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 one of Italy’s bright young stars possibly on the move, another iconic Azzurri striker going back to the Premier League and a young French centre-back perhaps leaving the Bundesliga.
GIANLUCA MANCINI
Atalanta -> €30m -> Roma
Mancini is the top target for new Roma coach Paulo Fonseca as the Giallorossi look to replace defender Kostas Manolas, according to Gianlucadimarzio.com.
WHY IT CAN HAPPEN: The two teams are not that far away in their valuation of the player, with Roma reportedly having opened their bidding at €25m. Mancini had a brilliant season, scoring six goals in 31 appearances, and won his first two Italy caps.
He is seen as an ideal replacement for Manolas who moved to Napoli.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: You can see why Mancini might be tempted; the bright lights of Rome, playing at the iconic Stadio Olimpico, but there’s no Champions League football to chase as the Eternal City side finished a lowly sixth.
He already has Champions League football if he stays after a stellar season saw La Dea (the Goddess) qualify for the first time in their history. Mancini would be crazy to leave this summer.
Transfer predictor: 7/10
MARIO BALOTELLI
Mario Balotelli paid a bar owner in Naples €2000 cash to drive his moped into the sea🤣pic.twitter.com/UMTYyNFCtf
— Transfer News (@PurelyFootball) 6 July 2019
Marseille -> free -> West Ham
West Ham have been offered the chance to sign Balotelli, though manager Manuel Pellegrini doesn’t appear to be interested, according to the Telegraph.
WHY IT CAN HAPPEN: It’s the age old transfer conundrum. A player who is a loose cannon but undoubtedly a huge talent. A prolific two-year spell at Nice ended on a sour note last season, although the 28-year-old did go on to score eight goals in 12 games at Marseille.
It also feels like there is something completely West Ham about this deal. The club’s owners are also a bit unstable and have a history of acquiring strikers with questionable or fiery attitudes. They’ve just got rid of one, Marko Arnautovic, why not replace him with another.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: Pellegrini is an articulate and experienced manager. Does he really want a Balotelli-sized headache? The player made headlines over the weekend for reportedly paying a Naples bar owner €2,000 to drive his Vespa into the sea, before lighting up a cigarette.
West Ham are also prepared to pay a record £44.5m to sign Maxi Gomez, 22, from Celta Vigo, so Balotelli is definitely on the back burner. Just don’t rule it out completely though.
Transfer predictor: 3/10
ABDOU DIALLO
Borussia Dortmund -> €25m -> Lyon
Lyon are targeting Dortmund defender Diallo but may have to fend off Paris Saint-Germain, according to le10sport.
WHY IT CAN HAPPEN: Lyon were keen to bring in the young Frenchman a year ago but he chose to move to the Bundesliga giants. It was a difficult season for BVB’s inexperienced back line with Diallo and compatriot Dan-Axel Zagadou in particular looking shaky, and he might fancy a return to his homeland.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: Lyon do not want to pay more than €25m, which will be a problem because Dortmund are unlikely to want to sell for anything less than the €28m they paid for him. Paris Saint-Germain are also sniffing around so that is likely to keep any fee high.
Despite a shaky season, the 23-year-old is a promising player and Dortmund would ideally like to see him develop under the tutelage of Mats Hummels.
Transfer predictor: 5/10
