#SSSB takes a look at ten key players who could be nearing the exit door at their current clubs.
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| Iniesta and Messi could both leave Barca. (©GettyImages) |
There's something strangely
appealing from a neutral point of view when a household name leaves a club.
Whether it's due to the fact
that their presence will be sorely missed at the side they're departing or
whether it's that their abilities will boost the chances of the club their
arriving at, as a general rule it usually means plenty to talk about.
With the money that's
currently thrown around in football there's virtually not a player on the planet
who you would be willing to 100% back to remain at a certain club for their
whole careers, no matter how tightly secured the bond may seem at times.
In light of heavy speculation
linking some of the biggest names in the footballing world to one club or
another, we thought we'd compile a list of the best talents who may be plying
their trade elsewhere either next season or sooner.
Controversial? Yes. Unlikely?
Yes. Magnificently enthralling? Also yes...
10: Leighton Baines
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| Baines could move in January. (©GettyImages) |
The England full-back has all
but established himself as one of the best players in his position at the
moment.
Despite coming from humble
beginnings in terms of the clubs he fielded for early in his career, Baines has
toiled away and is now reaping the rewards of his consistency and
hard-work.
Desperately wanted by
Manchester United boss David Moyes, it would be very surprising indeed if he
were to still be running around in an Everton shirt come next season.
The Toffees will offer him a
new contract and don't want him to depart Goodison Park, but United's
approaches may be too good to refuse.
9: Sami Khedira
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| Will Khedira choose to leave Spain? (©GettyImages) |
Real Madrid's enforced,
Khedira is reportedly far from happy at the Bernabeu.Linked with a summer
exit, the German midfielder could well be on his way to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea
but has also been linked with the likes of Manchester United.
If Khedira wants to leave
then it's doubtful that Los Blancos will stand in his way, particularly when
they're raising money to fund the potential arrivals of either Luis Suarez or
Radamel Falcao.
Even if he wants to stay it
may transpire that Carlo Ancelotti opts to sell him in order to bring in a
certain Chelsea star who also finds himself in this collection of players.
8: Stephan El Shaarawy
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| Shaarawy has a lot of admirers. (©GettyImages) |
Widely regarded as one of the
brightest prospects in European football, Shaarawy has recently been tipped to
be placed on the transfer list in January in order to raise funds for AC Milan.
It's thought that Mario
Balotelli and Alessandro Matri are the preferred forwards for the Serie A
giants and, with money being an apparent issue at the club, Milan could opt to
sell.
Shaarawy has been connected with
a host of top European teams, including a series of Premier League high-flyers.
7: Ramires
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| Blues fans would be sad to see Ramires leave. (©GettyImages) |
Chelsea's reliable Brazilian,
Ramires has recently been linked with a shock departure to none other than Real
Madrid.
Although stating his desire
to remain at Stamford Bridge the midfielder did hint that it was an honour to
be linked with the Spanish giants and it has been rumoured that Mourinho may
let him go for either £20million or in a player exchange deal to bring either
Sami Khedira or Xabi Alonso to west London.
A January sale looks
unlikely, but you never know where Mourinho's concerned.
6: Javier Hernandez
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| Andre Villas-Boas wants Hernandez at Tottenham. (©GettyImages) |
Manchester United's fan
favourite has been linked with the exit door at Old Trafford for some time now,
and mainly because he is behind Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney in the
striking pecking order.
January remains a
possibility, but it's more likely he will move at the end of this season.
5: Marco Reus
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| Reus is a target for Manchester City. (©GettyImages) |
Dortmund's most sensational
player along with Robert Lewandowski, Reus has been linked with a high-profile
move to the Premier League and Ligue 1.
The 24-year-old is one of the
hottest properties around in football at the moment and Jurgen Klopp is
desperate to tie him down with a new deal that removes the €35million release clause currently hanging over his
head.
It's likely that if his
contract is not resolved by January clubs will pay the required fee, leaving
Dortmund entirely helpless is he decides he wants to leave.
4: Mario Balotelli
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| Balotelli could move in January. (©GettyImages) |
Linked with a sensational
return back to the Premier League, Balotelli may well become the subject of a
bid from Jose Mourinho and Chelsea.
Reportedly seeking a January
exit from AC Milan, it's probably going to be either him or El Shaarawy who
moves.
It's rumoured that it will
take €35million to prise
the ex-City star away from the Serie A club, and Mourinho is looking for a
striker in January...
3: Robert Lewandowski
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| Lewandowski is a wanted man. (©GettyImages) |
In what's sure to be one of
the most protracted transfer sagas of recent times, Lewandowski has a host of
options to choose or refuse, and they include practically every big team in
Europe.
The Dortmund striker is now
tipped to be sold for as little as £8million in January as his club know they
will lose him for nothing in the summer, but it's unclear which side he will
opt for.
Regardless of the situation
in the winter transfer window, Lewandowski will be moving this year.
2: Andres Iniesta
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| Will Iniesta ever leave Barca? (©GettyImages) |
Admittedly the chances of
Iniesta leaving the Nou Camp are thin, but given the fact that negotiations
concerning a new contract have repeatedly stalled, there always remains the
chance that he might want to try his hand in the Premier League.
Sought after by Manchester
United & City in particular, the Spaniard has yet to tie his future to the
club and has been linked with a shock exit in recent months.
As previously mentioned it is
unlikely, but nothing's impossible.
1: Lionel Messi
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| Is Barca without Messi a possibility? (©GettyImages) |
In what would most certainly be
a record-breaking deal, Messi has been linked with three Adidas backed clubs in
the summer.
Chelsea, Bayern Munich and
even Real Madrid were reported to have tried to lure him away last summer to no
avail, but they are set to return with a release-clause-matching €250million offer at the end of the current season.
This scenario is almost
impossible to imagine, but Barcelona would have no choice to sell if Messi for
some reason fancied a change of scenery.
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