The summer transfer market might be months away, but Europe’s footballing heavyweights are already jostling to secure the continent’s top talent ahead of next season. Here, the Life’s A Pitch team gets its magnifying glass out to assess the latest transfer rumours for authenticity, marking them out of 10: zero for a non-starter, 10 for a done deal. We’ve got Real Madrid targeting Arsenal captain Robin van Persie, Manchester United keen to tie up a deal with Benfica for midfielder Nicolas Gaitan, and Chelsea interested in sending Fernando Torres back to Atletico Madrid in part exchange for Falcao.

First up, Ian Ridley of the Daily Express thinks how Arsenal perform between now and the summer will determine whether scoring machine Van Persie decides to extend his contract. “Van Persie will have his choice this summer of where he wants to go,” says Ian. “He is hot property in Europe, he can go wherever he wants. That will depend on what Arsenal do between now and the end of the season, whether he’s going to sign a new contract. [A move to Real Madrid] is a six out of 10 really; he might go to Man City if he feels there are more trophies and more money there.”

A move more likely to happen this summer, according to The People’s Janine Self, involves Argentine Nicolas Gaitan, from Benfica to Man Utd for about €30million. “I can see that happening,” she says. “I think Man Utd have been tracking him for some months. I think there’s a sell-on clause to [his previous club] Boca, which has put the price up. I think verbal agreements have already been made and I would expect in the summer [this move to be] probably an eight out of 10.”

But before Chelsea fans get in a fluster over the prospect of free-scoring Falcao rocking up at Stamford Bridge, Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph says this move depends on whether under-fire boss André Villas-Boas keeps his job. “If Villas-Boas stays as Chelsea manager I think it’s much more likely that Chelsea will go for Falcao, with the possibility of [Fernando] Torres going in the other direction,” he says. “Chelsea have to make a decision about Torres some time this year. But with the whole issue of whether the manager is staying or going, that makes it more complicated. I’d say about five out of 10 at the moment [for this to happen].”

Watch the full video discussion by clicking on the image play button above

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