Struggling to pick out the facts from the figures? Reality from the rubbish? Sense from the silly season? We’ve got you sorted in our daily dose of the Transfer Predictor, where we round up the latest rumours with an analytical spin.
We sort through the most eye-catching transfer reports of the past 24 hours and give a balanced judgment on whether the move really will happen – and why.
Today’s edition features potential signings for Manchester City, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid.
JOAO CANCELO
RUMOUR: Juventus -> €60m -> Manchester City
The Premier League champions have approached Juventus to discuss a deal for the flying Portugal right-back, according to Record.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN: Pep Guardiola’s ambitions are not sated by successive top-flight wins. A desire to bolster ranks for a push at the Champions League burns bright. Cancelo could be sacrificed, for the right price, by Juve after a debut season that began brightly, but has fizzled out.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: A change of regime for Juve with the exit of head coach Massimiliano Allegri could see the 24-year-old retained. Plus, England’s Kyle Walker is already resident at Etihad Stadium and he cost £50 million in July 2017. With Vincent Kompany gone and Nicolas Otamendi reported to be going, City’s priorities may lie in the centre of defence.
TRANSFER PREDICTOR: 5/10
IVAN RAKITIC
RUMOUR: Barcelona -> €55m -> Manchester United
United are working on a deal to draft in the experienced Croatia centre midfielder as a replacement for Paris Saint-Germain bound Ander Herrera, according to Daily Record.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN: The Red Devils are desperate for reinforcements in midfield and they wouldn’t come more rarefied than Rakitic. The 31-year-old has been an immense buy for Barca, but this summer’s arrival of Frenkie de Jong threatens to limit his role. A desire to cash-in to fund purchases of Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann also increases the odds of a sale.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: United are rudderless and out of the Champions League. Why would Rakitic want to swap the Camp Nou for that? Especially when PSG and Inter Milan continue to be linked. A fee of €55m and enormous wages for someone in their thirties may not appeal for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
TRANSFER PREDICTOR: 5/10
ADRIEN RABIOT
RUMOUR: Unattached -> Free -> Atletico Madrid
The PSG outcast has emerged as Los Rojiblancos’ No1 replacement for Rodri if he departs this summer, according to AS.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN: If Man City or Barcelona pay Spain defensive midfielder Rodri’s release clause, Atleti will be helpless to prevent an exit. Rabiot is only 24-years old, but he represents an experienced replacement with 227 PSG matches already notched. An availability on a free transfer only makes him more alluring.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: Rabiot has endured a horrific season. Disciplinary issues and a reluctance to extend a contract that expires this summer has meant he hasn’t played since December. Will Atleti want to introduce such an incendiary figure into their squad? There is also reported to be strong competing interest from United and Juventus. Can Atleti compete on wages and signing-on fee?
TRANSFER PREDICTOR: 6/10
