Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours: Godin and Ramos to Manchester?
Our weekly roundup of the biggest transfer rumours is back, and this time we're focusing mainly on the English clubs, with the Premier League season set to start on August 8.
We are again looking to identify and rank the biggest and most enticing of the rumours of the past week but with that Premier League focus.
It's worth noting that the ranking of these rumours is both subjective and open to change based on the initial reports of the impending transfers; we order them based on each player's reputation in the game, the rumoured price tag and the size or recent success of the potential buying club.
20. Tomas Andrade to Everton
1 of 20
Everton's fairly quiet transfer window may be sparked to life soon by the capture of Argentinian midfielder Tomas Andrade.
Liverpool Echo reported Roberto Martinez confirmed Andrade would play with the development squad if he signs on loan for the season with a view to making it a permanent move next summer.
Andrade is currently with River Plate. Everton have so far signed Gerard Deulofeu from Barcelona and Tom Cleverley on a free transfer.
19. Serge Gnabry to West Bromwich Albion
2 of 20
Arsenal's Serge Gnabry hasn't quite made the breakthrough it was hoped he would, and the fleet-footed winger could now be ready to make a loan move.
West Bromwich Albion are reported to be close to a deal, per talkSPORT, and the Baggies will sign him on loan for the entire season if the move goes ahead. A move that sees Gnabry remain in the Premier League and get the chance to play more minutes following a knee injury last year could suit both player and parent club.
The Baggies have already signed James McClean to bolster their wide options this summer.
18. Adama Traore to Liverpool
3 of 20
Adama Traore is almost certain to leave Barcelona this season because Barcelona B were relegated to the third tier of Spanish football and he is not in the club's first-team plans.
Metro cited Fichajes to report that Liverpool are in pole position to sign the winger, with permission having been given to the player to speak to other clubs.
Aston Villa and Stoke City were also said to be interested.
17. Juan Quintero to Norwich City
4 of 20
Colombian playmaker Juan Quintero could be on the move from FC Porto this summer, with Tutto Mercato Web reporting (h/t the Norwich Evening News) interest in him from Norwich City and Italian side Pescara.
Quintero is an alternative to James Rodriguez for Colombia, a pacy attacker with good dribbling skills and passing range.
It would be quite the capture for the Canaries, who haven't invested too much this summer in proven top-tier talent this summer.
16. Javier Hernandez to MLS
5 of 20
Mexican forward Javier Hernandez still has his future somewhat up in the air, with Manchester United essentially only having himself and James Wilson as backups to Wayne Rooney in attack.
Hernandez played out on loan at Real Madrid last season, and there have been rumours all summer about where he might head for 2015-16. NBC Sports reported an unknown MLS team recently made a $10 million offer for him ahead of the closure of the transfer window stateside.
The deadline passed without Hernandez moving across the Atlantic, which is why the mooted deal has been ranked relatively low. Don't expect any further revelations on this front.
15. Raul Jimenez to West Ham United
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West Ham United's striking department should get a boost ahead of the new season after they reached an agreement to bring in Raul Jimenez on loan from Atletico Madrid.
The Daily Mail reported that the loan will cost the Hammers just under £1.5 million for the season and that they have already secured a work permit for the Mexican.
Jimenez only moved to Atletico last summer but struggled to win a place in the side and is at least fifth choice as things stand, meaning a move is an inevitability at this point.
14. Fabio Borini to West Ham United or Fiorentina
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Italian striker Fabio Borini is on borrowed time at Liverpool, out of form and favour and having already turned down the chance to leave the club a year ago.
The Times reported that despite Fiorentina being close to a deal to bring him back to his homeland, West Ham United have jumped the queue to offer Borini an opportunity to remain in the Premier League instead.
Borini only featured intermittently for the Reds last season after rejecting moves to Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers.
13. Keisuke Honda to Spurs or Everton
8 of 20
Keisuke Honda's future at AC Milan appears unclear, reported Tuttosport (h/t Express), despite the Japanese attacking midfielder featuring in the team's strongest-looking lineups during pre-season.
That has led to speculation that Everton and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the former CSKA Moscow man, who has seemingly been at odds with the training regime implemented by new Milan boss Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Everton have already signed Tom Cleverley to bolster central midfield, while Spurs have not added anyone of note in that area.
12. Charlie Austin to Tottenham Hotspur
9 of 20
Spurs are on the verge of heading into the new season with no new faces to support main striker Harry Kane, with Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor still at the club but not trusted as options by manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Now, the Mirror has reported English forward Charlie Austin is the man they want to provide another option up front, with his £15 million valuation proving prohibitive to other rumoured suitor Newcastle United.
A player may be sent on loan to QPR to push through the deal, the report indicates.
11. Asier Illarramendi to Liverpool
10 of 20
Asier Illarramendi looks to be well down the order in Real Madrid's midfield this season, behind Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Casemiro and Lucas Silva, with Marco Asensio also still at the club.
As a result, he seems likely to depart, and the Independent reported views in Spain suggesting Liverpool are going to make a £15 million move for him before the transfer window shuts.
Illarra cost over €30 million two summers ago when Real signed him from Real Sociedad.
10. Harry Kane to Manchester United
11 of 20
Tottenham Hotspur start their new season against Manchester United, and an intriguing subplot to that fixture is the Red Devils are apparently after Spurs' main threat and poster boy, Harry Kane.
The Express reported the interest, with TV commentators suggesting Kane didn't play Spurs' final pre-season fixture, against AC Milan, because of the impending bid from United. They also noted Spanish sources saying an official bid was already in place.
Kane featured against Real Madrid the night before the Milan match for around 85 minutes.
9. Pedro to Manchester United
12 of 20
Manchester United's summer-long chase of Pedro Rodriguez is still ongoing, but Sport reported (h/t the Express) that with Angel Di Maria's transfer to Paris Saint-Germain confirmed, United will get their man soon.
An "imminent" deal for around £22 million could be reached in short order, as Louis van Gaal looks to play Pedro on one flank of Wayne Rooney and Memphis Depay on the other.
The Barcelona man has won it all with his present club, but he is no longer first choice and does not command minutes ahead of Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
8. Marco Reus to Real Madrid
13 of 20
Dependent on another deal, the MailOnline claimed that if Arsenal opt to sign Karim Benzema for £45 million, Real Madrid will go on and make a move for Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus.
Reus would command a similar fee, and the report indicates he has "admirers" at the Spanish club, who could see the German as a big enough name to be the only main signing they make this term. So far, Real have only brought in second-choice stopper Kiko Casilla, completed the already arranged transfer for Danilo and bolstered the squad with youngsters or returning loan players.
The Reus move appears a long way off, especially as Rafa Benitez has said he wants Benzema to stay, per the same report.
7. Karim Benzema to Arsenal
14 of 20
Arsenal haven't been shy about sending huge sums of money to La Liga over the last few summers, with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez joining the Gunners from Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
Now, they are being linked with another record move: a £45-million offer for Karim Benzema, per the MailOnline.
The French striker, integral to the way Real allow the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale to have freedom of movement, is still not seen as someone as big or as key as some of the other stars—as such, doubts continues to surround his continued presence at the Bernabeu.
6. Baba Rahman to Chelsea
15 of 20
Chelsea allowed left-back Filipe Luis to return to Atletico Madrid after just a year in London, leaving Jose Mourinho's men one short in that position ahead of the new season.
Bild (h/t Sky Sports) reported their main target to fill the empty slot is Augsburg's Baba Rahman, a 21-year-old Ghana international. The player's agent, Sascha Empacher, told Bild terms had been agreed with Rahman and that the clubs needed to reach an agreement.
The Daily Mail reported the fee will likely be around £17.5 million.
5. Kevin De Bruyne to Manchester City
16 of 20
Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne had a standout season in 2014-15, and the former Chelsea man is now wanted by Manchester City, who clearly believe he could have a much bigger impact in the Premier League this time around.
The Mirror believes a fee of around £40 million would be necessary to make the move go through but Wolfsburg's stance on the player had softened.
De Bruyne himself was quoted as saying he wouldn't want to be seen as having lied, so he wouldn't totally confirm he was staying at his current club.
4. Alexandre Lacazette to Liverpool
17 of 20
One of Europe's most sought-after strikers could be heading to Liverpool, reported L'Equipe (h/t Metro), with Lyon having told Alexandre Lacazette he can leave this summer.
L'Equipe reported Les Gones manager Hubert Fournier is unhappy with Lacazette's attitude over the summer, and the Reds, along with Arsenal, are thought to be his main admirers.
A price in the region of £21 million is mentioned. Liverpool have already spent £32.5 million on Christian Benteke in the same position this summer, as well as bringing in Roberto Firmino to further boost the attack.
3. Diego Godin to Manchester City
18 of 20
Manchester City have seemingly been looking to strengthen their defensive ranks ahead of the new season—but have been rebuffed in their efforts by Diego Godin.
Marca reported (h/t ESPN FC) that City were prepared to pay the buyout clause of €40 million for the Atletico Madrid man, but the Uruguay defender will turn down any move to stay with his current club and instead sign a new deal.
Godin partners compatriot Jose Gimenez at the back for both club and country.
2. David De Gea to Real Madrid
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It's a saga that appears likely to run until the end of the window, but the David De Gea-to-Real Madrid move may be close to completion, as his partner was reportedly caught on camera talking about the pair being together in Madrid.
El Mundo (h/t Metro) quoted Edurne Garcia as saying things would be easier when De Gea was in Madrid—leading the media to take it as a clear sign the former Atletico stopper will be heading for the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
AS reported the opposite: that with Kiko Casilla and Keylor Navas in place and Manchester United wanting more than €40 million for a player who has one year left on his contract, Real Madrid will hold out for a year and sign the Spaniard for free next summer.
BBC Sport reported De Gea will be left out of the Manchester United squad for the opening day of the season. United boss Louis van Gaal said his goalkeeper can't handle the situation.
1. Sergio Ramos to Manchester United
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Despite the long-running rumours of a potential move, Sergio Ramos was expected to sign a new deal with Real Madrid. However, AS reported he has turned down the offer of a new extension worth over €160,000 a week, instead asking for around €200,000 from his club.
With Manchester United still in the hunt for his signature and despite Rafa Benitez saying he wasn't for sale, per Sky Sports, Ramos will feel he has time and power on his side.
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