EPL Transfer Rumours: Nani and the 5 Biggest Names Leaving Town
The World Football Transfer Window pushes on, and it seems almost no one is content with their current club or their current league.
Even Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan is no longer satisfied with Premier League football, so he's leaving for West Ham in the Championship. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but to each his own.
But what about those players who are leaving for pastures a little farther away?
Here are five Premier Leaguers (in no particular order) looking to play football away from England's (and now Wales') shores next season.
I've decided to leave Samir Nasri and Carlos Tevez off this short list since we've been hearing so much about the two, and those transfer sagas are likely far from over.
5. Maxi Rodriguez
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Maxi Rodriguez hit great form in the end of last season with Liverpool. With new No. 9 Andy Carroll out, Maxi scored seven goals in three games, including two hat tricks.
But he's still not at the forefront of Kenny Dalglish's mind. Kenny has already brought in a central midfielder in Jordan Henderson, and he wants to add a left winger and another midfielder to that list, and Maxi just wasn't consistent enough this season.
The 30-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder has stated he wants to return home to his first club Newell's Old Boys, and now would be a good time. He came to Liverpool from Atletico Madrid in January 2010 for a free transfer but still has a couple years left on his contract.
The Kop gave him a song, so he'll have some entertainment for the long flight back to Argentina.
4. Nicolas Anelka
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Chelsea need to change some things up this summer. They got a head start with Fernando Torres in January, but they've got more work to do.
It's out with the old and in with the new, and that old would be Nicolas Anelka. Roman Abramovich wants to bring in some new blood, namely Sergio Aguero, Neymar and Wesley Sneijder.
Didier Drogba is more loved by the Chelsea faithful and is reportedly set for a new deal that will see the 33-year-old finish his career with the Blues.
That makes Anelka surplus to requirements, especially if Chelsea is serious about signing Brazilian wonder-striker Neymar.
The Frenchman's high wages (and attitude) will put off a lot of top clubs, so where he ends up is anyone's guess, but given that he is 32 years old, the bench is a decent guess.
3. Cesc Fabregas
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The Cesc Fabregas saga is still going, but it's on the back burner this summer. With Samir Nasri having difficulty signing a new contract with Arsenal, Barcelona's courting of Fabregas has gone under the radar.
Which makes it all the more likely that this is the summer he'll finally leave.
Fabregas is happy with life at Arsenal but has admitted he is frustrated at a lack of success. At 24 years old, this is the perfect time to bring Fabregas to Barca if he is to be 31-year-old Xavi Hernandez's successor for the Catalan side.
2. Nani
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Portuguese winger Nani had a great season with Manchester United but fell out of favor when Antonio Valencia returned toward the end of the season.
Now he looks to be falling out of favor with the Premier League.
The Red Devils are very close to signing Ashley Young, which is likely to leave Nani on the outside at Old Trafford.
But don't feel too bad for him; he's got his sights set on playing for Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.
United is also chasing Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder and could offer Nani to Inter Milan in a swap deal for the Dutch attacking midfielder.
1. Jerome Boateng
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Jerome Boateng only came to Manchester City last summer, and he is already homesick for Germany.
Manchester City played hardball for a little while, but they eventually granted his wish. Well, almost.
Boateng, 22, was unhappy playing at right back for City and has now agreed to a four-year deal at Bayern Munich, where he will play at the center of defence.
Manchester City and Bayern still have a few things to agree upon, but it looks like the German international is well on his way home.
