Rankings are now top 3

The Silly Season is as tight as ever. Pre-season is up and running, the squads are settling in together. But who will Arsenal sign before the end of the transfer window? The rumours are abounding, but repeating themselves more and more. Three rumours on each list should suffice.

This is my "most likely" list - or rather "least surprising" list - of today:

3. Loïc Remy: Arsenal aren't really in the market for a striker, I should think, despite Eduardo leaving. Unquestionably talented, the Nice striker looks to join West Ham or Liverpool for a fee in the region of £12m-14m. Still, there's a report saying a mystery, top club are late entrants in the race for Remy. And our French scout Gilles Grimandi has recommended Remy perhaps more than any other target from the French leagues, it's been said. While not an actual probable rumour, one to watch.

2. Pape Diakhaté: honestly, I'm letting Diakhaté be a representative for the entire central defender community. Arsenal are looking to bring in another potential partner for Thomas Vermaelen, but different reports point at different targets. We've been consistently linked with the Saint-Étienne/Dynamo Kiyv defender since May, in fact most links with defenders have lasted throughout the summer. But Brede Hangeland has said he won't leave Fulham, and Everton have priced Phil Jagielka out of contention. Per Mertesacker won't be allowed to leave Werder Bremen, and Madjid Bougherra was perhaps never a viable alternative. This leaves Diakhaté almost as a default option.

1. Mark Schwarzer: reported to have been offered a player/coach role for the next few seasons. The Australian international will be a number 1 choice until Vito Mannone or Wojcech Szczesny are seen as mature and ready enough. Different reports say that Fulham have been unwilling to sell for less than $4m, which is a princely sum for a 37-year-old. Anyway, Fulham are without a manager, and may still lose out on first choice Martin Jol from Ajax. No deal will be made until a manager is in place. But the haggling will continue.

And here is the "silliest" rumour list:

3. Luis Suarez: the Uruguay striker is hot property, so hot that Ajax has put his price as high as £30m. That's what a club can do when the Premier League comes knocking. Arsenal aren't THAT desperate after strikers.

2. Mesut Özil: after not signing Joe Cole (losing out on him or turning him down, depending on different reports), most Gooners and media agree that Arsenal really have enough attacking midfielders. Trying to compete in the £20m bracket with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona and any other club his agent is trying to put in the mix is futile.

1. Keisuke Honda: the same logic applies to the Japanese star. Turning to Honda, whose market value has soared since the World Cup and already earns massive amounts with Roman Abramovich's CSKA Moscow just isn't logical. There just aren't enough T-shirt customers in the world.

What and who do you think is realistic to expect? Feel free to comment.

Transfer "target" list goes to 111

The World Cup in South Africa has got the Silly Season back into the groove. From way back in springtime, when Marouane Chamakh was touted in the media as a new Arsenal signing, we've reached 111 professional footballers linked with the club as potential signings.

Fresh off the press today, the full back Cesar Azpilicueta of Osasuna. The Daily Mail reckons Arsenal will get him for less than the £12m asking price if they act fast. Heard that one before?

But unlike Azpilicueta, most targets nowadays are playing well in the World Cup. The Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Eneyama has been linked, as well as full back Gregory van der Wiel of the Netherlands and, of course, the German wonderkid Mesut Özil, so impressive against Australia.

For agents, the World Cup is Christmas and New Years' and three birthdays all at once. Only every four years can they get this much attention for their clients, even those who normally play in obscurity. Like Madjid Bougherra of Rangers and Algeria, usually not a headline grabbing defender, but linked with Arsenal? Clear the sports pages!