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Despite the World Cup having started, the transfer rumour mill hasn’t slowed down one bit. David Amoyal breaks down and rates some potential moves to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to Real Madrid: 35 percent
If we go by the process of elimination it’s safe to say the Galacticos are in great position for Serbian sensation Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Manchester City are set to acquire Jorginho, Manchester United will add Fred and want to keep Paul Pogba, Paris Saint-Germain have financial fair play concerns and Juventus were always a long shot because of the price, especially after triggering the option to buy Douglas Costa outright. While Lazio are holding out for a three-digit transfer fee, Real Madrid are looking for a young star to build their midfield of the foreseeable future around and have expressed genuine interest in Milinkovic-Savic.
Marco Verratti to Manchester United: 10 percent
While Italian midfielder Marco Verratti is no longer one of the most popular players at Parc des Princes and his agent Mino Raiola has a strong working relationship with the Red Devils, a move to Old Trafford is still a long shot at the moment. PSG are focused on selling other players to meet their FFP parameters, and after completing a deal for Fred and confirming Paul Pogba for next season, Manchester United are unlikely to invest significantly in another midfielder.
Goncalo Guedes to Valencia: 40 percent
It could be an eventful week for Portuguese winger Goncalo Guedes. After his debut in the World Cup against Spain, Guedes could be in the headlines again due to a potential transfer move. Valencia would like to keep him after his excellent season on loan at the Mestalla, but with PSG looking to capitalize on their valued asset, he could be sold to either Wolves or Liverpool, with the Reds still looking for Plan B to Nabil Fekir. It remains to be seen how much Guedes’ desire to stay at Valencia will impact his future.
Alex Telles to Paris Saint-Germain: 25 percent
Both Ligue 1 champions PSG and Liverpool have recently shown interest in ex-Inter and Galatasaray player Alex Telles, who has a €40 million release clause in his contract. Porto president Pinto da Costa is known for being a tough negotiator, so a discount on the exit clause is rather unlikely. In addition, PSG will have to wait until after they’ve addressed their FFP issues to make a significant addition.
Javier Pastore to Roma: 75 percent
Considering that Paris Saint-Germain’s priority is to sell players to meet their FFP parameters, Argentine Javier Pastore has an opportunity to return to Serie A, where he previously played for Palermo, an option he prefers over joining West Ham. Roma are certainly interested, as they are looking for an established offensive option to give new addition Justin Kluivert some time to adapt to Serie A, and after agreeing to terms with Pastore’s camp on a four-year deal, the sides are set to complete a deal with PSG for around €25 million.
Could PSG be forced to sell midfielders Marco Verratti (pictured) and Goncalo Guedes to align with financial fair play?
Radja Nainggolan to Inter Milan: 60 percent
Roma have been very active on the transfer market in terms of bringing players in, and while they no longer have to worry about FFP, they are looking to make a significant sale before their fiscal year ends at the end of the month. Radja Nainggolan has turned down moves to clubs abroad because he truly enjoys living in Italy’s capital, but the prospect of being reunited with his former manager Luciano Spalletti makes this move particularly appealing. Inter are expected to complete the deal for around €30 million plus a few prospects.
Elseid Hysaj to Chelsea 30 percent, Alessandro Florenzi to Chelsea: 10 percent
The fact that Davide Zappacosta flopped last season hasn’t stopped the Blues from being linked to other Serie A right-backs. While Elseid Hysaj would be a logical addition should his mentor Maurizio Sarri replace Antonio Conte, he also has an exit clause of €50 million, a rather steep price even for the Premier League. Alessandro Florenzi, on the other hand, is expected to extend his contract with Roma now that he has given up on being paid around the same amount as Radja Nainggolan and Edin Dzeko.
Thomas Strakosha to Liverpool: 35 percent
While the Reds are almost certainly out of the race for Alisson now that Real Madrid have taken a decisive lead, they could still sign a keeper who plays in Italy’s capital. Thomas Strakosha would certainly be less expensive than the Brazil international, but Lazio will still demand a significant return for their keeper, especially considering they have already lost their best defender Stefan de Vrij on a free transfer to Inter. On the bright side for Liverpool, the Lazio have already identified Marco Sportiello as the ideal replacement for Strakosha.
Petr Cech to Napoli: 25 percent
The Partenopei have been on the market for a starting goalkeeper ever since Pepe Reina agreed to join Milan a few months ago, and have been linked to players Carlo Ancelotti has previously managed. At the moment, Petr Cech is a fallback option for Napoli, as they would only be interested in acquiring Arsenal’s keeper on loan should they fail to lower PSG’s demands for Alphonse Areola. As alternatives to Cech, Napoli are also considering Torino’s Salvatore Sirigu and Udinese’s Alex Meret.
Stefano Sturaro to Premier League: 60 percent
The former Genoa midfielder never lived up to the hype he generated after his strong performance in the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid back in 2015. Juventus are now open to selling Stefano Sturaro for a fee between €15 and 20 million, an amount that West Ham, Newcastle, Everton and Leicester City appear willing to pay. While Sturaro also has suitors in China, he wants to keep playing in a top European league.
David covers transfer news for ESPN FC and works for Gianluca Di Marzio’s website. Twitter: @DavidAmoyal.
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