Transfer Rumor Mill
Another week has passed and as we get closer to the summer, transfer speculation will continue to be on the rise. Once a week we at WAH will look at some of the biggest and most high profile rumors we have gotten our hands on and give our take and predictions on them, just as we did in our previous installment. The rumor mill never stops, so neither will we.
Toni Kross to Manchester United
Over the next few month there will be few players who won’t be linked to a move to Old Trafford. Whether David Moyes remains at the helm or not, United is sure to be dealing heavily in the transfer market this summer and there is speculation of a move for German international midfielder Toni Kroos. Kroos has been linked to United in the past and he certainly fits the bill for the type of player they have been lacking. Capable of playing in the center of the park or in a more advanced role, he is very creative both on and off the ball and boasts the work ethic required, one which United have lacked recently. Kroos has not said one way or another if he will be considering a move, but he has not shut the door on the possibility and says the Premier League is a very attractive destination that he will consider this summer. Given the amount of money being made available for squad overhaul this summer and given the depth Bayern have, this could potentially gain momentum over the coming months.
Prediction: Kroos is the type of player United is craving right now, but there is no doubt that he will want to play for a club that will be playing in Champions League and it is highly unlikely that will be United. Should United make the Europa League, that may just be enough, coupled with what will no doubt be a handsome weekly wage packet. Bayern would be unlikely to sell for less than 20million pounds but that would not put the Red Devils off. Keep tabs on this, as for right now it is hard to gauge if I can see him moving yet or not.
Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana to Manchester United
No surprise as United are yet again the topic of transfer speculation, this time for two of Southampton’s most coveted players. It is reported that United will be considering a combined 40million pound transfer bid for the pair, which would be incredibly hard for Soton to turn down should the offer officially materialize. Luke shaw is one of the hottest properties in English football and is being pipped as England’s left back for the next decade, so going to a top club would aid in his ascendency. He would be seen as an ideal candidate to replace Patrice Evra who does not have much time left in Manchester. As for Adam Lallana, United have been circling him for quite some time and he could add quite a bit going forward for United. His attacking style and his creativity is something United will look to add to a side that has lacked in that department when it comes to the wide areas of the pitch and the proposition of Lallana playing with Wayne Rooney could only help the national team as well.
Prediction: I would be very surprised if Lallana does not go to United. There really is nothing keeping him at Soton should an offer come in and he should be looking to raise his level of play by eventually getting into continental competitions. Will Shaw go to United however? There will no doubt be a bidding war for his services as Chelsea are looking for a long term replacement for Ashley Cole and it would not surprise me if Manchester City go in for the young left back just to beat United to the signature if nothing else. I can see Shaw following his team mate to United and keeping their left sided partnership in tact.
Robin van Persie and Carlos Vela to return to Arsenal
It has long been reported that RvP has been far less than happy under the new Moyes regime but there has been recent speculation that the Dutch hit man wants a shock transfer return to the Emirates. Arsenal have been in the hunt for strikers but have failed to bring in reinforcements which has caused an over reliance on Olivier Giroud, who is equally loved and hated amongst Gunner’s supporters. Would an RvP return be feasible or even wanted is the question that must be answered and it is highly unlikely that Moyes will want to let him to go a domestic rival and even if he agreed to it, it would not be for a low price tag. A reported fee of 18million has been mulled over by Arsene Wenger. Carlos Vela has come into his own since he left Arsenal back in 2012 – the Mexican striker has registered an impressive 36 goals and 25 assists in three seasons for Real Sociedad (one of which was on loan) and there is a rumored clause in his contract of a previous agreed fee that Arsenal can pay to bring him back to London. He certainly offered a completely different skill set than Giroud and he could be a more cost effective answer to the striker question currently looming.
Prediction: Robin van Persie has only been gone from London less than two years, has won a league title but now wants out due to unhappiness. I see him leaving United in the summer but I do not see Moyes letting him to go a domestic rival. As for Vela, it would not surprise me to see him back in Arsenal colors. He enjoyed his time there but leaving when he did was the correct choice for his career. Now that he has blossomed into a quality striker, a transfer return to Arsenal (a far bigger club than Sociedad) and the proposition of European football may be too much to pass up, especially with Sociedad likely to part ways with Antoine Griezmann this summer as well.
Loic Remy to…well…everyone
Remy is on loan at Newcastle United this season and has played incredibly well – this will certainly raise awareness of his abilities and there are sure to be clubs buzzing around him this summer. He has a reported transfer release clause of under 10million pounds and given the financial issues that his parent club Queens Park Rangers are suffering, it is all but certain that he will leave – the question is, who will be move to? Arsenal, United and Spurs are all interested, as are current club Newcastle United here he has flourished, partly due to the large contingent of French players there. Remy will look to remain in the national team set up as well and potentially even try to ply his trade for a club that will take part in continental competitions, which may put Newcastle out of the running.
Prediction: Spurs would make sense, at least to me. While they have Soldado and Adebayor, Remy is a different sort of player – he is more of a Defoe type of striker, one with bags of pace who excels in getting behind the defense. Given the creative talents that Spurs do have, that could prove deadly. United have Rooney and RvP (for now) so a move to United would not seem plausible. A move to Arsenal would be an interesting move and he could flourish there as well, but I really think he will end up at White Hart Lane.
Ross Barkley to Manchester City
It’s the news that Everton supporters will have been fearing, but cannot claim that they were not expecting it sooner or later. Reports suggest that City could be lining up a substantial transfer bid for the young English midfielder. While Barkley may love his hometown club, the very attractive proposition of European football and a massive pay raise may be far too much for him to turn down. He may however want to consider the fact that City are free spending and currently have a host of attacking players at their disposal. While he will receive more money at City, this can be seen as a move to add more home grown players to their squad given regulations, rather than a move for a player that they truly deem key to future success, given the options they have going forward. As for the amount of money needed to price Barkley away, nothing less than 20-25million pounds would be deemed acceptable, if Everton entertain transfer negotiations at all.
Prediction: I cannot see Barkley staying at Goodison Park forever, but I do see him remaining with the club at least one more season. He is still quite young and unless he is going to a club where he is guaranteed a starting birth, a move would not be in his best interest and I am sure manager Roberto Martinez will make that clear to the player. Look for Barkley to make a high profile move in the following summer.