EPL Transfer Rumours: 5 Players Whose Clubs Are Desperate to Keep Hold of Them

The paradox that surrounds the transfer market is that all clubs want to strengthen their squads by signing the best players from other teams while, at the same time, holding onto their own.

Players whom clubs want to sell are undesirable to other teams, and those whom a team wants to keep are considered the hottest names in the sport. Just ask Arsenal.

Naturally, come September 1st, some teams will be left ruing their losses while others will be watching their new acquisitions win their team points by themselves.

This summer headlines have been dominated by reports linking Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas with moves away from the Emirates, much against the wishes of the club's hierarchy and fans alike. Despite this the rumour mill that surrounds the transfer window suggests that it is inevitable that Arsenal will lose both of their star assets.

Tottenham have found themselves in an equally precarious situation with Luka Modric.

This slideshow aims to analyse the stories surrounding players that their clubs cannot afford to lose.

Stewart Downing

The acquisition of a new manager is supposed to bring about a new lease of life to a club.

However, since Alex McLeish’s arrival, Aston Villa have already lost Ashley Young and seem set to lose Stewart Downing, if the price is right.

Throw in the loss of John Carew and Brad Friedel, and it seems that the Birmingham club could face a crisis if they fail to respond with new signings soon.  

After several seasons of promise at Middlesbrough, Downing has finally blossomed into a leading winger in the Premier League. His development has seen him rewarded with several England caps, and he is arguably Villa’s best player following the departure of Ashley Young.

Stewart Downing’s fine performances have seen him become a key transfer target for Liverpool, who is reportedly set to table an £18.5 million bid for the England International. (The Mirror.) The Reds have already had a £15 million bid rejected and some sources suggest Villa could hold out for as much as £20 million. (Vital Aston Villa.)

If Aston Villa were to lose Downing it would leave them with a lot of players to replenish. In Ashley Young they have already lost one winger. If they were to lose Downing too, then Marc Albrighton would be the only natural winger in their current squad.

The Midlands club have £25 million in the kitty following the sale of Ashley Young, there is no need to sell Downing to raise additional funds to sign new players. If Villa wants to be competitive next season, it is imperative that they hold onto Stewart Downing and sign two or three top quality midfielders alongside a goalkeeper and striker.  

Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez has become a fan favourite at Eastland’s, but even the adoration of the fans doesn’t seem to be enough to prevent the Argentine from wanting to leave.

After five years playing in England, the striker has finally decided that he cannot bear to be apart from his family any longer.

Although speculation about Carlos Tevez’s future has been a prevalent burden to Manchester City since last December, it seems that the Eastlands club is in no rush to sell their best player, who is contracted to them for another three seasons.

Tevez’s desire to be closer to his family has all but eradicated any chances of a move to another Premier League team, instead a move to Spain or South America seems the most viable option.

The Argentine striker may be buoyed by a £37 million offer from his former club, Corinthians. It is an offer that, according to the Daily Mail, Manchester City are considering.

Although Corinthians are a Brazilian club, Tevez would be much closer to his family in Buenos Aires, and it is said that he is personally pushing for the move to be completed as soon as possible.

Real Madrid are also strongly linked with the Manchester City striker after comments made by Jose Mourinho suggested that the Spanish giants are searching for another striker.(Source: ESPN.) Reports over the weekend had linked Madrid with a £25 million offer for Tevez, plus Benzema or Higuain in part exchange. (Source: goal.com.)  

Financially, City will have no problem linking them with another striker. Reports are already suggesting that Mancini is targeting Sergio Aguero as a replacement for Tevez. Strategically however, the departure of Tevez could hinder City’s hopes of challenging for the league title in 2011-2012.

Manchester City were very dependent upon Carlos Tevez last season, the Argentine regularly outperformed his teammates and won the club points on his own.

That kind of presence is not easy to replace.

Luka Modric

The talismanic Croatian playmaker has become the heart of Tottenham’s midfield after an impressive three seasons at White Hart Lane.

His performances have seen him become a fan favourite. However, they have also attracted interest from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.

Tottenham have already rejected a £22 million offer from Chelsea but this rejection was not well received by Modric, who last week met with Chairman Daniel Levy to discuss his Tottenham future. Modric’s desire to join Chelsea has triggered the Stamford Bridge outfit to make an improved £27 million offer for the midfielder.  (Source: Sky Sports)

The £5 million increase has not been enough to tempt Daniel Levy and Harry Redknapp who have publicly stressed that Tottenham’s best players are not for sale. The ardent stance adopted by the Spurs hierarchy effectively means that Modric will not be going anywhere this season.

In the past Tottenham have hindered their development by selling their best players. A fifth-place finish under Martin Jol resulted in Spurs selling Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Michael Carrick within an incredibly short period of time. Two seasons of under-performing followed. Spurs will not want to make the same mistake twice.

If Modric was to move to Stamford Bridge, the move would leave a gaping wound in the middle of Tottenham’s spine.

His first touch and ability to pick a killer pass have seen him become Spurs most prized asset and one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. He will not be easily replaced.

Manchester United have also been linked to the Croatian as they attempt to find a replacement for the retired Paul Scholes, however it now seems that the Old Trafford Club have diverted their eyes to Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder.  

Tottenham fans may be demoralised by a recent poll by Sky which indicates that 60% of fans believe that Modric will be a Chelsea player by the end of the window. (Sky Sports.)

Cesc Fabregas

Stories concerning Cesc Fabregas’ transfer to Barcelona have become a perennial theme to the summer transfer window.

The Catalonian giants are desperate to bring back their former youth player, but the midfield maestro has shot himself in the foot by committing his future to the Emirates until 2015.

It is public knowledge that Fabregas wants to re-join his boyhood club, but Barcelona has been hesitant to match Arsenal’s valuation of him. To Arsenal, he is every bit as invaluable as Xavi and Iniesta are to Barcelona. To Barcelona he is one of the best midfielders in the world who will slot in nicely into the clubs rotation system before ultimately replacing Xavi.

It is this difference that has made it impossible for the two clubs agree on a fee; Arsenal value him far higher than Barcelona do.

Despite the war of words that has been exchanged between the two clubs for several seasons, this transfer window finally seems like the one where Fabregas and Barcelona finally get their wish granted.

A multitude of sources are reporting that a deal as little as £35 million will be enough to prize the Spaniard away from Barcelona. (BBC Sport, the Sun, the Telegraph, Daily Mail and the Guardian.)

Arsenal fans have become resigned to losing their club captain and star player, after all what is the point in keeping a player who does not want to stay?

If Fabregas was to leave the Emirates for the Nou Camp has presence may not be as sorely missed as it once could have been. The emergence of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey in the centre of midfield could be enough to keep Arsenal playing at the level they are at now, even without their current captain.

Despite this, it cannot be refuted that Arsenal are a stronger team with Fabregas in their side and Wenger has taken measures to once again block any potential transfer. In a recent interview with Sky Sports, the French manager insisted that neither Fabregas nor Nasri will leave Arsenal this summer. (Source: Sky Sports)

Samir Nasri

Arsenal fans have long been resigned to losing club captain Cesc Fabregas under the assumption that Samir Nasri would be able to directly replace the talismanic Spaniard.

It is a cruel twist of fate that the Gunners are now at risk of losing their two best players in the same transfer window.

The French winger has refused to renew his contract with Arsenal, which expires next summer. Despite commenting earlier in the year that “I am enjoying my time at Arsenal and in London, and I feel there’s still a lot for me to contribute,” (Source: Goal.com) Nasri has made a U-turn as big as Arsenal’s end of season form by refusing to extend his current deal.

Nasri’s refusal to pledge his future to Arsenal has attracted rumoured interest from a bounty of top European clubs; Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester United have all been linked to the Frenchman in recent weeks. The Frenchman wants to win trophies and feels he would have a better chance of achieving success away from the Emirates.

Arsene Wenger has responded to speculation with the resilience that he has become famed for. At a recent press conference in Malaysia, where Arsenal is currently on tour, the French manager made the following comment on Samir Nasri’s future, “will he be at the club next season? I say yes. Will he sign a new contract? I hope yes, but I am not the only one to decide.” (Source: Caughtoffside.com)

Arsenal fans may be buoyed by words from Sir Alex Ferguson, who has recently ruled Manchester United out of signing Samir Nasri. The Manchester United manager commented “"I don't think he is coming to United," before adding "that is all I can tell you. I think he has agreed to go somewhere else." (Source: BBC Sport)

If Samir Nasri was to leave Arsenal it would be an embarrassing blow for the London club. It would be terrible PR for the club if one of their best players believed transferring to a club of similar stature would be a beneficial step forward in his career.

Despite the risk of negative publicity holding onto the want-away winger could mean that the Gunners will lose him on a free transfer next season. The transfer window is still young, perhaps it is best for Arsenal to cash in now and use the funds to inject a new lease of life into the confidence stricken club.