Whether or not you can believe it, the English Premier League season is right around the corner. While tomorrow's Community Shield match between league champions Manchester United and the FA Cup winners from Portsmouth marks the unofficial opening of the ten-month season the official matches begin in just a week's time. The transfer window remains wide open, and the biggest news surrounds the potential sale of Robinho from Real Madrid to Chelsea. Continue after the jump for details on all of the latest transfer talk.
The 24 year-old Brazilian star has made it quite clear that he wants nothing more to do with Los Merengues, a club that he and his representatives believe to be holding him back from achieving true greatness. Real quickly rebuffed Chelsea's initial offer, reported to be in the neighborhood of €25 million, but that hardly indicates that a potential deal is dead.
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari wants to add Robinho to an existing stable of Portuguese speakers at his club, including defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Alex, as well as the newly acquired duo of José Bosingwa and Deco. Fortunately the new manager works for Roman Abramovich, who is more than willing to go after the high-priced targets his team desires. I'm expecting the deal to get done, but it's likely going to cost another 10 million. In the meantime, I'll be sitting here squealing like a school girl in anticipation.
• Manchester United Of course Chelsea aren't the only side looking to make moves as the season gets underway. Sir Alex has been eying a goal scorer out of La Liga of his own in David Silva, but it looks as if the Red Devils may lose out to Barcelona for the services of Valencia's attacking midfielder. Of course even if Manchester can't sign the Spaniard, they feel they can lock up Dimitar Berbatov, the much sought after striker who is looking to exit White Hart Lane.
• Arsenal Arsene Wenger knows his side will need a bit more firepower in the coming season, and one player he's targeted is Sebastian Giovinco, the 21 year-old pride of the Juventus youth system. While Arsenal is prepared to offer €7.5 million, don't expect Juve to just hand over their brightest young star. If you get a chance to watch some of Italy's Olympic soccer campaign keep an eye out for young Seba. He already has one goal following their first match against Honduras.