Top Ten: Summer Transfer Targets 2009

With new rumours surfacing every day, this summer’s dealings are shaping up to be some of the most exciting we’ve seen for years. Here’s a quick run-down of some of the superstars who could be on the move in the coming months...

1. Xabi Alonso (Liverpool)
If Rafa Benitez continues his pursuit of Gareth Barry this summer then the rumours of Xabi Alonso moving in order to secure first team football could well become a reality. Real Madrid are said to be favourites to sign the midfielder, but they will face stiff competition from the likes of Juventus and Manchester City who will all be expecting to pay around £20m for the Anfield favourite’s services.

2. Marko Arnautovic (FC Twente)
Arnautovic is a 20 year-old Austrian forward in the Zlatan Ibrahimovic mould who has impressed this season with some dazzling performances for Dutch outfit FC Twente. Despite boss Steve McLaren pleading with him to stay, it looks as though Arnautovic will be on his way to either Chelsea or Inter Milan for around £15m this summer, with the Italian side favourites to secure his signature.

3. Kaka (AC Milan)
Kaka, arguably the world’s best player, has recently stated that he will not leave Milan unless the club are willing to sell him. With a number of interested parties said to be lining up bids of upwards of £65m, Milan may be faced with little choice but to reap the economic rewards selling the Brazilian will bring them. At present Real Madrid, who are looking to revive the galactico era with a number of marquee signings this summer, are the favourites to buy the player.

4. Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
FC Bayern’s French maestro is one of Europe’s finest talents and has been generating a huge amount of interest from a number of the planet’s biggest clubs. Real Madrid and Barcelona are said to be interested in signing the winger despite Bayern allegedly holding out for a world record transfer fee. Manchester United are also rumoured to be interested should Cristiano Ronaldo move on this summer.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
One of football’s longest running transfer sagas, that involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid, doesn’t look like coming to an end any time soon. Despite constant rejections from Manchester United, Madrid seem determined to sign the Portuguese forward and claim that a pre-contract agreement has been signed between the player and the club. At present the move looks unlikely to go ahead for at least another year, but things move fast in football and Madrid most certainly have the funds to prize the player away from Old Trafford should negotiations take place.

6. David Silva (Valencia)
With Valencia’s finances in dire straits the club will be forced to conduct a fire sale of their best players during the summer window. David Silva is one of Los Che’s greatest assets and will, in all probability, be one of the first players out the door this summer. Liverpool are still said to be the favourites to sign the Spanish winger, despite Valencia slapping a £30m price tag on the player. It is thought Valencia will need to lower their asking price to between £20-25m in order to attract a serious bid from Liverpool, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City all also said to be interested.

7. Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid)
With Real Madrid said to be chasing some of world football’s biggest stars, the club will need to free up funds in order to pursue the likes of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. A significant portion of Madrid’s current first team squad is set to be sold on, with Wesley Sneijder the most high-profile player likely to depart. Sneijder has been linked with a part-exchange deal involving Inter Milan’s Brazilian winger Mancini, which would see the Dutchman head to the Italy to join Jose Mourinho’s Scudetto-winning side.

8. Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)
Over the last two or three seasons Lyon’s Jeremy Toulalan has developed into one of Europe’s most effective defensive midfielders, playing a key role in Lyon’s domination of Ligue 1 in recent years and snatching the holding midfield berth away from Lassana Diarra in the French national team. Arsene Wenger is said to be interested in the 25 year-old, seeing the Frenchman as a potential replacement for Mathieu Flamini. However, if Wenger wants to bring Toulalan to The Emirates then it’s likely the club will have to shell out around £20m for the player’s services.

9. Carlos Tevez (Manchester United)
The wave goodbye Carlos Tevez appeared to give the Old Trafford faithful in United’s last home game against Arsenal seemed to signal the player’s departure from the club. With his opportunities in the starting XI having been relatively limited this year, Tevez may well be looking elsewhere for first team football next season. The Argentinean is said to want to remain in England in order for his children to grow up here, and it has been English clubs, most notably Manchester City and Liverpool, that have been linked with the player. The asking price for Tevez would probably be around £30m, but if Sir Alex Ferguson gets his way then the forward will be staying right where he is.

10.David Villa (Valencia)
As with David Silva, David Villa, one of the world’s best strikers, will likely be forced to leave Valencia over the summer as a result of the club’s financial catastrophe. Villa’s asking price is rumoured to be around £35m with Real Madrid and Barcelona the favourites to sign the marksman, however Manchester City are also said to be interested in tabling a bid during the transfer window.