Former US coach Bruce Arena believes Manchester United have struck gold by securing the services of Javier Hernandez.
Arena saw at first hand the damage the Mexico striker can do when he scored with a superb lob in United's 5-2 win over his MLS All-Stars side.
LA Galaxy coach and former national team chief Arena said: "Manchester United has a global scouting network and they know where all the great players are.
"They were obviously well aware of this young prospect in Mexico and they did a fabulous job to secure him at the time they did.
"One has to believe he is going to be an outstanding player."
Blackpool bid for Rangel rejected
Swansea have rejected a bid from Premier League newcomers Blackpool for defender Angel Rangel.
The highly-rated Spaniard, who joined from Spanish side Terrassa in the summer of 2008, sat out the 9-1 thrashing of Dutch side VCS on their pre-season tour to Holland, increasing speculation over the 27-year-old's future at the Liberty Stadium.
Swans boss Brendan Rodgers told the club's website: "An offer has come in to the chairman from Blackpool for Angel. But it has not been accepted.
"I want him to stay and there is an offer of another contract on the table for him."
Kayal urges Hoops to believe
Beram Kayal has urged his new Celtic team-mates to believe their three-goal Champions League deficit can be overturned - because he did it last year with Maccabi Haifa.
Kayal, who must secure a work permit and is not available for the second leg against Braga, said: "We (Maccabi Haifa) were three goals down in the first half at home to Aktobe from Kazakhstan. But we came out in the second half and scored four times to win on aggregate.
"Everything is possible and nothing is impossible when you are playing in front of your home fans.
"Maccabi wiped out a three-goal deficit in 45 minutes. Celtic have 90 minutes plus the possibility of extra-time and penalties to get what we want."
Reds win marred by racist taunts
Liverpool's Europa League opponents FK Rabotnicki could face action after UEFA was alerted to an incident of racist crowd behaviour on Thursday.
Pictures have emerged from Liverpool''s 2-0 over the Macedonian side in Skopje of supporters directing monkey taunts towards David Ngog and 19-year-old winger David Amoo.
Macedonian football has had a problem with racist behaviour in the past. In 2003, England players Emile Heskey, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole were all the subject of abuse in an international against Macedonia.
An English flag was also burned and UEFA later fined the Football Federation of Macedonia £10,730.
No West Ham offer for Beckham
David Beckham has dismissed speculation linking him with a move to West Ham with his spokesman insisting that the former England skipper is happy with life at LA Galaxy.
Hammers co-owner David Gold was reported at the weekend to be keen on bringing the 35-year-old midfielder back to London.
"There has been no contact with or offer from West Ham," a Beckham spokesman told the BBC.
"David is happy at the Los Angeles Galaxy and has no interest in leaving, and is looking forward to returning to the team on August 9."
Beckham is still recovering from the ruptured Achilles tendon that ruled him out of the World Cup and is hoping to be back in action by September.
Abbiati wants to end career at Milan
Christian Abbiati is keen to see out the rest of his career at Milan after he inked a new contract with the club last week.
"I hope to end my career at Milan," the 33-year-old goalkeeper said. "As soon as an extension was offered to me I signed. There were no problems at all."
Abbiati, from Milan, began his career at Monza before making his Serie A debut for the Rossoneri in 1998-99. Apart from loan spells at Juventus, Torino and Atletico Madrid in recent years, he's been with the Rossoneri ever since.
Abbiati will face competition from new signing Marco Amelia this season. "I'm calm about the situation," he said. "I have always fought for a shirt here, which is only right, and I'll do that for the next three years."
Genoa join Giovinco chase
Genoa have reportedly entered the race for Juventus playermaker Sebastian Giovinco who had been on the verge of accepting an offer to join Bari.
The former Under-21 international is a target for a number of clubs, notably Parma who are willing to offer £3.5m for a 50 per cent stake in his contract and Bari who are keen to take him on loan.
Although Parma and Bari have been jostling to get the 23-year-old's nod, Genoa now appear to have made an enquiry.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the Marassi outfit, who already part own Juve's Raffaele Palladino, are eager on adding Giovinco to their ranks.