Save Ruud van Nistelrooy

The leading striker for each of the top four has ended the season amid rumours that they might be leaving. This situation may have eased with the news about Thierry Henry, but for the other three - Djibril Cisse, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Didier Drogba - next season may start with a call to Pickfords.

With Thierry Henry set to become the biggest non-mover in the Premiership hit-parade this week attention can switch to these other 'want-away-strikers'. The 'news' that Didier Drogba doesn't want to play for Chelsea due to 'victimisation' - an expression many footballers prefer to 'fair comment' - may be creating bigger splashes, and Liverpool would happily consider offers for Cisse. But the big striker most likely to move on remains Ruud van Nistelrooy.

According to the Mirror today, Inter Milan are ready to make a £10m bid for Ruud van Nistelrooy. For a striker that cost £19m and then bagged 150 goals in 219 games this may seem a bit cut-price, but the Dutchman is 30 in July and the injuries and strain of life at the top seem to be taking their toll.

A move to Serie A where van Nistelrooy's predatory instincts would not have to be allied to too much pointless tracking back would rejuvenate the player and Inter Milan would be guaranteed 15-20 Serie A goals and a good number in the Champions' League - injury permitting.

For United a good return would further allow them to reduce the average age of the squad (which is already similar to Arsenal) to a level that will be competitive for the next 3-4 years - which is sure to take the team into the period of interregnum that will follow Ferguson. Rossi would become competition for Rooney and Saha and there would be cash to address the yawning gap in midfield.

All in all this is a transfer waiting to happen, but I would expect the likely auction to push the final figure closer to £14m that the reported £10m.