Transfer Roundup: Real Madrid Swoop For Angel Di Maria

With the number of players still involved in the World Cup being reduced rapidly the transfer market is finally starting to swing into action.

A major piece of business went through yesterday when Real Madrid announced the signing of highly rated Argentinian winger Angel Di Maria from Benfica for £20.3million. This piece of business demonstrated a clear change of policy from last year when a couple of highly rated wide players were allowed to leave to fit in the increasing number of 'Galacticos' such as Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo at the club.

The departures of Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben left Real Madrid with a side which lacked width with Ronaldo effectively the sole winger in the squad. It also gave Inter Milan and Bayern Munich two of the best players in Europe, a fact which Jose Mourinho will be only too aware of.

Mourinho gave Sneijder a more central role and he was the main playmaker for the Inter side which won a historic treble. The arrival of Di Maria shows that Mourinho is interested in ability rather than reputation as he attempts to build a side capable of challenging Barcelona.

Sone newspapers are suggesting a deal to sign Maicon from Inter Milan for £25million has already been struck by Jose Mourinho. It would be no surprise if Mourinho was to make a move for the Brazilian but Inter Milan are unlikely to be willing to sanction the sale of the best right back in the world to a major European rival. If Maicon wants to join Mourinho I suspect he will have to agitate for a move.

Mourinho is widely expected to attempt to recruit some players from the Premiership. There is virtually no chance of him being able to prise Wayne Rooney away from Alex Ferguson and Frank Lampard has stated his intention to finish his career at Chelsea but Steve Gerrard remains an interesting option. I suspect the Liverpool captain is increasingly unhappy about the lack of stability at the club and a move to Spain is a distinct possibility.

Manchester City have already signed Jerome Boateng for a bargain basement £10 million and are stepping up their efforts to strengthen their already impressive squad. Yaya Toure is on the verge of sealing a £25 million move to Man City from Barcelona, having become disillusioned with the lack of first team opportunities at the Nou Camp.

David Silva appears close to signing for Man City from Valencia in a  £30 million deal. The Spanish winger would rather go to a club who can offer Champions League football but it is unlikely anyone else will match big spending Man City's bid.

Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright Phillips are likely to seek moves away from City with Roque Santa Cruz likely to be used as a makeweight in a big money deal.

Tottenham took the fourth and final Champions Leaguie spot which Man City coveted and are expected to invest heavily this Summer. Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini claims Tottenham have made a £28million double bid for Simon Kjaer and Edinson Cavani.

The arrival of highly rated Danish defender Kjaer would cast the future of at least one of Tottenham's existing defenders into doubt. Tottenham already have injury hit pair Michael Dawson and Ledley King as well as Michael Dawson, Sebastan Bassong and Younes Kaboul.

Thierry Henry has had his Barcelona contract terminated by mutual consent. He seems likely to follow David Beckham into Major League Soccer but will have no shortage of potential suitors in Italy, England and France.

Luis Fabiano is having a fine world cup and is looking to leave Sevilla.He has stated a preference for signing for either Manchester United or AC Milan but it is unlikely either club will be able to meet Sevilla's asking price.

Arsene Wenger has promised a defender will arrive before the end of the World Cup to replace the out of contract William Gallas. It looks likely to be yet another arrival from French football with Arsenal locked in negotiations with Lorient over £10 million rated Laurent Koscielny.

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I intend to make this a regular feature throughout the pre season