Gareth should spark spree; offside.

Byline: luke wilkins

SO with the first big transfer move of the season now done and dusted, wantaway Villans midfielder Gareth Barry joining the new richest club in the world Manchester City, experts are predicting that this could be the biggest summer ever of transfer spending.

Normally I scoff in the general direction of experts... but for once I reckon they may have something.

First up the Barry saga, having been involved on the press front down at Villa in the last season, I can tell you MON was just getting sick of constantly having to answer questions on Barry's future.

In some ways, although he will be a big loss, I don't think it will effect Villa too badly.

In fact, some might say - okay, I say - its probably for the best.

It's clear, although he had given lots to Villa down the years, his heart was no longer in it.

His desire to play Champions League footy in the end meant he just had to leave for a club that finished four places places below Villa! Anyway, his move may have only been for pounds 12 million, but I think it will the start of a record summer of spending, and it won't just be City and Chelski who may go a bit mad.

Real Madrid have got Florentino Perez back as president.

Remember him? Intentions He was the man who ushered in the first era of Galacticos at the Bernabeu by signing Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo and Beckham for a combined pounds 132 million.

And he has made his intentions clear by making a pounds 56 million bid for Brazilian superstar Kaka.

Of course the fact that the pound against the Euro is about as strong as Mr Muscle - the old version, not the new superhero animated one - will mean that there should be a lot of movement between English clubs as they look to take advantage of the fact that you wont be able to afford a newspaper and a coffee from Europe, let alone a striker.

Will Villa, Wolves, and the Blues have the clout to buy big against the likes of Manchestet City? No, is the answer. But if they are clever they should be able to strengthen their squads with some top British talent instead of buying abroad, and maybe that's not a bad thing.

The big question, though, is can they hold on to their best talent? Gareth should spark spree

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BIG MOVER: Gareth Barry