Concacaf and Honduran International David Suazo has left Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan and headed west for the 2008 - 09 season, signing with Portuguese side Benfica.

The 28 year old Suazo (who by the way is one of the strongest players I’ve ever played against) had dropped 95 goals in 255 appearances for Cagliari between 1999 - 2007, but suffered in form after Inter paid 10 Million Euro with only 8 goals in 27 matches in the 2007 - 08 Serie A campaign under Roberto Mancini, while Mario Balotelli flourished.

After Pablo Aimar, Jose Antonio Reyes and Real Madrid’s Javier Balboa, newly minted Director of Football Rui Costa’s done a pretty damn good job of bringing in talent ahead of the 2008 - 09 BWINLIGA season.

image via Cache

Not only is it a big day in the world of big business transfers, but it’s also the day that the balls drop and teams find out who gets who in the Champions League Group Stage draw in Monaco.

With all the major clubs directors in town (the Uefa Club Player of the Year will also be announced while the Uefa Group Stage Draw will be held on Friday), you know at least a couple more deals are about to be finalized as well as clubs looking to pick up fringe players on the cheap.

The 32 teams that have qualified will be put into a pot, picked out one by one and will end up in eight different groups of four teams.

None of the English teams will face each other in the early Group Stages after all were made a top seed.

Roma’s Stade Olimpico will host the 2009 Champions League Final on May 27th.

UPDATE -  Done deal as Shaun Wright-Phillips heads back north to City on a four year deal that some are saying is worth 80,000 Pound a week.

“To actually secure the deal and bring Shaun back home is a fantastic coup for us and I’m sure the supporters will be just as excited as we are to have him back at Manchester City,” said gaffer Mark “Sparky” Hughes.

IF reports about Shaun Wright-Phillips being in Manchester for a medical before a 9 Million Pound transfer to City are true, then City just pulled off one hell of a business deal.

Yup, that 21 Million Pound that Chelsea paid just three years ago looks even crazier now considering the fact they never truly gave him a constant run in the side.

With City in Denmark ahead of their return leg at Danny Califf’s FC Midtjylland on Thursday night and being down 1 - nil after City’s loss at home last week, Mark Hughes must be clamoring the board trying to get Phillips on his roster ASAP.

image via UniqueAutographs

Oh, the drama…..

With all the talk about Robinho and a possible move to Chelsea, according to Peter Kenyon the deal would have to be done before 5pm on Thursday if the Brazilian is to be available at the weekend against Spurs.

Has the 24 year old agreed to a 5 year deal after Real Madrid rumored acceptance of 26 Million Pound?

Was Peter Kenyon in Madrid last weekend?

image via Insurancetechguru

UPDATE - Not a bad way to make your debut with a Premiership side, scoring a goal and getting an assist in just 45 minutes after being out just over three weeks with Chicken Pox.

Villanueva’s form was on for everyone to see as Blackburn cruised past League Two side Grimsby 4 - 1 in their Carling Cup opener.

One of the many bright spots of Marcelo Bielsa’s Chilean Toulon Tournament runner ups, Carlos Villanueva has been snapped up by Paul Ince and Blackburn for 4 Million Pound.

The 22 year old Cabeza de Pina already has 12 Full Team caps to his name and has played over 125 games for Chilean club Audax Italiano.

image via Img

With Gooch and the boys walking into Anfield at nil - nil after the first leg, many thought Standard Liege would get absolutely hammered.

With 43,889 watching in disbelief as Liverpool couldn’t break down the Liege defense for the second 90 minutes in as many weeks, Dutchman Dirk Kuyt forced the ball past Rorys Aragon in the 118th minute to give Liverpool the 1 - nil win (1 - nil on aggregate).

With Gooch keeping Fernando Torres quiet for most of the night, all that speculation of the big man heading elsewhere in the upcoming days must be at a boiling point after tonight’s performance.

Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry has decided to issue a statement to the press / fans through his agent Alex Black regarding the ongoing drama surrounding his on again / off again possible move to Premiership side Liverpool.

In a statement released to Sky Sports News, Black said: “After much speculation I can confirm that Gareth Barry will not leave Aston Villa before the transfer window closes.“

Gareth made the decision to stay two weeks ago and informed Aston Villa of his intentions. During this time discussions have taken place to decide the best way forward for all parties. Any talks regarding potential new contracts at Aston Villa will not take place until the end of the season.

“Gareth wants to concentrate on playing on the best of his ability for Aston Villa, and we hope this draws a line under the matter.”

With the decision to stay now, is there any chance the Barry could sign a new contract with Villa?

Phillipe Senderos has made the shock loan move to AC Milan for the 2008/09 season after being deemed surplus to The Voyeur’s Arsenal plans.

The Rossoneri do have the option to make the move for the 23 year old permanent at the end of the season and will give Milan coach Carlos Ancelotti much needed help after disastrous pre-season slate.

If you’re keeping tabs on Milan, that’s Zambrotta, Flamini, Cardacio, Ronaldinho, Shevchenko and Senderos all added during the summer transfer window.

Image vis lh3

West Ham’s Alan Curbishley has claimed that they have accepted an 8 Million Pound bid from Roy Keane’s Sunderland for the services of 23 year old Anton Ferdinand.

The 6 foot centerback has appeared over 135 times for the Hammers in the Premiership and with his refusal to sign a contract extension, West Ham is seemingly forced to make the move now before potentially losing him for free.

The board have accepted the bid - he’s not renegotiated his contract - and the decision was taken out of my hands.

‘I don’t know where Anton is in terms of signing for Sunderland - but once the club accept the bid it moves on.”image via Img 

UPDATE -  Maurice Edu is officially a Glasgow Ranger after the hearing panel in Hampden took just over an hour to grant him his Work Permit and seal his 2.7 Million Pound switch.

And the first game he’ll be eligible to play in, The Old Firm Match on August 31st at Parkhead (Celtic).  Wow.

I was lucky enough to train with Rangers back in 1997 for three months and I can tell you first hand as I was able to see two Old Firm matches at Ibrox (Rangers) and one at Parkhead, it’s one of the craziest games you’ll ever see up close.

Toronto FC’s Coach / GM / Director of Football / Trade Maestro Mo Johnston has a great interview over at the Evening Times of Glasgow about everything that IS Maurice Edu.

From his time at Maryland, the MLS Combine, MLS Draft, MLS Rookie of the Year, Olympic Team Qualification, Full National Team call ups, Olympics to his 2.7 Million Pound Transfer that is only held up as of now by a Work Permit, the former Celtic and Ranger man quotes it all.

And yes, that Five Year Deal is something that proves that Ranger’s boss man Walter Smith is very high on the Inland Empire (909) product.

Imagine a midfield of Barry Ferguson, Pedro Mendes, DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu. Won’t have to much longer.