The talk in football

Did you know that despite having more than £4billion, Roman Abramovich cannot join the Chelsea board? Well we didn't and apparently it's because, as governor of the isolated Russian province of Chukotka, he is not allowed to directly own any commercial posts or assets outside his own country. So everything is held in trusts which are not in his name.

That'll do Nikely...

Manchester United sold 1.8million replica shirts last season, which generated £75m worth of revenue. The club revealed this to a recent City investors' workshop. Most of the money goes to Nike, as United ceded all rights to them under the £303m, 13-year deal signed in 2001. But there is a profit-share clause above a certain amount, so United do get some dosh from the sales.

Real are coming up short

Talking about selling kits, Real Madrid, who bought David Beckham to try and generate the sort of sales United achieve, should get their act together in this country. A trawl of the top sports stores in the capital reveals that none stock the club's shorts and socks to go with their new shirts.

Dino scores with Hoddle

Glenn Hoddle admitted last week that Tottenham were still looking for a defensive midfielder and his attention has turned to Italy. Dino Baggio could be the player now interesting Spurs. Chris Perry may be the next player to leave to help finance the deal with Portsmouth and Aston Villa favourites to land the defender. Villa boss David O'Leary sent his scouts to watch Perry last week.

Rivals are seeing Reb

Sergei Rebrov may no longer be anything to do with Spurs but that may not stop him returning to the Premiership. Southampton, Middlesbrough and Leicester are all understood to be monitoring his situation after his time at Fenerbahce ended badly.

The one that Scott away

Meanwhile, word reaches us that relations became strained between Charlton and Spurs as a result of the onoff transfer of Scott Parker, but that the antecedents of the problem actually began over a mystery incident last season.

All odes lead to Rome

And finally... in which club reception is this motivational message, which we hope does not become prophetic? "The Romans did not build a great empire by organising meetings. They did it by killing anybody that got in their way."