THE transfer window is officially open and while that now infamous deadline day is two months away yet, big moves are already starting to happen.

With a wonderful World Cup reaching the business end, it is perhaps expected there are more national column inches filled with Brazil-based speculation.

But my message to anyone listening at those top-flight clubs is to tread cautiously – as Public Enemy once proclaimed ‘Don’t Believe the Hype’.

World Cups and European Championships can be minefields for teams looking to snare an unlikely new star and this summer has been no different.

Current top scorer James Rodriguez of Colombia is already being linked with the big European clubs even though he only moved to Monaco for a huge fee 12 months ago.

And there will be others from less salubrious surroundings that may have taken their chance in the bi-annual shop window to earn a chance in one of the big leagues.

But one tournament does not always make a summer.

And there have been many examples of players who have shone in the limelight only to flatter to deceive at club level.

Looking back 18 years and Euro ’96 threw up the surprise package of the Czech Republic who made it all the way to the final.

With talent from the traditional bigger footballing nations commanding bigger fees, clubs looked to cash in on the cut-rpice Czechs.

But while Liverpool saw glimpses of Patrik Berger’s talent, Manchester United could not exactly say the same for Karel Poborsky.

And there are other examples – John Jensen went to Arsenal after winning Euro ’92 and famously found goals from midfield hard to come by.

Milan Baros is another who never reached the heights anticipated.

It is not always the case – there have been success stories.

David Platt’s impressive Italia ’90 earned him a switch to Bari and he later moved to Juventus. Paul Gascoigne followed him to Italy a year later.

Gems can be unearthed but the amount of money banded about in modern football makes it even more imperative you do your research before forking out.

Think Costa Rica and it is a case of cost-a fortune after their success this summer.

For all those Premier League managers and scouts out there enjoying the Copacabana sunshine, the warning signs are there.