Transfer Update 2

Since I last posted, the world transfer record was broken twice! Both within a week, both by the same club. Real Madrid have signed Brazilian playmaker Kaka from AC Milan for a reported £56m, shattering the previous record of £47m they happened to pay Juventus for Frenchman Zinadine Zidane.

Cristiano Ronaldo-What he might look like in a Real Madrid jersey

They then had a bid accepted by Manchester United for, in my opinion, the best player in the world presently, CRISTIANO RONALDO! Despite stories in the recent past stating that he was not leaving United in the summer, all that is left to be done is for him to agree to the personal terms of his contract. United accepted an £80m bid for the Portuguese winger barely two days after Real signed Kaka. Real president Florentino Perez promised to bring in some big names and he looks to have delivered.

French winger Franck Ribery

There are various others also allegedly being chased by Real, including the likes of Spanish and Valencia striker David Villa, French winger Franck Ribery who is currently at Bayern Munich and Karim Benzema of Lyon. Interestingly enough, Manchester United also have their eye on the very same players, looking to fill the humongous void that will be left by Ronaldo.

Spaniard David Villa

David Villa though is suddenly not for sale according to cash strapped Valencia, Ribery requires a fee in the region 60m Euro according to his club and Benzema is just not interested in leaving Lyon this year according to reports.

Another United target Antonio Valencia of Wigan says its all up to his club now to decide whether or not he goes to the Premier League winners. Londoner's Arsenal have bolstered their somewhat patchy defense of last season by signing Belgian international Thomas Vermaelan from Ajax for a fee in the region of £10m.

United's town rivals Manchester City have further bolstered there already formidable attacking lineup by signing Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz for £18m. The striker enjoyed a tremendous first season under Mark Hughes when he managed Blackburn Rovers, but after the manager moved to City, Santa Cruz's form took a turn for the worse, suffering from knee injuries, causing him to have it operated on in April this year.

United meanwhile are suffering from striker problems, with Carlos Tevez apparently refusing a £25m deal that would make him one of the highest paid at the club. Speaking of strikers, Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahamovic apparently wants out of the club, but the club president, unwilling to let him leave before his contract expires next summer, has slapped a 90m Euro price tag on him, thereby deterring many clubs from pursuing him.

Alexandre Pato

AC Milan across the city are trying not to let all their star players leave, with another Brazillian, Pato, apparently looking to secure a move from the Rossoneri all the way to Stamford Bridge to former manager Carlo Ancelotti who left Milan for Chelsea this summer. Their inspirational captain Paolo Maldini has finally hung up his boots at the age, what i believe, of 42. Rumour had it that Pirlo was also looking to leave, but his agent says he will see out his contract at the San Siro.

Newly promoted Premier League side Birmingham have blostered their squad by signing Man. City keeper Joe Hart on a season long lone after the English U-21 keeper was displace mid-season by veteran Shey Given who signed for the club from Newcastle United. Adding to the woes of the relegated Newcastle, Micheal Owen has made it extremely clear that he wants back into the Barclays Premier League. Or pretty much anywhere that is playing top flight football, by the looks of things. HIs management company even crated a 32 page brochure about the ex-Liverpool, ex-Real Madrid Englishman, justifying his form in recent seasons while highlighting the good old days when he was able to find the back of the net on a regular basis.