20 Players Who Should Transfer This Summer but Won't
Here are 20 players whose careers could benefit from a permanent move away from their current clubs in the summer transfer window, but who will likely stay put.
These 20 players, including Alexandre Lacazette, Antonio Candreva and Ki Sung-Yueng, will be ranked via a combination of current playing ability, upside and potential resell value.
Long-List Cuts
Brazilian right wing-back Bruno Peres, 25, Torino.
Chilean right-forward Fabian Orellana, 29, Celta Vigo.
Dutch right-back Paul Verhaegh, 31, Augsburg.
Moroccan centre-back Abdelhamid El Kaoutari, 25, Montpellier.
English left-winger Rolando Aarons, 19, Newcastle United.
20. Saul Berjon (Eibar)
1 of 20Eibar's Spanish left attacking midfielder Saul Berjon, 29, has pedigree because he was once on the books of Barcelona.
Functioning as Eibar's primary creative outlet, Saul's vision shone on a squad with paper-thin quality.
Saul registered more La Liga assists (seven) for 18th-placed Eibar than Real Madrid's Luka Modric (three) and Barcelona's Andres Iniesta (one) combined.
Having been a journeyman, Saul probably wants career stability, and despite Eibar being initially relegated, the Basque club were granted a reprieve.
Thirteenth-placed Elche suffered relegation due to "unpaid debts to the tax authorities," per Reuters (h/t the Guardian).
Their place in La Liga have been filled by Eibar.
Instead of moving on, Saul could stay for another season in Spain's top-flight where he can prove he is not a one-hit wonder.
19. Leandro Bacuna (Aston Villa)
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Aston Villa's Dutch right-back Leandro Bacuna, 23, is being wasted as a defender.
He does not offer enough defensive stability to justify a starting right-back role, where his positioning is a step behind play and can be exposed by opposing teams.
Though, Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood remains positive of Bacuna's growth.
"We've almost had to teach [Bacuna how] to play right-back," Sherwood said, per Mat Kendrick at the Birmingham Mail. "He's enjoying it and he could be a very good right-back for the future of this club."
Aston Villa have since signed free agent right-back Micah Richards on wages of around €91,044/£65,000-a-week, per James Whaling at the Daily Mirror.
Bacuna needs to find a top-flight club willing to play him in midfield because he is able to conjure up game-winning moments.
But he may decide to stay at Aston Villa content with filling in as a utility player.
18. Daniel Ginczek (Stuttgart)
3 of 20Stuttgart's German centre-forward Daniel Ginczek, 24, will fly under-the-radar having scored seven goals this past Bundesliga season.
Though, Ginczek's seven goals came in a 10-game run.
When his body isn't breaking down and he is feeling confident, he has elite potential. He would gain more acclaim if he played on a stronger team.
Considering his late flurry of goals ensured Stuttgart retained their Bundesliga status, he may have been promised a bigger role next season, which will put a potential move away on the back burner.
When he was dropped to Stuttgart II, he scored five goals in five 3. Liga games.
17. Ki Sung-Yueng (Swansea City)
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Swansea City's South Korean central midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng, 26, is a classy operator.
Controlling the pace of Swansea City's attacks, he completed 89.8 per cent of his 51.7 passes per game and his efforts were noticed.
He was named the Supporters' Player of the Year after playing an important role in Swansea City's ascent up the Premier League table.
Ki possesses the talent to play for a bigger club.
But even if a top club was interested in him, Ki could be swayed into staying with Swansea City after the club finished eighth in the Premier League last season and are looking to push on having signed Andre Ayew.
16. Mario Gaspar (Villarreal)
5 of 20Villarreal's Spanish right-back Mario Gaspar, 24, is set to begin his fifth season in La Liga as a regular starter.
Mario is a conservative tackler who generally does not give away pointless fouls.
He is beginning to add more impetus going forward as his combined goals scored and created output last season (five) was a personal best.
Top clubs need reliable right-backs, and Mario is dependable after being a factor in Villarreal having the fourth-best defence in La Liga (37 goals conceded from 38 games).
But Mario seems to be Villarreal through and through.
15. Muhamed Besic (Everton)
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Everton's Bosnia and Herzegovina defensive midfielder Muhamed Besic, 22, is unappreciated.
Despite being a technically flawless all-round midfielder who can effortlessly glide past opposing players, Besic had a forgettable season.
Given how talented he is, Everton will keep him, but he should be thinking about moving on if he continues to play a bit-part role.
14. Antonio Candreva (Lazio)
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Lazio's Italian right-forward Antonio Candreva, 28, opens up space with his playmaking and his dribbling prowess.
Candreva routinely drags several opposing defenders out of position.
This is the reason why veterans like Marco Parolo, Miroslav Klose and Stefano Mauri are handed multiple scoring opportunities.
Should Candreva improve his shooting efficiency, he can reach the 20 goal mark given how quickly he gets his shot off.
He shot 117 times this past Serie A season, scoring 10 goals.
While his transfer stock is probably at a career-high, Candreva staying is pivotal to Lazio's chances of advancing past the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
13. Zlatko Junuzovic (Werder Bremen)
8 of 20Werder Bremen's Austrian central midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic, 27, is an elite footballer.
He has a lethal burst of pace, is a set-piece specialist, creates goals for his team-mates and is able to start as a No. 8 or No. 10.
Junuzovic receives acclaim for his free-kicks, but his 12 assists this past Bundesliga season is arguably more impressive.
Fortunately for Werder Bremen, Junuzovic is not in his early 20s, because he probably would be tabloid fodder for Premier League clubs.
12. Franco Vazquez (Palermo)
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Palermo's Italian central attacking midfielder Franco Vazquez, 26, routinely pulls off Zinedine Zidane-esque moves.
Vazquez was key to Paulo Dybala going from flop to one of the most coveted prospects in Europe.
Having sold Dybala, Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini is insistent on Palermo being Vazquez-centric.
"Vazquez is a fundamental player for us," Zamparini said, per Rai GR Parlamento (h/t Mark Doyle at Goal). "We're going to build a team around [him]."
11. Mathew Ryan (Club Brugge)
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Club Brugge's Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, 23, has thrived in Europe.
He is a two-time Belgian Pro League Goalkeeper of the Year recipient and is ready to step up to the next level.
But Club Brugge have signed compatriot Bernie Ibini, a close friend.
"I don't think Bernie would be too happy if I left before he arrived," Ryan said, per Sebastian Hassett at the Sydney Morning Herald. "Maybe I'll have to stay there just to look after him."
Granted, Ryan joked about the situation, but it appears he is content with remaining at Club Brugge.
10. Steven Berghuis (AZ)
11 of 20AZ's Dutch right-forward Steven Berghuis, 23, has improved exponentially since being discarded by Twente.
Berghuis missed a segment of the season due to a metatarsal fracture, but he still played 22 Eredivisie games, scoring (11 goals) and creating (four assists) a combined 15 goals.
He is a skilful and inventive wide player who is productive. He would be a transfer steal for a mid-tier club in Europe's top leagues.
AZ should hold on to Berghuis for another season because if he can remain injury-free, his transfer stock will continue to rise.
9. Carlos Bacca (Sevilla)
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Sevilla's Colombian centre-forward Carlos Bacca, 28, is a walking definition of perseverance.
"The doors of football had been closed to me for some time and at my age, it wasn't something I could count on anymore," Bacca said, per Fede Quintero at Marca. "At 20 [years of age] I was living in my village, Puerto Colombia, working as a bus driver's assistant. Life was far from easy."
A late-bloomer from a poor family, Bacca refused to quit his footballing dreams.
Eight years later, Bacca scored a brace in the UEFA Europa League final, winning the tournament in successive seasons.
Having scored 20 goals this past Liga season, Bacca deserves to be earning an inflated salary in the Premier League, unlike Emmanuel Adebayor and Mario Balotelli.
However, being 28 years old and having a €30 million/£21.4 million release clause in his contract, per Dermot Corrigan at ESPN FC, will work against Bacca if he wants to leave in the summer transfer window.
8. Diego Rolan (Bordeaux)
13 of 20Bordeaux's Uruguayan centre-forward/right-winger Diego Rolan, 22, tends to go missing for stretches of the season.
But when he is focused and involved, he is a big threat—as evident when he scored the match-winner in Bordeaux's 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
Like Ibrahim Ba and Yoann Gourcuff, Rolan is a mercurial talent who shuffles back and forth from elite to mediocre.
Rolan's inconsistency could be a red flag for potential suitors.
7. Paul-Georges Ntep (Rennes)
14 of 20Rennes' French left-winger Paul-Georges Ntep, 22, is a direct and technically brilliant footballer.
He is in his element taking the ball past opposing defenders and shooting on sight. He is already figuring out Ligue 1's defences, so expect him to surge onward next season.
That is a reason why Rennes are likely to retain Ntep, knowing he is a cash cow like Shabani Nonda was.
6. Jetro Willems (PSV Eindhoven)
15 of 20PSV Eindhoven's Dutch left-back Jetro Willems, 21, is already a veteran having been a professional since 2011.
Thrown in the deep end early on, Willems at times looked out of his depth, but he rebounded strongly.
Now he is a left-back with world-class potential, but given how dangerous he is going forward, he should be given an extended starting run in an advanced role.
He provided 13 assists in 30 Eredivisie games, which is an eye-catching return for a defender.
He needs to be a more defensively sound, and another season in the Eredivisie will be beneficial to his development (provided he doesn't suffer a long-term injury).
In the future, Willems could be a like-for-like transfer alternative for top clubs that are hesitant in paying a substantial fee for Wolfsburg's Ricardo Rodriguez.
5. Marco Sportiello (Atalanta)
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Atalanta's Italian goalkeeper Marco Sportiello, 23, has been a breakout star in Serie A.
Accumulating 138 saves in 37 Serie A games, Sportiello has safeguarded Atalanta's status in Italy's top-flight.
Rather than accepting a backup role at a top club where he may earn more money, Sportiello should play out another season for Atalanta where he will continue to grow as a goalkeeper.
4. Davy Klaassen (Ajax)
17 of 20Ajax's Dutch central midfielder Davy Klaassen, 22, is one of the most gifted footballers of his generation.
In 30 Eredivisie games, he registered 82 tackles, scored six goals, accumulated nine assists and averaged 49.3 passes per game.
Klaassen can adapt to playing for a top club, but his body is already waving the white flag, which may mean he won't be moving away this summer.
3. Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco (Monaco)
18 of 20Monaco's Belgian left attacking midfielder Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, 21, has been Iron Man-like this past season.
He played 52 games in all competitions while being a showman and a constant source of creativity for Monaco.
He set up 10 goals in Ligue 1, the third highest amount in France's top-flight.
Monaco's wasn't Paris Saint-Germain-potent, so holding on to Ferreira-Carrasco is paramount. He has the talent to match James Rodriguez.
2. Timo Horn (Cologne)
19 of 20Cologne's German goalkeeper Timo Horn, 22, has outstanding physical tangibles at 6'4" and 198 lb.
Yet Horn can still pull off reflex saves as if he is an undersized goalkeeper. He registered 117 saves in 33 Bundesliga games.
One area Horn needs to work on is his ball retention, because he is not as smooth of a passer as Manuel Neuer or Yann Sommer.
If Horn continues to improve, he will be one of the best goalkeepers in the world within five years.
1. Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)
20 of 20Lyon's French centre-forward Alexandre Lacazette, 24, is in a tough predicament.
Scoring 27 goals and registering six assists in 33 Ligue 1 games, Lacazette is one of the most exciting strikers in the world.
However, there is only one big club that can meet Lyon's valuation, offer Lacazette marquee wages and a guaranteed starting spot—Liverpool.
Except, Liverpool aren't a London-club [1], have never won the Premier League and are coached by Brendan Rodgers, who has a woeful record with No. 9s not named Luis Suarez.
The safer career choice for Lacazette is to continue producing at Lyon, where he will be treated like a king, if you are to believe OL owner Jean-Michel Aulas.
"We have offered [Lacazette] a salary that will give him at least €4 million/£2.9 million [2] per year," Aulas said, per Robin Bairner at Goal. "I have to say this because [Lyon] are publicly floated on the stock market. If [Lacazette] agrees to stay at OL for one or two more years, he will be the biggest earner at the club."
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.
[1] Rodgers claims the allure of London was a factor in Alexis Sanchez's decision to turn down Liverpool.
"Geography dictated where [Alexis] wanted to go," Rodgers said, per the London Evening Standard. "It was about where the player and his family wanted to choose to live."
[2] Approximately €76,923/£55,769-a-week.
Having offered Raheem Sterling €139,823/£100,000-a-week, per Natalie Pirks at BBC Sport, Liverpool have a noteworthy advantage over Lyon when it comes to vying for Lacazette.
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