While there may be a few Premier League managers that will consider their squads to be complete, there are still plenty of deals in the pipeline that could see some big fees change hands.
Here, Sportsmole Centre has picked out five of the biggest potential moves that could still go through before next Tuesday's 6pm deadline.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. David de Gea (Manchester United to Real Madrid)
The picture above sums up De Gea's situation at Old Trafford right now. Although the goalkeeper has kept quiet all summer, it is widely believed that he has informed United of his desire to move back to his native Spain. As far as Madrid are concerned, the feeling, it would seem, is mutual.
But, as it stands, it would appear that there is a stand off between the two clubs. Widespread reports have claimed that United will not accept anything less than a world-record fee for a keeper, despite the fact that he has just 12 months left to run on his contract. Names like Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale have been banded around in potential swap deals, but that has not materialised.
All of the uncertainty has forced Louis van Gaal to drop De Gea - United's Player of the Season last term - to the stands. There has been no confirmation, but speculation in Spain has suggested that the relationship between manager and player has deteriorated beyond repair. Financially the Red Devils do not need the money, but an unhappy player can have a negative impact on the atmosphere inside the dressing room and at the training ground.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. John Stones (Everton to Chelsea)
While De Gea has stopped short of handing in transfer request - publicly at least - the latest on the Stones saga, according to numerous reports, is that the centre-back has demanded that Everton allow him to leave, presumably for Chelsea. If recent speculation is to be believed, the Blues have failed with at least two bids for the 21-year-old, possibly even three.
From Everton's point of view, while they will be desperate for the England defender to remain on Merseyside, it would seem that their grasp is loosening. With that in mind, Roberto Martinez is bound to be working on securing the services of a replacement. A number of centre-backs have been strongly linked with a switch to Goodison Park, including Ramiro Funes Mori, Jonny Evans and Federico Fazio.
Meanwhile, down in West London, Chelsea's need for Stones has grown by the week of late. John Terry's lack of pace has been badly exposed in recent outings away at Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion, while Gary Cahill's form has not exactly been overly inspiring.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion to Tottenham Hotspur)
Like Stones, the rumour mill recently claimed that Berahino had handed in a transfer request. But, while there has been no official word from Everton, West Brom have not been so shy when it has come to providing information. The striker's request has been rejected, with the Baggies having insisted that "the sale of this player is not on our agenda".
The interested party is Spurs, who have had two bids for the 22-year-old rebuffed. There is every chance, though, that the North Londoners will soon return with a third offer, given their desperate need for a centre-forward. Aside from Harry Kane, it is difficult to see who will score Tottenham's goals this season.
One man that knows a thing or two about a late deal is former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who told talkSPORT earlier today that the transfer should be concluded: "Tottenham are desperate for a striker. He's the one they've identified, so I think the deal will happen before the deadline. Everything's probably all done with the player behind the scenes, he probably has a good idea about where he's going to live, even. All it is now is a game of bluff between the two chairmen, who are trying to get the best deal for their clubs."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Kevin de Bruyne (Wolfsburg to Manchester City)
Speaking recently about his decision to let De Bruyne join Wolfsburg in January 2014, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said: "He told me it was not in his personality to be competing for a position in the team. He needed a team where he knows he can play every game. He needs to know that he is important. He did not want a team where he thinks am I playing or not? He needs that trust, he needs that quality. He needs that security."
Taking that into consideration, a move to the Etihad Stadium may not be best for the Belgium international's career. After all, he tends to operate in a similar position behind the main striker to David Silva, who on current form is arguably the best player in the Premier League. It would have to take performances of a very high level to dislodge the diminutive Spaniard.
Nevertheless, if reports are to be believed, both the Citizens and De Bruyne are eager for the switch to be finalised. It may very well take a bid in the region of £45m to get the deal over the line, but with the Financial Fair Play rules having been relaxed slightly, it's not a sum that would be beyond City's owners.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers to unknown)
Transfer negotiations can get messy, what with all the mud slinging and demands that are made by a combination of clubs, players and agents. Yet, to Austin's credit, he has kept his head down and got on with the job in hand at relegated Queens Park Rangers in the Championship.
Granted, he would probably have hoped to have joined a Premier League club by now, but that has not stopped the 26-year-old from scoring four goals in as many league outings this term. As far as we know, there has been no transfer request from the centre-forward, who has just one year left to run on his contract at Loftus Road.
QPR have slapped a £15m price tag on Austin, largely due to the fact that he was the second highest-scoring Englishman in the top flight last season behind Kane. His 18 goals are thought to have alerted the attention of a number of clubs, but only Leicester have so far lodged an official bid, which was rejected. As the deadline draws closer, the asking price may drop slightly and that could well capture the attention of numerous Premier League managers.
No comments:
Post a Comment