Most Expensive European Transfers of the Summer So Far

Its almost August, and there's just over a month until Europe's summer transfer window shuts. This is one of the most exciting times of the year for football fans, as we wait to see how our teams will shape up ahead of the season and whether we can raise our expectations, or start planning for disappointment. Its also always interesting to see the big money deals teams will spend to try and pick up a star. With that in mind, here are the most expensive European transfers of the summer so far.

Eden Hazard to Chelsea £32m

One of the most coveted young players in Europe for the past couple of seasons, he scored 27 goals and made 25 assists in his last 76 appearances for Lille. Big things are expected from him, with some in the media, probably prematurely, comparing him to Lionel Messi.

Olivier Giroud to Arsenal £13m

Giroud scored 21 goals to help Montpelier to their surprise Ligue 1 championship win last season, persuading Arsene Wenger to make him the latest in his long list of French signings. Giroud has worked his way up to the big time, having had spells in the French Division 3 and Ligue 2 before signing for Montpelier in January 2010.

Shinji Kagawa to Man Utd £13m

Seen as the man to insert more creativity into Man United's midfield and be the heir to Paul Scholes, Kagawa scored or assisted 26% of Borussia Dortmund's 80 Bundesliga goals in 2011-12 (21 in all), according to Opta Sports. If he can replicate that type of form in the Premier League, perhaps Paul Scholes will be able to pass on the mantle, and finally hang up his boots.

Jordi Alba to Barcelona €14m

After having an excellent European Championship with Spain, Barcelona signed him on 28 June, the day after Spain's semi-final victory over Portugal. Judging by his performances in the tournament and especially his well taken goal in the final, he will fit into the Barca system with no problems, and be another dangerous weapon for them as they look to take the title back from Real Madrid.

Ezequiel Lavezzi to PSG €30m

Despite spending big last summer, PSG were shocked by little Montpelier and lost out on the French title. Lavezzi's signing is one attempt to make sure they don't fail next season. Part of the attacking trident that inspired Napoli last season, Lavezzi was a hero to Napoli fans who saw him as the replacement for Maradona they'd been waiting for for years. He often had to be driven around the city in his car boot to avoid being mobbed, and will maybe relish a quieter life in Paris.

Thiago Silva to PSG €42m

Annointed as the heir to Alessandro Nesta at AC Milan, Thiago Silva's sale came as a surprise to most AC fans. He was rated extremely highly in Italy, but AC decided to cash in as the club is seemingly struggling with its finances. His sale has caused uproar from fans, who held a mock funeral for the 'death' of the club, while a particularly persistant group also threatened to file a class action suit for false advertising because Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were on the adverts for the new season ticket. AC's Board of Directors have dismissed these fans however, and offered refunds to anyone who bought a season ticket.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic to PSG €25m

Originally thought to be part of a joint deal with Thiago Silva, Zlatan's deal took longer to conclude as negotiations over wages dragged on. The giant striker seemed to be settled in Milan, he was in stellar form last season, scoring 28 goals in 32 appearances, and had come out to say he wanted to end his career at AC. To be fair to him, it was probably the AC Board's decision to sell him to save on wages, but he's never seemed the type to worry too much about moving clubs and will enjoy the opportunity to strike fear into the hearts of Ligue 1 defenders next season.

Oscar to Chelsea £25m

Tipped to be one of the stars of the Olympic football tournament, Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior, to give him his full name, completed a move to Chelsea as I write this. He is the latest Brazilian creative midfielder to be labelled as the 'new Kaka', and will be the chief playmaker for Brazil at the Olympics.

Possible Big Future Moves

• With his contract set to run out next summer, Arsenal look like they will try to cash in on Robin van Persie. Juventus and the two Manchester clubs have made offers, but Arsenal seem to want to hold out for £25m-£30m.

• Juventus have identified their attack as the key area they need to strengthen and have also been linked with Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic, although Fiorentina have slapped a €30m price tag on him.

• Manchester United and Internazionale are both making approaches to try and sign 19 year old Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas Moura

• Luka Modric is trying to force through a move to Real Madrid, but Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy is playing hardball and refusing to sell for less than £40m. PSG are also now reported to be interested.

• Malaga midfielder Santi Cazorla has agreed personal terms with Arsenal, who are now waiting to see if their €20m offer will be accepted by the Spanish club. 

Rio Ferdinand and Ice Cream Flavours

Just as everyone was waiting for the dust to settle after the John Terry racism trial, a new race related football story broke over the weekend. Every newspaper has been reporting that Rio Ferdinand replied to a Twitter user and appeared to agree with them calling Ashley Cole a 'choc ice'; an insult that could be interpreted as saying that Cole is black on the outside and white inside. 

Now I'm not writing this to condemn or defend anyone. I can't interpret what was in Rio's mind or how he meant the comment, and he has already come out and said he didn't mean it in that way. Ashley Cole has also come out to say he is cool with Rio and hasn't taken offence. What I want to do is explain why there is all the uproar over what seems to be a pretty tame insult, and why I feel insults like that are about the worst you could hear as a black person.

When I was about 12 years old, I was spat at and insulted during a breaktime by a boy who was a few years above me, because he saw me talking to a girl of a different race. The boy was Indian, and he was angry at me, a black guy, for talking to this white girl, who I only happened to be friends with from my form class. 

Calling someone a choc ice, or a bounty, or anything similar is the same sort of principle. Its someone saying that you're a traitor to your race, and want to get in with people of a different race because you want to get ahead, because you want to be a different race, or because you hate who you are.

It is today's equivalent of calling someone an Uncle Tom; saying that they would sell people down the river just to look good to another race. Insults like this are also basically saying that everyone should stick to their own race and fit a certain racial stereotype, otherwise they are betraying their people. I'm not having that. Its the 21^st century and we should be past this. Therefore, I do hope that people can see why I hope to see terms like 'choc ice' die out.

Almost Andy, Almost

The dust is settling for another year on the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, or really, just Wimbledon to most people. I'm not usually a tennis fan but you have to make an exception for Wimbledon as a summer tradition. For two weeks every summer the country takes falls in love with the sport, even though it rains most of the time and there hasn't been a British singles winner in many people's lifetime. But then I guess that's what Britain is about, bad weather and losing gracefully but giving 100%.

For the rest of the year, apart from Wimbledon, Britain doesn't seem so interested. I think its possibly because a lot of people feel isolated from the sport, as it is rarely on free TV, because you don't many tennis courts around, and because it does seem a little like a sport for the more priveleged who can get access to tennis courts, can afford good equipment, and can get good coaching.

When I was at secondary school the school got some concrete courts and would put the nets up during the spring and summer. Kids would eagerly borrow racquets and balls from the PE department and spend break times happily trying to have rallies with their friends, but there was little in the way of proper coaching and most people lost interest after a few days of trying to hit to each other and then having to run round and fetch the ball after missing it for the millionth time.

Still, Wimbledon is always enjoyable, and this year Brits had the added bonus of seeing Andy Murray become the first British male to get to a final since Bunny Austin in 1938, facing Roger Federer, who will surely go down as the best to ever play the sport.

After a close start where Murray took the first set, and looked to be troubling him, Federer started motoring in the sixth game of the third set, a set that lasted 20 minutes and in which Murray tried his best to hang on, but was unable to live with shots from Federer that sent him all over the court. That game was probably a turning point, and Federer went on to win with some truly masterful tennis. Credit to Murray, he took the first set well and played some good tennis, trying his utmost to give the fans their first home winner. His reputation will be enhanced by him breaking the long wait for a British finalist, and for making a good fight of it with Federer, the now seven times winner.