Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours with Aubameyang, Coutinho, Costa
The end of another week of football around the world brings with it our usual roundup of the biggest and most notable transfer rumours doing the rounds in the global media.
We scour all types of outlets in different nations to find and rank potential deals for January and beyond, grading the deals based on the fees mentioned in the rumour, the reputation of the buying club and the quality of the player in question.
These are not B/R's rumours, remember, only sourced from other outlets and brought here for your perusal—so feel free to discuss which you feel are particularly likely to happen and which would benefit your club!
20. Yoan Gouffran
1 of 20
Newcastle United's Yoan Gouffran is wanted by Lille in France, according to Chronicle Live's Mark Douglas.
The forward has been well out of favour this season, playing just twice in the Premier League under Steve McClaren, and he will be allowed to leave again in January after initially being told he could depart in the summer.
Gouffran hasn't scored in almost a year and could return to his home nation if Lille firm up their interest.
19. Ravel Morrison
2 of 20
Former Manchester United and West Ham United attacking midfielder Ravel Morrison headed to Serie A and Lazio in the summer, but he is already on his way out and looking for a route back to England, per the Mirror's Darren Witcoop.
Morrison will have to find a club willing to pay a fee for him, though, according to the report, as well as take a chance on him after his disciplinary issues throughout his career and the fact he has left Lazio after just a few months, despite his contract being a three-year one.
He has barely featured in Italy this term and will cost sides around €1 million.
18. Andros Townsend
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Spurs winger Andros Townsend could move away from the club this winter after falling out of favour in the first team.
The Mirror's Darren Lewis reports manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted Townsend could leave, with the England international having played for the under-21 team recently and having had an argument with a fitness coach not too long ago.
Townsend has only played seven times for the first team this term.
17. Reece Oxford
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Arsenal are ready to make a move in January for West Ham United's Reece Oxford, according to the Times' Matt Hughes.
The Gunners have been watching him this term after he made his debut aged 16 for the Hammers and are seemingly ready to offer around £8 million for him.
Arsene Wenger's side have seen injuries decimate their midfield this term, with Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin missing out recently—sidelined for three-months each.
16. Iker Casillas
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FC Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas is open to a move to MLS in the future, according to Spanish news agency EFE (h/t AS).
The Spanish international World Cup winner was asked the question in a Q&A session on Facebook and, although saying he was happy at Porto, admitted the game had grown a lot in USA and that he could be open to following the likes of Raul and David Villa in playing in the country in the future.
Casillas' contract with Porto ends in 2018.
15. Charly Musonda
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Charly Musonda is once more being linked with a move away from Chelsea as a lack of first-team opportunities continue to frustrate him.
The Telegraph's Matt Law reports a host of top European sides are interested in signing the youngster, rated as good or better than Eden Hazard or Kevin De Bruyne at the same age, and that Musonda may ask for a move away from Stamford Bridge.
Monaco, Manchester United and Arsenal are among the teams interested.
14. Ander Herrera
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Ander Herrera is not suited for the Premier League or Manchester United and should leave the club, says former club captain Paul Ince.
The Manchester Evening News' Samuel Luckhurst reports Ince saying Herrera was "small and quite weak" for England's top flight and that he would struggle to make an impact as a holder in Louis van Gaal's system, being better suited to the game in Spain instead.
Ince also mentioned Marouane Fellaini being at the wrong club.
13. Jamie Vardy
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Leicester City's record-breaking goalscorer Jamie Vardy has been linked with a host of big clubs in recent weeks after his exploits in front of goal, but he will remain at the club even if the Foxes fail to secure a top-four finish this season.
That's the opinion of manager Claudio Ranieri, according to the Express' David Wright, who says Vardy knows the target is simply to avoid relegation and then to reassess what can happen afterward.
Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as top European sides, have been linked with Vardy this term.
12. Saido Berahino
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Tottenham Hotspur are expected to launch another bid for West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino, after Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted his side need another forward, according to the Express' Ian Baker.
The report indicates Pochettino saying: "We are trying to follow players now, but it is very difficult. What is most important is that we do not rock the balance of the team. It is important we find someone who is very specific."
Spurs made moves for Berahino in summer but the Baggies refused to sell and are expected to again play hardball with any bids for the striker.
11. Manchester United Left-Back Targets
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The Manchester Evening News ran a feature on five potential targets for Manchester United in January to fill their problematic left-back area, with Marcos Rojo now out with a dislocated shoulder in addition to Luke Shaw's long-term absence with a broken leg.
Ricardo Rodriguez of Wolfsburg is the highest profile name listed by Samuel Luckhurst, while veterans Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra—the latter formerly of United—are also named.
Bruno Martins Indi, a centre-back with Porto who also plays on the left, and fellow Dutchman Jetro Willems of PSV are the other two individuals.
10. Ilkay Gundogan
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Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has spoken in glowing terms about Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, leading to rumours that he will swap BVB for Anfield in due course, according to the Daily Mail (h/t Mirror reporter Aaron Flanagan).
Gundogan's contract expires at the end of the 2016-17 season, and it seems possible Dortmund will want to recoup a fee this coming summer for him rather than risk letting him leave for a free.
The German international was speaking to Bild when he mentioned his future: "I know that I will have to deal with the matter of my future at some point and that people expect me to make a decision. I want to deal with this situation in a respectful way and will sit down with the Dortmund management first and make a decision. But I do not know when that moment will be yet."
9. Arjen Robben
12 of 20
Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben has admitted Manchester United tried to sign him after the World Cup in 2014, and with the Red Devils still keen on the Dutchman, he has confirmed he still wants to remain at his current club, per Manchester Evening News' James Robson.
Robben, now 31, has a contract until 2017 and remains a key player for Bayern, scoring five in 12 games this season.
United boss Louis van Gaal has previously mentioned he wants to add pace in the wide areas of attack.
8. Sadio Mane
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Manchester United are known long-term admirers of Southampton attacker Sadio Mane, but now it appears they will have a rival for his signature.
Bayern Munich are interested in luring him from St Mary's, according to the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel, while Chelsea are also said to have registered their intent to make a bid.
Mane scored in midweek after just 40 seconds against Liverpool in the Capital One Cup, though his team were eventually beaten 6-1 as they exited the competition.
7. Alberto Moreno
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Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno has seen plenty of speculation linking him to Real Madrid in the past few weeks, but the Spanish defender has told Spanish radio station Cadena COPE (h/t the Liverpool Echo's Kristian Walsh) that he is staying put.
Moreno says he has no idea whether the speculation is true and that his representatives are in the same position.
The Spaniard has been an integral part of the team under Jurgen Klopp.
6. William Carvalho
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Arsenal's search for midfield reinforcements in January will once again lead them down the road to William Carvalho, reports the Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson.
The Sporting Lisbon midfielder has long been on the watchlist of Arsene Wenger and his club, but the injuries to Cazorla, Coquelin and even Mikel Arteta—plus the frequent unavailability of Jack Wilshere—means the Gunners may now have to firm up their interest and decide either way.
Carvalho would cost around £35 million.
5. Karim Benzema
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Arsenal will finally be able to make a move for long-term target Karim Benzema in January, according to El Confidencial (h/t the Mirror's Aaron Flanagan).
The outlet reports Real Madrid are now willing to listen to offers for the French striker as his involvement in a sex-tape scandal revolving around Mathieu Valbuena sours his involvement in the team.
Benzema is continuing to play at present, and Arsenal, who have suffered injuries in attack this term with Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, might finally be encouraged to make their move in January.
4. Philippe Coutinho
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Liverpool's No. 10 Philippe Coutinho is to be the subject of massive bids from Spain in the summer, according to Sport (h/t Aaron Flanagan for the Mirror).
The Brazilian is a key component of the team challenging for a top-four place this term and has quickly found top gear under new boss Jurgen Klopp, alerting the attentions of Barcelona and Real Madrid once again.
He is currently sidelined by injury but has been a big player for the team this term, and Liverpool will very much want to keep hold of him at all costs.
3. Diego Costa
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Mundo Deportivo reports Atletico Madrid are interested in re-signing Diego Costa back from Chelsea in a surprise move (h/t Sean Kearns for Metro).
Costa was a star at Atleti as they won the title and reached the Champions League final before moving to Chelsea and playing a big part at Stamford Bridge last season—but this year, the Spain international has not had such a big impact.
A £28 million bid is mentioned, mirroring the move of Filipe Luis who returned to Atleti this past summer from Chelsea.
2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has started the season in outrageously prolific form, and his goalscoring exploits have made him one of the most in-demand players in Europe this winter.
The Gabon-born forward is wanted by Manchester United, Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea according to the Mirror's Adrian Kajumba, who rates him at around £42 million after he has netted 25 goals in just 22 games in 2015-16 so far.
Aubameyang's pace, versatility and clinical edge make him Manchester United's big target, according to the report.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
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Once again, Cristiano Ronaldo is being targeted by Paris Saint-Germain, with the French Ligue 1 club this time hoping they can use captain Thiago Silva to lure the Portuguese forward to Paris.
L'Equipe (h/t the Mirror) has reported PSG have named Ronaldo as their top priority for next summer, and they hope former Brazil captain Silva can persuade the Portuguese to switch clubs.
Ronaldo has scored 16 goals in 18 games in all competitions this term for Real, who sit third in La Liga.
