The kick off to the new English Premiership season is now less than a month away, with the opening fixtures set to take place on the 14th August.
But there’s still a long way to go before transfer deadline day and if last year is anything to go by, there are still one or two big name transfers yet to be completed.
But who is going where? I’ve taken a look around the most reputable sources, talked to a couple of people in the know and spent a long time searching to bring you a definitive guide to the rumours flying around about the big names clubs.
In part one of this guide, we’ll look at Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.
1. MANCHESTER CITY
After already signing Yaya Toure (from Barcelona), David Silva (from Valencia) and Jerome Boateng (from Hamburg), rumours are rife surrounding who the World’s richest club will sign next.
There are a huge amount of rumours surrounding the possible signing of Fernando Torres (also a Chelsea target) although recent talk suggests the Spaniard may decide to stay at Liverpool. After returning to Spain with the World Cup, Torres was spotted wearing a Liverpool scarf and new manager Roy Hodgson has already suggested the striker may be fit for the start of the Liverpool season.
Rumours continue however that Torres wants to join a club with a real chance of winning major titles next season, and whilst that only really leaves him Chelsea as an option in the short term, the level of investment and growth at MCFC could still tempt him to the blue half of Manchester.
City have recently been linked to a high profile move for Didier Drogba, although I don’t think the move will go through, as Chelsea have already stated the player is not for sale.
Other rumoured targets for Manchester City include Mario Balotelli (Internazionale forward), Bosnian front man Edin Dzeko and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner. Although I’ve recently heard that City refuse to be held to ransom for Milner, saying they will only buy him if Villa lower their asking price. Other reported targets include American playmaker Landon Donovan, defenders Aleksandar Kolarov and David Luiz as well as Serbian winger Milos Krasic.
You may also hear a few rumours linking City to Iniesta, Xavi, Ibrahimovic and even talks with Barcelona surrounding Lionel Messi, but none of these will happen in the 2010/11 season.
As for players out, City is reportedly hoping to raise around £50m selling underperforming or unhappy players from the squad.
Valeri Bojinov has been sold to Parma, while Sylvinho, Martin Petrov and Mwaruwari have been released from their contracts.
A recent conversation I had with someone at City suggested that numerous other players could leave the club over the next few weeks, with Roque Santa Cruz, Micah Richards, Steven Ireland, Craig Bellamy and Robinho all possibly departing.
2. Manchester United
The Premier League’s most successful club have already completed the purchases of Mexican forward Javier Hernandez and English defended Chris Smalling, and despite not being as powerful in the transfer window as they used to be, they’ve been linked with a series of high profile signings. 
The most persistent rumour includes the possible signing of Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who had a fantastic World Cup with Holland. Although Ferguson has denied making any sort of bid for the player, rumours have been flying around for the last fortnight, being fuelled recently by Holland team-mate Arjen Robben saying he expects Sneijder to join United in the near future.
United have consistently been linked to a move for long-term target Karim Benzema, as well as Ajax’s Luis Suarez, although reports suggest Ajax’s £35m valuation of the player may put United off. Joe Cole has also been repeatedly linked to United, although it has been widely reported that Cole’s wife wants to stay in London, suggesting a move to Tottenham or Arsenal could be more likely. Ferguson has also been rumoured to be unhappy with Cole’s wage demands, so if he does travel up north, it’s more likely he’ll end up with Liverpool.
Rumours continue over Ferguson’s attempts to sign Philipp Lahm from Bayern Munich, although reports claim the deal has been stalled as the German club want Ji Sung Park as part of the deal.
United have also been linked with Mario Balotelli, although they’re in competition with rivals Manchester City for the player. Other rumoured signings include German playmaker Mesut Ozil, Everton’s Jack Rodwell and Real Madrid’s Lassana Diarra.
On the player departure side, Tom Heaton, Zoran Tosic and Ben Foster have all already gone, with Danny Wellbeck expected to follow with a rumoured move to Sunderland.
Nemanja Vidic has been linked numerous times with a move to Real Madrid, with some reports also suggesting AC Milan are after the defender. Out of form forward Dimitar Berbatov has been linked with a move to either AC Milan or Bayern Munich, with some reports also linking him to Juventus. Wayne Rooney is also a reported target of Real Madrid, although I highly doubt United would let go of their star player.
3. Chelsea
Another club that looks like being reasonably active in the transfer window, Chelsea have been linked to a number of signings and departures.
Chelsea have already signed two players, with Yossi Benayoun coming in from Liverpool and Tomas Kalas from Sigma Olomouc.
Fernando Torres has been Chelsea’s biggest target this season, with rumours suggesting they’ve already had an unofficial £50m offer turned down. Despite the player’s recent injury, the London club still appear determined to lure the Spanish striker away from Liverpool and beat out a rival offer from Manchester City.
Real Madrid playmaker Kaka has also been linked to the club in recent newspapers, although my sources suggest this is unlikely to take place, at least before the start of the season.
Other reported targets include Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero, Neven Subotic from Borissia Dortmund and Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery.
Some less likely rumours include bids for Bastian Schweinsteiger, Edin Dzeko and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The club have also been linked in a couple of newspapers with Aston Villa’s James Milner, although I think if Villa do sell him, he’s more likely to end up with former teammate Gareth Barry at Manchester City.
Chelsea have already let Michael Ballack go to Bayer Leverkusen on a free, with reports also strongly linking Ashley Cole with a move to Real Madrid. Joe Cole is basically guaranteed to leave the club, with Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool or Manchester United the most likely destinations. Franco Di Santo has been linked with a move to Bolton in several newspapers in the last two weeks, and in perhaps the least likely departure rumour, Frank Lampard has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
