Are players running (or ruining) the transfer market?

Almost since the end of the European club season, there has been rampant speculation about the status of several top players from top clubs in England. Now I'm not naive enough to suggest this is a new phenomenon, or that it doesn't make for fine summer reading, but several of these situations strike me as being a bit odd.

The three I players I have in mind are Cristiano Ronaldo, Emmanuel Adebayor and Gareth Barry. All three were integral to the success of their teams, Manchester United, Arsenal and Aston Villa, respectively, in the past season. Under normal circumstances, you might think that as players employed by successful clubs, they would be reasonably happy and would look forward to leading their teams out come August for another year in what is arguably the best league in the world.

Yet all three look poised to move to clubs that have through various means cast them a means of escape from such success. Real Madrid has done little to hide their adoration of Ronaldo, Barcelona have been bleating about Adebayor and Liverpool harbour ambitions of acquiring Barry. These are players under contract, but it appears under no circumstances were the clubs approached prior to it becoming public knowledge that suitors did indeed exist.

The strict definition of "tapping up" escapes me, but I'm sure a clever lawyer would be able to prove it has occurred in some form in each instance. Unfortunately for the fans of these clubs, even FIFA and UEFA have said little about these less than straightforward approaches.

What makes matters worse, is that none of the players in question have made even the most amateur attempt to remain loyal to their employers. Barry went so far as to lash out at his boss Martin O'Neill, trying to blame the manager for his new found desire to flee the club he captains.

If the clubs and the parent associations are unwilling to impose some form of policing on the transfer system, it appears as though players are simply free agents year round, with the lack of a fat salary from a huge club the only reason for them to stay where they are.

TFC looking at Dickov, Huckerby

According to a story published today in the National Post, former Manchester City striker Paul Dickov and former Norwich City forward Darren Huckerby are in talks with the MLS club.

The story indicated that the 35-year-old Dickov is the more likely to sign, with the oft injured Huckerby, 32, reluctant to play on BMO Field's artificial turf (still look like a good idea to put that stuff in?). At any rate, TFC owns the MLS rights to both players (and U.S. international Brian McBride, who is looking to finish his career in hometown Chicago), so if another team wants to sign them, TFC will be owed compensation.

Either man would be a bonus for TFC, who are once again struggling up front. The signing of a new striker would open the door for inconsistent Jeff Cunningham to be moved, which has been a long time coming.

Today's Transfers

Middlesbrough have completed the signing of Sparta Rotterdam forward Marvin Emnes. The Dutch under-21 international signed with the Teeside club for 3.2 million pounds.

Liverpool completed the signing of Italian full back Andrea Dossena from Udinese for an undisclosed fee. Dossena will play down the left, replacing Norwegian John Arne Riise who was sold to Roma earlier this week.

West Ham have signed 17-year-old defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson from HK Kopavogur for an undisclosed fee. According to the club's website, the Icelandic under-21 spent a week on trial at West Ham in February.

Daily Rumors

Barcelona's Ronaldinho is "80-90 per cent" certain to move to Italian giants AC Milan, according to The Times.

Former Liverpool and Leeds United midfielder Harry Kewell's agent denies his client has signed for Turkish side Galatasaray, The Guardian reports.

Tottenham are on the trail of Russia's Euro 2008 star forward Roman Pavlyuchenko, who plays at Spartak Moscow, according to The Telegraph.