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SOUTHAMPTON

CAN’T help feeling Virgil van Dijk (right) may still end up at Liverpool but at least Southampton have taken a stance against the practice of tapping up players that is now so widespread nobody really tries to hide it any more. On that note, there is at least one other prominent club who know Liverpool have recently been ‘all over’ one of their players but are not minded to do anything about it.

SCOTT PARKER

THE former England midfielder is still going strong at Fulham at 36 — but his publicly stated desire to move into management at some stage has not gone unnoticed. Premier League clubs, including his old friends at Tottenham, are watching closely with a view to offering him a place on the first rung of the coaching ladder.

MARK WOOD

HARD not to like a bloke who can bowl at 90mph off a five-pace run-up, gives it a biff when he bats and usually has a smile on his face. Not sure about some of that dancing in the outfield — you will only look daft when you drop one — but we might just have a surprise star of the Champions Trophy in our team. Keeping him fit for the Ashes this winter is vital.