July is a few days away, meaning the beginning of training camps in European Soccer are right around the corner, meaning teams need to start signing players. Real Madrid with Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo signed broke all the possible transfer records in one week, and it has been pretty quiet in the past few weeks since then regarding big name transfers. But this week more and more action seems to be building up, with teams ready to press the money trigger any minute now – here are the hottest transfer rumors right now regarding Samuel Eto’o, Carlos Tevez, Karim Benzema, David Villa and more.

Karim Benzema – Lyon

Image: Source

First it was Real Madrid, then Barcelona. Manchester United joined the chase, according to rumors, nothing official, after Cristiano Ronaldo was sold to Real. Arsenal, now with Adebayor getting closer and closer to AC Milan have also put their eyes on the French Striker. Lyon’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas has already said that if a big offer comes along, he’ll find it very difficult to refuse. Right now, a price tag of around 30 million seems to be the right amount, with Manchester United and Arsenal the leaders in the race.

Samuel Eto’o – Barcelona

Image: Source

Joan Laporta, Barcelona’s president claimed on a radio station in Spain that Manchester City have made a very big offer for Samuel Eto’o, rumors have it at around 30 million Euros, and it’s been suggested that Barcelona won’t stand in his way to becoming the highest earner in soccer.

Eto’o is finishing his contract a year from now and it seems Barca are eager on moving him to a different club, and Eto’o himself seems to be on the same page with them on the matter. If he is sold, Barcelona are most likely to join the hunt for David Villa of Valencia. Speaking of Valencia –

David Villa, David Silva, Juan Manuel Mata – Valencia

Image: Source

David Villa was almost the third galactico until negotiations stopped just before things were signed, sealed and delivered. It doesn’t mean Villa will be staying with Valencia, and the same goes for Silva and Mata. Villa is targeted by every team with cash and a need for goals, that means almost everyone. Real Madrid say they are off him but you never know, Barcelona seem to have gone to the top of the list of chasers after him with Eto’o very possibly moving to Manchester City and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres would love all three of them to join him in North England. Rafa Benitez might listen as well.

Valencia are in huge debts, and it’s very unlikely they’ll be able to hold to any of their stars unless some miracle happens to save them from bankruptcy.

Emmanuel Adebayor – Arsenal

Image: Source

Although Milan have been chasing Wolfsburg’s Edin Dzeko for a quite a while now, it seems that they are slowly moving away to other targets as the German club seems reluctant to let the Bosnian striker leave.

Adriano Galliani, Milan’s Vice President has confirmed he has had talks with Arsenal about the possibility of signing Adebayor. Adebayor has expressed his will to leave Arsenal at times and Galiani suggested that if Wenger will approve of their approach towards Adebayor, Milan will continue with the negotiations. His price tag is believed to be around 25-30 million pounds.

Carlos Tevez – Manchester United

Image: Source

Probably Manchester City, maybe someone else, Liverpool are a long shot. One things is sure – Carlos Tevez won’t be playing for Alex Ferguson and Manchester United next season.

After losing his starting place last season with Dimitar Berbatov’s arrival from Tottenham, Tevez says he realized his future is not at Old Trafford. In an interview on TV Tevez said that he felt he was being overlooked this past season by the Manager and blames Berbatov’s arrival as the main reason for him often starting the game on the bench. In 2007-2008 he started 31 games. In 2008-2009 only 18.

Tevez turned down a five year contract offer from United, and according to the media he’s most likely to play for Manchester City next season.