Fabio Capello has stressed the need for new England hero Theo Walcott to “keep his feet on the ground” after his stunning hat-trick against Croatia in the crucial World Cup qualifier on Wednesday night.

Walcott has been regarded as one of the nation’s brightest young talents ever since he was controversially named in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad for the 2006 World Cup at the tender age of 17.

But the hullabaloo that surrounded the former Southampton player just over two years ago will be nothing compared to the present media circus around the Arsenal player after his treble in Zagreb during England’s 4-1 win.

Walcott will now be catapulted into the limelight after becoming the first player to score a hat-trick for England in a competitive match since Michael Owen in the 5-1 triumph over Germany in Munich seven years ago.

It would be easy for any teenager who is less than level-headed to be carried away with events as Walcott’s treble put England in prime position already to qualify for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

But Capello will be grateful Walcott will be returning to club manager Arsene Wenger, who the Italian is sure will keep him focused solely on improving his game.

The Italian said: “I know Walcott will get a lot of publicity. I know that. It will be a problem for Arsenal, not for me! Theo is young with a big future but you have to help him.

“At this moment all the newspapers and the TV programmes will speak about Theo. He has to stay with his feet on the ground. This is very important.”

Liverpool and Espanyol have agreed a fee for winger Albert Riera in excess of £8million, according to reports on Tuesday afternoon.

The Liverpool Echo claims the two clubs have agreed a compromise fee – reported elsewhere to be £8.2m – after the Spaniard made it clear that he was only interested in moving to the red half of Merseyside.

Everton have also apparently bid for Riera but despite a higher offer, they have seemingly failed in their move for the left-sided player.

Riera will now need to agree terms with Liverpool and pass a medical but he could be a Reds player in time for Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa.

Manchester City and Everton are weighing up whether to bid for out-of-favour Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The England international has failed to hold down a regular place under three different managers at Stamford Bridge and has now been told his first-team chances are limited under current boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Although Wright-Phillips has always stressed his preference to stay with Chelsea, at 26 he realises his chances of fulfilling his potential – and forcing his way back into the England reckoning – require him to move on.

In theory, a move back to City, where Wright-Phillips first made his name before a £21million transfer to Chelsea, would be ideal.

However, Wright-Phillips is known to have reservations about rejoining the Blues, where he came through their highly-rated academy system.

Former City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson failed in an attempt to get Wright-Phillips back to Eastlands on loan last summer but now it seems the Swede’s replacement Mark Hughes is ready to try again.

However, Everton are also interested, with David Moyes realising he needs to bolster his squad if the Toffeemen are to stand any chance of matching last term’s fifth-placed finish.

Everton can offer a guaranteed place in Europe, something City are unable to do at present given they will start the away leg of their UEFA Cup qualifier with FC Midtjylland one goal down on Thursday.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes the Spanish champions will be a force to be reckoned with next season regardless of whether they sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Manchester United winger has been tracked by the Primera Liga champions all summer, with the player himself fuelling speculation by refusing to commit his future to the English club.

United coach Sir Alex Ferguson, who met Ronaldo for clear-the-air talks last week, is adamant there is no chance of the Portugal international quitting United for Spain.

But Calderon insists, even without the Portuguese, Real will go into the new campaign with a “complete” squad.

“We can’t talk about footballers who aren’t ours,” he told Spanish television channel Atena 3.

“I’ve already said several times that we have a very complete squad, who have just won the Primera Liga.

“We built a great team last year. If we finally make some signings, they would be few but very good.”

The Real chief claimed the Spanish side are mere spectators in the transfer saga which has dominated the summer.

“We don’t have anything to say about that issue,” he said. “We are only spectators, a passive observer in this whole story.

“It is the player and the club who are talking about a possible problem, we are unconnected to all that.”

Calderon also poured scorn on suggestions unsettled Barcelona forward Samuel Eto’o could return to Madrid.

Eto’o has been told he can leave the Nou Camp this summer, and although he is reportedly the subject of interest from Real, it would be a controversial move for the player who left the Bernabeu on a sour note in 2000.

And Calderon has laughed off suggestions that the striker could move back to Barca’s bitter rivals.