David Beckham is among those set to receive money back from failed building projects

Chelsea and Arsenal are among those to have been linked with a move for the England striker

Magpies buoyed by arrival of January transfer signings

With his stunning performance at Aston Villa on Saturday, Javier Hernandez entered football folklore as one of the game's great substitutes.

If Liverpool could have chosen an opposing club to walk under the "This is Anfield" sign and face them this afternoon, Newcastle would have been close to the top of the list. Brendan Rodgers's team might be reeling from their 3-1 Capital One Cup defeat by Swansea on home turf in midweek, but their Premier League visitors this afternoon have 18 years of hurt on Merseyside to overcome.

Danny Welbeck cannot wait to welcome Robin van Persie into the Manchester United fold.

Deaths, grudges, affairs and mutinies - just another year in sport.

Andy Cole has accused Sir Alex Ferguson of a dirty tricks quiz campaign.

Dimitar Berbatov would be happy to stay with Manchester United until the end of his career, the player's agent said on Saturday.

Manchester United 7 Blackburn Rovers 1: Bulgarian striker ends debate over his future in spectacular fashion to send United top at Rovers' expense

One of the biggest winners from Wayne Rooney's new contract is Paul Stretford, the vacuum cleaner salesman turned agent who could make an estimated £3m solely for his role in getting Rooney – who, until a few months ago, saw himself as a lifelong Red – to agree an extended deal.

If the quality of the football at this World Cup has been called into question, there can be no argument about the fact we have seen some scintillating performances from attacking players and some stunning goals. For obvious reasons, I have been studying my fellow strikers closer than any other players in South Africa and the race for the Golden Boot has been thrilling.

Forward Thinking

Forward Thinking: Dunga's men are starting to purr while playing almost entirely within themselves. There is something European about them