EPL: Countdown To The Transfer Window, Every Rumour, Every Signing
On Tuesday at 18.00, the summer transfer window will close.
From there every team in Europe will have to make do until January. There is little doubt that some teams, like Chelsea and Liverpool, have made some outstanding signings.
Manchester City have spent something in the region of £130m and still look far from the finished product, which is a frightening prospect for all teams involved in the EPL.
While it remains the mystery of mysteries why Arsene Wenger is yet to bring in a goalkeeper of title winning quality. Here we look at the deals that could come off in the final 24 hours.
Arsenal
1 of 20
IN: Marouane Chamakh, Laurent Koscielny, Sebastian Squillaci, Kyle Ebecillo, Phil Roberts.
OUT: Eduardo, Jay Simpson, Luke Ayling, Sol Campbell, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Fran Merida, Phillipe Sanderos, Alie Sesay, Kyle Bartley (Loan), Pedro Botelho (Loan), Francis Coelquin (Loan), Sanchez Watt (Loan), Luke Freeman (Loan), Sam Byles, James Dunn, Kerrea Gilbert, Rhema Obed.
How Arsene Wenger has gone this far since the end of last season with Manuel Almunia between the sticks remains one of football's great mysteries. There is little doubt that the Gunners will win no major trophies with the Spaniard in goal and Wenger's failure to capture a net minder raises the question; Does Wenger have a blind-spot for goalkeepers?
Shay Given's capture looks distant at best. According to Given's people the only place the Donegalman will end up will be Fulham where he would be reunited with the man who initially brought him to the Eastlands, Mark Hughes.
It is believed that Given does not want to move to Arsenal, nor does his club wish to sell him to a rival.
That leaves the only real Premiership option for Wenger as Fulham's 37-year-old Mark Schwarzer. Two derisory offers of £1.5m and £2m respectively have been rejected and it looks as if Mohamed Al-Fayed's club are willing to do business at the £3m mark.
Michael Landreau is another distant prospect, as is Stoke City's Asmir Begovic, but with Tony Pulis slapping a £10m asking price on his head to put off tapping up, it looks as if the former Pompey boy could be at the Britannia for a while.
Aston Villa
2 of 20
Aston Villa
IN: Stephen Ireland
OUT: James Milner, Nicky Shorey, David Bevan, Jack Dyer, Marlon Harewood, Wilfred Bouma, Andy Marshall
Since Randy Lerner pulled back on the reins Aston Villa have moved down a tier or two regarding transfer fees in the Premier League.
The best hope they have of bringing players in looks like the swap route with Tottenham Hotspur only too happy to oblige by offering Jermaine Jenas, Robbie Keane, and David Bentley for Ashley Young.
Redknapp is believed to have offered any combination of those three players plus cash for the England international and it makes you wonder why Villa did not take Manchester City up on a similar offer for James Milner, especially when there are so many players available at City.
One has to look at Lerner and think that he has introduced strict wage guidelines to reduce Villa's expanding yearly bill. At the last count it was £20m a year more than Everton and £10m a year more than Tottenham's. For what exactly? Emile Heskey?
Birmingham City
3 of 20
IN: Nikola Zigic, Ben Foster, Enric Valles, Matt Derbyshire (LOAN)
OUT: Lee Carsley, Artur Krysiak, Franck Queudrue, Gary McSheffrey, Jake Jervis (Loan), Robin Shroot (L), Luke Hibbins (L), Colin Doyle (L), Jordan Mutch (L), Jacob Rowe, Shaun Timmins, Gregory Vignal, Jared Wilson.
After a busy summer, it looks as if Alex McLeish will only be interested in bringing in a player if he turns out to be an absolute bargain.
The former-Rangers manager refused to budge after the club had agreed terms with Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia on a £9m transfer. The player's agent then called McLeish at the 11th hour demanding that Birmingham up their offer, on the agreed, £40,000 per week to £50,000 per week.
Needless to say the Birmingham boss cancelled the deal.
So it would be fair to say that N'Zogbia has received an offer from elsewhere and that he could be leaving Wigan in the next day or so.
Martin Jiranek is a player that has interested almost every Premier League side at one time or another. The Spartak Moscow captian and centre half has a superb reputation within the game and would be something of a major coup for Alex McLeish if the move worked out.
Robbie Keane is an outside bet, especially with Redknapp needing to make room for a Champions League quality centre forward.
So far, McLeish has missed out on two left sided players; Aiden McGeady, and now N'Zogbia. It is clear that he feels that this is a problem area within his team. Whether he decides to offer huge money for someone like Blackburn's Pedersen or to go for a loan deal for someone like Liverpool's Ryan Babel remains to be seen. A potential move for Arsenal's left sided Armand Traore is also a possibility, with Wenger keen to keep the player playing within the confines of the EPL.
Blackburn Rovers
4 of 20
IN: Hugo Fernandez, Mame Biram Diouf (L), Benjani Mwaruwari
OUT: Michael Hall, Andrew Howarth, Marcus Marshall, Steven Reid, Nick Blackman (L), Alex Marrow (L), Yildilay Basturk, Jordan Bowen, Josh Swann
Within the next couple of years Blackburn Rovers could be occupying the spaces currently enjoyed by Everton and Aston Villa. New investment in the club should be finalised over the next month or so and with it a guaranteed £40m a season for the next five years, or so Big Sam hopes anyway.
Rovers have been quiet in this window, only bringing in Hugo Hernandez, the impressive Manchester United loanee Mame Biram Diouf, and Benjani on a free transfer from Manchester City.
Allardyce's main target for this window is a striker, he has been trawling Europe for a frontman to lead the line and has so far come up short. Lately though Blackburn's scouts have sent back favourable reports about Denni Avdic from Elfsborg but Allardyce might want want to check the striker out more before making a move.
Never one to turn down a good centre half when he's available Big Sam's antennee have been buzzing since Steven Taylor and Newcastle came to blows about a new contract. He might look to exploit the situation and bring in the experienced centre half.
Blackpool
5 of 20
IN: Chris Basham, Craig Cathcart, Elliot Grandin, Ludovic Silvestre, Marlon Harewood, Dekel Keinan, Malaury Martin
OUT: Al Bangura, Hameur Bouazza, Ben Burgess, Daniel Nardiello, Joe Martin, Danny Mitchley, Stephen McPhee
The toughest job in top flight football.
That's the task ahead of Ian Holloway this season. Blackpool's budget has immediately ruled them out of signing practically any Premiership player this year, even on loan.
They have been left to fighting it out with the likes of Huddersfield for Marlon Harewood's signature as the realities of Premiership finances hit home. They couldn't even sign some of the EPL players they had on loan last season as their respective clubs wanted Blackpool to stump up with their over-inflated £25,000 a week wages.
Ian Holloway is ready to make a last ditch attempt to lure Marcus Tudgay from Sheffield Wednesday and is considering a move for Skonto Riga's Alexandrs Cauna.
As the deadline approaches though he may be able to bring in one or two Premiership class players without footing their wages as clubs look to trim their squads to 25.
Most clubs have around 30 to 40 registered players so there is guaranteed bargains to be had.
Bolton Wanderers
6 of 20
IN: Marco Alonso, Tom Eaves, Robbie Blake, Ivan Klasnic, Martin Petrov
OUT: Chris Basham, Ali Al-Habsi (L), Zoltan Harsanyi, Nicky Hunt, Ricardo Vaz Te,
Owen Coyle has already done some good business in this transfer window by snapping up Klasnic and Petrov on free transfers and taking promising Real Madrid product Marco Alonso for just £1.6m.
The Trotters have also made a tentative enquiry about Manchester United's Tom Cleverly, with Alex Ferguson believed to be very much in favour of the move. Arsenal youth Jack Wilshire impressed under Coyle last season and the Irishman is developing a name for improving young talent.
Chelsea
7 of 20
IN: Ramires, Yossi Benayoun, Tomas Kalac, Majek Delac
OUT: Michael Ballack, Joe Cole, Ricardo Carvalho, Miroslav Stoch, Juliano Belletti, Jeffrey Ntuka, Deco, Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi, Liam Bridcutt, Jack Cork (L), Tomas Kalac (L), Ryan Bertrand (L), Rhys Taylor (L), Ben Gordon (L), Danny Philliskirk (L)
The strongest squad in the EPL just got stronger, and that was with releasing experienced internationals like Ballack, Cole, Deco, and Belletti. All in all Carlo Ancellotti removed around £500,000 per week from the Blues wage-bill in one fell sweep. A saving of around £24m a year.
Ramires' and Benayoun's signing will have eaten into that pot a little bit but there is huge room left for Ancellotti to improve his squad.
Long term target Neymar has just signed a five-year-deal with Santos in Brazil but it is widely felt that the player signed the deal so as to get the best offer, both personally and club wise, when the Blues come asking again. A bid this side of Christmas looks unlikely but the Brazilian will come back on Carlo's radar next January if his side are not battling on all fronts as expected.
Right full remains an area that Ancellotti is concerned about and rumour has it that the Blues are ready to part with up to £25m for Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos. The money on offer could tempt Jose Mourinho as the player has yet to reach his peak and is seen as more a long term centre-half despite his lack of height or physique.
From here it would appear as if he doesn't trust Branislav Ivanovic as there are also heavy rumours that Chelsea are preparing a bid for Bayern Munich's Martin Demicahelis. It would seem an unlikely option as the Argentinian isn't the greatest of centre halves and was badly exposed a number of times in the Champions League last season.
Back up to Didier Drogba is a long term problem, Daniel Sturridge badly needs first team experience to bring him onto the next level of his game but Chelsea badly need him to provide cover for Anelka and Drogba. The ex-Manchester City player would be best served by a loan spell at a team like Bolton or Blackburn, but only if Ancellotti can't guarantee him cup football and Premiership appearances when the result is a foregone conclusion.
Everton
8 of 20
IN: Jermaine Beckford, Jan Mucha, Joao Silva, Magaye Gueye
OUT: John Ruddy, Dan Gosling, Anton Peterlin, Carlo Nash, Iain Turner (L), Lukas Jutkiwwicz
The money hasn't been flowing on the Blue side of Liverpool this summer as David Moyes seems to have spent some of his budget on holding onto Jack Rodwell and tempting Steven Pienaar to stay.
The South African international purposely held off on signing a new contract until after the World Cup. The thinking being that if he had a good tournament the offers would come in. That hasn't happened.
Spurs are about the only suitors willing to pay a transfer fee for the midfielder who is available for free in January and Everton look like they may lose one of their better players, despite offering him a club record £50,000 per week.
The problems that haunted Everton at the start of last season have surfaced again and the Toffees look blunt up front. With that in mind David Moyes might be willing to do business with Harry Redknapp for Robbie Keane's signature, with Pienaar going the oppostite way, in a swap deal. On paper it would appear a good deal for both clubs.
Early summer rumours linking Angelo Agbonna with a move to Goodison have faded but there is little doubt that the club could do with another centre half.
It would appear as if the best piece of business that David Moyes will do this season will be holding onto Jack Rodwell.
Fulham
9 of 20
IN: Mouassa Dembele, Jonathan Greening, Phillipe Senderos, Carlos Salcido
OUT: Chris Smalling, Chris Buchtchman, Wayne Brown, Wesley Foderingham, Erik Nevland, Elliot Omozusi, Stefan Payne, Suliaman Bangura, Luca Mosciatello, Gyan Osei King, Michael Uwezu, Andranik Teymourian
After losing Roy Hodgson, as expected, to Liverpool. Fulham moved quickly to replace him with Mark Hughes.
The ex-Blackburn/Manchester City boss has a growing reputation within the game and his move to Fulham could be very good for all involved.
Money is never a huge problem at Craven Cottage and Hughes will be given time to put his stamp on the team. His primary focus is on two positions at opposite ends of the field.
Arsenal is still lurking in the background after making a couple of offers for Mark Schwarzer while Hughes is keen to add some guile to his strikeforce. Currently, they rely on the battering ram presence of Bobby Zamora for much of their forward play and Hughes would jump at the chance to bring in someone like Robbie Keane.
Another Irishman is also linked with a move to the Cottage as Shay Given has made it clear that he would be more than willing to join his old manager at his new club, if the terms were right...
If this move was to come off, especially for the money being mentioned, some £5m, it would be one of the signings of the season, and may tempt Keane to link up with fellow Irishmen Given and Duff, without having to move from London.
The transfer of Given is dependant upon it being permanent, Given won't be interested in a season long loan deal as he would end up in the same situation next season, so permanent it must be if Hughes really wants the best 'keeper in the league.
An enquiry about Roque Santa-Cruz's availability has been made, and Roberto Mancini has made it clear that the striker is available, but it all boils down to whether the Paraguayan wants to link up with Hughes for a third time or take Lazio up on a move to Rome.
Paul Konchesky's departure to Liverpool should be hastened by Carlos Salcido's arrival, while Steven Taylor remains a definite target. Hughes is very skilled at reading the wind and it would seem prudent to bring in a replacement for Brede Hangeland now, before he leaves for pastures new.
Liverpool
10 of 20
IN: Christian Poulsen, Brad Jones, Danny Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey, Iaia Embarlo, Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Raul Meireles
OUT: Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera, Kristin Nemeth, Diego Cavalieri, Mikel San Jose, James Ellison, David Martin, Ray Putterill, Robbie Threlfall, Alberto Aquilani (L), Philipp Degen (L), Francesco Manuel Duran, Christopher Oldfield, Javier Mascherano
Liverpool have been very active in the transfer market despite their current financial difficulties. Credit where it's due, their American owners could easily have slapped an embargo on Roy Hodgson and only allowed him to sell as they work to clear their growing debt but they have seem the long term problems caused by having no team.
With the signings that Hodgson has put together it looks as if Liverpool will, indeed, battle it out with Arsenal, Spurs, and Manchester City for the positions from 3rd to 6th.
The £10.7m signing of Portuguese dynamo Raul Meireles looks to be an amazing aquistion at this early stage given his standing in the game, but he will not be welcomed with open arms to the Premiership and might need a season to settle.
In short, with Meireles' and Poulsen's signings, Javier Mascherano will not be missed.
Centre forward is a problem area for Liverpool. Currently there are only really two recognised strikers on their books, one; an injury-prone genius, and the other; a kid still learning the game.
Another proven striker is a must.
There have been rumours linking Peter Crouch with a return but that would seem to reflect Hodgson's want for a big man up front, and an early bid of £7m for Carlton Cole would suggest that their new manager will be looking to impose his version of a 4-4-2 on Liverpool should the transfer come off.
Paul Konchesky was seen at Anfield in Liverpool's 1-0 win over West Brom, fueling the fire that the left-back was about to join Hodgson from Fulham for around £3m.
Manchester City
11 of 20
IN: Yaya Toure, James Milner, Mario Ballotelli, David Silva, Jerome Boateng, Aleksandr Kolorov, Alex Henshall, Albert Rusnak
OUT: (Deep Breath...) Javier Garrido, Valeri Bojinov, Robert Mak, Stephen Ireland, Paul Marshall, Filip Mentel, Andrew Mitchell, Karl Moore, Martin Petrov, Jack Redshaw, Tobias Johansen, Silvinho, Benjani Mwaruwari, Craig Bellamy (L), Nedum Onuoha (L), Vladimir Weiss (L), Ryan McGivern (L), Gunnar Nielsen (L), David Ball (L), Keiran Tripper (L), Andrew Tutte (L), Adam Clayton (L)
Comings and goings at the Eastland's have been so rampant this season that there is a heavy rumour doing the rounds that Sheikh Mansour wants a revolving door installed at the ground.
There is little doubt that City's spending has stepped up a notch under Roberto Mancini. Gone are the proven Premiership players that were brough in under Mark Hughes and now proven internationals are the dish of the day in Manchester.
Such are City's riches that they can now even out-bid Real Madrid and they proved their might by gazumping Los Blancos to the impressive signing of Kolorov.
It is almost impossible to predict who Manchester City will bid for next but it looks as if Mancini is a man of his word and will allow Shay Given to leave for first team football by signing Asmir Begovic. They will face a three way tussle between Arsenal and Chelsea for the prodigious 'keeper.
Fernando Torres is a long term target with Liverpool having rejected two bids for the striker over the last two seasons. The striker has an agreement with the club that he will be able to leave the club in January if the club remains un-sold and that he can go next summer if a bid that can do the club some good, and interests him, is received.
Short term, centre half is Mancini's biggest problem area. Kolo Toure is not the force he was and will be replaced sooner rather than later.
Given the current formation that Mancini is favouring it looks as if Mancini's biggest job this Autumn will be to keep his bench happy. In the Citizens opening game against Spurs, City had around £90m worth of talent on the bench...
Manchester United
12 of 20
IN: Chris Smalling, Javier Hernandez, Marnick Vermijl, Bebe
OUT: Ben Foster, Craig Cathcart, Zoran Tosic, David Gray, Tom Heaton, Ron-Robert Zieler, Mame Biram Diouf (L), Daniel Drinkwater (L), Matthew James (L), Danny Wellbeck (L), James Chester (L), Josh King (L), Cameron Stewart (L), Fabian Brandy, Sam Moffatt, Scott Hewson
Alex Ferguson has some two very astute signings this summer and one absolute gamble.
Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez have surprised everyone as to how quickly they have settled into Alex Ferguson's plan's. Chicarito (Hernandez) movement towards first team action has been at exocet pace rather than just fast.
For a Mexican player to adjust to life and football so quickly in another continent speaks volumes about the youngsters attitude and he has immediately brough ample back-up to Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney.
If anything, Berbatov has started the season like a new signing. He has flattered to deceive over the last two years but has really hit the ground running this term and looks to have finally come to grips with the expectations of playing with such a club.
Alex Ferguson has said that he will not go back into the transfer market, but it would look like the wily Scot is monitoring Jack Rodwell with forensic type attention. David Moyes knows that if he needs £20m quickly all he has to do is lift the phone and the deal will be as good as done.
It will happen sooner rather than later, with Ferguson of the belief that Rodwell's education is best served in Everton's first team than in the fringes at United and it will come as no surprise to see players plus cash offered to the Goodison outfit as the Red Devils look to sign their latest prodigy.
Ferguson is adamant that he will not miss out on Rodwell after Aaron Ramsey chose to join Arsenal over United so expect a early move, probably next summer.
Edwin van der Sar is not getting any younger either and United are currently being linked with Finland's Lukas Hradecky as their Scandinavian scouting network looks for the next Peter Schmeichal.
Newcastle United
13 of 20
IN: James Perch, Danny Gosling, Sol Campbell, Hatem Ben Arfa
OUT: Jonny Godsmark, Max Johnsen, Michael McCrudden, Frank Danquah, Darren Lough, Wesley Ngo-Baheng, Callum Morris, Fabrice Pancrete, Nicky Butt
Chris Hughton's chances of signing anyone have been ended by owner Mike Ashley after the Irishman was told he would have to make do with the side that came up.
Meaning that Newcastle's biggest signing could be holding onto captain Steven Taylor after recent contract negotiations broke down. The defender was offered a rumoured £40,000 per week to stay in Tyneside but has received offers from other teams more settled in the Premier League.
With the lack of finances available to Hughton it looks very much like Newcastle will have to make do with loan signings this year. He will definitely pursue Robbie Keane in the hope that their Irish connections will come into play, as will the chance of playing in front of legendary fans.
Hatem Ben Arfa's loan arrival from Marseille has raised many eyebrows in France after the once named next Zidane forced the deal through. The Toon number 37 has plenty of ability and was attracting the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Arsenal earlier in his career and this move, should it prove successful, could be the catalyst to bigger and better things for the left-sided winger.
However, at this stage of his career, Keane is unlikely to choose Northern England over the bright lights of London.
Stoke City
14 of 20
IN: Kenwyne Jones, John Walters, Florent Cuvelier
OUT: James Beattie, Andy Griffin, Ross McDonald, Carlo Nash, Steve Simonsen, Nathaniel Wedderburn, Diego Arismendi, Carl Dickenson, Ibrahima Sonko, Louis Moult, Amdy Faye
Tony Pulis has done a brilliant job to make Stoke City a Premiership mainstay over the last couple of seasons. Through intelligent signings and a brilliant team ethic, especially at the cauldron that is the Britannia Stadium, Stoke are a tough team for any to beat.
Kenwyne Jones' surprise signing from Sunderland for £8m has given them a striker that is guaranteed to get them goals and move them further towards the likes of Sunderland and away from relegation.
In a shock move Pulis has contacted Monaco about Eidur Gudjohnsen's availability after the ex-Chelsea player impressed at Spurs last season. He has also let Harry Redknapp know that Stoke are very interested in Robbie Keane too.
Pulis could also find himself in something of a pickle if Asmir Begovic leaves the club as expected, having allowed Carlo Nash and Steve Simonsen leave the club in the summer he has no experienced goalkeepers left on his books so Begovic's proposed move could either force the Stoke manager to give the ex-Pompey player first team football ahead of Thomas Sorensen, or sign a new reserve 'keeper.
Portsmouth's captain, Mark Wilson, has also caught the eye of many a Premiership side, including Stoke, but the 23-year-old won't be cheap.
Sunderland
15 of 20
IN: Marcos Angeleri, Simon Mignolet, Titus Bramble, Christian Riveros, Ahmed Al-Muhammadi (L), John Mensah (L), Nedum Onuoha (L), Danny Wellbeck (L)
OUT: Kenwyne Jones, Lorik Cana, Daryl Murphy, Martin Fulop, Conor Hourihane, Matthew Kilgallon (L), Oumare Tounkara (L) ,Jean Yves M'voto (L), Nyron Nosworthy (L), Michael Liddle (L), Jamie Chandler, Roy O'Donovan
The biggest surprises at the Stadium of Light this summer were the shock sales of Kenwyne Jones and Lorik Cana. Both had impressive season's last year, with Cana in particular standing out but his £5m transfer, the fee he signed for, to Galatasaray left many pundits scratching their hair.
Their absence leaves Sunderland severly depleted and Bruce must sign a striker or pin his hopes on an injury free season for Darren Bent.
Bruce has been linked with Asamoah Gyan ever since the World Cup and Rennes are now siad to be demanding in excess of £10m for the powerful striker. Carlton Cole is also a player that has been linked but if Liverpool are interested then Sunderland's bid is doomed before it even begins.
Tottenham Hotspur
16 of 20
IN: Sandro, William Gallas
OUT: Adel Taarabt, Lee Butcher, Sam Cox, Dorian Dervite, John Bostock (L), David Button (L), Johnathan Obika (L), Oscar Jannson (L), Ryan Mason (L), Jimmy Walker
Comings and goings at Tottenham have been something of a minimum this summer. Which is a major surprise for three reasons 1) It's Spurs, and there are usually a multitude of new players coming in 2) Harry Redknapp likes nothing better than a new player and 3) Spurs are in the Champions League this year and will be battling on more fronts than ever.
The two players that have come in are brilliant signings on paper, but will have much to do if they are to influence Tottenham this season.
Brazilian U20 Captain Sandro is fresh from winning the South American Champions League with Internacional and William Gallas has huge experience from his time with Chelsea, Arsenal, and the French international team.
Luis Fabiano has been linked all summer but Spurs were put off by the Sevilla's £20m asking price. With Daniel Levy, Spurs' chairman, refusing to part with £20m it left Fabiano with the only other offer on the table as a two-year contract with Sevilla. He has since agreed terms on a new two-year contract.
Spurs have long since turned their attention towards Klaas Jan Huntelaar but face stiff opposition from Schalke 04 for his £11.5m signature. AC Milan want to offload the striker as Zlatan Ibrahimovic has moved to the San Siro from Barcelona.
Redknapp has also launced a last ditch attempt to sign Ashley Young from Aston Villa by offering Robbie Keane, David Bentley, and Jermaine Jenas. While West Ham have also been contacted about the availability of Scott Parker for around £8m.
Stipe Pletikosa has already undergone a medical and should sign on loan soon as Spurs' third choice 'keeper for the Champions League.
West Bromwich Albion
17 of 20
IN: Peter Odemwinjie, Nicky Shorey, Boaz Myhill, Gabriel Tamas, Pablo Ibanes, Steven Reid, Marc Antoine Fortune
OUT: Jonathan Greening, Robert Koren, Joss Labadie, Andwele Slory, Filipe Texieira, Luke Daniels, Marcus Haber, Borja Valero (L), Rueben Reid (L), Kayleden Brown (L)
Roberto DiMatteo has opened talks with Steve Sidwell following the collapse of his move to Birmingham and has also contacted free-agent Paul Scharner about setting up with the Baggies at the Hawthorns.
Peter Odemwinjie and Marc Antoine Fortune will add some much needed penetration up front, while Steven Reid's signing looks inspired, but only if the ex-Blackburn man can shake off his injury problems.
West Ham
18 of 20
IN: Pablo Barrera, Winston Reid, Frederic Piquionne, Thomas Hitzelsperger, Tal Ben Haim, Victor Obinna
OUT: Bondz N'Gala, Josh Payne, Matt Fry, Trent McClenahan, Guillermo Franco, Ilan
If Anram Grant though that last season at Portsmouth was tough then he has hasn't experienced anything yet. West Ham is in freefall this year and will do well to hold onto their Premiership credentials come May if there isn't a vast improvement.
Victor Obinna has come in for a one year loan deal from Inter Milan with an option to buy the Nigerian international at the end of the season. His directness, power, and pace make him look like an ideal signing for the Premier League but he flattered to deceive in this years World Cup.
Mark Wilson is Grant's main target, the 23-year-old Portsmouth captain is exactly what West Ham need at the back at the moment but Pompey are unlikely to allow their prized asset to go cheaply. A swap deal may suit both sides as the Hammers would get some players off the wage bill while Pompey are restricted to signing free agents or swap deals after their financial problems.
Wigan Athletic
19 of 20
IN: Mauro Boselli, Ronnie Stam, James McArthur, Antonio Alcarez, Steven Caldwell, Ali Al-Habsi (L)
OUT: Titus Bramble, Jason Scotland, Tomasz Cywka, Tomasz Kupisz, Mario Melchiot, Antonio Amaya (L), Jason Koumas (L), John Routledge (L), Olivier Kapo, Richard Kingson, Nicholas Meace, Paul Scharner, Rachid Bouaouzan
There isn't a great deal of money at the DW Stadium for Roberto Martinez to spend s loan moves will probably be the way Wigan goes.
Martinez will, most likely, have to battle with Owen Coyle of Bolton Wanderers fame for Tom Cleverly's loan signing. Alex Ferguson has indicated that Cleverly's development would benefit from a loan move to a Premiership side, Wigan and Bolton are in close proximity to Manchester so a move to either might suit both club and player.
Wigan have also contacted Chelsea about a loan move for a striker like Di Santo or Sturridge so a lot depends on who Carlo Ancellotti feels is better keep at Stamford Bridge.
Wolves
20 of 20
IN: Steven Fletcher, Steven Hunt, Steven Mouyokolo, Jelle van Damme, Adlene Guerdioura, Jake Cassidy, Geoffrey Mujangi Bia, Matt Doherty, Michael Macienne (L)
OUT: Andrew Surman, Chris Iwelumo, Jason Shakell, Kyle Bennett, Daniel Jones, George Friend, Mark Little, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (L), Sam Vokes (L), Michael Macienne
Wolves have been one of the busiest teams this summer in terms of transfers. Mick McCarthy has brought in proven players like Fletcher, Hunt, and van Damme as he looks to consolidate on last years impressive finish.
MCCarthy's foray into the transfer market is all but done and only expect him to move if someone becomes available on a loan deal that won't cost his club anything.
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