FOOTBALL: Players Desperate to seal a Transfer this Summer

The summer transfer window is in full swing, and just as most clubs are looking to pull off the most profitable moves, many players are also hoping for a change of scenery.

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 -- Keisuke Honda

Japan international,  Keisuke Honda, who currently competes with CSKA Moscow, but that may change very soon.

In late June, Stefan Coerts of Goal.com reported that Honda was keen on a move this summer as the midfielder desired to play for a bigger club. And with AC Milan heavily interested, all signs pointed to Italy.

Honda was quoted in the report as saying to the Japan Times, "I don't know where I'll be taking the next step yet but I know I've got a chance to play for a big club. If I go to a big club, I'll become an infinitely better player.”

-- Esteban Granero

From the youth academy of Real Madrid to now being relegated in England, Esteban Granero is a rather unlucky fellow. But no one can blame him if he makes a quick exit from QPR.

Though Granero never quite made it at Real Madrid, the Spanish midfielder is still far too talented to play for a relegated side.

Pete O’Rourke of Sky Sports has revealed that Swansea has showed heavy interest in the 26-year-old, with manager Michael Laudrup having worked with Granero in the past during his two seasons with Getafe.

The player’s agent, Carlo Cutropia, was quoted as saying “The two clubs are talking about a transfer, it’s true.” With that being said it is likely that he could get a move away from QPR.

-- Luiz Gustavo

The Mirror’s Matt Law recently reported that Arsenal are preparing to bid for the midfielder and that Gustavo’s could even be interested in making the switch with the coming season likely defining his position with Brazil ahead of the World Cup.

Law also stated that “German sources claim that Bayern are willing to listen to offers for Gustavo after completing the signing of Thiago Alcantara.”

It is hard to imagine that Gustavo truly wants to leave Bayern Munich. Most players who compete at some of the best clubs on the planet would not let playing time dictate their future.

-- Loic Remy

Loic Remy joined QPR in January with hopes of keeping the club from being relegated. As we know, that goal was not achieved, and the French forward may be on his way out as quickly as he arrived.

Reports from The Guardian claim that Newcastle is greatly interested in signing Remy, who would likely help to improve the club’s offensive game. However, William Duncan of Goal.com reports that Tottenham is also a likely destination for the French star.

-- Leandro Damiao

Time is slowly starting to run out for Brazilian forward Leandro Damiao. The International striker is now 23 years old and needs to make a move to Europe before it becomes too late.

Honestly, Damiao does not particularly need to move away from Brazil. But if the striker wants to improve as a player and compete with Fred for the Brazilian national team roster spot, he will likely need to compete at a much larger club.

Normally, top Brazilian talents tend to make a switch to Europe at a young age to get the most out of their career. And though Damiao is still young at 23, waiting much longer will likely hurt his chances.

The Daily Mail has reported that Napoli manager Rafa Benitez is highly interested in bringing Damiao to Italy. And with the recent departure of Edinson Cavani, the Brazilian could feature heavily.

-- Morgan De Sanctis

Morgan De Sanctis has guarded the net for Napoli for four years now, but it is very clear that the Italian keeper is ready to leave the club.

According to Football-Italia, De Sanctis' agent stated that the keeper “will almost certainly leave Napoli.”

It seems as though the arrival of Reina does not sit well with the club’s current keeper, and it is expected that he could depart the club very soon. To some, competition invokes growth, but to others it gives the feeling of being unwanted.

-- Bernard

Another Brazilian that is looking for a move abroad is 20-year-old Bernard, who is already attracting a lot of interest from European clubs.

According to John Drayton of the Daily Mail, Bernard has received interest from several clubs but none seem to be as keen on the attacker as Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool.

Bernard has reached the point in his career that requires a move to a much bigger club to continue improving as a player. The Atletico Mineiro forward is on the cusp of earning a place on the Brazil roster, but that won’t happen without a move.

-- Edin Dzeko  

Edin Dzeko has never quite lived up to his €32 million transfer fee that saw the striker move from Wolfsburg to Manchester City. And now it could be time to leave.

ESPN recently reported that Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes that Dzeko will be very important despite interest from Napoli. But in all honestly, one has to wonder just how much Dzeko really believes that.

-- Marouane Fellaini

With his former manager now at Manchester United, it is easy to assume that Marouane Fellaini wants to make the switch to Old Trafford.

The Guardian has reported that Manchester United manager David Moyes wants to bring Everton midfielder Fellaini to the Red Devils. Even more, it is likely that Fellaini wants the move to happen as well.

Not only is Fellaini very familiar with Moyes, but a move to a club like Manchester United is difficult for anyone to turn down.

-- Adel Taarabt

Adel Taarabt may actually want out of QPR more than anyone else, in fact. Earlier this month, Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail reported that the 24-year-old was sent home after a training ground bust-up after arriving late.

A few days later, Sky Sports reported that QPR was ready to send out the talented midfielder on loan.

It is clear that Taarabt is not happy at QPR. If the training ground issue proves anything, it is that the 24-year-old is desperate to leave.

-- Hulk 

Hulk is very unhappy with Zenit St. Petersburg.

The Mirror reported in December that Hulk was growing very upset with how things were going at the Russian club, who broke the bank to sign the Brazilian forward. Hulk had these words to say in that report.

"If the situation with the coach does not resolve itself I may leave the club in the January transfer window."

Well, Hulk did not leave in January, but fast-forward to today, and he is still not happy.

In March, Metro reported that Hulk was growing increasingly agitated with life at Zenit and was officially looking for a move away. When asked about his future, the Brazilian responded, “My future? I like the Premier League.”

-- Kevin Gameiro

Kevin Gameiro is desperate for a move away from French club PSG, and it is easy to understand why. The striker rarely featured last season, and his playing time will suffer even more with the arrival of Edinson Cavani.

Sky Sports recently reported on an interview between Gameiro and L’Equipe in which the French striker made it clear that he is looking to leave PSG. His statement is as follows:

"There is talk about Sevilla. I have to decide whether it would be better for my career to go somewhere else and not be satisfied with my substitute position in Paris. I want to play football and score goals. In one year there will be a World Cup, and that is a target for me. I have opportunities almost everywhere, but I do have a preference for La Liga."

-- Fabio Coentrao.

One player that is very open about his desire to leave his current club is Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao.

The Metro reported an interview between Coentrao and various Portuguese press back in May in which the defender made his situation very clear. Coentrao did not tip-toe around the truth, his quotes are as follows:

"From the first day I do not think I was wanted here. Today it seems that everyone wants me to leave the club. I do not know what I have done wrong. We must find a solution that is good for both the club and myself, so that no one will lose out. When I leave, I do not close the door to anyone"

-- Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Only one year after joining French side PSG, it seems as though Zlatan Ibrahimovic already wants a new change of scenery.

Spanish daily paper Marca recently reported that Ibrahimovic was keen on a move to Real Madrid in order to team up with former manager Carlo Ancelotti. But the report also claims that his desire to join the club was rejected.

Ibrahimovic may be upset that Ancelotti did not stay at PSG. Or the striker could not want to share the spotlight with Cavani. Either way, Ibrahimovic wants out of France.

The report from Marca claimed that Ibrahimovic was also hoping for a move back to Juventus, but was again rejected.

-- Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain’s name has been thrown around the transfer rumour mill all summer, and there is a reason for that. The striker has had enough of Real Madrid.

ESPN reported on a story from AS in which Higuain’s father made it clear that his son was ready to leave Real Madrid. His father stated, “He wants to go to a team who recognize him and appreciate him. We want a team in Europe.”

But it looks as though Higuain will get his exit after all. Football-Italia has recently reported a story from Corriere dello Sport which claimed that Napoli has reached a deal with Real Madrid over the striker for a price of €35 million.

-- Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez does not like life in England, that is for sure. And because of the negative press that the Liverpool striker attracts, you can’t really blame him for wanting to leave.

Earlier this summer, Suarez revealed to a local television station during an interview reported by the Telegraph that he was ready to leave Liverpool. A few months later, the player’s agent continues to state that Suarez does not want to stay in England any longer.

From negative press to not playing in the Champions League, Luis Suarez is in a really bad place. Anyone in his position would be very unhappy, and it is safe to say that Suarez is more than desperate for a move.

-- Robert Lewandowski

The situation with Robert Lewandowski is an odd one. If there is any player that is wishing for a transfer to happen, it is the Borussia Dortmund striker.

John Drayton of the Daily Mail reported earlier this month that Lewandowski had indeed decided to join German giants Bayern Munich. But his current club was understandably not excited about the idea.

Borussia Dortmund has been clear that they will not sell Lewandowski, and in a recent interview with BILD, reported by Goal.com, the striker was very open about how he felt about the matter.

"In the second half of the season, I gave everything for Dortmund, as always. I played and scored, knowing that I would be allowed to leave. I was certain I would be given the green light for a transfer. Now all of the sudden everything is different. Unfortunately, I'm forced to stay. I'm astonished at how they're treating me. I have to accept that I have to stay in Dortmund"

-- Wayne Rooney

Ever since Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that Wayne Rooney requested to leave Manchester United, the rumours have not come close to slowing down. The striker is unhappy at Old Trafford and doesn't show signs of regaining his desire to wear the United shirt.

The Mirror has reported that Chelsea believes that “it is only a matter of time before Wayne Rooney is their player.” That might not be entirely true, but it does show just how set on leaving Rooney is.

-- Kaka 

When Kaka joined Real Madrid in 2009 no one could have imagined what would become of the Brazilian star. Several injuries later and Kaka is still fighting just to be relevant at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Last year The Guardian quoted former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho as saying “If Kaka decides to stay then perfect. If he goes, that is perfect too but we aren't going to give him away for free.”

These words made it clear that Kaka was not an important member of the Real Madrid squad and his future at the club began to look bleak.

In January,NESN reported a story from Italian source Gazzetta dello Sport which claimed that Kaka had met with AC Milan executive Adriano Galliani. The report quoted Kaka as saying “It’s not a pleasant situation for me or Real Madrid. I am willing to find a solution that is good for me and for Real.”

In March the midfielder was quoted by Sky Sports as saying “I am happy to continue at Real, but I don’t want to be a problem for the club. If I have to go, I will.”