WITH the transfer window due to close in seven days, clubs up and down the country are preparing to splash the cash.

But with the transfer system having evolved into an intricate game of cat and mouse, it can be difficult to know your "hands-off warnings" from your "come-and-get-me pleas".

Thankfully, The Northern Echo is on hand with a cut-out-andkeep guide.

FROM THE MANAGER 1a) "We have irons in the fire, but January is a difficult time to do business. The best clubs don't want to let their top players go at this stage of the season."

1b) "We probably won't be getting anyone. I've been in touch with a few of the clubs in the Premier League, but they laughed as soon as they picked up the phone. I've had a few agents call me, but I'm not sure I believe them when they tell me the Latvian second division is broadly comparable to the top half of the Championship."

2a) "The important thing is not to panic. I don't want to bring in a player just for the sake of it. Any new arrival will have to be better than what we already have here."

2b) "We're definitely not getting anyone. I'm panicking as much as you are, but have you seen the rubbish I'm getting offered every day? I've tried to tempt the chairman, but he just looks at me, shakes his head, and says, Do you remember when Middlesbrough signed Michael Ricketts?' 3a) "I'm delighted we've managed to sign such a hungry, motivated player. Other footballers might have been happy sitting in the reserves. This guy's moved here because he's desperate to prove people wrong."

3b) "It's to be hoped he's hungry and motivated - he hasn't played a first-team game for the last three months. Look, I know this is a gamble. He's not the first name on the supporters' wanted list - he wasn't even the first name on mine."

4a) "There hasn't been a formal bid from anyone, so all I can say at this stage is that the player isn't for sale."

4b) "There was a bid this morning, but it wasn't high enough. I want to cover my back because I don't really want to lose him, but chances are he'll be somewhere else by the end of the window."

5a) "You can never say never in football. Every player has his price, but at the moment that's a purely hypothetical situation."

5b) "He'll be gone by the end of the week. Every player has his price - and this lad's is about £2m less than we've just been offered by one of our more desperate rivals. I know the fans will be sad to lose him, but I can get three Eastern European full-backs and an old-fashioned target man for that kind of money."

FROM THE PLAYER: 1a) "I don't think I've got a point to prove to anyone. I just want to play football, and this move will give me the best chance of doing that."

1b) "Of course I've got a point to prove. I don't know who my former manager thinks he is. I score a hat-trick at Chesterfield in the Carling Cup and then bang, I'm straight back in the reserves. It's true I want to play football, but the £250,000 signing- on fee obviously helps as well."

2a) "I've been a lifelong supporter of my new employers.

They're a big name back in my homeland and they've made me feel really welcome since I've been here."

2b) "I'd never even heard of my new employers until two days ago, and when I told everyone back home where I was going, they thought I was moving to Austria. My agent said they were the next best thing to Liverpool, but I'm beginning to question whether that's really true."

3a) "It really doesn't bother me that the manager's signed another player in my position.

Every successful team needs competition for places, and it's good to see the squad being strengthened."

3b) "I think I'm probably on my way now the manager has paid £5m for a player who does the same job as me. I know the top clubs bang on about competition for places, but we're not a top club and I don't fancy kicking around the reserves while fancy-dan here takes over my duties. I knocked back a loan move to Burnley last summer, and I'm already starting to regret it."

4a) "To be honest, I don't really pay a lot of attention to what's written in the press. It's flattering to be linked with a club that size, but I just keep my head down and get on with the game."

4b) "Have I read it? Are you mad? I've read it, photocopied it, and stuck it on my wall. My agent's down there having talks now, and I'm hoping the whole thing will be finished before the next phase of the Champions League. Will it affect my game?

You bet it will. The last thing I want to do now is go in for a 50- 50 challenge and break my leg."

5a) "I don't know where all of this came from. I was linked with them a couple of weeks back, but there's absolutely nothing in it."

5b) "I know exactly where all of this came from - me and my agent - but unfortunately they weren't willing to pay me what I wanted. But it's all died down since. It looks I'm staying here now, so I hope things improve before the next window."