Manchester United transfer target Leighton Baines admits being linked with the Old Trafford side is as off-putting as it is flattering.
The Everton defender, who was part of Roy Hodgson's squad at Euro 2012, has been a stand-out player for the Merseyside outfit since his switch five years ago.
Baines has been heavily linked this summer with a move up the M62 motorway to join Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
But the 27-year-old admits he has mixed feelings about the talk tying him to a move to Manchester.
"I've been aware of what's been said in the press but I don't know much beyond that," said Baines, who still has three years left on his present deal.
"It doesn't do any harm (to be linked) but it doesn't do any good either.
"It's just one of those things that tends to swing around this time of year. People put two and two together sometimes they get four and sometimes they get three or five.
"It gets other people more excited than those involved."
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Clarence Seedorf is to snub a move to the English Premier League in favour of a switch to Brazil after leaving AC Milan.
The Holland international had been linked with a move to West Ham, but has opted to join Botafogo on a two-year deal.
The 36-year-old is thought to have signed the largest ever contract for a foreigner in Brazil.
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Diego Maradona could be set to bring diminutive defensive midfielder Rodrigo Brana to Al Wasl.
Brana has been playing for Estudiantes in his home country since 2005, and was the star of their Copa Libertadores triumph in 2009.
Reports in Argentina claim the Al Wasl manager has been in talks with the 33-year-old over a switch to the Pro League.
Meanwhile Wasl have made their first move in the transfer market by signing the defender Mohammed Yaqoob Abbas, a regular for Ajman last season, on a three-year deal.
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George McCartney has returned to West Ham for his third spell at Upton Park, after a successful loan spell last year.
The Northern Ireland defender started his career in Sunderland's youth system before joining the Hammers from 2006 to 2008 - before returning to the Stadium of Light.
He spent last season on loan at East London and did enough to convince boss Sam Allardyce to make the move permanent.
The deal makes him the club's fourth signing since returning to the Premier League, following the captures of Jussi Jaaskelainen, Stephen Henderson and Mohamed Diame.
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Former Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute has become the latest veteran player to move to China's Super League.
The 2007 African Footballer of the Year has joined Beijing Guoan on a two-year deal from Sevilla, following in the footsteps of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba.
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