Messi, Ronaldhino, Villa, Benzema and Huntelaar are the players most likely to move to the Premier League in the summer. It's a busy time of year for agents!
'The Premier League is the natural choice for Ronaldihno, who is still undoubtedly a class act'
With the football season almost over, the gossip pages and transfer tittle-tattle is in full swing as managers around the country prepare for what is expected to be a frenzied summer of transfer activity.
Gareth Barry to Liverpool. Anton Ferdinand to Spurs. English players transferring to other clubs in the Premier League will always happen but there is nothing like an exotic foreigner coming from overseas to whet the appetite for the new season.
Here is a guide to six foreigners who could well grace the Premier League next season and will have fans salivating at the thought of watching these attacking players strut their stuff at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford.
Lionel Messi: The News of the World on Sunday claimed the mercurial Argentinean will move to Chelsea for £80 million. This would shatter the world transfer record and would only increase the hype over who is the world’s best player, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
Likely destination: Chelsea – who else could afford him?
Will it happen? Unlikely that Barcelona will let their talisman go, but this sort of rumour sells newspapers.
Ronaldinho: The gap-toothed Brazilian is on his way from the Nou Camp. An injury-ravaged season and question marks over his fitness and desire mean Ronaldinho has played his last game for the Catalan giants. After he was hawked around Europe by his brother, a move to AC Milan looked more than likely but Silvio Berlusconi recently rubbished the move. The Premier League is the natural choice for Ronaldinho, who is still undoubtedly a class act.
Likely destination: Manchester City, but don’t rule out Chelsea as Roman Abramovich chases his “sexy football” dream team.
Will it happen? The chance for Ronaldinho to grab one more last (huge) payday in Europe before returning to Brazil may be too hard to ignore.
Karim Benzema: The Lyon forward knows where the goal is and plays like his idol Ronaldo (the Brazilian). Prior to the Champions League games with Manchester United, the Frenchman received public praise from Sir Alex Ferguson and if it is one thing United need it is a target man. However, Benzema recently signed a contract extension to 2013, so Fergie may have to break the bank for the latest up-and-coming French striker.
Likely destination: Manchester United.
Will it happen? Yes, but it might not be this summer.
David Villa: Only a few weeks ago the Valencia striker professed his love for the Premier League and Arsenal. But Arsene Wenger is apparently not in the market for forward players, so the latest rumours suggest Villa is on his way to Real Madrid. Although Villa is slight he has great skill on the ball and is one of a number of players on this list who will only go up in value after Euro 2008.
Likely destination: Real Madrid, but Rafa Benitez could pair him with fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres at Liverpool and Spurs are also interested.
Will it happen? Villa will definitely move this summer – but his transfer to Real Madrid could be announced in days.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar: The Ajax striker has scored over 70 goals in two seasons with the Amsterdam club and Huntelaar is likely to leave this summer. The 24-year-old is strong in the air and, like all Dutch players, has fine skill on the ground. He would undoubtedly adapt to the Premier League with ease. Of course, Manchester United need a target man whilst Dimitar Berbatov’s no-show at the Spurs kit launch on Tuesday night could see Juande Ramos after a hit-man too.
Likely destination: Manchester United or Tottenham.
Will it happen? In recent days Huntelaar has been linked with Real Madrid and his agent claimed he would be too expensive for Roma. But the new La Liga champions can’t buy every striker in Europe (see David Villa above).
Michael Bradley: Unlike all the other names on this list, you may not have heard of Michael Bradley, but David Moyes has and the American striker is due a big move this summer. The son of USA coach Bob Bradley has had a great season for Heerenveen, scoring on average a goal every two games. At just 21-years-old and 6ft 1ins Bradley is well suited to the hurly burly of Premier League football. He could be one of the buys of the summer.
Likely destination: Everton, but Blackburn are also showing an interest. And who can count Fulham out when it comes to Americans?
Will it happen? Bradley will undoubtedly move on from the Eredivisie and there are high hopes for him in the USA – could be the next Brian McBride.
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