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Premiership Football News: Summer Transfer Scene 2009

Andy Greeves looks at the summer transfer market

A Guide to the Premiership 2009 summer transfer scene - Part One

Arsenal

Having finished 18 points behind champions Manchester United last season, Arsenal will have to significantly improve their squad to challenge for the title in 2009/2010.

Andrei Arshavin's success in a Gunners shirt since signing in January should give Arsene Wenger the inspiration to sign more established players than he has done in previous seasons. The north Londoners are linked with the likes of Brede Hangeland, Xabi Alonso and Yaya Toure, all of whom would improve the side's defensive and midfield options.

William Gallas seems likely to leave the Emirates following the Gunners' £10m capture of Thomas Vermaelen of Ajax. Sebatien Bassong of Newcastle could be brought in to partner the Belgium in central defence as well, making Gallas surplus to requirements.

While Gallas' departure wouldn't be a major blow to Arsenal, Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas or Kolo Toure would be monumental losses for Arsene Wenger if they were to go. The trio are the subject of constant newspaper speculation linking them with big money moves to Inter, Barcelona and Manchester City respectively.

Aston Villa

Having sold Gareth Barry to Manchester City, Villa will have pull off some big signings to fill the gap left by the England man.

Spurs trio David Bentley, Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas have all being touted as potential Barry replacements, as has Steven Defour of Standard Liege.

Worryingly for Villa, Ashley Young, one of the stars of the last few season, could also be on his way out of Villa Park. Chelsea and Tottenham are known admirers of the former Watford man and a big offer could be too good for Martin O'Neill to turn down.

Birmingham City

The Blues' summer transfer activity has begun swiftly since their promotion to the Premiership in May. Ecuador international striker Christian Benitez has been recruited for a club record fee, thought to be in the region of £10m.

A busy summer looks set to continue as City look to strengthen all areas of the field. Joe Hart could move south to St Andrews, possibly on loan from Manchester City. Alex McLeish is also thought to be in the market for Danny Shittu from Bolton, Doncaster's Matthew Mills and Lee Bowyer of West Ham. Manchester United youngster Danny Simpson is another player who could be in Birmingham shirt in August.

Blackburn Rovers

Last summer's transfer columns were dominated by stories of Roque Santa Cruz's departure from Ewood Park and much of same will be expected by Rovers fans this summer.

Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool are all huge fans of the Paraguayan hit man, who has a reported £20m sale clause in his contract. Matt Derbyshire and Paul Robinson could be other high profile departures from Blackburn this summer if you believe the newspapers.

Things are rather quieter on the incoming front. Joey Barton has immerged as a top target for Rovers following Newcastle's relegation, while Tal Ben Haim and Gael Givet have also been linked.

Manchester City's promising youngster Daniel Sturridge could also be moving across Lancashire if he is unable to force his way into the first team at Eastlands.

Bolton Wanderers

Like Blackburn, Bolton appear to be another team in the Joey Barton fan club, despite the player's clouded past. They will do their up most to bring the player to the Reebok this summer as Bolton look to toughen up their midfield.

Other reported targets for the Trotters include Sean Davis and Sylvain Distin of Portsmouth, Zenit St Petersburg star Sebastien Puygrenier and Sporting Lisbon's Miguel Veloso. There is also talk of Paul Scholes heading to the Reebok after 15 years at Manchester United.

Danny Shittu appears certain to leave Bolton with Birmingham, Wolves and Reading all interested. Kevin Davies could also be a target for Hull City.

Burnley

Brendan Flood, Burnley's operational director has warned Clarets fans not to expect big money signings this summer. The club's transfer policy will possibly see an influx of players from lower division teams, while stars Chris Eagles and Chris McCann maybe sold if major offers are made for the pair.

Burnley have been so far linked with signing the likes of Kevin Doyle from Reading, Damien Duff from Newcastle and Lars Jacobsen from Everton, though in all three cases the player's agents have denied the stories.

Chelsea

The Blues will be expected to spend big again this summer with David Villa, Ashley Young, Rafael van der Vaart, Franck Ribery and Alexandre Pato supposed all on the Stamford Bridge wanted list.

Skipper John Terry's future is interesting, given the amount of links the England defender as had with Manchester City over the last six months or so. Deco and Ricardo Carvalho are more likely high profile departures however, with Inter Milan close to signing the pair.

Everton

David Moyes continues to get the best out of a small squad at Everton but will be looking to increase personnel numbers over the next few months.

Reading duo Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt are amongst Everton's reported transfer targets as are Leeds' attacking midfielder Fabian Delph, Welsh international Joe Ledley and Manchester City's powerful defender Micah Richards. Michael Owen also could be a possible shock signing from Newcastle.

Meanwhile Everton will do their best to rebuff any Manchester City offers for highly rated defender Joleon Lescott and will do the same should Atletico Madrid move for Steven Pienaar.

Fulham

Roy Hodgson gained many plaudits last season for the style of play he encouraged at Fulham and the side's seventh place finish.

As Fulham go into the Europa League next season, Hodgson knows his squad must be expanded in order to compete successfully on four fronts. He has sought out Gareth Bale and Tom Huddlestone of Tottenham, both of whom have European experience, as possible squad additions.

Plymouth's outstanding youngster Ashley Barnes and West Brom's Chris Brunt are also reported targets for the Cottagers as are Crystal Palace's Victor Moses and Southampton's Adam Lallana.

The sale of Brende Hangeland, for a fee around £8m, to either Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa or Everton will generate funds for Hodgson's planned squad expansion.

Hull City

Given their dramatic decline in form in the second half of last season, Hull boss Phil Brown is another Premiership manager aware of the importance of squad expansion.

Frazier Campbell, who enjoyed a successful spell with the Tigers in their Play-Off winning season 2007/2008, is set to return to the KC Stadium for a fee of around £6m. He will bring a clinical edge that Hull lacked at times last season.

Former Manchester United and Celtic midfielder Liam Miller is also close to joining the Tigers on a free transfer.

Other reported targets include Tal Ben Haim, Manucho Goncalves (Manchester United), Kevin Nolan and Manchester City's forgotten striker Darius Vassell.

Summer Transfer Scene Part Two

Andy Greeves

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