Goal Zone: January 2015

Friday, January 30, 2015

Manchester United sign Salford City right-back Sadiq El Fitouri

Manchester United have secured the signing of Salford City right-back Sadiq El Fitouri on an 18-month deal.

The 20-year-old, who made his Northern Premier League debut just a matter of weeks ago, will head straight into Warren Joyce's Under-21 squad.

El Fitouri's switch to Old Trafford was given the green light after he impressed during a trial at United's Carrington training base.

"This is honestly a dream come true for me and I have to thank Salford City for the chance, as well as the faith they have shown in me," El Fitouri told United's official website.

"I am really looking forward to what happens next and to be given the opportunity to do so at Manchester United is unbelievable."

Salford was taken over by former United stars Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Phil and Gary Neville last year.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp rejects interest in Emmanuel Adebayor, Pablo Osvaldo

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp has batted away suggestions that the club are interested in signing Emmanuel Adebayor and Pablo Osvaldo before Monday's 11pm transfer deadline.

Adebayor has been linked with a move away from Tottenham Hotspur, with Paris Saint-Germain believed to be keen on sealing a loan deal for the remainder of the season.

With regards to Southampton's Osvaldo, the controversial striker comes to the end of his loan stint at Inter Milan when the season comes to a close in May.

When asked about Adebayor in this morning's press conference, Redknapp said: "I don't see that happening. He's an excellent player. You don't play for Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Tottenham if you're not.

"I wouldn't see him leaving Tottenham - it's too expensive a deal for us. We're looking for loans. I don't know if he is available on loan."

When probed on Osvaldo, Redknapp added: "No. Nothing there. That's not because of the baggage of his history at Southampton - he's a good player. We couldn't afford him basically. He's on big, big wages. I think there are options in Italy for him."

Redknapp has also admitted that the club are "struggling" to sign new players in this window.

Hull City agree fee for Senegal striker Dame N'Doye

Striker-shy Hull City are believed to have agreed a fee for Lokomotiv Moscow forward Dame N'Doye.

Tigers boss Steve Bruce is desperate to bolster his attacking options this month, with senior frontmen Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez struggling with injuries.

Having apparently failed in pursuit of Blackburn Rovers duo Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede, Hull have turned to the foreign market and Sky Sports News claims that they have had a £3m bid accepted for N'Doye.

Personal terms are yet to be agreed with the player, but the Premier League club are hopeful that Senegal's elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations will give them enough time to finalise the deal before Monday's deadline.

N'Doye has scored 27 goals in 66 Russian league games for Lokomotiv since joining from FC Copenhagen in 2012.

Fernando hoping to learn from "quality" Nemanja Matic

Manchester City midfielder Fernando has admitted that he looks to Chelsea's Nemanja Matic for inspiration on how to improve his own game.

The Serbian international rejoined the Blues from Benfica 12 months ago and has not looked back since to become a key component in the current Premier League leaders' starting lineup.

Fernando has not enjoyed the same sort of consistency since linking up with title rivals City last summer, but he hopes to become a better player as his career in England develops by watching Matic up close.

"It's a specific position and one that is really important for every team all over the world," he told reporters. "I played against Matic in Portugal several times and he is a really great player. He has so much quality.

"There are not many players like him left now, I think, but he is one I try to look at and learn from as I try to improve the way I play that role. He has become incredibly important to Chelsea. I always try to watch these players."

The 27-year-old has been unable to truly establish himself at the Etihad Stadium since making a £12m move from Porto, featuring 16 times in the top flight this campaign.

Laurent Blanc dispels rumours of rift between Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc has called on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani to improve their link-up play on the field.

The star duo have failed to reach the heights of last season in Ligue 1 this time around, finding the net on a combined 17 occasions.

Blanc has acknowledged that there is still more to come from the pair, although the Frenchman categorically denied that there had been a falling out between the two.

"Both need to improve, Ibra [Ibrahimovic] and Cavani, because they can play together," he is quoted as saying by FourFourTwo. "They have to look for each other more on the pitch.

"I was sure that after the game in Saint-Etienne, the little discussion at the half time between Ibra and Cavani will make you speak. Everything is over, they are the best friends in the world, they will go together on holidays. That's crazy what you can take from some footage."

PSG, who are currently four points off the pace in the French top flight, return to action this evening with Rennes the visitors to the Parc des Princes.

Chelsea 'agree package for Juan Cuadrado'

Premier League leaders Chelsea appear to be closing in on the signing of Juan Cuadrado after reportedly striking a multi-facted deal with Fiorentina for the winger.

The Blues have apparently agreed to pay an initial fee of £23.33m, plus a series of add-ons which equate to the Colombian's £26.34m release clause.

Sky Sports News also claim that Mohamed Salah could move the other way on an 18-month free loan.

Contracts are now being drawn up between the three parties and Jose Mourinho is said to be hopeful of having Cuadrado available for Saturday's top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Cuadrado's arrival would pave the way for German World Cup winner Andre Schurrle to complete his £23m move to Wolfsburg before Monday's transfer deadline.

Manuel Pellegrini: 'Chelsea game not a title decider'

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that their match with Chelsea will not have a definitive say on the destination of the Premier League title.

The champions travel to Stamford Bridge for a top-of-the-table showdown on Saturday, when defeat would see them fall eight points behind the Londoners.

However, Pellegrini has claimed that it is too early in the season for any result to decide the title race, and highlighted City making up significant ground on rivals Manchester United to finish top of the pile three seasons ago as evidence.

"It's an important game, it's not the game that will decide the title because after that we have to play for 48 points," the Argentine told reporters.

"It's not a final. Remember, City won the title in 2011-12 after being eight points behind Manchester United."

Chelsea's 17-goal top scorer Diego Costa will miss the match after losing his appeal against an FA violent conduct charge.

Barcelona's Jeremy Mathieu reveals Lionel Messi, Luis Enrique had "friction"

Barcelona's Jeremy Mathieu has revealed that Lionel Messi and head coach Luis Enrique did have a training ground bust-up recently.

Rumours have surrounded Camp Nou claiming that the club's star player and their coach have had a falling-out.

The speculation has sparked suggestions that Messi may consider leaving the Spanish club where he started his career.

"A few truths were said in order to improve the situation," Inside Spanish Football quotes Mathieu as saying. "There was some friction between Leo and the manager. They are things that happen in every team during parts of the season. The good thing is that the manager knew these things and has been able to return everything to normal.

"It was in training at the start of the month. Just after we had returned from the break. Suddenly, because of a foul that wasn't given by the manager, Messi lost it a little bit and there was a bit of friction then between them. They said what they had to say. Luis Enrique spoke to Leo straight afterwards and sorted everything out. As I said, these things happen in every club but because of the publicity at Barcelona, it's all scrutinised."

Barcelona are currently one point behind leaders Real Madrid in the La Liga table.

Hull City agree fee for Senegal striker Dame N'Doye

Striker-shy Hull City are believed to have agreed a fee for Lokomotiv Moscow forward Dame N'Doye.

Tigers boss Steve Bruce is desperate to bolster his attacking options this month, with senior frontmen Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez struggling with injuries.

N'Doye has scored 27 goals in 66 Russian league games for Lokomotiv since joining from FC Copenhagen in 2012.

Louis van Gaal expects Darren Fletcher to join West Ham United

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed that Darren Fletcher is having a medical at West Ham United ahead of his proposed transfer.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce had admitted that he was unsure if the deal would go through, but Van Gaal has now suggested that it is close to competition.

The Dutchman has acknowledged that he is losing a big presence from his squad, but could not begrudge the 30-year-old midfielder the chance to play more regularly.

"'He is now in West Ham, I believe," Van Gaal told his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"We have to wait and see. He is my third captain, an important guy in the dressing room. I like him as a human being. But he has not played so much."

Fletcher has made 340 appearances for United since progressing from the club's academy in 2002, but has only made four Premier League starts this season.

Manuel Pellegrini: 'We can cope without Yaya Toure'

Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that Manchester City are capable of beating Chelsea without Yaya Toure.

The champions have failed to win any of their three games since the Ivorian departed for the Africa Cup of Nations and he will continue to be absent for Saturday's top-of-the-table showdown at Stamford Bridge.

However, Pellegrini has stressed that City have already proven that they can get big-game results without their influential midfielder.

"He's an important player but we qualified against Roma and beat Bayern Munich without him," he told reporters. "Teams don't depend on one player."

Toure has scored nine goals in 26 appearances across all competitions for the Citizens this season.

Diego Costa to miss Manchester City clash after losing appeal

Chelsea striker Diego Costa will miss the potential title decider with Manchester City on Saturday after losing his appeal against an FA violent conduct charge.

The Spain international will serve a three-match ban for stamping on Liverpool's Emre Can in the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday.

The £32m signing from Atletico Madrid denied the charge, but disciplinary action has been taken after the FA reviewed video footage of the incident, which was not seen by the match officials.

Jose Mourinho has accused members of the press of 'campaigning' against Costa and has thus cancelled his pre-match press conference scheduled for this afternoon.

The Blues boss will also be without his 17-goal top scorer for the Premier League games against Aston Villa and Everton.

Stamford Bridge favourite Didier Drogba, 36, is expected to lead Chelsea's attack in the absence of Costa when the champions visit London, hoping to reduce the five-point gap at the top of the table.

Michael Carrick faces four weeks out

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has been ruled out for up to a month with a muscle rupture.

Manager Louis van Gaal told the club's official website on Friday that the 33-year-old will miss around four weeks of action.

The England international has been praised for his role in improving United's results since returning from an ankle ligament injury in November.

The Red Devils have won 63.6% of the 13 games that Carrick has started this season, compared to just a 30% win rate without him in the team.

Van Gaal added that Ashley Young is nearing a return following a hamstring problem which has sidelined him since New Year's Day.

Arsene Wenger: 'Defeat to Chelsea will hamper Manchester City's title chances'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that Manchester City will have a mountain to climb if they lose to Chelsea on Saturday.

The Premier League title contenders go head to head tomorrow, with Chelsea currently five points above their rivals at the top of the table.

"When two big teams play each other, you always want a draw," Wenger told reporters. "Most of the time, you get it.

"I think a draw would be an acceptable result for Manchester City, because it would keep them in the race for the championship.

"There is still a long way to go, and they are only five points behind Chelsea. With an eight-point gap, it will be much more difficult, maybe."

Arsenal are 13 points behind leaders Chelsea.

Chelsea to make £21m Enner Valencia bid

Chelsea are reportedly hoping to land West Ham United striker Enner Valencia before the transfer window slams shut next week.

Jose Mourinho recently suggested that he was happy with his current group of players and would not be delving into the market ahead of Monday's deadline.

However, speculation has mounter over the past few days claiming that a bid could be made for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Douglas Costa, while Juan Cuadrado of Fiorentina is also said to be on the club's radar.

Valencia, who joined West Ham from Mexican club Pachuca last summer following an impressive showing at the World Cup, is also being tracked by Mourinho, with The Metro reporting that a £21m bid will be made in the coming days.

It is also rumoured that Chelsea could offer Loic Remy to the Hammers in exchange for Valencia, which may force the East London outfit's hand.

Angel di Maria praises "very aggressive" Marcos Rojo

Angel di Maria has claimed that the "very aggressive" Marcos Rojo is destined to achieve success with Manchester United.

Both players were brought to the club as part of Louis van Gaal's spending spree in the summer, and Di Maria admits that he is full of admiration for his fellow Argentine, who has impressed in defence since returning from a six-week spell out of action with injury.

"Off the field he's really relaxed, a real family guy, a really good person," United's attacking midfielder is quoted as saying by The Mirror. "But on the field he's a very aggressive player, very strong. He plays to the death. He puts it all on the line when he's on the field and I know he will be a great asset to United.

"He does great with free-kicks in the area – he's great at headers. He targets the ball and jumps high. I think he is a great player when it comes to headers.

"The first time I met him was with the national team. He's a great guy – very modest, very laid back, very professional and after so many great games and a great World Cup he deserves to play for a great club like United."

United are back in action against Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.

Guinea reach quarters after lots drawn

Guinea have won a place in the CAF African Nations Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Mali after the drawing of lots.

The teams fought out a 1-1 draw in Mongomo on Wednesday and, with both having also played out 1-1 draws in their previous Group D matches, lots were required to decide who finished second in the pool and advanced to face Ghana in the last eight.

There were two balls in a pot labelled position two (2) and position three (3), with a representative from each team told to pick a ball - and the Confederation of African Football confirmed on its website on Thursday afternoon that Guinea had come out on top.

It is a remarkable set of circumstances and one not seen at the African Nations Cup since 1988, when the drawing of lots sent Algeria through to the knockout stage with the Côte d'Ivoire missing out. The draw was made at a meeting of the Confederation of African Football officials on Thursday.

AC Milan confirm Mattia Destro arrival from Roma on loan

AC Milan have confirmed that they have reached an agreement to sign Roma attacker Mattia Destro on loan.

The 23-year-old was recently linked with Arsenal, and some reports claimed that talks were planned between the two parties.

However, Destro will not be arriving in the Premier League this month as the Italian has agreed to join Milan on loan until the end of the season.

The Serie A outfit have confirmed that there is an option in place for a permanent deal to be signed at the end of the campaign.

Paul Pogba's agent again hints star could leave Juventus

Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola has reiterated that the French star could leave Juventus in the near future.

The 21-year-old has been heavily linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid, as well as his former club Manchester United, who let the midfielder leave for nothing back in 2012.

Raiola believes that Juve could benefit from the sale of Pogba as they could use the cash from the £40m-rated star to build a Champions League-winning team.

"If you want to keep hold of him, then you've got to build a side strong enough for Pogba to improve in, but if you don't sell him, you don't have the money to do that," Raiola told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Everybody has got a card in their hand, and it's all about when you play it. If it's not this year, it will be the year after.

"All I want is that whoever wants to buy him really believes in him and pays him the world, and if Paul leaves Juve he does it to go to the very top."

Manchester City and Chelsea have also been linked with the player.

Roberto Mancini: Inter Milan "working on" Yaya Toure deal

Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini has hinted that he will make a move for Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure during the summer transfer window.

The Ivory Coast international, who is currently away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with his country, has been a key component for the Citizens this term following a period of discontent prior to the season.

Toure first lifted the Premier League title during Mancini's tenure at the Etihad Stadium, and he appears to have attracted the interest of the Italian once more.

"He's one of the best players in the world, he can still have his say," he told Il Giornale. "He played for many teams, in many leagues like Belgium, Spain, Russia, England. He only misses Italy, this may be a good chance for him.

"We're working on it. You know, there are some players who may change team and Yaya is one of them. Next year we may try - we just need three champions to close the gap with Juventus."

Toure has made 26 appearances for City this season, scoring nine goals in the process.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa 'to contest FA charge for 'stamp' against Liverpool'

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has reportedly decided to contest the Football Association's charge of violent conduct.

The Spain international was charged by the English governing body for allegedly stamping on Emre Can's ankle against Liverpool on Tuesday evening.

The incident, which was not seen at the time by referee Michael Oliver, occurred during Chelsea's 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge, which sent the West London outfit through to the Capital One Cup final.

Prior to the charge being issued, manager Jose Mourinho defended his striker by claiming that any 'stamp' was accidental.

According to Press Association Sport, Costa, who committed a similar incident on Martin Skrtel during the match, will contest the charge, which carries a three-game ban if found guilty.

Arsenal signing Gabriel Paulista takes Thomas Vermaelen's number five shirt

Arsenal have confirmed that new signing Gabriel Paulista will wear the number five shirt following his move from Villarreal.

The North London outfit confirmed the arrival of the defender yesterday for a fee reported to be in the region of £15m.

Now, the club have revealed that Paulista will wear the shirt vacated by Thomas Vermaelen following the centre-back's move to Barcelona last summer.

Paulista spent 18 months at Villarreal and is yet to make a senior appearance for his nation of Brazil.

Eliaquim Mangala admits Manchester City struggles

Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala has admitted that he has so far failed to scale the heights expected of him following a £40m move from Porto last summer.

City made the Frenchman the world's most expensive defender but the 23-year-old - currently out with a groin injury - has struggled to live up to his billing thus far.

However, Mangala insists that he is still coming to grips with the Premier League following his big-money switch.

"I'm OK, fine," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"It could be better, it could be worse. It's my first season in the Premier League and you have to adapt to a new style of playing."

Mangala has started 13 of the Sky Blues' 22 Premier League outings so far this season.

Chelsea 'agree to sell Andre Schurrle to fund Juan Cuadrado move'

Chelsea will reportedly look to cash in on Andre Schurrle in the next 24 hours in order to push through a move for Juan Cuadrado.

The 26-year-old German international has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this month having fallen largely out of favour under Jose Mourinho, with Borussia Dortmund the side rumoured to be leading the race to land his signature.

It has also been widely reported that the Blues are interested in landing Fiorentina winger Cuadrado, who is said to be available for a fee of £26.8m.

The Daily Mail claims that both deals could now be pushed through ahead of this weekend following a day of heavy talks.

Should that be the case Cuadrado, who has scored 21 goals in 82 appearances for Fiorentina, could feature in the top-of-the-table battle against Manchester City on Saturday evening.

However, Chelsea are first waiting for Schurrle's exit from the club to be confirmed before wrapping up their swoop for the Colombian, which could see the transfer go right down to the wire.

Luis Enrique "very pleased" by Barcelona display

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has declared himself "happy" with his side's performance during last night's Copa del Rey quarter-final victory against Atletico Madrid.

The Catalan giants recovered from an early setback when Fernando Torres opened the scoring inside a minute, going on to record a 3-2 victory on the night to sail through to the final four of the competition.

It has been a mixed season for the club thus far, both on and off the field, although with less than half of the campaign left to play Barca remain in contention for a showpiece treble.

"I was happy with my whole team, even with the way they recovered from such a strange situation in the first minute," Enrique told the La Liga outfit's official website. "Despite all the difficulties of playing here, we managed to find spaces. I am very pleased with their display against a top level team.

"There are good and bad moments over the course of a season. This is a very good one. We are confident and getting results. All positive results are a boost for our confidence."

Barcelona will take on either Villarreal or Getafe in the next round.

Aston Villa enter race to sign Demba Ba

Aston Villa are reportedly looking to sign former Chelsea hitman Demba Ba this month in an effort to solve their goalscoring woes.

The Villans have netted just 11 times in their 22 Premier League games and, according to The Mirror, will look to snap up the Senegalese before the transfer window closes on Monday.

However, Paul Lambert could face competition from West Bromwich Albion and Hull City, both of whom have lodged bids, according to Besiktas vice president Ahmet Nur Cebi.

Ba has netted 14 times in 20 games for the Turkish giants since joining from the Blues last summer.

The 29-year-old, who has also spent time with West Ham United and Newcastle United, struck 14 times in an 18-month stint at Stamford Bridge, where he was often reduced to cameo appearances.

Scott Sinclair passes Aston Villa medical

Scott Sinclair has reportedly passed a medical at Aston Villa prior to a proposed loan move from Manchester City.

Last week, Villa manager Paul Lambert claimed that a deal to sign the out-of-favour City player had fallen through due to the amount of various fees.

However, talks resumed earlier this week, and according to Sky Sports News, Sinclair has come through all the relevant medical tests and is close to signing a loan deal for the rest of the season.

Sinclair has started just two games for City since his move to the Etihad from Swansea City in 2012.

Mali, Guinea managers slam 'unfair' AFCON qualification system

Mali boss Henri Kasperczak believes that the drawing of lots to decide his side's Africa Cup of Nations fate is not a fair way of doing things.

Five of the six Group D games finished as 1-1 draws, ensuring that Guinea and Mali were tied for second place.

A draw is required later today to decide which of the two sides progresses through, although Kasperczak has his doubts over the qualification system.

"We have to solve the problems of qualification without a drawing of lots," he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

Guinea manager Michel Dussuyer was equally perplexed, adding: "Mali do not deserve to be eliminated in this way, just as we do not. Mali didn't lose a game - they played very well in the tournament. I would be disappointed, but it's hard for any team. No-one deserves to be eliminated."

The draw, which is the first of its kind at this tournament since 1988, will take place at a hotel in Malabo at 3pm GMT, with the successful team going on to play Ghana in Sunday's quarter-final.

Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho working to improve goal tally

Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho has revealed that he has been putting in extra training to improve his goalscoring prowess.

The Brazilian has impressed on the pitch in recent games, but is yet to provide regular contribution on the goal-front.

This particular department is where Liverpool have been lacking this season, largely due to the absence of Daniel Sturridge, who has been out injured since August.

"I'm feeling very happy because the team have been playing well again," Coutinho told the club's official website. "This is so important as everyone does better individually when we are doing well as a team.

"We're constantly looking to improve and, as I said, I for one know I have to improve a few things. I want to be a player who will score goals more often.

"We're in a good shape at the moment and we'll have a few opportunities to test that in all games and competitions we have ahead of us."

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games.

Massimiliano Allegri: 'Juventus did not show a soft side against Parma'

Massimiliano Allegri has dismissed suggestions that Juventus showed that they struggle to handle aggressive sides in the 1-0 win over Parma.

Alvaro Morata came off the bench to rescue Juventus with an 89th-minute winner to send his side into the last four of the Coppa Italia, and Allegri was keen to defend his side's performance.

When asked whether the players had found it difficult to combat Parma's physical approach, the Bianconeri boss told reporters: "We were not soft. It was just that Parma were very aggressive. They gave us a hard time but I thought that the guys played a good game.

"It's never easy to win a game like this but we showed great maturity and Morata exploited one of the few opportunities we had."

Juventus will meet either Roma or Fiorentina in the semi-finals.

Filippo Inzaghi open to more signings

Under-fire AC Milan boss Filippo Inzaghi has revealed that he hopes to welcome new faces into his squad this month in a bid to quell their poor run of form.

The Rossoneri slumped to a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Lazio on Tuesday in a result that saw the pressure on Inzaghi increase with a Coppa Italia exit.

Milan have won just two Serie A games since October but, having already signed Alessio Cerci from Atletico Madrid, the 41-year-old hopes to boost their hopes of an elusive first win of 2015 with further recruits.

"When we have a full squad we will be able to give continuity to the players and we can make up for lost ground," Inzaghi told reporters.

"I know the club wants to strengthen this squad, if the players do arrive to strengthen it then I will be happy about that. We're just missing a win to reignite that spark.

"I know the environment is down. The fans supported us, I see that the team is giving all that it has but this isn't enough and so we will have to continue working hard."

Milan sit 11th in Italy's top flight, 10 points adrift of the Champions League qualification places.

Kurt Zouma thrilled to book spot at Wembley

Kurt Zouma has revealed his excitement at the prospect of walking out at Wembley for Chelsea in the League Cup final.

The Frenchman was a surprise selection ahead of Gary Cahill on Tuesday as Chelsea beat Liverpool in extra time to progress, and the defender admits that the squad received a big boost from the victory.

"I've never been to Wembley," Zouma told the club's official website. "I hope I'm going to get to know it and that thought is very amazing and crazy for me.

"I'm happy I played the last two games but I have to keep working. I have confidence when I play. The coach has given me my chance and I have to always be ready if he does again.

"It's a big boost for us because we want to win this cup. The dressing room afterwards was amazing, there was a lot of music and everybody was very happy."

Chelsea will meet Tottenham Hotspur in the final after their London rivals recorded a 3-2 aggregate success over Sheffield United.

Manchester United 'to launch £37.3m bid for Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels'

Manchester United are reportedly ready to make a firm offer for Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.

The Red Devils have been heavily linked with the German international for some time, but a bid is yet to be launched.

However, according to Bild, the Premier League side are prepared to offer £37.3m to the struggling Bundesliga side for Hummels as they try to strengthen their defence.

The 26-year-old, who has been a Dortmund player since 2009, recently calmed speculation by insisting that he is happy at the club.

Dortmund are currently second from bottom in the league table.

Brendan Rodgers takes "immense pride" from League Cup run

Brendan Rodgers is confident that Liverpool will take a great deal of confidence from their narrow League Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Chelsea in order to push on in the Premier League.

The Reds have recovered from a slow start to the campaign to close in on a Champions League qualification spot, although they still sit 10 points off fourth place with 16 games of the season left to play.

Defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night ensures that Liverpool can now focus solely on their FA Cup and Premier League ambitions, however, and Rodgers is confident that his side have what it takes to continue their top-four push.

"We can take a lot from this run in the competition," he told the club's official website. "We got our identity back again and now we have confidence to hopefully finish the season well.

"I've got immense pride. The team gave everything, but we just failed to make that step to the final. I'm very proud. I thought that over the two games we were the better side, but that we failed to take our opportunities.

"We created enough. Our performance level was very good, but ultimately you want to win and these are games that, unfortunately, we just missed out on."

Liverpool are back in league action on Saturday afternoon when they play host to West Ham United at Anfield.

Yaya Toure calms injury fears ahead of AFCON quarter-finals

Yaya Toure has calmed concerns that his Africa Cup of Nations campaign could be hampered by injury.

The Ivory Coast midfielder limped off the field in the second half of his nation's 1-0 win over Cameroon on Wednesday evening.

However, according to the Manchester Evening News, when asked about the injury, Toure said: "There is no problem."

The Manchester City star could feature in Sunday's quarter-final clash against Algeria.

Sheffield United vs. Tottenham Hotspur Preview

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Sheffield United in the League Cup semi-finals on Wednesday looking to defend their 1-0 first-leg lead.

There was little to separate the teams at White Hart Lane last week as a late Andros Townsend penalty gave Spurs a narrow advantage in the tie.

Tottenham's victory over United was part of a three-game winning run for Mauricio Pochettino's side, but that came to an end on the weekend when they were dumped out of the FA Cup in the fourth round by Leicester City.

It looked as if the North London club were going to seal a place in the last 16 of the competition before two late goals handed Leicester a 2-1 triumph at the Lane.

Sheffield United's form in all competitions has been inconsistent in the past few weeks, with Nigel Clough's team winning two, losing three and drawing one of their last six matches.

However, United have proved in recent times that cup football brings out the best in them. They have lost just three of their last 19 matches in both the League Cup and FA Cup.

While Tottenham have won the League Cup four times - including their last triumph back in 2008 - the Blades have never lifted the trophy.

The likes of Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen are all expected to feature for Spurs, who are unlikely to underestimate their League One opponents. The Premier League club have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game.

John Brayford is cup-tied for the hosts after signing a permanent deal from Cardiff City on the weekend. Meanwhile, Jamie Murphy, Chris Basham and Louis Reed could all return after missing Saturday's 1-1 draw with Preston North End in the FA Cup.

Sheff Utd:

Form in League Cup: WWWWWL

Form in all competitions: LWWLLD

Possible starting lineup: Howard; Flynn, Harris, Doyle, Brayford; Campbell-Ryce, Basham, Reed, Murphy, Scougall; McNulty

Tottenham:

Form in League Cup: WWWW

Form in all competitions: DLWWWL

Possible starting lineup: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Davies; Townsend, Mason, Dembele, Eriksen; Soldado, Kane

Kick Off Time - 20:45HRS

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona Preview

Barcelona will enter Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid holding a one-goal advantage from the first leg last week.

Lionel Messi struck late on at Camp Nou to secure a 1-0 win for the Catalan outfit, meaning that Atletico have work to do if they are to secure their spot in the final four of the competition.

Atletico, who lost in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey to Real Madrid last season, will enter the match off the back of a 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano in the league at the weekend.

That result kept the Spanish champions in third, but they have won just two of their last five matches in all competitions and lost twice to Barca – once in the league and once in the cup.

Barca, meanwhile, thumped Elche 6-0 at the weekend to make it six straight wins in all competitions. Since losing to Real Sociedad after the winter break, Barca have scored an incredible 23 goals during their six-game winning run – conceding just once in the process.

The Catalan outfit lost in the final of the Copa del Rey to Real Madrid last season, but will see this as a brilliant chance to secure the first major Spanish trophy of the season.

Atletico remained unbeaten in six matches across three separate competitions against Barca last season, with that run of form seeing Diego Simeone's side win the La Liga title and reach the final of the Champions League.

However, Barca have won both matches between the pair this season, which adds even greater significance to this clash in the Spanish capital.

The big team news in the Atletico camp is that star centre-back Diego Godin will miss out through suspension after picking up a booking in the first leg. As a result, Jose Gimenez will start at the heart of the defence with Miranda.

Simeone also has decisions to make in attack, but leading scorer Mario Mandzukic is expected to keep Fernando Torres on the bench. There will also be a change of goalkeepers, with Jan Oblak keeping his spot between the sticks in this particular competition.

Barca, meanwhile, are expected to recall Luis Suarez after the striker saw out the win over Elche at the weekend. The Uruguay international will start in a front three with Messi and Neymar.

Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Dani Alves should also return to the team, while like Atletico, Barca boss Luis Enrique will select his second-choice goalkeeper – Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Atletico:

Form in Copa del Rey: LWDWDL

Form in all competitions: WLDWLW

Possible starting lineup: Oblak; Juanfran, Gimenez, Miranda, Siqueira; Gabi, Koke, Suarez; Griezmann, Mandzukic, Turan

Barcelona:

Form in Copa del Rey: LWWWWW

Form in all competitions: WWWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Iniesta, Busquets, Rakitic; Neymar, Suarez, Messi

Kick Off Time - 21:00HRS

Manchester United's Antonio Valencia: 'Race for top four is very open'

Antonio Valencia believes that Manchester United face a "tough" fight to finish in the top four this season.

The Red Devils have been tipped to secure Champions League qualification under Louis van Gaal due to their absence from European competitions this season.

United finished seventh in the 2013-14 campaign, but currently reside fourth in the Premier League table, with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool all vying for a top-four place.

"It's very open and quite tight in those top spots," The Express quotes Valencia as saying. "We're seven points behind second place and then a couple of teams are three or four points below us.

"We must fight hard in the remaining games to finish as high as possible. It's a long season and we've picked ourselves up of late, so we need to keep the results coming for the fans.

"We've got tough games coming up against very good teams and rivals for our position but, if we keep the concentration high, we can achieve our aim of a top-four finish."

United's next game is against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Luis Figo to challenge Sepp Blatter for FIFA presidency

Former Portugal international Luis Figo has announced his intentions to challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency.

The former Real Madrid and Barcelona star, who was twice voted Footballer of the Year during his career, has joined the list of candidates to run for the position in May.

Jerome Champagne, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and David Ginola have all put themselves forward for the role after many expressed a need to change the current hierarchy following allegations of corruption.

In an interview with CNN, Figo said: "I care about football, so what I'm seeing regarding the image of FIFA - not only now but in the past years - I don't like it.

"If you search FIFA on the internet you see the first word that comes out - scandal, not positive words. It's that we have to change first and try to improve the image of FIFA. Football deserves much better than this.

"Last year was the World Cup, I was in Brazil and I saw the reaction of all the fans regarding the image of FIFA and I think something has to be changed. Change in leadership, governance, transparency and solidarity, so I think it's the moment for that."

Figo has confirmed that he has received the required backing of five FIFA member associations to run.

David de Gea agrees new Manchester United deal

A report in Italy has claimed that Manchester United have tied goalkeeper David de Gea down to a new five-year contract.

The 24-year-old's current deal at Old Trafford is due to expire in the summer of 2016, which has resulted in strong links to Real Madrid of late.

However, according to SportMediaset, the Red Devils have moved to warn off Los Blancos by handing the Spaniard extended terms until 2020.

Recent speculation has suggested that were De Gea to express his desire to move to the Bernabeu, United would look to receive Madrid's Wales international Gareth Bale in return.

The keeper arrived at United from Real's city rivals Atletico Madrid back in 2011.

Andre Schurrle close to £27m move from Chelsea to Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund are reportedly close to sealing a £27m capture of Andre Schurrle from Chelsea.

The German international has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, and manager Jose Mourinho recently stated that only a "phenomenal offer" would convince Chelsea to sell.

According to The Express, Dortmund are willing to meet the Blues' figure as they hunt for a replacement for Marco Reus, who is expected to leave the Bundesliga outfit in the summer.

Chelsea are said to be keen to push through the Schurrle transfer in order to find the funds to reach the £26.8m buyout clause in Juan Cuadrado's contract at Fiorentina.

Paris Saint-Germain want Emmanuel Adebayor on loan

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly keen to sign Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor this month.

The Togolese player has been the subject of boos from fans in recent games after he criticised them earlier in the season for their lack of support.

Adebayor's long-term future remains unclear, and according to Sky Sports News, Ligue 1 giants PSG are interested in taking the striker to Parc des Princes on a loan agreement.

The 30-year-old joined Spurs permanently in 2012 from Manchester City.

Liverpool's Simon Mignolet: 'We must accept League Cup exit and move on'

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet believes that he and his teammates need to put their Capital One Cup exit behind them.

The Merseyside outfit failed to book their spot at Wembley following a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Chelsea in the semi-finals.

The Reds pushed their opponents to extra time on Tuesday evening at Stamford Bridge, but a goal from Branislav Ivanovic was enough to send Liverpool packing.

"Everybody is disappointed when you go out of a competition that you want to win, and especially with the effort and performances that we put in over the two legs," Mignolet told the club's official website.

"We definitely deserved more than we got. But we have to accept it and move on, and make sure that we go again in the other competitions that we're still playing in."

Liverpool remain in contention to win the FA Cup and Europa League this season.

Gareth Bale "used to like Arsenal a lot" prior to Tottenham Hotspur move

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has revealed that he used to have a big admiration for Arsenal while growing up.

The Welsh international went on to play for the Gunners' North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur after beginning his career at Southampton.

Last summer, Bale became the most expensive player in football history when Madrid purchased his signature for £85m.

During an interview with radio station Cadena Ser, Bale said: "I used to like Arsenal a lot, but when I moved to Tottenham of course I liked them less. But I really liked Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, those kinds of players. They were incredible."

Bale has also rejected rumours that he could leave Madrid for a return to the Premier League with Manchester United.

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo given two-match ban following red card

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been issued with a two-match ban after his red-card offence against Cordoba last weekend.

The Portugal captain was given his marching orders after appearing to kick out at Edimar during his side's late 2-1 victory in La Liga.

The 29-year-old apologised for his actions after the game, but he has been punished with a two-match suspension.

The three-time Ballon d'Or winner will miss Madrid's meetings with Real Sociedad and Sevilla, but will be available for the local derby against Atletico Madrid on February 8.

Aston Villa have no plans to sack manager Paul Lambert

Aston Villa chief executive Tom Fox has claimed that the club will not make a rash decision by sacking manager Paul Lambert following a string of poor results.

Disgruntled supporters have made their feelings about Villa's patient style of play clear in recent games.

The Midlands outfit are just three points above the relegation zone in the Premier League, and remain the lowest-scoring side across all four divisions.

"When things aren't going well, fans bay for that type of blood," Fox told BBC Sport. "That's not the way that I or the owner are going to make a decision. It's a false narrative.

"There's a lot of things happening at this football club, and clearly what happens on the pitch is a focal point. Clearly the manager is the one person who can really influence that, so everyone focuses on it.

"Our focus for the last couple of months has been on making sure we support Paul to make us as successful as possible, and I think we're heading in the right direction."

In the top flight, Villa have not won a game in their last seven.

Arsenal confirm Gabriel Paulista signing

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of defender Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal for an undisclosed fee.

The Gunners have also refused to reveal the length of the deal that the 24-year-old Brazilian has penned.

It is understood that Arsenal have paid around £15m for the centre-back, who was granted a work permit on Monday.

The deal has seen striker Joel Campbell move the other way on loan, with the Costa Rica international agreeing "a new long-term deal" at the Emirates Stadium ahead of his departure to Spain.

"A while ago I had a really huge desire to play in the Premier League, so since that point I put it in my head that I really wanted to do it," Gabriel told Arsenal's official website. "I had a talk with my family and I told them that it was my dream to play in the Premier League. Getting here to such a big club is so gratifying.

"I am arriving at a big club and the fans can expect to find a Gabriel with a great will to help everyone. Not just thinking of me as an individual, because to me that is not important. I care more about helping the team and my teammates."

Gabriel, who leaves Villarreal following an 18-month spell at the La Liga club, is yet to represent his country at senior level.

West Bromwich Albion confirm arrival of Callum McManaman from Wigan Athletic

West Bromwich Albion have confirmed the signing of Callum McManaman from Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee.

The attacker has been tracked by four clubs in this window, but Baggies manager Tony Pulis has beaten his rivals to the 23-year-old's signature.

McManaman, who won the FA Cup with Wigan in 2013, has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal and will wear the number 19 shirt.

"I'm really made up to have joined," McManaman told the club's official website. "When the chance came to move to West Bromwich Albion, and return to the Premier League, I couldn't turn it down.

"This is a great move for me and I hope the Albion fans will get to see the best of me. Albion are a great club, with a good tradition. I can't wait to get going."

McManaman spent almost nine years with Wigan after joining the club's youth academy from Everton in 2006.

Football Association charges Chelsea striker Diego Costa with violent conduct

The Football Association has charged Chelsea striker Diego Costa for violent conduct following last night's League Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

Costa is alleged to have stamped on Reds defender Emre Can during a feisty encounter between the teams at Stamford Bridge.

The incident was not seen by the match officials, but it was caught on video.

Costa, who has scored 17 goals this season, has until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the charge.

Chelsea booked their place in the final of the League Cup last night as a narrow 1-0 win gave them a 2-1 aggregate victory over Liverpool.

Real Madrid to rename the Bernabeu

Real Madrid will reportedly rename their Santiago Bernabeu stadium under the terms of a new sponsorship agreement.

It is believed that Cespa - an Abu Dhabi-owned Spanish energy company - have won the naming rights to the Bernabeu ahead of the likes of Coca-Cola and Microsoft.

As a result, the ground, which was opened in 1947 and named after the club's former president, will soon be known as the Abu Dhabi Bernabeu, according AS.

It has been suggested that the deal will be worth around £15m a year for the European champions.

David de Gea agrees new Manchester United deal

A report in Italy has claimed that Manchester United have tied goalkeeper David de Gea down to a new five-year contract.

The 24-year-old's current deal at Old Trafford is due to expire in the summer of 2016, which has resulted in strong links to Real Madrid of late.

However, according to SportMediaset, the Red Devils have moved to warn off Los Blancos by handing the Spaniard extended terms until 2020.

Recent speculation has suggested that were De Gea to express his desire to move to the Bernabeu, United would look to receive Madrid's Wales international Gareth Bale in return.

The keeper arrived at United from Real's city rivals Atletico Madrid back in 2011.

Real Madrid to move for Valencia's Jose Gaya

Jose Gaya has reportedly been made a transfer target of Real Madrid.

Despite being just 19, the left-back has been a regular in the Valencia starting lineup this season.

His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Madrid president Florentino Perez keen to take him to the Bernabeu, according to Marca.

It is believed that Perez has identified Gaya as a similar prospect to Sergio Ramos, who joined Los Blancos from Sevilla at the age of 19 back in 2005.

Gaya's contract at the Mestalla, which does not expire until 2018, has a release clause worth £14m.

AC Milan sign Salvatore Bocchetti

Spartak Moscow defender Salvatore Bocchetti has returned to Italian football with AC Milan.

The 28-year-old, who left Genoa for Russian side Rubin Kazan in 2010, has agreed to an initial six-month loan stint at the San Siro.

Bocchetti joined Spartak in March 2013, but he has struggled to secure regular starting opportunities this season, which has brought about the switch to Milan.

Bocchetti is the third player to have departed Spartak this month after Roman Shirokov and Tino Costa moved to FC Krasnodar and Genoa respectively.

Asier Illarramendi rejects Athletic Bilbao

Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi has reportedly turned down the chance to join Athletic Bilbao.

The 24-year-old, who arrived at the Bernabeu in 2013 from Bilbao's fierce rivals Real Sociedad, has struggled to establish himself within Carlo Ancelotti's starting lineup.

As a result, Los Blancos were prepared to sell the former Spanish youth international this winter to Bilbao for £19m, according to AS.

However, the report added that Illarramendi has rejected that opportunity, having instead opted to fight for his place.

It is believed that the defensive midfielder has decided to assess his options in the summer, with the Premier League a potential destination.

Roberto Martinez not looking for Samuel Eto'o replacement

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that he does not need to enter the transfer market this month to replace Samuel Eto'o.

Eto'o left Goodison Park to join Italian side Sampdoria earlier this week, having scored four goals in 20 appearances for the Toffees after joining in the summer.

Martinez feels that players returning from injury means that he has enough options within the squad to cope without signing a new striker before Monday's deadline.

He told the club's official website: "January is not the place to find solutions. Our moment of form, we want to change, but the solutions are in the squad.

"With Arouna Kone being fully fit, I see him as a replacement for Samuel's position and it is more about trying to get the players back from injury.

"Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman have been two players missing throughout the season, which has been disappointing because they are important in the way we want to play. Leon played in every single game last season and we miss what he brings. So I am looking around that."

Everton have failed to win any of their last eight Premier League matches and are 12th in the table.

Gareth Bale reiterates desire to stay at Real Madrid

Gareth Bale has reiterated his desire to stay at Real Madrid following recent reports linking him with a move back to the Premier League.

The Welshman has proved to be a success since moving to the Spanish capital in a record-breaking deal from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2013, but both Manchester United and Chelsea have been rumoured to be interested in bringing him back to England.

When asked if he would be open to leaving Madrid, Bale told Cadena SER: "For me, no. I've done an interview recently crushing the rumours that I'm not happy here. I've got four and a half more years to go on the contract.

"I feel like I'm doing well on the pitch, I score goals, give assists, play each game in my way, it's how I like it,' he said.

"Yeah, I feel happy, I feel the love from the crowd. I want to show them what I can do on the football pitch and win as many trophies as I can."

Bale has scored 36 goals in 72 appearances since moving to Real.

Ulloa upbeat ahead of Man Utd trip

Leonardo Ulloa has insisted that there is no reason why Leicester City can't complete the double over Manchester United when the two sides meet on Saturday.

The Foxes produced one of the most surprising results of the season when they recorded a 5-3 triumph over Louis van Gaal's side in September, but they have struggled to hit the same heights since.

However, Ulloa believes that Leicester can adopt a positive approach once again as they look to pick up all three points at Old Trafford.

"We are in a different situation now, but it's important for us to have confidence," the striker told reporters. "Even though we know it's difficult, we will go there with the mentality to win.

"We need to play with the same intensity. We must play strong because we know they always take the ball and we must defend well and use the counter-attack.

"They are not as good as in past seasons but we must press more there. Maybe we can get something from the game."

Leicester are currently bottom of the Premier League with 17 points from 22 games.

Danilo Pantic close to securing Chelsea move

Partizan midfielder Danilo Pantic has claimed that he is on the verge of completing a move to Chelsea.

The 18-year-old is seen as one of Serbia's most talented youngsters and he has already made 13 appearances in all competitions for Partizan this season.

However, his refusal to sign a professional deal with the club means that he could be available for a low compensation fee, and it appears that he will be a Chelsea player before Monday's deadline.

"In the situation we are now in, going to Chelsea would be the best solution for me and for Partizan," Pantic is quoted as saying by The Mirror

"I am not sure when I will be back in Belgrade, I believe in the next day or two, and a transfer should be done this week."

Chelsea are also believed to be eager to sign Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado before the end of the January transfer window.

Juan Mata: 'Manchester United have to perform consistently'

Juan Mata has reiterated the importance of Manchester United bouncing back to winning ways in order to get their battle for a Champions League spot back on track.

The Red Devils have endured an inconsistent run of late in the Premier League, winning just two of their last six games to see the gap on Arsenal close right up.

A goalless draw away at Cambridge United in the FA Cup did not help matters last week, and Mata admits that his side must quickly brush themselves down to stop their campaign unravelling at the worst possible moment.

"It's very important to get back on a good run of results - like we did in November and December," he is quoted as saying by the London Evening Standard.

"We are arriving at a crucial moment in the season. The last 10 or 15 games are probably the most important. We have to perform, we have to win and we have to get where we want to be."

United return to action this weekend when they play host to Leicester City.

David Ospina enjoying physical challenge in Premier League

Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina has revealed that he is enjoying testing himself against the physical challenges of playing in the Premier League.

Ospina is one of the shorter goalkeepers in the top flight at 6ft, but he has coped well in the early stages of his Gunners career and recently took Wojciech Szczesny's place in the side.

"English football is very direct. You have to be focused for the entire 90 minutes because you can score or concede at any moment," the Colombian told reporters.

"The football here is really physical and nobody wants to give an inch - that's what I think makes this great league so exciting and special."

Ospina will be looking to keep Szczesny on the bench when Arsenal meet Aston Villa on Sunday.

English clubs lead way in global transfer fees

England leads the way when it comes to spending on overseas players in the international transfer market, a new FIFA report has revealed.

A total of more than £770m was spent by English clubs on recruiting from abroad, which was 67 per cent - or £308m - more than nearest rivals Spain.

English clubs also remain the biggest spenders in the world on international transfers as a whole, making up more than a quarter of the £2.6b spent across the globe in the last calendar year.

Manchester United splashed out the biggest individual fee for a single player on these shores when bringing Angel di Maria to Old Trafford from Real Madrid for a British-record of £59.7m.

The figures, which are contained in the FIFA TMS Global Transfer Market 2015 report, also shows that Spain continues to be the biggest market for signing players under the age of 18 from abroad.

Elsewhere, Brazil is the most active country in terms of international transfers with 1,335 heading both ways in all, with England closing in on that tally boasting a total of 1,263 - up 193 on 2013.

Ulloa upbeat ahead of Man Utd trip

Leonardo Ulloa has insisted that there is no reason why Leicester City can't complete the double over Manchester United when the two sides meet on Saturday.

The Foxes produced one of the most surprising results of the season when they recorded a 5-3 triumph over Louis van Gaal's side in September, but they have struggled to hit the same heights since.

However, Ulloa believes that Leicester can adopt a positive approach once again as they look to pick up all three points at Old Trafford.

"We are in a different situation now, but it's important for us to have confidence," the striker told reporters. "Even though we know it's difficult, we will go there with the mentality to win.

"We need to play with the same intensity. We must play strong because we know they always take the ball and we must defend well and use the counter-attack.

"They are not as good as in past seasons but we must press more there. Maybe we can get something from the game."

Leicester are currently bottom of the Premier League with 17 points from 22 games.

Juan Mata: 'It is difficult to watch Champions League'

Manchester United attacking midfielder Juan Mata has admitted that he has found it painful to watch English clubs playing in the Champions League this season.

United finished seventh last season just a year after winning the title, and Mata claims that it is vital for Louis van Gaal's side to remain fully focused on finishing in the top four as they battle the likes of Southampton and Arsenal for a spot in Europe's elite club competition.

"It's difficult, every Tuesday and Wednesday watching the games on TV," the Spaniard revealed to members of the media.

"It's the thought that we all have in our minds that we need to be back in the Champions League - it's the most attractive competition in the world. We need to be there again.

"It is going to be a fight until the end and not just between two teams, it will be between three, four, five teams, that we are now in a short difference of points."

United return to action against Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.

Jose Mourinho defends Diego Costa 'stamps' in Liverpool victory

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has leapt to the defence of Diego Costa, insisting that his star striker did not intentionally stamp on an opponent during last night's victory over Liverpool.

The 26-year-old appeared to tread on Emre Can and Martin Skrtel during the clash at Stamford Bridge, with Reds boss Brendan Rodgers suggesting that the Spain international was lucky to avoid seeing a red card.

However, Mourinho has hit back at Costa's critics, claiming that there is a personal vendetta against Chelsea after they booked their place in the League Cup final.

"I don't know what you understand by stamp," he is quoted as saying by BT Sport. "I think maybe you are already influenced by... I'm going to use a word which put me in trouble but I think this time I cannot be punished to say that there is a campaign on the television with a certain pundit that is saying Diego Costa 'crimes'.

"This guy must be nuts. I saw the incidents. What you call stamps and Sky calls crimes, I have to say absolutely accidental. He goes to the ball, he chases the ball, as the opponent is on the floor, they have a contact, he puts his foot there when he's looking to the ball. Great campaign. We know how much that pundit loves Chelsea and particularly loves me.

"When you are there and you are paid and you are very well paid - much more than some managers that have to put their ass, every 90 minutes, every weekend on the bench. These guys, they have a very good seat, very good money, no pressure. They are always right. They never lose, they always win, but they have to be fair and they have to be honest."

Chelsea will meet either Sheffield United or Tottenham Hotspur in the Wembley final, with the two sides set to do battle this evening.

Brendan Rodgers: 'The best team lost'

Brendan Rodgers has rued missed opportunities after his Liverpool side bowed out of the League Cup following defeat to Chelsea in their semi-final tie.

Branislav Ivanovic rose highest to nod home the winner in the fourth minute of extra time as the Blues won 1-0 - 2-1 on aggregate - to book a spot at Wembley.

Having made a string of impressive saves at Anfield last week, Chelsea goalkeeper Thiabut Courtois was busy again tonight, and Rodgers says that the Belgian made the difference over both legs.

"I thought they were outstanding. Over the course of two legs we were the better team," he told Sky Sports News.

"We had good opportunities to score but didn't score. I feel nothing but pride really because the players gave everything.

"I thought we had a number of opportunities - Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho. If you assess it over two legs their goalkeeper has won them the tie. He is a world-class keeper."

Jose Mourinho's side will face either Tottenham Hotspur or Sheffield United in the final, with Spurs leading 1-0 heading into the second leg at Bramall Lane tomorrow.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Wednesday, January 28, 2015