Football INDEX: Chelsea late transfer activity surges price of targets

Football INDEX is the world’s first football stock market where you can buy and sell shares in footballers with real money. Football INDEX offers fans a chance to bet on the future success of football players compared to the short-lived outcome of betting on football results.

Intrigued by what Football INDEX has to offer, but unsure whether to gamble your money? Football INDEX offers new customers a 7-day risk free period where they will refund any deposits made within the first seven days of the first deposit, up to a total of £500. Think of it as a trial period where you will effectively have up to £500 to play with during your first week of trading.

Still undecided what footballers to invest your money in? Football INDEX even provides users with a handy tool to help you make informed decisions. Share prices tend to fluctuate, but they aren’t just determined by player performance. Share prices also increase based on the media attention a player receives on any given day of trading.

Every day, Football INDEX highlights the five biggest market movers over a 24-hour period, which can be locked on the website’s home page. The next two days presents traders with a real opportunity to make serious money so make sure you stay alert ahead of transfer deadline day.

1. INIGO MARTINEZ (REAL SOCIEDAD)

Manchester City were heavily linked with a move for Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez at the start of the window, but have instead opted to pursue Athletic Club defender Aymeric Laporte.

Pep Guardiola’s side are on the verge of making Laporte the second most expensive defender of all-time after triggering his €65m release clause and that has left Athletic Club needing a new defender before Wednesday’s deadline.

Reports have since emerged that the Spanish side have, ironically, moved for Sociedad defender Martinez and intend to pay his own €32m release clause.

Athletic president Josu Urrutia has tried and failed to sign players from Basque rivals Sociedad on two occasions in the past and will now hope third time’s the charm.

Their interest in the 26-year-old has spiked a 23.37% increase in share price on Football INDEX and the Spain international is now trading at £0.75. It looks like a deal will go through for the centre-back, so it might be worth investing if you haven’t already.

2. FERNANDO LLORENTE (TOTTENHAM)

Chelsea’s search for a new striker has landed Antonio Conte’s side back at Fernando Llorente. The Blues tabled a £15m bid for Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud before withdrawing their offer after the Gunners took too long to accept.

The defending Premier League champions have now sounded out the possibility of landing Llorente having missed out on his signature to Tottenham in the summer.

Chelsea were even willing to send Michy Batshuayi in the other direction, but the Belgian has turned down the chance to join Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who will not accept any bid short of £17m for the 32-year-old.

Llorente’s Football INDEX share price has increased 16.58% in the last 24 hours, but the deal seems dead in the water at the moment. If you haven’t already invested, maybe it’s time to look elsewhere and perhaps sell if you got in early on the Llorente price surge.

3. IAGO FALQUE (TORINO)

The Torino forward has enjoyed a fine season in Italy this season and capped gameweek 22 in Serie A with a place in the WhoScored Team of the Week after netting one and setting up another in a 3-0 win over Benevento.

Iago Falque is only four goals shy of equalling his best ever haul in a single-league campaign (13) with the second half of the season remaining and his Football INDEX share price has increased 9.86% as a result of his fine form.

Torino have only lost one of their last 12 league matches, but have a difficult run of fixtures coming up, with the likes of Juventus, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Udinese to come in their next seven outings. It might be worth passing on his shares for now.

4. DAVID LUIZ (CHELSEA)

In a desperate bid to land a new striker, Chelsea are reportedly now considering a new offer for Arsenal striker Giroud. After withdrawing their £15m offer, Conte’s side are now considering using David Luiz as a makeweight in a deal to prise Giroud to Stamford Bridge.

Luiz is deemed surplus to requirements by Conte and the Brazil international has already been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates this season as Arsene Wenger looks to bolster his defensive options.

In a similar situation to Arsenal’s straight swap deal with Manchester United, acquiring Luiz in exchange for Giroud could work for the Gunners as Wenger’s are on the market for a new defender.

Not many thought a straight swap deal with United would ever work so you cannot discount this one. His Football INDEX share price has increased 9.01% in the last 24 hours and it’s worth monitoring as it could gather pace before Wednesday’s deadline.

5. DAVID OTTO (HOFFENHEIM)

The 18-year-old signed a professional contract with Hoffenheim this month and is now floating on Football INDEX at a share price of £0.44. His price has increased 7.34% in the last 24 hours but he is certainly not worth investing in any more.

Hoffenheim have only given him 14 minutes of first-team football this season and he isn’t expected to feature much more than that over the remainder of the campaign.