Believability Meter on the Week's Biggest Rumours: Kroos, Alcantara, Brahimi
Real Madrid's Toni Kroos, Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara and FC Porto's Yacine Brahimi can all be found over the following pages, as we call fact or fiction on some of the biggest transfer rumours of the week.
We also delve into speculation involving Ezequiel Lavezzi, Andrea Ranochia, Hakan Calhanoglu and more.
Where do these stories rank on YOUR believability meter? Let us know below.
Manchester City Considering Move for Thiago Alcantara
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Thiago Alcantara has attracted the interest of Manchester City, as Steve Morgan claimed in the Daily Star this week.
The 24-year-old was a previous target of the Citizens' cross-city rivals, Manchester United, before Bayern Munich acquired his services from Barcelona in summer 2013.
Now, according to Morgan, Manuel Pellegrini's side may make a move for the midfielder:
"The Spanish international has been dogged by injury over the past 18 months but that hasn't put off City chiefs.
Eithad sporting director Txiki Begiristain is a confirmed fan of the former Barcelona man and is considering a deal. …
The 24-year-old is key to Pep Guardiola's plans, but City are looking at alternatives in case they fail to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus next summer and know Bayern would listen to decent offers.
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Thiago's injury struggles have limited his game time to 47 appearances with Bayern since switching to the Allianz Arena two summers ago.
This season, he has been involved in all-but-one Bundesliga fixture, clocking up a full 90 minutes on two occasions and appearing in every minute of Champions League action so far.
Believability Meter: Low
The 2015/16 season is Thiago's third on German soil. It also happens to be the first campaign that he is starting injury free.
Should he remain clear of the cruciate ligament injuries that have dogged him for the last few years, this should be an outstanding season for the Italy-born player.
It's also worth considering Thiago's contract extension. The deal, recently penned until 2019, saw Bayern chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, tell the press (per the Guardian): "We're happy that Thiago has decided to stay with Bayern for the long term. He's a young and important player for the future of the club."
A huge talent and a key component of his side, with a devotion to Guardiola—his manager at both Barcelona and Bayern—that is clear, Thiago is not going to move to Manchester City.
Should Guardiola leave, well...that might change things.
Hakan Calhanoglu to Manchester United?
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According to Soccer News (h/t Marc Williams in the Daily Star), Manchester United would like to sign Hakan Calhanoglu in January.
The 21-year-old signed for Bayer Leverkusen from Hamburg in summer 2014, following a breakthrough Bundesliga season in which he registered 11 goals and four assists at Volksparkstadion.
He has since notched 18 goals and 13 assists in 59 games for Roger Schmidt's side.
Linked with Louis van Gaal's outfit in early September, the Turkey international was said to be on his way to Old Trafford for £26.4 million, per Turkish website Koprubasi (h/t Uche Amako in the Express).
Believability Meter: Low to Medium
Before Calhanoglu signed for Leverkusen, he was being pursued by Bayern Munich, yet opted to move to BayArena, where he would stand a greater chance of playing regular football, as he told Hamburger Morgenpost (h/t Goal.com).
It's fair to assume his opinion on regular game time has not yet changed. However, the number of clubs who want to sign Calhanoglu is surely growing by the day.
As one of the best dead-ball specialists around (see here for evidence), we're not surprised.
Over the past couple of seasons, Leverkusen have brought in a number of young players and sold them on for marked-up prices to Premier League sides: Heung-Min Son (arrived for £7 million in 2013/14, departed for £21 million in 2015/16), or Emre Can—who came in for £3.5 million in 2013/14 and departed for £8.4 million the following summer); Andre Schurrle is another example (arrived in 2011/12 for £5.95 million and departed in 2013/14 for £15.4 million).
There's no reason why Calhanoglu will be any different, despite being under contract until 2019. Brought in for a relatively (by Leverkusen's standards) pricey £10.15 million, we could see him move on for upwards of £25 million before long.
Linked with a January transfer, a summer move is much more likely.
Inter Milan’s Andrea Ranocchia to the Premier League
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Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Inter Milan's Andrea Ranocchia, as reported in Italy by Rai Sport (h/t talkSPORT):
"The Italy centre-back apparently wants to leave the San Siro in January after falling behind Joao Miranda and Jeison Murillo in Inter's pecking order.
According to Rai Sport, Everton and Tottenham are ready to submit bids should the 27-year-old hand in a transfer request.
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In July, Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Football Italia) claimed that Crystal Palace and West Ham United were also interested in signing the defender.
Ranocchia signed for Inter in January 2011 from Genoa. Since then, he has made 161 appearances for the Italian outfit.
Believability Meter: Low to Medium
It's easy to see why Ranocchia is the subject of January transfer speculation as early as this.
The central defender has played a bit-part role for Roberto Mancini's side so far in 2015/16, racking up a total of just 71 minutes across five substitute appearances in Serie A.
Compare that to last season, when he was not only a regular fixture in the Nerazzurri back line but also captained the side.
These days, Mauro Icardi has been wearing the captain's armband and Ranocchia's game time is dwindling fast.
We wouldn't be overly surprised to see him in the Premier League, but realistically Ranocchia could go anywhere, with centre-backs in-demand throughout a number of Europe's leagues.
Chelsea Enter the Race to Sign Yacine Brahimi
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Chelsea have joined Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in the race for Yacine Brahimi’s signature, claimed Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Dan Gibbs in the Express) this week.
As Gibbs reported:
"Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain were both linked with the Algeria international this summer with the French champions at one stage reportedly willing to launch a £20 million bid. …
Italian publication Tuttomercatoweb report the Algerian has a £44million buyout clause but Jose Mourinho is ready to meet that fee in order to secure his services.
Chelsea have got off to a slow start in the Premier League this season with just two wins from their opening seven matches and Mourinho has been critical of his players.
The Algerian could add competition to his midfield which has seen Cesc Fabregas come under criticism, while star man Eden Hazard is yet to find the form he showcased last season.
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The former Rennes and Granada winger signed for FC Porto in July 2014 and has since made 50 appearances for the Liga NOS side.
This term, the Algeria international has two assists in eight games in all competitions. One of those assists came against Chelsea in the Champions League on September 29.
Brahimi is under contract at Estadio do Dragao until 2019.
Believability Meter: Low
It’s funny how these transfer rumours emerged on the morning that Brahimi was due to play Chelsea in the Champions League.
It's almost as if they were (whisper it) made up, just to get a different line for the impending game.
The Blues have not been performing to their best, and if you hadn't already noticed, they are being linked with anyone and everyone in the football world.
Porto players are an easy target because we know how expertly the Portuguese club buy up talent and resell for large amounts of money.
Signed for just £5.6 million last year, Brahimi could be his side's next mega-money export.
Will it be Chelsea and will it be in January, or even next summer? In our view, absolutely not. Porto are far more likely to nurture the 25-year-old for a couple more seasons yet.
Ezequiel Lavezzi: Liverpool’s Primary Transfer Target
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Liverpool are eager to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Ezequiel Lavezzi, according to Calcio Mercato (h/t Liam Corless in the Mirror).
As relayed by Corless:
"Ezequiel Lavezzi is at the top of Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers' wishlist, according to reports in Italy.
The Argentina star could leave PSG when his contract expires next summer.
Calcio Mercato claim the Reds will be at the front of the queue to snap up the former Napoli star's signature.
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Elsewhere, the Express' Izzy Horsefield has claimed that Arsenal, Valencia and Inter Milan are also keen on signing the 30-year-old, who is expected to leave the Parc des Princes in January.
Lavezzi has made seven Ligue 1 appearances for PSG so far this season, scoring once in a 3-0 win against Monaco on August 30. Of those seven games, he has started just two.
His current contract will expire in summer 2016.
Believability Meter: Medium
The Argentina international has been making a slow drift towards the fringes of Laurent Blanc's PSG side for some time, and the summer arrival of Angel Di Maria has seen him move ever closer to an exit.
In January, Lavezzi will be free to talk to other teams, perhaps to engineer a winter switch or maybe ahead of a potential Bosman move in the summer.
The versatile forward, who can be used as either a winger or striker, will be appealing to a variety of clubs, as the continued transfer chatter suggests.
Will we see him arrive at Liverpool next summer? We wouldn't rule it out, but there’s likely to be a large number of suitors that come calling.
Nolito in Arsenal’s Sights
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Nolito has been linked with a January move to Arsenal, according to Fichajes (h/t Marc Williams in the Daily Star).
The Gunners are apparently willing to pay the £13.3 million needed to meet the Celta Vigo winger’s release clause.
The 28-year-old has scored five goals and registered three assists in the first seven outings of the 2015/16 La Liga season and was voted Player of the Month for September.
Nolito spent three years with Barcelona B and made five outings for the first team before leaving for Benfica in 2011. A total of 63 appearances were to follow for the Portuguese club, as was a six-month loan spell at Granada before Celta Vigo snapped him up in summer 2013.
Barcelona and Everton have also been credited with interest in the Andalusian player by Fichajes.
Nolito’s current contract is set to run until 2019.
Believability Meter: Low
It's hard to imagine that Nolito would leave Balaidos for Arsenal in January, or at any time in the future.
The season has started in excellent fashion for Celta Vigo—the Galician club currently sit second in the Spanish League table and are unbeaten so far this term.
Nolito's contribution to that form cannot be underestimated, and it's highly unlikely that he would choose to leave midway through such a promising campaign to join the Gunners.
However, should Barcelona’s interest prove to be real and should the Catalan club make a bid, the evidence suggests we may see Nolito seizing the opportunity.
In the past, he has declared he would only leave Os Celticos for one club—Barcelona (as seen on Goal.com)—and he has played under Nou Camp boss Luis Enrique for both Granada and Barcelona B.
And Celta Vigo coach Eduardo Berizzo told El Mundo Deportivo (h/t ESPNFC) in July:
"If someone pays his release clause, we will find a replacement just as we would do with any other player.
It would be an important loss for us and it would mean we would have to search for an important replacement.
At times, change means new enthusiasm. Whoever leaves [the club], we will find a replacement in the market.
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In a nutshell: Nolito will not leave Celta Vigo unless Barcelona show serious interest.
Toni Kroos: Real Madrid to Manchester United
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Toni Kroos could be on his way to Manchester United, claimed Fichajes this week.
The speculation was brought to our attention by James Whaling in the Mirror, who wrote:
"Manchester United are eyeing a move for German midfielder Toni Kroos, according to reports in Spanish outlet Fichajes.
The Real Madrid midfielder is reportedly concerned about his role at the Bernabeu, and United could take advantage.
He apparently feels 'less important' under Rafa Benitez, and could be keen to force a move.
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The Germany international signed for Madrid in July 2014, following 205 appearances, 24 goals, 49 assists and a hatful of silverware at Bayern Munich.
Kroos has played every minute of Champions League football for Los Blancos so far this season and in La Liga has watched from the sidelines on just one occasion this term (Madrid’s 6-0 win against Espanyol on September 12).
The World Cup winner is under contract at the Bernabeu until 2020.
Believability Meter: Low
Fichajes is a name that is cropping up with increased regularity in the British press—the Spanish website credited as the source of many a transfer rumour in recent times.
The Kroos-to-Old-Trafford talk is one such example. And we don't believe a word of it.
First of all, why would he leave? Barely more than 15 months into a six-year contract in Madrid and playing regularly, despite being subbed off twice (oh, the shame!) this season—there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Kroos feels or is any "less important" under Rafa Benitez than he was under Carlo Ancelotti.
In Casemiro, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric and Kroos, Madrid do have plenty of options for rotation, but really, would we expect anything else but rotation from Benitez?
In late 2014, Kroos complained that he was starting to get tired (per ESPNFC), so surely he's enjoying a little more time to recuperate? He will be crucial for his side for years to come, perhaps just a little more rested.
Kroos is going nowhere, and the Manchester United rumours are nothing but hot air.
All player and contract information comes from Transfermarkt, unless stated otherwise.
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