Goal.com Special: Team Of The Summer Sale

Formation: 4-4-2

Goalkeeper

Carlos Kameni

Not too many top class goalkeepers are on sale in Europe this summer but Espanyol custodian Carlos Kameni certainly is. The Cameroonian goalkeeper is one of the best in Spain and his current contract with the Catalan club expires at the end of the season. Kameni has been one of the primary reasons why Espanyol have not been relegated already from the Spanish Primera Division this season and a number of clubs are trying to lure him.

Defence

Maicon

Maicon is not 'officially' up for sale and has pledged his future to Italian champions Inter Milan but has been linked with a move to Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid. Most probably the Brazilian international right-back is not going to leave Inter this summer but if he does, then he would come to the Bernabeu. Maicon is the first choice right-back for the Brazilian national team ahead of Barcelona's Dani Alves and has been the best in his position in the Serie A this season. Madrid do have a certain Sergio Ramos at the right-back position but with Florentino Perez set to return to the presidential office at the 'White House' the Spanish international might be pushed to play as a central defender, leaving room for Maicon to slot in at right-back.

Bruno Alves

Bruno Alves has made his name as one of the top central defenders in Europe this season with his brilliant performances both in the Portuguese league and in the Champions League and is now among the most wanted central defenders in the continent. Catalan giants Barcelona have been linked with the 27-year-old and so have Real Madrid. The Portuguese international is physically very strong, can and does win tackles and is very good in the air.

Raul Albiol

With Valencia confirmed not to return to the top four in the Spanish Primera Division this season, several of the star names at the Mestalla are said to be heading towards the exit door, among them Raul Albiol. The Spanish international central defender is one of the best in his position in Europe and has been arguably the most consistent centre-back in the whole of La Liga this season. A number of clubs have already been linked with the Valencia star, Liverpool and Real Madrid being the prominent ones.

Philipp Lahm

Many acknowledge German international Philipp Lahm as the best left-back in the world, which he probably is, but the Bayern Munich star is as much efficient on the right as he is on the left. His contract with the Bavarians run until June 2012 but there have been a few reports in the European press suggesting that he might be convinced to leave the Allianz Arena this summer after Bayern’s less than impressive season. Lahm is perhaps the most balanced left-back in the world, maintaining a brilliant balance between defending and attacking, a player who could easily fit into the left-back slot at Barcelona where Eric Abidal has been inconsistent this season.

Midfield

Cristiano Ronaldo

Is he on sale or isn't he? Probably he isn't but that shouldn't make the Spanish press throw themselves off his scent. In recent days there have been reports quoting Cristiano Ronaldo as saying that he wants to remain with Manchester United beyond the summer and even Real Madrid released an official statement declaring that no pre-contract has been signed with the Portuguese international but the nature of football in general and transfer rumours in particular is such that once a story has been introduced, it continues to create plots on its own.

Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso was one foot into Turin last summer when the now departed Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri allegedly turned him away. The Spanish international midfielder was thought to have played his last season for Liverpool in 2007-2008 but turn of events contrived to make him stay at Anfield. But it’s now being said that this time he is finally going to leave. The former Real Sociedad star has been linked with both Juventus and Real Madrid and some reports even suggest that he has drafted in a transfer request at Liverpool.

Kaka

Again, Real Madrid are the protagonist in this rumour. The Madrid press is convinced that Brazilian playmaker Kaka would move from AC Milan to Real Madrid this summer and a section of the Italian media thinks likewise. Kaka, though, has persistently denied that he wants to play elsewhere but with Florentino Perez set to return to office, people are beginning to believe that the former Champions League winner would be playing in the pristine white of Madrid next season. Well, he would certainly be the buy of the summer.....

Franck Ribery

Franck Ribery is one foot out of Munich already and with him again emerging as the best player for Bayern Munich and one of the best in the Bundesliga this season, it seems that time has come for the French international midfielder to play at one of the bigger leagues in Europe. Ribery essentially plays on the flanks and cuts inside and was arguably the best player in a Bayern shirt in their Champions League quarter-final tie with Barcelona. It is the Catalan club that seems to interest him the most. Also in the market for Ribery are Manchester United and that club in Madrid that is on the verge of a neo-Galacticos era.

Attack

David Silva

David Silva is another of the Valencia stars slated to leave the Mestalla this summer. The Euro 2008 winner has persistently insisted that he is tired of all rumours linking him with a move away from the Mestalla but with the Ches unable to secure a Champions League spot for next season, it does appear that the Spanish international would have to leave the club at the end of this season. Although physically not too prominent and stature-wise lacking, David Silva is renowned for his quicksilver intelligence, measured passes and crosses and versatility to play as a striker, on the wings and as a support striker.

David Villa

Arguably the best striker in Europe, David Villa also looks to be heading out of Valencia this summer. He is the Ches' most prized asset and selling him should earn the financially ruined club at least 40 million euros. The Euro 2008 winner, though, has maintained that he wants to stay on at the club but he might just have to ‘sacrifice’ himself. At 27 Villa is nearing his peak and a number of big clubs in Europe are chasing him. Besides Real Madrid, the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Manchester City (!) are reportedly interested in signing him, but whosoever eventually does so would have to cough up a lot of cash for el Guaje.

Subhankar Mondal