The latest trend is to look to South America for bargain buys

'Noisy neighbours' make statement to arch-rivals as Argentina striker tweets 'Happy to be at this club'

Manchester United completed one of the best deals of recent years with the capture of the Mexican striker Javier Hernandez for £7m from Guadalajara a year ago. "Chicharito" was scouted the traditional way – he was first flagged up by United's scouts in 2005 playing for the Mexican Under-17s and signed only after chief scout Jim Lawlor had spent three weeks in Mexico carrying out an in-depth assessment.

Fewer cold nights in the stands watching prospects as sophisticated software lets clubs play <i>Football Manager</i> for real

Tom Lewis's show at the Open boosts the theory of a link between on-field success and the medical condition

No radical changes from the new manager in first game as he pledges to learn from established first-teamers

Chelsea are not giving up on their pursuit of midfielder Luka Modric and are expected to lift their offer to £30m in the next few days, despite Tottenham's repeated insistence that the Croatian is not for sale.

Chelsea are optimistic about securing England midfielder Scott Parker on a year-long loan from West Ham United in a deal worth £5m.

Tottenham Hotspur were hit by two pieces of bad news yesterday as the first team flew out to start their pre-season tour of South Africa. Luka Modric handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a proposed move to Chelsea, while the club fear that midfielder Sandro, who injured his knee on Copa America duty with Brazil, will require surgery that could keep him out for up to three months.

Cesc Fabregas is still intent on leaving Arsenal this summer for Barcelona, despite the optimistic noises coming from his manager Arsène Wenger about convincing the Spaniard to stay.