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 AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and … the Chinese Super League?
GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA
RUMOUR: AC Milan -> €70m -> Arsenal
With AC Milan battling Financial Fair Play and facing uncertain times after Gennaro Gattuso stepped down from the hotseat, Arsenal are eyeing a swoop for 20-year-old star keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, reports Tutto Mercato WEB.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN: Donnarumma has been here before. With agent Mino Raiola pulling the strings, he tried to force a move to Real Madrid two years ago only to undergo a last-minute U-turn. With Milan fronting up to yet another campaign without the Champions League – they haven’t been back since 2014 – Italy’s No1 is likely to get itchy feet yet again. Arsenal would certainly be interested given Peter Cech’s retirement and Bernd Leno’s inconsistency.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: Donnarumma could well be for sale at the right price. But €70m seems a tad low for a player widely regarded as the best young keeper in the world, especially given Kepa went to London rivals Chelsea for north of that. If Milan did signal their intentions to sell he could spark a bidding war from the likes of PSG, Bayern Munich and Manchester United – and the Gunners may not have the budget to push it any further.
TRANSFER PREDICTOR: 4/10
EDINSON CAVANI
RUMOUR: PSG -> Unspecified -> Atletico Madrid
Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claim Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani has accepted an offer from Atletico MAdrid.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN: If there’s ever a man in need of a new challenge, it’s Edinson Cavani. After six mostly glorious years in Paris, injury spoiled his season and there was no shortage of goals from Kylian Mbappe in his absence. It would seem the ideal time to move on from a high earner, while it’s easy to see Cavani moving to Atletico for the South American spirit of Diego Simeone. They’re also looking to shift Diego Costa, while Antoine Griezmann is heading for the exit.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: … or is he? Barcelona’s interest in Griezmann has reportedly cooled off of late, with the board preferring to get a move for Ajax’s superstar teenage centre-back Matthijs De Ligt over the line. There have been murmurings of a move by Manchester United, but don’t count Griezmann out of a second U-Turn just yet. Any deal for Cavani could also be predicated on shifting Costa, who has been severely lacklustre in his second spell in the Spanish capital.
TRANSFER PREDICTOR: 7/10
SERGIO RAMOS
RUMOUR: Real Madrid -> FREE -> Chinese Super League
Tensions between Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and Sergio Ramos has escalated to such an extent that the club captain wants to move to China, according to Marca.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN: Ramos has indeed received an offer from a Chinese Super League club – Perez has admitted as much. With Madrid in dire need of a facelift after such a poor season, there may be sense in ending the Ramos era now, particularly with Eder Militao set to arrive from Porto and Raphael Varane still only 26. Given how much the 32-year-old likes to kick up a stink on the football pitch, he could become an increasingly distracting problem all summer.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: What else did Perez have to say? That there is no way Real would let their club captain leave on a free transfer. Disgruntlement is also nothing new in the Spanish capital, as their were rumours over a switch to Manchester United a few years back before they all made nice. Ramos’ irritation seems to stem from comments by Perez made in the aftermath of the Ajax defeat, but time has proven a healer when it comes to bruised egos.
TRANSFER PREDICTOR: 3/10
