Inside Write - Move over, Liverpool, now for the Big Boys

WHEN the transfer window is officially flung open tomorrow, many clubs will be relieved there are still a few players left to buy that haven't been snapped up by Liverpool. The Reds have certainly stolen a march in getting the legwork done on six deals already even if the dotted lines have yet to be completed.
But frantic activity does not necessarily equate to "A" list quality and none of Brendan Rodgers' new recruits so far is likely to have Europe's leading bosses feeling as if they have wasted the early summer gazing at passing gift-horses.
Indeed, it is a measure of how far Liverpool have slipped (as well as confirmation of the Moneyball philosophy of the owners) that only Nathan Clyne might have interested any of them. Manchester United could use a right-back but it seems they would prefer the attacking brio of Everton's Seamus Coleman to the solidity of the ex-Southampton man.
But with neither of the two superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo even hinting at a shift, most interest will centre on the supporting cast – the likes of Angel di Maria, Edinson Cavani, David de Gea and Sergio Ramos. And from the negotiating manoeuvres so far, it promises to be a fascinating battle.
Fortified by the £5 billion (RM29.71b) television deal, English Premier League clubs are sure to be making the running.
That Manchester City and United as well as Chelsea have kept their powder dry only adds to the intrigue.
As for Spain, Barcelona are under an embargo while for Real Madrid there is no obviously "must-have" galactico to present to the fans pre-season.
It looks as if buying smart rather than buying anything that moves will be the way to go, and in this regard none have been smarter than Arsenal. Stealing Petr Cech from Chelsea could become the signing of the season.
Goalkeeper has been a weak point for almost a decade although David Ospina's acrobatics for Colombia against Brazil on Sunday might have made Arsene Wenger wonder.
But for all Ospina's heroic defiance, he is never going to command his area or be attuned to the Premiership's pace and penalty area shenanigans like Cech who, even at 33, is still one of the top half-dozen custodians in the world.
Given the hard-nosed reputation Chelsea have assiduously earned, it is surprising that they have allowed Cech to leave to one of their most bitter rivals. Jose Mourinho was against it and it took the intervention of Roman Abramovich to sanction the deal.
It is just reward for more than a decade of brilliant and loyal service as a Chelsea legend but it is also giving a couple of massive helping hands to perhaps their most dangerous enemy.
The Blues held a 12-point margin over the Gunners at the end of the season so Cech's presence alone is unlikely to swing the title. But he has to be worth a few points and, even though he was mostly No. 2 to Thibaut Courtois last season, in the 16 games he did play (in all competitions) he made a significant contribution. Chelsea will no longer be able to boast that they have the two best keepers in the world.
Goalkeepers could dominate the narrative. There are always one or two transfers that drag on for much of the summer and become sagas – and they quite often involve Real Madrid. This time it looks like being whether David de Gea returns to his hometown, girlfriend, parents and Madrid madhouse or continues at United.
The money's the same and the weather's better in Madrid but he knows in Manchester he won't be booed after one mistake, his life made a misery after a howler.
For their part, United look as if they're playing this difficult situation well. Desperate to keep the young Spaniard but aware of the hometown pull, they've tried everything to persuade him to stay. But just when it looked as if all the cards were in Real's hands, up popped Sergio Ramos.
The defender may be using United as a bargaining chip but United have responded in kind. They could be using Ramos to get a better deal for de Gea.
At least now they have some leverage and Ramos is just the sort of experienced, combative central defender they've needed since Nemanja Vidic faded. You can understand why fans are split over him as he can be a red card waiting to happen and, at 29, won't have a lot of resale value.
But deals are complex affairs these days and getting Ramos for de Gea and a modest fee won't seem such a loss. With Cech going for just £11m (RM65.37m) and de Gea for little more than double, it makes you think goalkeepers are still undervalued.
That idea might have to be revised however, if Hugo Lloris arrives as de Gea's replacement – and Spurs' chairman Daniel Levy does the negotiating.
United could be trying a similar "exchange" with Di Maria. Having paid almost £60m (RM356.57m) for the Argentine and seen him flop pretty badly, it was always going to be difficult to offload without taking a massive hit. But by offering a direct swap for Edinson Cavani, United are hoping to get a top-notch striker in his place.
Again, there is less than euphoria among Devils fans at the prospect of that deal going through but PSG paid a similar amount for the 28-year-old Uruguayan two years ago and he is a consistent goalscorer.
That's something United need more than the fitful contributions of di Maria. The trouble is … there's a shortage of A-list strikers around and the club who lands one who actually scores – as Chelsea did last year with Diego Costa – is likely to be a serious threat.
With many of the above likely to become tedious wrangles, you have to admire Liverpool's no-nonsense approach.
Undeterred by last season's disasters, they're going for broke again, backing their own judgment and if they can land that elusive striker – even a B-lister – they could be top 4 contenders yet.
Already they have given the lie to the notion that the American owners would be content to poodle along in mid-table. All of football should be thankful for that.