Premier League Transfer Rumours: 10 Hottest Stories of the Week

The end of the EPL season is rapidly approaching, which can only mean one thing—the summer transfer window will be open very soon, and all the rumors we've been reading all year long will finally be put to the test.

So much has gone on in the football world to stimulate the production of football rumors recently.

From Comolli's exit from Liverpool to Balotelli's continued indiscretions at Manchester City and everything in between, the rumor mill has been in full effect over the last week, pumping out some well-supported rumors at times and completely unsupported nonsense at others.

We've got all the news you need right here, and we'll let you decide what sounds fair to you and what sounds like complete crap.

Enjoy!

Arsenal Want Alan Dzagoev and Carlos Fierro

According to International Business Times, Arsenal are interested in signing Dzagoev and Fierro this summer, from CSKA Moscow and Chivas Guadalajara, respectively.

Carlos Fierro is a Mexican U-17 international who just started getting playing time with Chivas this season. At only 17, he'd definitely be one for the future—and Arsene Wenger may even be interested in letting him develop at his club instead of bringing him over to Arsenal.

Alan Dzagoev is the name Arsenal fans should be interested, as he's a player who can make a difference and probably stake a spot in Arsenal's starting lineup.

Dzagoev is still only 21, but he's already made more than 150 appearances in all competitions for CSKA Moscow over four seasons.

IBT don't name any of their sources, so it's hard to say if either of these transfers will actually happen this summer. I will say this, though—there are probably better names and talents out there this summer for Arsenal than these two guys.

Arsenal Want Clint Dempsey

One guy who many Arsenal fans would love to see signed this summer is Clint Dempsey.

The Telegraph is reporting that Dempsey is being closely watched by Wenger, while The Guardian refers to Dempsey as a £10 million target for Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United.

There are two ways to look at a potential Clint Dempsey transfer.

The positive way would be to say that Dempsey has proven himself to be a versatile yet elite goalscorer with Fulham this season and would be a boost to any starting lineup.

The negative way would be to say that Dempsey is 29 and likely only has two or three years left at the top of his game. Afterwards, he'll (probably) fade badly, so it's questionable if he's a worthwhile long-term transfer target.

And who knows if he'll still be worth only £10 million by the time summer rolls around? If he keeps scoring and more clubs become interested in his services, that fee could rise throughout the summer or toward the end of the season.

Barcelona to Terrorize the EPL in the Transfer Market

According to Give Me Football, Barcelona are set to bid for Gareth Bale, Robin van Persie and Javi Martinez, angering Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United in the process.

Of all the three names, the last one looks most likely to be a transfer target for Barca, since he's Spanish and much cheaper than Bale or Van Persie.

However, Martinez is a Bilbao player, and Bilbao are notoriously hard to buy players from.

Nevertheless, his ability to play as a midfielder or centre-back is exactly what Pep Guardiola looks for in a player, so he may be willing to bust the bank to sign Martinez.

I'm skeptical that either Bale or Van Persie will sign with Barcelona this summer. Both are too expensive, and neither is really needed at Barca.

However, we know that that hasn't stopped Barca in the past, so it's impossible to rule out a transfer until the summer transfer window closes or we hear something from the player that closes the door on a possible transfer. Until then, anything is possible.

Mario Balotelli to AC Milan or Inter Milan

The Balotelli rumors just won't die down.

ESPN's Robert Gotta weighs in with his opinion that Balotelli's destination and new home this summer will be at one of the Milan clubs.

It's an understandable position, but I don't see Balotelli leaving City this summer.

As always, Mancini has changed his position on Balotelli, saying that Balotelli "must change" to stay at City and accepting Balotelli's apology for his behavior against Arsenal in the EPL.

Even with Carlos Tevez's resurgence and Sergio Aguero's excellent form, Balotelli is City's best big man up front, and it's Edin Dzeko who finds his position much more threatened by the abundance of strikers in Manchester City's squad.

Shinji Kagawa to the EPL

Borussia Dortmund have pretty much tied up the Bundesliga title, as they lead the league by eight points following their derby win over Schalke this weekend and Bayern's draw with Mainz.

And so the contract negotiations begin.

One player whose transfer status has looked uncertain all season long is Shinji Kagawa.

The Japanese international's contract expires next summer, but there have been no indications that he will sign a contract extension this summer.

In fact, his agent has only helped increase transfer rumors surrounding his player by stating that Kagawa is "an outstanding player who would fit in any league."

Kagawa's agent isn't lying, though. Kagawa probably wouldn't be a starter at Barca or Real, but in the EPL, there isn't a team aside from Manchester City that wouldn't significantly benefit from Kagawa's services.

United, Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool would all improve significantly with the playmaking skills the Japanese attacker has to offer. I don't expect him to leave Dortmund, but if he does, there should be no shortage of suitors.

Axel Witsel to Manchester United or City

Another player being hyped up by those around him is Axel Witsel.

The 23-year-old Belgian only transferred to Benfica from Standard Liege last summer, but already he's being linked with the biggest clubs of Europe, like both Manchester sides.

Benfica's director of football Rui Costa had this to say about Witsel:

"

Witsel is ready for any championship. He is one of the few high-level young players ready to play in a top club, although I hope he can continue with Benfica for a long time.

I hope he could move to a side that allows him to continue his career path, though whoever wants to take him has to make a great investment.

"

Rui Costa would go on to add that he hoped Witsel would move to AC Milan or Fiorentina if he decides on a move to Italy, but Sky Sports reported that both Manchester United and City had sent scouts to watch him in Benfica's 1-0 loss to Sporting in the Premeira Liga this past Monday.

If I were United, this is one player I would actively pursue. United still desperately need a good central midfielder, and Witsel could be their man.

Pavel Pogrebnyak Opens Contract Talks with Fulham

Pavel Pogrebnyak began life in the Premier League in excellent form by scoring five goals, including a hat-trick, in his first three games.

However, for Fulham's next three games, Pogrebnyak and his teammates were shut out.

In Pogrebynak's seventh game as a Fulham player, he was injured late in the first half.

After struggling with form at Stuttgart in Germany, Pogrebynak seems to be interested in a new start with Fulham, and thus contract negotiations for a permanent stay are already underway.

This represents a bit of a risky move for Fulham. If Pogrebnyak can replicate the form he showed in his first three games, he'll be an excellent investment for the London club.

However, history shows that Pogrebnyak has never been a prolific goalscorer (aside from the 2007 season with Zenit), and if he scores at the same rate that he did at Stuttgart, which was roughly once every four games, it's hard to see this being the move to take Fulham forward as a club.

Bordeaux President Says the Door Is Open for Chamakh Return

It's remarkable, really.

Even though Marouane Chamakh has looked downright awful for a season-and-a-half, he's still wanted by some rather big clubs.

A few weeks earlier, it was reported that Chamakh was a major target for PSG, and now it appears that Bordeaux want their ex-star striker back as well.

When asked about Chamakh, Bordeaux president Jean Louis Triaud had this to say:

"

I have spoken with Marouane and told him that he is welcome at Bordeaux and that we still have room for him.

The main problem will be financial, because he has tasted the salaries in England, and Arsenal will ask for a fee. Chamakh has told me that if he was to return to France, it would be at Bordeaux.

"

Despite all these suitors, Chamakh continues to state his faith that he can be a success at Arsenal, which is ridiculous, really. The club is short on striker alternatives now, but Arsenal fans would happily take Nicklas Bendtner over Chamakh at this point.

Arsenal are always producing new strikers from their academy, and Lukas Podolski's transfer is all but guaranteed. It's about time for Chamakh to move on from the Gunners.

Liverpool Target Hector Herrera

It wouldn't be right not to mention a Liverpool transfer rumor in the post-Comolli era, after the ex-director of football exited Liverpool by "mutual consent."

Though not much is known about him and he certainly isn't English, Hector Herrera, a Pachuca winger, is reportedly a target for Liverpool.

Andreas Fassi, chief executive of Pachuca, has already confirmed Liverpool's interest.

I suppose you have to start somewhere, and Liverpool are weak on the wings.

This'll be a decent starting transfer for the Reds in the post-Comolli era.

Chelsea Want Krul?

We close with a rather audacious rumor.

According to Emirates 24/7, Chelsea are preparing a £15 million bid for Tim Krul this summer.

The Dutchman's performances between the sticks have been amazing, and he could establish himself as an elite goalkeeper if he was playing behind a tighter defense than the one at Newcastle.

The only reason this doesn't make sense as a rumor is that Chelsea are already stacked with goalkeepers.

Petr Cech still has many years left to go in his career (he's only 29), and Thibaut Courtois of Atletico Madrid (19) is being lined up to replace him.

Chelsea are loaded because of their owner, Roman Abramovich, but wasting money for no reason is unrealistic and illogical, even for him. With Cech and Courtois already tied to the club, I don't see Krul signing with Chelsea anytime soon.