Ranking the Week's 25 Hottest Transfer Rumours: Sergio Ramos Leaving?
Instead of scouring the internet for the latest football transfer gossip, Bleacher Report makes your life easier by providing 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 David De Gea, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Ramos, 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.
25. Jamie Maclaren (Perth Glory)
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Perth Glory and Australian centre-forward Jamie Maclaren, 21, are currently locked in arbitration, per Ben Somerford at FourFourTwo.
Maclaren believes Perth Glory breached his contract when the club cheated the salary cap and wants to be released.
Having relinquished Daniel De Silva to Roma in a multi-million dollar deal, Perth Glory are unwilling to release Maclaren without compensation.
Formerly on the books of Blackburn Rovers, Maclaren has turned his career around and is now one of Australia's rising stars.
He scored nine goals in 20 games and would have likely scored more if he was a week-in, week-out starter.
Instead of preparing for the upcoming season at a better A-League club or a second-/third-tier European club, Maclaren's future is in limbo because Perth Glory have dragged out the process.
From Perth Glory's perspective, it's nothing personal, just business.
That said, it is not a good look for Perth Glory because this is not how you treat players.
24. James Jeggo (Adelaide United)
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Adelaide United have refused to give Australian central midfielder James Jeggo, 23, permission to travel to Austria in hopes of signing for Sturm Graz, per David Lewis at SBS.
Jeggo had a stellar campaign for Adelaide United having been named the A-League Young Footballer of the Year.
A team-first midfielder with an all-round playing style, Jeggo has the quality to take the next step up.
Adelaide United Director of Football Michael Petrillo was unimpressed with the Austrian Bundesliga club's approach.
"We can clarify [the situation. Sturm Graz] has asked [Jeggo] to go for a trial and offered no transfer fee," Petrillo said, per Richard Earle at News Corp Australia (h/t the Advertiser). "There is no interest in us letting a player go for free for no reason."
23. Josh Risdon (Perth Glory)
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Perth Glory's Australian right-back Josh Risdon, 22, has accepted that his transfer overseas has collapsed, according to his agent Tony Rallis.
"I respect Perth Glory and the right of Australian clubs to seek transfer fees for developing players," Rallis said, per John Davidson at FourFourTwo. "The matter is now dead."
According to Davidson, "an unnamed Belgian club" wanted Risdon but were unwilling to pay a transfer fee.
Club Brugge have two Australians on their squad list: Bernie Ibini and Mathew Ryan.
James Troisi, whose playing rights are owned by Juventus, spent this past season on loan at Zulte Waregem.
Risdon has been a consistent player since 2010 and led this past A-League season in tackles won (64), per Fox Sports.
That said, Risdon has had issues in the past.
- Perth Glory management were vexed by his conditioning last year, per Josh Zimmerman at the South Western Times (h/t the West Australian).
- Arrested in February for refusing to adhere to police orders, per Dale Miller at the West Australian.
22. Guille Lara (Barcelona)
4 of 25Swansea City are looking into signing Barcelona's Spanish goalkeeper Guille Lara, 19, per Sport.
Lara is surplus to requirements at Barcelona and is available on a free transfer.
Swansea City must be doing some advanced scouting since Lara only played a single game in the UEFA Youth League and didn't even start a game for Barcelona B.
A suggested transfer alternative is Shakhtar Donetsk's Oleh Kudryk, who impressed in the UEFA Youth League.
21. Enes Unal (Bursaspor)
5 of 25Manchester City will hold talks to sign Bursaspor's Turkish centre-forward Enes Unal, 18, per Emre Sarigul at the Guardian.
Unal has been exceptional as a Turkish youth international.
He "was one of the best, if not the best, player for Turkey, adding some wonderful performances in his team's [UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying] campaign," per Wyscout.
During the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, Turkey used a Unal-centric strategy "opting for direct lofted [passes]" to their target man, per UEFA's website.
Unal spent last season backing up Fernandao, averaging 9.6 minutes per Super Lig game.
20. Davide Santon (Inter Milan)
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Inter Milan's Italian right-/left-back Davide Santon, 24, has denied a proposed deal to sign for Watford, per his Facebook (h/t Football Italia).
Santon has gone from a can't-miss defensive prospect to a serviceable top-flight defender back at Inter Milan, the club that launched his career.
He played nine Serie A games this past season after transferring from Newcastle United.
19. Jonathan Tah (Hamburg)
7 of 25German centre-back Jonathan Tah, 19, has received an offer from a rival Bundesliga club, "but it was immediately rejected," according to Hamburg sporting director Peter Knabel, per Deutsche Welle.
The Rheinische Post (h/t Clark Whitney at Bleacher Report) are reporting that Bayer Leverkusen have submitted a bid that is around €10 million/£7.1 million—€12 million/£8.5 million short of Tah's release clause in his Hamburg contract.
Tah spent this past season on loan at Fortuna Dusseldorf and was ranked the 72nd-best footballer in Kicker's 2. Bundesliga player rankings.
A physically immense defender at 6'3" and 198lbs, Tah is on his way up and has high upside.
Bayer Leverkusen are trying to pull off a transfer coup.
18. Andrea Belotti (Palermo)
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Torino have asked Palermo about possibly signing Italian centre-forward Andrea Belotti, 21, per Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia).
Belotti scored six goals in 38 Serie A games this past season, but he only started 23.7 per cent of games he was involved in.
Projected as Paulo Dybala's successor, Belotti should stay at Palermo because he will be granted easy scoring opportunities playing alongside Franco Vazquez.
17. Denis Suarez (Barcelona)
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Barcelona's plan to recall Spanish central/left attacking midfielder Denis Suarez, 21, on loan from Sevilla has been blocked by the Spanish Football Federation, per Ramiro Aldunate at Marca:
- In light of Barcelona's transfer ban, Suarez would add squad depth.
- However, the Spanish Football Federation believe Barcelona are trying to circumvent their ban by bringing back Suarez.
Suarez is a classy player but needs to be more assertive.
He started 16 of 31 La Liga games last season, scoring two goals and providing four assists.
16. Angelo Ogbonna (Juventus)
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Everton are interested in signing Juventus' Italian centre-back Angelo Ogbonna, 27, per Phil Kirkbride at the Liverpool Echo.
Ogbonna is comfortable on the ball and functions as a passing outlet from the back.
He completed 89.4 per cent of his 47.8 passes per Serie A game.
15. Luiz Adriano (Shakhtar Donetsk)
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Al-Ahli are front-runners to sign Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian centre-forward Luiz Adriano, 28, per Matt Monaghan at Sport 360.
Adriano has played for Shakhtar Donetsk since 2007 and has been content playing in the Ukrainian Premier League, even though he's good enough to play in one of Europe's top leagues.
After scoring nine goals in seven UEFA Champions League games, eight of which came in two games against BATE Borisov, Adriano has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to cash in.
He should score at will in the UAE Arabian Gulf League.
14. Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid)
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Tottenham Hotspur are set to sign Atletico Madrid's Belgian centre-back Toby Alderweireld, 26, per Matt Law at the Telegraph.
Alderweireld spent last season on loan at Southampton.
He can fill in at right-back and as a defensive midfielder, so he bolsters Tottenham Hotspur's squad depth.
13. Lucas Biglia (Lazio)
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Manchester United are preparing a €26.1 million/£18.6 million bid to sign Lazio's Argentine central midfielder Lucas Biglia, 29, per Il Messaggero (h/t talkSPORT).
Biglia at times has been Herculean in monopolising possession at Lazio. He is also a creative outlet in midfield, dictates tempo of play and wins back the ball.
However, the transfer fee is steep for a 29-year-old who has a limited re-sell value.
12. Arda Turan (Atletico Madrid)
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Manchester United are making a push to sign Atletico Madrid's Turkish right-/left-winger Arda Turan, 28, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Will Giles at Metro).
Turan would be a good fit in the Premier League because he is a two-way player. He can tussle to win back the ball and is excellent in retaining possession while functioning as a source of creativity.
However, he would be a luxury squad player at Manchester United.
11. Douglas Costa (Shakhtar Donetsk)
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Bayern Munich are about to complete a €35 million/£24.9 million deal to sign Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian right-winger Douglas Costa, 24, per Sport1 (h/t Jens Weber at ESPN FC).
Costa at times dribbled blind during the UEFA Champions League, and the €35 million/£24.9 million valuation is heavily dependent on his upside.
Despite lacking an end product, Costa is extremely gifted.
10. Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan)
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Liverpool need to submit a €29.5 million/£21 million bid in order to sign Inter Milan's Croatian central midfielder/central attacking midfielder Mateo Kovacic, 21, per Ben Jefferson at the Daily Express.
Kovacic is a world-class talent and would be an outstanding transfer for Liverpool.
If Kovacic leaves Inter Milan, he will be another "what if?" like Andrea Pirlo, Dennis Bergkamp and Philippe Coutinho.
9. Giannelli Imbula (Marseille)
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Southampton are targeting Marseille's French central midfielder Giannelli Imbula, 22, per Le Parisien (h/t Will Burton at the Daily Express).
Imbula is in the zone dragging opposing players out of position with his slalom runs.
He completed 110 dribbles in 37 Ligue 1 games this past season.
8. Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
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Southampton have agreed to sell English right-back Nathaniel Clyne, 24, to Liverpool, per David Hytner at the Guardian:
- Pending the completion of a medical.
- Clyne needs to "finalise his personal terms" with Liverpool.
- Transfer fee is €17.6 million/£12.5 million.
Clyne is one of the best right-backs in the Premier League. He is an efficient tackler (3.3 tackles to 0.6 fouls per game), so he is a safe investment by Liverpool.
Cedric Soares is projected to succeed Clyne at Southampton.
7. Carlos Bacca (Sevilla)
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Roma have locked in on Sevilla's Colombian centre-forward Carlos Bacca, 28, a late bloomer who has gone from bus driver's assistant to UEFA Europa League winner in eight years.
Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini believes Bacca can help the Giallorossi.
"We want Bacca," Sabatini said, per ABC (h/t the Press Association Sport via ESPN FC). "But I cannot say anything more."
Bacca scored 27 goals in 52 combined La Liga/UEFA Europa League games this past season.
6. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
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Bayern Munich's German central midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, 30, has been advised against moving to the Premier League by Franz Beckenbauer.
"I would advise [Schweinsteiger] not to go to England," Beckenbauer said, per Sky Sports. "He can stay here as well. This challenge, at his age, it's not what he needs."
One key point Beckenbauer has ignored is that Schweinsteiger could earn a career-high in the Premier League while still playing at the highest level.
Manchester United are in pole position to sign Schweinsteiger, per L'Equipe (h/t Colin Harvey at the Daily Star).
5. Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)
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Real Madrid are ready to lodge a €29.5 million/£21 million bid for Arsenal's French centre-back Laurent Koscielny, 29, per Darren Lewis at the Daily Mirror.
If Real Madrid want a French centre-back, Koscielny shouldn't be the No.1 option.
Instead, Real Madrid should target Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte with the intent of partnering him with compatriot Raphael Varane.
4. Nicolas Otamendi (Valencia)
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Valencia's Argentine centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, 27, will become a primary summer transfer window target for Real Madrid if Sergio Ramos is sold, per Jose Felix Diaz at Marca.
It would be Real Madrid's way of softening the public relations blow if Ramos leaves.
Otamendi is a threat to score goals and he has had a world-class season, averaging 2.9 tackles and intercepting 3.1 passes per La Liga game.
3. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
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Real Madrid's Spanish centre-back Sergio Ramos, 29, is "relaxed" amid links to Barcelona and Manchester United, per Dermot Corrigan at ESPN FC.
Ramos is vexed by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, per Sid Lowe at the Guardian:
- Relationship has "descended into bitterness, acrimony and mutual suspicion."
- Perez has refused to grant Ramos a substantial pay rise.
- Ramos believes the negative publicity he has been receiving is in part due to Perez's influence on certain media outlets.
- Perez "does not trust players who accumulate power."
Marca are reporting that Ramos is demanding €10 million/£7.1 million-a-year [1], a figure Real Madrid are not prepared to meet. Real Madrid want Ramos to commit on a €7.5 million/£5.3 million-a-year [2] deal.
Ramos' departure would leave a massive leadership void, so Perez needs to pay up. Money shouldn't be a problem at Real Madrid given how commercially viable the club is.
Presumably, there must be a personality clash between Ramos and Perez.
[1] €192,307/£136,538 a week.
[2] €144,230/£101,923 a week.
2. David De Gea (Manchester United)
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Real Madrid have agreed personal terms with Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea, 24, per Ruben Jimenez at Marca.
De Gea has put his house up for sale, fuelling speculation that he wants out, per Samuel Luckhurst at the Manchester Evening News.
De Gea accumulated 92 saves in 37 Premier League games last season and is a logical successor to Iker Casillas.
1. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
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Manchester City are prepared to bid up to €56.2 million/£40 million in order to sign Liverpool's English forward Raheem Sterling, 20, per Chris Wheeler at the Daily Mail.
Maybe €70.3 million/£50 million is the valuation Liverpool have on Sterling, which would explain why the Reds have been resolute in not selling him.
Sterling scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 35 Premier League games last season.
