The World Cup is in full swing, but the transfer rumour mill hasn't slowed down one bit. David Amoyal breaks down and rates some potential moves to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus: 15 percent
The Serie A champions' strong bond to Real Madrid dates back to the 1990s, and they have recently established a relationship with Jorge Mendes as a result of the Joao Cancelo deal. But landing the super agent's highest-profile client would come at an enormous cost at a time when they have already spent significantly to keep Douglas Costa and acquire Cancelo. Ronaldo would command a salary at least three times higher than Juve's current top earners, and it remains to be seen if these rumors are merely a ploy to get Real Madrid to break the bank to resign him or a genuine attempt from Juventus to take the next step in their pursuit of a Champions League title.
Willian to Barcelona: 30 percent
After failing to land Antoine Griezmann, the Bluagrana have pivoted to the Brazil international. But with Antonio Conte expected to leave Stamford Bridge, Willian could end up staying since his relationship with the former Juventus manager was the main reason he was looking for a new team. Manchester United must also be considered serious contenders because of Jose Mourinho and their recent history of completing deals with Chelsea.
Leonardo Bonucci to Manchester United 25 percent
UEFA's recent ruling banning the Rossoneri from European competitions for one season, in addition to all the uncertainty around their ownership, has generated numerous transfer rumors concerning their top players. Selling Bonucci would save Milan significantly on wages, but it remains to be seen if they can turn a profit on a 31-year-old player after just one year at the club. In addition, the centre-back was reticent to leave Italy last summer for personal reasons. While Manchester United have been linked with him, a move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he would be reunited with his good friend Gigi Buffon, is more likely.
Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid: 65 percent; Alisson to Chelsea: 55 percent
The Belgian goalkeeper's desire to play in Spain isn't news, but now that he has just one year left on his contract with Chelsea he has a lot of leverage. Real Madrid have made him their primary target after balking at meeting Roma's asking price of €70 million for Alisson, a fee that Chelsea appear willing to pay. But it remains to be seen if the Brazilian keeper will accept the destination after agreeing to personal terms with Real Madrid a few weeks ago.
Gonzalo Higuain to Chelsea: 40 percent; Alvaro Morata to Juventus: 40 percent
Napoli are unlikely to let any of their current players be reunited with Chelsea manager-in-waiting Maurizio Sarri in London, but the Blues could still sign some players very familiar with Sarri's system. That includes Higuain, who is leaning towards leaving Juventus. The Bianconeri are also interested in Morata as a potential replacement, and the Spanish striker is eager to return to Serie A. While the deals would likely be completed separately for financial purposes, this negotiation could gain significant traction in the coming weeks.
Andre Gomes to Arsenal 35 percent
The Gunners are focused on making significant changes to their midfield this summer, and after completing a deal for Lucas Torreira, who will undergo a medical after the World Cup, they are now targeting the Portuguese international. Barcelona have set Andre Gomes' price at €40 million, so Arsenal likely would have to sell a few players first to help finance the move. It's also not out of the question that other Premier League clubs, including Tottenham, could join the race and drive up the price.
Aleksandr Golovin to Chelsea: 60 percent
While Juventus were the early front-runners for the Russia international, they aren't willing to meet CSKA's asking price of around €30 million. The Blues have made considerable progress in negotiations, and Sarri is said to have blessed to the potential move.
Felipe Anderson to West Ham: 65 percent
Everything seemed to be set for the Hammers to welcome the Brazilian winger, but Lazio president Claudio Lotito's last-second demand for a higher percentage on the future resale and additional bonuses has stalled negotiations a bit. Chelsea could become a factor in the race since Felipe Anderson would be a good fit for Sarri's system, but West Ham remain the considerable favourites since there isn't much distance between their last offer and Lazio's current demands.
Malcom to Inter: 45 percent
Inter have taken the transfer market by storm, and are now focused on signing the talented Brazilian winger who was previously linked to the Premier League. Malcom himself is pushing to join the Nerazzurri, but finding a formula of the transfer that will satisfy Bordeaux has been rather difficult. Inter are offering a loan for €10 million with an option to buy set at €30 million, while the French club wants the option to become forced after some easily attainable goals are met -- a detail that would have a significant impact on the Italian team's balance sheet.
Juan Fernando Quintero to Wolverhampton: 30 percent
His great performances with Colombia in the World Cup didn't go unnoticed, as Tottenham, Wolverhampton and even Real Madrid have set their eyes on him. However, his situation is quite complicated: Quintero is on loan to River Plate from Porto until the end of 2018 and the Argentinian club has already made clear their desire to trigger the €4 million clause to make the deal permanent. Considering Wolves' close relationship with Jorge Mendes, they are probably the best equipped to navigate this situation.