Ranking the Week's 25 Hottest Transfer Rumours
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 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 Carlos Tevez, David De Gea and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will be subjectively ranked via a combination of various standards:
- Current playing ability.
- Upside.
- Projected transfer value.
- Projected transfer resell value.
- Social media buzz.
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.
25. Robinho (Free Agent)
1 of 25
Baniyas are in negotiations to sign free agent Brazilian attacking midfielder Robinho, 31, per Ahmed Rizvi and John McAuley at the National.
Robinho was on the books of AC Milan but both parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract.
Playing in the Arabian Gulf League should be a cakewalk for Robinho, who will be highly paid and given a golden opportunity to recapture his form.
He never ended up becoming the next Pele, but in the Arabian Gulf League, he could mimic Pele's scoring rate.
24. Zakaria Bakkali (Free Agent)
2 of 25
Valencia are expected to sign Belgian free-agent forward Zakaria Bakkali, 19, per Sport.
Amid attitude and injury problems, PSV Eindhoven froze Bakkali out after he opted against extending his contract.
It has been over a year since Bakkali played an Eredivisie game, and this inactivity will have hampered his development.
For that reason, it would make more sense if he played at a lower level rather than jumping into the deep end.
23. Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United)
3 of 25
Dundee United centre-forward Nadir Ciftci, 23, has signalled his intention to leave the club.
"I have decided that after three years at Dundee United I will be looking for a new challenge," Ciftci said, per Dundee United's website. "I'm satisfied with my development so far and therefore I must thank the coaching staff who played a big part in that."
Ciftci's transfer stock is at a career high after he scored 14 goals and registered eight assists in 36 Scottish Premiership games last season.
Having endured unsuccessful spells at Portsmouth, Kayserispor and NAC Breda, Ciftci is betting on his momentum rather than thinking about stability.
Leaving Dundee United is a risky move for Ciftci.
22. Tommy Oar (Free Agent)
4 of 25
Free-agent Australian forward Tommy Oar, 23, is facing an uncertain future after running down his expiring contract at Utrecht.
"There is no situation really at the moment," Oar said, per Ben Somerford at FourFourTwo. "There is nothing concrete at this stage. But for sure I will be in Europe, but that's all I know."
Oar was one of Utrecht's best players, leading the club in assists (seven) and key passes per game (3.2) last season.
He only played 18 Eredivisie games and still registered two more assists than Memphis Depay, who played 30 games.
A creative, pass-first footballer with upside and a likely profitable resell value, Oar should be a summer transfer window target for mid-tier top-flight clubs.
21. Radamel Falcao (Monaco)
5 of 25
Monaco centre-forward Radamel Falcao, 29, could have his career rescued by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
"If I can help Falcao reach his level again, I will do it," Mourinho said per, DirecTV Sports (h/t Matt Lawless at the Daily Mail). "It hurts me that people in England think that the real Falcao is the one we saw at Manchester United."
Falcao and Mourinho share the same agent, Jorge Mendes.
Bertrand Traore should be Chelsea's first-choice backup striker, not Falcao.
20. Juan Cuadrado (Chelsea)
6 of 25
Chelsea attacking midfielder Juan Cuadrado, 27, has several clubs willing to offer him an exit route, per David Amoyal at Gianluca Di Marzio's website:
- Atletico Madrid.
- Inter Milan.
- Roma.
Given that Cuadrado transitioned into a deep-lying forward and was playing a free role at Fiorentina, readjusting to a right-sided attacking midfield role would always take time.
It is too early to give up on Cuadrado, who is still acclimatising to the Premier League.
19. Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
7 of 25
Manchester United centre-forward Robin van Persie, 31, has explained why he was in Rome recently, which set off transfer speculation linking him to Lazio.
Instead of conducting business to negotiate a contract at Lazio, Van Persie was just there as a tourist on holiday.
"All the rumours about Rome as a city are true: it is a beautiful place," Van Persie said, per Voetbal International (h/t Richard Jolly at ESPN FC). "I have a life away from football and I always wanted to visit Rome with my wife and this was our chance. We enjoyed it very much."
This is a classic example of the pitfalls of rushing to put up a story rather than thoroughly investigating the situation.
18. Eder Balanta (River Plate)
8 of 25Sampdoria are preparing an ambitious bid to sign River Plate centre-back Eder Balanta, 22, per David Amoyal of Gianluca Di Marzio's website.
Balanta will replace Alessio Romagnoli, who played 30 Serie A games on loan at Sampdoria from Roma in the most recent campaign.
In January, Roma president James Pallotta confirmed Romagnoli would return to the club.
"Romagnoli will be back from Sampdoria," Pallotta said, per Colin O'Brien at Bleacher Report. "He's having a great year, and he's only 20 years old."
17. Timo Werner (Stuttgart)
9 of 25Tottenham Hotspur will bid €10.2 million/£7.5 million to sign Stuttgart forward Timo Werner, 19, per Simon Jones at the Daily Mail.
Werner possesses explosive acceleration. He is a wonderkid and one of Germany's most exciting talents, but he was woeful for Stuttgart last season.
Constantly turning over the ball and only shooting on target 33.3 per cent of the time, Werner never overcame his slump.
16. Alen Halilovic (Barcelona)
10 of 25West Ham United are "exploring the possibility of securing" Croatian Barcelona midfielder Alen Halilovic, 18, on loan, per Dominic Fifield of the Guardian.
The appointment of Slaven Bilic as West Ham United manager is why the Halilovic link is recognisable.
In reality, it makes more sense for Halilovic to continue playing for Barcelona B or be loaned to a Liga club.
15. Martin Odegaard (Real Madrid)
11 of 25
Villarreal are a loan destination for Real Madrid attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard, 16, per Pete Jenson at the Daily Mail.
Odegaard would not be an ideal fit for Villarreal manager Marcelino's system.
Utilising a 4-4-2 formation, Marcelino should avoid converting Odegaard into a makeshift winger.
From Odegaard's perspective, he either needs to stay with Real Madrid or be loaned to a club that would be willing to build their team around him.
14. Munir El Haddadi (Barcelona)
12 of 25
Ajax are considering signing Barcelona forward Munir El Haddadi, 19, per ELF Voetbal (h/t Michael Bell at Football Oranje).
El Haddadi could be joining Ajax on loan.
Ajax have signed several former Barcelona players in recent years, either on loan or on permanent deals:
- Bojan Krkic (2013).
- Isaac Cuenca (2013).
- Oleguer (2008).
- Gabri (2006).
El Haddadi enjoyed an extended starting run at Barcelona but failed to impress, scoring once and registering an assist in 463 minutes over 10 Liga games.
That said, he is a massive talent and is able to play as both a No. 9 and No. 11.
13. Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg)
13 of 25
Inter Milan want to reinforce their squad by adding Wolfsburg attacking midfielder Ivan Perisic, 26, per David Amoyal at Gianluca Di Marzio's website.
According to Amoyal, Wolfsburg are demanding €15 million/£10.9 million for the Croatian.
Perisic scored five goals and provided four assists in 24 Bundesliga games last season, but he blew hot and cold throughout.
12. Andrea Bertolacci (Genoa)
14 of 25
AC Milan have made enquiries about signing Genoa central midfielder Andrea Bertolacci, 24, per David Amoyal at Gianluca Di Marzio's website.
According to Amoyal, Bertolacci is co-owned by Roma and is viewed as part of their future.
Bertolacci has an all-round playing style with the ability to competently defend and be a threat in the attacking half.
Though he is prone to making rash tackles, he is a creative player when he is on the ball. He scored six goals and provided eight assists in 34 Serie A games last season.
11. Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan)
15 of 25
Liverpool are expected to sign Inter Milan midfielder Mateo Kovacic, 21, per Ben Jefferson at the Daily Express.
Kovacic can function as either a No. 8 or a No. 10.
Like Philippe Coutinho in Milan, Kovacic has displayed world-class talent at Inter but is unable to take over games on a weekly basis.
10. Denis Cheryshev (Real Madrid)
16 of 25
Liverpool are in the running to sign Real Madrid left winger Denis Cheryshev, 24, per Jamie Sanderson at Metro.
On loan at Villarreal, Cheryshev scored four goals and provided nine assists in 26 Liga games in the most recent campaign.
Statistically, Cheryshev is solid, but his football IQ is questionable.
He takes too many speculative shots and relinquishes possession several times before producing a good play.
Cheryshev would seemingly prefer to stay at Villarreal.
"It's Real Madrid that will need to make a decision before anyone else," Cheryshev said, per Marca. "On a sporting and professional level, Villarreal are head and shoulders above a lot of teams [interested in me]."
9. James McCarthy (Everton)
17 of 25
Everton defensive midfielder James McCarthy, 24, is frustrated with the club's management and Tottenham Hotspur want to capitalise, per David Andersen at the Daily Mirror.
McCarthy believes he is underpaid at Everton and is vexed at the club's apparent refusal to honour a gentleman's agreement and up his salary at the end of the season.
A ball magnet in midfield, McCarthy completes 85.6 per cent of his 50.5 passes per game.
If McCarthy can develop into a deep-lying playmaker—he has the passing range and the vision—he will become more valuable, increasing his leverage when negotiating higher wages.
Right now, Everton know they can promise McCarthy something Tottenham Hotspur can't guarantee: an undisputed starting position.
8. Daniele Rugani (Juventus)
18 of 25
Genoa president Enrico Preziosi is open to signing Juventus centre-back Daniele Rugani, 20, who spent the past season at Empoli.
"We'll see for Rugani," Preziosi said, per Il Giornale della Liguria (h/t Football Italia). "We could close things this week, but then again Juventus could decide to keep him."
Rugani functions as a passing outlet from the back, completing 88.6 per cent of his 42.6 passes per game.
Playing for Genoa worked out for Stefano Sturaro, who is a rising star for Juventus.
7. Samir Handanovic (Inter Milan)
19 of 25
Manchester United have not started negotiations to sign Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, 30, according to his agent, Federico Pastorello.
"Nothing is true with regard to [Manchester United]. I've never talked to them," Pastorello said, per FC Inter News (h/t Football Italia). "Samir wants to win with Inter Milan. Negotiations continue, and the final OK is close."
Handanovic accumulated 90 saves in 37 Serie A games this past season.
He is a world-class goalkeeper with extraordinary reflexes, and he is outstanding in penalty situations.
The reason why there are rumours of Manchester United targeting Handanovic is because he's a viable replacement for David De Gea.
6. Nicolas Otamendi (Valencia)
20 of 25
Manchester United are prepared to pay €47.9 million/£35 million to sign Valencia centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, 27, per David Andersen at the Daily Mirror.
After years of underperforming and not living up to grandiose expectations at Porto, Otamendi redeemed himself with a world-class season at Valencia.
He scored six goals, totalled 101 tackles and accumulated 109 interceptions in 35 Liga games.
The concern with signing Otamendi is that he has only had one great season in his career.
5. Geoffrey Kondogbia (Monaco)
21 of 25
AC Milan are in talks with Monaco over signing French central midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, 22, per David Amoyal at Gianluca Di Marzio's website.
Kondogbia is a prolific ball-winner, accumulating 3.1 tackles and intercepting 2.5 passes per game last season.
Comfortable on the ball, Kondogbia has at times flashed his box-to-box potential.
Signing Kondogbia would be a statement of intent by AC Milan, but if he is out of their price range, one hypothetical alternative could be N'Golo Kante.
4. Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
22 of 25
Paris Saint-Germain central midfielder Marco Verratti, 22, is not a summer transfer window target for Real Madrid.
Verratti is a complete midfielder able to tackle, create goals and control the tempo of play.
He is a world-class footballer, so it is only logical he is tabloid fodder.
Real Madrid have distanced themselves from Verratti, releasing a public statement: "Real Madrid have not made any contact with PSG or the player's agent, and therefore these rumours are completely untrue."
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain)
23 of 25
Chelsea want to sign Paris Saint-Germain centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 33, per Jamie Sanderson at Metro, who was citing reports from Calcio Mercato Web.
Ibrahimovic scored 19 goals and provided six assists in 24 Ligue 1 games.
Starting 95.8 per cent of Ligue 1 games he was involved in, Ibrahimovic is surely not going to accept a reserve role at Chelsea, backing up Diego Costa.
AC Milan are challenging Chelsea's interest by holding talks with Ibrahimovic's agent, Mino Raiola, per Sky Sports.
2. Carlos Tevez (Juventus)
24 of 25
Juventus centre-forward Carlos Tevez, 31, is in talks with Atletico Madrid, according to Atleti manager Diego Simeone.
"With Carlos, I have to admit I haven't spoken with him but I know people at the club are talking to his agent, [Kia Joorabchian]," Simeone said, per Veronica Brunati at AS. "[Carlos would] be an ideal signing for our style of play."
Tevez is a world-class centre-forward, scoring 20 goals and providing seven assists in 32 Serie A games last season.
The issue with Tevez is clubs need to always have a replacement handy because he arbitrarily decides to leave for the most innocuous reasons.
1. David De Gea (Manchester United)
25 of 25
Real Madrid are "very close" to signing Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, 24, per Marca.
Manchester United will receive €25 million/£18.2 million plus €5 million/£3.7 million in potential add-ons from Real Madrid.
Given De Gea's reluctance to extend his Manchester United contract, which expires in 2016, why are Real Madrid paying a transfer fee?
Not signing a €274,139/£200,000-a-week contract extension suggests De Gea has no intention of staying at Old Trafford, per Mark Ogden at the Telegraph.
Real Madrid should just wait until he exercises his right to a free transfer at the end of next season.
In the meantime, they should give Keylor Navas an extended starting run because Real Madrid may already have their successor to Iker Casillas.
From Manchester United's perspective, it is a bitter pill to swallow, considering how much faith, time and resources the club committed to De Gea when he was one of the worst players in the Premier League.
Manchester United could have easily sold him for a loss, but they didn't.
De Gea is now one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and Manchester United face the likelihood of finding another No. 1 after believing they had sorted out that position.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
