TRANSFER RUMOURS – Willian to Tottenham Hotspur? Manchester United goalie to Real Madrid? Huntelaar to Liverpool?

Willian has been linked with a January move from Shakhtar Donetsk to Tottenham Hotspur

October 22nd 2012: Willian – “There were two offers in the summer. One from Chelsea and one from Tottenham. Choosing between the two clubs would be difficult. Tottenham is a big club and it has a good person in charge – Andre Villas-Boas wanted to bring me to Chelsea and also tried at Tottenham. He always sends me messages. We are always in touch, and he has become a friend, for sure.”

January 23rd 2012: Willian – “When I played Fulham and Tottenham any preconceived ideas I had about Premier League teams went out of the window because they gave Shakhtar a lot of space to play. It wasn’t like when you watch these teams on TV and they are right in your face from the outset. I could see myself fitting into the Premier League.”

January 22nd 2012: Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin – “We have received a bid from Chelsea for Willian valued at 20million euros, but he is not for sale. If a big club offers serious money for our player, we will always consider its proposal. In our case, Willian expressed his desire to test himself in the Premier League. Willian’s contract involves a minimum release clause of 35million euros. But we met Willian halfway and are ready to let him go for 30 million. It is important to understand that today we are talking about Chelsea’s desire to buy Willian, but not Shakhtar’s desire to sell him. We also need this player.”

David de Gea has been linked with a move to Real Madrid from Manchester United

October 22nd 2012: De Gea reportedly told his agent, Jorge Mendes, that he was keen to return to Spain. After being the first choice for Atletico Madrid, De Gea has been dropped on a couple of occasions after making mistakes. Real Madrid have reportedly singled him out as a potential replacement for Iker Casillas. Questions have been raised over whether he would be prepared to play for the rivals of his boyhood team, Atletico Madrid, though.

February 8th 2012: De Gea – “I have every intention of spending many years at Manchester United. I want to go on to become a great United keeper and to earn and deserve respect. I want to help United make history.”

February 3rd 2010: De Gea – “I’ve spent all my sporting life at Atletico Madrid and for me it’s an honour and a dream to be able to play in the first team having come up through the Rojiblanco youth system.”

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been linked with a January move from Schalke to Liverpool

October 23rd: With Borini injured long-term and Andy Carroll on a season long loan at West Ham, Huntelaar has been linked with a move to Liverpool.

October 21st 2012: Schalke’s general manager Horst Heldt – “We have decided that we won’t have any contract talks before December and there will be no new developments. I have had the feeling Klaas-Jan can’t decide at this stage and I will give him the time he needs. My goal is to persuade him to stay at Schalke and to extend his contract. We will resume the talks in December, January at the latest, and then I expect a quick decision.”

September 27th 2012: Schalke 04 general manager Horst Heldt – “The proposed contract extension of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar remains one of the hottest issues around. We are still unable to finalise any concrete schedule with regard to it.”

September 18th 2012: Huntelaar – “I have never said that I would definitely make a quick decision. I have had two serious chats about a new deal, the latest chat was back in August and it was just about sporting aspects and not about financial facts.”