The Specials

Premier League tours of duty stretch farther

The list of pre-season fixtures grows more outlandish each year as clubs are prepared to travel to more far-flung places

Sunderland make £11m bid for Crouch

Window watch: Wearsiders test Portsmouth's resolve to hang on to their England striker and may force three-way auction

Bowyer completes move to Birmingham

The out-of-contract West Ham United midfielder has signed a two-year deal at St Andrews after successful loan spell

Bordeaux deny Sunderland bid for Chamakh

Window watch: French club question size of Wearside team, while Fulham close in on deal for Pawel Brozek

Alonso appears ready to leave Liverpool

Window watch: the £35 million-rated midfield player has said already goodbye to several of the club's backroom staff

Stoke make move for Ashton

Window watch: the West Ham United striker could leave East London, but there are concerns over his ankle injury

Pulis checks on Ashton's availability

Stoke manager has made an enquiry about the West Ham striker, according to chairman Peter Coates

Chelsea set to lose out on Ribery

Window watch: The France winger's agent said he wants to join Real Madrid while Alexandre Pato is set to stay at AC Milan

Arsenal to pounce for Morocco star

Window watch: Fulham hold talks with Bordeaux about signing Marouane Chamakh, but London rivals are waiting in the wings

Top clubs facing up to fixture congestion

Manchester United appear to have been handed an easier start to the season than their rivals, but all face fixture pile-up

West Ham United fixtures 2009-10

Premier League fixtures, 2008-09: your club-by-club guide

West Ham offer Mancini loan deal

Window watch: Inter Milan and Brazil attacking player has been likened to Cristiano Ronaldo by Sven-Göran Eriksson

Transfer window: your club-by-club guide

Who is spending wisely and who has money to burn? Gary Jacob guides you through the ins and outs of the summer window

How white lines led to dark days for Ward

Cocaine den put former West Ham and Everton footballer behind bars and the No7 became NM6982 at Walton prison