With speculation, reports and the loosest of links set to do the rounds in the coming months, Goal.com takes a look at all the potential movers and shakers in the Premier League
By Andrew Kennedy
CHE
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CHE
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With the excitement of the Premier Leagueseason becoming a distant memory, now is the time for the transfer rumour mill to kick into gear and take centre stage.
Eden Hazard's decision to join Chelsea on Monday brought an end to one of the longest-running sagas, but the Blues are still keen on further additions to their squad, with Porto striker Hulk once again touted for a move to Stamford Bridge.
Elsewhere, Edin Dzeko may be heading for a Manchester City exit with Bayern Munich a possible destination, while Brendan Rodgers' move to Liverpool could scupper Gylfi Sigurdsson's switch to Swansea City.
Now in Goal.com's new weekly feature, we take a look at the best, worst and ridiculous of this week's transfer rumours.
| THE GOOD |
Hulk on course to join Chelsea's avengers
Having beaten off significant competition to sign Hazard this week, Chelsea could be set to land another long-term target with reports suggesting Hulk’s switch to Stamford Bridge is almost complete.
The 25-year-old has been linked with the west Londoners throughout the season, with current club Porto initially demanding the £83 million fee that would trigger the release clause in his contract, but the Portuguese outfit have since baulked at their asking price and now a £40m bid could secure his services.
While Porto officials are still hopeful of receiving up to £60m for a player who scored 21 times in 38 appearances in the last campaign, another transfer saga looks on course to end positively for the Blues with personal terms seemingly already agreed between the two parties.
Edin for Man City exit
Dzeko could be heading for the exit door at Manchester City after just 18 months at the club, with Goal.com exclusively revealing the striker’s agent has offered his services to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
The Bosnian is believed to be dissatisfied with his role at the Etihad Stadium, and with Bayern chiefs admirers of the former Wolfsburg man, Roberto Mancini may be prepared to allow Dzeko to leave the club in order to fund a potential move for Arsenal star Robin van Persie.
However, the player’s agent, Irfan Redzepagic, was quick to rubbish reports suggesting the 26-year-old had agreed personal terms with the Bavarians, claiming that as "not true".
Man Utd go for broke to land Kagawa
Having missed out on Hazard this week, Manchester United will go all out to capture Borussia Dortmund starlet Shinji Kagawa as they look to bolster their midfield options ahead of next season.
The Red Devils are understood to have lodged an improved bid of £17.6m for the Japan international, having offered £13.6m for a player who dazzled in front of Sir Alex Ferguson in the 5-2 DFB Pokal final victory over Bayern last month.
Kagawa has confirmed his intention to move to the Premier League and has suggested he has already met with the United boss, however, Goal.com understands that the 23-year-old’s £100,000-a-week wage demands may prove problematic.
Lambert turns Norwich Villain
Norwich City rejected Paul Lambert's offer of his resignation on Wednesday, with the Scotsman seemingly keen on landing the vacant manager's role at Aston Villa.
After first-choice target Roberto Martinez committed his future to current club Wigan, Villains owner Randy Lerner reportedly identified Lambert as his No.1 target for the post, with the American keen to install a young manager after a disappointing season under Alex McLeish last year.
Lambert’s potential exit leaves Norwich in a desperate search for a new boss as they look to cement their Premier League status, and former club captain and current Cardiff boss Malky Mackay is believed to be a contender, with Birmingham manager Chris Hughton also touted, although the Norfolk side have yet to allow their manager to leave.
Baines coy on Old Trafford switch
Sir Alex Ferguson is to move for Everton’s £12m-rated left-back Leighton Baines as Manchester United look to secure a long-term replacement for Patrice Evra.
The 27-year-old, who is currently on international duty with England, has long been mooted for a switch to Old Trafford, and with Fabio da Silva likely to head out on a season’s loan this summer, Sir Alex is set to step up his interest in the former Wigan man in the current transfer window.
The Red Devils have also been encouraged by the player, who called the speculation "flattering", while insisting "there is no harm in people talking about it because [Manchester United are] a great club."
West Brom set to bag Rangnick
West Brom’s search for a new manager could be nearing its conclusion with various reports suggesting the Baggies are in talks with former Schalke boss Ralf Rangnick.
The 53-year-old has been out of work since quitting his post with the Bundesliga side in September of last year due to exhaustion, and his former boss at Hoffenheim, Dietmar Hopp, has suggested Rangnick is keen for a move to the Premier League.
"The battery is recharged. I think he gets back soon. He favours a job in the Premier League. Let's see if the Brits give a German coach a chance," he told Sportbild.
The West Midlands outfit have also been linked with a move for Birmingham’s Chris Hughton, according to the Daily Mail, but they have missed out on previous target Claudio Ranieri with the Italian joining Monaco.
| THE BAD |
Manchester unites in pursuit of Cisse
Both Manchester clubs are keen on a move for Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse according to The Mirror, after the Senegalese striker lit up the Premier League with 13 goals in 14 games following his January move from Freiburg.
However, City and United may struggle to prise the 26-year-old away from the North East, with Cisse having already reiterated his desire to stay at the Sports Direct Arena – even threatening legal action against reports suggesting he was keen on a move to Real Madrid.
The same may not be the case with fellow forward Demba Ba, who is reportedly attracting firm interest from Tottenham, although the north London outfit will not be able to play cat and mouse too long as the former West Ham man’s £7m release clause allegedly expires on July 31, while Chelsea are also said to be interested.
Rodgers' man Gylfi set to snub Swans
Gyfli Sigurdsson’s Swansea move looked to have been made permanent earlier this week, with the Welsh outfit having agreed a club record fee for the Icelandic international, as well as personal terms.
That was until manager Brendan Rodgers opted to exit the Liberty Stadium in favour of the vacant Liverpool job, leaving the midfielder’s move reportedly hanging in the balance despite having reached an agreement over a contract.
Now, according to the Daily Mail, Sigurdsson is top of Rodgers’ shopping list of new recruits for his Anfield revolution, with the player yet to undergo a medical ahead of his proposed £6.8m switch to the Swans from Hoffenheim.
Wenger Gunner smash record for Doumbia
Arsenal are set to smash their transfer record with a £26m bid for CSKA Moscow’s Seydou Doumbia, if you believe reports surfacing in the Daily Mail on Wednesday.
The rumours suggest the Russian outfit are willing to negotiate with the Gunners over any potential fee, yet the prudent nature of boss Arsene Wenger suggests such a figure could be wide of the mark.
However, the arrival of new striker at the Emirates could well be a possibility, even if Robin van Persie does not exit the club, and Wenger is believed to be keen on Montpellier's Olivier Giroud.
| THE RIDICULOUS |
PSG fancy £120m Rooney
Wayne Rooney is set to be the target of a £120m bid from money-laden French outfit Paris Saint-Germain, according to a report on Spanish website Sport.
While Manchester United would no doubt be tempted by such an astonishing offer which would smash the world record £80m transfer fee they received from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo, it seems highly unlikely such a deal will materialise.
Even in a world where money knows few bounds, the figure touted seems ridiculous, and the Ligue 1 outfit don’t appear to be able to make up their minds having chased Brazilian duo Alexandre Pato and Kaka for much of last season.
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