Manchester United yesterday defended the launch of yet another current playing strip - their fourth - by telling fans: "You don't have to buy it."
United will wear the red kit solely for their Champions' League campaign and will unveil it early next month in time for their opening group match on September 17th.
It will be the sixth strip worn by United in the last three seasons, including the short-lived and infamous grey one.
Assistant secretary Ken Ramsden claimed the outfit was a one-off commemorative and that the club and manufacturers Umbro were not cashing in on supporters' loyalty.
"We're not saying that people must wear this strip to show that they are fans," he said. "If people like it and want to wear it, brilliant. If not then that's their choice."
Steve McManaman will meet the Liverpool board in the next two days to discuss his future following the fiasco of his aborted £12 million move to Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Deportivo La Coruna are considering taking legal action against Barcelona, claiming they have still to receive the £16 million transfer fee for the Brazilian Rivaldo, whom Barcelona bought instead of McManaman.
Roy Evans confirmed yesterday that he is interested in two defenders, Massimo Paganin of Inter Milan and the Estonia captain Marek Lemsalu. But the Anfield board has still to decide whether to grant the transfer request of their Republic of Ireland winger Mark Kennedy, who has played just 13 first-team games since arriving from Millwall for £1.5 million two years ago. Wimbledon have already made a bid, and the player wants to join them.
Crystal Palace have finally completed the £1.2 million signing of Royal Antwerp's Israeli international midfielder Itzhik Zohar. The deal was held up by red tape.
Sheffield Wednesday have confirmed their interest in the £750,000-rated midfielder Petter Rudi, currently with the Norweigan club, Molde.
Leeds' former England left-back Tony Dorigo is moving to the Italian Serie B Club Torino, managed by Graeme Souness.
Iain Dowie's £500,000 move to Barnsley is in doubt. The West Ham board wants to accept the offer for the 32-year-old striker, but the manager Harry Redknapp wants to keep him.
England, meanwhile, received some encouraging news ahead of next month's World Cup qualifier with Moldova when Tony Adams yesterday came through his first game after injury.
The 30-year-old looked his old self during a 75-minute run-out for Arsenal reserves against Portsmouth reserves yesterday.
