With the recent conclusion of the domestic football season across the major European leagues, it is fair to say that football is now without a shadow of a doubt an all-year round sport, with the 2013 European Under-21 Championships currently being staged by FIFA in Israel until the 18th June. The eight team tournament includes some of Europe's most promising talent on show, with the likes of England, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands all represented.
Then on the 15th June for two weeks the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, will be held in Brazil, as a prelude to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, involving some of the world's biggest hitters in world football. Eight international teams from all over the world will contest the tournament including the hosts, Spain (FIFA world ranked number 1 side), Italy (8th), Russia (11th), Mexico (17th) and Uruguay (19th).
Then with the domestic season in England beginning on the 3rd August and the English Premier League swinging into action just two weeks later, clubs need to incorporate pre-season fixtures into pre-season training with little or no break in proceedings!
During this period it becomes the 'silly season' as Clubs delve into the transfer market in an attempt to strengthen their squads for the forthcoming season. Why is it silly? Well quite simply transfer rumours are created everyday by everyone and anyone with an interest in football, for lots of different reasons. Most of the rumours are unsubstantiated, but some clearly do have legs on them!
The media in the shape of newspapers and the internet play a substantial part, along with agents and fans who themselves can be responsible for a leaked story whether it be true or otherwise...... 'My best friend's mate knows a bloke who works in a garden centre and saw Mr X in there shopping for pot plants, so he must be joining Nottingham Forest!!!'
Here is a round up of all of today’s latest transfer gossip across Europe:
Is your club involved?
AS Monaco, Chelsea, Manchester United, Penarol, Arsenal, Everton, Crystal Palace, Vitoria Guimaraes, Napoli, Manchester City, Valencia, Real Madrid, PSG, Celtic, Liverpool, Tottenham, FC Twente, Sporting Lisbon, Derby, Dundee United, Norwich, Celta Vigo, Hull, Burnley, Hertha Berlin, Kaiserslautern, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, Stoke, Reading, Aston Villa, Nordsjaelland, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Cardiff, Fulham, Peterborough, Nottingham Forest, Millwall, River Plate, QPR, Fiorentina, Sunderland and Barnsley..........are all caught up in the latest transfer news/rumours across Europe, as we speak.
AS Monaco - who have already spent over £100m on new players this summer - are ready to make a move for Chelsea captain John Terry. Monaco believe a figure of around £7m will be enough to tempt the Blues to part with the 32-year-old - The Sun
New Manchester United manager David Moyes plans to make Uruguayan right-back Guillermo Varela (right) his first signing at Old Trafford. The 20-year-old is available for £1.2m from Uruguayan side Penarol - Daily Express, skysports.com and sportsmole.co.uk
Arsenal have moved ahead of Chelsea and Manchester United in the battle to sign Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini - The Times
Premier League new-boys Crystal Palace are close to clinching a £2.6m move for Vitoria Guimaraes striker Amido Balde, 22, after the player snubbed Scottish Premier League champions Celtic - Daily Record
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis claims he expects to hold talks with Chelsea about a possible deal for Edinson Cavani. The likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain have all been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old, who has a release clause in his contract of £53m - skysports.com and espnfc.com
Barcelona are set to choose between Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen and Valencia's Jeremy Mathieu (right) as they look to sign a central defender this summer. The choice will come down to the pair's asking respective asking prices - El Mundo Deportivo (Spain)Norwich have made an enquiry for Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey but the Reds may want up to £8m for the England Under-21 international - Daily Mail
Liverpool have all but sealed a deal for Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas in a deal believed to be worth £7m - Faro de Vigo (Spain)
Tottenham and Liverpool both chasing Nacer Chadli. The FC Twente winger, 23, is valued at around £8.5m - Talksport
Liverpool have made a £3m bid for Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Ilori (right), who is currently on international duty with Portugal at the Toulon tournament in France. Valencia and Arsenal are also reportedly interested in the 20 year-old - Liverpool Echo and footballgossip.org.uk
Hull are battling with Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest to land Burnley midfielder Chris McCann - Daily Mirror
New Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin have completed the signing of Kaiserslautern midfielder Alexander Baumjohann - Bundesliga.com
Juventus are continuing talks with Real Madrid about Gonzalo Higuain - La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy)
Local rivals Borussia Dortmund and Schalke are fighting it out to sign Barcelona youngster Cristian Tello- BILD (Germany)
The agent of Dundee United striker Johnny Russell (right) says Celtic could still scupper Derby's move for the striker. The Championship side have had a £700,000 bid accepted for the 23-year-old but he has not yet signed a contract - Derby TelegraphMark Hughes wants Celtic's Gary Hooper to be his first signing at Stoke -The Sun
The Stoke boss Mark Hughes is also looking to bring in 23 year-old QPR striker David "Junior" Hoilett - transfermarketweb.com
Norwich manager Chris Hughton is ready to make a £2.5m bid for Reading winger Jimmy Kebe - Daily Star
Aston Villa have had a £3m offer for Nordsjaelland defender Jores Okore rejected - Daily Mail
Reading have confirmed the signing of 32 year-old defender Wayne Bridge, who has agreed a one-year contract at the Madejski Stadium after turning down the chance to join QPR - Daily Mirror and espnfc.com
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are keeping tabs on River Plate striker Tomas Andrade - El Mundo Deportivo
Cardiff are considering a £2m move for former Everton defender Joseph Yobo - Daily Mail
Fulham have had a £2.5m bid for Peterborough striker Dwight Gayle turned down - Daily Telegraph
Nottingham Forest have announced that 31 year-old striker Darius Henderson has made a permanent move to the City Ground from Millwall - sportsmole.co.uk
The agent of Manchester City goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon (right) says he is uncertain of the Romanian's future. The 26-year old is yet to make a Premier League appearance since joining from Politehnica Timisoara in 2011, and he has been strongly linked with a move to Fiorentina - skysports.com and sportsmole.co.uk
Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is ready to move on after the 24-year-old Belgian signalled he would not sign a new deal with the club.
Mignolet has been linked with a move to Liverpool and Arsenal - Sunderland Echo
Barnsley defender Jimmy McNulty has signed a new deal to stay at the club. McNulty has agreed a one-year extension to keep him at Oakwell - skypports.com
