Interesting Transfers.

This transfer season has been loud with talk and speculation, but quiet in actually getting things done.  Ronaldo looks like he'll be with Manchester for at least one more season and I think his transfer would've been a major force in setting off a domino effect across Europe in terms of transfers.  Ronaldo leaves, and Berbatov might be a Red Devil.  Robinho might be with Chelsea, and so on.  Still, there have been some interesting moves this season.  Here are a few changes that I'll keep an eye on as the season goes on.

Andy Johnson to Fulham, $21 million 

Fulham rarely spends big in the summer transfer window, but it seems like they're eyeing a more comfortable place in the table after battling relegation for the past two seasons.  21 million is an awful lot for this England striker, but consistent scoring is hard to come by in this league.  Everton have deemed Johnson surplus, as they are looking to secure the services of Sporting Lisbon's Moutinho - a crafty midfielder with lots of promise.  Andy Johnson is definitely an upgrade at striker for the Cottagers and if Jimmy Bullard can stay healthy in midfield, he'll provide some good service to both Johnson and another newly acquired forward - Bobby Zamora.  It will also be interesting to see how this effects the playing time of US internationals Clint Dempsey and Eddie "Passback" Johnson.

Freddy Adu to Monaco, Loan

I think all American fans were happy to see this move happen.  Adu had a promising season ahead of him when he transferred to Benfica from MLS last year, but he's seen limited action despite impressing fans and scoring 5 goals in 10 appearances, mostly as a sub.  Monaco is in rebuilding mode and teams don't often go after loans if they're not serious about giving the player a good amount of time on the pitch.  Adu has impressed with the US national senior side and he'll be missing the beginning of French League One due to the Olympics.  Adu will grow once he gets to play week in and week out and hopefully, he will impress Benfica enough to give him more time next season or give him a transfer to a bigger club.  

Ronaldinho to AC Milan, A bazillion gazillion dollars.

This is an interesting move.  Players often resurrect their careers by changing scenery, but AC Milan is an odd move.  At Barcelona, The Toothed One was the center of Frank Rijkaard's championship teams.  At Milan, he'll have to share the spotlight with current footballer of the year, Kaka, Pirlo, Pato, and Ambrosini.  Plus, Milan is not playing Champions League football this year, so I wonder if the drive will be there.  AC Milan needed to upgrade their roster, especially with the Special One arriving at Inter, but I'm not sure taking a gamble on this aging Brazilian play maker was the right choice.

Bosingwa to Chelsea, $32 million

That's a lot of money for a right back, isn't it?  I agree.  Still, Chelsea have been looking to upgrade their right back situation for 2 years now.  Paulo Ferreira is solid in spots, but makes too many mistakes.  Juliano Belletti was a stopgap measure last season after losing out on Daniel Alves because of a high price tag (Alves went to Barca this season), but he is an aging hired gun.  Bosingwa was signed during the Avram Grant period, but I have to believe that the new manager, Scolari, had a heavy hand in this.  He managed the right back when he was managing the Portugal national team and looked versatile as he sprinted up and down the flank, earning himself a spot on the all-2008 Euro Team.  With Ashley Cole on the left and Bosingwa on the right, Chelsea have strengthened an obvious weakness in their wing-play.

Brad Friedl and Brad Guzan to Aston Villa, a few million each

The US talent pool for goalkeepers is simply amazing.  Friedl retired from US international play after the 2002 World Cup, but continued playing unbelievable football for Blackburn.  Once Blackburn manager Mark Hughes bolted for Manchester City, Friedl had no interest in staying and was snatched up by Villa.  Almost 40, Friedl will be mentoring the 23-year old Guzan, who finally sealed a switch from Chivas USA that had been brewing since January.  Guzan can only flourish in this environment, where practice sessions are more intense than a full-on MLS match.  If Guzan finds success at Villa (he'll probably play in Cup competitions this year), he looks on track to solidify a backup role to a fellow American Premier Leaguer, Tim Howard.

Robbie Keane to Liverpool, $35 million (reported)

This transfer has yet to go through, but if it does, it's just another horse on Rafa Benitez's carousel of rotating players.  The sheer volume of players that Benitez has introduced into the squad during his tenure is staggering.  How many players does this guy need to buy before he's happy and settles on a starting eleven?  I think he knows two players who will start each week: Gerrard and shot-stopper Pepe Reina.  True, he's won a Champions League but he hasn't come close to a league title so far.  Crouch, Voronin, Pennant, Agger, Kuyt, Babel, Bellamy, Mascherano, Benayoun, Skrtel, Arbeloa, and probably 20 other guys I can't think of have all failed to help Liverpool win the title.  I'm not sure where Robbie Keane fits in.  Liverpool doesn't have a problem scoring - not with Torres on form.  Perhaps it's the insanity of the manager that's holding them back.

Barcelona Overhaul, Millions and millions

A new coach means new players, and Barcelona are revamping their squad following one of their worst seasons in recent memory.  Shoring up the defense will be newcomers Daniel Alves (from Sevilla), Cacerces (Villareal), and Gerard Pique (from Manchester United) with Alexander Hleb (Arsenal) and Keita (Sevilla) as new distributors in the midfield.  The Catalans haven't added anything to their strike force, but when you have Henry, Messi, Eto'o, and a superb rising star in Bojan, you don't need to do much.

Luka Modric, Tottenham, $33 million

I honestly thought that Juande Ramos was going to overhaul Tottenham in a way that would make the team unrecognizable to new supporters.  However, Ramos has only added a new goalkeeper (Gomes, from PSV), a young striker in Giovanni dos Santos (Barca), and Modric - a huge signing for Tottenham fans who will expect a lot from the Croatian play maker.  His Euro 2008 showing was less than stellar, but Modric has proved himself with the national side during Euro qualifying (helping Croatia beat England) and his former side Dinamo Zagreb.  He's a small midfielder with incredible vision and pinpoint accuracy.  Whether he can hack the Premier League given his size is yet to be seen, but it seems like Ramos is depending on the 22 (!!) year old to be the center of an attractive, attacking Hotspur side.