‘Chelsea too old’ says Fergie
The Premier League phoney war has kicked off early, with Sir Alex Ferguson suggesting that Chelsea are too old to regain the title and invoking the spectre of Jose Mourinho. James Ducker in the Times writes: "Although Ferguson believes that Chelsea represent the biggest threat to his team's chances of retaining their Barclays Premier League crown, the Manchester United manager suggested that Scolari, newly installed at Stamford Bridge, will be hard pressed to match, let alone surpass, Mourinho's achievements as he wrestles with an ageing squad. Scolari is less than a month into the job, but already the mind games have begun." (Times)
"How can they accelerate beyond what they've done up to now when you see the ages they've got?" Sir Alex lights the blue touch paper and stands well back
Chelsea near ‘perfect’ squad
Chelsea believe they are only one signing – preferably Robinho – away from Luiz Felipe Scolari's perfect squad... Wigan striker Marlon King is in talks with Hull over a move to the KC Stadium. The clubs have agreed a deal for the 28-year-old... Sunderland are hoping to sign four Spurs players, including Pascal Chimbonda, in a deal worth a total of £23m. Teemu Tainio, Steed Malbranque and Younes Kaboul are the others set to switch to the Stadium of Light... Wigan Athletic are keen to re-sign Jimmy Bullard from Fulham. The midfielder left the Latics in a £2.5m deal two years ago but has been put up for sale.
Transfer Talk: all the comings and goings of the close season 
Vaughan in clear-the-air talks
The selectors have been forced to step in as the fall-out from England's defeat to South Africa and Michael Vaughan's comments about the controversial selection of Darren Pattinson continues. "National selector Geoff Miller has held clear-the-air talks with Vaughan in the wake of the England captain's claim that late team changes were confused and had unsettled players prior to the second Test at Headingley," writes Derek Pringle in the Telegraph. Miller is concerned that both Vaughan and coach Peter Moores appear to have distanced themsleves from a decision that was supposed to have been taken between them. (Telegraph)
"It's been made into a massive issue by the media and I want to hear his side of the story." England selector Geoff Miller explains why he called a special meeting with Michael Vaughan
Durham into Twenty20 finals
Durham Dynamos finally booked their place at this weekend's Twenty20 finals bash with a convincing win over Glamorgan Dragons in their delayed quarter final. They played the Welsh county after Yorkshire were penalised two points for fielding an ineligible player in an earlier match, handing their quarter final spot to Glamorgan. After scoring 163, and recovering from 49-4, Durham never allowed the run chase to get going and bowl out the visitors for 119. "They overcame a shaky start to dismiss the Dragons with such comfort that they will surely fancy their chances against Middlesex in Saturday's second semi-final at the Rose Bowl," writes Andy Wilson in the Guardian. (Guardian)
Idowu rival out of Games
Phillips Idowu's chances of claiming gold in the triple jump in Beijung were given a boost when one of his main rivals appeared to pull out of the Games after an injury at a meeting in Stockholm. "Christian Olsson, the champion in Athens, suffered a hamstring injury on his fourth jump and, to the distress of his home crowd, promptly announced that he had 'no chance' of being fit for Beijing," writes Rick Broadbent in the Times. The main event at the meeting was the 100m, where Asafa Powell beat world recordholder Usain Bolt. Powell won by one hundredth of a second, recording a time of 9.88sec. (Times)
Calzaghe fight postponed
Joe Calzaghe's much anticipated clash with Roy Jones Junior has been postponed after the Welsh boxer injured his hand in training. The light heavyweight match-up between the undefeated Calzaghe and former champion Jones was due to take place at Madison Square Garden on September 20, however the 36-year-old sprained his wrist hitting pads and will not be ready for the bout. "Throughout a professional career that began in 1993 Calzaghe, 36, has been afflicted by brittle hands which have caused numerous fight postponements. The Jones contest may be rescheduled for November if a television slot can be agreed with the US cable network HBO," writes John Rawling in the Guardian. (Guardian)
Transfer talk: The latest football transfer news and transfer rumours 
