Goal.com

With speculation, reports and the loosest of links doing the rounds this summer, Goal.com looks at the potential deals we may - or may not - be seeing in the Premier League

By Andrew Kennedy and Matt Scott

Olympic fever may have gripped the nation over the past week, but for the Premier League juggernaut it is just another sideshow, as clubs continue to tinker with their squads with the big kick-off coming ever closer.

QPR landed Blackburn forward Junior Hoilett as they aim to solidify their place in the top-flight, while James Collins completed his switch to West Ham from Aston Villa and Newcastle signed Australian youngster Curtis Good on a six-year deal.

Elsewhere, transfer sagas involving Robin van Persie, Andy Carroll and Emmanuel Adebayor continue to rumble on, while Arsene Wenger looks to continue his summer overhaul at the Emirates.

Now, in the latest edition of Goal.com's weekly feature, we take a look at the best, the worst and the simply ridiculous of this week's transfer rumours.

THE GOOD

Agger the dagger to Rodgers' Reds plan

Daniel Agger’s Liverpool spell could be coming to an end if you believe reports emerging in The Mirror last weekend, with Manchester City launching a £13 million bid for the centre-back.

While the offer was rejected according to the Daily Star, the Premier League champions are not the only side to be interested in the 27-year-old’s services, with Barcelona and Real Madrid also believed to be waiting in the wings.

Speculation over an Anfield exit was further compounded when Agger was left out of the Reds' Europa League squad for Thursday night’s 1-0 victory over FC Gomel, with the player’s agent revealing that the Denmark international was fit enough to feature in Belarus.

While his representative rubbished suggestions that Agger had handed in a transfer request on Merseyside, he did add that he had not heard from Liverpool with regards a contract extension.

Arsenal up the Santi

Arsene Wenger’s summer revolution at Arsenal shows little sign of let-up with the Gunners expected to tie up a deal for Malaga midfielder Santi Cazorla in the coming days.

The deal had been anticipated to be concluded by Wednesday of this week, but a last-minute hitch over the transfer fee threatened to disrupt the deal, only for the north London side to return with an improved £18m bid on Thursday.

However, there was further negative news regarding the fitness of Jack Wilshere this week after Goal.com exclusively revealed the midfielder may not return to action until November of this year, meaning a move for Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin looks increasingly likely.

All Rhodes lead to Blackburn?

Following the news that Leon Best has been ruled out for six months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Blackburn are eyeing a £6m move for Huddersfield Town hotshot Jordan Rhodes, according to the Daily Mail.

Rovers have also been linked with Norwich City’s James Vaughan this week, although Canaries boss Chris Hughton dismissed any possible move out of hand on Wednesday, and Rovers' pursuit of Rhodes may also not prove to be straightforward with Fulham believed to be interested in the 22-year-old.

The Cottagers are also rumoured to be lining up a bid for Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin according to The Metro, while The Telegraph suggest Martin Jol has instead set his sights on Wolves winger Matt Jarvis.

Adebayor comes back to haunt City

Estranged Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor had been set to end his unsuccessful spell at the Etihad Stadium with a move to Tottenham this summer, but as exclusively revealed by Goal.com on Wednesday, the Togo international could yet stay in the north-west.

Despite an agreement between City and Spurs that would see Adebayor maintain his £170,000-a-week salary as well as landing a £5m signing-on fee, the 27-year-old has threatened to remain with the Premier League champions “to punish” them for mistreating him – unless he is also handed the £4m transfer sum agreed between the two clubs.

And with Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas conceding the north Londoners are “looking at different options” to the former Arsenal man, the forward’s financial demands could be on the verge of scuppering any potential switch.

THE BAD

Van Persie's hair-raising Rooney demands

Robin van Persie has been linked with a move away from the Emirates for almost an entire month after revealing his intention to leave the club, whether it be this summer, or next.

Manchesters City and United as well as Juventus are reportedly the interested parties and according to The Mirror, the Old Lady are willing to offer the Dutchman £190,000 a week AFTER tax. That may not be enough for Van Persie, however, as he is reportedly wants parity with Wayne Rooney in the Old Trafford pay stakes, that is a whopping £220,000 a week.

However, a move might be off entirely with Goal.com revealing the 28-year-old is so impressed by the Gunners' pursuit of Santi Cazorla and Nuri Sahin, that he may be tempted to remain at the Emirates this season and beyond.

Two Toures do not make a right for Barcelona

Short of options at the back and looking for versatile squad players, Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has turned to Manchester City's Kolo Toure, according to The Mirror.

Brother of Kolo and current City team-mate Yaya Toure played for the Blaugrana between 2007 and 2010 before becoming the midfield destroyer that is currently known and loved by those at the Etihad, and may have suggested a move to Catalunya to his older brother.

However, with Kolo insisting this week that he could not rule out staying at Manchester City for the forseeable future, these rumours are starting to lack substance.

Wolves tigerish over Black Cats' Fletcher bid

According to several reports this week, Wolves have turned down a £10m bid from Sunderland for striker Steven Fletcher, despite that being an awful lot of money.

After doing fairly well for struggling teams in the last three Premier League seasons, the Black Cats may be lining up their own season of struggle by snapping up the skilful Scot, although considering near rivals Newcastle United paid a similar fee to acquire the services of Papiss Cisse, it seems there may be better options available to Martin O'Neill.

THE RIDICULOUS

The Carroll circus continues

In what is swiftly becoming the strangest transfer saga of the summer, The Sun reported this week that West Ham had offered Andy Carroll an EIGHT-YEAR contract, worth £90,000 a week.

The big striker looks like he may leave Liverpool this summer but is thought to only be interested in a move back to former club Newcastle, indeed this view has seen the striker's move to east London collapse, along with an approach for Dimitar Berbatov.

Not content with suggesting a mammoth contract may lure the Tynesider down to the surroundings of Bow Bells, The Sun went even further, hinting that Sunderland may look to bring the Magpies fan to the Stadium of Light, in what would surely trump anything that has ever appeared in this particular 'ridiculous' section.

Follow Andrew Kennedy on

Follow Matt Scott on