Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours with Gundogan, Hazard and Gotze
With the January transfer window open and the first deals beginning to go through around Europe's top clubs, the rumour mill is back in overdrive and a range of stars are being linked with moves to destinations like the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A.
We have compiled a list of the biggest rumours doing the rounds at present, scouring the global media for ongoing situations and ordering them by price tags, a subjective appraisal of the players' overall ability and the reputation of the buying clubs in question.
These aren't B/R's rumours, just those sourced from elsewhere; as usual, use the comments section to debate which players would fit the bill at your club and which could help push other teams on to the next level.
20. Charles N'Zogbia
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One of the Premier League's forgotten men could be on his way out, with the Telegraph's John Percy reporting that Aston Villa's barely used wide man Charles N'Zogbia is a target for AEK Athens.
A loan move is on the cards for the former Newcastle United flyer, who has played just twice in the English top flight this season and is well out favour under new manager Remi Garde.
The report indicates he is on £65,000 a week and has earned £15 million in wages at Villa after making 63 starts in over four years.
19. Nathan Redmond
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Norwich City winger Nathan Redmond is interesting Crystal Palace, according to the Mirror's James Nursey and Ed Malyon, but the Canaries have no wish to sell.
A £15 million price tag has been put on the former Birmingham City man, who has played both on the wing and in attack for Norwich, while he will also be offered a new contract to stay in place at Carrow Road.
The report also indicates a move for a new goalkeeper is a possibility.
18. Andros Townsend
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Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend is expected to leave the club in January as he cannot break into Mauricio Pochettino's side, but Newcastle United—one of those previously interested in him—might not be a potential destination.
The Chronicle Live's Mark Douglas reports the Magpies are fast losing interest in the left-footed wide man, thanks to Spurs' demands for a big £10 million or more fee—or else a large up-front payment for a loan deal for the remainder of the current campaign.
Henri Saivet is another mentioned possibility for Newcastle.
17. Gokhan Inler
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Gokhan Inler joined Leicester City in the summer, and any reasonable estimation of what he could achieve at the Foxes would probably have suggested he'd be a first-choice midfielder in a side battling in the bottom half.
Of course, this season has made nonsense of any reasonable estimations whatsoever, so instead he's a bit-part player in a side who have recently been top of the table, and now he's linked with a move away.
The Leicester Mercury reports Schalke as wanting him on loan, with the German club's manager Andre Breitenreiter confirming the approach but not being particularly optimistic that an outcome was close.
16. Mohamed Elneny
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Arsenal are expected to complete a move for Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny in "two or three days" according to manager Arsene Wenger, as reported by the Mirror's Hamish Mackay.
The deal is said to be "complicated" but reaching its conclusion, with around a £5 million fee suggested to have been agreed.
Wenger also indicated he may make other moves into the transfer market this January.
15. Manolo Gabbiadini
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Napoli forward Manolo Gabbiadini is the subject of interest from Premier League club Swansea City, according to reports, and the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano and Marcus Christenson go as far as to say the Welsh team have made a bid of £14.1 million for him.
The Serie A club have rejected that offer, though, holding out for a further £2 million on top for a player who is a mere backup for them this term, scoring once in league play in less than 200 minutes of game time.
Gabbiadini, capped six times for Italy, has four in four in the UEFA Europa League.
14. Marouane Fellaini
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Manchester United's Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini is the subject of attentions from AC Milan, according to the Independent's Mark Ogden.
The Italian Serie A side have had a loan bid for Fellaini rejected by Louis van Gaal, who sees the midfielder as too important to an understrength squad to be allowed to leave, despite not featuring frequently in recent weeks.
Fellaini, who has been used up front on occasion, has played only just over 500 minutes of league game time this season, making 18 appearances overall.
13. Mario Suarez
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Fiorentina midfielder Mario Suarez looks to be making a move to the Premier League this winter, with the Watford Observer's Adam Newson reporting Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores saying he was the "kind of player we need."
He went on to suggest: "We need a centre-midfielder with quality and who is technically and tactically good."
Suarez certainly fits the bill, being a former Atletico Madrid regular and Spain international.
The 28-year-old has only played eight times in Italy's top flight for his team this season.
12. Benedikt Howedes
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Arsenal's search for defensive reinforcements will lead them to German centre-back Benedikt Howedes, according to Bild (h/t the Mirror's Liam Corless).
Schalke's versatile defender can play all the way across the back line—featuring for Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup at full-back—though he is far better and more comfortable centrally.
He has 18 months left on his deal and Arsenal want to buy him in the summer for £9 million, according to the report.
11. Liverpool's Centre-Back Options
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The Mirror's David Maddock reports on a range of central defensive targets for Liverpool in January, with the Reds heading into their FA Cup match against Exeter City on Friday night with no fit senior starters in the position after injuries to Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel, Kolo Toure and Dejan Lovren.
The report indicates talks are ongoing with Neven Subotic of Borussia Dortmund, while Inter's Andrea Ranocchia is also a target and Joel Matip—out of contract at Schalke in the summer—a third option.
Liverpool have already recalled defender Tiago Ilori from his loan at Aston Villa to help ease their worries.
10. Andy Carroll
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West Ham United's braided, pony-tailed striker Andy Carroll is up for grabs for £18 million, with Sunderland and former club Newcastle United said to be in the running for him.
A head-to-head battle between the north-east clubs is reported by the Mirror's Adrian Kajumba, who says Slaven Bilic must sell before he buys and that the Hammers hope to make a profit on Carroll, signed from Liverpool for £15 million.
Carroll has scored three goals in 12 Premier League games this season.
9. Ilkay Gundogan
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Juventus have pulled out of the running to sign Borussia Dortmund's midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, leaving Liverpool and Manchester United as the favourites, according to the Express' Charlie Phillippe.
The report indicates the two Premier League clubs are in "pole position" to land the German, who has 18 months left on his current contract and is a regular for BVB having rediscovered form and fitness this year after a long spell on the sidelines.
Gundogan has played 28 times for Dortmund this term, scoring two and assisting five.
8. Dennis Praet
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Belgian attacking midfielder Dennis Praet turned down Arsenal last year but is now a target for Fiorentina and Liverpool.
The Mirror's Liam Corless suggests the English side are in the running for the 21-year-old after Fiorentina, who Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio says made initial contact with Anderlecht about Praet, were scared off by the high price tag of around €30 million.
Praet has four goals in 19 games in league play this term.
7. Isco
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Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus are all in the hunt for Real Madrid's Isco, according to the Express' Tony Paskin.
The Spain international was out of favour under Rafa Benitez after some poor behaviour off the pitch and a lack of impact on it, and it is yet to be determined how much he will play under Zinedine Zidane, who still has to fit in his BBC attack (Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo) and James Rodriguez.
Isco has scored once in 13 Liga games this season.
6. Harry Kane
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Real Madrid's rebuilding under Zinedine Zidane will begin with Harry Kane, according to the Telegraph.
An exclusive from Sam Wallace claims Real were considering the Tottenham Hotspur forward last season when Kane hit a hot streak of scoring form and that they will be intent on making their move in the summer.
Kane has 11 Premier League goals this term in 20 games, and the report indicates Kane's status as a near-£70 million-rated player, according to the CIES Football Observatory—taking into account statistics and contract length.
5. Romelu Lukaku
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Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is having the season of his career so far, impressing with his consistency in front of goal and power to lead the line.
That has led to speculation about his future, and the Mirror's David McDonnell reports Manchester United will test Everton's resolve with a huge £40 million bid for the Belgian striker in the summer, knowing that they would be unlikely to to snare him mid-season.
Lukaku has 15 goals in 20 league games this term.
4. Mario Gotze
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Liverpool want a reunion between manager Jurgen Klopp and attacking midfielder Mario Gotze.
That's the news from German outlet Bild (h/t the Mirror's Liam Corless), with the €50 million-rated attacking midfielder still not a first choice at Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola and out of contract in 18 months.
He has scored just once in seven Bundesliga games this season, playing only just over 600 minutes in all competitions.
3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been one of the most effective players around this season, with plenty of clubs seemingly taking notice—including Arsenal.
Spanish reporter Kike Marin suggested in El Confidencial that the Gunners had made a huge bid of around £45 million for the Gabon striker, per the Mirror's Liam Corless, but the same source revealed Aubameyang has rejected any chance of a move.
Speaking at the African Player of the Year award ceremony, which he won, the Dortmund man stated: "I don't want to go to Arsenal. I won't leave Dortmund soon."
2. Eden Hazard
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Chelsea's main attacking man Eden Hazard has endured a difficult campaign and has not been anywhere near his best, but he remains the No. 1 choice for new Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane nonetheless.
That's according to the Telegraph's Matt Law, who reports Hazard will ignore any interest from the Spanish giants until he discovers who the new full-time Chelsea boss will be.
Guus Hiddink is in charge until the end of the season, after Jose Mourinho was sacked.
1. Gareth Bale
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It took approximately eight seconds for the Gareth Bale transfer links to come out after Real Madrid sacked their manager Rafael Benitez, with Manchester United the team ahead in the hunt for the Welshman.
The Daily Mail's Pete Jenson was among those to report the rumour, with talk of a move as Bale was unhappy the Spanish club didn't show more patience with their former manager.
Zinedine Zidane, the new boss at Real, was yet to have a job at a top club.
