FOOTBALL SHORTS

MANCHESTER UNITED chief scout Jim Lawlor was in the crowd to watch Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson and centre back Stefan de Vrij against Verona. Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi was also watched by a club scout last Friday.

ARSENAL may extend their pre-season tour of Asia in the summer to include a match in Thailand as well as a tournament in Singapore.

BLACKPOOL chairman Karl Oyston has been charged by the Football Association over text messages in which he called a supporter ‘a retard’.