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

My first choice signing this summer

Normally, these type of pieces are where supporters pick the world’s best players as the ones that their club should sign, but lets face it, Chelsea aren’t going to get Messi or Ronaldo to Stamford Bridge. So I did the thing that the past six Chelsea managers didn’t and chose a right back and in particular, Dani Alves.

For years the position has been Chelsea’s downfall and year after year a suitable replacement hasn’t been found, with poor old Bransilav Ivanovic being moved out of his position of centre-half and forced to ‘become’ a right-back who if you watch closely, his positioning isn’t that great and the better teams do find him out, (Chelsea vs. Manchester United Champions League 1/4 final first leg). That’s nothing against Ivanovic as a player, personally I think he has been out of the better players in the team so far this season, but surely he is better suited to play centre-half allowing David Luiz to move into midfield?

It’s hard to criticise Alves for his performances since he joined Barcelona in 2008 for around 30 million Euros, his attacking prowess is vital to Barcelona’s style of play and along with the left back becomes an extra man in midfield to help continue the endless flow of passing that graces the Nou Camp pitch. But when the pressure is on Barcelona and teams are attacking, you can be sure Alves is there and you can trust me to get the job done.

People often claim that Alves would not be able to cope with the defensive mind needed to play in the Premier League, but if you look at his record, it’s hard to provide any evidence to suggest anything other than success. At Sevilla, he won the Uefa Cup twice, the Copa Del Ray and the Spanish Super Cup before moving to Barcelona where he has won La Liga three times, the Champions League twice, one Copa Del Ray, three more Spanish Super Cup’s, two Uefa Super Cups and two FIFA cup world cups, surely the only thing missing is a Premier League title?

He has only been first choice right back for a lot of football critics and pundits for the past five years, being selected in the Uefa team of the year twice, the FIFPro World XI twice, the European Sports Media’s team of the year four times and been voted La Liga’s best defender and the player of the tournament for the Uefa Cup. You don’t win a selection of trophies this vast if you aren’t a capable defender.

 Think Chelsea should sign somebody else or a different right back? Tweet me your ideas @deanmears.

After another busy round of fixtures in Spain, here is a round-up of the league that includes 13 of the shortlist of players to win the Ballon D’or.

The Big Two

No La Liga conversation is complete without reference to Real Madrid and Barcelona, and this is where our review starts. Despite surprise package Levante topping the table for the first few rounds of La Liga, their bubble has now been burst somewhat and all attention is back on the top two. Real, under the Special One are in scintillating form, scoring for fun and managing to keep clean sheets to boot. Both Higuain and Benzema are on fire, giving Mourinho the dilemma of his life when picking his starting striker. Add to this the form of Ronaldo and the resurgence of one Kaka, and the fact that Real can now offer solutions when Xabi Alonso is effectively man marked during games, they are looking more than a match for Barca.

Of course they went into the first Classico and mauling one point ahead of their fierce rivals, so Barca will not be unduly worried. However, one thing that Real have in their locker this season is the ability to grind out a 1 – 0 win – something that was lacking last season during games where teams effectively parked the bus in front of their goal and closed down Alonso. This was shown on the weekend where Sociedad literally played with a back five at the Anoeta, yet Madrid scored early courtesy of Higuain and held on for a hard fought win. Not a vintage Madrid performance but one that shows how far they have come under Mourinho.

Regardless of Los Blancos topping the table by as point, most people’s favourites for the La Liga crown is reigning champions Barcelona, who looked back to their best at the Camp Nou, with Messi making a clear signal to fans and the media with his goal celebration after his hat trick – the prolific striker had failed to score in 3 games yet after being played in his preferred position down the centre not the dreaded wing for the game, with Barca putting a grand total of 5 past a hapless Mallorca.

The Surprise of the season

Most people thought that the team wearing blue and red stripes would be the ones to top la liga throughout the season, and they have been for the past few rounds – yet it was Levante not  Barcelona doing this. Levante have been everyone’s surprise of the season and have looked to be living some sort of footballing fairy tale thus far, before this weekend being unbeaten, even being able to claim a victory over Mourinho’s men at the Ciudad de Valencia.

In players such as Sergio Ballesteros, Valencia have a core of seasoned professionals who offer much more to the team than their average age would suggest, and new coach Martinez settling into life at Levante quicker than anyone could have expected.

However this weekend the bubble was somewhat burst with a 2 – 0 defeat at the hands of Osasuna. Several things were said after the game – Martinez praised his players for their unbeaten run, the media inevitably predicted a rapid slide down the table to mimic that of Espanyol last season and it was noted that due to their small squad who are mostly the wrong side of thirty, a couple of injuries and suspensions will have serious effects on the team from Valencia. Yet should they take the lead, especially at home, Levante are dogged in their defending and whilst they are probably not going to finish in the European places, they should manage to avoid the relegation fight they were involved in last tie round.

The best of the rest

Valencia – after a  slightly slow start, Valencia are picking up pace, and have been fast climbing the table. They now occupy 4^th place after the weekend’s victory and have their eye on the third place that is currently held by local rivals Levante. After losing their three best players – Villa, Silva and Mata over the last couple of seasons, huge amounts of credit has to be given to long-time coach – well for a league famous for waving white handkerchiefs at Managers, being at the helm since 2008 is a long time – Unai Emery, who has weathered all of this and still managed to keep Valencia widely viewed as the ‘best of the rest’.

Sevilla – Currently sitting in 5^th place, there is now a gap opening up between the top four and the rest after a shock victory for Granada at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. In a season full of surprises, this can be put down to a bad day at the office for Sevilla who next up face  a flailing Mallorca side and will expect to bounce back and take all three points.

Atletico Madrid – one side who expect to e doing much better are the second best team in Madrid, Atletico, who fully expect to be sat in the top four. However, after a poor start to the season they sit 10^th, with a sizeable gap between themselves and the champion’s league places. After a good victory against Zaragoza, Atletico will be looking to this as a kick-start to their season.  With few goals scored this season and fan protests calling for Aragonez to return, the pressure on Gregorio Manzano has been alleviated slightly, yet improvements are vital.

Malaga – the Andalucians were the team that, after a huge influx of money then players, not to mention coach Manuel Pellagrini were everyone’s favourites to break into the top four this season. However this, so far, has not come to pass, and Malaga have been struggling, and were so lucky against Espanyol receiving a penalty for a very dubious handball and do not seem to be gelling quite in the way they should be.

The relegation Battle

Getafe sit rock bottom and after a heavy loss last weekend things look no brighter with local rivals Atletico up next. A shock victory for Granada gave them much needed points, yet the newly promoted Andalucians need to improve their form and fast if they don’t want to go straight back down.  The final club to occupy a spot in the bottom 3 is Racing, and the victory by a single goal over Betis cannot be underestimated in importance. Hector Cuper and his team will be looking to now climb the table, starting with the away tie at Granada next round.

Whilst Betis and Rayo have made decent starts, only 4 points separate both these promoted sides from the relegation zones, and they are still in danger and will be looking over their shoulders until a real gap is formed.

Villarreal – after a vital 2 – 0 win over Rayo this weekend, despite the missed penalty from skipper Marcos Senna, the yellow submarines have shot up the table and out of the relegation zone to 13^th.  With an European campaign still to worry about, not to mention keeping their head above the relegation zone, Garrido has his work cut out for him.

The bottom half of the table is so tight, with only 5 points separating rock bottom Getafe and 11^th placed Rayo, so anyone who has a poor run of form or can piece together a run of victories can drastically change their fortunes so early on in the season.

Game of Next round –  Levante v Valencia

3^rd play host to 4^th in a real test of Levante’s credentials. A must see.

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Those complainants, though, are missing the point. To a football romantic, away trips to Malta or Slovenia (sorry, Rangers fans) are what European football is all about – playing football around Europe. Tell me, how boring and hypocritical would it be to stage a European Champions’ League just for the clubs of England, France, Holland, Spain, Germany and Italy? Ask some of the biggest names not in Europe this season: Liverpool, Roma, Sevilla, Galataseray, Rangers. They’ll all tell you they’d rather be making the trip to Legia Warsaw than watching it on TV.

For Tottenham Hotspur, this year’s Europa League was clearly initially viewed within the club as a distraction, an obstacle on their path back to fourth place in the more important Premier League. And while everyone appreciates their need to force their way back into the Champions’ League if they are to advance, Spurs themselves are waking up to the beautiful opportunity the Europa League has presented them with.

Harry Redknapp stated at the start of the season that the Europa League was not a priority for Spurs, and re-affirmed his stance by leaving both first-choice ‘keeper Brad Friedel and star playmaker Rafael van der Vaart out of his 25-man senior squad. Although clubs are required to select a 25-man squad from which they are to choose their Europa League teams, they may also register a B-list of players under the age of 21 who have been with the club more than three years. Redknapp’s extensive B-list has so far provided the bulk of the players he has used in Europe.

Spurs’ youngsters are benefitting massively from this precious opportunity. The team which featured in the second leg of the playoff with Hearts was built around youth-team players. Young striker Harry Kane somewhat outperformed his disinterested strike partner Roman Pavlyuchenko. Andros Townsend was a bundle of energy down the left flank. Jake Livermore and Ryan Fredericks controlled the midfield. There were opportunities for several more of the next generation in the away tie with PAOK, in which Giovani, Iago Falque and Tom Carroll started.

Tonight’s clash with Shamrock Rovers at White Hart Lane will see this trend continued, although this time Redknapp will seek to gain two advantages from the game – not only will he give his starlets more invaluable European experience, he will also use the game to give some fringe senior players, and a few returning from injury, a chance to show themselves worthy of a place in the squad for the North London Derby on Sunday.

Steven Pienaar, Aaron Lennon and Danny Rose are all set to feature alongside the likes of Kane, Townsend et al as Redknapp checks their progress in their return from injuries. Pavlyuchenko and Sebastien Bassong are also expected to appear, having played alongside the youngsters in both the Hearts and PAOK games.

The Europa League may be viewed as a distraction by many, but at Spurs, it is starting to be seen as a more important competition than the club had expected. Redknapp can rotate his squad, evaluate promising talents and reserve players in competitive scenarios, while still bringing in some extra revenue from gate receipts and prize money. Perhaps being part of Europe’s second-tier tournament isn’t such a drag after all.

Vidal, capped 34 times by Chile, joined Leverkusen from Colo-Colo in 2007, going on to score 15 times in 117 league appearances.

He helped Leverkusen to second place in the last Bundesliga campaign and will join Stephan Lichtsteiner, Reto Ziegler, Andrea Pirlo and Michele Pazienza as the fifth player to sign for Juventus in the off-season.

Vidal’s arrival coincided with the departure from Juventus of Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo, who joined Galatasary on a one-year loan deal.

The Turkish club have an option to sign Melo for 13 million euros at the end of the next season.

In other transfer news, former Manchester United and Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze has joined Roma from Marseille.

Argentine Heinze remained under contract at the Stade Velodrome until 2012, but is believed to have fallen out with Marseille officials last season.

No details of the transfer have been made public, but the 33-year-old has reportedly signed a one-year contract with the Serie A club.

Finally, Diego Capel has completed a switch from Spanish club Sevilla to Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon for 3.5 million euros.

Capel, 23, passed a medical on Friday and has signed a five-year contract with the Liga Sagres team.

He is the 12th player to join Sporting in the close-season as the squad undergoes a major overhaul.

But after giving the 33-year-old former West Ham and Tottenham striker time to consider his future, Sevilla announced on Saturday Kanoute would remain at the club for the 2011/12 season.

“Kanoute will continue at Sevilla,” read a statement on the club’s website.

“The striker, in a meeting with sporting director Monchi, has expressed his desire to continue at Sevilla, forming part of the project and fighting for the exciting objectives of next season.”

Sevilla finished fifth last season and claimed a Europa League spot, but the campaign was far from drama-free.

A poor start claimed the job of manager Antonio Alvarez, while replacement Gregorio Manzano departed after the end of the season.

He has been succeeded by former Racing Santander coach Marcelinho Garcia Toral.

Nevertheless, Sevilla have taken the opportunity to spruik their new manager in a press conference on Tuesday, welcoming the 45-year-old as the successor to Gregorio Manzano.

“I believe we have a coach for the long term. It’s the first time I have drawn up a contract like Marcelino’s,” club president Jose Maria del Nido said.

“He is signing for one season with an option for two more depending on results.”

Manzano was let go by the club at the conclusion of the last campaign, which saw Sevilla finish fifth on the table and miss out on a Champions League berth by four points.

Meanwhile, Luis Garcia has rescinded his contract after three seasons with Levante, freeing him up for a rumoured move to Getafe.

Garcia led Levante back to the top-flight for the first time in three years in 2009/10, and earned plaudits for keeping the club aloft in the most recent campaign.

Now, the 38-year-old has reportedly agreed to pay Levante one million euro so he can defect to Getafe, who sacked Michel after narrowly avoiding relegation.

“Luis Garcia, coach of Levante the past three seasons, has today cut his ties with our club,” said a statement on Levante’s website.

Getafe President Angel Torres told Spanish media: “We are going to offer him (Garcia) a three-year contract. He is a young coach with character and he done things very well at Levante.”

But they went one better, with a goal in the 55th minute from Argentine midfielder Leonardo Ponzio securing three vital points that to move Zaragoza one point behind Deportivo.

Javier Aguirre’s Zaragoza are away to Levante on the last day of the season next Sunday, with Deportivo at home to Valencia.

Getafe are 16th and one point clear of the drop after they won 2-0 at home to Osasuna.

The defeat leaves Osasuna still in trouble at two points outside the bottom three, in 13th place.

Mallorca, in 14th, are another team that could go down on the final day after they lost 3-1 away to relegated Almeria.

Levante managed a point with a 0-0 draw away to third-placed Valencia.

In what makes for a nervy finish to the season, 12th-placed Levante are one of seven teams that could join Almeria and Hercules in the second tier next season.

In other matches, Real Madrid defeated Villarreal 3-1 away from home.

Real’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo netted twice in the victory to take his tally to 38 league goals for the season, equalling the all-time Spanish top-flight record.

He is now seven ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and on course to collect the Pichichi trophy for the La Liga top scorer.

Sevilla could yet secure Europa League qualification after beating Real Sociedad 3-1.

Former Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute struck twice in the home win for Sevilla, which sees them join sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao and fifth-placed Atletico Madrid on 55 points.

Bilbao drew 1-1 at home to Malaga while Atletico won 2-1 at home to relegated Hercules, with ex-Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes scoring the winner.

Sporting Gijon came from a goal down to beat fellow mid-table side Racing Santander 2-1.

Gameiro is believed to be available for around £12 million, the 23 year old has been the talk of many Transfer Rumours »”>transfer rumours this season, with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal’s fiercest rivals, Tottenham Hotspur all been linked the striker.

Amalfitano, a former Sedan player, is 26 years old and is currently available on a free transfer, due to his contract’s expiration at the end of the current season. Aston Villa and Sevilla are also rumoured to be interested in the Frenchman, with all club believed to have offered the midfielder contract terms.

Real have second spot sewn up but they travel to meet fourth-placed Villarreal who need to claim full points if they are to have any chance of catching Valencia and securing automatic Champions League qualification.

Although Jose Mourinho’s team have little to play for but pride, they still want to finish the season with two more wins.

“The coach has asked us to finish the league by winning our games and we will try to do that,” said star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 36 goals for the season, just two behind the all-time record of 38 set by Athletico Bilbao’s Telmo Zarra in 1951 and Real’s Hugo Sanchez in 1990.

Villarreal are five points behind Valencia and are already guaranteed fourth spot and a place in the qualifiers, which looks like their most likely path to glory with Valencia needing only a point from their home clash with mid-table Levante to be sure of third.

Most of the action centres on the tussle for fifth and sixth place, and the Europa League places that go with them.

Athletic Bilbao are in fifth on 54 points, trailed by Sevilla (52), Atletico Madrid (52) while Espanyol (49) are also still in the mix.

Espanyol travel to Real Zaragoza, who need a win to escape the bottom three, while Bilbao will be looking to rebound from their 2-1 loss at Deportivo on Tuesday.

Atletico have the easiest match of all four Europa League contenders, taking on the already-relegated Hercules at home.

Getafe are just one point outside the drop zone, but will have to beat an Osasuna side who are riding a hot streak of form.

Osasuna have picked up three big wins in succession – posting a 1-0 win over Valencia on May 1 before thrashing Zaragoza 3-1 a week later and then coming from 2-0 down to beat Sevilla on Wednesday.

Sporting Gijon are still an outside chance to go down, and they play host to Racing Santander, while only pride will be on the line when Almeria – who are already relegated – tackle mid-table Mallorca.