Liverpool are making statements, Man Utd looking for their last piece of the puzzle while Chelsea and Arsenal are holding tough for now.

Of the big four, Liverpool were again the most active bringing players in. Yossi Benayoun arrived from West Ham on Thursday for around �5million to give some options on either side of midfield while Ryan Babel became their second buy of the summer to go into eight figures, costing �11.5million from Ajax. Babel, the 20-yearold who'd been linked with Arsenal previously, has played most of his football on the left wing for Ajax, though has the potential to play in a more central position off a main striker . . . his goals record would suggest he's more a creator than a scorer of goals.

Liverpool owner Tom Hicks hinted that there might be one more signing from Rafa Benitez before the summer dealings are over. The Carlos Tevez saga continues with reports of medicals and his imminent transfer to Man Utd being offset by the arrest order for his agent Kia Joorabchian in Brazil over problems with his company MSI. It's still expected Tevez's transfer to Old Trafford will be confirmed once Tevez returns from Copa American duty.

Elsewhere, Arsenal breathed a sigh of relief with Cesc Fabregas turning down an offer from Real Madrid, citing Arsene Wenger's role in his career as a massive reason for wanting to stay at the Emirates. They also paid 6million for 24-year-old Auxerre right-back Bakary Sagna and look like receiving something similiar for Jose Reyes from Real Madrid. Rumours of Daniel Alves heading to Chelsea continue to surface with speculation a �13million bid had been made denied by Sevilla themselves and the player's agent making it clear the Brazilian right-back-cumwinger would welcome a move. Khalid Boulahrouz, meanwhile, moved in the other direction, the defender leaving Chelsea, joining Sevilla on a year's loan.

Sunderland haven't made a huge dent in the market this week either, Michael Chopra's �4million move from Cardiff their only signing and it didn't go down particularly well with a large section of the Sunderland support either, the former Newcastle striker having celebrated a few goals against them a little too vigorously in recent times. He did score 22 goals in the championship last season, however, and Roy Keane has been impressed by Chopra whenever he's been in opposition but it's a gamble. Chris Baird chose Fulham over Keane's side this week, a move for Hearts' keeper Craig Gordon was turned down and Sunderland continue to be linked with Kieron Richardson from Man Utd. A couple of big weeks ahead for Sunderland in the transfer market.

On the fringes of the big four, Spurs look set to take their summer spending to more than �40million by snapping up German midfielder Kevin-Prince Boeteng from Hertha Berlin, the 20year-old costing in the region of �5million. Newcastle have been sniffing around Aldo Duscher, the ex-Deportivo midfielder who's available on a free transfer. Sven Goran Eriksson has started his spending at Man City with �8.8million Rolando Bianchi from Reggina . . . the 24-year-old striker bagged 18 goals in Serie A last season and would be expected to add a bit of goalpower to a City team who really struggled to score last campaign. Eriksson is also fighting it out with Fiorentina for Freddie Ljungberg from Arsenal for �5million.

Portsmouth picked up two strikers of their own this week as well, Harry Redknapp getting David Nugent from Preston for �6million and John Utaka, a Nigerian international, from Rennes for a suggested club record �8.1million.

Not too much movement among the Irish this week, though Graham Coughlan has signed a two-year deal with Rotherham having left Sheffield Wednesday.