With the World Cup now underway, impressive individual performances are almost instantly resulting in speculation regarding the summer's transfer market.
Scouts from every Premier League club will be in Brazil, jostling to pick out the best players. With that in mind, Sports Mole has rounded up the gossip from each of the 20 teams in England's top flight from over the last seven days.
Arsenal
With Bacary Sagna heading for pastures new, Arsene Wenger's search for a new right-back is sure to hot up over the coming days. Among the targets to fill the void are thought to be Joseba Zaldua and Serge Aurier, as well as Everton's Seamus Coleman.
Perhaps more excitingly for those of an Arsenal persuasion, though, is a report that has linked Italian international Mario Balotelli with a switch to North London. It is claimed that Wenger would be willing to part with up to £25m for the controversial striker. In terms of outgoings, Atletico Madrid are said to be admirers of left-back Nacho Monreal.
Aston Villa
Having been criticised for putting together a relatively inexperienced squad over the past two seasons, Paul Lambert has moved to address that perceived frailty. With Phillipe Senderos already on board, the Scottish boss added former Chelsea and England playmaker Joe Cole to his squad last week.
However, despite featuring towards the end of last season, Jordan Bowery has been allowed to leave the club. The attacker has joined newly-promoted Championship outfit Rotherham United for a club-record transfer fee.
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Burnley
While it's widely accepted that Sean Dyche must bolster his Burnley squad if they are to preserve their Premier League status next term, it remains crucial that most of the team that earned promotion from the Championship stay put. There is none more important than striker Danny Ings, who is going nowhere according to co-chairman John Banaszkiewicz.
Elsewhere, Dyche is thought to have identified Craig Dawson as the ideal player to tighten up his defence, but West Bromwich Albion rejected an offer from the Clarets and would not welcome a second bid.
Chelsea
Talk about getting your business done early. Jose Mourinho secured Cesc Fabregas's services from Barcelona last week, while Diego Costa has revealed that he will also be joining his fellow Spaniard at Stamford Bridge in the near future.
The arrival of Fabregas had resulted in doubts regarding Ramires's future at the club, but with Real Madrid said to be readying an offer for the Brazilian midfielder, Mourinho has insisted that he is not for sale. The Portuguese coach has also expressed his intention to keep Thibaut Courtois, who has spent the previous three seasons on loan with Atletico Madrid, as a challenger to Petr Cech for the goalkeeper gloves.
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Crystal Palace
Fans of Palace will have been delighted to learn that goalkeeper Julian Speroni finally reached an agreement with the club over a contract extension late last week. It was thought that the 35-year-old would depart Selhurst Park this summer, but he will remain there for at least another 12 months.
There was not such positive news in the case of the combative Kagisho Dikgacoi, who has accepted an offer from Championship side Cardiff City.
Everton
So much of Everton's success last season on the pitch was down to the loan acquisitions of Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry, but as it stands, both have returned to their parent clubs. However, chairman Bill Kenwright has revealed that the club are doing all that they can to re-sign the pair.
They could face competition from German club Wolfsburg for Lukaku, while Atletico Madrid are thought to be monitoring the Chelsea striker's situation closely. One player that definitely won't be at Goodison Park next term is Magaye Gueye, who has been released following a four-year stint on Merseyside.
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Hull City
If the rumourmill is to be believed, Hull boss Steve Bruce is most eager to improve his defensive options over the coming weeks. Sheffield United youngster Harry Maguire is one name that has been mentioned in relation to a move to the KC Stadium, while Joleon Lescott is said to be under consideration.
One player that Bruce is also thought to want to keep is Curtis Davies. The centre-back only joined the Tigers last summer but as a result of an impressive campaign, the 29-year-old could be in line for a new on Humberside.
Leicester City
Goals are what will keep Leicester in the Premier League and it would appear that manager Nigel Pearson is determined to add to his attacking ranks. Talks are said to have taken place with Cardiff's Fraizer Campbell, while there is also thought to be a strong interest in Brighton & Hove Albion frontman Leonardo Ulloa.
Pearson has also shown that he is prepared to clear the decks at the King Power Stadium, with both Lloyd Dyer and Marko Futacs informed that they can leave the club. Since then, Dyer has joined Watford.
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Liverpool
Following their return to the Champions League, Liverpool have been linked with a host of players. One of those is Alexis Sanchez, who is said to have been made available for transfer by Barcelona. Also believed to be in Brendan Rodgers's thinking is Manchester City defender Micah Richards.
To make room for the potential new recruits, some will have to depart Anfield. Among those said to be surplus to requirements by Rodgers at Anfield are Conor Coady, Iago Aspas, Samed Yesil and Suso, while a report has claimed that Napoli are keen to re-sign goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
Manchester City
After what had become one of the worst kept secrets this summer, Sagna was confirmed as a City player last week following the French full-back's decision not to renew his contract with Arsenal. Early reports have suggested that 31-year-old will earn around £150,000 a week over the course of his three-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Sagna will be able to call Aleksander Kolarov a teammate next season in the wake of the news that the Serbian has agreed a new contract with the club. Bayern Munich were among the teams that had been linked with the left-back, but he has opted to remain with the champions.
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Manchester United
Supporters of the Red Devils began the summer in the hope of seeing the likes of Toni Kroos, Fabregas and Thomas Muller arrive at Old Trafford, but those dreams have diminished somewhat in recent weeks.
More recently, a move for out-of-favour Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen has been mooted, with an agreement between the Belgian international and United thought to be in place. Aside from that, Barcelona winger Sanchez is said to be of interest to Louis van Gaal, but Juventus and Liverpool are also believed to be in the running.
Newcastle United
With a shortage of strikers, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is thought to have cast his net far and wide. According to a report on Tyneside, Pardew is particularly keen on Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
France has been a regular hunting ground for transfer targets where Newcastle are concerned and it seems that they will return again this summer. Joining Aubameyang on the list of rumoured targets are Remy Cabella and Clement Grenier.
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Queens Park Rangers
Another day and another club are said to have met with Thomas Ince to discuss his future. On this occasion the out-of-contract Blackpool winger is said to have held discussions with QPR boss Harry Redknapp regarding a free transfer to Loftus Road, with Hull and Palace waiting in the wings.
Redknapp, who is thought to be scouting at the World Cup, is also rumoured to be an admirer of Holland's Nigel de Jong. However, the current AC Milan midfield general is said to be of interest to Arsenal.
Southampton
Following the appointment of Ronald Koeman as manager, the Saints can now start to flex their muscle once again in the transfer market. It is believed that the Dutchman is keen not to waste any time where squad improvements are concerned and will first launch a bid for Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk.
Koeman's pursuit of his fellow countryman may pave the way for Dejan Lovren to leave the club. The Croatian international has strongly been linked with a switch to Liverpool in the past, but now Barcelona are thought to have entered the race for his signature.
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Stoke City
Mark Hughes pounced last week to recruit Steve Sidwell and he has swooped again to take former Man United centre-forward Mame Biram Diouf to the Britannia Stadium. The Senegalese attacker has put pen to paper on a four-year contract, which will come into force next month.
As for potential outgoings, in what could become one of the summer's most bizarre links, midfielder Charlie Adam is said to be attracting the attention of Turkish side Galatasaray.
Sunderland
With Kirean Westwood released, Vito Mannone is the only recognisable senior goalkeeper on the books at the Stadium of Light. That could soon change, though, with Man City's Costel Pantimilion reportedly on the verge of signing for the Black Cats on a free transfer.
Gus Poyet is thought to want to add Ashley Williams to his defence, but as it stands, his club Swansea have stood firm. Poyet may also lose out on Fabio Borini, who spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light. The Italian forward's parent club Liverpool are said to want at least £10m for his signature.
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Swansea City
As mentioned above, Williams is a target of Sunderland. Even so, the centre-back's agent has insisted that his client would be more than happy to remain at the Liberty Stadium.
Whether Williams is joined in Wales by Luc Castaignos remains to be seen. A fee with FC Twente has been agreed, but the switch for the young Dutch frontman has not been finalised, although the move has only stalled due to the 21-year-old being on holiday.
Tottenham Hotspur
Famed for being active during a transfer window, it's all been quiet so far on the transfer front at White Hart Lane. There is, of course, still plenty of time for that change, with new manager Mauricio Pochettino likely to take stock of his squad during the opening days and weeks of pre-season training.
The new Argentine boss has been credited with an interest in Feyenoord defender Daryl Janmaat, while Lukaku is believed to be a target.
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West Bromwich Albion
With Alan Irvine now in place, it is expected that West Brom will concentrate their efforts in the transfer market on younger players. The appointment of the Scot could see George Thorne reverse his decision to leave the club, having recently had a transfer request rejected.
One player that will not be leaving is centre-back Dawson, who was of interest to Burnley.
West Ham United
Upon reaching an agreement to remain the manager of West Ham, Sam Allardyce promised that he intended to play a more exciting brand of attacking football at Upton Park. Yet he has been spurned in the transfer market of late, having apparently been rejected by Lukaku.
He could have more success where Cheikhou Kouyate is concerned, though. Reports have suggested that the Anderlecht midfielder is nearing a switch to the East Londoners.
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