2) Gonzalo Higuain – Arsenal
Close to going all the way in Europe’s secondary club competition under Rafael Benitez, the Napoli forward almost ended the season as a champion. Now, calls continue to emerge from England, looking for a high-quality goal-poacher.
More precisely, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with the Argentine’s services, and with him currently on international duty in Chile, it’s unlikely he will make a decision on any tabled bids any time soon.
In total, the Partenopei player grabbed 18 goals in the league last season and was just four short of catching up with a revitalised Luca Toni. Much like his interest in pursuing Bacca, Arsene Wenger has his sights on Higuain because they need a regular scorer to compete with Olivier Giroud.
At 27 years of age, he’s far from past his best and could use his upcoming peak period to fire any interested suitors to victory and silverware in the coming few months.
1) Paul Pogba – Manchester City
Arguably the most wanted player on the planet right now, Pogba is in high demand with suitors lining up left, right and centre. In June, the Italy international was on the cusp of European glory with Juventus following a tremendous double-winning campaign, winning league and cup winners’ medals, but it just wasn’t to be.
Indeed, it’s that loss which could fuel his desire to move away. If he wants to get his hands on “ol’ big ears” any time soon, he might just have to make his exit elsewhere, instead of battling against the tide of money and power that the biggest clubs continue to lord over everyone else.
Recently, the Gazzetta dello Sport (reported in the Mirror) reported that Manchester City had bid a staggering £58 million for his services – a bold move that is expected to spark a bidding war involving Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid, too. Admiring glances continue to be thrown in his direction and it’s easy to see why.
Clearly one of the most creative performers in the world game, his nine goals and six assists between Serie A and Champions League appearances underline precisely why he is so highly sought after. A graceful instigator, his accurate passing and deadly use of the ball would certainly give the Citizens the boost they need, and it would be the perfect way to claim vengeance over their noisy neighbours who neglected to let Pogba go all those years ago.