Along with the many big signings we’ve seen this summer, there have been those transfer targets that just won’t leave the headlines, yet make no move at all. Gareth Bale in the Tottenham-Real Madrid link, Luis Suarez and his ploy to leave Liverpool, Wayne Rooney and his attempt to leave Manchester United, Robert Lewandowski wanting only Bayern Munich and Barcelona rejecting every offer being made for Cesc Fabregas.
Some deals, interestingly enough, were made and sealed a lot faster than most expected. The two most noteworthy were Neymar being signed by Barcelona, and Monaco becoming a major force in the market by beating everyone else for Falcao.
Gareth Bale
There’s a chance that (according to AS in Spain) this one is finally reaching its end, but for now, Bale is still at Tottenham, in a deal that for months seemed like something the press is conjuring in order to sell papers. The prices that are mentioned in this one: €100 million or even more are simply insane, but Real Madrid want their mega signing of the summer, and it seems they’re finally going to get it after about a year of the link between the two sides.
Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez wants to leave, Liverpool aren’t letting him. At first it was about Suarez wanting to escape England, and only to Real Madrid and Barcelona. Then it became about playing for a better club, like Arsenal or Chelsea. The gunners have made two offers so far, including one for £40,000,001, which was rejected as well, as Liverpool are looking to get at least £50 million for the player.
Wayne Rooney
Once in a while, Wayne Rooney decides life is boring and starts stirring up some trouble at Manchester United. This time, however, there’s no Alex Ferguson to calm him down. At the end of last season there was talk of Rooney looking for a transfer away from the club. Many clubs have been mentioned as David Moyes has said the wrong things (if he’s actually trying to keep Rooney on the team), while the club has as well, initially lying to the press, suggesting Chelsea offered money and players for Rooney. Chelsea have only offered cash, but that’s been rejected, and for now Rooney is nursing an injury, while hoping to find himself in a better situation than he was in for most of last season.
Robert Lewandowski
Ever since last season, it was clear Robert Lewandowski isn’t planning on staying at Dortmund for another season, even though he has a contract until 2014. Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea and even Arsenal were mentioned as potential destinations, but after the season ended, with Dortmund second in the league and in Europe, there was only one club on Lewandowski’s mind: Bayern Munich.
Dortmund refused to sell him to the German champions, who actually didn’t make an offer. They simply waited for the drama to unfold. Real Madrid had an offer accepted by Real Madrid for the player, but Lewandowski rejected it himself. Bayern or bust for him. As the dust has settled, Lewandowski will remain with Dortmund for one final season, and then probably leave on a free transfer to Bayern.
Cesc Fabregas
Ever since landing back in Barcelona, it seems there are those trying to put a wedge between the player and the club, using his inferiority in some ways when compared with Xavi and Iniesta as a reason for him to leave. This summer it’s been about the desperate Manchester United trying to sign him, although Barcelona have rejected United’s offers twice, and have made it clear more than once they aren’t planning on selling him.
Notable completed deals are Edinson Cavani, with the rumors around him buzzing in our ears for over a year. Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid made a lot of noise, but the only team willing to break the bank for him were PSG. Another striker, Gonzalo Higuain, has also made his fair share of rounds in the media, looking very close to Arsenal and Juventus at some point, but Napoli, with their Cavani profits, were the side willing to pay the €37 million for him.