Wesley Sneijder was linked with a move to United for a sustained period. Co-presenter David May was one of the many players signed by Sir Alex during his Old Trafford tenure and the Scot explained what he liked most about the former Blackburn Rovers defender when quizzed on the subject by Helen Evans.27 Sept 2021
Goal.com looks at the pick of Europe's stars who might be heading to our shores before the start of next season in what promises to be a thrilling transfer window.
As the climax of the 2010-11 season nears, clubs around Europe are gearing up for another busy and dramatic transfer window.Some of the continent's most coveted stars are on the radar of the Premier League's big spenders as they seek to bolster their squads and challenge for silverware next year.
This week Goal.com brings you a special guide on the players from the top flights of Spain, Italy, Netherlands, France and Germany who are garnering strong interest from the Premier League.
With the assistance of Goal.com International's Serie A expert, Kris Voakes, we analyse some of the top stars who could be on the move from Italy - and look at the options for where they could end up...
| EDINSON CAVANI | Palermo, Striker, 24 |
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How the English clubs who nearly signed the Uruguayan striker from Palermo last summer – and there were a few of them – must be kicking themselves now.
Manchester City are just about the only team in the world that could afford the 24-year-old, who has scored 26 goals in 35 league appearances for Napoli this season, a better return than even the great Diego Maradona ever managed at the club.
His £40 million price and Napoli's fierce desire to keep him means a deal will be difficult to complete, but Cavani is City's first choice to replace captain Carlos Tevez if the Argentine leaves.
Cavani is settled in Italy and happy to stay at Napoli, but it is impossible to rule out a move with the Abu Dhabi-backed millions at Eastlands – and City could offer the 24-year-old a significant pay increase.
He would certainly be a good fit as a replacement for Tevez as he guarantees goals, can play as either a lone striker or with a partner while having the height and strength to play with his back to goal and get on the end of crosses into the box.
The view from Goal.com's Italian football editor Kris Voakes: Cavani has been a revelation in his first term with Napoli, linking superbly with Ezequiel Lavezzi to bag 33 goals in all competitions. His energy up front has really kept Italian defences on their toes, and he had a decent Europa League campaign too. There have been vague mentions of the usual clubs linked to top players – Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter et al. Manchester City have also been linked lately, but he’s not the only one that has been looked at by City. His agent has been quite non-committal of late, but the player himself has said nothing of note since, stating in April: "I will not change agent or club. I am staying at Napoli. The rest is just stupid things." Given the goals he has scored at Napoli with someone like Lavezzi floating around him, he may well suit a move to Real Madrid to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
| JEREMY MENEZ | Roma, Winger, 23 |
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The winger wants to leave Roma after three years and the club and is rumoured to be a target for Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.
Liverpool are in desperate need of wide players and the Frenchman fits the bill as Reds manager Kenny Dalglish looks to add creativity to the side.
Menez, 24, has one year left on his contract but he has fallen out with coach Vincenzo Montella and the Roma fans, who pelted his car with rocks last month after a loss to Inter in the semi-final of the Italian Cup.
His contract situation means Roma are unlikely to receive a transfer fee of more than £10m for the former Monaco star, an asking price that is easily affordable for Premier League suitors.
“My departure is possible,” Menez said last month. “I haven’t been given anywhere near as much help as others here. I want them to understand that Roma will regret their decisions down the line.”
Kris Voakes: Menez has been typically inconsistent this term, but when he’s been on his game he has been fantastic. He has seen very little playing time since Vincenzo Montella took over from Claudio Ranieri in February and he recently had a falling-out with the coach. AC Milan and Napoli were both linked with him in March, but there has been little talk about the Frenchman’s next move of late. At the weekend Menez said of his future: "What the future has to offer for me? I still have a contract for one more year, but we will sit together to discuss my future at the end of the season. It's clear that the things that have happened recently play a big role in my decision whether I'll stay put or not." He would suit a club that will be willing to play around him rather than him play around them. Maybe a club competing to reach the Champions League with the need for a tricky wide player.
| ALEXIS SANCHEZ | Udinese, Winger, 22 |
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The Udinese winger has been tracked by a number of Premier League club over the last few years but he really came to the fore as one of the hottest properties in Europe after the 2010 World Cup.
Manchester United and Manchester City are believed to be leading the race for his €30m (£26.2m) signature, with a move to Eastlands seemingly more likely.
The talk around City is that the club are extremely confident of landing the Chilean – and they hope to get a deal wrapped up before the end of the end of the season as they prepare to challenge for the Premier League title next term.
He would add much needed pace and a spark in the final third for a side that is often too pedestrian in its build-up play and lacks a cutting edge.
There will be stumbling blocks, however, especially if Udinese clinch qualification for next season's Champions League, which would strengthen their resolve to hold on to their star man.
Kris Voakes: Despite the occasional injury, Sanchez has had a fantastic season. His pace on the right-hand side has been a real handful for defences all over Italy and has had clubs from far and wide following him. He has been watched by the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter, Manchester United and Manchester City, and it’s the two Manchester sides who are most interested according to the media, while Barcelona allegedly spoke with his agent last week. Sanchez himself has stayed quiet, though his agent Fernando Felicevich said in February: "In June he will change squad." He claimed at the time that Manchester United and Inter had both asked about the player. Playing in one of the wide forward roles, he would fit in superbly at Barcelona.
| CLARENCE SEEDORF | AC Milan, Midfielder, 35 |
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The decorated midfielder has proven in a deep-lying midfield role this season that he still has plenty to offer – and that has alerted a number of English clubs.
Seedorf is out of contract at the end of the season and is likely to turn down Milan's offer of a new deal as he feels ready for a new challenge after nine years at the club.
Seedorf feels that playing in England is the one major ambition of his career that remains unfulfilled and he has offers from at least three Premier League clubs.
Manchester City have shown the strongest interest and have held talks over a move as they believe the four-time Champions League winner can offer vital experience as they challenge in Europe's elite competition next season.
The 35-year-old can provide the kind of experience and know-how that Ryan Giggs provides Manchester United and showed against Tottenham in the Champions League that he is still good enough to control a game against fast-paced English sides.
Kris Voakes: Seedorf has had a real Jekyll & Hyde campaign, struggling very badly at times before coming back to finish the season strong in a left midfield slot alongside Mark van Bommel. Seedorf has been most heavily linked with a move to Brazil as his wife is Brazilian. Flamengo and Corinthians are both reportedly interested, while he has rubbished reports he could sign for Ajax. Just last week, Seedorf said: "Never say never, but a return to Ajax is not an option for me at the moment." I think a switch to Brazil may be a good idea for him, though Manchester United could do worse than to sign him for the hole in behind Hernandez if they don’t go for Sneijder. He would be of particular use in the Champions League.
| WESLEY SNEIJDER | Inter, Playmaker, 26 |
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The Dutch playmaker has been courted by Manchester United for the last two years and the circumstances could be right for him to finally complete a £25m switch to Old Trafford this summer.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson considers Sneijder as a fitting long-term replacement for Paul Scholes and at the age of 26, the former Ajax and Real Madrid man is entering his peak years.
Despite signing a new contract earlier this season that ties him to Inter until 2015, Sneijder feels he is ready to leave Inter and would jump at the chance to join United. Manchester City have also been linked with a bid, but it seems that Old Trafford is the only possible destination if Sneijder leaves the San Siro.
After leading Inter to an historic treble last season, Sneijder has had a frustrating campaign and his relationship with manager Leonardo has been fractious.
Inter were determined to hold on to their playmaker last summer but now appear ready to cash in so they can re-invest the funds in rebuilding their squad after a disappointing campaign.
Kris Voakes: After a very laboured first half of the season, Sneijder peaked in February and March, but since then he has had the odd niggling injury and his campaign has tailed off somewhat. Sneijder has been linked with Manchester United for some time now, with many believing he’ll want a chance in another country. The player nor his agent have said nothing on his future since last autumn before he signed a contract extension with Inter. Arsenal would really benefit from having somebody like Sneijder, but Arsene Wenger’s continued refusal to spend heavily will surely rule out such a move. Manchester United would also be a good move for him as they can play both a high energy game counter-attacking or high pressing game which could fit his propensity for intricate passes well.
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