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Franck Ribery is the latest star name to be linked with a move to the circus that Manchester City have become.

It just never ends. The France and Bayern Munich winger has a reputation for being somewhat nomadic, although his moves to date have a recurring pattern: he always goes to bigger and better clubs.

City fans will have you believe that they are massive, but the lack of meaningful silverware since the 1970's means any top foreign player bar Robinho will blink a couple of times before pledging their future to Milan/Bayern/Barcelona etc, feeling insulted and sullied by the unwelcome advances of the football equivalent of a kerb-crawler.

Yes, they pull a big (and largely local) crowd, apart from when they slash UEFA Cup ticket prices to a pound, but then so do Rangers, Al-Ahly and Dodgy.

But The Times are a reputable source and they are convinced that, along with long-term project Thierry Henry, City are working behind the scenes to snare Ribery from the Bundesliga champions.

There are two major obstacles though: the player is keen to continue playing in the Champions League, where he has been in scintillating form, while club general manager Uli Hoeness called City a bunch of over-priced jokers.

In one of the more unusual transfer rumours of recent weeks, Chelsea have been linked with Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko .

The Russia forward has been far from his best at White Hart Lane and interim boss Guus Hiddink is reported to be convinced that he knows how to get the best out of the former Spartak Moscow man from their work together for the national team.

Thing is, Hiddink would have to agree to stay at Chelsea to do that, something he has constantly said he will not do.

Liverpool look set to continue their policy of buying Latin players ideally suited to continental competition but who struggle against Stoke and Hull, with Valencia defender Raul Albiol earmarked as a summer signing.

The Spain international centre-back would be a direct replacement for Dan Agger, who is stomping his feet in frustration at not playing every game and remains a target for Milan and Juventus.

Albiol, 23, is rated at £15 million but Los Che are skint and creditors may force them to accept half that. Bargain, to be fair.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce could offer Joey Barton a lifeline whether Newcastle beat the drop or not.

The 26-year-old former Manchester City midfielder has had a bit of a nightmare at St James' Park, partly out of his own doing and partly because the club are a mess.

He is rated at around £6m anyway, but that could be significantly reduced if Toon woes continue and they slip into the Championship.

Someone who could be leaving the JJB Stadium is left-back Maynor Figueroa, who is reportedly interesting Manchester United.

The Honduran has been a revelation since joining on loan from Olimpico in January 2008 and would provide competition to Patrice Evra, with Brazilian academy product Fabio da Silva expected to spend some time out on loan next season.

Someone who will be staying at the Latics is boss Steve Bruce , according to owner Dave Whelan.

"He is very happy here because he has a great relationship with me," said Whelan. "We work very well together and that is a big thing in football and in life.

"If a club came in for him it would have to be one of the big four before Steve would even consider looking at it. I'm sure he will go to one of the big four in the end but hopefully not for the next two or three years."

Thing is, Bruce's record of jumping ship at better offers implies that top six or even eight would just about do it.

Middlesbrough stopper Emanuel Pogatetz has admitted that he is growing bored of relegation struggles and could leave the Riverside sooner rather than later.

"I'm 26 years old and I want to continue playing at the highest level," he said. "Should I leave in the summer, it will be for sporting reasons or to go to a club that plays in Europe or one with high ambitions.

"It becomes tiring to fight relegation every season."

Fulham, Wigan and Bolton look on with interest.

Borussia Dortmund striker Alexander Frei has claimed that Tottenham have joined the race to sign him.

The 29-year-old is one of Switzerland's star players but his Euro 2008 campaign began and ended in heartbreak when a knee injury forced him out in the group stages.

Napoli and Paris Saint-German are the other clubs keen on him, with the former lining him up as a replacement for Diego Milito, who is also interesting Spurs.

"We have been approached by Napoli, PSG and Tottenham," Frei said.

Reda Maher / Eurosport