As the transfer deadline draws closer. all the European clubs will soon be scrambling around to make last minute additions that they think can improve their chances of having a good season. While most clubs will be looking to close deals to add a valuable player, they’re also several teams looking to offload some of the players they think won’t play a prominent part in the new season.
We take a look at some of the players that the top European clubs will be hoping to move on before the window slams shut.
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#1 James Rodriguez
Football is full of stories of players who go to Real Madrid for record transfer sums, with all the glitz and glamour imaginable, only to find themselves on the sidelines. James Rodriguez is one of the perfect examples. He was signed by the Blancos for a record €80 million and now finds himself on the chopping block a couple of years later.
His first year wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, with 17 goals in all competitions, but competing with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Isco isn’t easy and James has found himself on the sidelines a lot more than a player of his talent deserves.
Real Madrid reportedly to want at least €60 million for him, and there’s apparently a lot of interest from the Premier League. Can a deal be completed in time?
#2 Loic Remy
We seem to be saying the same thing about Loic Remy every year and here he finds himself on such a list again. The Frenchman was much in demand by clubs in England after his impressive performances for QPR and Newcastle a couple of years ago. He chose to come to Chelsea in the summer of 2014. However, in his 2 seasons at Stamford Bridge, he has only made 32 league appearances.
In an inflated market, especially for strikers, Remy would offer great value for money and at 29 years old, still has a lot to contribute.
Remy has almost always looked sharp for Chelsea in the very limited minutes he’s got on the pitch. If Conte continues with the 4-1-4-1 formation he started with against West Ham, Remy will find Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi ahead of him in the pecking order and might not get much game time in the year. If he wants to fulfill his potential, this might be the last chance to move.
#3 Mateo Kovacic
While Phillipe Coutinho is thriving for Liverpool, another talented attacking midfielder moved on by Inter Milan is still struggling to assert himself. Kovacic is incredibly talented. gorgeous to watch with the ball at his feet and has a great eye for a pass. Moving to Real Madrid at such a young age might not have been the wisest decision of his career, though. It was always obvious that with Toni Kroos, Luca Modric, and Isco already with the 11 time European Champions that he wasn’t going to get much game time.
But Kovacic is only 22 years old, and even a significant transfer fee would be a shrewd investment. He already has 29 caps for the Croatian national team to his name and has the talent to be one of the best players in his position.
#4 Mario Lemina
Mario Lemina could still be kept by Juventus, but their continued hunt for an eclectic midfielder can only mean the hierarchy at the Bianconeri feels they need an upgrade over the Gabon international. That isn’t to say that Lemina isn’t a very good player, though.
He was brought to Turin after impressive performances for Marseille and has a wide range of attributes. Lemina turned out for Juve in a variety of roles and convinced the club to activate the €9.5 million euro option to make his move permanent.
The interest he’s generated from a wide variety of clubs is a testament to his quality. Leicester City were keen on the 22-year-old for a while and there was also a lot of interest from the Bundesliga as well. Of late, Watford and Arsenal are said to be lining up bids. If Juve want, they could easily double their money on Lemina immediately.
#5 Juan Cuadrado
Cuadrado is a player new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has repeatedly stressed he is very keen on keeping. But the Colombian international seems to have been extremely unhappy in England in the short time he spent there and is desperate for a move back to Serie A. Conte is still trying to convince him to stay, and he could well provide an excellent alternative for Willian in Chelsea’s lineup but it remains to be seen whether Cuadrado can be convinced.
The fact that Juventus, (the team he played on loan for last year) have signed Dani Alves, and Milan (another team interested in acquiring him) are on the verge of signing Jose Sosa (relinquishing their last Non-EU spot) means that there aren’t any concrete suitors for him yet, though. This could be a crucial factor that might mean he’d have to remain with Chelsea after all.
