Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours with Gotze, Morata and Vardy
Another week of transfer rumours has coincided with a number of official bids going in from some clubs, as certain teams look to get a jump on their summer plans before UEFA Euro 2016 interrupts their ability to do deals for players.
We've rounded up the hottest rumours of the week and sorted them according to potential price, reputation of the player and size of the buying club.
This week there's plenty of potential movement on Merseyside, Antonio Conte's long list of requirements and a number of central midfielders up for grabs.
20. Bjorn Engels
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Belgian defender Bjorn Engels is being watched by Premier League clubs including Everton, reported the Liverpool Echo.
The club's Belgian scout Andy De Smet confirmed in a chat with Sports/Football Magazine that although the Toffees are keeping an eye on him, no transfer is necessarily imminent, but he fits the profile of players the club wants "with a lot of qualities in terms of building from the back."
Any move could have to wait until a new manager is put in place, though.
19. Allan Rodrigues De Souza
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Liverpool's young Brazilian midfield talent, best known merely as Allan, is set to be loaned out again over the summer as the Reds seek to earn him a work permit for 2017.
The Liverpool Echo reported that new Premier League regulations mean the 19-year-old can appeal for a permit based on having gained a number of points for playing in one of Europe's top leagues.
With interest from clubs in France, Spain and the Netherlands, Allan, who Jurgen Klopp rates highly, could be a step closer to making the grade at Liverpool having already been on loan in Finland and Belgium during 2015-16.
18. Gianluca Lapadula
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Leicester City will aim to sign "three or four" players according to vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, as reported by the Leicester Mercury on the club's post-season celebration tour.
Top of the list of requirements is Pescara striker Gianluca Lapadula, who has scored 26 times in Serie B.
Nampalys Mendy is also a potential target, according to L'Equipe (h/t Leicester Mercury), particularly if N'Golo Kante departs.
17. Michael Carrick
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Manchester United's veteran midfielder Michael Carrick looks set to leave the club as his contract expires this summer, but he has hinted he'll remain for another season...if Jose Mourinho replaces Louis van Gaal.
That's according to Jeremy Woods of the Daily Star, who claimed an exclusive that the England midfielder has struggled with his relationship with the Dutch manager and would only be prepared to stay at Old Trafford if a new boss wanted to offer him an extension.
Which seems pretty obvious anyway, since he hasn't been given one by the current boss.
Stoke City, West Ham United and Everton are on the prowl for his signature.
16. Pierluigi Gollini
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Everton are on the look-out for a new goalkeeper following Tim Howard's departure to Major League Soccer, with Italian stopper Pierluigi Gollini on their hitlist, according to the Daily Mail.
The Hellas Verona goalkeeper is a former Manchester United trainee and was relegated this term with his club from Serie A, though he earned good reviews for his personal performances, according to the report.
The Toffees are currently without a manager, and Joel Robles has been vying for match time with Howard previously.
15. Enner Valencia
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West Bromwich Albion are ready to make a bid for West Ham striker Enner Valencia, according to John Percy of the Daily Telegraph.
The Colombian attacker didn't hit the heights he is capable of in 2015-16 and, with the Hammers linked with a number of attackers, he could be one of those who make way—and the Baggies are ready to pounce.
A low-cost signing or loan deal appeals mostly to West Brom, while Valencia's £25,000-a-week wages wouldn't be a problem.
14. Loris Karius
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Liverpool could have increased competition for the goalkeeper role next term, with the Guardian reporting that Loris Karius of Mainz is a prime target.
A transfer for less than £5 million is on the table and talks are well underway according to the report, with a deal having the potential to be completed as soon as next week.
Simon Mignolet is the current No. 1 for the Reds, though he has been inconsistent at best this term.
13. Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis
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Sunderland survived the drop from the Premier League, and manager Sam Allardyce is now ready to spend £15 million on revamping the front line with a double move on Swansea City's attack.
Andre Ayew will take up the bulk of the money, but team-mate Bafetimbi Gomis is also on Allardyce's wishlist, according to Ian Murtagh of the Daily Star.
Meanwhile, strikers Steven Fletcher and Danny Graham both look set to leave Sunderland permanently.
12. Callum Wilson
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West Ham United have already been turned down once for a big-money deal, with Bournemouth rejecting a £25 million double bid for Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson, according to the Guardian.
The Hammers are not to be deterred though and will return for striker Wilson, but they will now face competition from Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.
A torn ACL ruined Wilson's first season in the Premier League, but he netted five times before the injury and could cost around £20 million to snare from the Cherries.
11. Ignacio Camacho
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Malaga midfielder Ignacio Camacho is now finally wholly owned by the Andalucian club, after they bought the remainder of his economic rights from the investment group which previously held partial ownership.
The Daily Express reported that Liverpool have been interested in signing the Spain international, and that they will have to pay close to his release clause, €20 million according to Super Deporte, to sign him after Malaga completed the registration rights deal.
Camacho did not make the Spain squad for Euro 2016.
10. N'Golo Kante
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Leicester City's all-action midfielder N'Golo Kante is wanted by Arsenal, and the Foxes fear he may be lured away, reported James Nursey of the Mirror.
A £20 million buyout clause is well within reach of the Gunners, and they have already registered an interest in signing the French ball-winner, who was key in the title-winning campaign for Leicester.
Bigger wages at Arsenal could also be a factor.
9. Christian Benteke
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Liverpool striker Christian Benteke admits his future his unclear and says he will talk to manager Jurgen Klopp about his future, according to the Daily Express.
The Belgian attacker failed to shine or nail down a regular starting spot after a £32.5 million move last summer and said he, along with other players, will "want to see the manager's plan for next season" before deciding his next move.
Benteke has fallen behind Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi under Klopp, and he has been linked with West Ham.
8. Jamie Vardy
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West Ham United's hierarchy haven't been shy about announcing big transfer plans for the summer and the Mirror reported they will go after Premier League title winner Jamie Vardy this summer.
The Hammers have been linked with a host of forwards from around Europe already, with the likes of Michy Batshuayi and Christian Benteke suggested as targets, but the latest rumour is a more surprising one.
Vardy signed a new contract earlier in the year and the suggestion is that if his deal contains a release clause, West Ham will try to exploit it.
7. Mauro Icardi
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Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has placed Mauro Icardi high on his wishlist for summer, according to the Daily Express.
However, in a blow to his hopes of landing the Argentinian striker, Inter Milan have refused to countenance his sale and point to a release clause of around £28 million in his contract.
Club vice-president Javier Zanetti told Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t the Express) that the club had to make sales, but Icardi was unlikely to be one as he was captain and had given his own assurances of remaining.
6. Mario Gotze
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Liverpool's top transfer target for this summer remains Mario Gotze.
The Bayern Munich forward is still wanted by Jurgen Klopp despite no European football on offer next season, according to the Liverpool Echo, with just one year left on his deal at the Allianz Arena and having not been a regular first-team player this term.
Piotr Zielinski and Ben Chilwell are also targets.
5. Ilkay Gundogan
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Manchester City's incoming boss Pep Guardiola has identified Ilkay Gundogan as a player to sign and has no plans to deviate from that, despite the German suffering a serious knee injury.
The Daily Mail reported Guardiola's determination to press ahead with the signing, even though Gundogan has dislocated his kneecap and will miss Euro 2016.
Aymeric Laporte is another target for Guardiola, and is also out injured over summer having missed the end of the season with Athletic Club Bilbao.
4. Radja Nainggolan
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Chelsea remain confident of signing AS Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan, according to the Evening Standard.
The Belgian heads the list of players the London club want to sign to rejuvenate the squad under Antonio Conte and ensure they only spend one season outside of the UEFA Champions League.
The likes of Romelu Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuain and Edinson Cavani are also potential targets, but Nainggolan looks the biggest must-sign for Conte.
3. Leonardo Bonucci
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Chelsea may have given John Terry another year at the club, but Antonio Conte still wants another defensive name to come into the club as he revamps the side.
Top billing on the wishlist is Leonardo Bonucci, claimed the Times, with Conte keen to work with his Italian national team centre-back at national team level next term.
The Juventus defender is said to be unsure on the move as he only signed a new contract in Turin last season.
2. Leroy Sane
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The two Manchester clubs are set to do battle for Leroy Sane, according to Sam Lee of Goal.
Schalke 04's €40 million-rated (£31 million) forward is wanted by both City and United, having shone this season in the Bundesliga and been called up for Germany's provisional Euro 2016 squad.
Both clubs have been watching Sane for some months and believe he could be a star for them both in the immediate future and the long haul.
1. Alvaro Morata
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Juventus striker Alvaro Morata continues to be the subject of transfer speculation in a story which is likely to run for most of the summer, given his international commitments and potentially complex ownership.
The Spanish forward is wanted by Arsenal, according to the Evening Standard, with a club-record fee in the offing—payable to Real Madrid, who have a buy-back option on their former forward and could sign him from Juve merely to cash in on a quick profit.
Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Leicester City are also interested.
