Football: Pick your team to take you to the World Cup finals

When the new league season opens on August 9th a vast array of footballing talent will be on parade for the first time.

Arsenal and Chelsea have been the busiest clubs in the overseas market, with Marc Overmars the most expensive recruit. The two London clubs can be expected to mount a strong challenge. Liverpool and Newcastle United will also be fighting for the title.

However, Alex Ferguson's men will again be the team to beat. With the signings of Teddy Sheringham and Celio Silva from Brazil they are again the bookmakers' favourites to win the title.

Can you keep up with the changes? The Independent and Independent on Sunday are giving you the chance. With a budget of pounds 40 million, can you come up with a team to top them all in the Premiership this season?

HOW TO ENTER.

Firstly you will need to pick your team formation, of course there's your goalkeeper plus you have a choice of four formations for the others in your team.

FORMATION A. 4-4-2

4 Defenders, 4 Midfielders, 2 Strikers

FORMATION B. 4-3-3

4 Defenders, 3 Midfielders, 3 Strikers

FORMATION C. 5-3-2

5 Defenders, 3 Midfielders, 2 Strikers

FORMATION D. 3-5-2

3 Defenders, 5 Midfielders, 2 Strikers

Once you have chosen your formation pick your team of 11 players and 1 manager from the list below. Players can only play in the positions that they are listed under and their total value must not go over pounds 40million. Having made a note of your team in our table dial our registration hotline. Please try to use a tone telephone - one which makes tone noises when you dial, although pulse telephones can be used to register your team.

THE ULTIMATE PRIZE

The overall winner, the manager who at the end of the season accrues more points than any other will win a trip to the 1998 World Cup in France. With a companion, they will see all the action of a quarter-final and semi-final of their choice, plus the final. In addition, the highest scoring team each month will win a pair of tickets to one of England's home internationals at Wembley.