Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours with Sturridge, Kroos and Higuain
European action has taken the focus of much of the world's football media this week, but that doesn't mean the transfer rumours have dried up completely.
Far from it, in fact, with a whole host of players—some new, some repeated—being named as set for summer moves, within leagues or crossing the continent in some cases, for big fees and to fill the boots of important players who could also be on the move.
We have ordered our transfers by fee mentioned, reputation of the player and size of the buying club involved in the deals to bring you the 20 hottest rumours of the week.
20. Thiago Maia
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Teenage Brazilian midfielder Thiago Maia has already seen Premier League clubs show an interest in him after Arsenal were knocked back recently.
Now, the Express are reporting that Manchester United are ready to make a bid for the 18-year-old Santos man in the summer, moving ahead of other clubs in the queue.
Per the report, Maia's agent told Sport Witness that Atletico Madrid, Juventus and AS Monaco had all made offers along with the Gunners in December, before the player renewed with Santos.
19. Presnel Kimpembe
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One of several Paris Saint-Germain players to feature in our rumours this week, but certainly not the biggest name: Presnel Kimpembe is a 20-year-old centre-back who has begun to break through into the team this season.
Seven appearances in all competitions have seen his stock rise, and he is being targeted by Monaco, as well as Premier League duo Liverpool and Everton, according to L'Equipe (h/t Mirror).
Kimpembe has played the full 90 minutes twice in Ligue 1 this term, most recently at the beginning of March in a 0-0 draw with Montpellier.
18. Havard Nordtveit
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West Ham United appear close to their first signing for the summer, with Slaven Bilic confirming an interest in Havard Nordtveit, per Sky Sports.
Bilic confirmed the Hammers were monitoring the situation and that plenty of other clubs were also interested in the Borussia Monchengladbach holding midfielder, who is out of contract in the summer.
The 25-year-old Norwegian has played 31 times this season, including six games in the Champions League for his club.
17. Manuel Lanzini
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West Ham's fine season so far isn't likely to put off too many players from signing for them over the summer—least of all those already at the club and impressing.
The Evening Standard reports that Manuel Lanzini—on loan at Upton Park this season—will make his move to the Premier League permanent over the next few days, with the Upton Park club paying around £7.4 million to seal the deal.
They also make note of Harvard Nordtveit's expected move from Borussia Monchengladbach to the Hammers.
16. Jack Wilshere
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Sometime Arsenal midfielder and perennial physio-room occupant Jack Wilshere is being offered a route out of the Emirates Stadium this summer, according to the Brentwood Gazette.
The report suggests West Ham could offer up to £20 million to the Gunners to tempt them to part ways with the 24-year-old, who regularly spends more time off the pitch than on it. However, he is often thought of as one of the best English talents around when he can string a run of games together.
Wilshere hasn't played since last season's FA Cup final.
15. Ousmane Dembele
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Teenage strikers who suddenly shoot to prominence with a glut of goals are often linked with immediate big-money moves, and it has proved no different for Ousmane Dembele.
The Rennes forward has been linked by the Daily Mail with a bid from Manchester United, while Barcelona are reported to have already made a £27 million offer.
At 18 years of age, Dembele has hit nine goals in Ligue 1 this season.
14. Mattia Destro
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Bologna striker Mattia Destro has hailed the influence of Jose Mourinho on his career and wants to move to Manchester United in the summer—should the Portuguese boss become the next manager at Old Trafford.
Metro report Destro said: "If he [Mourinho] called me to Man United? I’d like to see myself in that situation," sparking rumours that the Red Devils will make their move.
Destro, a former AS Roma forward, has eight goals this term for Bologna.
13. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is said to be on his way out of Ligue 1 this summer once his contract with the French champions comes to an end.
The Mirror reported the Premier League is the Swede's preferred destination, with Arsenal ready to make him an offer to join, while Chelsea and Manchester United also interested.
Despite being on a free, Ibrahimovic will command in excess of £12 million a year in wages, though the short-term impact of having him could still make him worthwhile at 34 years of age.
12. Christian Benteke
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Liverpool striker Christian Benteke continues to be at best third-choice at the club this season, despite costing £32.5 million last summer.
The Times reports that West Ham United will make a move for the Belgian striker in the summer, but that Liverpool will have to continue forking out around £2 million a year to the forward in wages, with the Hammers only ready to pay around £80,000 a week.
That would leave the Reds responsible for topping up Benteke to the tune of the full £120,000 he reportedly gets at Anfield.
11. Marquinhos
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Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos has sparked rumours that he will be on his way out of the club in the summer.
The Mirror report him suggesting that the end of the season would be a time for "reflection," with the Brazilian having to play at right-back of late and unable to break into the PSG team in the centre of defence—his preferred role—over the last two years.
Chelsea and Barcelona are also linked with a move for the 21-year-old.
10. Jordan Henderson
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West Ham's transfer ambitions seem to be stepping up a notch, with the Brentwood Gazette reporting that the London club hope to sign Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
The article suggests the Hammers will bid £25 million to "test Liverpool's resolve" for a player they originally signed from Sunderland for £16 million rising to £20 million, and who has since gone on to become an England regular and the club skipper.
The Hammers might need to rethink the starting point of negotiations for the 25-year-old there.
9. N'Golo Kante
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Leicester City can expect to feel the full force of the rumour mill in summer, especially if they go on to win the Premier League title, with perceived bigger clubs ready to snap up the Foxes' best-performing stars.
N'Golo Kante has been one of those, putting in tremendous displays in midfield to boss many bigger names all season.
The Mirror are now reporting that Chelsea want the 24-year-old Frenchman, who cost Leicester only £5 million in the summer and would likely fetch more than four times that price in the next summer window.
8. Daniel Sturridge
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Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has looked an important part of the team under Jurgen Klopp of late, but his ongoing injury worries have seen him continually linked with a move away.
Serie A side Napoli are the latest team interested, according to the Mirror who cite rather dubious sources in Italy as the origin of the rumour.
With Gonzalo Higuain potentially on his way out of the Italian club, Sturridge is said to be a potential successor.
7. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
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Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has repeatedly been linked with a move away from the Catalan club as he has been unable to become the first choice in all competitions.
Now the Mirror are reporting that he is Manchester United's No. 1 priority to sign in the summer, if David de Gea moves on.
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are interested in United's Spanish stopper, according to the article.
6. Edinson Cavani
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Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani looks likely to be on his way out of the club in the summer, with L'Equipe (h/t ESPN FC) reporting his continued unhappiness in the French capital.
The report suggests he wants to be a centre-forward at a top team and that Manchester United will reignite interest in him, though it may require a €40 million bid to snare him.
Elsewhere, Marca suggest Atletico Madrid remain interested, but that it would take €50 million to sign him.
5. Leonardo Bonucci
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Chelsea are reportedly ready to make Antonio Conte their new manager at the end of the season, and the Telegraph claims that the current Italy boss has already decided who he wants to build the team around.
With John Terry set to leave on a free at the end of his contract, Juventus centre-back Leonardo Bonucci is the preferred option for Conte, who managed the 28-year-old to three Serie A titles while in charge in Turin.
Fellow Juve team-mate Simone Zaza is also a possible addition for the attacking ranks.
4. Henrikh Mkhitaryan
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Arsenal's transfer list each summer is an extremely long one if the rumours are to be believed, even though Arsene Wenger didn't sign a single outfield player last year, with Petr Cech his only addition to the squad.
Nonetheless, this summer looks set to be the same, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the Gunners' top priority, according to Bild (h/t the Mirror).
The Armenian attacker has been a key part of Borussia Dortmund's much-improved season, playing either from the right of the front three or just behind the striker.
3. David Alaba
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Manchester City are certain to go on a spending spree this summer as they prepare for Pep Guardiola's arrival, but it looks as though one target won't be joining.
Guardiola's current left-back at Bayern Munich, David Alaba, had been noted as a priority for City as they restructure a team which has failed miserably in the Premier League this term, but the 23-year-old has now signed a contract extension to keep him at the Allianz Arena until 2021, per BBC Sport.
Alaba also regularly features in midfield for club and country.
2. Toni Kroos
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The recent form of Casemiro has given rise to rumours that regular Real Madrid holding central midfielder Toni Kroos feels he is not wanted.
AS report (in Spanish) that Arsenal are just one of several sides from the Premier League who are interested in taking the German midfielder away from La Liga, with offers from Germany also on the table.
The report suggests Leicester City's N'Golo Kante could be Kroos' replacement.
1. Gonzalo Higuain
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Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain might be moving to Manchester United this summer, should reports be believed.
Gazzetta World (h/t the Mirror) reports that the Red Devils have already gone as far as agreeing personal terms with the Argentinian striker, who has scored close to 30 goals this season.
United have alternately featured Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial up front this term, as well as Marcus Rashford more recently.
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