With the tongues wagging about the possible Admeld/Google deal, I thought it would be interesting/fun to examine some other long-shot deals in the market. Please note that identities of all parties have been protected - except in those cases where it has absolutely no chance of happening.

1. Global Media Buying Network Scoops Up Facebook-Focused Agency For £100 Million

There is a sizeable European tier-2 agency with a big focus on Facebook buying and campaign optimisation on the market. Rumour has it that WPP and another large agency network are looking to buy. Why? Well, said tier-2 agency has successfully built and rolled out a Facebook-buying platform - and is from all accounts been doing some impressive numbers in Europe and the US.

M&A Score: Very high... but will sell at something like £70 million given that there are cheaper platform buys out there

2. Social Media Giant Starts Buying Performance Ad Nets To Build Social-Targeted Solution

There was a lot of discussion around the Techcrunch article on RadiumOne's perceived strategy to buy the major social media widget companies. Now there is another rumour doing the rounds about a social media giant trying to wrap up a number of global performance ad networks into a super-powered social targeting solution. The idea is to use its social graph to power the new global ad network offering. This is actually a plausible strategy given all the froth around social targeting.

M&A Score: High... the score is tempered by the fact that said social media entity will end making a shambles of it

3. Adobe Buys A DSP

This one has been floating around for a while. Adobe is slowly building its buy-side stack. It recently bought Demdex, a DMP. And is said to be speaking to a number of DSP vendors about a possible acquisition - with a sizeable West Coast player in the frame.

M&A Score: Invevitable... sooner rather than later as prices could rise as more technology behemoths stumble into display

4. Massive European Publisher/ Ad Network Hybrid Buys A SSP

This company doesn't know it yet, but it needs a SSP. Often overlooked in the UK, this company is the sleeping giant of the European sell-side - with more monthly European impressions than Yahoo. As the agencies move towards automated buys, this publisher/network will make more dynamic supply available. How? It could build tech? Expensive. Or it could go out and buy a smaller SSP player. There are a few vendors out there you could pick up for 15-20 million quid.

M&A Score: This make take some time... as I only came up with this idea this morning

5. Major Agency Networks Start Buying Publishers

There is a serious battle going on for inventory and data between agencies and thrid party technology companies. The battle for supply has truly has now begun in earnest. If the agencies can't get access to certain inventory, I think they'll start buying publishers to lock down supply. Would it be mad to suggest that WPP could buy Axel Springer? Axel Springer is a large European media company with serious reach. Stay tuned, as this idea gets developed a little futher.

M&A Score: Questionable... although events are rapidly changing