With the transfer window closing in less than a week, who should you be keeping an eye on? Here are several stars who are likely to create news before the September 1 deadline.
Cristiano Ronaldo, FW, Manchester United
Ronaldo was left out of the starting lineup against Liverpool on Monday, and his future will remain uncertain until he clarifies things one way or the other. The 37-year-old wants to leave United to play in the Champions League, but he is out of choices and time. Ronaldo will remain at United, but there are concerns about his sour attitude affecting the dressing room, and things could change as the deadline approaches.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, FW, Barcelona
Aubameyang only joined Barcelona in February after his contract with Arsenal expired. Now, Barcelona wants to sell him for roughly €25 million so that they can register their €55 million new addition Jules Kounde under LaLiga’s salary ceiling.
Chelsea are the front-runners and have been interested for some time, but while Aubameyang is apparently eager to reunite with former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel, he is 33 years old and the Blues will be wary of investing too much money to get him.
Frenkie de Jong, CM, Barcelona
This summer, De Jong dominated the headlines, but the issue has now become ugly. The midfielder already lowered his pay in October 2020, but according to reports, Barcelona wants him to do so again (citing irregularities with his current contract.) Barcelona has struck a €85 million agreement with Manchester United, but De Jong reportedly wants to play Champions League football and has Bayern Munich and Chelsea interested.
The player is still owed €20 million in salary, so reaching an agreement on his departure is difficult, and he may end up staying if Barcelona can offload other players to solve their salary problems. Which, by the way, manager Xavi is cool with.
Wesley Fofana, CB, Leicester
Fofana was left out of Leicester’s squad against Southampton last weekend after missing a training session, and Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers stated that the 21-year-old defender is “not quite in the right frame of mind at the moment to play.” Chelsea reportedly made three proposals of up to £70 million, but Leicester want at least £80 million and are unwilling to let him go. At that price, it appears like Fofana will either join Chelsea (for a world-record amount for a defender) or be compelled to stay for at least another six months.
Anthony Gordon, FW, Everton
Gordon is highly rated and has previously been tracked by Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, but Chelsea appear to be the most interested in signing the England under-21 winger. According to reports, they have already made two bids of up to £45 million, while Everton are apparently holding out for a cost in excess of £50 million. Everton may find themselves with a lot of money to spend and very little time to spend it after losing Richarlison to Tottenham for £60 million earlier in the window.
Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea Fashion Week
Ziyech’s future could be determined by whether Manchester United makes a greater offer than their rejected €80 million bid for Anthony from Ajax. If United sign Anthony, Ajax will be eager to bring Ziyech back to the club he left for €44 million in 2020. The 29-year-old isn’t worth that kind of money right now, but his departure from Stamford Bridge will leave a vacuum that Gordon or others may have to fill.
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