EPL Rumour Mill: Spurs Sign Barcelona Wonderkid?

Reports today have announced that Tottenham have sealed a deal worth £12.5m for Barcelona's hotly-rated Mexican youngster Giovani Dos Santos.

The man whose name has been on the lips of Football Manager fans for years will sign a long-term deal with the London club in the next week, if reports are to be believed.

Across North London, the scramble for Arsenal's Belarussian winger Alexander Hleb is well and truly underway, with the likes of Inter, AC Milan, and Barcelona in the running for his signature.

The asking price of £15m is likely to be met, leaving Arsene Wenger looking to dip into the market to replace him, with Hatem Ben Arfa a strong candidate.

Manchester United are coming to understand that it takes more than being newly crowned European Champions to keep hold of your prized assets in today's transfer market. Real Madrid's interest in Cristiano Ronaldo, and apparent bottomless pit of cash, is the worst-kept secret in football.

Should Ronaldo make the switch, the total price of the move is going to seriously test Los Merengues' bank manager, with figures quoted in the region of £150m including player exchanges, wages, and image rights.

An Old Trafford rumour that refuses to die is the move for Man City utility man Micah Richards. Equally at home at centre-back or right-back, Richards is seen as the ideal long-term replacement for Gary Neville. United are set for a mammoth, resolve-testing offer for the England starlet.

Liverpool's Peter Crouch has been exhibiting his stubborn side, threatening to see out his contract and move for free next year in protest at his £15m pricetag that has put off former clubs Aston Villa and Portsmouth.

Reds fans, however, will be more interested in the probable signings of long-term targets Gareth Barry and Andreas Dossena. Full-back Dossena has recently attracted the interest of Fiorentina and so his transfer could run less smoothly than anticipated.

As for Chelsea's managerial merry-go-round, I have put my ear to the ground and understand the five-man shortlist is Didier Deschamps, Mark Hughes, Roberto Mancini, Frank Rijkaard, and "Big Phil" Scolari.

Of those, I can only see Hughes, Deschamps or Rijkaard in the hotseat, with the Dutchman in pole position to get the job where only the very best is good enough.

As for moves almost certain to go through, expect to see John Mensah in a Pompey shirt, Ricardo Rocha turning out for Benfica, and Giorgios Samaras extending his stay up at Celtic.

Final blockbuster rumour? Go on then, Robinho to Chelsea for £28m.