Premier League: Top 8 Transfer Rumours of the Week

This week Gervinho, John Arne Riise, Johnathan Woodgate and Stewart Downing have all found themselves new clubs.

The first joins England's elite domestic competition for the first time in his career, the second returns to a league in which he scored some breathtaking goals in seven years at Liverpool, and the last two players have just moved a few miles north.

But of all the hundreds of plausible rumours which have appeared in the British and foreign media, which were the eight biggest rumours of the past week?

I have chosen the following eight stories based on how much money would be involved and what would be the potential implications of such moves.

Chelsea Transfer Rumour: Cheik Tiote to Replace Crippled Michael Essien?

"I'm happy — if I wasn't happy I wouldn't have signed for six years", Cheik Tiote told The Sun last week amid rumours Chelsea would look to bring in the 25-year-old Ivorian to replace injured Ghanaian Michael Essien.

With only one year of experience in the Premier League, it might seem unusual for the Blues to show interest in the robust central midfield player. But Tiote's ability, energy and passion captured the attention of many top clubs, especially after he scored his team's equaliser in the incredible comeback against Arsenal, which ended 4-4.

But Chelsea often lacked a spark last season and Essien was one of many players who struggled to reproduce his form of previous years in which the club won silverware. And the 28-year-old has just ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus and new manager Andre Villas-Boas will be keen to bolster his midfield quickly.

It would require a bid in excess of £10 million for the Magpies even contemplating selling the player, especially to a Premier League club.

Blackburn Rovers: Rovers Looking at Japanese Star Keisuke Honda

Sky Sports reported last week that Japan and CSKA Moscow free-kick specialist Keiskue Honda was on Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean's radar.

The 25-year-old really shot to fame during the end of his two-year stint in the Eredivisie with Dutch team VVV Venlo, where he scored more than one goal every three games and helped his team to a promotion from Eerste Divisie.

This form secured a £5 million move to Russian giants CSKA Moscow, where he has continued his form in a tougher domestic league and also experience Champions League football.

A bid of £12 million is expected.

Everton Transfer Rumour: Toffees Look for Charles N'Zogbia Sweetener

Sky Sports broke the news that Everton manager David Moyes wants Charles N'Zogbia to come to Goodison Park in a deal which could cost more than £10 million.

Club chief executive Robert Elstone told the official Everton website: "The squeeze on money is harder than ever (this summer). Despite that, there isn't a day that goes by without the manager and chairman discussing players coming and, yes, players going."

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan is resigned to losing the French international winger this summer, especially after some star performances towards the end of the season which helped The Latics avoid relegation.

Now Everton are looking to seal the deal with minimal fuss as they fear losing Spaniard Mikel Arteta to La Liga and saw another influential midfielder, Steven Pienaar, join Tottenham Hotspur on loan in January.

A move for N'Zgobia would strengthen the team's attacking options and appease the fans ahead of the new season.

Arsenal Transfer Rumour: Does Arsene Wenger Fancy Romelu Lukaku?

The Sun claimed last week that Belgian teenage striker Romelu Lukaku, who has caused a stir on the European transfer market after a breakthrough season for Anderlecht, could be headed for Arsenal in a £14 million deal.

The 18-year-old has already scored 31 goals in 81 league starts and has nine full caps for Belgium.

With a tall, powerful frame, impressive speed and skills and a lot of potential to improve, a £14 million investment could prove very shrewd if the player develops, as expected by many, into a world-class forward capable of winning Golden Boot awards.

According to the British newspaper's website, Arsenal representatives met the player's agent in London to discuss the teenager's future, but one potential stumbling block is the 25 percent fee his father Roger lays claim to.

Tottenham Hotspur Transfer Rumour: Spurs to Sign Mirko Vucinic Next Week?

Goal.com writes about the see-saw transfer of Roma's Montenegran forward Mirko Vučinić to Tottenham Hotspur.

Last week the deal seemed to be off as the signs were that the 27-year-old preferred to stay in Italy, where he has shot to fame with 81 goals in 258 goals for Lecce and Roma.

But a ''Tottenham Insider'' has suggested that a transfer is still possible and must be completed quickly: “He is versatile, skilful, he scores goals and he can play either on his own up front or with a partner – so he suits our needs'', reported the source to the website.

A £15 million fee is being mooted. This should not be an issue for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy as the club is set to receive 40 percent, or approximately £6 million, from the sale of former player Adel Taarabt to PSG and envisages more funds from the sales of fringe players such as Alan Hutton, Jermaine Jenas and Robbie Keane who are interestin Aston Villa, QPR and Fulham respectively.

Manchester City Transfer Rumour: City After Both Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero

Football rumour website caughtoffside.com writes that Manchester City will look to complete transfer deals for Arsenal's Samir Nasri and Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero, in the next few days.

The Eastlands club has no financial restraints currently as their owner is multi-billionaire Sheikh Mansour, and because the club has just signed a massive stadium naming rights deal with Etihad Aiways, which already sponsors several stadia around the world and teams such as England's rugby union side Harlequin FC.

Having already signed defenders Stefan Savic and Gael Clichy for fees totalling approximately £15 million, City are looking for some more attacking options, especially as the club may finally accept an improved offer of more than £35 million from Brazilian club Corinthians for wantaway captain Carlos Tevez.

Samir Nasri, one of the Premier League's more creative and productive midfielders last season, is thought to be seeking a new adventure away from a club which may also lose Spaniard Cesc Fabregas and would be available for around £25 million.

Aguero has been courted several times by Real Madrid and would cost significantly more than Nasri, but has a similar ability to Tevez and his industrious character and phenomenal skills would be appreciated by fans who are expecting to win the Premier League title before too long. More from Sky Sports here.

Arsenal Transfer Rumour: Will Real Madrid Bid for Robin Van Persie?

Caughtoffside.com suggest that Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid may be about to bid £30 million for Arsenal's star Dutch striker Robin Van Persie.

Van Persie, 27, has become a legend at the North London as, despite his worrying injury record, he has scored 66 goals in 156 games in the Premier League.

But the forward may become tired of being second best, as he has only won one FA Cup and on FA Community Shield in his seven-year Arsenal career. The prospect of linking up with an upwardly mobile Real Madrid team which will challenge the best club team in the world for the La Liga title next season may be persuasive.

Real Madrid has made no secret of its desire to sign another forward to complement the skills of their attacking trio of Cristian Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil and Gonzalo Higuain. Karim Benzema's form has improved but a revitalised Van Persie would better suit the team's fluid style of play and could be the joker in their pack.

Manchester City Transfer Rumour: Club to Consider Second Offer for Carlos Tevez

Last week Brazilian club Corinthians made an astonishing bid to buy Manchester City's Argentinian captain Carlos Tevez.

They not only pulled together £35 million as a transfer fee but were also thought to offer a weekly salary similar to the £200,00-a-week he receives in England.

This is only possible in part thanks to a new TV rights deal which will net each Brazilian club millions of pounds.

This must have been an attractive proposition for both Manchester City and the player, and the former Corinthians player, who has 69 goals in five seasons in the Premier League and 59 caps for Argentina and now that the offer has been improved, there could be an agreement next week.