Europe’s best buys (those Chelsea haven’t signed)

Fernando Torres

Roman Abramovich’s transfer spending since he bought the Stamford Bridge club just more than a year ago now exceeds £200-million. But there are still a few decent players for Europe’s footballing money men to chase.

Fernando Torres

Position: Striker

Age: 20

Club: Atletico Madrid

Rated: £18-million

Rated the best young player in Europe and the one name every one of the top clubs would love to sign. Made captain of his club at 19, he is on a long contract and will not be a free agent until he is 24. Atletico have already rejected huge offers from Manchester United, Chelsea and Milan, but they failed to qualify for Europe and need the money.

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo says: ‘They can keep knocking at the door, but we will continue to refuse to open it. Some of the money that has already been offered to us has been crazy.” Torres was a European champion with Spain under-16s and under-19s but did not shine at Euro 2004 as Spain went out at the first hurdle. Scored 17 league goals for Atletico last season.

Rumour has it: Torres follows the English game very closely and would love to join the Premiership at some point. He is less interested in Italy and would not want to play for Real Madrid. It all depends on how deep United’s pockets are.

Pablo

Position: Centre-back

Age: 22

Club: Albacete

Rated: £5-million

One of the Primera Liga’s best centre-backs, who has been followed by Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Newcastle and Bayern Munich since he started showing his class in the second division last year. Solid, quick and a great marker.

Rumour has it: Nearly joined Newcastle at the start of last season. His contract ends next season and he’s keen to move — Arsenal watched him at the end of last season.

Ronaldinho

Position: Forward

Age: 24

Club: Barcelona

Rated: £25-million

Ronaldinho wants an extra bonus for his fantastic season — if they had a footballer of the year in Spain it would be the Brazilian — but Barça aren’t keen to offer it. He insists he wants to stay for a long time and return the love of the fans.

‘It makes me happy if clubs are watching me and want me because it means that what I am doing is being recognised,” he says. ‘But I see my future at Barcelona.”

Rumour has it: Barcelona might be keen to sell — despite denials — to wipe out their debts. Manchester United would love to have him.

David Trezeguet

Position: Striker

Age: 26

Club: Juventus

Rated: £8-million

France’s Euro 2000 golden-goal hero has looked increasingly disgruntled since Juve refused to award him a new contract. ‘I’m not getting the money I deserve.”

Rumour has it: Juventus thought they had agreed a deal to sell him to Barcelona — but Trezeguet wasn’t convinced when Chelsea confirmed their interest.

Alberto Gilardino

Position: Striker

Age: 21

Club: Parma

Rated: £20-million

The most talented young striker in Italy who has somehow managed to replace both Adrian Mutu and Adriano at Parma last season, scoring 23 goals in 34 games.

‘I know that there are teams in Italy and abroad who follow me and I read all about it in the papers,” he says. ‘It makes me smile.”

Rumour has it: Parma are desperate for cash after the Parmalat meltdown last season and after missing out on the Champions League. Only a few clubs could afford him and he could tempt Chelsea, but Gilardino is keen on Italy or Spain. ‘If no one in Serie A wants me, I would be very happy to join Real Madrid.”

Joaquin

Position: Right-wing

Age: 22

Club: Betis

Rated: £13-million

Since signing a new deal till 2010 (that will put the transfer price up) his form has suffered, but a move seems closer than ever. Nobody of his generation takes players on the way he does and he was one of the few Spanish players to emerge from Euro 2004 with his reputation enhanced. Seven goals last season made him top scorer for Betis.

Rumour has it: Claims he would prefer to stay in Spain — but also says he wouldn’t mind Chelsea.

Samuel Eto’o

Position: Forward

Age: 23

Club: Mallorca

Rated: £15-million

Still half-owned by Real Madrid and in his last season at Mallorca. Real’s new coach, José Antonio Camacho, will decide if he goes back or not. Chelsea nearly signed him last season but went for Hernan Crespo instead. With Cameroon he has won the African Cup of Nations twice and Olympic gold in Atlanta. He has the skill to succeed everywhere.

Rumour has it: Barcelona have approached him — but he wants to go back to Real: ‘It would enchant me to return to Madrid.”

Fernando Morientes

Position: Striker

Age: 28

Club: Real Madrid

Rated: £10-million

The Champions League’s top scorer could well be seen in the Premiership this season. On loan at Monaco after calling former Real boss Vicente del Bosque ‘a son of a bitch” when he asked him to warm up, Morientes has confirmed he has no plans to see out the remaining two years of his Bernabeu contract.

Rumour has it: Was offered to Arsenal as part of the protracted Patrick Vieira deal, but would prefer to join Chelsea. ‘My future plans appeal to me a great deal,” says Morientes. ‘I really like the idea of joining that club.” Juan Palencia, his friend and adviser, says: ‘Chelsea fell in love with him at first sight. Their Russian owner has been dazzled by him.”

Hatem Trabelsi

Position: Defender

Age: 27

Club: Ajax

Rated: £4-million

Tunisia international and African Nations Cup winner, Trabelsi was short-listed for the African Player of the Year award this year and is one of the most sought-after defenders around. Although his Arsenal move fell through because of his personal demands, Newcastle are still sniffing around and he could move to St James’s Park soon.

‘Three years at Ajax is enough,” he says. ‘I am ready for a competition that is more interesting than the [Dutch] Eredivisie. I hope I can find a solution for next season.”

Rumour has it: Despite interest from English clubs, Trabelsi has his eye on Juventus.

‘I have always dreamed of playing for Juve. They are the Real Madrid of Italy and at 27 I feel I’m ready to play Serie A football. If Juve came knocking, I couldn’t say no.”

Xabi Alonso

Position: Midfielder

Age: 23

Club: Real Sociedad

Rated: £10-million

As good going forward as defending, Alonso — widely considered the complete midfielder — is ready to leave cash-strapped Sociedad after five years at the club.

Rumour has it: Marca says Barcelona are planning to beat Real Madrid to his signature — but Alonso’s unmoved. ‘I’m not thinking about the idea. People are talking about it, but I am calm and I prefer to concentrate on my day-to-day life.”

Ruben Baraja

Position: Midfielder

Age: 28

Club: Valencia

Rated: £12-million

He is highly rated by new coach Claudio Ranieri, but the former Chelsea boss’s hand might be forced by club’s financial situation.

Baraja, the Frank Lampard of Spanish football, was the key man as Valencia won both the Spanish league and Uefa Cup.

Rumour has it: Valencia are offering English clubs one of three: Baraja, Pablo Aimar or Roberto Ayala. Their debts are £70-million and they need to sell.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Position: Striker

Age: 22

Club: Ajax

Rated: £18-million

Talented striker snubbed Arsenal as a teenager and moved to Ajax for a Swedish record of £5,5-million in 2001. Has overcome two long bans for elbowing and shenanigans in a red-light district to be dubbed the ‘new Van Basten”. Enhanced his reputation at Euro 2004 with one of the goals of the tournament. ‘Most of the rumours have had me going to Italy, but I wouldn’t mind England.”

Rumour has it: Roma and Juventus are known to be keen but Arsène Wenger has given up. ‘If things develop as expected,” says his agent, ‘Juventus are planning to take him.”

Vincent Kompany

Position: Defender

Age: 18

Club: Anderlecht

Rated: £13-million

Arguably the best young defender in Europe, Kompany has already been called up to the Belgium team and starred in this season’s Champions League. Several top clubs have had him watched, but his father could prove a stumbling block.

‘My son is not a piece of meat,” says Pierre Kompany. ‘He is only 18, get real.”

Rumour has it: Chelsea have been told to wait. ‘[Peter] Kenyon came here to talk to us,” says club spokesperson Robert de Pot. ‘We told him we want Vincent to stay for one more season.”

Christian Vieri

Position: Striker

Age: 30

Club: Inter

Rated: £15-million

Seriously sulky striker who has tested his president’s patience to the limit. Has scored double figures in his past seven seasons in Serie A and the Primera Liga but could be on his way after a season in which his own fans threw a bomb at his restaurant and complained about his lack of joy when scoring. ‘I am happy inside,” said Vieri.

Rumour has it: A £30-million bid from Chelsea was turned down at the start of last season but his value has now dropped to half of that. ‘I feel my future is at Inter,” says Vieri, ‘unless [the club president] decides to get rid of me.”

Tomas Rosicky

Position: Midfielder

Age: 23

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Rated: £10-million

Supremely talented attacking midfielder who at one stage looked certain to join Real Madrid. He’s had an injury-ravaged season, but starred for the Czech Republic at Euro 2004. Dortmund have huge debts and need to sell.

Rumour has it: In 2001 Gérard Houllier claimed he had ‘saved Liverpool £8-million” by putting his faith in Danny Murphy instead of moving for Rosicky. According to Czech news-papers, Rosicky might now be on his way to Anfield. Tottenham, Newcastle and several Spanish sides are also thought to be keen.

‘Even though I have a long contract here at Dortmund,” says Rosicky, ‘I still want to go.”

Luis Fabiano

Position: Striker

Age: 23

Club: Barcelona

Rated: £9,5-million

Arguably a more talented player than the other young stars in Brazil, including Diego and Robinho, as he proved during the Copa d’Americas, but could be undone by his volatile streak. Has already collected seven red cards, called a female referee ‘stupid” and accused an opponent of ‘going down like a homosexual”. Has been to therapy. Didn’t work.

Rumour has it: One of the hottest prospects around, recently signed from Sao Paulo. Alex Ferguson has had him watched, but Fabiano fancies Milan. ‘To play in Italy would be fantastic. With my friend Kaka, we would make a stellar partnership for Milan.”

Wayne Rooney

Position: Forward

Age: 18

Club: Everton

Rated: £25-million

England’s youngest-ever scorer had a fantastic Euro 2004 before breaking a bone in his foot in the quarterfinal against Portugal. Is Everton born and bred but his ambition, the club’s plight and boardroom wrangling between Bill Kenwright and other directors might force a move.

Rumour has it: Has been offered a new £50 000-a-week contract, but Everton might not be able to honour it if the fight between the club’s major shareholders cannot be resolved. Manchester United lead the race for his signature — if not now, then probably in the January transfer window. —