TRANSFER GOSSIP The Guardian sport pull-outs front page Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is confident of signing Netherlands midfielder Kevin Strootman - although the move could be delayed until the summer if the 24- year-old helps Roma reach the Champions League knockout stages by beating Manchester City on Wednesday. (Daily Telegraph)(external) But Van Gaal has dismissed suggestions that he needs to strengthen his defence in January. (Daily Express)(external) Manchester United are in pole position to sign Benficas £25m-rated Argentine midfielder Enzo Perez, 28, because Valencia cannot afford him. (Talksport)(external) Liverpool are continuing to look at Chelseas Petr Cech, 32, and Stokes Asmir Begovic, 27, as a replacement for keeper Simon Mignolet, 26 - but are set to miss out on Colognes Timo Horn, 21. (Daily Mail)(external) Monacos Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho, 28, could be heading for the Premier League, with agent Jorge Mendes ready to sound out Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United over a £30m deal. (Daily Express)(external) Crystal Palace are weighing up a January move for Norwich and England keeper John Ruddy, 28. (Daily Mirror)(external) OTHER GOSSIP Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini says his job would not be in danger if they were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday. (Guardian)(external) The front of the Daily Telegraphs sport supplement And City striker Edin Dzeko, 28, has promised that his recent thigh problem will not prevent him from leading their bid for the knockout stages in the absence of the injured Sergio Aguero. (Daily Star)(external) Argentine forward Aguero, 26, could be out for as long as eight weeks - rather than the four to six weeks suggested initially by Pellegrini - after straining his medial knee ligament against Everton on Saturday. (Independent)(external) Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, 31, has warned Liverpool he is at the peak of his powers ahead of Sundays Premier League match-up at Old Trafford. (Sun - subscription required)(external) Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain, 21, says he needs to improve his scoring record after managing just two goals all season. (Sky Sports)(external) Former Chelsea defender David Luiz, 27, says he made a good choice in leaving Stamford Bridge for Paris St-Germain in June. (Daily Mirror)(external) Paul Lambert has being let down by his bench at Aston Villa - as only three goals have been scored by substitutes in his 91- match Premier League reign as manager. (Birmingham Mail)(external) Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov has come forward as the buyer of James Watsons 1962 Nobel medal - awarded for helping to discover the structure of DNA - and says he plans to give it back to the 86-year-old biologist. (Guardian)(external) BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA Liverpool captain Steven Gerrards cousin Anthony - who plays for Championship side Huddersfield - has offered his solution (external) to improve fortunes at Anfield: Liverpool need to buy a dynamic midfielder and a world-class striker ASAP! Times journalist Rory Smith offered his verdict (external) on Liverpools failure to repeat their Champions League heroics of a decade ago against Basel: Its almost like football isnt a scripted drama, where what happened 10 years ago will somehow repeat itself just when you want it to. Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott - now a BBC Test Match Special summariser - has laid into Manchester Uniteds defence on Twitter:(external) 50 years Ive supported them and Ive never seen a defence so bad. Great woolly jumpers of our time, as modelled by Koeman (left) and Edmonds Southampton manager Ronald Koeman geared up for the clubs Christmas party - by posting a photo of himself(external) wearing a Christmas jumper worthy of former BBC host Noel Edmonds. Many Premier League footballers have been visiting local hospitals to bring some cheer, among them West Brom keeper Ben Foster, (external) who wrote: Humbling day at Birmingham childrens hospital, if youve got kids, give em a hug, cos we dont know how lucky we are. AND FINALLY Mario Balotelli has been made Liverpools featured player for January in their official 2015 calendar - saving them any embarrassment if he doesnt stay at Anfield for the rest of the year. (Daily Mail) (external) Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs, 41, showed he has lost none of his skills by doing keepy-ups with a potato. (Manchester Evening News)(external)
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 06:49:46 +0000
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