Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert says the club have the option to
sign Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley, 25, on a
permanent deal in January. (Guardian)
Chelsea and Manchester United target Juan Cuadrado, a 26-year-
old winger, is just “details away” from signing a new deal with
Fiorentina. (Daily Express)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal refuses to rule out the
possibility of signing ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 32, a
free agent who has been training with the Red Devils. (Daily
Express)
Van Gaal has identified Zenit St Petersburg’s Argentina defender
Ezequiel Garay, 28, as the player to shore up Manchester United’s
struggling back four. (Daily Mirror)
Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, 27, has dropped his wage
demands to £80,000-a-week in order to ensure he seals his
proposed transfer to Arsenal. (Metro)
OTHER GOSSIP
Moses (left) was heavily
criticised by Swansea after
he earned a penalty against
them
Tottenham midfielder Erik Lamela, 22, hopes his wonder ‘rabona’
goal against Asteras in the Europa League on Thursday can kick-
start his career at White Hart Lane. (Daily Mail)
Stoke City forward Victor Moses, 23, has received an apology from
BBC Match of the Day 2 pundit John Hartson after the ex-Wales
striker branded him a “cheat”. (Times – subscription required)
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce says his reputation as a long-ball
manager is an “excuse” created by managers he has beaten. (Daily
Telegraph)
West Brom manager Alan Irvine may ask former Arsenal striker Ian
Wright to help with the development of 21-year-old forward Saido
Berahino. (Daily Mail)
Hull City manager Steve Bruce says he is glad he did not listen to
the “horror stories” about Hatem Ben Arfa when he signed the 27-
year-old French midfielder on loan from Newcastle. (Hull Daily
Mail)
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, 33, who has yet to
feature in the first team this season because of an ankle injury,
gave manager Louis van Gaal a boost by playing 64 minutes of an
Under-21 match against West Ham on Friday. (Manchester Evening
News)
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet was unhappy at having to start the
season with only six senior defenders in his squad. (Northern
Echo)
Rio Ferdinand joined QPR on
a free transfer in July after 12
years at Manchester United
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had ruled out bringing in a
specialist defensive coach, and insists he will continue to give 24-
year-old striker Mario Balotelli opportunities in the first team.
(Guardian)
Former England captain Rio Ferdinand, 35, is considering retiring
from football at the end of the season. (Independent)
Ferdinand has also hinted his next career move after playing will
be a leap into management. (Sun – subscription required)
Crystal Palace have denied rumours of an imminent takeover by US
billionaire Joshua Harris. (Daily Mirror)
BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Charlie Austin – it could be
you!
A couple of Premier League footballers spent Friday night watching
their former clubs on their laptops. Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski
cheered on FC Koln’s 1-0 win over Werder Bremen in the
Bundesliga, but Hull City’s David Meyler saw Cork City lose to
Dundalk in their League of Ireland title decider.
Charlie Austin, 25, may be on Premier League wages, but the QPR
striker still bought two tickets for Friday’s Euromillions lottery.
Tim Howard posted a picture of a children’s team in New Jersey
wearing false beards in tribute to the 35-year-old Everton and
United States goalkeeper. “Not a bad looking group!” he tweeted.
AND FINALLY
Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero admits he knew enough
swear words at the age of 10 to shout at Michael Owen when the
England striker scored against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, but
says he later idolised the former Liverpool striker. (Daily Mirror)
Torquay United mascot Gilbert the Gull has been accused of
challenging some of the club’s supporters to a fight. (Daily Mail)