A team of fresh faces who represent excellent value for money

Although the transfer window isn’t locked shut until the end of the month, the brand new Premier League season is but a few hours away. With this in mind, Spoiler correspondent Ben Baker has considered the best buys of the summer so far, compiling a team of his favourites…

Joe Hart
(Manchester City to Birmingham, Season Long Loan)
A transfer that suits both parties. Joe wants to win more senior England caps, and since he has been edged out of the number one spot at Manchester City by a certain Mr. Given, first team opportunities have been lacking. His search for regular football has led him to the Midlands and Birmingham are surely delighted that this promising young English goalkeeper will be between the sticks for the season. Also, you just have to love him for his mental attitude and abrasive shouting when facing a penalty - he’s like a loopier version of Bruce Grobbelaar.

Glen Johnson
(Portsmouth to Liverpool, £17.5m)
Beating off Chelsea and Manchester City and getting one over his rivals would have made this deal extra sweet for the ever-irritated Rafa. Johnson had a superb season last year, both with club and country, epitomised by his man of the match performance against an (albeit woeful) Andorra side that saw him notch up four assists from full back, and will add a whole new dimension to Liverpool’s right side. A high price to pay, but as Rafa said, “Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more.”A sentiment that is particularly true for English players.

Yuri Zhirkov
(CSKA Moscow to Chelsea, £18m)
A Russian at Chelsea? How did that happen? This versatile

Things could get confusing at the Chelsea/ City games next season

Zhirkov also has more than a passing similarity to Manchester Utd’s recently acquired Fit & Healthy striker, non?

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

Also appearing on a computer near you…

More great news for Newcastle - Freddy Shepherd is back on the scene with a £60m takeover bid
[BBC]

Adriano is having some squad number issues
[Dirty Tackle]

Fulham to bid for Almeira’s Kalu Uche
[Goal.com]

Further proof that no one wears a bikini better than Abbey Clancy
[Kickette]

Chelsea to finalise the Yuri Zhirkov deal tomorrow
[The Guardian]

Ronaldo isn’t the only one on the move…

Yuri Zhirkov to Barcelona
Not so long ago, it looked as if Chelsea had sealed the deal on the ‘Russian Ronaldinho’, but quotes in this morning’s Sport suggests the 25-year-old would prefer Spain:

“I would prefer to play with Barça, although that does not mean that I will automatically discard Chelsea.”

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: The blues shouldn’t be too disheartened - Andrei Arshavin banged on about his love of Barcelona (and regularly wore their merchandise) but still came to the Premiership in the end.

Luc Castaignos to Arsenal
Feyenoord’s promising forward is just 16-years-old, but that hasn’t stopped Professor Wenger taking a distinct interest in his progress.

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John Barnes, Pat Cash and Austin Powers Healey want you to buy Mars bars

This is the kind of skateboarding we want to see
[WithLeather]

Spot the difference: Steven Gerrard’s kiss v Ryan Giggs’ kiss
[Pies]

Liverpool target Queen lovin’ defender David Wheater
[Caught Offside]

Chelsea have reportedly sealed the long anticipated Yuri Zhirkov deal
[Daily Mail]

Frank Lampard’s pouty ex Elen Rives is about to become 14 million Euros heavier
[Kickette]

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…

Andrea Pirlo to Chelsea
It’s inevitable that Carlo Ancelotti will bring some Milanese talent to West London with him, and The Telegraph believe his first choice is girly-named midfielder Andrea Pirlo. AC will apparently accept no less than £20m.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: We can’t see Chelsea splashing that kind of cash on a 30-year-old, but stranger things have happened.

Paul Scholes to Stoke
Clearly impressed by his bone crunching tackle on Sergio Biscuits earlier this week, Stoke will offer Scholesy a player/coach position next season, say The Daily Mail. The Potters will offer a ‘nominal fee’ (read: ‘very small fee’)

The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies…

Yuri Zhirkov to Liverpool
Chelsea have been interested in the ‘Russian Ronaldinho’ for some time, but The Liverpool Daily Post are suggesting Rafa could jump in with a €17m offer.

The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Yes, Liverpool are after a left-sided fullback, but for some reason we think Guus Hiddink will have more sway over the young Russian’s future.

David Villa to Manchester City
Since Arsenal have insinuated an intention to replace Adebayor with Roque Santa Cruz, Manchester City have lost interest and once again turned their attention to Euro 2008 sensation David Villa. They were quoted a reasonable asking price of £128m in January,