Martinez signs for Bayern

One player link you can definitely scratch from the shortlist now:

Bayern Munich have beaten Manchester City to the signing of Spain midfielder Javi Martinez.

Holding player Martinez, 23, was a target of Roberto Mancini, but the Blues boss hinted last week he would cost too much.

The Bundesliga club tweeted: "@FCBayern agree on contract with #Martinez. Read more on fcb.de shortly. #WelcomeMartinez"

The interest in Martinez, I'm sure, as genuine on City's part but as Roberto Mancini alluded to recently, the cost of landing Martinez as simply too high.

To land Martinez, Bayern reportedly paid the 40million Euro fee to trigger his release and with sizeable wages in addition the cost would have been too prohibitive, regardless of his undoubted ability.

SB Nation's Bayern blog 'Bavarian Football Works' has more here.