With the deadline for this summer’s transfer window approaching, managers are beginning to feel the heat as they continue to fight for the best names on the market. An abundance of unfinished contracts means plenty of action is still to come during this year’s transfer deadline day.
Andy Carroll:
Kenny Dalglish smashed the English transfer record when he approved a £35 million bid for Newcastle’s Andy Carroll last January. But in the time that has passed since he first moved to Anfield, Carroll has fallen, if not plummeted, down the Liverpool pecking order. Now the Reds, led by Brendan Rodgers, are doing everything they can to offload the struggling forward, knowing all the while that a loss of at least £10 million on their original investment is inevitable. Despite the fact that their last two bids were rejected, West Ham remain Carroll’s most likely destination. Sources say the Hammers are prepared to agree on a year-long loan that would require them to pay his £80,000 per week wages in full throughout all of the coming season before signing him permanently for around £17 milllion in a year’s time. The potential transfer would mean a loss of almost £20 milllion for Liverpool, but Rodgers has made it clear he is willing to lose the money as long as his side are able to bring on a replacement.
Edinson Cavani:
With Daniel Sturridge seemingly determined to find regular football elsewhere, Roberto Di Matteo is on the hunt for a suitable replacement and Napoli’s 25-year-old forward is more than capable of filling the soon-to-be vacant position. Though Cavani’s buyout clause has been set at a whopping £60 million, reports claim that a bid of just £30 million could seal the deal. Furthermore, talks between the two clubs have already taken place, making his transfer to England all the more probable. The Italian side are, however, strongly against selling their star player. Napoli are likely to hold their stance until a massive sum is offered; a fee in the range of at least £40 million. If a contract is agreed upon, Cavani would be joining a host of new players including Eden Hazard, Marko Marin, Oscar and Victor Moses.
Willian:
After losing the battle for Luka Modric’ services, Andre Villas-Boas is said to have shifted all his attention to spending his new cash. A list featuring the likes of Yann M’Vila and Hugo Lloris has been compiled by the media, but Villas-Boas seems unfazed by the reports as he prepares a bid for Willian instead. The Shakhtar Donetsk forward has been targeted by numerous Premier League clubs in the past, including Chelsea whose £28 million bid was immediately rejected. Now, Tottenham are starting where the Blues left off. Reports claim Spurs have already seen a £11 million turned down, but Villas-Boas isn’t one to give in. The former Chelsea manager is in the midst of preparing a second bid, one he hopes will be too large to ignore.
Hulk:
Brazil international Hulk has been told by Porto that he must decide his future before Thursday, giving any potential suitors little time to make a solid offer. The 26-year-old has found the net a whopping 54 times for the Portuguese side since joining from Japan in 2008, making him one of Europe’s most lethal finishers. Representatives from the club say two big Premier League sides have shown ‘serious’ interest in signing their star man, but that the Brazilian will not be let go for anything short of his €100 million release clause. With little over one day left in this summer’s transfer window, time is running out for those interested in Hulk. But the shortage in time, along with Porto’s stubborn asking price of €100 million, isn’t very encouraging.
Clint Dempsey:
After being left out of Fulham’s first two games by Martin Jol, Clint Dempsey’s transfer to Liverpool seemed inevitable. But representatives from the Reds soon revealed that Rodgers’ perceived interest in the American international was fabricated by the media who wanted to see a move happen. Though reports continue to emerge containing details of Rodgers’ last-minute surprise bid, most people affiliated with the club have agreed that that any interest in Dempsey has indeed dried up. Fortunately, all hope is not lost for the 29-year-old as Sunderland are reportedly ready to take on the unwanted attacker. But while his final destination is far from confirmed, Clint Dempsey is unlikely to complete his dream of joining a ‘top European side’.
So there you have it: the top transfers that might still happen. What’s your opinion on the matter? What stars are being considered by your clubs? Let us know!
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