Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours with Lewandowski, Higuain, Hazard
The international break might be interrupting domestic football matches, but it certainly isn't holding up the rumour mill about possible transfers.
We've scoured the media to bring you the 20 hottest rumours over potential deals for January or beyond, ranking the stories by transfer fee, reputation of the buying side and overall level of ability of the player in question.
These aren't B/R's rumours—we've simply collated them from elsewhere for you to pick out which ones have the most chance of happening.
20. Victor Osimhen
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Tottenham Hotspur have already wrapped up a signing that will be completed in January ,according to reports in Spain, with Nigeria under-17 star Victor Osimhen having agreed a deal.
AS (h/t Metro) claimed the 16-year-old forward, who starred at the recent FIFA U-17 World Cup, has opted to join Spurs ahead of other interested parties.
The report further indicated his Nigeria team-mate Kelechi Nwakali may be joining Manchester City.
19. Moussa Dembele
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Fulham attacker Moussa Dembele is wanted by Tottenham Hotspur.
No, it's not 2012 again—this is teenage striker Moussa, not prime-age midfielder Mousa, who made the same move with the same surname a few years back.
Fulham's remaining Dembele, 19, is out of contract at the end of the season, and Tom Collomosse of the Evening Standard reports that Spurs want to make a move for him after his impressive form in the Championship this term, scoring seven in 16 games so far.
18. James Collins
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The Express reported Sam Allardyce has been given the go-ahead to sign two players to help Sunderland's battle against relegation in January.
His former defender at West Ham United James Collins is one of those strongly linked with a move to the Black Cats, while Arthur Masuaku of Olympiakos is the second consideration to bolster a struggling defence.
A few players could also leave the club, including Danny Graham and Seb Larsson.
17. Jannik Vestergaard
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Jannik Vestergaard is the latest name linked with a move to Newcastle United as the Magpies search for further reinforcements in January after a torrid start to the season.
Sport Bild (h/t Chronicle Live) linked the north east side with a move for the 23-year-old Werder Bremen centre-back, with West Ham United also in the running, but he will cost around £15 million to snare in the winter window.
Newcastle sit just one place outside the relegation zone despite making significant additions to the squad in summer.
16. Ruben Loftus-Cheek
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Young Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is to search out a loan move away from the club in January, according to the Times.
Jose Mourinho intimated last year that the England under-21 international would be seen as a core part of the first-team squad this season, but with the side struggling for form and points, the 19-year-old has barely had a look-in.
He has played just an hour of league football this term and will attempt to find regular football elsewhere as a result.
15. Charly Musonda
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Another of Chelsea's young contingent bored of waiting for a chance under Jose Mourinho is Charly Musonda, who has previously been linked with AS Monaco and now reportedly has Manchester United after him.
That's according to Foot Mercato (h/t Metro), which said United are ready to pay over £10 million to snatch the 19-year-old away from Stamford Bridge and give him the chance to play first-team football.
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also linked with him.
14. Branislav Ivanovic
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Chelsea right-back Branislav Ivanovic is out of contract in the summer and has yet to sign a new deal with his club, leading to speculation he may be off on a free transfer next summer.
His agent, Zoran Krneta, hasn't exactly stemmed the tide of those rumours after confirming, per the Mirror, that "anything was possible," with Internazionale interested in tying the defender up on a pre-contract agreement in January.
A new deal is still possible too—so basically, he's keeping his options open, seeing if Chelsea actually want him and who is offering a good deal.
13. Mario Gomez
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German striker Mario Gomez is currently playing in Turkey with Besiktas, and it would take a monstrous bid for him to leave—but it's still a possibility, according to reports.
Besiktas president Fikret Orman stated to Radyospor that offers of over €20 million (£14.1 million) would be considered (h/t Turkish-Football.com) but that no bids have yet been received for the striker.
The 30-year-old has scored eight goals in 11 Super Lig games this term.
12. Jamie Vardy
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Barcelona and Real Madrid were hoping to scout Jamie Vardy in England's friendly against Spain on Friday.
Yes, that's an actual story, with two of the world's biggest clubs keeping an eye on the Leicester City striker and hoping to see him in action against some of their own defenders—Marc Bartra, Gerard Pique and Nacho are all in the Spain squad.
The Daily Mail reported Spain's big duo are interested in further scouting the 28-year-old but that he'll miss the international game through injury.
11. Timo Horn
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Jurgen Klopp will look to make Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn his first signing since taking charge of Liverpool, according to Bild (h/t the Express).
Horn has a release fee of £6 million which would give the Reds the chance to put real pressure on Simon Mignolet, their regular No. 1, or outright replace the Belgian with Klopp's compatriot.
The 22-year-old is a Germany under-21 international and has kept three clean sheets in 12 Bundesliga games this term.
10. Goncalo Guedes and Talisca
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Chelsea are looking at a double raid on Benfica by swooping for stars Goncalo Guedes and Talisca.
The Standard cited reports in Portugal saying Guedes, who has starred on the right side of midfield for Benfica this season, is the main focus of Chelsea's attentions—though they'll likely have to wait until summer to make a bid for him.
Talisca is an attacking midfielder and seen as an additional interest to Guedes.
9. Samir Nasri
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Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri hasn't been able to make a position for himself in the team this season after some big-name arrivals over summer, leading to speculation the French player could be on his way.
The Manchester Evening News reported that Nasri, 28, is last in a queue of eight players for attacking positions in the team and that Manuel Pellegrini seemed to be losing patience with him last term, when he finished the season out of the team. He has also suffered with injury this term.
City would be willing to sell, but there have not yet been any offers of the required level.
8. Ayoze Perez
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Newcastle United forward Ayoze Perez is attracting the interest of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, but Manchester United are the front-runners to sign him.
That's the word from the Telegraph, which reported Louis van Gaal's team have watched Perez, 22, several times and see him as the man to help United convert possession into goals over the second half of the season.
A "premium fee" would be needed to capture the Spaniard's signature, which wouldn't be out of the question in January, as it would give the Magpies funds to restructure their own struggling team.
7. Riccardo Saponara
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Liverpool have been scouting Serie A star Riccardo Saponara according to reports in Italy and will attempt to broker a deal in January.
Tuttosport (h/t the Express) claimed Reds scouts have already been to see the 23-year-old in action and want to bring the Empoli attacking midfielder to Anfield just a few months after he rejoined the club from AC Milan.
He has scored four goals in nine league appearances this season, but Calciomercato claimed in the same article that Empoli sporting director Marcello Carli has ruled out the chances of any players leaving in winter.
6. Javier Hernandez
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Javier Hernandez left Manchester United in the summer transfer window for the Bundesliga and Bayer Leverkusen, but Chelsea want to bring him back to the Premier League.
That's according to ESPN FC, which cited sources as saying the Blues want a proven striker to rescue their campaign and that Hernandez, 27, fits the bill.
Paco Alcacer of Valencia is also an option, according to the article.
5. A 'Speedy Winger' to Manchester United
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Louis van Gaal's recent comments about needing speed on the flanks have led to suggestions Manchester United will sign a wide player in January, with the boss citing Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard's lack of pace as a problem to be fixed.
The Manchester Evening News reported Van Gaal as saying, "We need speed and creativity on the wings...so first we must first finish that problem and then we can see how we have to play and how we are in balance with playing with speedy wingers."
Sadio Mane and Gareth Bale are two noted possible signings for the position, while the rehabilitation of Luke Shaw may also necessitate the signing of a left-back.
4. Jese Rodriguez
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Real Madrid forward Jese Rodriguez is likely going to have to get used to speculation about his future, with the squad player at the Santiago Bernabeu not a starter every week and Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez now back to fitness.
The latest reports indicate Arsenal are ready to make a £21.1 million move for Jese, according to Don Balon (h/t Metro).
The 22-year-old has featured more prominently in recent weeks, including in the Champions League, but he is nowhere near a guaranteed starter.
3. Gonzalo Higuain
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Diego Costa's below-par form this season has lead to speculation he will be one of the big names to make way in a Chelsea overhaul as the Blues struggle near the foot of the Premier League.
Gonzalo Higuain is the man Jose Mourinho wants to replace the Spain international, with the Napoli striker, 27, possibly only available in the summer instead of during the upcoming transfer window, according to the Mirror.
Costa has two league goals in 10 appearances this season; Higuain has nine in 12.
2. Eden Hazard
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Chelsea wide forward Eden Hazard has been well below par at the start of this season as both he and his team struggle, but that hasn't put off potential suitors.
An £80 million price tag isn't warding off the threat of bids either, with the Daily Mail reporting both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are in the hunt for the 24-year-old Belgian.
Any move would likely have to wait until the end of the season, but Hazard remains one of the most buyable players in world football, and he'll have no shortage of interested parties if he moves on.
1. Robert Lewandowski
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The Mirror has reported a major shake-up is on the way at Real Madrid, with key attacking figures set to depart and new faces coming in to replace them in 2016.
In-form Bayern Munich striker Roberto Lewandowski is central to those plans, coming in as a replacement for French forward Karim Benzema—who has been missing through injury lately and is involved in police talks surrounding international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena, per BBC News.
Lewandowski, 27, has scored 19 goals in 18 games this season.
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