With the World Cup around the corner and the transfer window closing earlier this summer, Premier League clubs have already begun their hunt for reinforcements. And there are several stars from La Liga who will be attracting interest from the best and brightest of England’s top flight.
With that in mind, our friends at Football Whispers have identified and profiled five La Liga players who might be calling the Premier League home next season.
Gareth Bale
Almost from the moment Bale completed his then-world-record move from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, the Welshman has been linked with a Premier League return.
However, after five hugely successful seasons in the Spanish capital, speculation in the British and Spanish press suggests this could well be the summer Bale exits the Bernabeu, with the 28-year-old reportedly a target for Manchester United and former club Spurs
Carlos Soler
Likened to Manchester City star David Silva, who also rose to prominence in La Liga with Valencia, Soler was reportedly a target for the Premier League champions’ great rivals United in January.
The 21-year-old has been a regular feature for Los Che in their rise back up the table this term under former Villarreal manager Marcelino, impressing with his control, technique and dribbling ability.
Andre Gomes
Having failed to make the impact anticipated at the Camp Nou since joining Barcelona from Valencia two summers ago, reports in Spain suggest the La Liga champions are ready to cash in on the Portuguese playmaker in order to raise funds for incoming signings.
Once a rumoured Tottenham transfer target, Gomes, who is still only 24 years old, could well be a consideration for Premier League clubs aiming to add quality to their midfield.
Steven N’Zonzi
Former Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers midfielder N’Zonzi was reportedly an Arsenal transfer target in January and the Frenchman is once again linked with a move to the Emirates in the British press now that Unai Emery, who worked with the 29-year-old at Sevilla, has been confirmed as Arsene Wenger’s successor.
At 6ft 5ins and able to actively cover space in front of the back four, N’Zonzi appears to be the perfect fit for an Arsenal middle third that has lacked such a presence in recent years.
Indeed, no La Liga midfielder won more aerial duels than N’Zonzi this season (103), and he won the ball regularly with a combined tackles and interceptions average of 2.79 per 90.
He’s also a fine conductor of play, ranking in the top five La Liga midfielders for accurate (66.18) and forward passes (23.4) per 90. With a reported contractual release clause of £35million, N’Zonzi could be the perfect midfield reinforcement without breaking the bank.