The Transfer Window is officially open

The Transfer window is now officially open and boy are we in for a busy few weeks.

Many big money deals have already been confirmed, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka signing for Real Madrid and Glen Johnson signing for Liverpool.

The next few days are bound to be extremely busy with several big name players tipped to be moving including Carlos Tevez and Karim Benzema. So, make sure to stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest transfer news as it happens.

Who will be on the move this summer? Comments below please.

Arsenal midfielder would jump at the chance to join Barcelona

"If I have the chance to play for Barcelona, I'd be really happy."

Andrei Arshavin has today shocked Arsenal by claiming that should the opportunity arise, he would love to join Barcelona.

The Russian international moved to the Emirates just five months ago for a reported fee of £17 million. Since his arrival in North London, the 28-year old has scored six goals for Arsene Wenger's men, establishing himself as a firm fan favourite in the process.

Before his move to Arsenal, Arshavin was strongly linked with a move to Barcelona, however nothing ever materialised with regards a move to the Camp Nou. There has been talk in recent times that Arshavin and his wife, Yulia, are unhappy in England due to the high tax rates and the food.

In the immediate aftermath of Arshavin's switch from Zenit St Petersburg to Arsenal, Yulia claimed she would have preferred if her husband had of moved to Spain. Strange thing for Arshavin to say so early into his Arsenal career. Personally, I hope Arshavin doesn't leave the Premier League anytime soon because I'm sure there is far more to see from the little playmaker. It will be interesting to see how the Gunners faithful react to Arshavin's comments.

So Arsenal fans, what do you think? Comments below please.

Arsenal, Villa, Bolton & Man City all set to hold talks with £12 million Portuguese midfielder

It has been claimed today that Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bolton and Manchester City will all hold talks with Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso.

The Portuguese international has been linked with a move to the Premier League for quite some time now, however for whatever reasons he remains a Sporting player, but that may be about to change.

Veloso, 23, is desperate to join an English club during the summer transfer window and with four clubs now vying for his signature, a move looks a strong possibility. Whoever does eventually sign Veloso will have to cough up at least £12 million and in my opinion, at that price, he would prove great value for money.

He is still quite young, he can play in a variety of different positions and he has Champions League experience. Personally, I think Martin O'Neill should do all he can to convince Veloso to go to Villa Park cause at the moment, he could really use a quality midfield player. Stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest developments on this and more over the coming days and weeks.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Manchester United finally spend some of the Ronaldo money

Manchester United are on the brink of completing their first signing of the summer, with Antonio Valencia likely to complete his £16.5 million move from Wigan later today.

The Ecuadorian winger has spent just over two years at the JJB Stadium, becoming one of Wigan's most prized assets during that time. Valencia, 23, was also strongly linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, however it finally looks as though Sir Alex Ferguson has got his man.

Valencia has never hidden his desire to move to Old Trafford and once Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid earlier this month, it was only a matter of time before things began to happen. Many people have questioned whether or not Valencia has the ability to replace Ronaldo and in my view, he hasn't.

For me, Valencia was just a very good player in an average team at Wigan (with all due respect to Wigan of course). He is just a slightly better version of Nani and I'm sure the United faithful will be hoping for Sir Alex has someone else up his sleeve. I would be extremley surprised if this is the only business we see United do in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.

What do you think? Is Valencia really that good? Does he deserve to wear the famous number 7 shirt? Comments below please.

Which is worse? The new Tottenham home kit or the new Man United home kit?

Or

Personally, I think both of them are horrible, but which one do you think is worse? Comments below please.

Arsenal ready to wave goodbye to Adebayor and say hello to £30 million Real Madrid & Man United target

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is ready to let Emmanuel Adebayor join AC Milan for a fee believed to be around £23 million. It was confirmed yesterday, by the Milan president, Silvio Berlusconi, that the two clubs had been in contact regarding Adebayor's future at the Emirates and it would appear that a deal could be concluded in the coming weeks.

With that done, Wenger will obviously need to bring a new frontman to North London and if you are to believe what you read in the papers, that man will be Lyon's Karim Benzema.

The French international has been linked with several clubs in the past few days, including the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United, however as of yet, neither club has managed to reach an agreement with Lyon. Arsenal are confident that a bid of £30 million will force Lyon to sell, however the tricky part for them will be to convince Benzema to leave the Stade Gerland.

The 21-year old has stated on several occasions that he would like to remain at Lyon for at least one more season in order to ensure his place in the France World Cup squad. With Arsenal underachieving in terms of silverware in recent years, Wenger knows that this season must see an improvement to prevent key players leaving next summer and with that in mind he needs to bring in a player of the calibre of Benzema.

It will be fascinating to see who Benzema is playing for when the new season kicks off in six weeks time. I for one, hope he is playing Premier League football and personally, I think he would be perfect for Arsenal. Could you imagine seeing Benzema partnering Robin Van Persie in the Arsenal attack next season?

What do you think? Would Benzema be a good replacement for Milan-bound Adebayor? Comments below please.

Van will be playing in North London next season

Robin Van Persie has today pledged his future to Arsenal amid reports linking him with a shock move to Manchester United.

When asked about the possibility of him leaving the Emirates this summer, Van Persie had this to say : "I'm not in negotiations with any other club - just Arsenal."

The Dutch international has just 12 months remaining on his current deal with Arsenal, however Arsene Wenger remains confident that a new deal will be signed in the coming weeks. Wenger recently stated : "We want to extend the contract of Robin."

Van Persie, 25, was Arsenal's top goalscorer last season scoring an impressive 20 goals in all competitions. With Emmanuel Adebayor likely to depart in the coming weeks, I feel it's vital that Arsenal manage to tie down Van Persie to a new long-term deal. When he's fit and on form, I personally don't think there are many better strikers in the Premier League.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Samuel Eto'o to partner Carlos Tevez up front at Eastlands

It looks increasingly likely today that Samuel Eto'o will be joining Manchester City after Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed that the world's richest club have made a 'stratospheric' offer to the player.

The Cameroon striker has been strongly linked with a move to Eastlands in recent weeks, with City the only club willing to meet Eto'o's heafty wage demands of £1 million a month. Agreeing a transfer fee is unlikely to be a problem for the two clubs, with Barca willing to let Eto'o go for as little as £23 million due to his current contract expiring in just 12 months.

The 28-year old has spent five years at the Camp Nou, scoring an incredible 130 goals in just 200 appearances. His last appearance for Barca was last month's Champions League final where Eto'o scored the opening goal of a 2-0 victory over City's arch rivals Manchester United.

It is thought the whole deal could be finalised as early as Tuesday. Eto'o is likely to be partnered by Carlos Tevez at City. The Argentine striker will finalise his £30 million move on Wednesday after spending weeks considering his future. This is unlikely to be the end of Mark Hughes' spending this summer, with a defender now believed to be his number one priority.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Is Xabi Alonso really worth £35 million?

It has been claimed today that Liverpool have told Real Madrid they will have to bid £35 million if they are to have any chance of signing Xabi Alonso. The Spanish midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu all summer, however as of yet, Real are yet to make a bid.

£35 million is a hell of a lot of money and it has got me thinking, is Alonso really worth that much? I'm undecided, but what do you think? Please leave your comments below.

Spurs willing to let striker leave for £18 million

Darren Bent's days as a Tottenham player appear numbered after club chairman Daniel Levy admitted the England striker could leave once the club's valuation of £18 million is met.

Bent, 25, has struggled to make an impact at White Hart Lane since his £16.5 million arrival from Charlton back in 2007. Sunderland are believed to be the only club currently interested in Bent's signature, however the £18 million price-tag which has been placed on Bent should see Steve Bruce cool his interest.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is desperate to offload Bent as soon as possible to allow him to move for the likes of Klaas Jan Huntelaar and/or Luca Toni. With the World Cup fast approaching, Bent knows he needs to be playing regular first team football to have a chance of getting into Fabio Capello's England squad and at Spurs, that is unlikely to happen.

Personally, I think Tottenham would be lucky to get £12 million from the sale of Bent. I would say even Bent himself is laughing at the £18 million price-tag. Bent hasn't done much during his time at Spurs, and let's face it, a player who struggles to get into the Tottenham starting eleven is not worth £18 million. Stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest on this and more.

What do you think? Are Spurs asking for a bit too much or is their £18 million valuation spot on? Comments below please.

The latest twist in the Carlos Tevez saga

It would appear that Carlos Tevez will be joining Manchester City after months of speculation regarding his future. The Argentine striker has been strongly linked with several Premier League clubs in recent weeks including the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, however City look to have finally won the race.

Tevez recently revealed that he had rejected Manchester United's offer of a new deal at Old Trafford because he didn't feel wanted by the Premier League Champions. It has been reported today that the 25-year old has enrolled his 4-year old daugther, Florencia in a private school in Chesire, which would seem to indicate that he plans to stay in the north-west next season.

City have been the favourites for a long time to sign Tevez and I'm sure today's revelation will make them even heavier favourites. A player like Tevez will no doubt help Mark Hughes in his quest to make City one of the biggest clubs in the world and as a City fan myself, I just can't wait to see Tevez arrive at Eastlands.

What do you think? Can you see Tevez signing for anyone other than City or is it a certainty now? Comments below please.

Is Glen Johnson really worth £17.5 million?

I'm sure you've all heard the news that Liverpool have completed the signing of Glen Johnson for a fee of £17.5 million. The England defender has signed a four year contract at Anfield after spending a successful three years on the south coast with Portsmouth.

The 24-year old has emerged as one of, if not the best right-back in the country, forcing Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez to cough up quite a sizeable chunk of money for his signature. Many people have questioned whether or not Johnson is really worth that much money but in my opinion, he is worth every penny.

Johnson is still very young for a defender and I think in the years to come he will prove to be an integral part of the Liverpool defence. The only worry I have about him is that he is quite an attacking right-back, however I'm sure Benitez will know how to manage him.

What are your thoughts on Johnson? Worth every penny or a huge waste of money? Comments below please.

Bye Bye Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has this evening put pen to paper on a six-year contract with Spanish giants Real Madrid. The announcement brings to an end Ronaldo's six year spell with Premier League Champions Manchester United.

It's been over two weeks since the news broke that an £80 million fee between Real and United had been agreed and finally the news has broke that Ronaldo has agreed personal terms with the La Liga club.

A statement released just a few minutes ago read : "Real Madrid and Manchester United have signed the final agreement for the transfer of the rights of the player Cristiano Ronaldo effective July 1. The player will remain at Real Madrid for the next six seasons and will be presented on July 6 at the Bernabeu stadium."

No matter what you think of Ronaldo, you will all have to agree that the Premier League won't be the same without him. He was an incredible character both on and off the field who I for one, will sorely miss. I really wish him the very best of luck with his move and let's hope one day he returns to England to play, even if it was just for a Champions League encounter.

What are your thoughts on Ronaldo? Comments below please.

£45 million La Liga won't be heading for the Premier League after all

David Villa has today ruled out the possibility of moving to the Premier League after months of speculation regarding his future. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been linked with the Valencia striker in recent times, however it would appear a move to England is now dead.

When asked about his future, the 27-year old replied : "When I said I had taken a decision it was true, and this decision is that next season I will play in Spain because it is the league that is best for me, I will not go abroad."

These comments will obviously be music to both Barcelona and Real Madrid ears. It is thought that Valencia will only sell Villa if the price is right, with a fee of £45 million being touted and with Barca and Real both willing to splash the cash this summer, it will be intriguing to see who eventually comes out on top.

As a massive fan of Premier League football in general, I'm devastated to see that Villa won't be arriving this summer. There is no doubt he is one of the best strikers on the planet and it would have been a pleasure to see him play in, undoubtedly the best league in the world. If I was a betting man (which I am) I would certainly be having a few quid on Villa to join Barcelona before the summer transfer window closes.

Where will David Villa be playing next season? Well, we are currently running a poll on that topic at the moment which can be found just to the right of this post. Also, leave your comments below please.

If these aren't banned, the World Cup will be a disaster

Many people, including my good friend Brian Lofrumento over at Premiership Talk have had their say about the Vuvuzela. In case you don't know what a vuvuzela is, just watch a Confederations Cup match and you'll soon find out.

It's those annoying stadium horn thingy's that are driving me insane. I have only watched a few matches from the Confederations Cup in South Africa, however I have found it really hard to watch with any sort of volume on my television. The noise that comes from the vuvuzela is so annoying that I stopped watching this evening's semi-final between the hosts, South Africa and Brazil half-way through proceedings.

There has been calls from FIFA to ban vuvuzela's for next year's World Cup, however the South African Football Association (SAFA) have insisted that they are essential for an authentic South African football experience. They may be essential for an authentic South African football experience, but my god are they irritating.

It's so hard to enjoy a game of football when all you can hear is this constant noise. I for one, am hoping that something is done to prevent these vuvuzela from being used during next summer's World Cup because it would really ruin it as a spectacle. So, what do you think? Should the vuvuzela be banned or should we just fill our ears with cotton wool? Comments below please.

A strange day for Cesc Fabregas

Earlier today it looked as though Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas may be on his way out of the Emirates after he slammed the club for it's failure to win a Premier League title in over five years.

"The absence of titles at Arsenal is what angers me the most ... Cristiano (Ronaldo) said he's leaving Manchester United because he had nothing else to win. For me right now it is the exact opposite, seeing the impotence.

Fabregas' comments fuelled speculation that a move to Real Madrid could be on the cards, however just hours after his original comments were made public, the 22-year old released a statement on the Gunners official website.

The Spanish international had this to say : "Let me make myself absolutely crystal clear - I am wholeheartedly committed to Arsenal, and my future lies with this great club."

A strange few hours in the career of Cesc Fabregas. No sooner had I read his comments that he was angry at Arsenal, I read that he is fully committed to Arsenal and that his future lies with Arsene Wenger's men. The large majority of Arsenal fans will be delighted to hear what Fabregas has had to say this afternoon, however I'm sure they aren't entirely comfortable with what has gone on today.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Three words to sum up Michael Owen

Following his announcement that he won't be signing a new deal with Newcastle United, Michael Owen has been linked with the likes of Hull and Stoke City. Contrast that to just five years ago when Owen was putting the finishing touches on his move to the mighty Real Madrid.

The former England and Liverpool striker has come in for some heavy criticism in recent weeks after it was revealed that he had sent out a 32-page brochure to several Premier League teams in a desperate bid to find a club.

So, Football Corner wants you to sum up Owen in jut three words. If I had to chose just three words to sum up the 29-year old, I would use the words : very injury prone. Please tell me your three words by leaving a comments below and as always, make them funny.

Arsenal willing to let striker leave for Milan

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor looks destined for Milan after it was revealed that the North London club were preparing to offering him to both AC and Inter.

The Togo international has been strongly linked with a move away from the Emirates for quite some time after the player's representative admitted he didn't know where Adebayor would be playing next season.

Adebayor, 25, has come in for some stick from sections of the Arsenal faithful over the past few months for his below average performances. The former Monaco man scored just 16 goals in all competitions last season, not a bad total for an average striker, however compare that to the 30 he scored the previous season and you can see why the Arsenal fans aren't happy.

There has been talk that a £25 million bid made by any non-Premier League club will see Adebayor on his way out of Arsenal. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is willing to let Adebayor leave the club, however he is unwilling to let him join Chelsea who have been tipped to make a move for him.

Personally, I think a move to AC is nailed on. AC clearly have money to spend after Kaka departed for Madrid earlier this month for a fee of nearly £60 million, so if they really want Adebayor then they will get him. It will be interesting to see if any more clubs from Europe show an interest in Adebayor in the coming weeks because there is no doubt that on his day he is one of the best in Europe.

What do you think? Where will Adebayor be playing next season? Comments below please.

Messi wants Liverpool midfielder to join Barcelona

"Of course I would like him to join. Who would not want to play with great players like Javier? I hope he can come here."

That was the message from Barcelona's Lionel Messi today after he was asked about the possibility of Javier Mascherano moving to the Camp Nou. The Liverpool midfielder has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Spanish and European Champions in recent weeks after he admitted a move to Barca would interest him.

Mascherano, 25, has been at Anfield for over two years now since leaving fellow Premier League side West Ham in contreversal circumstances. Despite Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insisting on numerous occassions that Mascherano is not for sale, reports of a possible £20 million persist.

The Argentina captain stated earlier this month that his pregnant wife could not settle on Merseyside and therefore he may be forced to quit the club which caught the attentions of several big European clubs including Barca. Pep Guardiola is desperate to keep up with bitter rivals Real Madrid in terms of spending this summer and Mascherano is now seen as a likely candidate to arrive at the Camp Nou in the coming weeks.

Personally, I would be extremely surprised if Mascherano was still wearing the red of Liverpool next season. It is obvious that he wants to leave and I think Barca would be the perfect destination for him. It will be interesting to see how long it takes before we see Barca make a serious bid for Mascherano. Stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Tottenham look to beat Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City in race to sign La Liga defender

Tottenham are preparing a move for Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze after the player admitted a move back to the Premier League would interest him.

The Argentine international has spent only two years away from England since leaving Manchester United back in 2007, however the 31-year old admits he would open to the possibility of one day returning.

Heinze had this to say : "I would not mind playing Premier League football again. I am aware that several clubs are interested, but I must speak with Real Madrid first."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is desperate to add to his defensive options this summer and the North London have already held talks with Real about the possibility of bringing Heinze to White Hart Lane. Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City have all been linked with Heinze in recent weeks, however Spurs are believed to be the only club who have made their interest known to the La Liga giants.

Personally, I don't think Spurs should break the bank for Heinze. If they could secure his services for somewhere near the £4 million mark then he would be a decent acquistion. It will be fascinating to see how this one pans out over the next few weeks so make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.

What do you think? Would Heinze be a good signing for Spurs? Comments below please.

Three words to sum up the new Newcastle yellow kit

Newcastle United have today released pictures of their new yellow kit.

Football Corner would like you to sum up the jersey in just three words. The three words I would use are : oh my god.

Please leave your comments below and make them funny.

Rafa Benitez willing to let Spaniard leave Anfield

Don't worry Liverpool fans, it's not Xabi Alonso, it's only Alvaro Arbeloa.

Yes, Rafa Benitez has today admitted that the Merseyside club would be willing to sell Arbeloa if a good offer were to come in for him. The Spanish international has only 12 months left on his current contract and Benitez admits he will consider offers for the player.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Benitez had this to say on the matter :

"Alvaro Arbeloa has had a very good season but he has one year left on his contract. If he signs that will be good because we will have more competition, but if we get a good offer we will have to consider it."

Arbeloa, 26, has spent just two and a half years with Liverpool making just under 100 appearances for the club. It is understood that Arbeloa's former club, Real Madrid are monitoring the situation very closely with a bid likely to be made in the coming weeks.

I wouldn't be getting too upset if I was a Liverpool fan right now. With Glen Johnson all but signed, Arbeloa would have struggled to get into the team anyway so I suppose Benitez may as well get a few quid out of him now. It will be interesting to see how much Liverpool will get if they do decide to sell Arbeloa.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Who will David Villa be playing for next season?

Well, it's time to start a new poll.

Our previous one, regarding the future of Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso received over 250 votes and I hope this poll will be even better.

This time we are asking you who you think Valencia striker David Villa will be playing for next season. Several clubs have already been linked with the Spanish striker, however as of yet nothing has materialised.

So, please place your vote right now. The poll is just to the right of this post.

Despite the speculation, Xabi Alonso will not be leaving Liverpool

That's according to our readers anyway.

Yes after two weeks of voting, you the readers, have decided that Xabi Alonso will still be playing for Liverpool next season, despite speculation linking him with a move away from Anfield.

Football Corner asked you who you think Xabi Alonso will be playing for next season and here are the results.

Liverpool - 128 votes (49%)
Real Madrid - 87 votes (32%)
Man City - 31 votes (12%)
Other - 18 votes (7%)

Total votes : 264.

I would like to thank everyone who voted in the poll and I would also like to encourage all of you to vote in our latest poll which can be found just to the right of this post.

What do you think about the result of the poll? Comments below please.

Liverpool beat Chelsea in the race to sign £18 million England defender

After weeks of speculation over Glen Johnson's future, it has been confirmed this evening that the England full-back has agreed to sign for Liverpool.

Johnson, 24, has impressed during his time at Portsmouth since leaving Chelsea, who were also interested in his signature, back in 2006.

A statement released from the Merseyside club earlier this evening read : "Liverpool FC confirmed this evening that they had reached an agreement with Portsmouth Football Club and with Glen Johnson for the transfer of the player to Anfield."

In the past few years, Johnson has established himself as a regular at Fratton Park and indeed the national side. It is understood the deal will cost Liverpool as much as £18 million, however, in my opinion, that will eventually prove to be great value for money.

Rafa Benitez has been lacking a quality right-back in recent years and I feel the addition of Johnson will greatly improve the Liverpool defence. I would be surprised if Johnson is the only player to arrive at Anfield this summer so make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

What do you think? Will Johnson be a hit at Liverpool? Comments below please.

Manchester City complete their second major signing of the summer

Roque Santa Cruz has today become Manchester City's second major signing of the summer after passing a medical.

The former Blackburn Rovers striker has moved to Eastlands for a fee believed to be £18 million. The Paraguayan international has been linked with a move to the world's richest club for over a year now but the two clubs only agreed a fee on Friday.

Santa Cruz, 27, has never hidden his desire to leave Ewood Park, stating on several occasions that he wanted to join a more ambitious club. Back in April, Santa Cruz had this to say : "I have already told them [Blackburn] and they know that before the transfer window closes I would like to continue my career at a bigger, more ambitious team."

Santa Cruz's arrival comes just weeks after Gareth Barry arrived at the club for £12 million and Mark Hughes' spending is set to continue over the coming months with Carlos Tevez and Joleon Lescott strongly tipped to arrive. If Santa Cruz stays fit, I think he can be a huge success at City, however I feel £18 million is a little bit too much to be paying for a player who barely played last season.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Andrea Pirlo is for sale

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has today admitted that the club will listen to any offers which come their way for Andrea Pirlo.

The Italian international has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea since Carlo Ancelotti's arrival at Stamford Bridge last month, however as of now, nothing has materialised.

Following the departure of Kaka earlier this month, it was thought Milan would not need to sell any more of their big name players, however Berlusconi has admitted Pirlo may also leave. "If there's an offer, it should be considered. We'll see. I was the first to say that he (Pirlo) must stay, but then they showed me the sums (for his salary)."

Pirlo, 30, who is regarded by many as one of the finest midfield players in the world, has spent over eight years at the San Siro. In over 320 appearances for the Rossenieiri, Pirlo has managed to score 39 goals.

I would personally love to see Pirlo playing in the Premier League next season and reading Berlusconi's comments it certainly looks a strong possibility. Chelsea clearly have money to spend this summer and I think they should do all they can to bring Pirlo to London.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Is this the man to replace Tevez at Old Trafford?

Barely a day has passed since it was announced that Carlos Tevez would not be joining Manchester United on a permanent deal and the Premier League Champions are already looking for a replacement.

One man who may replace Tevez is Lyon striker Karim Benzema.

The French international has already been linked with several of Europe's elite this summer, with Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid all understood to be interested. Despite the fact Benzema, 21, has previously stated his desire to play in Spain, a move to United is still a strong possibility.

With Cristiano Ronaldo now gone from Old Trafford, United can certainly afford to buy Benzema and pay him whatever wages he wants. There is no doubt United need to bring in a big name or two in the coming months and for me, they could do a lot worse than Benzema.

Unlike Tevez, Benzema scores goals on a regular basis. In 149 games with Lyon, he has scored 66 goals which is a very decent return. Also, Benzema is very young and undoubtedly, his best years are ahead of him so, personally, I think Ferguson should move for him as soon as possible.

What do you think? Would Benzema be a good replacement for Tevez? Comments below please.

I'm Back

After a few days away in Spain and then a day in Slane Castle watching Oasis, I am finally ready to resume writing on Football Corner and I have to say I can't wait.

A lot has happened since I've been away, most notably, Cristiano Ronaldo has moved (well basically moved) to Real Madrid after spending five years with Manchester United. I can understand why Sir Alex Ferguson decided to sell, but my god, United will struggle without the FIFA World Player of the Year.

So make sure you stay tuned to Football Corner over the coming weeks and months to find out all the latest news and views of the footballing nature.

Off to Spain

Right so, I'm off to Spain for well-derserved holiday.

I probably won't be posting, however my brother may be stepping in for a little bit.

Talk to you soon.

Worrying times for Liverpool as midfielder admits he would like to join Spanish giants

Would Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano want to join Barcelona this summer? Well according to his agent, Walter Tamer, he would love to.

The Argentine international has been strongly linked with a move to the Champions League, La Liga and Copa Del Ray winners over the last few weeks and it now looks as though, given the opportunity, Mascherano will move to the Camp Nou.

Tamer had this to say : "It is an honour for Javier that a club like Barca pay such close attention to him, especially after the incredible season they had. I believe that a transfer would be feasible. If Barca really want him, he will sign for them."

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is desperate to strengthen his squad over the next two months after seeing close rivals Real Madrid start their summer spending with the £58 million signing of Kaka.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez now faces the prospect of starting the 2009/2010 Premier League season without both of his holding midfield players, Mascherano and Xabi Alonso with the latter continuing to be linked with a move to Real. Personally, if I had to chose between the pair, I would pick Alonso any day.

I think it's only a matter of time before bids starting coming in for both Mascherano and Alonso and I feel if Barca were to make a bid of £20 million plus, Benitez may be forced to accept with the club's owners currently in a spot of bother financially.

So Liverpool fans, who would you prefer to keep at Anfield? Comments below please.

Kaka is now worth more than half of Newcastle United

A strange thought came over me as I read through some of the figures involved in Kaka's move to Real Madrid. The overall fee Real have had to pay AC Milan for Kaka is thought to be £58 million which is obviously now a new world record.

Now you may or may not know that Newcastle United have recently been put up for sale by owner Mike Ashley after the club were relegated to the Championship. Ashley is now looking to sell the club for just £100 million, after what can only be describe as an horrendous last few years.

So, in conclusion, Kaka is now worth more than half of Newcastle United.

Three words to sum up Setanta Sports

With the Irish broadcaster on the brink of collapse, Football Corner wants you to sum up Setanta Sports in just three words.

Whenever we do a : three words to sum up on the site, we always received loads of comments so lets do the same again. If I was to sum up Setanta in just three words, I would say : Sky is better.

Please leave your comments below.

Good old John Barnes

In case you didn't know it, John Barnes has today left his post as head coach of the Jamaican national team after just seven months in charge. To celebrate this momentous occasion we have decided to take a look back at one of the more humorous moments in Barnes' career when he performed the rap which no man or women in England will ever forget.

Enjoy.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing for Real Madrid next season

That's the opinion of our readers anyway.

Yes, after just five days of voting, Football Corner has decided to end our current poll, which asked you, the reader, who will Cristiano Ronaldo be playing for next season. The poll was due to end on Tuesday, but quite frankly there was no point in letting it run that long because there was no contest.

The results from the poll tell their own story.

Real Madrid - 164 votes (63%)
Man United- 70 votes (27%)
Other - 26 votes (10%)

Total Votes : 260.

I would first of all like to thank everyone who voted. 260 votes in just a few days is fantastic, so thanks for that. Second of all, I must say I was surprised at how many people voted for Real Madrid. When I started the poll, I originally thought it was going to be extremely close. How wrong was I?

I would encourage all of you to vote in our latest poll which can be found just to the right of this post. Cheers.

Please leave your thoughts below.

Arsene Wenger believes City can fight with the top four, but do you?

"If Man City has a successful period in buying in the transfer market, they could fight with the top four."

That was the message from Arsene Wenger after he was asked about the potential of Manchester City challenging for a Champions League spot next season.

The world's richest club have wasted no time what so ever in trying to bolster their squad, with Gareth Barry arriving at Eastlands last Tuesday for a fee of £12 million. City's Arab owners are expected to continue their spending throughout the summer with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Joleon Lescott tipped to arrive in the coming weeks.

Arsenal themselves finished in 4th spot last season and Wenger knows that Mark Hughes' men may well challenge the so called 'big four' next season. As a City fan myself, I must say, I completely agree with Mr. Wenger.

If City were to sign four or five more big name players in the next two months, then there's no reason why they can't challenge. It is crucial that the club keep bringing in new faces at regular intervals because if we go another three or four weeks without signing another player, then people at the club will begin to panic and that's when stupid decisions are made.

What do you think? Is Wenger right? Can City seriously challenge at the top end of the table next season? Comments below please.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs & Man City all interested in £15 million England defender

Despite signing a new four-and-a-half year deal back in January, Glen Johnson continues to be linked with a move away from Fratton Park with a number of clubs interested in his signature.

The Portsmouth right-back played so well last season that he was even included in the PFA's Team of the Year despite the fact he played in a side which finished 14th in the Premier League table.

Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City are all believed to be interested in signing the 24-year old who is likely to cost around the £15 million mark. It was reported earlier today that Johnson's former club Chelsea were now the favourites to sign him with Carlo Ancelotti keen to make him his first signing at Stamford Bridge.

It's hard to tell whether or not Johnson will leave Pompey now that the club has been taken over by a rich Arab. The new owners will obviously want to hold onto the club's most prized assets and Johnson in obviously one of those, however I feel once club's start making concrete bids for him he may want to leave the south coast. I can't see him going to Tottenham and with Liverpool's current financial trouble, I think a move to Anfield is unlikely, but that still leaves Chelsea and Manchester City.

So where will Johnson be playing his football next season? Comments below please.

This would be an unbelievable bit of business by Tottenham

With plenty of big name players set to arrive at the Bernabeu this summer, Ruud Van Nistelrooy looks like he could be one man who will be leaving Real Madrid in the coming months. unbelievable

The Dutch striker has been out of action for the past seven months after suffering a serious knee injury back in November. Since moving to Madrid back in 2006, Van Nisterooy has scored an impressive 63 goals in all competitions in just over 90 appearances for the La Liga giants.

Van Nistelrooy has of course played in the Premier League before with Champions Manchester United, scoring an incredible 150 goals in his time at Old Trafford. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is desperate to add to his attacking options in the summer and with Van Nistelrooy, Spurs won't have to break the bank.

There has been talk of a £1.25 million price-tag been placed on the 32-year old's head which to me, sounds very reasonable for a proven goalscorer. I know he is knocking on a bit but I feel Spurs could do a lot worse than Van Nistelrooy. He does have blistering pace but my word can he finish and I for one hope he does return to England this summer because I still feel he is a smashing player.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Three words to sum up Carlos Tevez

Following the success of our previous, Three words to sum up, Football Corner has decided to try it again, this time with a different player. Our previous one, which was about Gareth Barry received a massive amount of comments, 102 to be precise.

So this time, we want you to sum up Carlos Tevez in just three words. The Manchester United striker (well former United striker I suppose) has been heavily linked with a move to rivals Manchester City in recent weeks, but it remains to be seen where he will be next season. If I was to sum him up, I would probably use these three words : not worth £32million.

So, please leave your comments below and as always, make me laugh.

Spurs prepare to offer £8 million + Bentley for England winger

Ashley Young appears to have caught the attentions of a few Premier League managers. It was reported earlier this week that Chelsea's new manager Carlo Ancelotti was interested in signing the PFA's Young Player of the Year, however Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is now looking to see off competition to bring Young to White Hart Lane.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill will no doubt be doing all he can in order to hold onto Young after losing one of his key players, Gareth Barry earlier in the week. Since arriving at Villa Park back in 2007, Young has been in tremendous form, earning himself a place in Fabio Capello's England set-up.

It has been reported this morning that Spurs will offer Villa £8 million and David Bentley in exchange for Young.

Quite frankly, that offer is pathetic. If Villa were to accept that offer, which I'm 99% certain they won't, they would be crazy. At the moment, they have one of the best wingers in the country in the form of Young and let's be honest, Bentley has been diabolical since arriving in North London last summer.

Personally, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Young does eventually leave Villa this summer, however I do think it will be nearer the £25 million mark. He is an outstanding talent, who I'm sure all Villa fans will be desperate to see remain at their club. I feel Young is well capable of playing Champions League football next season and it would not be too much of a shock to see him sign for a top four club.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Real Madrid just want to be friends with Man United

"If I had to choose between the friendship with United and Ronaldo, I would choose the friendship."

That was the message from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez this morning after he asked about the club's on-going pursuit of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Unless you have been living on a different planet for the last few months, you will know that Real have constantly been linked with a £70 million plus bid for Ronaldo, however as of yet, no bid has been officially made by the La Liga club.

It is unlikely Perez' comments will mend the relationship between the two European giants. Just a few months ago, Sir Alex Ferguson said that he "wouldn't sell them (Real) a virus." In that particular press conference he also referred to them as a mob.

We at Football Corner imagine Ferguson's face would have looked a little something like this after reading Perez' comments today.



What do you think? Comments below please.

Liverpool, Spurs and Villa get ready for battle as £10 million England midfielder becomes available

So, who will Stewart Downing be playing for next season? Well one things for certain, he won't be playing for Middlesbrough. Following the side's relegation to the Championship last month, several key players have been linked with summer exits from the Riverside, including Downing.

Speaking earlier today, Boro chief executive Keith Lamb had this to say about the possibility of Downing leaving the club : "We said to Stewart that we would give him the opportunity to leave the football club if the right club came along for him and for the football club."

So, who wants to sign Downing?

Well, Liverpool and Tottenham have both been linked with the 24-year old in recent weeks, however I personally feel a move to Aston Villa looks the best option for all parties. Following the departure of Gareth Barry from Villa Park on Tuesday, Martin O'Neill is now short a left-sided midfield player so a move for Downing would go some way to replacing their former captain.

If I'm being totally honest, I don't really rate Downing. I would be surprised if Boro managed to get anywhere near the £10 million being talked about for Downing but with at least three clubs interested in him, who knows how much they may end up getting. It will be interesting to see who he does eventually end up at but I feel whoever does sign him will be making a huge mistake.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Manchester City want £30 million Liverpool player to partner Barry in their midfield

After securing the signature of Gareth Barry just a few days ago, Manchester City have already lined up someone to partner him in the centre of their midfield.

That someone is Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The Spanish international has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid in recent weeks and days, however as of now, the La Liga giants have yet to make a bid for Alonso, leaving the door wide open for City to make a move.

It's no secret that Mark Hughes has money to spend and with Rafa Benitez' needing to sell some players before he can even think about signing any of his summer targets. It is thought that City are prepared to spend as much as £30 million to sign the 27-year old and with Liverpool's American owners now in a spot of bother financially, this deal may well be about to happen.

Losing Alonso would be catastrophic for Liverpool. I am sure 90% of Liverpool fans will agree with me that without Alonso in the starting eleven, Liverpool aren't quite the same. I personally rate Alonso as one of the best midfielders in Europe and speaking as a City fan, I must admit, I'm drooling at the prospect of seeing Barry and Alonso linking up in the centre of City's midfield next season.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Three words to sum up Gareth Barry

Much has been said about Gareth Barry's £12 million move to Manchester City on Tuesday. Many Aston Villa fans have labelled him a hypocrite, whilst other football fans have just called him plain greedy.

So Football Corner wants you to sum up Barry in just three words. As a City fan myself I would probably say he is : a class act. That's what I think, but I'm curious to find out what you think. Make me laugh.

Please leave your comments below.

Premier League Compilation that's well worth a look

I'm sure you'll enjoy this, I certainly did.

I first saw the video over at premiershiptalk.com, so a big thank you to them.

AC Milan prepare to use some of the Kaka money on this Arsenal striker

With AC Milan playmaker Kaka looking set to leave the San Siro in the coming days for upwards of £50 million, there is no doubt the Italian giants will look to spend some of that on replacing their best player.

One man who is attracting interest from Milan is Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Togo international has had a strange few years since arriving in North London back in 2006. During his first year at the club, many fans labelled him the replacement to Theirry Henry, whereas in previous months, he has been heavily criticised for one reason or another.

Adebayor had this to say about his future just a few weeks ago : "All I can say is I am a footballer and if a club like Milan are interested in me then I cannot lie to you, I am happy, because it is Milan ... But the thing is that it stops there – I am very happy playing for Arsenal, and this is what I always say.

I remember writing a piece on this a few weeks back and one Arsenal fan (well I presume he was an Arsenal fan) left a comment saying this : "Arsenal want rid of Adebayor."

I would have to say, I think a move to AC Milan looks a definite possibilty for Adebayor. Milan are now short a frontman, however they certainly won't be short of money and I think if a bid of around the £17.5 million mark where to come in, I feel Arsene Wenger would take it. I'm curious to hear what you Arsenal fans have to say on the matter, please leave a comment below.

Will Liverpool finally move for this La Liga midfielder after missing out on Barry?

With Gareth Barry now a Manchester City player, many people including myself, feel it's time Liverpool make a move for Valencia winger David Silva.

The Spanish midfielder has been linked with a move to Anfield on several occasions over the past few months, however as of now, Liverpool are yet to make a concrete bid for the player.

Silva, 23, is widely regarded as one of Europe's finest left sided midfield players and with Rafa Benitez clearly lacking in that department, I personally feel now would be the perfect time for the Merseyside club to make a move for Silva.

Much has been made of Valencia's financial trouble over the past 18 months or so and many people believe the La Liga club would accept any bid in the region of £22 million for Silva. If that is the case and Liverpool do have to cough up £20 million plus to sign Silva, they will obviously have to forget about the likes of Carlos Tevez, but I firmly believe Silva would be an all round better signing for Liverpool at the present moment.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Despite reports, this Manchester United player will not be joining Real Madrid

Despite reports linking Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic with a move to Real Madrid this morning, it would appear the move won't be happening.

It was rumoured today that the Spanish giants were preparing a £30 million bid for for the Serbian international, however Vidic's agent has moved quickly to deny the rumours.

Speaking about the player's future, Vidic's agent Silvano Martina had this to say :

"There are no prerequisites for Vidic leaving Manchester .... Despite the Champions League final loss, he is at a great club with much ambition, and which has reached the final of the greatest European competition for two consecutive years. This season, he also won the Premier League."

Even if Real were to make a bid of £30 million, I doubt whether or not Sir Alex Ferguson would have accepted it. Vidic has a massive success since arriving at Old Trafford back in 2006 and although his form hasn't been quite up to scratch of late, I think United would be mad to let him go.

He is an integral part of United's defence and without him I feel United would really struggle to maintain their status as the best team in England. It will be interesting to see if a certain Cristiano Ronaldo follows Vidic's example and pledges his future to United. Stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.

What do you think? Comments below please.

Who will Cristiano Ronaldo be playing for next season?

Right, so our previous poll ended this evening after Gareth Barry signed for Manchester City. Over the past week or so, Football Corner asked you, the reader, who you thought Barry would be playing for next season and the majority of you voted for Liverpool. How wrong were you?

So with the poll now finished, we have decided to start a new one. We're asking you who you think Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing for next season? There has been plenty of speculation over this one, so it will be interesting to see who you vote for. My vote has to be Real Madrid, but what do you think?

Have your say by voting in the poll which can be found just to the right of this post. Cheers.

Everton ready to gamble on former England hero?

Reports in one English paper today suggest Everton may be about to gamble on Newcastle striker Michael Owen.

The one time European footballer of the year has been plagued with injury in recent years, since his arrival at St James' Park back in 2004, making only 77 appearances during his time on the North East.

With Newcastle now relegated and Owen's contract now expired, it looks certain that the 29-year old will be looking for a new club this summer and if you are to believe what you read in the papers, that club may be Everton.

It wouldn't take a genius to realise that the Toffees need another striker and with Owen now a free agent, Everton wouldn't have to break the bank to bring him to Goodison Park. One stumbling block may be Owen's huge wage demands.

It has been well documented in recent months that Owen has/had quite a hefty salary during his days at Newcastle (£120,000 to be precise), however it is understood that he is willing to half his wages to secure a move to a Premier League club. With Owen himself an Everton fan, I really do think this move is bound to happen.

Everton need a striker and Owen needs a club so I feel it's only a matter of time before we see the former England hero in a blue shirt. What do you think? Would Owen be a decent signing for David Moyes or should he set his sights on someone else? Comments below please.