Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours with Ozil, Gotze, Witsel and Isco
Another week of football rumours has come about, thanks in no small part to international week robbing the game's media of any chance to watch or analyse matches.
This time out, we've got lots of rebuilding apparently in place for the likes of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, with plenty of other clubs also featured.
Our rumours are ordered according to size of any fee mentioned, the player's reputation and the stature of the buying team.
20. Alexandre Pato
1 of 20
Chelsea signed Alex Pato on loan in January to give themselves cover in attack, but all they have gotten so far is another extension to their wage bill.
Pato still hasn't debuted, and the Evening Standard's Simon Johnson is reported Chelsea want to cut short Pato's loan if he doesn't show signs of improving, with Bertrand Traore ahead of him in the manager's choosing at present.
Diego Costa, Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy are Chelsea's other forward options.
19. Daryl Janmaat
2 of 20
Newcastle United right-back Daryl Janmaat could be on his way out of St James' Park regardless of whether the Magpies avoid relegation.
The Mirror's Simon Bird reported Dutch coach Danny Blind said Janmaat wanted to play during international week to attract attention toward him before suffering an injury and pulling out of the squad.
Janmaat, along with club and country team mates Georginio Wijnaldum and Tim Krul, will see their international places under threat if they are playing outside the top flight.
18. John Obi Mikel
3 of 20
China beckons for another Premier League player in the summer, with Chelsea's John Obi Mikel set to depart.
With the Blues looking at names such as Paul Pogba for their summer recruitment, Nigerian midfielder Mikel is looking to see whether he'll be involved or not, with an offer from the CSL already in place, according to the Evening Standard's Simon Johnson.
Mikel has three teams looking to bring him to the CSL if he decides that's the move he wants.
17. Filip Kostic
4 of 20
Liverpool's summer looks set to be busy, and Filip Kostic has emerged as one of their targets.
That's according to Bild (h/t the Mirror's Liam Corless), who said the Reds want to sign the Stuttgart winger but may face work permit issues as he has not played in the requisite 75 per cent of international games for Serbia over the last two years.
The 23-year-old has scored five times in the Bundesliga this season.
16. Nathan Ake
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Nathan Ake, Chelsea's on-loan defender at Watford, has impressed in the Premier League this season.
With competition for places still extremely tough at Stamford Bridge, though, he's unsure of breaking into the Chelsea XI next season and could be allowed to leave if the incoming boss doesn't want to involve him.
The Telegraph's Matt Law reported Watford, West Ham United and Liverpool are all interested in signing Ake, who might cost around £10 million.
15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
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Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been unable to secure a role at the Gunners on a regular basis and could now return to his old club.
Southampton, rather a different side now to when he initially left, are said to be ready to make a big bid for the versatile midfielder, who can play wide or in an attacking central role, according to the Mirror's Dave Kidd.
Liverpool and Manchester City are also in the hunt for Oxlade-Chamberlain.
14. Axel Witsel
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Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel says he wants to leave the Russian Premier League this summer, where he currently plays with Zenit Saint Petersburg.
The Mirror's Adrian Kajumba reported Witsel said he only has a year left on his contract and the club knows how he feels, so he hopes to move to a bigger league.
Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have both been linked.
13. Jonas Hector
8 of 20
Liverpool are looking for left-back reinforcements for next season, with Jose Enrique certain to leave on a free transfer and Alberto Moreno not yet showing the consistency required.
Jonas Hector is a rumoured target, with the Cologne defender admitting in an interview with Eurosport he could be persuaded to join the Reds by Jurgen Klopp, according to the Mirror's Alex Richards.
Hector is likely to be Germany's starting left-back at UEFA Euro 2016.
12. Sergio Rico
9 of 20
Jurgen Klopp is looking to Spain instead of Germany this week to solve his goalkeeping conundrum, with a reported double swoop on Spanish stoppers in summer.
Fichajes (h/t the Star's Alex Wood) suggested he'll move for Sergio Rico of Sevilla, who is now Spain's third-choice national team goalkeeper, and Antonio Adan of Real Betis.
Simon Mignolet's inconsistencies have repeatedly been criticised and, despite signing a new deal recently, he looks sure to be displaced over the summer.
11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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PSG forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is sure to have plenty of suitors when he leaves Ligue 1 this summer.
The Swedish forward is still showing he has immense ability and consistency, and the Star (h/t the Mirror's Liam Corless) suggested Manchester United are the first team in line, ready to offer him a contract worth £250,000 a week.
Having played in France, Italy, Netherlands and Spain in his career, Zlatan has long been linked with a move to England.
10. Christian Benteke
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Liverpool forward Christian Benteke is likely to depart this summer after failing to win a spot or show his best talents since signing last summer.
The Mirror's Darren Lewis reported Atletico Madrid are the latest side to show an interest in the Belgian, while Juventus and West Ham United are also in the hunt.
Roma are also said to be an option if the Reds can arrange an exchange deal involving Leandro Paredes.
9. Mats Hummels
12 of 20
Germany and Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels has been identified by Antonio Conte as the man to lead his Chelsea rebuild—assuming he gets the job in the summer.
Hummels has only a year left to run on his deal at BVB and is expected to leave rather than sign a new deal, and the Mirror's Darren Lewis reported Chelsea's interest is known to the player.
John Terry is likely to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season when his contract expires, giving Hummels a direct route into the XI.
8. Mario Gotze
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Bayern Munich attacker Mario Gotze has been linked with a move away this summer, with one year left on his deal and looking out of the first-choice picture at the club.
The Express's James Cambridge reported team-mate Thomas Muller confirmed Gotze is unhappy with his situation over the past couple of seasons.
Liverpool and Arsenal have both been linked with moves for the former Borussia Dortmund player.
7. Isco
14 of 20
Isco's absurdly poor attitude this season, under both Rafa Benitez and Zinedine Zidane, hasn't gone unnoticed, and now Real Madrid plan to sell him.
The Mirror's Ed Malyon reported Manchester City, Chelsea and Juventus are all keen to sign the attacking midfielder, with Zidane particularly keen to offload Isco.
Isco has been in and out of the side this season and has failed to put together a consistent run of form.
6. Alvaro Morata
15 of 20
Arsenal will be getting Alvaro Morata in summer, according to AS's Sergio Gomez, but not in a straightforward way and not on the cheap.
Real Madrid plan to execute their buy-back clause on the striker, bringing him from Juventus for around €30 million, but will then immediately allow Morata to leave again to the highest bidder.
The report indicated there is much interest in the striker, and Arsenal could have to pay around €50 million to land him.
5. Daniel Sturridge
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Paris Saint-Germain are said to be interested in signing Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge.
The Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel reported the Parisian club are looking to open discussions when the striker is on international duty, with a view to a £45 million move in summer.
PSG are likely looking to revamp their front line, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of contract and Ezequiel Lavezzi already having moved on.
4. Mesut Ozil
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Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil came to the world's attention for his exploits with Real Madrid before joining the Gunners, and now rumours are suggesting he could head back to Spain.
Spanish outlet AS (h/t Mirror's Liam Corless) is reporting it's not Real who want him, though, but instead their big rivals Barcelona.
Arda Turan, Munir El Haddadi or Sandro Ramirez are available in a swap deal if Arsenal want them—but Real Madrid would also have a 48-hour window to match the bid from Barcelona, thanks to a clause included when they sold him.
3. Edinson Cavani
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Chelsea may be bringing in Antonio Conte as manager in the summer, and if that proves to be the case, then they already have players lining up to join and play for him.
PSG striker Edinson Cavani has been linked with Chelsea after his agent told Tuttosport (h/t Metro's Tom Olver) the attacking game of Conte would suit the Uruguayan attacker.
Massimiliano Allegri, boss of Juventus, was also mentioned as an admirer of Cavani.
2. Aymeric Laporte
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Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte seems to be in demand most summers, despite so far not moving on from the Basque club.
The Telegraph's Pete Oliver has reported Pep Guardiola wants to make him his first signing once he joins Manchester City in the summer, with a fee of around £40 million probable.
Laporte was injured on international duty with France under-21s and may miss the rest of the current campaign with a fractured ankle.
1. Thibaut Courtois
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Real Madrid have seemingly decided they need a new goalkeeper again, despite Keylor Navas being one of the best in La Liga this term.
Thibaut Courtois is their big target, according to the Evening Standard's Simon Johnson, but Chelsea are determined to retain their No. 1 and have put a huge £73 million price on him as a result.
Courtois previously played in La Liga on loan with Atletico Madrid.
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