Robinho any one?

I remember seeing the breaking news on Sky Sports almost two years ago that the golden era of Manchester City had begun, as they began to buy world stars. Their spending spree, which is still continuing, started with Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5 million. It was really just a panic buy as the transfer window closed in a desperate attempt to send out a message to the Premier League to show that they are actually there and they do have money to spend.

At first it seemed like it was paying off - Robinho scored a free-kick against Chelsea and made teams sit up and notice them... for about twenty minutes. Chelsea, the team that were also interested in buying Robinho at the time, won the game after coming from behind - showing City how real title contenders perform.

Now, however, Robinho's career in Manchester seems well and truly dead. He seemed un-fit when he did play for them, and he was shipped off to Brazilian club Santos, where he seemed to regain some fitness and form. But while he was at Santos, City built up a striking force that even a fit Robinho can't struggle into, and City are still building.

Robinho wants to stay at Santos, but Santos can't afford to buy him on a permanent basis, and though City don't want him, they don't want to loan him out again because they want to re-coup at least £20 million for him. Other potential suitors who could afford the transfer fees are put off by his massive wage demands of £160,000 a week.

Unless Santos can negotiate a deal with City to acquire Robinho's services on loan for another season, he could be left to rot on the City bench, or even worse, with the new 25 man squad and home-grown player rule, he may be left out of the squad altogether. 

Fabio Coentrao, Ashley Cole and Karim Benzema thrown together in Transfer Window Speculation

Coentrao in, Cole out?

Today's transfer news begins with Chelsea and Real Madrid, as Jose Mourinho is apparently very keen to bring his former left back Ashley Cole to his new club Real Madrid. He seems like he will try everything to get what he wants. The Portuguese tactician regards Cole as one of the best left-backs in the world, and so in order to get him, he is willing to offer Karim Benzema as part of a deal, according to the Mail. The Mirror, also reporting that Mourinho wants Cole, states that even though Carlo Ancelotti claimed that Cole was going no-where, he is prepared to do a U-turn and allow him to leave, just as long as he gets the Portuguese World Cup left-back Fabio Coentrao. Coentrao looked very bright in the World Cup. He bombed down the left side, skipping passed players like they weren't there, and delivered beautiful crosses in the box for his attacking colleagues such as Ronaldo to blast into the back of the net. He created a lot for Portugal, and prompted the commentators to suggest that English clubs may take an interest in this bright young talent, their prophecy may yet become a reality with Chelsea.

Next, and to the team with strikers to burn, Manchester City. Yes, even though they have probably enough strikers to create a whole squad , apparently, they are monitoring Zlatan Ibrahimovich and his situation at Barcelona. The Swede didn't really win the Spanish fans over last season, and hasn't really lived up to expectation at the Nou Camp, much like Berbatov's situation at Old Trafford. However, Mancini isn't reportedley interested in Berbatov - despite being reportedley interested in every other striker.

I'm Staying!

Meanwhile, Adebayor has told reporters that he would like to move to Juventus. Maybe he sees challenging for a place in Manchester City's over-populated team as too much, or maybe he wants a change of scenery. Who knows? He was speaking too fast to understand.

Cesc Fabregas' boring and annoying transfer saga has stopped - at least for one more year, as he told Sky Sports that he is sorry for not speaking sooner to clarify his position, but he is an Arsenal player and 100% commited for the up-coming season. Even though, he says it now, there is probably no doubt that he will leave for Barcelona at some point in the next 2 years.

Arsenal are still trying to find a new defender. This time, reports suggest that they want Roma defender, Phillipe Mexes. They have wanted Phil Jagielka, Per Mertescaker, as well as a few other defender's and were also intereted in a few goalkeeper's, including Joe Hart, Rene Adler, and Mark Schwarzer, but either their clubs won't let them move, or they just don't want to move. One things for sure though, Arsenal need a new goalkeeper.

£150 Miwwion?

Liverpool are closer and closer to being taken over by the Chinese business-man Kenny Huang by the day and he has told Liverpool that he will give Roy Hodgson £150 million to spend on transfers if he takes over the club before the end of the transfer window. That's quite a transfer kitty, and one Hodgson isn't used to, and so he will stick to what he knows and try to prise Shaun Wright Phillips from Manchester City - instead of using all £150 million to try and get Messi.

Michael Owen - The Goalscorer

Will Michael Owen ever lose his goalscoring touch? At thirty years old and playing for Manchester United, it doesn't look like it. He proved again last night, that when he is given the oppurtunity, even the smallest oppurtunity, he will take his chance.

Squeezing between two defenders, with the ball bouncing awkwardly in front of him, he showed once again that he knows where the goal is. It may have only been a little known team, low on quality, but he took his chance all the same, under the pressure of two defenders and an out rushing goalkeeper.

A delightful chip into the back of the net surely will ask the question whether Michael Owen should be in Manchester United's first team come the start of the season. He can score the goals and win the games. Or is he better coming on as an impact substitute? Either way, he will continue to get the goals and be a valubale member of Manchester United's team.