Ranking the Week's 25 Hottest Transfer Rumours: Raheem Sterling Talks End

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, including Raheem Sterling, Yaya Toure and Yura Movsisyan, 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. Jamie Maclaren (Perth Glory)

Perth Glory's Australian centre-forward Jamie Maclaren, 21, will push forward in his bid to be released from his contract, according to his agent, Paddy Dominguez.

"It's not a situation that Jamie Maclaren has instigated," Dominguez said, per Dale Miller at the West Australian. "Literally, [he] has been left with no choice whatsoever by the people who run Perth Glory but to have to take this course of action."

Perth Glory were excluded from the A-League finals after breaching the salary cap by six-figures.

According to Dominguez, this provides an out for Maclaren, who has been a backup to Andy Keogh.

Maclaren, who was formerly on the books of Blackburn Rovers, has flashed elite moments for Perth Glory and is nearly-automatic when it comes to scoring at youth level.

He is one of the A-League's most promising young players.

Should he leave Perth Glory, he has the talent to emulate Adam Taggart, who went on to win the Golden Boot for the Newcastle Jets.

24. Ken Gipson (RB Leipzig)

RB Leipzig have signed German right-back Ken Gipson, 19, from Stuttgart.

While Stuttgart have given chances to Carlos Gruezo, Timo Baumgartl and Timo Werner, Gipson played out the current campaign in the U19s.

RB Leipzig have routinely offered contracts to Stuttgart prospects:

• Rani Khedira (2014).
• Filip Rettig (2013).
• God's Power Ikeokwu (2013).
• Joshua Kimmich (2013).
• Shaban Ismaili (2010).

Could Werner be next?

23. Yoshinori Muto (FC Tokyo)

FC Tokyo's Japanese left/right-winger Yoshinori Muto, 22, will join Mainz pending the completion of a medical, per Kicker (h/t the Japan Times).

Mainz will pay FC Tokyo €3/£2.2 million for Muto, who could be the new face of the German club's Japanese marketing campaign. 

It remains to be seen if his current form—eight goals in 12 J1 games—is a blip or a trend.

22. Jonathan Calleri (Boca Juniors)

Palermo are planning to replace Paulo Dybala with Boca Juniors' Argentinian centre-forward Jonathan Calleri, 21, per Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia).

Calleri has scored 13 goals and provided six assists in 37 games for Boca Juniors in all competitions this season.

This raises questions over the future of Andrea Belotti, who is projected to succeed Dybala.

21. Yura Movsisyan (Spartak Moscow)

Spartak Moscow's Armenian centre-forward Yura Movsisyan, 27, is open to a return to Major League Soccer, according to his agent, Patrick McCabe.

"[Movsisyan] and his wife Marianna have two young kids and they'd like to obviously raise them closer to Yura's family and her family in California," McCabe said, per Chris Kamrani at the Salt Lake Tribune. "I'm hopeful that a return to MLS can be worked out, but I'm also realistic in that I know that it may not."

Movsisyan has struggled in the Russian Premier League this season, scoring two goals in 839 minutes over 16 games with a shooting accuracy of 38.5 per cent.

Prior to pursuing a European career, Movsisyan played for Kansas City Wizards and Real Salt Lake.

20. Mitchell Dijks (Willem II)

Feyenoord are in negotiations to sign Willem II's Dutch left-back Mitchell Dijks, 22, per Voetbal International (h/t Michael Bell at Football Oranje).

Dijks wins back the ball 5.3 times (2.8 tackles and 2.5 interceptions) per game.

His physical prowess coupled with his upside are possible reasons why Feyenoord are intrigued in him. 

19. Clarck N'Sikulu (Evian Thonon Gaillard)

Werder Bremen are "seriously interested" in Evian Thonon Gaillard's French-born Congolese left attacking midfielder/centre-forward Clarck N'Sikulu, 22, per L'Equipe (h/t Get French Football).

N'Sikulu has scored five goals and provided one assist in 27 Ligue 1 games this season.

Evian Thonon Gaillard's relegation means N'Sikulu is available at a discount price.

18. Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)

Aston Villa's United States goalkeeper Brad Guzan, 30, could leave in the summer transfer window if his status is permanently changed to backup, per Grant Wahl at Sports Illustrated.

Guzan's future is dependent on Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood, who may seek to sign a goalkeeper.

Guzan has played 34 Premier League games this season, totalling 101 saves.

17. Philipp Wollscheid (Stoke City)

German centre-back Philipp Wollscheid, 26, has agreed to leave Bayer Leverkusen after extending his loan at Stoke City into a permanent deal.

Wollscheid cost Stoke City around €3.8/£2.7 million and has a contract for three years.

It is a smart move by Wollscheid, who is looking to rebuild his career.

16. Xavi (Al-Sadd)

Spanish central midfielder Xavi, 35, is leaving Barcelona for Al-Sadd.

"I need a change of scenery," Xavi said, per Barcelona's website. "I signed a contract with Al-Sadd for two seasons and I have a very exciting project at the Aspire Academy."

Barcelona were willing to extend Xavi's contract until 2018, but he deserves to cash out in Qatar, where he will also hone his coaching skills. 

Xavi is one of the greatest midfielders to ever play the game.

15. Pepe Reina (Bayern Munich)

Bayern Munich's Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina, 32, is considering a return to Serie A, according to his agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon.

"At the moment I can say we have two or three offers to evaluate. In any case, as of right now, he is a Bayern Munich player," Quilon said, per FC Inter News (h/t Football Italia). "Would a return to Italy be a possibility? Certainly, we don't close the door to Serie A. It is a possibility."

Quilon speaking out suggests Reina has had enough of being a backup to Manuel Neuer.

Reina spent the 2013/14 season at Napoli.

14. Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain)

Tottenham Hotspur have offered a four-year deal to Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian left-forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, 30, per George Bellshaw at Metro.

Lavezzi is a great player, but four years? That is excessive. He deserves a two-year deal.

Four years is too long and makes no sense when Lavezzi's tenure at Paris Saint-Germain has been creme de la creme one month, then Championnat National the next month.

13. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)

Manchester United are targeting Bayern Munich's German central midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, 30, per Mark Ogden at the Telegraph.

Has someone from Schweinsteiger's camp unscrupulously leaked out information to the press to force Bayern Munich into handing him a new contract? 

From Bayern Munich's perspective, they were right about Mario Gomez, Owen Hargreaves and Patrik Andersson.

All three continued to have fitness problems post-Bayern Munich.

Schweinsteiger's CV is legendary, but if he is not healthy enough to play, it is risky for Manchester United to sign him.

He could be another Laurent Blanc—signed 10 years too late.

Schweinsteiger does not qualify for Kicker's player rankings this season, but his current rating in theory places him at No. 53 out of 205 footballers.

12. Dani Alves (Barcelona)

Barcelona and Brazilian right-back Dani Alves, 32, have stalled on signing a new deal for the umpteenth time, per Cadena SER (h/t Sport).

Perhaps, Alves' negotiating tactic to Barcelona is: "Really? OK, play Douglas Pereira."

Douglas is a squad-filler at best and Martin Montoya is hit-and-miss. If Alves does leave in the summer transfer window, then it is up to Montoya to start playing at an elite level.

11. Yaya Toure (Manchester City)

Ivorian central midfielder Yaya Toure, 32, is close to departing Manchester City, according to Inter Milan vice-president Javier Zanetti.

"Yaya would give us that leap in quality," Zanetti said, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Press Association Sport via ESPN FC). "We are at the stage where we hope we can complete [the deal]."

Toure is no longer a competent defender, so he is best utilised in an advanced role. 

Playing in Serie A could be the fresh start he needs. 

10. Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC Nijmegen)

Anderlecht and Celtic are looking to sign NEC Nijmegen's Iranian right-winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh, 21, per Omroep Gelderland (h/t Michael Bell at Football Oranje).

Staying loyal to NEC when they were relegated from the Eredivisie, Jahanbakhsh was a star in the Eerste Divisie.

He scored 12 goals and provided 17 assists in 28 league games.

The concern with Jahanbakhsh is his injury issues.

9. Richairo Zivkovic (Ajax)

Groningen are proposing a loan deal to sign Ajax's Dutch centre-forward Richairo Zivkovic, 18, per Voetbal International (h/t Michael Bell at Football Oranje).

Since leaving Groningen, it hasn't been smooth sailing for Zivkovic.

Dropping down a tier to play for Jong Ajax, he has yet to receive an extended starting run in the first-team, despite being one of the most promising No. 9 prospects in Europe.

Ajax committing to Arkadiusz Milik diminishes Zivkovic's plans to become a week in, week out starter.

8. Jurgen Locadia (PSV Eindhoven)

PSV Eindhoven's Dutch centre-forward Jurgen Locadia, 21, has revealed his intentions to leave the Eredivisie champions if they continue to stunt his development.

Locadia has been frustrated with being the backup No. 9 and at times being played out of position.

"I have been a striker all my life. I want to develop in that place, as Luuk de Jong has been able to do. I am no better striker if I just play on the wing," Locadia said, per Voetbal International (h/t Michael Bell at Football Oranje). "If PSV Eindhoven offer no opportunities for me to play as the striker, then I must go."

Locadia scored six goals and provided three assists in 23 Eredivisie games while only starting 21.7 per cent of games he was involved in this season.

7. Godfred Donsah (Cagliari)

Three Serie A clubs are monitoring Cagliari's Ghanaian central midfielder Godfred Donsah, 18, per David Amoyal at Gianluca Di Marzio's website:

1. Fiorentina.
2. Juventus.
3. Roma.

According to Amoyal, Donsah "isn't a priority" for Juventus, which suggests they view him as an asset rather than a first-team player.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina and Roma appear to be just tracking Donsah.

Until Donsah starts dominating in midfield, a la Allan Marques or Pedro Obiang, it is more sensible to stay at Cagliari.

6. Jasper Cillessen (Ajax)

Manchester United are keeping tabs on Ajax's Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, 26, per De Telegraaf (h/t Michael Bell at Football Oranje).

Cillessen will only become a legitimate Manchester United transfer target if David De Gea forces a move away from Old Trafford in the summer.

Cillessen played under Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal for the Dutch national team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

5. Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur)

Juventus are trying to sign Tottenham Hotspur's Argentinian right attacking midfielder Erik Lamela, 23, per Simon Jones at the Daily Mail.

It would be an odd move.

If Juventus play a back three, Lamela will be on the bench since he is not a wing-back.

In a 4-3-1-2, Lamela has the technical capability to play as the No. 10 in the "1," but it is not his natural position.

Unless Juventus change to a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, signing Lamela should not be a matter of great concern.

From Lamela's perspective, he just needs to work hard, because while he is no flop, he hasn't lived up to world-class expectations.

Gareth Bale took his time before he turned into a top player, and it could be the same case with Lamela.

4. Marc Bartra (Barcelona)

Barcelona centre-back Marc Bartra, 24, has failed to appear in 60 per cent of games since signing his contract in 2014, thus triggering a release clause of €10/£7.1 million, per Lluis Miguelsanz at Sport.

It is a bargain fee for Bartra, a centre-back with elite potential, so expect major clubs to test his resolve.

If Bartra is Barcelona through and through, his affordable release clause is a non-story as he will stay.

3. Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has revealed centre-back Mats Hummels, 26, will not leave in the summer transfer window, per Kicker (h/t Marcus Christenson at the Guardian).

If Hummels commits to Borussia Dortmund amid the uncertainty of the club's direction, it is a testament to his loyalty. 

Borussia Dortmund rescued Hummels' career when Bayern Munich didn't give him a chance.

2. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)

Welsh forward Gareth Bale, 25, has held talks over his future with Real Madrid via his agent, Jonathan Barnett, per Juan Jimenez at AS.

Considering Bale's €91/£78 million transfer fee, he is not value for money, as there are 10 players in La Liga who have outscored his 13 goals in the competition this season. 

If Bale is unhappy and Real Madrid are unwilling to alter their setup for him, presumably in fear of upsetting Cristiano Ronaldo, the Welshman should request a transfer back to the Premier League.

1. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)

Liverpool have ended contract talks with English forward Raheem Sterling, 20, because of the disruptive presence of his agent, Aidy Ward, per Tony Barrett at the Times.

Ward made a series of degrading remarks dismissing Liverpool's chances of keeping Sterling while also calling former Reds stalwart Jamie Carragher a "knob," per Benedict Moore-Bridger at the London Evening Standard.

However, Ward has denied making these comments and is threatening legal action, per Michael Butler at the Guardian.

There is a line and Ward has crossed it.

He needs to be careful because Liverpool could in theory tell Sterling to sit out his contract, which ends in 2017. 

It would be a spiteful decision, but it would send a message to all Liverpool players that no one is bigger than the club.

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.