Here are ten more deals that could be completed before the transfer window closes on September 2nd.
Nicklas Bendtner- Arsenal to Hamburg
Bendter has been a frustrating figure for Arsenal fans ever since he made the move to the Emirates. He was brought in as one of the most promising young strikers in Europe but failed to live up to that hype. He hasn’t even played for Arsenal for the last two years, spending the last two seasons on loan at Sunderland and Juventus. Bendtner’s time in Turin was especially poor, with the Dane failing to make an impact on the Serie A Champions season. It seems that Bendtner will never play for Arsenal again, with Arsene Wenger keen to get rid of the striker permanently this time.
Bendtner has been linked with moves too several different counties during this transfer window but a move to Germany appears to the most promising for the Dane. Hamburg have submitted a £2.6 million offer for the Danish international, an amount Arsenal will certainly consider for someone who has no future at the Emirates. Moving to Hamburg may provide Bendtner with the chance to re-ignite his career in a league that isn’t quite as competitive as the Premier League. However, other clubs remain in the frame for Bendtner, with Hull City and Crystal Palace both weighing up moves for the front-man.
Leighton Baines- Everton to Manchester United
Baines is one of the most effective full backs currently playing in the Premier League and could be England’s number one left back for next year’s World Cup if he has a successful season. That could depend on whether Baines moves away from Everton this summer though. The left back is competing with Ashley Cole for a left back slot and a move to a club that is playing in the Champions League would enable Baines to test himself against the very opposition. He has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United where he could be re-united with his former manager David Moyes.
The Scot is keen to replace the ageing Patrice Evra with Baines and has already submitted two bids to Everton for the full back. Both bids have been rejected by the Toffees, who are desperate to hang onto one of their most experienced players. Reports suggest that United will return to Goodison Park with an improved bid for the England international but with Everton set to demand around £18 million for the left back, Baines may need to do something himself in order to make the transfer happen.
Mesut Ozil- Real Madrid to Manchester United
Ozil is arguably one of the most improved players in world football over the past few years, having made excellent contributions to the successes of Real Madrid and the German national team. However, that may not keep him at Real Madrid. The play-maker is thought to be considering his options at the Bernabeu because of the speculation linking Gareth Bale with a move to Madrid. Bale’s transfer to the Spanish giants is thought to be close and if the deal does go through, Ozil may lose his starting spot in the Madrid line-up.
The German wants to be playing first team football this year so that he can make Germany’s squad for next summers World Cup and will consider a move away from Madrid if he is left sitting on the bench. A move to Manchester United is reportedly on the cards, with manager David Moyes desperate to sign a quality play maker before the transfer window closes. Ozil would be guaranteed first team football if he did move to Old Trafford and in a World Cup year, starting regularly will be of paramount importance to him.
Eliaquim Mangala- FC Porto to Barcelona
Mangala is thought to be one of the most talented young defenders in European football. He is incredibly strong and has become one of the first names on the team sheet at his current club Porto. His excellent performances for the Portuguese club haven’t gone unnoticed, with several top European teams interested in signing the French defender. Barcelona have been looking for a new centre back all summer following several poor defensive displays from Catalan giants last season. Barcelona are thought to be considering a move for Mangala before the transfer window closes, having failed in their attempts at signing Thiago Silva and David Luiz. Mangala could be the answer to their defensive problems as he would be the ideal foil to his prospective central defensive partner Gerard Pigue.
This means that the two could form a formidable central defensive partnership, with Mangala being the strong physical presence that Barcelona have needed for awhile. However, Porto aren’t willing to let one of their best players leave on the cheap and are reportedly demanding around £40 million for the centre back. Chelsea are also thought to be interested in Mangala, meaning a bidding war could break out between the two clubs if Barcelona make a move first.
Peter Odemwingie- West Bromwich Albion to Swansea City
Odemwingie has looked certain to leave West Brom all summer following his actions during the last January transfer window. Odemwingie turned up at QPR’s ground, Loftus Road, determined to force through a move to the London based club. However, the transfer didn’t go through in time, meaning Odemwingie had to return to West Brom with his tail between his legs. Since then, he has been phased out of West Brom’s first team by manager Steve Clarke. He has lost the faith of the West Brom supporters, meaning his future at the Hawthorns is pretty non existent.
A move away from the Baggies seems likely as the end transfer window approaches, with both West Brom and Odemwingie keen to sever ties. The strikers most likely destination appears to be Swansea City, who are in the market for an experienced striker. Swansea boss Michael Laudrup thinks Odemwingie possesses all of the qualities that he is looking for in a striker and could make a move for the Nigerian in the next couple of days. However, newly promoted sides Crystal Palace and Cardiff City are also thought to be interested in the front man and could rival Swansea for Odemwingie’s signature.
Vlad Chiriches- Steaua Bucharest to Tottenham
Chiriches is a highly promising young defender who has played several times for the Romanian national team. He has been linked with a move to Tottenham all summer long as manager Andre Villas-Boas desperately tries to assemble a squad that is capable of breaking into the Premier League’s top four. The North London club have a space free for a centre back in their squad following the departure of Steven Caulker to Cardiff City and have identified Chiriches as the man they want to replace the English defender.
Reports suggest that Chiriches would interested in a move to the Premier League and could be available for around £7.5 million, a relative bargain considering the amount most young defenders cost. Chiriches would have the opportunity to bed himself into the Tottenham defence and get better alongside the likes of Michael Dawson.
Adem Ljajic- Fiorentina to AC Milan
Ljajic was identified as a promising midfielder at a young age and is starting to show that promise in his performances for Fiorentina. The Serbian midfielder was one of Fiorentina’s best players last season, creating plenty of opportunities for the Italian clubs front men. However, his excellent performances haven’t gone unnoticed, with several top European clubs monitoring his situation at Fiorentina. Ljajic only has one year remaining on his current contract at La Viola and has made it clear to the officials at the Italian club that he doesn’t want to sign a new deal.
Fiorentina don’t want to let Ljajic leave for free next summer and may have to sell the 21 year old before the transfer window closes unless he changes his mind about his contract, which seems unlikely. Ljajic has been repeatedly linked with a move to AC Milan and reports suggest that the Serbian has his eyes on playing at the San Siro. He has reportedly agreed to join Milan next summer when his contract runs out and the Italian giants are prepared to wait until next year when they sign the youngster. However, if Fiorentina make it known that Ljajic will be sold before the transfer window closes, then Milan maybe forced into trying to sign him this year as the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham are known to monitoring the play-makers situation.
Iker Casillas- Real Madrid to Arsenal
Casillas has been a huge figure in the Real Madrid dressing room, one of the first names on the team sheet for whoever has been manager at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, that changed last summer when he fell out with then manager Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese coach kept Casillas on the bench, preferring to use Diego Lopez in goal. When Mourinho was replaced with Carlo Ancelotti, it was thought that Casillas would be re-instated as Madrid’s number one. However, that didn’t happen, with Ancelotti leaving Casillas on the bench for Madrid’s first league game of the season. Speculation is now mounting that Casillas will look to move away from the Bernabeu in search of first team football that he may not get if he stays at Madrid.
Casillas is still Spain’s number one goalkeeper and he won’t want to lose that spot in a World Cup year. Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Casillas’s situation at Madrid and the Gunners will make a move for the Spaniard if he announces his intention to leave. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been on the look out for an experienced goalkeeper all summer long and their aren’t many better than Casillas, even if he can’t get into the Madrid team.
Karim Benzema- Real Madrid to Arsenal
Many pundits believed that Benzema would become one of the next great strikers. It was thought that he would become the heir to Zinedine Zidane in terms of French football and came to Madrid with a excellent goal scoring record. Despite spending four years at Madrid and starting most of the clubs matches, Benzema has yet to reach his full potential. He hasn’t scored the stack of goals that many thought he would and reports suggest that Carlo Ancelotti isn’t happy that Benzema will be his main striker this season.
Madrid look set to make a move for Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and this could spell the end of Benzema’s time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Reports have suggested that Arsenal are ready to make a move for the Frenchman, with manager Arsene Wenger thought to be a keen admirer of his countryman. Real Madrid are interested in selling Benzema as it would mean that they could fund their moves for Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez. A move to Arsenal may prove to be good for Benzema as Wenger is known to be one of the best at helping players reach their potential.
Juan Mata- Chelsea to Manchester United
The idea of Mata leaving Chelsea was unthinkable just a few months ago. The Spaniard was named as the clubs player of the year following several excellent performances for the Blues. He is a firm fan favourite and many thought he would be a key player for new manager Jose Mourinho. However, reports seem to suggest that Mourinho would be interested in selling Mata, especially if it meant he could strengthen his squad in other areas. The Portuguese coach is desperate to sign a quality striker and has his eyes firmly set on Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney. United are refusing to let Rooney join Chelsea, despite the striker saying he wants to leave Old Trafford.
However, if Mata were to be allowed to move to Old Trafford, then United maybe willing to do business with Chelsea over a deal for Rooney. United boss David Moyes is desperate to sign a quality creative midfielder before the transfer window ends and their aren’t many better than Mata, who is arguably the best play maker currently operating in the Premier League. Chelsea have also recently signed Willian, another play-maker, meaning Mata could be phased out of Chelsea’s first team, something the Spaniard is unlikely to tolerate especially in a World Cup year.