Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 5y

Mexico rumor rater: Are 'Chicharito' and 'Chucky' close to new clubs?

Several of Mexico's stars have been linked with new teams -- whether in Europe, MLS, or Liga MX. Will any of El Tri's notable players be making upcoming moves? We break down some of the biggest rumors.

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Hirving Lozano to Napoli: 40 percent

The rumors linking the Mino Raiola player to Napoli have been a constant throughout the whole of 2019. Carlo Ancelotti has publicly praised the Mexican winger, but it appears the club still retains hopes of convincing James Rodriguez that Napoli and not Atletico Madrid should be the Colombian's next move. And that would damage Lozano's chances of joining the Italian side.

PSV Eindhoven reportedly want €40 million for Lozano and if he does end up staying another season, it wouldn't be a disaster, given the player is happy and settled with his family in the Netherlands. And the fact Lozano's contract runs until 2023 means PSV are unlikely to negotiate too much for a 23-year-old that is still improving. However, there's plenty of time left in the transfer window and players with Lozano's skill-set shouldn't be short of suitors, especially with agent Raiola at the wheel.

Javier Hernandez to MLS: 15 percent

Sources have told ESPN FC that Hernandez's immediate future lies in London, focusing on having a good season with West Ham United. The specter of becoming a free agent next summer is hardly an unappealing one, after all. MLS clubs have once again have made pitches to the 31-year-old's camp this summer, according to ESPN FC sources, and the player isn't against playing in the United States, but unless something remarkable happens ahead of the Aug. 9 Premier League transfer deadline, Hernandez will stay put.

West Ham won't want to lose a proven Premier League goalscorer who would be difficult to replace at short notice. Hernandez has recently become a father and is aiming to extend his stay in Europe by another three seasons, before heading back over the Atlantic.

Hector Moreno to Qatar: 70 percent

The three World Cup veteran still has two years on his contract with Real Sociedad, but reports from the Basque Country have consistently suggested he could be leaving this summer and ESPN FC has learned that Qatar is the defender's most likely destination.

Moreno is another player linked with MLS. The fact he bought an apartment in Miami and that Inter Miami will be up and running in 2020 led to natural assumptions about where he could end up and they weren't with reason: one source confirmed to ESPN FC that there had been talks.

But for a 31-year-old Mexican defender who has gone out of his comfort zone to established himself in Europe and doesn't necessarily have the star power of a Hernandez, you couldn't begrudge Moreno for taking a pay day in Qatar to set him up for life at this stage of his career.

Guillermo Ochoa to Real Betis: 10 percent

On the field, Ochoa has hardly put a foot (or hand) wrong of late. "San Memo" starred for Mexico during the Gold Cup, coming up at important moments and is held in high regard for his professionalism. But off the pitch, he can't seem to catch a break.

Ochoa is set to miss the beginning of the Belgian league season with an adductor and Achilles' tendon injury, but Standard Liege boss Michel Preud'homme said he is counting on him -- should he get his contract situation sorted.

Ochoa and his people are currently talking to the club, with Standard believing that they could renew the contract that ran out this summer, according to sources.

Until the situation with Standard is sorted, it is difficult for Ochoa to move on, as he stated he'd like to at the end of last season.

The reported prospect of transferring to join Diego Lainez and Andres Guardado at Real Betis was dampened when head coach Rubi indicated on Wednesday that he already has his two goalkeepers for the season and that any move for Ochoa, who he admitted he admires, would have to come at a later date.

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Rodolfo Pizarro to AC Milan: 40 percent

This is another that has been rumbling on for a couple of months now. Pizarro has stated that the possibility of a move to Europe is realistic and reports suggest his buy-out clause isn't ridiculously high -- $10 million according to one report - but Monterrey maintains that there have been no formal offers as yet.

Interest from AC Milan has been confirmed by Pizarro's agent and Rayados signing Vincent Janssen from Tottenham Hotspur perhaps opened the door further to the possibility of Pizarro leaving, but unless a European team puts an offer on the table, the playmaker will be staying with the reigning CONCACAF champion.

Diego Reyes to Atlas: 10 percent

Reports in Turkey have linked Diego Reyes to Liga MX side Atlas, but the Rojinegros defense is already made up of two solid center-backs and the 25-year-old Fenerbahce player is unlikely to end up in Guadalajara.

Toluca and Tigres have also reportedly been interested in the former Club America defender and, while MLS is a natural market for Reyes, the player hasn't expressed interest in playing in the league.

The Atlas rumor sounds more like an attempt to drum up interest in a player who has had a mixed time of it in Europe.

Andres Guardado to MLS: 5 percent

El Principito has admitted he came close to joining MLS, but shunned the opportunity to arrive at Russia 2018 in peak condition. Having one year left on his contract with Real Betis and with the next World Cup being over three years away would appear to make this a good time, but Guardado's bond with the Andalusian club is strong and he said Wednesday that he is "much closer" to renewing his contract than he is to leaving the club.

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