EPL Transfer Rumors: Cesc Fabregas and the 10 Most Intriguing Deals on the Table

Even when not on the pitch, stars like Cesc Fabregas keep their name in the papers as rumors swirl during the offseason.

While the other football has lockout troubles, the Premier League will be busy as always this summer. Some teams will make the genius move that puts their squad over the top, while others will end up purchasing a really expensive headache. 

One thing remains constant throughout: The transfer fees continue to grow in their absurd exorbitance. 

Here are the 10 most intriguing transfer rumors around the Premier League.  

Liverpool: Joe Cole to Tottenham

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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 22: Joe Cole of Liverpool (R) tackles Kyle Walker of Aston Villa during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park on May 22, 2011 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Image

Totteham has offered a £3 million bid to acquire Joe Cole. Liverpool will presumably accept.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp wants to offer the 29-year-old Cole one last chance to be a productive Premier League midfielder after a very disappointing 2010-2011 campaign.

The former English National Team member will get his shot with the Spurs, who are looking strong this year after Redknapp announced the team will not sell star players Luka Modric, Gareth Bale or Sandro.

Lierse SK: Eiji Kawashima to West Bromwich

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YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - JUNE 07: Eiji Kawashima of Japan dives for save during the Kirin Cup Soccer match between Japan and the Czech Republic held at Nissan Stadium on June 7, 2011 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson is negotiating a deal with Belgian club Lierse SK for Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

Kawashima appeared on European radars after an impressive showing in the World Cup. He led Japan to the Round of 16 with three solid performances in goal and notched a clean sheet in their eventual defeat at the hands of Paraguay (Japan lost on penalty kicks).

He'll be cashing in big time with a transfer from the smaller Belgian League to the Premier League. 

Real Madrid: Fernando Gago to Aston Villa

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PASADENA, CA - AUGUST 07: Fernando Gago #5 of Real Madrid during the pre-season friendly soccer match against Los Angeles Galaxy on August 7, 2010 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Real Madrid will travel back to Spain after the soccer match comp

Fernando Gago has seen his playing time gradually decrease since 2007 due to a combination of injury and the presence of Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira in Real Madrid's stellar midfield.

According to the Guardian, Aston Villa has shown interest in the 25-year-old Argentinian defensive midfielder. 

Gago would presumably not be hard-pressed to sign with an English club willing to offer him a starting job, and he wouldn't exactly have to be pried from the hands of star-studded Read Madrid.

Gago could be a real ringer for Aston Villa this upcoming season if he can return to the form that earned him a trip to Real Madrid in the first place.

Real Madrid: Kaká Likely to Inter, Not Chelsea

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 17: Kaka of Real Madrid attends the launch of the new adidas Predator boot at the Truman Brewery on May 17, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Gary Prior/Getty Images for adidas)

Chelsea will have to continue its search for a playmaker elsewhere, as Inter now appear the favorites to land the Brazilian superstar.

Inter is believed to have offered a part-exchange deal for Kaká, which would appeal to manager Jose Mourinho.

Kaká did not quite live up to the hype in Real Madrid and will look to re-find his form in a new uniform.

Manchester City: Carlos Tevez Worth £100m, in Control of Future

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BOLTON, ENGLAND - MAY 22: Carlos Tevez of Manchester City in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City at the Reebok Stadium on May 22, 2011 in Bolton, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Manchester City has revealed that it will cost £100m to acquire their Argentinian forward, £50m as a transfer fee, and a likely £50m more in the form of wages.

Tevez' primary suitor is Real Madrid, who will almost certainly lose Kaká this offseason.

Man City further has told Tevez that they would not block a transfer and are happy to let Tevez choose where he would like to play. 

With a price so high, Tevez will most likely only have Real Madrid after him. He has expressed a desire to play for one of the European giants, but could plausibly change his mind and stay in Man City if Real is his only other option.

Wigan: Charles N'Zogbia to Newcastle United, Not Liverpool

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WIGAN, ENGLAND - APRIL 30: Charles N'Zogbia of Wigan celebrates scoring to make it 1-0 during the Barclays Premier League match between Wigan and Everton at the DW Stadium on April 30, 2011 in Wigan, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Frenchman Charles N'Zogbia has spurned Liverpool's offer in favor of the possibility of returning to Newcastle United.

Wigan has announced they are willing to sell their athletic midfielder for a minimum sum of £9 million, a highly affordable rate for Newcastle, who unloaded Andy Carroll to Liverpool last January for £35 million. 

According to a source close to N'Zogbia, the Frenchman "never wanted to leave [Newcastle]. It was [former manager Joe] Kinnear he fell out with, not [the team]."

The source noted that N'Zogbia "has kept in touch with several of his former team-mates and told them he would love to go back."

N'Zogbia has a great relationship with current manager Alan Pardew's No. 2 Joe Carver, which would also influence him to return to the Maggpies.

Aston Villa: Ashley Young to Manchester United

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WATFORD, ENGLAND - MAY 31: Ashley Young speaks to the media during the England press conference at the Grove Hotel on May 31, 2011 in Watford, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Per the Telegraph, Aston Villa has reached an agreement with Manchester United to transfer midfielder Ashley Young for a fee of £16 million. The deal will become official sometime later this month.

The 25-year-old Young will fit in nicely on Man U. He can play winger or second striker.  

Villa has expressed no desire to deal other star midfielder Stewart Downing.

Barcelona: Bojan Krkic to Arsenal or Liverpool

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BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 15: Bojan Krkic of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruna at Camp Nou Stadium on May 15, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Barcelona has the very happy dilemma of having too many good strikers on their squad.

With arguably two of the best forwards in the world in Lionel Messi and David Villa along with the not-too-shabby Pedro, Barcelona has no room for Bojan Krkic.

The 20-year-old Krkic confuses opponents equally with his footwork as with the pronunciation of his last name. 

As a substitute, Bojan has been very active in Barcelona, making over 150 appearances over four seasons. He has scored 41 goals, many in blowout victories.

According to the Guardian, Arsenal and Liverpool are the favorites to acquire the young star.

Arsenal: Samir Nasri to Manchester United

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BOLTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: Samir Nasri of Arsenal in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Bolton Wanderers and Arsenal at the Reebok Stadium on April 24, 2011 in Bolton, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Arsenal's star midfielder is reportedly contemplating a move to arch-rival Manchester United if his contract negotiations fall through.

Fellow Frenchman Patrice Evra is attempting to persuade his countryman to "turn to the dark side," as Arsenal fans would have it.

That Nasri has neither confirmed nor denied the rumors suggests he is using the rumor as leverage for a better contract offer and in fact has no intention of leaving the Gunners.

Arsenal faithful must hold their breath as their team and arguably their best midfielder play a dangerous game of chicken.

Arsenal: Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona for Thiago Alcântara

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LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 20: Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal applauds the fans during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane on April 20, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

After letting Cesc Fabregas slip away eight years ago, Barceona has decided they want him back.

Not only are they willing to grossly overpay for him, they seem intent on making the exact mistake they made in the first place: unloading a young star before seeing his potential fully unfold.

Barcelona is reportedly offering Arsenal the 20-year-old Italian-born midfielder Thiago Alcântara in a part-exchange to bring Fabregas back to Camp Nou.

Alcântara, son of former Brazilian player Mazinho, has made a handful of appearances with the first team but was mainly on Barcelona's B side.

There is little space for him in the 4-3-3 midfield that already features Spanish National Team members Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, so Barcelona feels comfortable dealing their promising prospect.

Keep Alcântara's name in mind. We will undoubtably be revisiting this deal three or four years down the road.