Breaking News: There is None

Comedian Kevin Bridges said it best this week on the last episode of Channel 4 TV show 'Stand Up for the Week'. Whats happened in the world of sport this week? Nothing! The biggest sport occasion this week was Cricket as England thrashed Pakistan at Trent Bridge in the 1st Test. A test I had the pleasure of seeing every run scored and every wicket taken from behind the bowlers arm working on the bar in the impressive Derek Randell Suite. Fernando Torres has told Liverpool he's staying (big shock, didn't see that one coming). Sky Sports has began it's build up to The Football League (which I'm actually quite excited about for a change), and of course most un-important game in the English Football Calender - The Charity Shield is this Sunday. I'll give you my prediction for that one now - it will be boring, slow paced, the Wembley pitch will again be rubbish and either Manchester United or Chelsea will win a trophy that neither of them care about.

The English transfer market continues to make very slow progress with teams not willing to pay out the fees they have paid out in the past. It really puts in perspective just how poor some of the performances were in the World Cup was when no club have really took an interest in any of the players who did shine. Mesut Oezil of Werder Bremen during the World Cup was outstanding for Germany but none of the bigger clubs across Europe seem remotely interested. Luis Suarez of Ajax also impressed (even if he did cheat, just a little bit) but Ajax have put a price of 30 million euros on their star player knowing no-body is willing to put that kind of money. Interestingly that makes him just 4 million euros off the price Valencia sold David Villa to Barcelona (I know which player I would rather have).

In a rather dull transfer window there has been money spent, Manchester City have spent over £60 million with the signings of Yaya Toure from Barcelona, David Silva from Valenica and Jermone Boateng from Hamburg. Yaya Toure apparently cost them £30 million and around £200,000 a week in wages which I find laughable and Barcelona must be very happy about this deal. Manchester United may not have bought the profile players there fans are used to but they have still spent over £15 on Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez. Most of which I believe will be in installments and future achievements of the players and the club. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is looking for three more players but so far have only strengthened there squad bought with Brazilian Sandro signing from International for an undiscoled fee. Sandro is a player of some talent, which really makes me wonder why Harry Redknapp was looking to bring in West Ham's Scott Parker when they already have future England international Tom Huddlestone and Wilson Palacious who I believe to be the best defensive midfielder in the country.

The only transfer activity at the moment is Ramires of Benfica to Chelsea. Well I'm being generous when I say from Benfica, they only own 20% of the player, the other 80% is owned by the same agent of Carlos Tevez (who you have to admit has some good taste in footballing talent). This transfer looks to be a complicated one but with Ramires expected to have a medical at Chelsea on Wednesday (today) we could see Ramires starting for Chelsea in the Premiership opener at home to West Brom.

Two players who I am amazed no-body has took an interest in are Manchester City's Steven Ireland and Joe Hart. It's pretty obvious they are not going to be first choice this season so why are teams in the Premiership not looking at these fantastic young players? Aston Villa would be reculent to sell James Milner to Manchester City for obvious reasons but Steven Ireland would do a club like Aston Villa a great job. If Martin O'Neill is willing to pay £10million plus for Stuart Downing then Steven Ireland at under £10 million seems a bargain. I also think these two young players could do a fantastic job at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger obviously wants another goalkeeper after losing faith in Manuel Almunia numerous times and Arsenal are a club in a pretty good financial position compared to the teams around them and Steven Ireland is a player who could fit in at Arsenal. His link up with forward players is outstanding, he's technically very good (because he's not English) and he also works very hard in the middle of the field, a quality the Arsenal midfield lacks in the big games.

Eventually the transfer window will liven up, in the last week when teams register there 25 players. Clubs will become willing to offload players on loan to the Championship and will lower the evaluation of players. Who knows, Blackpool may actually be able to register 25 players instead of 15. Until then expect the breaking news to be limited and the rumours about players joining your club to be laughable and quite unrealistic. As a Stoke City suppoter I won't be taking anything for granted until I see the players in a Stoke City shirt on the back of local newspaper being quoted of the dream is to play in the Premiership and looking forward to the challenge.