Fans love rumors and speculation. Good thing soccer thrives on them.
Throughout the season, clubs keep an eye on players they deem necessary to add to their line up. Or, in something that seems more common that not, just another reason to spend unnecessary gobs of cash.
For the upcoming summer transfer window there are going to be some big name players that are rumored to be making shifts between leagues and teams; two of them: Edinson Cavani and Raheem Sterling.
Edinson Cavani
The 28-year-old Uruguayan international has been one of the world’s premier forwards, bolstering Paris St. Germain’s attack alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Cavani has been a bulldozer in the French Ligue 1, but he’s rumored to return to Italy’s Serie A. He was in Serie A for powerhouse Napoli between 2010-13 before he came to the French capital.
But there are also rumors that he could be making a move to the English Premier League (EPL). Supposedly, he has been in talks with Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and -- of course -- Manchester United. (Note back to the whole “spend for pleasure” mentality.)
Yet migrating to England would bring about a variety of unnoticed challenges. Perhaps it often gets overlooked, but for all the players leaving one team for another, the culture change is never considered. As important as performance on the pitch is, ability to be a functioning member of society is another.
Take a look at Falcao. He came to United coming from Ligue 1 this summer, and his performances have struggled. Another United player, Angel Di Maria -- moving from the dominating Real Madrid in La Liga, has also been a disappointment.
Players think they can move to the EPL and play the same way they did in a less competitive league and think they will succeed. Sadly, that’s not the case.
With eight goals through 28 games this season, the Uruguayan striker is going to have to put up better numbers to have a chance in the Premier League.
Yet the one thing to Cavani’s advantage is his scrappy style, one that belongs with Wayne Rooney and Diego Costa more than Luiz Suarez or Neymar.
Raheem Sterling
The young English starlet isn’t willing to sign a contract extension with his current club, Liverpool. Asking for £150,000 per week, Liverpool isn’t able to meet those demands, which will most likely send the 20-year-old out the door during the transfer window.
His lack of signing a new contract has drawn attention from other EPL sides in Chelsea, United and Arsenal. If he doesn’t stay with Liverpool, league-rival Arsenal could be a strong favorite to cash in on the winger.
For large amounts of the season, Sterling switched his role from a winger to becoming the sole striker during Daniel Sturridge’s five-month absence from injury.
Now that Sturridge is healthy, Sterling misses being the center of attention and wants to go somewhere that he can get acknowledged. Either that, or he knows another club is gullible enough to meet his wage requests.
Granted Liverpool is in sixth-place and fighting for a European League spot next season, it can’t seem to muster up a strong finish toward the end of the season to claim an EPL title.
Sterling is tired of losing and wants to be on a team that will contend consistently for the title and a Champions League spot, as well as reaching the knockout stage of the Champions League.
These are just a couple of players that are looking to leave their clubs and look for a change in scenery. Soccer has become a business, and the players are beginning to cash in.
@wynstonw_