With less than a week to go in the summer transfer window there are a still a number of potential deals up in the air. Ousamane Dembele completed his big money move to Barcelona on Friday to begin the rebuilding process following Neymar’s departure to PSG, but the Spanish giants are still rumoured to be considering placing a fourth bid for Liverpool star Philipe Coutinho. Liverpool have a transfer saga of their own to contend with as they aim to complete a deal for Southampton centre back, Virgin van Dijk.
The Dutch defender is still training away from the rest of his team as he seeks to push through a transfer before the window slams shut. In this betting preview, I’ll be taking a look at the odds that Sky Bet have in their Transfer Specials section and sharing my opinion on whether there is any money to be made.
Philipe Coutinho
- Barcelona – 9/4
- Stay with Liverpool – 1/3
The odds have been steadily shortening on Coutinho staying at Anfield and Dembele’s move to the Camp Nou will have put further doubt on the deal happening. Despite that, Coutinho appears desperate to move to the Spanish giants and there are rumours that he could ask to be excluded from Liverpool’s Champions League squad. I think Liverpool are trying to send out a message that they are not a selling club though and I think Coutinho will stay at Anfield.
Stay with Liverpool – 1/3
Virgin van Dijk
- Liverpool – 8/13
- Arsenal – 9/1
- Chelsea – 12/1
- Man Utd/Man City – 33/1
- Stay at Southampton – 6/4
This one is a bit more up in the air. Van Dijk to Liverpool looked like a sure thing at the start of the summer after it was reported that he had turned down Manchester City and Chelsea to sign for the Reds. The whole thing came apart though when Southampton threatened to report Liverpool for an illegal approach for the player unless the Reds pulled out of the deal. Fast forward six weeks and van Dijk is still refusing to train with Southampton as he seeks to a push through a deal. I think this one will go to the wire, but in the end I fancy Liverpool to get their man.
Sign for Liverpool – 8/13
Ross Barkley
- Tottenham – 6/4
- Chelsea – 5/1
- Arsenal 16/1
- Man Utd/Man City – 33/1
- Stay at Everton – 5/6
Strange one, this one. It seemed like a foregone conclusion at the end of last season that Ross Barkley would sign for Tottenham Hotspur once Everton brought in Gylfi Sigurdsson, but all of a sudden it’s gone very quiet on that front. Barkley refused to sign a new contract with the club and Koeman announced he would be leaving, but the manager has since told Barkley he is welcome to stay if he wants to. I think Spurs will eventually stump up the cash though and bring in the talented young England midfielder. Whether they need him is a whole other question…
Sign for Tottenham Hotspur – 6/4
As you can see, just from these three Premier League transfer rumours, I think there is money to be made if you are willing to take a gamble.