Transfer Deadline Rumours: 25 Big Deals That Could Still Happen

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As the English transfer window draws to a close at 11 p.m. local time on August 31st (6 p.m. EST), managers and chairmen up and down the country will be busy negotiating in an attempt to buy or sell players right up until the deadline passes.

Despite this last-minute 'wheeler-dealing', it has already been an extremely eventful summer, where over £364 million has been spent by Premier League clubs at the time of this writing.

Inevitably, it has been Manchester City who have splashed out on the two most expensive signings, bringing Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri to Eastlands, whilst other notable deals include Stewart Downing's move to Liverpool, Juan Mata to Chelsea and Manchester United's triple swoop for Ashley Young, David De Gea and Phil Jones.

We still have a while to wait before we can finally know exactly how each club's squad will look. Deadline days in the past have been full of excitement, none more so than in January of last season, when Liverpool striker Fernando Torres moved to Chelsea in a £50 million move and Andy Carroll joined Luis Suarez to form a new strike partnership at Anfield.

Here are 25 huge deals that could still go ahead before the transfer window finally slams shut.

Owen Hargreaves to Manchester City

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England international Owen Hargreaves was released by Manchester United this summer after a spell at the club severely affected by injury problems.

He set out to prove his fitness, posting a series of videos on YouTube of him working out in good condition.

This attracted interest from the likes of Leicester City and West Brom, however it has emerged that Manchester City have become very interested in the defensive midfielder in a shock move.

It would not be deemed a popular decision by fans of his former team, but Hargreaves could be given a fantastic opportunity by Roberto Mancini to show just why Sir Alex Ferguson was so keen to sign him four years ago.

If the deal goes through, he would probably only act as cover for Nigel De Jong and Yaya Toure, but Hargreaves could prove to be an astute signing by Mancini as he is available on a free transfer. The only worry from a City perspective would be whether he would be able to stay clear of injury for more than the five minutes he managed on his last United appearance.

Scott Parker to Tottenham Hotspur

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The only positive in an awful 2010/11 season for West Ham was the form of Scott Parker, who put in a number of outstanding displays to earn him the Football Writers' Player of the Year Award, despite his side finishing bottom of the table.

Chelsea were rumoured to be interested in the England midfielder prior to the start of the campaign, but they have since signed Spaniard Oriol Romeu from Barcelona, which is likely to mean that Parker is no longer on the agenda.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed that he'd love to bring Parker to White Hart Lane, and after the player handed in a transfer request today, it seems more than likely that he will join Tottenham before the deadline closes.

Luka Modric to Chelsea

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In what has been one of the transfer sagas of the summer, Luka Modric still hasn't secured his dream move across London to Spurs' rivals Chelsea.

The Croatian playmaker has repeatedly told chairman Daniel Levy he wants to leave, but the response has repeatedly been a firm "no." However, the possibility of the deal being completed still remains.

Modric was left out of Tottenham's team to face Man United for their first game of the league campaign, and although he featured in their 5-1 loss to Man City on Sunday, Redknapp told the press that he had been told by the player that his "head wasn't right to play."

It certainly wasn't the performance we have been used to seeing from Modric at White Hart Lane since his arrival from Dinamo Zagreb, so will Redknapp and Levy finally give in and let him leave?

Spurs have maintained that this will not happen and Modric will still be their player on September 1st. Did Levy not say the same thing before Berbatov's deadline day transfer to Man United three years ago, though? Modric's move should not be written off yet.

Per Mertesacker to Arsenal

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The 6'6" German central defender appears to be on the verge of sealing a move to Arsenal.

The 26-year-old is not the oldest of defenders, but still has a lot of experience from playing in the German league and already has 75 international caps to his name.

He could be exactly what the Gunners need due to their long injury list and defensive frailties.

Gary Cahill to Tottenham Hotspur

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Cahill's future has long been the subject of speculation, and deadline day could finally see him move away from Bolton Wanderers.

The defender is known to have been on Arsene Wenger's wish list at Arsenal for some time. However, the Gunners seem to have turned their attention elsewhere in the form of Mertesacker at the back, and it looks like their North London rivals Tottenham could benefit from this.

Spurs are rumoured to be in negotiations with Bolton and, with the English central defender's contract up at the end of this campaign, his current club may be forced to cash in on him instead of having to let him go for nothing next year.

Peter Crouch to Sunderland

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Stoke City are also interested in the Tottenham striker, but Crouch seems likely to be heading further north to the Stadium of Light after Sunderland are reported to have made a £10 million bid.

Whether this is accepted by Spurs remains to be seen, and may well depend on whether they can recruit their own forward after Robbie Keane also left the club this month.

Sunderland have struggled for goals since Darren Bent's departure in January, but Crouch's arrival would reduce the weight of expectation on Asamoah Gyan's shoulders as the Ghanaian hasn't managed to score as many since his former strike partner left the club.

Raul Meireles to Chelsea

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Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles scored five league goals in a decent season at Anfield last campaign, but the arrivals of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing are unlikely to help him cement a permanent role in the starting eleven.

Chelsea are looking for more options in midfield after Michael Essien was ruled out for most of the season due to injury, and Meireles could provide some of the creativity they need if Luka Modric isn't available.

A bid of £8 million plus former Reds' midfielder Yossi Benayoun has been turned down, but Chelsea may well increase this if they can't land their number one target, Modric.

Yossi Benayoun to Arsenal

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As mentioned in the previous slide, Benayoun has been offered to Liverpool as part of a possible Meireles deal, and the Israel captain is clearly surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge after new signing Juan Mata was handed his number ten shirt.

Benayoun has posted on Twitter that his agent is negotiating with a number of clubs, one of which is believed to be Arsenal. The Gunners are in search of replacements for start players Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, and whilst Benayoun isn't as big a name, he may be used as a last resort with more talented players unavailable.

Alex to Arsenal

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Another Chelsea player rumoured to be on the Gunners' radar is Brazilian central defender Alex.

With John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and David Luiz all ahead of him in his position at his current club, his future has been brought into question, with Italian sides Juventus and AC Milan reported to be interested.

Arsenal are another team who may be interested in Alex's signature. The Gunners are weak at the back and, although Mertesacker looks set to join from Werder Bremen, the fitness problems of Thomas Vermaelen may require a second defender to be brought in.

Alvaro Pereira to Chelsea

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A wing back capable of playing on either flank, Pereira is extremely versatile and could also be employed in midfield if needed.

Chelsea had an offer turned down by the Uruguayan's club Porto last week, but after he was left out of their Super Cup squad it looked likely that he would be on his way out of the Portuguese champions to reunite with his former coach Andre Villas-Boas.

If he does move to London, he is likely to act as cover in defence and midfield, replacing Yury Zhirkov who left for Anzhi Mackhakala this month.

If Chelsea are prepared to pay over £20 million for his signature, the Copa America winner could move to Stamford Bridge before the deadline closes.

Scott Dann to Blackburn Rovers

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Dann played a key role in Birmingham's defence last season, and they may well have survived in the Premier League had he not missed the last part of it due to injury.

He has been linked with a number of clubs this summer, including Liverpool and Arsenal, but it seems that Dann may instead move to Ewood Park this season after they both turned their attention elsewhere.

Andre Santos to Arsenal

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The fact that Arsenal have been the most involved club in these deals is no coincidence.

The Gunners are desperate for players after an injury-hit start to the campaign, as well as the departures of Nasri and Fabregas, have contributed to a terrible start to this season, getting thrashed 8-2 by Man United on Sunday.

Wenger has usually tried to remain quiet in transfer windows of the past, preferring to nurture his own youngsters to the top level, but he doesn't have much choice this time around as his own future at the Emirates is being brought into question.

Another big name departure from North London this summer was Gael Clichy to Man City, and it looks like Brazilian left back Andre Santos will be brought in to replace the Frenchman after Arsenal confirmed that a deal had been agreed to with his current club Fenerbahce.

Nicklas Bendtner to Stoke City

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Arsene Wenger will have no time to relax before the deadline, and it may not be only new faces that he has to deal with.

Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, so often complaining at his lack of first-team opportunities at the Emirates, looks certain to leave in before the window closes.

Question marks remain on which club he will join. If Stoke miss out on Crouch then they may well turn their attention to Bendtner, but German sides Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen are both rumoured to be monitoring the situation.

Joe Cole to Lille

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Joe Cole endured a torrid time at Liverpool in his first season, perhaps not helped by teammate Steven Gerrard labeling him "as good as Lionel Messi".

Tottenham have shown an interest in Cole, however French champions Lille have emerged as the front runners and a deal may well be completed before the deadline closes.

Eden Hazard to Arsenal

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If Joe Cole is to move to Lille, could Belgian star Eden Hazard be on the verge of leaving the French side?

Arsenal are known to have been interested in him since the departures of Nasri and Fabregas, but Lille have told them that the 20-year-old is not for sale.

The Gunners have already done business with them this summer, however, as they brought in Gervinho, and if Cole does move to France then I would not be surprised to see Hazard being allowed to become a big money signing at Arsenal.

Juan Vargas to Arsenal

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Peruvian winger Vargas was the subject of an approach from Arsenal earlier today, and could make the move to London should Fiorentina allow him to leave Italy.

He is the current captain of his national side, and "El Loco" may be the kind of character the Gunners need to improve the dressing room atmosphere rumoured to be at an all-time low.

Shaun Maloney to Wigan Athletic

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The Scottish international was the subject of an offer from Wigan earlier today.

He is capable of playing on the wing or up front, and could be the signing to replace Charles N'Zogbia should Celtic allow him to leave.

Zdenek Grygera to Fulham

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Czech Republic defender Grygera was today released from Juventus after being deemed surplus to requirements.

Capable of playing on the right or at the centre of the back four, Grygera is rumoured to be on his way to Fulham to add valuable experience to Martin Jol's squad at Craven Cottage.

Anton Ferdinand to QPR

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Brother of former England captain Rio, Anton Ferdinand is facing stiff competition for a starting slot in the Sunderland back four following the arrivals of Wes Brown and John O'Shea.

QPR's new owners are very keen to attract some bigger names to Loftus Road to add to the signing of Joey Barton from Newcastle, and Ferdinand could be brought in to strengthen a defence that has conceded six goals in the opening three fixtures.

Shaun Wright-Phillips to QPR

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Shaun Wright-Phillips was once one of the brightest prospects in English football when he emerged on the scene as a youngster at Manchester City.

Now 29, his career has failed to live up to those expectations so far as big investors at Chelsea and then on his return to City have meant that he has not had many starts in recent years.

His preseason form was excellent, but he has not been involved in City's competitive games so far and a move away from the Etihad Stadium looks inevitable.

A number of clubs such as Stoke and Bolton were also interested, but QPR manager Neil Warnock believes that they are on the verge of completing a move for the winger.

Florent Malouda to Arsenal

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The arrival of Juan Mata at Stamford Bridge has brought the future of left winger Florent Malouda under question.

Speculation has mounted that Malouda has joined Alex and Benayoun on Wenger's potential targets from Chelsea, although whether the Blues are happy to let any of these players join their rivals remains to be seen.

David Ngog to Bolton Wanderers

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Ngog is unlikely to feature for Liverpool much this season as he is behind Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in the pecking order at Anfield.

Sunderland and Leicester City have both been rumoured to be interested in the striker who has scored eight goals for Liverpool in each of his last two seasons, but Bolton still remain the favourites and hope to secure a deal before the window closes.

Branislav Ivanovic to Valencia

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It would be a shock move if it went ahead, but reports in Spain have suggested that Valencia have approached Chelsea about the availability of their Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic.

Ivanovic has been an important player for Chelsea since his move to London in 2008, but he didn't start the club's first two league games of the season. There is a lot of competition for places at Stamford Bridge as Jose Bosingwa has started the season in impressive form at right back whilst centre backs David Luiz, John Terry and Alex all mean that Ivanovic is no longer guaranteed a start every week.

Alan Hutton to Aston Villa

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Villa right back Luke Young joined QPR earlier this week, and Spurs full back Hutton could be the perfect replacement in this area for Alex McLeish's side.

He has generally played well in the games he has started for Tottenham, however competition from Vedran Corluka and Kyle Walker means that it would be harder than ever for the Scot to break into the side if he were to stay at White Hart Lane.

Carlos Tevez to Inter Milan

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Carlos Tevez told Argentine press at the end of last season that he would "never return to Manchester," however the forward has still failed to secure a move away from Eastlands.

Brazilian side Corinthians were unable to sign Tevez before their transfer window closed in July, leaving Inter Milan the only likely escape route for him.

Inter look set to seal the signing of Diego Forlan from Atletico Madrid before the deadline, and so the likelihood of Tevez joining them has decreased, but City manager Roberto Mancini will find it hard to accommodate him into a strike force that has scored 12 goals in their opening three games without the help of Tevez.