BARCELONA finance director Xavier Sala i Martin is bewildered as to how Real Madrid are funding their summer spending spree. With a reported transfer budget of €300m at their disposal, Madrid president Florentino Perez has this week set about creating a second ‘galacticos’ era.

Lord Stevens was wrong to point the finger at agents in his inquiry into Premier League transfers without hard evidence, according to former Football Association compliance officer Graham Bean.

FREE agents Abel Xavier and Alex Nyarko are both due to begin training with Southampton today with a view to joining until the end of the season, according to agent Barry Silkman.

Chelsea have agreed to buy Cameroon midfielder Geremi from Real Madrid for a fee of £6.9m (€10m).

Leeds midfielder Nick Barmby has today been accused of blowing his feud with Middlesbrough’s George Boateng out of all proportion.