Chelsea set to sign Alves as the big three attempt to gain the edge in £130m splurge

The Premier League’s big three are certainly not resting on their laurels. Manchester United have been the busiest by far, spending over £50m on just three players, while Liverpool after some delay have opened the chequebook to break their record transfer fee for Fernando Torres and will add Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun shortly to take their summer outlay to over £40m. And, after reports that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich would no longer allow José Mourinho to fritter away large sums of cash, the 2006 league champions have paid £13.5m for Florent Malouda and Sevilla’s Dani Alves is set to be next.

The new television deal has not disappointed in terms of transfer activity. Relegation will have a profound impact on a club as the financial gap between the Premier League and Championship widens and at the top, as Manchester United spend to reinforce their position domestically and in Europe, both Liverpool and Chelsea feel it necessary to follow suit. Rafael Benítez’s side were a distance behind the top two last season and are attempting to bridge this gap and Chelsea acknowledge that their 2006/7 squad was too brittle – additions are essential.

Now Alves, the most exciting right-back in world football, appears close to moving to Stamford Bridge in Mourinho’s fifth major signing. The Portuguese coach has already secured three free transfers – Tal Ben Haim, Claudio Pizarro and Steve Sidwell – and then captured Lyons midfielder Malouda. Chelsea have been in discussions with Sevilla regarding Khalid Boulahrouz – also a right-back – who is expected to leave the London club, and it is thought they have bid €20m (£13.5m) for the impressive Brazilian full-back, though the fee could rise to €30m (£20m) based on the club’s achievements.

Alves is one of the hottest properties on the continent and Spanish press report Real Madrid and AC Milan are also pursuing the 24-year-old, but it is Chelsea who look to have won the battle for his signature by outbidding their competitors. Italian clubs no longer have financial muscle in the transfer market – Milan’s highest bid was €20m – while Real are purportedly chasing other targets. Alves has only recently become a part of the Brazilian national team set-up but has shone for Sevilla over the last two seasons. He has often been compared with former national great Roberto Carlos due to his no nonsense defending style, eagerness to storm up the wing and ability from set-pieces. Carlos may have played on the opposite flank, but their approaches are fascinatingly similar.

Chelsea’s overall expenditure would reach £30m if Alves lands in the capital, indicating that they are indeed apprehensive about Liverpool and Manchester United’s movement so far in the window. Mourinho realises last year’s title challenge faltered partly because of the makeshift defence that was used when John Terry was injured and Michael Essien was forced to play at right-back. He did not trust Boulahrouz and consequently Chelsea’s usually dependable defence were conceding silly goals, such as against Reading and Fulham when crucial points were dropped. The introduction of Alves will go some way to solve these defensive frailties and more players will surely head to West London before the end of August as Mourinho looks to fine-tune his compact squad.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s purchases signify that the United versus Chelsea battle of style will resume next campaign

Current champions Manchester United have brought in Nani and Anderson from Portugal for as much as £35m and Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich for £16.3m. Another star will shortly be added to their ranks in the shape of Carlos Tévez, who will complete a two-year loan deal worth £10m as soon as the Premier League cease their protests.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s purchases signify that the United versus Chelsea battle of style will resume next campaign. The terrifying thought of Ronaldo, Rooney, Tévez, Nani and Anderson playing in tandem personifies the Manchester United maxim that attacking football is best, while Mourinho’s side are conventionally cautious.

The pretender’s for the crown are Liverpool. Following an impasse between Benítez and new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, the coach was eventually given funds to transform the club from cup specialists into league champions. The biggest single transaction was completed for Atlético Madrid’s Fernando Torres – a record £26.5m was spent – and Yossi Benayoun has joined the 23-year-old in a £4m deal from West Ham. Ryan Babel, the exciting Dutch youngster who was linked with Arsenal, is nearing a move for £13.5m from Ajax, which would take Liverpool’s outlay to over £40m. Andrey Voronin has arrived on a free from Bayer Leverkusen while Benítez has raked in £20m by selling four players.

Arsenal’s sale of Thierry Henry and lack of transfer funds has effectively ruled them out of challenging for the title, though Arsène Wenger is adamant that his squad is capable of contending. However, if the Emirates is partying next May, it would undoubtedly be the greatest astonishment of the Premier League’s history and Paddy Power is offering 10/1 that the tactical maestro will be able to weave further magic on a youthful side.

Mourinho says the pressure is on Manchester United and Liverpool to perform next season after a busy summer, “We know that in the previous three seasons when we spent some millions, everybody pointed at us as the team with more responsibility because we were the spenders in the market,” he remarked. “That’s not the case this season. Every club does its own analysis of the market and their needs. The only player we’ve bought was Malouda. We are very happy with that.”

When Abramovich first entered English football, the shock at Chelsea’s huge spending and seemingly limitless pockets was palpable across the continent. Four years on, and the spectacle of the three biggest clubs splurging £130m between them is typical in the struggle for primacy in the Premier and Champions Leagues.

Clearly, though, the trio can’t all attain their objectives. The cost of failure will be widely felt but triumph in such a competitive climate would be particularly sweet, especially for the three exceptional managers who are all vying for vindication.

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