Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours with Aubameyang, Morata, Neymar
The international break brought with it plenty of incident on and off the field, but while domestic games were off the cards, the newspaper columns continued to churn out transfer rumours throughout.
We've collated the 20 biggest rumours doing the rounds this week for you and ranked them according to rumoured purchase price, reputation of the player involved and recent strength or quality of the buying team in question.
This is a subjective list, and the rumours are sourced from the world's media, not B/R's own links, so that you can keep up to date on who your own team might be looking to buy—or, indeed, sell!
20. Armando Izzo
1 of 20
Arsenal are looking to boost their back line with the capture of Armando Izzo from Genoa, according to reports in Italy.
The Star's Rhys Turrell cited Tuttomercatoweb noting the Gunners have sent scouts to watch the 23-year-old centre-back in action this season and, with a price tag of just £2.5 million, feel Arsenal could make a move in January.
Benfica are also said to be interested; Izzo has played 10 times in Serie A this season.
19. Joel Campbell
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Arsenal winger Joel Campbell is out of contract in the summer, and Turkish superclubs Fenerbahce and Galatasaray both want to sign him, according to reports in Turkey (via talkSPORT).
A move on a free transfer would naturally appeal, while Campbell's ability to play wide or up front makes him an intriguing proposition for either side. Campbell has only made seven appearances this season, scoring once.
He has previously had spells on loan at the likes of Olympiakos and Villarreal.
18. Charlie Austin
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Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Austin has his eyes set on a Premier League move—but may turn one down in January if he feels interested parties may simply be relegated again.
Talking to talkSPORT (via Evening Standard), Austin said he was happy to stay at QPR if there was no bid for him that matched his requirements and was suitable for his family, though a lowered price tag—from £15 million in summer to £8 million now—might up the number of clubs interested.
Austin has six goals in 12 games in the Championship this term.
17. Victor Valdes
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Victor Valdes' pointless stay at Manchester United is close to being over, with Goal's Kris Voakes reporting he is in advanced talks with Espanyol over a January move.
Espanyol are, of course, the closest city rivals of Valdes' former club Barcelona, but with options for a move appearing limited and the Spanish goalkeeper going close to two years now without having played any meaningful competitive action, he looks to have settled on moving home.
The move would be on a free transfer, and he would battle 20-year-old Pau Lopez for game time.
16. Andy Carroll
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Former Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll is being linked with a surprise move back to the north-east—but to former rivals Sunderland.
Goal's Harry Sherlock reported Sam Allardyce wants Carroll as a major part of his rebuilding job at the Black Cats, with an £8 million move a possibility—around half what the Hammers paid for Carroll when signing him from Liverpool.
Carroll is behind the likes of Diafra Sakho at West Ham United and has scored once in six Premier League matches this term.
15. Simone Zaza
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Here's an unexpected link: Juventus forward Simone Zaza wants a loan move away from the club to get himself more playing time and increase his chances of making Italy's UEFA Euro 2016 squad.
Tuttosport (h/t Gazzetta World) indicated that the unlikely side interested in offering him that opportunity is...Norwich City. The report suggests Juve want to send Zaza to a more high-profile club such as Arsenal or West Ham, who are both also interested.
Zaza has just one goal in six Serie A appearances this term.
14. Gerard Deulofeu
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Everton boss Roberto Martinez has confirmed there is little the club can do to keep hold of Spanish wide forward Gerard Deulofeu if former club Barcelona decide to activate his buy-back clause.
The Guardian's Andy Hunter reported Martinez clarifying the situation, with the Spanish side being able to sign back Deulofeu for €9 million at the end of this season or €12 million at the end of 2016-17—but a winter move is not on the cards.
Everton would also have first refusal to re-sign Deulofeu after a year back at Barcelona if the club opt to move him on again, though at present, there is no suggestion Barca are keen for Deulofeu to return. His roles in the wide forward zones are occupied by Lionel Messi and Neymar.
13. Marouane Fellaini
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Manchester United's burly midfielder Marouane Fellaini has been ordered to leave the club to save his Euro 2016 hopes—by national team manager Marc Wilmots.
Per the Manchester Evening News' Samuel Luckhurst, Wilmots told Le Soir that finding a new challenge in January would enable more game time for Fellaini, who could be the player to support the Belgium attack at the European Championships.
Fellaini has managed just 194 minutes of league action this season.
12. Saido Berahino
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West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino was at the centre of plenty of rumours over the summer as Tottenham Hotspur tried to bring him to the club, with the Baggies refusing to sell at the time.
Now the Express' Steve Madeley reported WBA expect new bids for Berahino from Spurs, with Chelsea also interested in the frontman, who has scored three goals in 10 games in the Premier League this term.
Charlie Austin and Matt Phillips, both of QPR, are potential replacements if Berahino does move on.
11. Radamel Falcao
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Two loan spells in the Premier League, two undeniably disappointing seasons.
That looks to be the sum total of Radamel Falcao's English adventure, with the Chelsea forward—on loan from AS Monaco—ready to have his latest temporary move ended early, according to the Mirror's John Cross.
Falcao has barely impacted again this season, and La Liga club Valencia look ready to make a move for him in January, with Chelsea happy to end the loan deal and offload his big wages.
10. Sofiane Feghouli
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Valencia winger Sofiane Feghouli has been linked with a move to Chelsea, according to Fichajes (h/t Mark Brus of Metro).
The Algerian schemer is available on a free transfer in the summer and has previously been linked with the likes of Manchester United. He has been in and out of the Valencia team this season—despite being an excellent performer and a regular starter last season—as Los Che struggle for consistency in results in La Liga.
He has netted once in league play in eight games this season.
9. Alex Teixeira
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Shakhtar Donetsk's attacking midfielder Alex Teixeira is a target for Chelsea in the January transfer window—but the Premier League side will have to pay up big money to land him.
The Evening Standard's Simon Johnson reported Shakhtar have made it clear to the Blues that Teixeira's price tag is in the region of £30 million, while Chelsea would be unable to field him in the Champions League as he is cup-tied.
Teixeira has scored 19 goals in just 13 games in the Ukrainian Premier League, and 21 in 22 overall.
8. Lucas Biglia
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Argentina midfielder Lucas Biglia is being linked again with a Premier League move, with Gazzetta World reporting new interest from Liverpool.
The Lazio midfielder would command a fee of €30 million after being promoted as captain of the team this season, while the report also indicates his agent is hoping to arrange talks for a new contract at Lazio, too.
Most confusing. Biglia has scored three goals in seven Serie A appearances this term.
7. Alvaro Morata
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Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata will be a target for the Spanish club to re-sign—if they sell Cristiano Ronaldo.
That's reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Mark Critchley of the Independent), with Real looking to take advantage of the buy-back clause in Morata's contract at Juventus.
Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have been among the clubs interested in Ronaldo, and bringing "home" Morata would be a step toward rebuilding the Real Madrid attack.
6. John Stones
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One of the longest-running transfer sagas in the Premier League is that of John Stones to Chelsea, after the Everton defender had several bids turned down for him in the summer.
Now that chase looks set to be extended, as the Mirror's Darren Lewis reported Chelsea will come back in January with another offer—which they already fear will be rejected. Stones asked for a transfer in the summer but is now thought to be happy to remain in place at Goodison Park, with a Euro 2016 starting spot a possibility.
Chelsea want Stones to boost their defensive line—which Papy Djilobodji was supposed to help out with—but he has barely featured and may move on in January.
5. Michy Batshuayi
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Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi has suitors from all over Europe chasing him, with le10Sport (h/t Express' Joe Short) claiming Chelsea are just one of up to 15 clubs interested.
Marseille president Jean-Michel Aulas says the forward will cost around €50 million and that nobody was willing to pay the asking price in the summer, though that could change with Batshuayi starring in Ligue 1 and scoring eight in 13 games so far this season.
Valencia are also interested in Batshuayi and may make a move in January to replace Alvaro Negredo.
4. Alessandro Florenzi
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AS Roma's Alessandro Florenzi has been a target for both Arsenal and Tottenham in recent weeks, but talkSPORT cited reports in Spain suggesting Barcelona have now decided he is the man to replace Dani Alves at right-back.
Florenzi scored from the halfway line against Barcelona earlier on this season and recently featured for Italy's national side on the right of midfield, and the Catalan club have seemingly identified him as the man to take over as the offensive-minded outlet from defence despite what will be a big price tag.
Sergi Roberto has filled in for Barca in that role this season, with great success.
3. Robert Lewandowski
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Real Madrid are making no secret of their desire to sign a No. 9 striker in the summer, and Marca's Jose Felix Diaz reported there could in fact be two such players signed—with Robert Lewandowski high on the list of targets.
The report indicated Real already tried to sign him when he left Dortmund, but he had already agreed a move to current club Bayern Munich. Now, along with the interest in Morata noted earlier in our list, the Spanish club want to make Lewandowski a part of a new-look front line for next season.
The Polish striker has 14 goals in 11 Bundesliga games this season.
2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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Liverpool and Arsenal have been monitoring Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang—but have been told they'll need to fork out £42 million to sign him.
TalkSPORT cites reports in Germany saying BVB will only consider selling Aubameyang if they can keep hold of Marco Reus, with Barcelona also said to be interested in signing both star forwards.
Aubameyang has been in great form this season, scoring 14 in 12 in the Bundesliga and 22 in 20 over all competitions.
1. Neymar
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The richest three teams in the Premier League are set to go head-to-head next summer for the signature of Barcelona's Neymar, according to the Express' Bruce Archer, citing reports in Spain.
Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all in the hunt for the Brazilian, who has yet to sign a new contract with Barcelona due to "tax complications," among other issues.
Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in Neymar, who has 11 goals in 10 La Liga games this term.
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