Whilst Bundesliga clubs Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have already acted swiftly to prize away Xherdan Shaqiri and Marco Reus for the 2012/13 campaign, clubs in this country are still toiling away behind the scenes, drawing up lists of potential summer bargains to be had.

We thought we would make their selections a little easier by drawing up a list of the transfer bargains that can be picked up from the continent this summer.

Click on Jefferson Farfan to unveil the top 15 bargains to be had

The 27-year-old Italian international was watched by Arsene Wenger’s assistant Boro Primorac in the Viola’s recent game with Genoa and the midfielder would come on a Bosman if signed.

The new move for the midfielder comes after Arsenal enquired about the player last year.

Montolivo has been one of the stars of Serie A for a number of seasons now and the Fiorentina schemer is affectionately known as the ‘magician’.

Appearing in all of Italy’s games at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Montolivo represents one of the finest talents on the transfer list this summer and would add even more creativity to the midfield ranks in what is the Gunners chosen game style.

It has been heavily documented that there is a lack of experience in the Gunners roster as a whole and Montolivo would provide added guidance to the likes of younger midfield counterparts Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin.

With the Gunners likely to spend big on the retention of Robin Van Persie and the recruitment of Lukas Podolski, a move for Montolivo on a free seems sensible business and there is likely to be substantial transfer activity in a summer of upheaval at the Emirates Stadium.

With the death of former Brazilian captain Socrates, full name Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, the football world is left wondering not just what they have lost but whether the likes of Socrates will ever be seen again. Socrates was unique in almost all aspects of his life as a footballer, not just on the pitch but also in his achievements off the pitch. Thought by many to be the greatest captain of the greatest Brazilian team never to win the World Cup Socrates may not be top of the tree in Brazilian football folk lore but his memory, particularly for Corinthians fans, will live on due to his originality as a world figure. In today’s society we revere individuals for talents that they have whether they are academic or sporting or artistic. Socrates was one of the few figures in the public eye that truly transcended the boundaries of this culture. His title of Brazilian captain was supplemented by his political activism, writing and the fact that he was a qualified, and for a short time practicing, doctor.

Life on the pitch

The aptly named Socrates won 60 caps for his country and scored 22 goals along the way. Despite scoring 172 goals in 297 games for Corinthians, his favourite club, Socrates made his name not as a goal scorer but rather as a player whose intelligence and vision were his primary assets. Don’t get me wrong averaging over a goal every other game for a club is a pretty impressive but his ability to spot things that others couldn’t was more valuable. On top of that the Brazilian was 6 foot 4 and equally comfortable with either foot. Sort of like a Brazilian Xavi, but as tall as Drogba, who could use both feet, and who scored goals for fun. Sounds unbelievable when you think about it now but that is what the football community has just lost. The only really comparable figure we have in recent times is Zidane but even then they are not that similar. Socrates built play from the back, a deep lying playmaker who his abilities and intellect were evident wherever he was on the pitch.

Paolo Rossi, who scored a hat trick against Socrates’ 1982 Brazil team to send them out of the World Cup said of him:

“Socrates seemed like a player from another era. You couldn’t place him in a category – on the pitch and even more so off it. He was a very dynamic player with a sublime foot, but most of all, great intelligence.”

Performances such as his against Spain in the 1986 World Cup or even his whole 1982 World Cup perfectly capture the sort of player he was. He never appeared under any pressure when he played and was as much a goal threat inside as outside the box. The air of serenity with which he played also trickled down to the Brazil team whose style perfectly complimented his own. That they he never won the World Cup is a travesty for some but I think that he is so well loved and admired despite never winning that trophy is testament to him as a footballer and a character.

Brazilian legend Zico, who played under Socrates, said of him:

“He was a spectacular guy. As a player there is not much to say; he was one of the best that I have ever played with. His intelligence is unique.”

Off the pitch

Outside of football his life was in many ways no less impressive. Socrates studied for, and became a qualified doctor whilst still in his playing career and after he retired he practiced medicine for a short period. He was also acutely aware of the political problems growing up under a military regime in Brazil and was part of the Corinthians Democracy movement whilst at the Brazilian club. Their aims were to not just combat the government’s treatment of footballers but of society as a whole. He also wrote columns in newspapers about economics and politics as well as football. In fact it has been said that his writing about football was by far his worst because he never learned how to take an objective view when it came to writing about Corinthians.

Nobody can doubt that Socrates was an incredible player, nor that he was intelligent and politically aware individual but what is in doubt is whether his sort are a lost breed in modern football? But that is to imply that before Socrates there were players like him, an idea that is questionable in itself. Socrates did not become a professional footballer until he was 24. The beauty of both his game and character comes from the fact that he was able to see the world in the way that other footballers couldn’t and he could see the sport from a point of view that was unique, and play it with an intelligence that was unavailable to the vast majority of his colleagues.

Often accused of drinking and smoking too much Socrates really was a player, as Rossi said, ‘from another era’ both literally and metaphorically. Giancarlo De Sista, Fiorentina manager whilst Socrates played in Italy remarked that Socrates was a player that questioned everything from why he couldn’t smoke on the bus and why he had to rest before games to things on the pitch. Everything was analysed, and analysed by a brilliant mind too. There are few, if any, players that can be compared to Socrates as a footballer and even fewer that can be compared to him as a public figure.

Will we ever see the likes of Socrates again? With the huge wages they are paid it is unlikely that there will ever be a player who is so culturally in touch with the fans and although there are many players who have vision on the pitch as he did there are few who have the intellect to match.

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The likes of Ronaldo, Robinho, David Silva, Carlos Tevez and Fernando Torres have graced the Premier League in recent years and that has turned the English game into the best in the world. Here is a list of players in Europe that are targets for Premier League clubs and could be seen here in the near future. Who would you like at your club?

Click on Ricardo Montolivo to unveil the top 10

The English Premier League sides are trying to finalise thedetails of a deal worth around 8 million pounds.

Once a deal is struck, Enrique will be given permission todiscuss personal terms with Liverpool and undergo a medical.

The Anfield club hopeto complete the transfer by the end of the week in preparation for theirPremier League opener against Sunderland at home on August 13.

The Spaniard’s contract at Newcastle expires in mid-2012 andlast week he was fined two weeks’ wages for a Twitter rant directed towardsowner Mike Ashley.

“The club is allowing all the major players of the teamto go. Seriously, do you think it is the fault of the players?” Enriquetweeted on July 24.

“Andy (Carroll), Nobby (Kevin Nolan) etc etc. This clubwill never again fight to be among the top six again with this policy.”

His departure will add to the discontent among Newcastlefans following the announcement on Monday that midfielder Joey Barton would beallowed to leave the club on a free transfer.

In the Serie A, Brazil international Alexandre Pato hasaffirmed his commitment to champions AC Milan, despite being linked with a moveto Chelsea.

The forward said he intended to see out his contract, whichruns until 2014.

“I have a contract with Milan until the summer of 2014and I want to respect that. I want to stay at least until then,” Pato said.

“We’ll have to wait and see what happens from there on.”

The 21-year-old attacker joined Milan from Internacional inthe 2007 and has made more than 100 appearances for the Italian powerhousesince making his debut against Napoli in January 2008.

Also in Italy, Juventus are considering a potential move forFiorentina winger Juan Vargas and could give up Amauri and Jorge Martinez tobring the Peru international to Turin.

Antonio Conte’s side have long been after a new left wingerand have been linked with players such as Lyon’s Michel Bastos, Real Madrid’sRoyston Drenthe and Sevilla’s Diego Perotti in the past few weeks, but they nowappear to have turned their attention to Vargas again.

The Fiorentina man has a contract with his current clubuntil the summer of 2013 and the Serie A outfit are keen to hold on to the27-year-old.

Juventus have yet to table an official offer for Vargas, butcould make a formal approach for the wide-man in the coming days.

Paolillo said on Thursday the club had not received an offer from United, but said they would consider selling the Dutch international.

“I don’t think there’s anything that can’t be sold. It all depends on the price,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday.

“There are certain opportunities that you simply can’t turn down.”

“An offer from Manchester United for Sneijder? We haven’t heard or seen anything yet.”

Paolillo would not be drawn into whether they were interested in want-away Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez after Inter sporting director Marco Branca spoke to him on a beach in Sardinia recently.

“We can’t do anything about it when he comes to Milan or visits the same beaches as Branca. Nevertheless, we’re not going there looking for him,” he said

Staying in the Italian top flight, AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani believes Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will remain with the English Premier League side.

Galliani also denied speculation the Serie A champions were interested in signing Fabregas, who has been heavily linked to a move to Barcelona.

“Fabregas costs an astronomical amount of money and is not one of our objectives at the moment. He will stay at Arsenal rather than move to Barcelona as far as I know,” Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The AC Milan chief also ruled out a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

At Anfield, Sky Sports report Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani’s potential loan move to Fiorentina has fallen through.

Sergio Aguero‘s 40 million-euro deal from Atletico Madrid to Manchester City has gone through after the Argentina striker signed a five-year deal on Thursday.

“The 23-year-old Argentinian international striker has moved to the Blues from Atletico Madrid, and is likely to be in the squad for this weekend’s Dublin Super Cup tournament,” a statement on the Premier League club’s website said.

“He will wear the number 16 shirt.”

Championship side Leicester City have continued their signing bonanza, landing midfielder Michael Johnson on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

Across the border, Scottish Premier League club Celtic have allowed Efrain Juarez to complete a loan move to La Liga outfit Real Zaragoza, the Spanish club confirmed on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Mexico international joined the Scotland-based outfit last year from Pumas Unam in his homeland and is now ready to test himself in La Liga.

“I have high expectations and I want to prove myself here,” the midfielder told Zaragoza’s website.

Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain have completed the transfers of Salvatore Sirigu from Palermo and midfielder Mohamed Sissoko from Juventus.

A statement released by the Ligue 1 side on Thursday confirmed Sirigu, 24, and Sissoko, 26, had both signed multi-year contracts: “PSG have continued their recruitment by signing Mohamed Sissoko from Juventus for three years on Thursday, and goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu from Palermo for four years,” it read.

The financial details of both transfers have not been disclosed by PSG, but previous reports claimed Palermo would get around three-and-a-half million euros for Sirigu, while the French outfit are believed to have paid Juventus a figure close to seven million euros for Sissoko.

Under new manager Leonardo, PSG are also believed be nearing the signing of Palermo attacker Javier Pastore for 40 million euros, beating off the interest of several big clubs for the Argentina international.

Paolillo said on Thursday the club had not received an offer from United, but admitted they would consider selling the Dutch international.

“I don’t think there’s anything that can’t be sold. It all depends on the price,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday.

“There are certain opportunities that you simply can’t turn down.”

“An offer from Manchester United for Sneijder? We haven’t heard or seen anything yet.”

Paolillo would not be drawn into whether they were interested in want-away Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez after Inter sporting director Marco Branca spoke to him on a beach in Sardinia recently.

“We can’t do anything about it when he comes to Milan or visits the same beaches as Branca. Nevertheless, we’re not going there looking for him,” he said

Staying in the Italian top flight, AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani believes Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will remain with the Premier League side.

Galliani also denied speculation the Serie A champions were interested in signing Fabregas, who has been heavily linked to a move to Barcelona.

“Fabregas costs an astronomical amount of money and is not one of our objectives at the moment. He will stay at Arsenal rather than move to Barcelona as far as I know,” Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The AC Milan chief also ruled out a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-German are reportedly on the verge of signing Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

Sky Sport 24 report the former Liverpool man is headed for the Ligue 1 side after the clubs agreed a fee believed to be in the region of seven million euros.

At Anfield, Sky Sports report Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani’s potential loan move to Fiorentina has fallen through.

In La Liga, Valencia sporting director Braulio Vazquez is hopeful winger Juan Mata will not move to England, despite being linked to Arsenal.

Paolillo said on Thursday the club had not received an offer from United, but admitted they would consider selling the Dutch international.

“I don’t think there’s anything that can’t be sold. It all depends on the price,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday.

“There are certain opportunities that you simply can’t turn down.”

“An offer from Manchester United for Sneijder? We haven’t heard or seen anything yet.”

Paolillo would not be drawn into whether they were interested in want-away Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez after Inter sporting director Marco Branca spoke to him on a beach in Sardinia recently.

“We can’t do anything about it when he comes to Milan or visits the same beaches as Branca. Nevertheless, we’re not going there looking for him,” he said

Staying in the Italian top flight, AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani believes Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will remain with the Premier League side.

Galliani also denied speculation the Serie A champions were interested in signing Fabregas, who has been heavily linked to a move to Barcelona.

“Fabregas costs an astronomical amount of money and is not one of our objectives at the moment. He will stay at Arsenal rather than move to Barcelona as far as I know,” Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The AC Milan chief also ruled out a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-German are reportedly on the verge of signing Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

Sky Sport 24 report the former Liverpool man is headed for the Ligue 1 side after the clubs agreed a fee believed to be in the region of seven million euros.

At Anfield, Sky Sports report Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani’s potential loan move to Fiorentina has fallen through.

In La Liga, Valencia sporting director Braulio Vazquez is hopeful winger Juan Mata will not move to England, despite being linked to Arsenal.

But Ribeiro said it was not a fait accompli that the striker would leave his native Brazil, saying they were confident he would remain with the club.

“We have no interest in selling Neymar. Real Madrid might be willing to pay the buyout clause, but it all depends on the player,” Ribeiro said.

“We are sure of his will to be world champion with Santos. We hope to fulfil his contract here.”

Speculation continues the Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani will soon be leaving Liverpool, with Serie A club Fiorentina now being linked with the 27-year-old.

Aquilani returned to Anfield at the end of last season after a successful loan spell at Juventus, but did not make a permanent move back to his homeland following the Turin side’s refusal to meet Liverpool’s asking price.

But now his agent Franco Zavaglia has confirmed the interest from Fiorentina, but said a deal was still some way off.

“We must still talk with Fiorentina and Liverpool,” Zavaglia told the Adnkronos agency.

“Aquilani is still a Liverpool player. We need to talk to them to see what their plans are for the new season and then we will see. We are evaluating the situation with both parties before we make any decision.”

Meanwhile, Roma director Walter Sabatini has all but confirmed that French striker Jeremy Menez is on his way to Paris Saint-Germain.

The 24-year-old has been given permission to speak with the Ligue 1 side after Bojan Krkic’s arrival at the Stadio Olimpico pushed him further down the pecking order.

“The sale of Menez is a painful choice, even if it is not yet official,” Sabatini said.

“I gave him permission to leave the training camp and to go and meet with PSG. I’m sorry that I will no longer be able to work with him.”

Sabatini also ruled out making a play for Palermo’s Javier Pastore, saying the club had enough cover in the centre of the park.

He also claimed that because the club was unwilling to talk about his contract situation for so long, he decided to look elsewhere.

“I waited for Napoli until February,” said Pacienza, 28, who Napoli bought from Fiorentina for 4.8 million euros in 2008.

“I have to say they didn’t show me full trust until it was too late, because I waited until February and after then I decided not to meet them anymore and to wait for the season to finish first.”

“Then Juventus contacted me and I didn’t think about it too much.”

Pacienza said he joined Juventus because they showed belief in him, and the midfielder also spoke of his delight to join the famous club.

“I came here because I felt the club believed in me,” he said.

“I’ll try and give my best in order to have a place in the team, I’ll try and make a contribution to help the team to achieve their objectives.”

“I’m really enthusiastic and happy to be part of this great team and I really want to do well here.”