You’ve heard of transfer triangles, where one deal happens and another club jumps in to make a merry-go-round of replacements. However, when Cristiano Ronaldo completed his £105m move to Juventus in what will surely be the biggest shock of the summer transfer window this year, it got us at Football FanCast thinking whether this huge deal could have a knock-on effect that would eventually facilitate a £135,000 transfer (and if so how many steps would it take to get there).
In fact, we’ve used Transfermarkt valuations to come up with a five step ladder of potential transfers where Rotherham United are the final beneficiaries of Ronaldo’s mega-move. Read on to find out just how it could come about.
Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus – £105m
Having won four Champions Leagues and four Ballon d’Or trophies whilst at Real Madrid it certainly came as a surprise when Juventus announced they had signed the superstar in a £105m deal.
Ordinarily, a four-year contract given to a 33-year-old would raise eyebrows in the footballing world. However this is Ronaldo and, according to The Independent, Juve’s backroom team found during his medical that the Portuguese striker still has the physical capability of a 20-year-old.
Obviously Ronaldo won’t be warming the bench, but the club already has an abundance of top forward talent. So who is most likely to make way at Juventus following the Madrid legend’s arrival?
Gonzalo Higuain to Chelsea – £49.5m
With Ronaldo arriving, it looks as though Higuain will struggle for game time next season and the 30-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea this summer, which would see him link up with his former boss Maurizio Sarri.
After joining Juve from Napoli in 2016, the Argentina international has gone on to net 55 goals in 105 games for the Turin side and, despite his stock falling slightly (he’s now valued at £49.5m by Transfermarkt), he has proven he can still score at the top level and would be a great buy for the Blues.
Olivier Giroud to Atletico Madrid – £16.2m
Subsequently, if Higuain arrived at Stamford Bridge there would be a debate over which striker should depart the club to make room. Many would argue that Alvaro Morata should leave but under Sarri it may well be Giroud who gets cut.
The French World Cup winner has been linked with Atletico Madrid this summer and is valued by Transfermarkt at just £16.2m. Often under-appreciated for the work he does bringing other players into the game, this would be a perfect signing for the Spanish challengers.
Luciano Vietto to Southampton – £5.4m
Last summer, Vietto was a target for Southampton and the south coast side should rekindle their interest after failing to find a prolific striker. Atletico Madrid paid Villarreal £18m to sign the now 24-year-old just three years ago, but following two loan spells he is now valued at just £5.4m by Transfermarkt.
The 5ft 8in ace would certainly add to Southampton’s forward options, although one striker would have to leave to make room at St Mary’s.
Sam Gallagher to Sheffield United – £2.7m
The forward furthest from the first-team at Saints at the moment would be 22-year-old Sam Gallagher. The youngster scored seven goals in 34 matches last season whilst on loan at Championship side Birmingham and has now been linked with a move back down to the second tier.
According to the Sheffield Star, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is an admirer of Gallagher, who is valued at £2.7m by Transfermarkt.
Caolan Lavery to Rotherham United – £135,000
A tenuous link it may be, but Rotherham United could be thanking Cristiano Ronaldo for deciding that he fancied a new challenge this summer.
If Sam Gallagher joins the Blades this summer, it could mean that Canadian-born Northern Irish striker Caolan Lavery is allowed to join Rotherham on a permanent deal after spending the second half of last season on loan at the New York Stadium.
Having won the playoff final, Rotherham will also be playing their football in the Championship next season and a £135,000 deal for Lavery – as he’s valued on Transfermarkt – could be quite the bargain.
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