According to the UEFA’s League Coefficient, La Liga has been the top Footballing League in Europe over the last 5 years. Perhaps, it is the presence of numerous superstars in its ranks that make this league one blessed with a wide plethora of talent.
With that also comes the added pressure of holding on to your best talents as other leagues are more than ready to splash the cash at every possible opportunity to pry them away from Spain and in this segment, we take a look at 5 superstars who could soon be on the move to the Premier League.
#5 Ivan Rakitic
After becoming an integral part of the famed Barcelona midfield, Croatian Ivan Rakitic’s future with the club has been a constant source of trouble for the fans. The midfielder was approached by several clubs including the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United in the summer as it was rumoured that he was not entirely happy with life at Camp Nou and wanted to leave.
While no move materialised in the summer, it does not mean that the aforementioned clubs will not make a renewed approach for the player. The former Sevilla man’s current contract with Barcelona expires at the end of the 2017-18 season and while the Catalan giants have been making the required efforts to bind the midfielder to another deal, the negotiations have stalled, thus fuelling rumours that the player could be on the move in the summer.
Chelsea and Manchester United have been touted to ring in wholesale changes in the summer and a player of Rakitic’s pedigree and experience would instantly benefit both the sides. Many pundits believe that a player in the mould of Rakitic would do a world of good to Paul Pogba given Rakitic’s all-round abilities on the pitch.
The unsettled Croatian is one of the elite footballers in the La Liga and we believe a move to either of Manchester United or Chelsea could be on the cards in the summer.
#4 Raphael Varane
Jose Mourinho is a known admirer of the French international ever since he signed the player at Real Madrid. The self-proclaimed “Special One” tried to bring Varane to the Stamford Bridge but failed during his latest tenure and it does not look like he wants to give up hopes of signing Varane with Manchester United being extensively linked to the defender over the last few days.
The 23-year-old, who began his career at Lens has been a constant presence at the heart of the Real Madrid defence, making a total of 25 appearances across all competitions and has continued to add to his credentials as one of the top centre-backs in the country.
He has been dominant in the air, does not let the opposition get past him using his pace and physical prowess and is a very tidy operator at the defensive end of the pitch with the ball at his feet. He has played a vital role in Madrid’s ascent to the top of the La Liga table as a leader of their defensive unit alongside Sergio Ramos.
However, given Mourinho’s reputation at bringing the best in the business to his club and Manchester United’s financial muscle, the Manchester club’s pursuit of the French defender would make for a great transfer story in the summer.
#3 Isco
This is a case where it is the player who might try and engineer a move away from his current club in order to find extended playing time. Spanish playmaker Isco has found game time hard to come by under the management of Zinedine Zidane and that has forced the player into rethinking his long-term future at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, that has not deterred him from being a steady performer whenever he has been afforded an opportunity. He is currently his club’s 3rd highest goal scoring opportunity creator in the La Liga behind Toni Kroos and Lucas Vasquez.
Given his prowess at splitting defences as well as his incessant athleticism in the middle of the park, he is still a force to reckon with and it does not come as a surprise that the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs remain keen to acquire his services.
Yes, we are aware of the rumours linking him with Barcelona. However, we do not see the move materialising given the animosity between the two arch-rivals, thus leaving the aforementioned English clubs as viable options for the 24-year-old.
Chelsea have been in an imperious form in the current season. However, with them all but guaranteed a European spot in the upcoming season, Antonio Conte will be keen to bring in more quality players to help with the additional workload and Isco is a perfect addition.
The Spaniard was a part of the Real Madrid side that won their 10th and 11th UEFA Champions League title and we believe he possesses the ability to light up the Premier League.
#2 James Rodriguez
Yet another player who has been left to dry in the open ever since the Frenchman Zinedine Zidane took charge of the club is the Colombian Superstar James Rodriguez. The midfielder has started just 5 games in the La Liga and has been tipped to make a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu in order to help rejuvenate his flailing career.
Linked with Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, Rodriguez last completed a game on 10th of December against Deportive La Coruna and is unlikely that he will remain a Real Madrid player come the end of the approaching summer transfer window.
The Manchester Club have been on the lookout for a world class playmaker for some time now and despite the presence of Juan Mata, the club is expected to dip into their transfer reserves to add more quality to their attacking options and Rodriguez, who could be available on a cut-price deal, given his current situation at the club could prove to be the perfect buy for the club.
However, a lot of it will also depend on Manchester United qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the upcoming season. The club currently sits in the 6th spot, a mere two points behind the 4th placed Arsenal and will be keen to improve their league position so as to ensure that they have the right credentials in place to attract the best of the talent in the upcoming season.
#1 Antoine Griezmann
The last man on our list is one of the top 3 footballers on the planet alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Antoine Griezmann, who sparkled at Real Sociedad before taking his performances to an altogether different level with Atletico Madrid is a man who has been touted to be on the move.
The Frenchman has been in phenomenal form over the last 18 months as has taken the footballing world by the storm with his performances for Atletico as well as the French National Team. He has scored critical goals throughout the season and more importantly has also had a hand to play in several other goals for his side as they remain one of the top teams in Spain.
While Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the current Manchester United Number 9 has been in fine form himself, it needs to be reiterated that the Swedish superstar was always believed to be a short-term bridge to help Jose Mourinho bring in a long term option to handle the attacking options at the Old Trafford and Griezmann fits the bill perfectly.
He is the kind of signing that would help United send the right signals to their fans about the club’s ambitions, has a stellar record in front of the goal and is young and hungry to succeed.
Perhaps, like other players linked to the Manchester club, a lot will depend on the side’s qualification to Europe in the upcoming season.
