Raheem Sterling to Manchester City, Brazilian wonderkid to Chelsea and Barcelona youngster to Stoke… if you didn’t know better you would think the transfer window was open and business had officially started.
There may be 47 days until the transfer window opens and clubs can start selling their duds and signing some superstars but good transfer gossip waits for no window and that is certainly the case today.
As is to be expected, Liverpool duo Raheem Sterling and Mario Balotelli feature prominently in today’s transfer tittle-tattle as do fellow transfer chit-chat regulars James Milner and Sami Khedira.
But there are also stories about some lesser known names doing the rounds – including a South American bloke called Nathan on his way to Stamford Bridge and a Barcelona youngster readying himself for a switch from the glitz and glamour of the Camp Nou to the slightly lesser lights of the Britannia Stadium.
There’s also some news closer to home with Hearts’ former Celtic striker James Keatings free to leave Tynecastle and current Celtic striker John Guidetti reportedly considering an offer from Feyenoord.
So let’s take a quick look at who is reportedly heading where…
Raheem Sterling
Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre has today stressed that Raheem Sterling will be staying at the club for “a long time”.
However, Ayre’s statements are unlikely to stop the rumours, with the Daily Mirror and Daily Mail both reporting that the attacker will be heading to Manchester City for a fee believed to be up to £50million.
Nathan
Apparent Manchester City target, Nathan, is reportedly on the verge of confirming a move to the English Premier League… to sign for Chelsea.
According to the Metro, the 19-year-old Brazilian is currently undergoing a medical at Chelsea ahead of a £4.7m summer move.
Aaron Cresswell
Chelsea and Manchester City have four very well paid international left backs between the two of them in the shape of Felipe Luis, Cesar Azpilicueta, Gaël Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov.
However, according to the Daily Mail, the two clubs are battling it out for the signature of another left back – West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell.
The 25-year-old cost the Hammers just £2million in the summer but could go for almost 10 times that amount if he moves on again this summer.
Moha El Ouriachi
From Barcelona to Stoke may not seem like the most natural of career moves but Moroccan winger Moha El Ouriachi could be the third player to make that very move in recent years.
Bojan and Marc Muniesa have swapped the Nou Camp for the Britannia and El Ouriachi, whose Barca contract expires this summer, looks set to complete a hat trick of signings from the Spanish giants.
Moha’s agent Raul Verdu has been quoted in Spain saying: “I want to thank Barca for the way they treated the player and the effort that they wanted to make to renew his contract, but another offer arose at a professional and economic level that was really very interesting.
“It was a great opportunity because Moha has the option of joining Stoke’s first-team and it was something irresistible.”
James Milner
James Milner is out of contract at Manchester City in the summer and, unsurprisingly, there is no shortage of clubs chasing his signature.
However, the Sun are today reporting that Arsenal are now in pole position to complete the signing of the England midfielder who cost City £26million in 2010.
Mario Balotelli
The Mario Balotelli circus could be set to pack up and return to Italy according to stories today.
Sampdoria could be the Italian’s latest destination with club president Massimo Ferrero tellling Gazetta: “I’d sign him. If he came to Sampdoria, he would come back to his usual standards. Here nobody would bother him if he missed a goal, he would be quiet and happy.
“In my opinion he’s not hungry anymore, he earns 4 million euros (£2.9m) a year. We should put him on bread and water, then I’m sure he would score again.”
Sami Khedira
Most of the top clubs in Europe have been linked with moves for German midfielder Sami Khedira over the past 18 months, however, the Sun are reporting he is on his way to Manchester United.
The German midfielder, out of contract at Real Madrid this summer, will be available on a free and looks like he will be the bargain of the summer.
John Guidetti
Manchester City striker John Guidetti, currently on loan at Celtic, has been the subject of a bid from one of his previous loan clubs, Feyenoord.
Celtic are keen to keep the striker when his City deal expires this summer, however, Feyenoord are believed to have now offered him a contract and the club’s technical director Martin van Geel has said: “We’ll do all we can to make it happen.”
James Keatings
The Edinburgh Evening News has reported that Hearts striker James Keatings is free to leave the capital club.
The forward is only half way through his two year deal but he will only play a back up role next season.
Manager Robbie Neilson is happy to keep the 23-year-old at Tynecastle but he has informed the player that should he want to leave for first team football, the club will release him from his deal.