Barcelona spent close to 88,000,000 € in the 2008 summer transfer window, bringing in a total of seven players. They bought Seydou Keita from Sevilla for €14m, and also spent €29m in bringing in the Mali midfielder’s club team mate- Brazilian Dani Alves. Martin Caceres, Gerard Pique, Jose Pinto, Aliaksandr Hleb and Henrique Adriano were the other players brought by the Catalan giants to the Nou Camp in the summer.

So, whom will they buy in 2009?

They’ve been linked with a host of players- the two most famous ones being Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas and Lyon’s Karim Benzema. Fabregas, a former Barcelona youth player who was snapped up by Arsene Wenger at the age of 16, has grown by leaps and bounds at the North London club, and is currently their captain. However Arsenal’s inability to win trophies might play on his mind. Benzema has been in wonderful form for Lyon, but wants a new challenge, and Barcelona will certainly provide him with one.

Robin Van Persie has also been linked with a move to Barcelona as they scour the market for a left footed forward.

Los Cules are also reportedly looking for a long term leftback, with Sylvinho and Eric Abidal expected to leave the club soon.

We’ll keep you updated with the latest Barcelona transfers as they happen.

The UEFA Champions League Draw for the Round of 16 was decleared yesterday and it has given us some smashing games to look up to.

Chelsea v Juventus

Villarreal v Panathinaikos

Sporting Lisbon v Bayern Munich

Atletico Madrid v FC Porto

Lyon v Barcelona

Real Madrid v Liverpool

Arsenal v Roma

Inter Milan v Manchester United

As one can clearly see, there are four real ‘big’ games between the top sides, and four not so huge contests. The four English sides are facing a really stiff task which is sure to test their pedigree and title credentials. Atletico Madrid, Villareal, Barcelona and Bayern Munich should fancy their chances of making it to the last eight.

The UEFA Cup draw for the last 32 stage was also announced yesterday. AC Milan face Werder Bremen in a really tough encounter, while Tottenham and Aston Villa may meet each other in the next round - provided they win their games. Cash-heavy Manchester City start off against FC Copenhagen and a win could see them play either Aalborg/Deportivo.

Last 32 draw (first leg 18-19 Feb/ second leg 26 Feb):

Paris Saint-Germain v Wolfsburg
FC Copenhagen v MANCHESTER CITY
NEC Nijmegen v Hamburg
Sampdoria v Metalist Kharkiv
Braga v Standard Liege
ASTON VILLA v CSKA Moscow
Lech Poznan v Udinese
Olympiakos v Saint-Etienne
Fiorentina v Ajax
Aalborg v Deportivo La Coruna
Werder Bremen v AC Milan
Bordeaux v Galatasaray
Dynamo Kiev v Valencia
Zenit St. Petersburg v Stuttgart
Marseille v FC Twente
Shakhtar Donetsk v TOTTENHAM

Last 16 draw (first leg 12 Mar/ second leg 18-19 Mar):

Werder Bremen or AC Milan v Olympiakos or Saint-Etienne
ASTON VILLA or CSKA Moscow v Shakhtar Donetsk or TOTTENHAM
Lech Poznan or Udinese v Zenit St Petersburg or Stuttgart
Paris Saint-Germain or Wolfsburg v Braga or Standard Liege
Dynamo Kiev or Valencia v Sampdoria or Metalist Kharkiv
Copenhagen or MANCHESTER CITY v Aalborg or Deportivo
Marseille or FC Twente v Fiorentina or Ajax
NEC Nijmegen or Hamburg v Bordeaux or Galatasaray

The 6ft 8 inch giant Serbian striker has returned to former club Racing Santander from Valencia on loan till the end of the season. Zigic played for Racing in the 2006-07 season where he managed to score only 11 times in 32 games.

His stint at Valencia has been far from memorable. He has managed only a solitary goal in 15 appearances for the Mestalla outfit. Valencia, who are in massive debt, may also be forced to sell David Villa in the winter transfer window to the highest bidder. The likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid are rumoured to be interested.

Q. Which striker scored the most goals in qualifying for Euro 2008 but did not feature in the tournament as his team failed to make it to the final 16 ?

A. David Healy of Northern Ireland

Belgian defender and one of European football’s brightest talents Vincent Kompany has joined Manchester City on a 4-yr deal from Hamburg for an undisclosed fee. He becomes the third signing for Manchester City in this transfer window after Jo and Tal Ben Haim. City are still in the market for a striker and a left-back. Diego Milito and Thiago Neves are the latest names linked with City.

Kompany had a difficult time at Hamburg where he managed to play just 28 games over 2 seasons due to injury, ill health and personal losses over the past two seasons. Vincent played at the Beijing Olympics for Belgium, where they finished fourth , against the wishes of his then employers. It is believed that piece of ‘indiscretion’ on his part was the last straw in his Hamburg career.

Kompany is expected to play as a defensive midfielder at Eastlands and is expected to make his debut against West Ham United on Sunday.