One thing few commentateors have yet really focused on is the dramatic impact of the fall in sterling against the Euro on the EPL viz a viz Serie A and La Liga. Overnight, the turnover and wage budgets in pounds of these clubs has risen 20% so whilst United had clawed their way up to Madrid's £250m odd of sales, the euro's appreciation sticks them up to £300m almost overnight.
This is why we are seeing Meelan and others able to pick off EPL players and EPL bound players and its another pressure on wages for English clubs. In effect, a lot of the advantage the EPL has had from higher gate receipts has been eroded and whilst the Spanish clubs may have problems with ludicous debt levels the Italiens are in some cases open to move more freely especially when with the likes of Inter and Meelan you have a big fat chequebook owner behind you.
It will be interesting to see this confirmed in the summer's big deals, but i can see the top euro clubs making a big comeback next season and a lot of the big names eschewing moves to the EPL (Eto, Drogba, Villa etc).

But the US$ has collapsed so we can get USA players really cheap now.

Oh...

:(

It also helps that the big clubs in Spain and Italy are allowed to negotiate their own television deals, meaning they will always be a threat no matter how poor the respective state of the league might be!

They would have to pay OTT prices for the Chelsski boys though Roman won't be bullied (Actually he could even have the Madrid chairman assinated) :ninja:

Alledgedly.

At the end of the day, to play in Italy, i wonder how many Jose really wants. Carvaleo (30 odd anyway and chelsea have plenty of spares), Drogba (burnt his bridges) and maybe Essien (but Chelsea probably won't sell) would i reckon be the limit of it. If he can get the first two he and Chelsea will be happy enough. It'll be the Villa's and Berbatov's of this world that he'll be more excited by.

I am certain Drogba will go but not entirely sure if it will be to Inter. Did like Oliver Holt's column today calling them (Mourinho and Drogba) football's Romeo and Juliet. :lol:

"Is this a Drogba which I see before me?"

"Peace? Peace. I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Mourinhos, and thee."

"A Drog by any other name would dive as much."