Top Ten Transfer Stories So Far

10. Ronaldo To Palermo

Palermo sporting director Walter Sabatini was recently quoted as saying that they would try and sign Brazilian legend Ronaldo from Corinthians. Ronaldo is said to be 'past it' and is now back in Brazil. He has since returned to form and has been scoring goals like he used to, leading many to speculate that the World Cup winner would return to Europe before long. But Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has dismissed all talks of Palermo signing Ronaldo, saying that it was "just a joke".

9. Emmanuel Adebayor To AC Milan

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has sent mixed signals over summer reinforcements but it is expected that some signings would be made for next season. Some reports suggest that the Italian giants would like to ship in a certain Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal. Adebayor is a good striker but this season he hasn't been in the best of form for the Gunners and a section of the Arsenal fans have voiced their support for the offloading of the player. Milan are supposedly eager to on-load him.

8. David Villa To....Everywhere

Valencia's financial crisis is common knowledge and it is believed that they would have to shed star players in the summer to balance their books. Their most prized asset is a certain David Villa, arguably the best striker in Europe, who is supposed to fetch them at least 40 million euros. But strangely, the Spanish international striker has insisted that he is not moving anywhere this summer even if Valencia fail to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League campaign. But unfortunately, with the Spanish club's dire financial state, Villa might just have to 'sacrifice' himself.

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic To Real Madrid

Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently dropped a bombshell when he admitted that he would like to try his luck at a different league. This sparked rumours that Spanish giants Real Madrid would be willing to sign the world class striker who almost invariably goes missing in big matches. Ibrahimovic's agent, though, has maintained that the Swedish international striker is not keen to move from Inter this summer and even club coach Jose Mourinho has made it clear that he would do all he can to see that Ibracadabra stays at Inter beyond the summer.

6. The Indian Managerial Musical Chair

The managerial musical chair game in India is in full swing. Newly promoted I-League side Pune FC parted company with their coach Stewart Hall and replaced him with Derreck Pereira, who had left Mumbai side Mahindra United. Mahindra have replaced him with David Booth, who had parted company with Mumbai FC. At the moment Mumbai FC are without any coach while Viva Kerala coach Sreedharan AM is still in negotiations with the newly promoted I-League side over a new contract.

5. Franck Ribery To Real Madrid

It is almost certain that French international Franck Ribery shall leave German powerhouse Bayern Munich this summer. His performances in the UEFA Champions League have led many to believe that he needs to try his luck in England or in Spain and according to certain reports, he is set to join Real Madrid at the end of the season. Ribery has also been linked with a move to FC Barcelona, his current Bayern teammate Mark van Bommel reportedly saying that the Frenchman wants to join the Catalan giants. Another set of reports suggest that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be willing to sign Ribery this summer if he loses his star player Cristiano Ronaldo to that "mob" to whom he wouldn't even sell "a virus".

4. Diego To Juventus

Now, this deal appears to have been done. Brazilian playmaker Diego has been linked with a move to Italian powerhouse Juventus for several months and it now appears that his current club Werder Bremen have eventually decided to seal a deal with Juventus. There are reports suggesting that the deal has been struck and it is more likely than not that in this case it is so.

3. Kaka To Real Madrid.....Or Manchester United

Brazilian international playmaker Kaka has persistently insisted that he is not going to leave AC Milan but transfer speculation suggests that he is about to. Since January when Premier League cashbag Manchester City suffered rejection trying to lure him with their millions, Kaka has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. But a few days back there was a report suggesting Premier League and European giants Manchester United might just try and lure Kaka away from the San Siro if Cristiano Ronaldo decides to leave for the Spanish capital at the end of the season.

2. Carlos Tevez To.....Wherever

Poor old Carloz Tevez. Despite being one of the best and most hard working strikers in world football, the Argentine striker is not finding life very easy at Manchester United. It appears that every club in Europe except United wants him. Tevez has been quoted as saying that he might leave Old Trafford at the end of the season and a number of clubs have already started telling their PR guys to do that 'we would like to sign Carlos Tevez' task. Liverpool seem to be eager to sign the Argentine and AC Milan's name too have been thrown into the hat.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo To You-know-where

If disgraced former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon and reports in the Spanish media are to be taken into consideration, then Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo is certain to join the Spanish giants this summer. It seems that a 80 million euro offer would be enough to persuade Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to let go of the current FIFA World Player of the Year. But then again, we have heard this so many times that it has now become redundant. But maybe, just maybe, with former Madrid president Florentino Perez set to return to the 'White House', things might turn out to be different in the end.

Subhankar Mondal