Big name players on the move

The one league that is doing relatively well in this much- changed world is the Premiership. Yes, the money is less than it was, but the Sky deal now dwarfs those in other countries, while average Premiership attendances are well ahead of those in Spain and Italy.

As a result, some of football's biggest names, as well as some of the most highly-rated young players, are likely to be joining English clubs in the coming months.

As far as Vieri is concerned, Chelsea, Manchester United and even Arsenal will be interested although he will expect at least £5m a season on a four-year contract.

Another of Serie A's best strikers, David Trezeguet of Juventus, is also likely to change clubs. An attempt was made in January to lure him to Stamford Bridge but the man reckoned to be the closest thing to Thierry Henry outside of north London would prefer to move to Barcelona. His father Jorge, who acts as his agent, advised him to sit tight but now Juve's ruthless general manager Luciano Moggi has recently offered him to Chelsea in return for Hernan Crespo and £6m.

Just last night, AC Milan made their interest in Crespo known to Chelsea along with a willingness to part with Filippo Inzaghi as part of a deal but Chelsea would only be interested in taking Andriy Shevchenko from Milan. Even Roma will look for a Premiership suitor to buy their captain Francesco Totti even though his likely destination is Real Madrid. Should any of those huge names join the English league, it will be a complete reversal of the traditional situation, whereby the world's best footballers play in Italy or Spain.

It is a trend that Athole Still, who is agent for England coach Sven Goran Eriksson and has dealt with Serie A clubs in transfer matters for more than a decade, has witnessed at first hand.

'I met with Arrigo Sacchi who gave me a list of players Parma needed to sell last summer,' Still said yesterday. 'They had a price in mind for each but when none moved, some then left for 25 per cent of the valuation in the next transfer window and others for free just to reduce the wage bill.

'The collapse of Fiorentina, Parma, Lazio and Roma have hit Serie A, and even AC Milan had no money to spend before this season and they had just won the Champions League. In England the situation is much better and I expect Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle and Birmingham to be the biggest spenders this summer.'

Leading the way will be Chelsea, replete with Roman Abramovich's millions. They will be this summer biggest spenders and the state of the market only makes their position more powerful. With a few notable exceptions, they would seem to be able to buy just about whoever they want.

But Still is not alone in thinking there will be other Premiership clubs with money to spend. Paul Rawnsley, a senior sports business consultant with accountants Deloitte Touche who compile an annual report on football finance, endorses that view.

'We still think the Premiership holds the strongest hand in the world transfer market,' Rawnsley said. 'As a direct result of the Premiership's financial success and the clubs improved business discipline, there are more English clubs with scope to spend on the right players and their wage bills are under better control than their counterparts in other leagues.'

In contrast Spain, like Italy, has felt the pinch, too, and will seek to offload some players who have become household names.

Pablo Aimar and Ruben Baraja are the craft and industry of a Valencia side who may be crowned champions ahead of Real Madrid but they could still find themselves shipped out. Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is an admirer of both.

Even the most glamorous club in world is not exempt from the new fiscal reality. Real Madrid may have eclipsed all others with their galacticos but even they will have to sell before they can buy this summer. 'A player like Ronaldo is very strategic,' Real's general manager Jorge Valdano admitted recently. 'Well, 100m euros (£65m) are very strategic, too.'

Agents have been informed of the requirements of each English club with regard to strengthening and the choice of player available will be greater than ever. Significantly, the decision of Arjen Robben, Petr Cech, Jose Antonio Reyes and Robin van Persie, who have opted to come to England to further their fledgling careers, shows the Premiership is no longer seen as a pension scheme for ageing superstars.

Rivaldo may be the exception to that rule should he join Bolton but the fact that a relatively small club in the North-West can attract a former World Player of the Year is about as good a reference for the health of the Premiership as it is likely to receive.