
Casual fans think Toure is still the world-class superstar midfielder he once was, but nowadays, he is a liability without the ball.
He shouldn't be playing in midfield—he should be playing as a deep-lying forward.
Toure's defending has drastically declined.
Harry Kane is a more productive ball-winner for Tottenham Hotspur than Toure is for Manchester City.
5. Xavi (Barcelona)
20 of 24
Barcelona central midfielder Xavi, 35, has been in talks with Al Sadd but has yet to sign for the Qatari club, per Sport.
Playing in a reduced role, Xavi still completes 92.8 percent of his 60.4 passes per game, which rises to 87.7 if you change the metric to passes per 90 minutes.
This tells you he still is capable of running the show.
Considering the historic career Xavi has had, coupled with him still playing a high level, he deserves a career payday at Al Sadd.
4. Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen)
21 of 24
Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno, 23, does not want to leave the club but is humbled by Real Madrid's reported interest in him.
"[If Real Madrid want me], it's a nice recognition for me," Leno said, per Bild (h/t Stephan Uersfeld at ESPN FC). "It's not the worst thing to be linked with Real Madrid, but I don't have any plans to leave Bayer Leverkusen."
Leno has accumulated 69 saves in 26 Bundesliga games.
He is currently the third-highest-rated goalkeeper in Kicker's Bundesliga rankings.
3. Allan (Udinese)
22 of 24
Udinese central midfielder Allan, 24, is being targeted by various clubs around Europe, but he has yet to express an interest in leaving the club.
"My future? I am trying not to think about it, as I just want to focus on doing well for Udinese," Allan said, per TeleFriuli (h/t Football Italia). "I am happy here and wouldn't mind staying at Udinese for longer. My family is content [living] in Udine."
The Brazilian is one of the most dominant midfielders in Europe's top leagues. He averages 4.6 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per 90 minutes.
Allan is not only a world-class ball-winner, but he surges forward and joins attacks. If he was more proficient in the attacking half, his transfer stock would be higher.
2. Danilo (Porto)
23 of 24
Porto right-back Danilo, 23, will join Real Madrid in the summer transfer window and has agreed a contract until 2021.
Real Madrid will pay €31.5/£23 million for Danilo, proving once again how extravagant their transfer policy is.
It is also a reflection of how Porto have perfected the art of inflating a footballer's transfer stock.
Danilo has the potential be one of the best right-backs of his generation, but his development will flatline if he shares the position with Dani Carvajal at the Bernabeu.
1. Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
24 of 24
Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels, 26, has categorically denied promising Manchester United that he would join them in the summer transfer window.
Speaking out via Twitter (h/t The Guardian), Hummels responded: "Just to be clear. This alleged 'promise' is simply an invention and that is saying it nicely."
Borussia Dortmund chief executive officer Hans-Joachim Watzke recently revealed that Hummels is "thinking about his future," per Bild (h/t FIFA.com).
The conundrum Hummels faces is he is losing out in terms of earning potential (signing for one of Europe's wealthiest clubs would set him up financially for life) and has endured a frustrating season at Borussia Dortmund, who are currently in 10th place in the Bundesliga.
At least Dortmund have steered clear of relegation.
Hummels probably wants to not only play for a title-contending team but earn substantially more money.
It must be difficult for him to knock back lucrative offers every transfer window just to stay at Borussia Dortmund as an act of gratitude—Borussia Dortmund punted on his talent when Bayern Munich didn't give him a fair chance.
It appears Hummels is leaning toward leaving this summer.
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
