If Everton boss David Moyes was hoping that by sticking a £25m price tag on influential midfielder Mikel Arteta he would bring to an end the constant stream of speculation over the Spanish player, well, he was wrong. It appears that Real Madrid are planning a bid for Arteta (El Mundo Deportivo) with Bernd Schuster’s side already talking to the player's representatives with a view to a move to the Bernabeu in the summer.

Now it appears that Arsene Wenger may break the Arsenal transfer record in order to snap the assist-machine. It is rare for the Frenchman to put so much cash on the head of just one player, preferring to unearth talent at a younger age and for far less money.

But apparently the Gunners' boss is a huge fan of the 25-year-old former Rangers star. Will the move go ahead? Stranger things have happened, but do Arsenal need to spend that much on a midfielder considering the embarrassment of riches they have already? Probably not, but I will be shocked if Arteta wouldn’t have his head turned by a potential move to the giant that is Real Madrid, even if he was a former Barcelona prodigy.

'Do Arsenal need to spend that much on a midfielder considering the embarrassment of riches they have already'


Valencia’s Spanish international striker David Villa seems to have burnt his bridges with boss Ronald Koeman bringing about a greater possibility of a move to the Premier League, with Spurs about to pip Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool to the striker's signature. (Daily Mirror)

Villa is unhappy at the Mestalla and after a dressing-room revolt it appears that his two-and-a-half-year spell is about to come to an end. The 26-year-old goal-den boy said: "It is impossible for me to carry on." This surely is a 'come and get me plea' that will result in a transfer to England fairly soon.

Apparently Villa is a big fan of Juande Ramos, hence the reasoning behind him picking a move to White Hart Lane over a move to Champions League regulars. Clearly any move would surely spell the end for one or two of Spurs' quartet of striking talent and may spark the transfer of Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United.

Gordon Strachan failed to convince Moyes to loan Scottish international James McFadden to Celtic last week so now the Bhoys are poised to bid £3.5m (The Sun). The Glasgow side are being rapidly caught by Rangers and need quality up front to keep their noses in front. McFadden is hardly prolific but does give more than just goals to the team and he was a big hit in the SPL with Motherwell.

West Ham are also reportedly interested in signing the 24-year-old, but I think it is more likely he would opt for the better chance of first-team football in Scotland rather than moving to Upton Park where he may well find himself coming up against the likes of Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole as potential striking partners to the excellent Dean Ashton.