The final week of this summer’s transfer window is shaping up to be one of the busiest ever.
Several big name players could be moving clubs in the final few days of the summer, with many teams across Europe desperate to improve their squad for another long, hard season. Here are ten deals that could be completed before the transfer window closes.
Marouane Fellaini- Everton to Manchester United
Fellaini is arguably one of the most talented midfielders currently playing in the Premier League. The Belgian has been crucial to Everton during the clubs recent success under David Moyes and new boss Roberto Martinez is thought to be desperate to keep the midfielder at Goodison Park. However, there is a lot of interest in Fellaini’s signature and he will probably move away from the Toffees before the transfer window closes. Fellaini could be re-united with Moyes at Manchester United, with the Scot keen on bringing the Belgian to Old Trafford to solve the Red Devil’s central midfield problem.
United need a player who will replace Paul Scholes and after missing out on Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Moyes is keen on making Fellaini his first major signing as United manager. Moyes has already made a move for Fellaini, offering Everton £16 million for the midfielder. This was rejected by the Toffees but reports suggest that United will make another improved offer for the Belgian before the transfer window closes. Fellaini is thought to be desperate to play Champions League football and may try and force through a move to Old Trafford in order to play in European football’s top competition.
Michu- Swansea City to Arsenal
Michu was certainly the bargain of last summer’s transfer window, arriving at the Liberty Stadium for just £2 million. The Spaniard went on to score 22 goals for the Swans last season, becoming one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League. His excellent goal scoring form earned him many admirers, most notably Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who tracked the strikers progress throughout the second half of last season. Wenger may now make a move for Michu, especially as he has missed out on several striking targets over the course of the summer.
Arsenal desperately need to bolster their attacking options and now that they have missed out on their main target, Luis Suarez, Wenger may pursue his back option, Michu. Wenger will be hoping to sign the Spanish striker for a relatively cheap transfer fee but Swansea aren’t likely to let one of their best players leave on cheap. Some reports have suggested that Arsenal may need to pay as much as £22 million in order to land Michu, an amount Wenger will not want to pay.
Angel Di Maria- Real Madrid to Arsenal
Di Maria has enjoyed three successful seasons at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho. The Argentine was one of Mourinho’s key men and normally one of the first names on the team sheet at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, things have changed now that Mourinho is no longer in the Spanish capital. Di Maria is unlikely to be a first team regular under Carlo Ancelotti, especially if Madrid succeed in their pursuit of Gareth Bale. Should Bale come to the Spanish capital, Di Maria would probably end up on the bench, as he and Bale occupy a similar position. Although reports suggest Ancelotti wants Di Maria to remain at the club, Madrid’s directors are keen on selling the winger as it would fund the clubs move for Bale.
There are no shortage of suitors for Di Maria, with several top clubs reportedly ready to offer the Argentine a new home. Arsenal seem his most likely destination at the moment, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger keen on signing several marquee players before the transfer window closes.
Samuel Eto’o- Anzhi Makhachkala to Chelsea
Eto’o is reportedly the highest earning footballer in the world at the moment. However, that is one of the main reasons why it is likely that he will leave Anzhi this summer. The clubs billionaire owner has withdrawn much of his funding for the team, meaning the club can’t afford to pay Eto’o’s huge wage. This means that Eto’o looks certain to leave Russia and several top European clubs have been linked with the experienced striker. Chelsea are reportedly favourites in the race to sign Eto, with the striker thought to be keen on a reunion with Jose Mourinho, who managed him when he was at Inter Milan.
Mourinho is also keen on signing Eto’o, with the Portuguese manager desperate to bolster his attacking options before the transfer window closes. Mourinho’s main target is Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, but if he fails in his pursuit of the England international, Mourinho may well turn his attentions to Eto’o, who will certainly bring goals with him should he move to Stamford Bridge. Real Madrid have also been linked with Eto’o while a move back to Italy could also be on the cards for the veteran striker.
Luis Suarez- Liverpool to Real Madrid
Madrid look set to be one of the most active teams going into the final week of the transfer window. Not only are the Spanish giants close to signing Gareth Bale, but they are also keen to re-ignite their interest in Liverpool front man Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan has been linked with a move away from Anfield all summer, with Arsenal twice submitting bids for the striker. The Gunners were unsuccessful, with Liverpool determined to hang onto their star player. Real Madrid were reportedly interested in signing Suarez earlier in the transfer window but their interest cooled as they pressed ahead with their move to sign Gareth Bale.
With the Bale deal almost done, the Spanish giants are reportedly back for Suarez, with manager Carlo Ancelotti keen to bolster his attacking options. The Italian isn’t keen on having Karim Benzema as his main striker for the rest of the season and would like a more prolific front man to lead the line at Madrid. Suarez could certainly do that and the Uruguayan would welcome a move from Madrid as he spent most of the off season flirting with Spanish giants through the media.
Christian Eriksen- Ajax to Liverpool
Eriksen has long been regarded as one of the most gifted young midfielders in Europe. At Ajax, he has flourished under manager Frank De Boer’s leadership. However, several pundits have suggested that now might be the right time for the Dane to test himself in a more competitive league. The player also seems to want that, as he has entered the final year of his contract with Ajax and it seems unlikely that he will sign a contract extension.
A move before the end of the transfer window looks likely, with several top European clubs looking to bring the midfielder to their club. The front runners appear to be Liverpool, who are looking to sign a quality creative midfielder before September 2nd. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has missed out on several high profile targets this summer and will be determined not to miss out on Eriksen, who has the ability the take Liverpool to the next level. The Reds will face competition for the midfielder, with AC Milan and Tottenham reportedly ready to make a move for the Danish midfielder.
Erik Lamela- Roma to Tottenham
Lamela is thought to be one of the best young wingers currently playing in Europe. He was one of Roma’s best players last season, scoring 15 goals for them despite playing on the wing. His goal scoring, added to his other attributes, mean he could turn out to be one of the best wide men in the world. Several top sides are thought to be interested in the Argentine but the front runners appear to be Tottenham. Manager Andre Villas-Boas is thought to be a huge admirer of Lamela and the Portuguese coach is willing to pay between £25-30 million for the Argentine star.
Roma will almost certainly accept that type of money and a deal between the two clubs is thought to be close. If Lamela does complete his move to Tottenham, he maybe tasked with replacing Gareth Bale at White Hart Lane, who looks set to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. That wouldn’t be easy for the young Argentine but he certainly has all the attributes to succeed for Spurs in the Premier League.
Yohan Cabaye- Newcastle United to Arsenal or Paris St Germain
Cabaye is amongst the best passers currently operating in the Premier League. The midfielder had a fantastic first season with Newcastle and although his second year at St James’s Park wasn’t a total success, he is still highly regarded. His performances for Newcastle have earned him many admirers and it seems that it is only a matter of time before the Frenchman leaves Tyneside for a new club. His two most likely destinations appear to be Arsenal and Paris St Germain. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is looking to sign a creative midfielder this summer and has already submitted a £10 million bid for Cabaye, which was rejected by Newcastle.
Wenger will almost certainly up his offer for the Frenchman, although it is unknown whether he will meet Newcastle’s £20 million valuation. Reports suggest that Cabaye would rather move back to France, and Paris St Germain appear to be ready to grant him his wish. Manager Laurent Blanc is a huge admirer of Cabaye and would like to bring the midfielder to the Parc des Princes so that he can set up goals for the striking partnership of Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Wayne Rooney- Manchester United to Chelsea
Rooney has had a hugely successful nine seasons at Manchester United, winning several Premier League titles with the club. However, his relationship with officials at the club appear to have soured. He fell out with the clubs previous manager, Sir Alex Ferguson and also reportedly has a testing relationship with the clubs new boss David Moyes. This has all lead to speculation that Rooney could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer. The striker appears to want a fresh start and he doesn’t feel that he can get that at United. The striker appears to favour a move to Chelsea as it would enable him to work with Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese manager has made Rooney his main transfer target for the rest of the summer and has already submitted two bids for the England international. Both were rejected by United but Mourinho has confirmed that Chelsea will make a third bid for Rooney after the two clubs meet in their Premier League match at Old Trafford. Manchester United are refusing to sell Rooney to one of their main rivals and have told Chelsea that their is no chance of them signing Rooney before the transfer window closes. However, United would entertain selling Rooney to Chelsea if the Blues were willing to sell Juan Mata, who reportedly could be available for a transfer as Mourinho doesn’t rate the Spanish play-maker.
Gareth Bale- Tottenham to Real Madrid
Bale’s move to Real Madrid is without doubt the biggest transfer of the summer and could also be the most expensive in history. Madrid are determined to sign a big name player in response to Barcelona’s signing of Brazilian ace Neymar. Bale has long been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu but it appears that the move could finally happen over the next few days. Madrid are so desperate to get their man that they are willing to pay around £86 million to land him. That would once again break the world record that they set four years ago when they signed Cristano Ronaldo from Manchester United.
Bale to appears to desperate to move to Madrid as it mean that he would have the opportunity to play in the Champions League on a regular basis. He has also always dreamed of playing for the Spanish club and has told Tottenham that he no longer wants to stay at White Hart Lane. Spurs seemed resigned to losing Bale but they will try and get as much money as possible out of Madrid before they agree to sell their star player.