What is the best way to translate a text with hyperlink?

i18n-q-link.php

<?php

// METHOD 1
sprintf( __( 'Please read %1$sthis%2$s.', 'tacoverdo-example-domain' ), '<a target="_blank" href="' . esc_url( 'https://goo.gl' ) . '">', '</a>' );

// METHOD 2
echo '<a target="_blank" href="' . esc_url( 'https://goo.gl' ) . '">';
__( 'Please read this.', 'tacoverdo-example-domain' );
echo '</a>';

// METHOD 3
sprintf( __( 'Please read <a href="%s">this</a>.', 'tacoverdo-example-domain' ), esc_url( 'https://goo.gl' ) );

// METHOD 4
sprintf( __( 'Please read %sthis%s.', 'tacoverdo-example-domain' ), '<a target="_blank" href="' . esc_url( 'https://goo.gl' ) . '">', '</a>' );

// METHOD 5
__( 'Please read <a target="_blank" href="' . esc_url( 'https://goo.gl' ) . '">this</a>', 'tacoverdo-example-domain' );

I summarized my thoughts and my interpretation of this discussion in answer at WPSE, but since Ze grumbled at me for it — alternate answers welcomed. :)

If you can go with method 2 then that is the best but not always possible. Method 3 is simple and balanced.

Method 1 and 4 are the same except for using %s or %1$s

@cfoellmann solution should work in every language as you can move the variable as needed but requires a certain understanding to make it work.

I would also opt for method 3. It's not uncommon for a translator to have strings with some HTML markup inside. As long as it's just as much as you need.

I would also find 1 and 4 not easy to translate if you don't know what the placeholders stand for. And beside readability, it's quite easy to mess it up. Method 2 would be somehow OK. I would never use method 5, as it's quite impossible to parse such a translation. If you hard code the URL in method 5, to make the URL itself translatable (as @Rarst pointed out), than I am also OK with method 5, but still wouldn't do it this way.

Please continue discussion here, if necessary.

Thanks!