D.C. United's preseason personnel surge continued on Wednesday with the acquisition of Argentine centerback Emiliano Dudar from BSC Young Boys in Switzerland.

The 6-foot-4, 30-year-old Dudar is a player with experience on a number of levels and is a one-time Swiss league Defender of the Year (2009-2010).

There is a report out today that BSC Young Boys striker Emmanuel Mayuka is being closely followed by Newcastle United. Emmanuel Mayuka Zambian striker interesting Newcastle? The agent of the 21 year-old striker, Nir Karin, has said that in an interview with L'Equipe, but he could be trying to generate some interest in his client.

There is a report out today that BSC Young Boys striker Emmanuel Mayuka is being closely followed by Newcastle United. Emmanuel Mayuka Zambian striker interesting Newcastle? The agent of the 21 year-old striker, Nir Karin, has said that in an interview with L'Equipe, but he could be trying to generate some interest in his client.

FC Basel ultras at Stade de Suisse Wankdorf, Bern, home of BSC Young Boys. The latter won on penalty kicks in the Swiss Cup semi-finals, April 2009.

Photo credit: Michael Mohr on Flickr

There is something almost Riefenstahlian about the official site's daily descriptions of the squad's pre-season fitness regime; the luxuriating in the mundane minutiae of each training drill and the fetishistic depictions of lythe young bodies in the throws of physical exertion. So it is we learn that it was a mixture of work and play for West Ham United's players as the squad continued their pre-season training camp in Switzerland.

Three of the UEFA Europa League's Round of 32 first legs are in the books, but 13 more remain to be played on Thursday including games involving Americans Sacha Kljestan and Maurice Edu.

Kljestan starts out on the bench as Anderlecht opens up at home against Ajax Amsterdam in one of the more intriguing knockout-stage matchups.