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, or why not.
Today’s edition features a Uruguayan hitman, a Bayern Munich legend and a former Bundesliga star returning to the league.
NIKOLA KALINIC
Atletico Madrid -> Loan -> Roma
Former AC Milan man Nikola Kalinic is set to join Roma on loan with an option to buy after one season, according to calciomercato.
WHY IT CAN HAPPEN
The addition of Joao Felix practically rules out Kalinic’s chances to feature for Atletico this term. Roma could do with a forward like Kalinic who has experience of playing in Serie A having lined out for Fiorentina and Milan from 2015 to 2018.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN
It is believed that Roma will sign the 31-year-old if they manage to sell out-of-favour attacker Patrik Schick. The Czech forward is on his way to RB Leipzig but with only three days to go until the transfer window closes, nothing can be said with absolute certainty.
TRANSFER RATING: 8/10
BRUNO FERNANDES
Sporting -> €70 million -> Real Madrid
Real Madrid could bolster their midfield by signing Portuguese starlet Bruno Fernandes, according to Mundo Deportivo.
WHY IT CAN HAPPEN
Madrid’s midfield is old, worn out and in dire need of an injection of young blood. Fernandes could be a perfect signing, now that Man United ace Paul Pogba has been practically ruled out. This should drive Los Blancos to meet Sporting’s valuation of Fernandes which stands at €70m.
WHY IT WON’T HAPPEN
There are no reports of negotiations yet for the 24-year-old. Madrid hence face a race against time to complete such a marquee signing before the window closes on August 31.
TRANSFER RATING: 5/10
MARIO MANDZUKIC
Juventus -> Undisclosed > Paris Saint-Germain
Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic could be on his way to French giants PSG, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
WHY IT WILL HAPPEN
Mandzukic could be seen as surplus to requirements at a Juventus side that already features Cristiano Ronaldo, Federico Bernardeschi, Douglas Costa, Gonzalo Higuain and Juan Cuadrado in attack. At PSG, he could be a starter until Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani return from injury.
WHY IT CAN’T HAPPEN
Mandzukic likes to think twice before choosing his next destination. He’s not known for taking hasty decisions and with deadline day on the horizon, he is likely to stay in Turin.
TRANSFER RATING 5/10