Struggling to pick out the facts from the figures? Reality from the rubbish? Sense from the silly season? We’ve got you sorted in our daily dose of the Transfer Predictor, where we round up the latest rumours with an analytical spin.
We sort through the most eye-catching transfer reports of the past 24 hours and give a balanced judgment on whether the move really will happen – and why.
Today’s edition features potential signings for Everton, Manchester United and Roma:
MOISE KEAN
Juventus -> £31m -> Everton
The Toffees hope to finally fill the gap left by Romelu Lukaku and land the impressive Italy teenager on a buy-back deal, according to the Daily Mail.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN: This arrangement makes perfect sense for all parties. Kean, 19, would get regular first-team football and build on a promising 2018/19 that contained seven goals in 17 Juve run-outs, plus two strikes in three senior internationals. Everton would embrace a striker of his promise and Juve’s £40.5m clause means that if his stellar progress continues, they’ll be able to bring him back.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: Kean’s sights may be set much higher. Tastes of Serie A success and Champions League nights at Juve are alluring. Even with Cristiano Ronaldo present in Turin, he may feel greater first-team chances await under new head coach Maurizio Sarri.
TRANSFER PREDICTOR: 5/10
MARIO LEMINA
Southampton -> £18m -> Manchester United
The Red Devils have been given permission to open talks with the ex-Juve battler, according to The Times.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN: A gap is present in the United midfield after Ander Herrera defected to Paris Saint-Germain and it appears that the Gabon international has emerged as a favoured option to fill it. The Saints are also happy to sell after a failure to gel with manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. Lemina’s past with Paul Pogba at Juve – if the France superstar stays – is another bonus.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: Arsenal and Leicester are also rumoured to have registered interest in the 25-year-old, meaning United have work to do. The Red Devils’s financial might means that other options will always exist. Furthermore, they’ve targeted young, British talent under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer throughout this transfer window.
TRANSFER PREDICTOR: 7/10
MARIANO DIAZ
Real Madrid -> £18m -> Roma
The Serie A side and Diaz’s agents are poised to hold a second meeting to ascertain the feasibility of recruiting him, according to gianlucadimarzio.com.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN: Roma must renovate their squad after last term’s disappointing sixth-placed finish, plus the hiring of a new sporting director and head coach in Gianluca Petrachi and Paulo Fonseca. Diaz, 25, is available for a reasonable price as Madrid look to build up funds. With fellow striker Edin Dzeko consistently linked to Inter Milan, change could be afoot.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN: The real object of Roma’s desire is said to be fellow Madrid alumnus Gonzalo Higuain. They will prioritise this expensive operation ahead of Diaz. Not that there isn’t competition for the Dominican Republic international – Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur view him as a potential back-up to Harry Kane.
TRANSFER PREDICTOR: 6/10