For while El Nino will spread his phenomenon in the hallowed turf of Anfield, Henry will be showcasing his dazzling ball skill in the equally revered Nou Camp.

The balance, however precarious, is therefore still maintained.

Not so in Bayern, previously a synonym for prudent spending splashing out 69 million Euros to rope in seven new players. Madrid is surprisingly quiet, unlike Manchester who spent 50 million pounds on three players.

But who got the bargain of the season?

Why Chelsea ofcourse, roping in four players at the princely sum of one dollar (yes you read that right 1 dollar). Which permutes to 25 pence a player. Not bad for the likes of Claudio Pizarro and Alex.

And yes, your guess is right. Transfer season is in full flow.

The biggest deal cut this summer is undoubtedly that of Thierry Henry and his move to Barcelona. On the cards last season, a scathing post match interview following Arsenal's loss to Barcelona in the Champions League final made it clear that Henry would not be swapping to the famous Catalan kit. That and reassurances that he would 'end his career at the club.'

A year on all that has changed and Henry will now terrorize defences across Europe alongside the already formidable trio of Ronaldinho, Messi and Eto'o. Provided they all stay it's not a bad forward line.

But if Spain gained one formidable name, they certainly lost another as Fernando Torres bids his childhood club goodbye. He once famously said that if he ever swapped clubs it would be to 'Barcelona and Barcelona only.' But a princely cut of the 26 million pound transfer fee stuck a cloth into that promise. Along with the chance to be an Anfield hero and in the process solve Rafa Benitez's search for a proven goalscorer.

However Benitez may have been forced into a panic buy. For if goalscoring is his criterion, Torres, as quick and skilful as he his, averages only about 0.37 a game for his club the same as current Liverpool forward Dirk Kyut.

On now to Bayern Munich, who have completed a complete overhaul of the squad bringing in seven new faces. While the less heralded (but no less talented or versatile) stars of Marcell Jansen, Jose Ernesto Sosa and Jan Schlaudraff have not rung many bells worldwide, the capture of Luca Toni, Franck Ribery and Miroslav Klose have set alarm bells ringing. The latter three cost a huge chunk of the money splashed and all of them are well established international stars. Ribery is the one to watch, his lightning pace and superb ability setting him apart. The news coming out said that he was set for Real Madrid and Champions League football next season, but Bayern have managed to pull off a big coup by snapping him up. If 25 million dollars equates a coup that is. And Uli Hoeness's famous words of 'sickening transfer fees' have been stuffed deep down his throat.

From one red to another. The Red Devils themselves were one of the first movers in the transfer market splashing out a huge sum for three players. Nani and Anderson came from Portugal for a combined sum of 30 million pounds and Owen Hargreaves' long drawn out move finally completed by compensating Bayern a very generous 17 million quid. The danger in Fergie's move is the fact that while Hargreaves is quite established, with Nani and Anderson he is buying purely potential. Nani was a target for Spurs and half of the thirty million pounds seems a bit on the high end for a man who most observers agree is still quite some way behind in the talent radar than the obscure kid Fergie picked up from Portugal three years ago. Anderson while precociously talented (best player in the U17 world cup two years ago) has only played some 38 professional club games. Quite a big gamble but if anyone can, Fergie can. And he atleast kept his promise of signing 'three to four world-class players.'

One club not taking any gambles with big money is the Londoners of Chelsea. The Blues have been remarkably quiet in the close season (even Jose has managed to zip his lip) but have snapped up four players for the handsome sum of a dollar which was splashed out to PSV for acquiring the services of Brazilian defender Alex. Having secured him two years ago, the burly defender honed his skills in Holland while earning his work permit. Three other players also joined Steve Sidwell shoring up midfield, Tal Ben Haim the problematic right-back slot and Claudio Pizarro proving cover for the two up front. So four players for one dollar. Simple division later we come to the weighty sum of 25 pence each. (if only football were that beautiful). Ofcourse Roman hasn't tightened the purses one dollar isn't too far off the thirty million spent last year is it?

The Serie A have been notoriously quiet save for the debate over the Honduran David Suazo's flirt with both the Milan giants before finally committing to the blue half. Milan look to be shaping up for atleast one big buy which may in the end turn up to be the wantaway Antonio Cassano, whose club Real are trying and failing to lure Kaka the other way to the Bernabeu.

Pedrag Mijatovic though has been busy even during the holiday firing title winning coach Fabio Capello while managing to rope in first Christoph Metzelder and now seemingly the Romanian Christian Chivu, to shore up a leaky backline.

In less spectacular but no less effective transfer dealings, Darren Bent showcased the inflated fees that English clubs pay these days costing a cool 17 million pounds for Spurs from Championship side Charlton. Arsenal filled in Henry's place by signing the ambitious and prolific Eduaro da Silva. Barcelona kept busy with the captures of the midfield holding man Yaya Toure and Lyon left-back Eric Abidal.

Finally no mention of transfers will be complete without the two biggest of this season. Yes, that of David Beckham moving to a Galaxy far far away and Roberto Carlos ending his career at Real Madrid by signing on for a final payday at Turkish kicks Fenerbahce. Ah! What strings money can pull!