SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid, seeking to sign a top-class right back, could return to South America in a swoop for a third brilliant Argentinian teenager.
The Wearside boss had been linked with Boca Juniors star Hugo Ibarra after checking personally on the polished defender last season, but has been receiving glowing reports on the form of another fullback in the Buenos Aires club, Nicolas Burdisso.
Reid has been keeping close watch on the form of his two exciting teenagers, Julio Arca and Nicolas Medina in Argentina's FIFA World Youth Championships programme - and the name of Burdisso keeps cropping up in the reports he has been receiving from the tournament.
While skipper Arca - troubled by ankle and thigh injuries - has not been a regular starter Medina, who cost £3.5m in a deal announced in May, has been one of the most consistent performers.
But Burdisso has also been receiving rave reports, and the fact that he could be signed for a fee of £2m has alerted Reid.
But the Sunderland manager has other irons in the fire, and he is gradually sifting through a list of possible targets, which also includes French Under-21 international right back Steed Malbranque, who plays for Lyon, and Seville's Hector Berenguer del Pino.
Reid has told his scouts that after capturing £3.6m striker Lilian Laslandes from Bordeaux, his next priorities are a right back and a pacey outside right.
Former Sunderland winger Nicky Summberbee, who left Wearside under a cloud last season and then found himself released by Bolton Wanderers after the Lancashire club's promotion to the Premiership, has been linked with a move to Portsmouth.
Sir Alex Ferguson will return to active duties on the training ground next season, his last in charge at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United manager has decided against making a high-profile appointment following the departure of his assistant Steve McClaren to Middlesbrough.
Instead Jim Ryan steps up from first team coach to assistant manager with Mike Phelan switching from the reserves to take his place. Brian McClair becomes reserve team coach.
Ferguson, for his part, can't wait to put on his tracksuit and mix it with the players before bowing out as boss.
''I am still as hungry to win things in my last year as I was in my first," he said.
''That appetite has, and will never, leave me."
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