While Real Madrid have been busy signing Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and co, the Big Four have so far captured Thomas Vermaelen, Ross Turnbull, Daniel Sturridge, Glen Johnson, Antonio Valencia and, probably, Michael Owen.

With all the big names heading over to Spain, the Premier League’s elite have been forced to adopt a different strategy this summer, as shown by the unusually high number of English players being bought.

The arrival of the galacticos has left plenty of talented players at Real Madrid looking for new clubs, some potentially capable of doing a job for one of the Premier League’s title challengers.

The Spoiler wants you to pick which one of the men reportedly made available by Florentino Perez last month would be your first choice. To avoid sitting on the fence, we’d probably go for Wesley Sneijder:

Chelsea’s recent freebies haven’t had much success at the Bridge

Chelsea’s decision to bring in Ross Turnbull on a free transfer makes sense: they get to fill the squad place vacated last January by Carlo Cudicini on the cheap and if a year or two down the line they want to upgrade, he’s young enough for them to make a profit on him.

But is the former Middlesbrough keeper going to stay the duration of his four-year contract and prove a shrewd acquisition or will he be swiftly written of as a failure? Chelsea’s recent record at signing out-of-contract players suggest that the latter is more likely.

The last four players that the Blues have picked up for nothing - Steve Sidwell, Tal Ben Haim, Claudio Pizarro and Mineiro - started a combined 21 league

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies

Luis Fabiano to Manchester United
While Michael Owen stories have dominated today’s back pages, The Daily Mirror claim that Manchester United are offering Sevilla £16 million to try to beat AC Milan to the signing of Brazil striker Fabiano.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Fans probably wouldn’t be too happy to see Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez replaced solely by Antonio Valencia and Owen so it is plausible, especially considering the latter’s injury record, that Sir Alex Ferguson will want another attacking option.

Yuri Zhirkov to Chelsea
Chelsea completed their first summer signing last night, bringing in Middlesbrough’s reserve keeper Ross Turnbull - who conceded seven goals

The bookmakers expect the Blues to miss out on Carlos Tevez

This is a huge transfer window for Chelsea - their chance to build on a strong end to the season by bringing in players who can freshen up the squad and thrust them back into title contention - but it hasn’t gone to plan so far.

With Manchester United losing two of their “Fab Four”, the Blues have a real chance to close the gap but they have already been snubbed by Glen Johnson, while Ricardo Carvalho wants to leave and Michael Essien’s agent has made noises about his client moving to Spain.

Whereas a few weeks ago they were linked with Franck Ribery, Sergio Aguero and David Villa, this morning it’s Charlton youngster Jonjo Shelvey and Ross