EPL Transfer News and Rumours: The Top 50 Big-Name Stories

The Premiership is one of the most entertaining leagues in the world and contains a host of big names, which makes it even more attractive. The quality in the league is undeniable and many clubs make approaches to bring in quality players during the summer transfer window. With the start of the season less than a month away, clubs will be looking to seal their transfer targets as soon as possible so that they can adjust to the team's style of play.

The Premier League has a number of teams who are financially strong and have the capability to sign big names. Every club will love to bring in quality established players to their squad but ultimately, whether or not a move happens depends on various things including whether or not the club has the financial capability to make big-name signings.

This article is on some of the big names who have been linked with a move to a Premiership club in the summer.

1. Cesc Fabregas

According to the Guardian, Barcelona officials have travelled to London regarding the possible transfer of Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas but Arsenal have remained firm in their valuation of the midfielder and will refuse to sell the Spanish international at a bargain price. Barcelona's vice president Josep María Bartomeu and director for football Raul Sanllehi travelled to London to renew negotiations for the midfielder, who has not travelled to Germany for Arsenal's preseason friendly.

Though the negotiations have been fluid so far, they have been unable to reach an agreement with Arsenal. Barcelona are set to make an increased bid of £33 million, but might not get a positive response with the Gunners holding out for £40 million for their captain.

Arsenal will want the problem to be resolved within the next few days because Arsene Wenger does want to have time to procure his replacement in case Fabregas leaves the club. Barcelona have some financial difficulties regarding their transfer budget, which is why they are reluctant to match Arsenal's valuation of the midfielder. Fabregas has not spoke out for a transfer or handed in a formal transfer request while Wenger believes that his player's departure was always dependent on an acceptable bid and although Barcelona are creeping towards that, they remain some way off.

The next few days of negotiations between the two European clubs will decide the future of Fabregas for the next season and should they not come to a conclusion, it is possible that Fabregas will continue to be the captain of Arsenal FC.

2. Carlos Tevez

According to Skysports News, Carlos Tevez is linked with a move away from Manchester City stadium with Inter Milan apparently the favorites for the striker's signature and some reports suggesting the Argentina international has held talks with Inter Milan after he was pictured shaking hands with the club's sporting director, Marco Branca, while on holiday in Sardinia.

Tevez was linked with a move to Corinthians but the club pulled out of the £40 million deal for the player, who has requested a transfer at City because he wants to be closer to his family. Real Madrid have also been linked with the prolific striker but it is still to be seen if any club can meet Manchester City's £50 million European asking price for the former Manchester United striker.

The Argentina international has been one of the best players in the Premiership in the last few seasons and his efforts have helped Manchester City qualify for the Champions League and also win the FA Cup in the last season. The striker and his representative, Joorabchian, remain focused on a transfer and the latter does not think that there will be a lack of options.

Joorabchian said:

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"This is Carlos Tevez we are talking about, one of the best players in the world. We are not overly worried. He wants to leave but is still a City player at the moment and we will of course respect that. We've just got to wait and see who comes in next for him."

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3. Luka Modric

Tottenham finished fifth last season which meant that they missed out on the Champions League places in the 2010-11 season and in order to get back into the competition in the near future, they need to hold onto their best players. However, according to BBC Sport, Luka Modric has apparently expressed his desire to move to Chelsea according to his manager but Harry Redknapp is determined to hold onto the Croatian playmaker, who is integral to the Spurs.

Spurs have rejected bids of £22 million and £27 million for Modric, who is believed to have handed in a transfer request. "He is worth an awful lot more money than that [£35 million]," Redknapp said. "Really we're not looking to sell Luka. [But] it is in the hands of the chairman, Daniel Levy. It's not my decision at the end of the day."

Redknapp has also insisted that if Modric hands in a formal transfer request, it does not make any difference to the current situation. "We know he wants to leave, whether he writes it down on a piece of paper doesn't really make any difference to our stance," said the Spurs boss. "He's a great player and we don't want to lose him."

Chelsea have not as yet been back with a third bid, and while Redknapp is hopeful Modric will stay, the 64-year-old has hinted that it is not certain the midfielder will stay at White Hart Lane.

"I obviously want to keep him as the coach but the chairman says he is not for sale, so we'll have to wait and see," Redknapp said. "We're quite determined, if we can, to hang onto him. But it is a difficult situation. It's a difficult one for Luka and it's a difficult one for Tottenham."

4. Radamel Falcao

According to a report in the Sun in June, Real Madrid and Chelsea were both interested in acquiring Porto striker Radamel Falcao, who has been prolific in his time at Porto, helping them win the domestic league as well as the Europa League, where he set a record for the number of goals scored by a player in the competition.

Jose Mourinho already has two excellent strikers at his disposal in Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain but could be in the market for another attacking player in the transfer window.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has previously worked with the Colombian striker in his time as manager of FC Porto and Falcao was one of the main reasons for the club's success in the season. Though Chelsea have quality strikers in Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba, Torres has not found his form at Stamford Bridge and many suspect Drogba might be past his peak.

Though both clubs were willing to pay £26.5 million to trigger a release clause in the 25-year-old's previous contract, Falcao has signed a new contract with FC Porto according to The Guardian, which means he is contracted to the club till the end of 2015 season. Also, his release clause value has been considerably increased from €30 million to €45 million.

It is highly unlikely that Falcao will quit Porto this season and it will be interesting to see if Chelsea or Real Madrid will be interested in matching the new release clause.

5. Samir Nasri

According to the Express, there is still a good possibility that Arsenal's Samir Nasri might move to Manchester City in the summer because the midfielder is not interested in signing a new contract to stay at the Emirates. Arsene Wenger had claimed he will not sell Nasri, despite the fact he has only 12 months left on his current deal, but the Arsenal boss last night admitted he is now not so sure.

“It is not completely sorted that Samir will stay, but I want him to stay,” said Wenger. “He knows that. Hopefully we can sort that out in the coming weeks.” 

Nasri believes City will make a move for him and is interested in potential wages of £150,000 a week. Wenger will make another attempt to tie him to Arsenal with a new £110,000-a-week deal but the France international Nasri has no plans to sign and has made up his mind to go—whether now or on a free transfer next year.

Wenger knows the importance of retaining Nasri for the next season because the midfielder is one of the best players in the Premiership and with him in the team, Arsenal have more chances of ending their trophy drought. Nasri was part of the squad for the Asia tour and also the trip to Germany in Arsenal's preseason and is an important member of the current side.

Also, the current uncertainty surrounding Cesc Fabregas' future makes it imperative that the Gunners hold onto the versatile Nasri, who could play in the central attacking midfield role in the future. It will come down to whether Wenger can convince Nasri to sign the new contract, and if Arsenal show the ambition in the transfer window, there is a better chance for Nasri to stay at the club. 

6. Marek Hamsik

According to Skysports News, Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri is confident that midfielder Marek Hamsik will stay at Napoli despite interest from AC Milan and Arsenal. If Cesc Fabregas does leave the club to join Barcelona, then Hamsik could be considered as an ideal replacement for the Spanish international. The Slovakian midfielder has been superb in the last few seasons with Napoli and was one of the main reasons why Napoli qualified for the Champions League in the 2011-12 season.

However, the Napoli manager is confident of holding onto the midfielder after holding talks with the Slovakian international, who has four years on his contract. 

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"Marek is happy to work with me and he is very motivated. He is happy to remain here," Mazzarri told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have spoken to him and from what I know, in the end he will not leave."

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It is important for Napoli to hold onto their best players like Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Hamsik, as they could help the club have a good performance in the league and also the Champions League in the next season. 

7. Javier Pastore

According to ESPNSoccernet, Chelsea are leading the race to sign Argentina international Javier Pastore, who is one of the most highly rated midfielders in the world. Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini claims Premier League duo Chelsea and Manchester City, plus Serie A side Roma, are battling it out to sign their midfielder. Zamparini has imposed a deadline till Tuesday for any deal to be done regarding Pastore and Italian media claim that Chelsea are the favorites to sign the youngster.

Pastore, 22, has already been the subject of a rejected €45 million bid from "a major European side" and Zamparini believes there are now just three clubs in the running to sign the Argentina international. 

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"I cannot say who has the advantage between Chelsea, Manchester City or Roma. I can only underline that I'm interested in cash deals," Zamparini told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are at the final stages and will evaluate the offers on Tuesday. When we see which the real proposals are, then we can go forward."

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Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas would have to make the decision regarding whether the club should be interested in signing Pastore or making an improved bid for Luka Modric of Tottenham. Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay made it clear that they would act regarding the interests of the manager.

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"From our activity in the marketplace in the past, if the coach feels there is a player available that can strengthen our team then we almost definitely go into the marketplace."

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8. Sergio Aguero

According to Skysports News, Sergio Aguero has travelled to Manchester in order to undergo a medical and sign with Manchester City, who have agreed on a fee with Atletico Madrid. The fee is reported to be around £38 million and if City complete the signing of the Argentina international, it will be a massive coup for the club considering that they have beaten several elite clubs to the signature of the tricky striker.

Manchester City's prolific striker Carlos Tevez has made it clear that he wants to leave the club but the club and manager Roberto Mancini want the striker to stay to help them continue their progress and, hopefully, do well in the Champions League as well. Aguero is one of the best strikers in the world and will certainly improve the quality of the team.

Aguero confirmed a few weeks back that he desired to leave Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid appeared to be his destination initially. However, Manchester City have since confirmed their interest and Atletico would be happy to sell their star player to a foreign club than arch-rivals Real Madrid. If Aguero does complete his move, it could probably pave the way for the departure of Tevez but his future is still uncertain and will be decided in the next few weeks.

9. Wesley Sneijder

According to the Telegraph, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to replace Paul Scholes, who retired at the end of the last season, and Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder is his primary target in the summer to bolster the central midfield. The Dutch playmaker is one of the most talented midfielders in the world and he helped Inter Milan win the treble when Jose Mourinho was the manager of the club.

Sneijder is certainly not going to come at a bargain price for United but Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti could do business with Manchester United regarding Sneijder if the price is right. However, as of now, their valuations differ by some extent and with other options like Samir Nasri and Luka Modric difficult to sign, Sneijder is the only realistic replacement for Scholes though he is 27-years-old.

Attempts to sign the Dutch midfielder from Inter Milan have stalled due to posturing on all sides, with Inter holding out for at least £35 million and the player reluctant to force a move by demanding a transfer. United, for their part, have yet to submit an official bid, so there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding this potential transfer.

However, with time still left in the transfer window, there could be some developments on this story in the future as United manager Ferguson will look to seal the signing of a central midfielder who can provide the creativity needed for the team.

10. Franck Ribery

According to Footybunker.com, Arsenal are in advanced talks with Bayern Munich according to reports in London and Bavaria regarding the potential transfer of winger Franck Ribery, who has sustained injuries in the last season, forcing him to miss a number of games. The versatile winger is one of the best players in the world when he is fit but his many injuries have meant that Bayern are apparently interested in offloading the winger.

The price had always seemed the biggest barrier for Arsenal but with Munich looking to cut their losses, the price that was quoted last year—anything from £40 million to £70 million—is a thing of the past but now the German club could sell the tricky midfielder for around £22 million. With talks believed to be ongoing, a decision will only be made on Ribery’s future if Arsenal agree the right fee for Cesc Fabregas with Barcelona.

There has also been talk in the past that Andrei Arshavin could be involved as part of the deal but sources insist that the only big player who could be leaving the club is the Arsenal captain Fabregas to Barcelona. Also, though Arshavin did not have a good 2010-11 season, he retains the creativity to open up defences and create number of opportunities as his impressive statistics will show.

11. Karim Benzema

According to Skysports News, Karim Benzema is interested in staying at Real Madrid and succeeding at the Santiago Bernabeu. Though the French striker had a difficult first season with the club, he had a decent second season where he was prolific in the second half of the season following Gonzalo Higuain's long-term injury. Benzema also insisted that he had a good relationship with manager Jose Mourinho and is only thinking of the next season at Madrid.

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"I have not spoken to anyone," Benzema told AS. "I am in Madrid and I want to succeed here. There is nothing else. It is normal that Madrid want to sign the best players in the world, but I will work hard to play. I will give 100 percent." Benzema also underlined the harmonious relationship he enjoys with coach Jose Mourinho and enthused "There is no problem with him. He is a great coach."

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Benzema had previously been linked with Arsenal and Juventus while Real Madrid have been linked with many quality strikers like Neymar and Sergio Aguero, but after Benzema's recent comments, it is likely that he will stay at the club. Arsenal require a striker who can be consistent throughout the season and Benzema is someone who could provide the ammunition necessary for the Gunners to break their trophy drought.

12. Ricardo Kaka

According to the Metro, Real Madrid midfielder Ricardo Kaka might be sold by the club in order to raise funds to sign Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez. The Brazilian midfielder has already insisted that he will stay and fight for his place in the Real Madrid team but with Mesut Ozil ahead of him in the pecking order and new signing Nuri Sahin also in the team, Kaka may not be a regular in the next season.

Per the Metro:

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Inter Milan are believed to be in the hunt for the former World Player of the Year, and Spanish reports claim Inter Milan have already had £27 million bid rejected. Real are looking to recoup closer to the £56 million they paid for the midfielder back in 2009, which may prove a stumbling block for new Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas.

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However, there is a good chance that Kaka will stay at the club because with a full summer's rest, he could finally be free of injuries which have hampered him in his time at Real Madrid so far. The Brazilian also looked sharp in their preseason tour, and there is a good possibility that he will continue to be a Real Madrid player in the next season as well.

13. Stewart Downing

Liverpool have officially signed Stewart Downing from Aston Villa to end one of the long-running transfer sagas in the summer and the England international has already been a part of Liverpool's preseason and has linked up with his teammates. 

Downing, who moved to Villa Park for around £10 million two years ago, had been a prime summer target of Reds manager Dalglish, who saw bids of £12 million and £15 million rejected before an agreement for an undisclosed fee—believed to be in the region of £20 million—was struck.

With Aston Villa losing Ashley Young and not qualifying for Europe, Downing made it clear that he would not sign a contract extension. Arsenal were also reported to be interested in the midfielder but Kenny Dalglish will be happy that he has sealed the signing of Downing. The versatile winger can deliver excellent crosses which can help Liverpool utilize Andy Carroll's aerial prowess to the maximum.

"It's a great feeling and I'm very happy to be here. It's been a long time coming and I've had to wait a few weeks, but I'm really pleased to be here," Downing told www.liverpoolfc.tv. 

"With the tradition, the manager and the players they have here, there was a big temptation to come here and once I knew of their interest, there was only one place I wanted to go. It will be a great feeling to run out at Anfield. It's always nice to come and play here. The atmosphere is always great and the fans are brilliant."

14. Gonzalo Higuain

According to Goal.com, Real Madrid are interested in a deal for Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez and have offered €28 million cash plus either Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain going the other way in order to seal the deal. Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is a big admirer of Tevez and wants to reunite the Argentine with his former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Goal.com understands that sealing a deal for Tevez, who released a statement earlier this week to announce he wants to leave City this summer, is a bigger priority for Mourinho than signing Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero, a transfer which is complicated by the rivalry between the two capital-city clubs. However, it is still doubtful if Higuain will agree to a move away from Real Madrid, where he has been prolific for the club.

According to Skysports News, Gonzalo Higuain is interested in staying at the club and compete for his place in the team for the next season. 

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"My wish is to stay with Real Madrid," he told AS. "I feel very loved by the fans and I want to win many more trophies with this club. There's nothing better than playing at one of the world's biggest clubs. I am very happy at Real Madrid. It is clear that you have to work very hard to become and remain a first-team regular at a big club like this. There's always a lot of competition for places. "

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15. Juan Mata

According to the Metro, Valencia midfielder Juan Mata could be on the move in the summer with the cash-strapped Spanish club indicating that they could cash in on the talented 23-year-old.

Arsenal have indicated an interest in the midfielder but could be joined by Inter Milan for the Spanish midfielder and the Gunners will not fancy a bidding war with the Italian giants.

Per the Metro:

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Spurs and Liverpool had been linked with the 23-year-old earlier in the transfer window, but the race to land him is now between Arsenal and Inter, reports Spanish daily Sport. Valencia are unwilling to consider selling the Spain international for less than £17.5 million and are apparently expecting Arsenal to make an offer around that level in the coming days. 

However, Inter are also said to be planning an improved bid for Mata, after having a £13 million offer rejected last month.

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With the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri still uncertain, it is imperative that Arsene Wenger bring in some players to bolster the team. Mata would certainly improve the quality of the team though Arsenal's move for the Spanish international could depend on the situations of Nasri and Fabregas. Mata could be at an affordable price for Arsenal and at only 23 years of age, he has a bright future ahead of him.

16. David Villa

According to the Mirror, FC Barcelona have claimed that Chelsea were interested in signing striker David Villa in the summer but the club have rejected the inquiry from the London club and will not negotiate considering that they have no plans of selling the prolific Spaniard. Chelsea's offer for David Villa was around  £27 million but the Catalan club want to hold onto the former Valencia striker, who they signed in the last summer.

The Spanish striker has forged a successful partnership with Lionel Messi and Pedro Rodriguez as the trio have combined to produce a number of goals in the previous season. Though Villa struggled for form during some periods of the season mainly because he played on the left wing, he performed well when it was needed and even ensured Barcelona's victory against Manchester United in the Champions League final by scoring the third goal.

Villa shares an excellent relationship with his Spanish teammates and was vital to Barcelona's dominance in the last season. According to the official Barcelona website, Alexis Sanchez is also set to arrive at the club in the future and though he will compete with Villa for a place in the team, Barcelona will hold onto the prolific Spaniard, who has the quality to influence games on his own.  

17. Emmanuel Adebayor

According to the Daily Mail, former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is only interested in moving to Real Madrid, where he spent the last six months of the previous season on loan. The Manchester City striker has fallen out of favor with Roberto Mancini as he has not received much playing time for City in the past year. Tottenham are apparently interested in the striker but will not be able to afford his wages estimated to be around £170,000 a week.

Manchester City could reach an agreement with Tottenham on a loan deal, which could mean City paying some part of Adebayor's wages but the striker himself will snub any potential move to Spurs to hold out for a return to Real Madrid. City signed Adebayor from Arsenal when Mark Hughes was the manager of the club but since Mancini has been appointed as the manager of City, Adebayor has not been utilized much.

Adebayor was rated as one of the best young strikers in the game during his time at Arsenal but his career has not been great since he left the Gunners, as he has struggled to get playing time at Manchester City and even at Real Madrid.  

18. Santi Cazorla

According to Goal.com, Arsenal are interested in a move for Villareal's Santi Cazorla, who has attracted interest from Malaga as well. However, no deal has been agreed with Malaga as of yet and Arsenal have been encouraged by Villareal to firm up their interest by bidding for the Spain international. The versatile midfielder has been admired by Arsene Wenger and could be targeted by the Frenchman to bring in quality to the attack following the signing of Gervinho, who scored twice in Arsenal's friendly in Germany.

Malaga are also very interested in signing the Villareal midfielder but the club is reluctant to sell to the Spanish club because they are competitors for the Champions League places and would prefer selling to a foreign team. However, Cazorla's move could also be decided by what happens with Giuseppe Rossi, who has been targeted by Juventus and other clubs as well.

If Rossi does leave, it is more likely that Villareal would hold onto Cazorla but if a move for Rossi does not materialize, then Arsenal have a good chance of getting the midfielder. Wenger’s side could capture the player for €25 million (£22 million, the lowest bid Villarreal will consider) or perhaps slightly less if an Arsenal player moves in the opposite direction. 

Villarreal had been keen to sign the Gunners’ Brazilian midfielder Denilson, but the player has returned to his homeland to join Sao Paulo on loan for a single season. Nevertheless, several other Arsenal fringe stars could interest coach Juan Carlos Garrido and make a move mutually beneficial.

  

19. Romelu Lukaku

According to the Mirror, Arsenal are poised to hijack Chelsea's move for Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku, who, at the age of 18, has already made 71 appearances for his club side, scoring 31 goals. He has been compared to Didier Drogba by some because of his impressive physique and he also has excellent aerial ability as well.

It was thought initially that Chelsea were certain to sign the teenage Belgium international but Arsene Wenger has been alerted to the striker and could hijack the deal with the Gunners looking to inject some quality in order to end their trophy drought. Lukaku could have more playing time at Arsenal than at Chelsea because he will have Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka ahead of him in the pecking order.

Also, Arsenal manager Wenger has an excellent record of developing youngsters with potential to be world-class players and Lukaku could consider a move to the Emirates better for his career. However, it comes down to whether Wenger is prepared to meet the £17.5 million valuation of Anderlecht for their prolific striker.

20. Ashley Young

Ashley Young was signed by Manchester United in the summer to bolster the quality of attack of the team, which won the 2010-11 Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson has been active in the transfer window this year sealing deals for David de Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young, who have joined up with their new teammates. Young was one of Aston Villa's most important players but moved to Manchester United in the summer for a fee reported to be around £16 million according to the Daily Mail.

Young, Nani and Antonio Valencia will compete for the places on the wings, though Young can also play in attacking midfield, which could be utilized by Ferguson. The versatile midfielder is also an excellent crosser of the ball and Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez can capitalize on Young's attacking play and could score even more in the next season.

Nani had a good season with Manchester United in 2010-11 but was left out of the Champions League final in order to accommodate the hard-working Park Ji Sung and Antonio Valencia in the team. With the arrival of Young, Nani will face further competition with the England international, who is determined to prove his worth to Manchester United.

21. Arjen Robben

According to Footybunker.com, Tottenham are interested in signing Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben, who has arguably been the Bavarian club's most dangerous player since his move from Real Madrid. Spurs midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has recommended the Dutch winger to manager Harry Redknapp, though it will be extremely difficult to sign the high-profile winger, who is undoubtedly one of the best attacking players in the world.

Spurs will have to first tempt the Bundesliga club into selling the midfielder and that will take a big-money bid from Tottenham and also, they would have to agree with him on his wages, which are likely to be quite high. However, with Spurs not qualifying for the Champions League in the last season, it remains to be seen whether Redknapp can convince him to join Spurs, who are only in the Europa League while Bayern can qualify for the Champions League.

Also, Robben is quite injury-prone and by having to pay big money, his injury record means that it could be a gamble for Tottenham. Bayern Munich are keen to hold onto their best players and it will be extremely difficult for Spurs to lure Robben, who wants to compete at the highest level 

22. Robin van Persie

According to Caughtoffside.com, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is interested in Arsenal striker Robin van Persie and could apparently bid as much as £30 million for the prolific striker, who scored 22 goals in the 2010-11 season despite missing most of the season due to injury. Mourinho already has two excellent strikers in Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain but he wants to avoid the situation which arose when Higuain sustained a long-term injury.

Van Persie is one of the world's best strikers and though he has stayed with Arsenal for a long time, he has been frustrated by the lack of trophies in his Arsenal career. However, he has been faithful to the club in the past and Arsenal will hope that he will continue to stay with the Gunners. Also, with the speculation about the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the summer, the last thing that Arsenal want is to have their best striker also angling for a move away from the club.

Real Madrid have been linked with many strikers in the summer, though it is to be seen whether they will sign a striker in the summer. Arsene Wenger will hold onto the Dutchman, especially because he is not in the last year of his contract, and he will also try to bring in some quality signings to the team before the start of the season. 

23. David de Gea

Edwin van der Sar retired at the end of the last season after the Champions League final loss and, being one of the best keepers to have played for Manchester United in Sir Alex Ferguson's time at Manchester United, it was imperative that the manager signed his replacement in the summer. Ferguson had identified Atletico Madrid's David de Gea as the man to replace the Dutchman and sealed the signing of the keeper after reaching an agreement with the Spanish club.

De Gea, who is only 20 years old, is one of the youngest first-choice keepers in the Premiership but in his time at Atletico, he proved that he was capable of being one of the best in the world in the future. The Spaniard has been likened to Real Madrid's Iker Casillas by some but what is undeniable is that Manchester United have signed a very talented keeper to be their No. 1 for the next season.

According to the Sun, the deal to sign the Spain U-21 goalkeeper was reportedly worth around £18 million and the Manchester United manager has been decisive in sealing the transfer as early as possible in the summer so that he can join with his new teammates and establish a good relationship, especially with the defenders.

24. Angel di Maria

According to the Mirror, Chelsea are interested in a move for Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria, who had a good debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu. They were apparently also interested in signing Pepe but the versatile Real Madrid defender has signed a new contract with the club to extend his stay at the club. Di Maria is close to joining the Blues after falling out with Bernabeu bosses over a new contract.

Di Maria was a regular for Jose Mourinho's side and had a good first season with the club. However, the contract negotiations and the signing of the versatile Fabio Coentrao could mean his future could be in doubt. Chelsea are searching for a winger and at the age of 23, di Maria has a bright future ahead of him. The Blues also need more talented young players as many of their most important players are approaching the twilight of their careers.

It is still doubtful if Jose Mourinho will let one of his regular players leave the club especially as he seeks to end Barcelona's dominance in La Liga and Europe. Also, Real Madrid hold the aces regarding Angel di Maria's situation considering he was signed only last summer and has years left to run on his contract.

25. Eden Hazard

According to the ESPNSoccernet, Arsenal and PSG are interested in Lille winger Eden Hazard having signed his former teammate Gervinho in the summer. Hazard was named as the best player in the French league and the 20-year-old is regarded as one of the best young talents. Hazard has a bright future ahead of him and can be an excellent signing if he is signed by another club.

However, Lille are reluctant to lose both Hazard and Gervinho in the same transfer window and are determined to hold onto the Belgium international. Lille won the French League but since then, they have lost some important players, like Yohan Cabaye and Gervinho, in the summer. It is understandable as to why they are determined not to sell Hazard because they want to do well in the Champions League and also retain the league title in the next season.

The futures of Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri are not yet certain, which is why Arsene Wenger might be targeting quality players like Hazard because even if one of them leaves the club, the addition of Hazard could help them cope with any potential departures from the club.

26. Phil Jones

Manchester United's first signing of the summer was defender Phil Jones from Blackburn with the Red Devils moving in ahead of their rivals to seal the signing of the England U-21 international. Though Blackburn was reluctant to sell the young defender, United paid around £16 million for his release, which meant they could sign the youngster.

United, even without the addition of Jones, had one of the strongest defenses in the league with Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Chris Smalling playing most games in centre-back positions last season. It will be interesting to see where Jones fits into the lineup but he is a player for the future and his partnership with Smalling could be a centre-back partnership for the years to come.

Jones can also play in defensive midfield, which means he can provide good depth in that position. Owen Hargreaves has been released from the club, while Darren Fletcher has encountered illness which has meant he missed out on a number of games in the last few months. Though there will be immense competition for places at Old Trafford in the next season, Ferguson will certainly have plans for the 18-year-old, who has a huge year ahead of him.

27. Andres Iniesta

According to Tribalfootball.com, Manchester City were apparently interested in a big-money move for Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, who has been one of the main reasons for Barcelona’s dominance in La Liga and Europe in the last three seasons. With Cesc Fabregas being targeted by Pep Guardiola this summer, if the Arsenal midfielder signs for the Blaugrana, he could possibly displace Iniesta.

However, it is highly improbable that Barcelona would even give a thought about losing Iniesta, who, alongside Xavi, has formed the best midfield in the world. Also, Iniesta has shown no signs of unhappiness at Barcelona; on the contrary, he seems to be enjoying with his Blaugrana teammates and shares an excellent rapport with his teammates.

The summer transfer window is a time when there are a number of rumors, of which some of them do not have a logical base. Manchester City targeting Iniesta is one of those rumors which is certainly not going to happen in the summer.

28. Lassana Diarra

According to the Metro, Real Madrid are keen to sell midfielder Lassana Diarra in the summer because he apparently does not feature in manager Jose Mourinho’s plans for the next season. Diarra was not a regular last season following the signing of Sami Khedira and could further have his playing time reduced with the signings of Hamit Altintop and Nuri Sahin.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder was signed from Portsmouth by Real Madrid but has not been a regular under Jose Mourinho. Manchester United and Tottenham have been linked with the midfielder but with United not showing much interest in the midfielder, Tottenham could get the midfielder on a bargain.

The Spurs finished fifth in the league in the last season and will want to secure Champions League places in the next season, which is why Redknapp is looking to bring in experience in the team. With Wilson Palacios not having a good season with the Spurs, Diarra could be brought into inject some quality in midfield alongside Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart.

29. Fernando Llorente

According to Mirror, Tottenham are interested in Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente, who is one of the best strikers in Spain and has also been prolific for the Spanish national team as well. Tottenham’s strikers—Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch—have not been in good goal-scoring form this season, meaning that they have had to depend on midfielders to score vital goals.

Tottenham will have to offload one or more of their strikers in order to fund the move to sign Llorente. The tall Spanish striker has excelled in the recent past and he was more effective than Fernando Torres at times for Spain. Spurs are determined to get to the Champions League in the 2012-13 season because without Champions League for more than a season, some of their best players could leave the club.

Llorente could be a striker who could be prolific for Tottenham if they do sign him and his height and physique could also help him settle in the Premiership. Also, in a side that has fast wide players like Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, a striker like Llorente, who has good positional sense, could make a big impact to the team.

30. Bastian Schweinsteiger

According to the Daily Star, Manchester United are apparently viewing Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger as a potential replacement in central midfield for Paul Scholes, who retired at the end of the last season. Bayern Munich did not have a great season last year but they are in the Champions League if they can win their qualifier and will be keen to hold onto their best players.

United have been linked with many midfielders in the summer but if they cannot tie up deals for any of their transfer targets regarding central midfielders, then they might turn to the Bayern Munich midfielder to solve their problem. Schweinsteiger is one of the best midfielders in the world and also signed a new contract with Bayern recently, which makes it harder for United to tempt Bayern to sell one of their best players.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has a settled team for the next season with a central midfielder being the only target for the remainder of the summer, having signed three quality players in the summer window. Though there exists the possibility that Ferguson might not sign a midfielder to replace Scholes, it is possible that he could spend the money if there is a quality player who could be signed.

31. Gary Cahill

According to the Telegraph, Gary Cahill is a player who is targeted by Gunners manager Arsene Wenger to solve their defensive woes for the 2011-12 season. The Bolton defender was one of the main reasons why the Trotters had a good 2010-11 season and the young Englishman was also selected to represent the national team following his good performances.

Arsenal conceded 43 league goals in the last season, which is considerably more than their rivals for the league title and Wenger could target a defender to provide the solidity to the team. Cahill is experienced in the Premiership and is at a stage in his career where he can move to a top Premier League club in order to help his development.

Cahill has only one year left on his contract and has attracted the interest of many clubs. He has a release clause of £17 million but Arsenal would like the price to be reduced and could offer youngsters on loan with Ignasi Miquel one of the names which could be discussed. Thomas Vermaelen has also completely recovered from injury and the manager will hope that the defence is solid for the next season.

32. Jordan Henderson

Liverpool have officially announced the signing of young midfielder Jordan Henderson, who was also a part of the Euro U-21 Championships for England. Henderson has been signed by Kenny Dalglish to bolster the midfield as they look to try to get back into the Champions League following their disappointments in the last two seasons.

Henderson was one of Sunderland’s most important players and though they were reluctant to lose the midfielders, it was an excellent move for the youngster and Liverpool offered the right money to strike a deal with Sunderland. Liverpool have strengthened since the new owners took over the club and the signings of Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Henderson signal the right intent for the future.

With the addition of Henderson, there will be immense competition for places in the Liverpool side which is good because it could bring out the best from the players. The Reds have quality depth in this department and it could prove vital for the club as they look to have a strong 2011-12 season without European disappointment.

33. Phil Jagielka

According to the Mirror, Arsenal are interested in Everton defender Phil Jagielka, who is a long-term target for the Gunners. The North London-based club apparently had a bid around £10 million rejected by Everton, who do not want to lose one of the best defenders in the Premiership. Jagielka has been consistent for Everton and has helped the club finish in the top half of the table consistently in the last few years.

Everton manager David Moyes does not have much money to spend in the transfer market, which is why he has been relatively inactive in the transfer window. Selling Jagielka for a decent price would certainly bring in some much-needed cash to the club but he can afford to lose one of his most reliable defenders.

Players like Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka and Jack Rodwell will certainly attract the interest of other clubs and with Everton not in a good financial state, it is up to the manager to persuade their best players to stay at the club despite their inactivity in the transfer market. However, it is not surprising that Arsene Wenger is interested in the versatile centre-back who can provide quality depth to the defence and also, he could sell Emmanuel Eboue considering Jagielka is also adept at right-back.

34. Charlie Adam

Liverpool have signed Charlie Adam from Blackpool to officially end the long-running saga after agreeing a fee with Blackpool. The Reds have considerably strengthened their midfield and Adam’s superb performances for Blackpool, which was relegated to the dismay of most neutrals, meant that he was targeted by some clubs.

However, Liverpool were determined to land the Scotland international, who was inspirational for his former club. The 25-year-old has played only one season in the Premiership but his performances suggest that he could be successful in a big club like Liverpool.

He has the capability to produce excellent long-range passes and diagonal balls which can provide a new dimension to Liverpool’s midfield. Though they have good players in midfield, Adam can force his way into the starting 11 if he can produce the sort of form which made Liverpool shell out the money to sign him.

35. Dimitar Berbatov

According to Tribalfootball.com, Valencia and Juventus are interested in Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, who was the top scorer for Manchester United in the last season. Despite being the leading goal-scorer for the season for United, he was relegated to the bench in favor of the partnership between Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney towards the end of the season.

He was also not in the Champions League final squad where Sir Alex Ferguson preferred Michael Owen on the bench to the Bulgarian, which undoubtedly would have been frustrating for Berbatov. Juventus are apparently interested in the striker and could make a formal approach in the future, though United are quite happy to hold onto the striker.

Valencia have been linked with the striker but they might have to sell a player in order to fund the deal and Spanish midfielder Juan Mata might move in the summer to ease the financial crisis of the Spanish club. It is still not certain whether Berbatov will stay or not but it seems at the moment that United would like to hold onto the striker, who was prolific in the last season.

36. Gervinho

Arsenal have officially signed Gervinho from Lille and he is their first major signing of the summer transfer window following their capture of youngster Carl Jenkinson, who has appeared in preseason friendlies for the club. Gervinho was an integral member of the Lille side which won the French league and was prolific in his time with the French club.

Gervinho is versatile and can play on the left, right or upfront, providing depth to the team which has been affected by injuries in the past. The Ivory Coast international is quick, good with his feet and makes good runs, and can suit with Arsenal’s style of play. With the uncertain futures of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, Gervinho could have a vital role to play in the next season.

Gervinho made his Arsenal debut against Cologne in a friendly and scored two goals in just under half-an-hour and the Gunners will hope for more of the same when the season starts. He seems to be a natural finisher and can prove to be an excellent asset for the Gunners if he can settle in quickly in England.

37. Jack Rodwell

According to the Metro, Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell has attracted the interest of a number of clubs and could be sold by manager David Moyes in order to bring in money in order to fund some of their potential transfers. Rodwell has been one of the best young prospects produced by Everton but unfortunately, like it happened with Wayne Rooney, Everton might not see the youngster play his best years of his career at Goodison Park.

Everton is considerably strong in midfield considering that they have exciting players like Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta and Marouane Fellaini and could cope with the loss of Rodwell. However, they do need to bring in quality players in some positions in order to strengthen their team to help them challenge for European places in the next season.

Moyes has done a remarkable job with limited funds in his time at Everton and he has also taken some bold decisions as the manager of the club, though he has received support from the chairman and the supporters. He has had to face some tricky situations over the years and the current situation with Rodwell could be another one in which he will have to be strong in his decision-making.

38. Thiago Alacantara

According to the Mirror, Manchester United have apparently offered £15 million to sign Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alacantara, who was one of the best players for the Spain U-21 team helping them to win the Euro Championships. The talented midfielder is a player who has been touted to be a regular for the Blaugrana in the future but with Barcelona already having the strongest midfield in the world, Thiago has not had many chances to prove his potential.

However, if former Barcelona youth player and current Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is signed in the summer, it could further push Thiago below in the pecking order, which means he could look for other clubs in the summer. Manchester United are apparently interested in the talented 20-year-old and could target him as a replacement for Paul Scholes, who retired at the end of the last season.

Manchester United won the Premiership last season but Sir Alex Ferguson has further strengthened the squad with the additions of Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David de Gea, though signing de Gea was a necessity following the retirement of Edwin van der Sar. Thiago would be an excellent signing for United but it is very unlikely that Pep Guardiola will let the midfielder leave and the manager believes that Thiago has an important role to play in the near future.

39. Mirko Vucinic

According to talkSPORT, Tottenham are interested in Roma centre-forward Mirko Vucinic and will make a formal approach for the forward in the near future. Vucinic has been one of Serie A’s best forwards but following Roma’s unsuccessful 2010-11 season, he could leave the club and the signing of Bojan Krkic will only fuel the speculation.

It is understandable that the Spurs are interested in signing a quality striker in the summer considering that their strikers were not prolific for the Spurs in the last season. It is possible that there might be one or more strikers leaving White Hart Lane in the summer. Tottenham failed to sign a quality striker in the January transfer window last season, which was also one of the reasons why they failed to qualify for the Champions League in the last season.

Vucinic is a player who is highly rated in the Italian league and could be an excellent signing for the Spurs if he can find his form. With the signing of Bojan, there is a possibility that Roma could be open to the idea of selling Vucinic if they can get the right money for the striker.

40. Jermain Defoe

According to the Mirror, Arsenal are planning a sensational swoop for Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, who could be targeted following another year without any trophies for the Gunners. The England international himself has not been in great form following his injury in the last season and did not score many goals in the season.

However, with Arsenal currently having the injury-prone Robin van Persie as their main striker, it might be necessary to sign a good striker because there is a possibility that he might be injured at a crucial stage in the season. Also, with the African Cup of Nations also scheduled in this season, Arsenal might lose important players in Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho and could have much less depth in that department.

Defoe did not get enough opportunities with Tottenham last season and if Harry Redknapp brings in a quality striker in the summer, there exists the possibility that Defoe might be relegated to the bench on many occasions. The former Portsmouth striker has shown that he can be a prolific goal-scorer and in a team like Arsenal, he could regain his form considering Arsenal create numerous opportunities in a game.

41. Christopher Samba

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal and Tottenham are both interested in a move for Christopher Samba but the powerful Congo defender is afraid that Blackburn might price him out of a move to a bigger club in the summer. Samba has proven to be a capable performer in the Premiership and his huge frame can help him dominate aerial battles, which is important in the Premiership.

Arsenal need a strong, dominant defender, considering that their weaknesses have been in dealing with set pieces, which is why they have been linked with a number of defenders in the summer. Samba fits the bill but Arsene Wenger is not one to pay over the odds to sign a player and he might not consider paying much above his valuation of the Tottenham.

Tottenham also require a defender who can be dominant due to the departure of Jonathan Woodgate and the injuries to Ledley King. Spurs could also offer one or more players in exchange to sign Samba and Sebastien Bassong is a player who could move the other way. Following the sale of Phil Jones, Blackburn are reluctant to lose another centre-back and will try to hold onto the giant defender.

42. Aly Cissokho

According to the Metro, Liverpool are interested in signing Lyon left-back Aly Cissokho to solve one of their more problematic positions as they look to strengthen in the summer. Lyon did not have a good 2010-11 season but Cissokho has been good for the club. Liverpool signed Paul Konchesky in the last summer and he proved to be a bad signing for the Reds.

Liverpool have sold Konchesky in this summer and though Fabio Aurelio is a decent player, he is one of the most injury-prone players in the league. Kenny Dalglish utilized established right-back Glen Johnson on the left in order to temporarily solve their problem and Martin Kelly looked impressive at right-back.

Cissokho could be an excellent signing for the Reds because he has the strength and physicality to cope with the Premiership. Also, he will be available at around £9 million, a fee which is affordable for the Reds.

43. Leighton Baines

According to the Mirror, Arsenal are interested in a move for Everton’s Leighton Baines, who was one of the best performers in the league last season. Baines has been consistent for Everton over the past and he has assisted in several of Everton’s goals and is one of the best left-backs in the world at present.

Everton have proven to be tough negotiators in the past and will be reluctant to lose a player of his quality and it is likely that Arsenal will have to pay a steep price in order to sign the left-back. Following the departure of Gael Clichy, Arsene Wenger has insisted that he will give Gibbs more playing time.

However, signing a player of the quality of Baines would most certainly improve the quality of the team. It is yet to be seen whether Wenger will spend the money to acquire a left-back, though another possibility is to spend it on a centre-back and Thomas Vermaelen can be deployed as a left-back if necessary.

44. Scott Parker

According to the Mirror, Arsenal are still interested in a move for West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, who could move from the club following their relegation because he wants to continue playing at the highest level in order to continue playing for England. The Gunners need a player who can provide the steel to the team.

Arsenal have one of the strongest teams in the league and their mentality has been blamed for many of their defeats, like the draws against Newcastle and Tottenham in the last season. Denilson has been ineffective while Abou Diaby spends too much time in the treatment table. Parker could be effective as a backup to Alex Song and could be vital to the team if signed by Arsenal.

Also, Aston Villa are also interested in the 31-year-old but his wages seem to be a problem for the club. Parker could also consider making the move to the Emirates more attractive considering that he can play in the Champions League and the midfielder also has a good understanding with Jack Wilshere, having played for England together at the heart of central midfield.

45. Gael Clichy

Gael Clichy has officially completed his move to Manchester City from Arsenal after the clubs agreed on a fee. The French left-back had only one year left on his contract and Arsenal cashed in on the defender, who was inconsistent in many games in the last season. He has been one of the better left-backs in the league but with the emergence of Kieran Gibbs, Wenger has sold Clichy following his indifferent season and Gibbs could receive a lot of playing time.

Also, Thomas Vermaelen is a player who can effectively play at left-back which means more depth for the position. Clichy was one of the longest-serving players for Arsenal but has left the club, which is not good for the club considering that he had immense experience with the club. However, City will be a new challenge for the Frenchman and he will hope that he does well for the club.

Aleksandar Kolarov, who was signed in the last summer, has not enjoyed a good campaign with City and could be relegated to the bench in the next season if, as expected, Clichy starts for Manchester City on a regular basis. Clichy would have to face good competition for his place in the team but City are a club on the rise and the Frenchman considers the move to be important in order to win trophies on a regular basis.

46. Nicklas Bendtner

According to BBC Sport, Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner looks to be on his way out of the Emirates and he has been left in London for Arsenal’s preseason tour to Asia and was also not a part of the squad for the trip to Germany. The Danish international did not receive much playing time last season, which is one of the reasons why he could move in order to gain regular playing time.

It looks like Arsenal will apparently let the Danish striker leave the club if any club can meet their valuation of Bendtner. He has attracted interest from some clubs like Hamburg while, despite reports, Borussia Dortmund have denied that they are interested in the Arsenal striker.

With the signing of Gervinho, Bendtner could be pushed further down the order and it only seems logical that the Danish international will move in the summer though Arsene Wenger has in the past stated that he has faith in the abilities of the 23-year-old.

47. Esteban Granero

According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero, who was not a regular in the last season for Madrid. Tottenham are the favorites to sign the midfielder as they have lodged a £12.3 million bid for the Real Madrid midfielder and though Liverpool and Arsenal are interested, it is uncertain if they will match Spurs’ bid for the midfielder.

With the signings of Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop, Granero’s playing time could further be reduced and he is at a stage in his career where he needs to play regularly. The versatile midfielder is a quality player but in a side which contains some of the best players in the world, it is difficult for the midfielder to break into the side.

Tottenham could be targeting the midfielder as a replacement for Luka Modric, who could move from White Hart Lane in the summer, though chairman Daniel Levy has insisted that he will not move. However, Granero is a player who will provide quality depth to the team and even if Modric does stay, the Real Madrid midfielder could be an important player to the team.

48. Didier Drogba

According to the Telegraph, there is a good chance that Chelsea’s Didier Drogba could stay at the club and also possibly sign a new contract with the club if he does feature in the plans of manager Andre Villas-Boas for the next season. Following the signing of Fernando Torres, it was expected that Drogba will leave the club in the summer because he might get less playing time.

However, if the strikers are rotated, then it gives Drogba the chance to prolong his career and maintain his fitness at the highest level. The Ivory Coast international has arguably been among the best strikers ever to have played in the Premiership and can still play at the highest level though he might be past his best.

Drogba and Torres have not had a good partnership when they both played together in the last season but Chelsea will hope that with a full preseason, they can strike a good relationship on the field. However, whether or not Drogba stays at the club depends on Chelsea’s transfer activity in the summer and should they sign another quality forward, then Drogba will have a decision to make, though Chelsea fans will hope that he ends his career at Stamford Bridge.

49. Raul Meireles

According to the Mirror, Liverpool might be offloading Raul Meireles despite signing him from Porto only in the last summer. Meireles was one of the best players for Liverpool in the last season despite taking his time to adjust to the rigors of the league. The Portugal midfielder was one of the most important players under Kenny Dalglish as he helped the team finish in a respectable position at the end of the last season.

However, with the additions of Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson in central midfield, Meireles could be relegated to the bench because of too many players in the department and the Reds could consider selling him to recoup some of their spending. It will be unfortunate if Meireles leaves the club after one season because the versatile midfielder has been an excellent addition to the Liverpool side.

Juventus are interested in the Portugal International and Liverpool are apparently negotiating with the Turin based club. Also the Reds have made it clear that they would not accept a player exchange deal and want straight cash for the versatile midfielder. If Liverpool receive a substantial offer for the midfielder, Meireles could be on his way out from Anfield.

50. Paulo Henrique Ganso

According to the Metro, Manchester United and Tottenham are interested in Santos midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso, who is rated as one of Brazil’s best midfielders at present. Ganso has been impressive for Santos, who are eligible to participate in the Club World Cup alongside FC Barcelona in the next season.

Manchester United are apparently interested in the youngster as a replacement for Scholes and have posted scouts to watch the Brazil international in action over the past. Sir Alex Ferguson has received excellent reports regarding the midfielder and could make a move for the Santos midfielder, though he is valued at £25 million.

However, both the English clubs also face competition from AC Milan, as they are also interested in the Brazilian, who was also a part of the Copa America. Ganso has had injuries in the recent past and it could be a gamble to pay a huge fee for the youngster, though he is undeniably talented.