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, or why not.
Today’s edition features activity involving Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and AS Monaco.
NEYMAR
Neymar
Paris Saint-Germain -> Loan -> Barcelona
Goal report that PSG are willing to loan Neymar as long as the deal includes an “obligation to buy” with Barcelona the front runners.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN
It’s no secret that Neymar is determined to leave PSG and favours a move to Barcelona. The financials though are proving to be a massive stumbling block with the Parisians refusing to accept anything less than the €220m they spent to sign him two seasons ago.
A loan deal certainly makes a reported €220-250m asking price more manageable. With the deadline approaching, such an offer even brings Real Madrid and Juventus to the table but given the player’s preference, Barca have the inside track. Following their disappointing opening day defeat to Athletic Bilbao during which Luis Suarez joined Lionel Messi on the sidelines, the Catalans’ motivation to complete the move may have risen.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN
Madrid could see this as an opportunity to get one over Barca in the transfer market. They could out-bid their rivals by agreeing a higher eventual fee but in Gareth Bale they also hold a valuable bargaining chip with PSG boss Thomas Tuchel insisting Neymar will not leave without a replacement. Juventus are in a similar position as they would presumably offer up Paulo Dybala as a makeweight.
TRANSFER RATING: 7/10
MAURO ICARDI
Inter Milan -> €65m -> Monaco
Monaco have entered the race to sign Mauro Icardi, according to RAI.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN
The Serie A outfit will most likely pounce on the opportunity to offload the trouble-making star for €65m. With Romelu Lukaku replacing the Inter outcast as the leading man in attack, Icardi’s time at the club appears to be up. Monaco may be keen to respond to back-to-back 3-0 defeats with a big signing. The French side have already shown their ability to lure big names. They have reportedly matched Napoli’s bid and may even offer better personal terms.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN
Icardi may be inclined to remain in Italy even if Inter prefer not to sell him to a competitor. Napoli could certainly use more firepower in attack while Monaco aren’t actually lacking in that department. Having added Wissam Ben Yeddar to forward options that already boast the likes of Radamel Falcao, Stevan Jovetic, Keita Balde and Gelson Martins, they may not pull out all the stops to sign Icardi.
TRANSFER RATING: 4/10
ALEXIS SANCHEZ
Manchester United -> Loan -> Inter Milan
Inter Milan and Manchester United are in talks over a loan move for Alexis Sanchez, the Guardian report.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN
Sanchez is not the explosive player he once was and is no longer suited to United’s style of play under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The player has reportedly asked for a return to Serie A where he previously plied his trade for Udinese.
Sanchez is a top earner and costs United nearly half a million pounds a week while being on the fringes of the first team. Sending him on loan with an option to buy for €15m in 2020 could be the best case scenario for the Red Devils. Icardi’s inevitable departure should help finance Inter’s move.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN
Even if United pay half his wages over the next couple of years, Inter would still be stretched. Given Sanchez’s recent form, how keen will they be to make such a large dent on their wage budget? Solskjaer may decide to keep the experienced Chilean and use him sparingly in an otherwise extremely young attack.
TRANSFER RATING 8/10
