Man United Scout Four Defensive Targets Including Mats Hummels And Premier League Duo

With Manchester United having thrown enough money at their attack to make it work again, they are now looking to move on and improve their defence.

The Red Devils have been linked to a number of top names over the last month, with moves looking likely to happen in both January and the summer.


Here are four of the most heavily linked players to Old Trafford...

Aymeric Laporte, Athletic Bilbao



The French centre-back has been linked with the Old Trafford side by the Metro.

He would be available for £32 million pounds and at 20-years-old could be a long term option for the Red Devils. He would be an improvement on the current crop of centre-backs, with Phil Jones and Jonny Evans currently finding it hard to fit in to the new style of play being played by manager Louis van Gaal.

Ron Vlaar, Aston Villa



The Dutchman impressed at the World Cup, where he was working under the current Man Utd manager. He has since been rumoured to be a target.

At 29 he isn't getting any younger, but he would be cheaper than the other choices. He would also be used to Louis van Gaal's methods and management style.

Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund



The World Cup winner is apparently United's number one transfer target, according to the Metro.

Another centre back who could come in to shore up the leaky defence, Hummels is also comfortable with the ball at his feet. This would make him perfect for the playing style van Gaal is enforcing. At 25, he would be another long term option, and the Old Trafford hierarchy are willing to part with up to £40 million to get their man.

Winston Reid, West Ham



The New Zealander has shot to prominence after playing a key part in Sam Allardyce's West Ham revival. Due to this he has been linked to a number of clubs, including Manchester United.

With his current contract finishing at the end of the season and stalling on a new deal, the Hammers might be willing to let him go in January. However, they are still hopeful of getting him to sign on for a few more years before it come to that. Alongside Ron Vlaar, the 26-year-old could be another cheap option for the Red Devils.

Former Liverpool And England Goalkeeper David James Auctions Possessions After Being Declared Bankrupt

Having been declared bankrupt in May, David James is having to sell memorabilia to service his debts.

The former England goalkeeper split with his wife Tanya in 2005, and has since blown his £20 million fortune according to the Daily Mail.

James is auctioning off signed match worn shirts from his time with clubs such as Portsmouth, Liverpool and the national side, as well as other assorted items such as his collection of over 1800 vinyl records, a bicycle and a chainsaw.


James' goods will be available for the public to bid on through Kentauctioneer Hilco between November 6th -18th.

13 Massive Moves That Could Happen In the January Transfer Window Including Trio of Arsenal Targets, Massive Potential Liverpool Signing and Chelsea Coup

Marcos Reus (Borussia Dortmund to Liverpool)

The 25 year old has repeatedly linked with a move away from the Westfalenstadion and Liverpool are known to be interested and could well do with a fresh goal-scoring option. The fact that Borussia Dortmund are languishing near the foot of the Bundesliga should hasten his desparture.



Jay Rodriguez (Southampton to Tottenham)

Ronald Koeman has managed just fine without the England man, who is nearing full fitness after six months out injured, and as such a fresh move from former Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino is more than likely to succeed. Tottenham need a new striker and Jay Rodriguez may be the ideal man for the job.



Andre-Pierre Gignac (Marseille to Arsenal)

The French international is the top scorer in Ligue 1 but is out of contract next summer and has been strongly linked with a summer exit and we can well see Arsene Wenger making his interest known. Gignac could be a cost effective option and would leave Arsenal able to cash-in on Lukas Podolski or Olivier Giroud.



Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC to QPR)

Veteran forward wants to move back to the Premier League and we can well see Harry Redknapp reuniting with his former West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham charge as he seeks to strengthen his squad in January. Defoe could be the man to help the Loftus Road side pull clear of the relegation zone.



Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus to Arsenal)

Arsenal have had a wealth of injury concerns this term and long term injury to new signing Mathieu Debuchy leaves the door open to a move for the Swiss international who is well into the final year of his Juventus contract.



Benedikt Howedes (Schalke to Man United)

Adaptable defender is a player Louis van Gaal is known to be tracking and the World Cup winner is keen on a fresh challenge and has spoken of his desire to play overseas and would surely be tempted by a move to Old Trafford. The German international can play at left-back and centre-back.



Gerard Pique (Barcelona to Chelsea)

Spaniard is apparently a player Luis Enrique is willing to sell and Jose Mourinho sees the Nou Camp star as a potential long term replacement for John Terry. In previous seasons the 27 year old has been a regular but has started just five of Barcelona's ten La Liga fixtures this term. Barcelona's transfer ban may of course be an issue.



Winston Reid (West Ham to Liverpool)

Brendan Rodgers has seen his defence struggle this term and New Zealand international Reid would be a relatively cheap and effective way to remedy the situation. The 26 year old is out of contract next summer and is keen on a move to a 'bigger' club and a move to Anfield may be a perfect fit both player and club.



Saido Berahino (West Brom to Tottenham)

West Brom want £25m but that may not prove too steep a price for a Tottenham side who have spent bigger sums on failed forwards, Roberto Soldado being a recent example. The England Under 21 international has already bagged seven Premier League goals this term and is a player with a very bright future.



Sami Khedira (Real Madrid to Arsenal)

German is not part of Carlo Ancelotti's plans and is now suffering the indignity of training with the reserve with a January exit seeming more and more likely. Khedira would be a superb signing for Arsene Wenger to pursue, offering Arsenal genuine steel and guile in the centre of the park.



Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund to Man United)

Another Borussia Dortmund star who could look to move on in January in view of his side's horrific Bundesliga form and Man United could well be the side that benefits. Louis van Gaal urgently needs a central defensive leader and the German international, though not cheap, would be the best option to pursue.



Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa to Man United)

Another possible defensive option for van Gaal to consider, Vlaar being a player the Man United boss knows well from his time in charge of the Dutch national team. The 29 year old would be far cheaper than Hummels as he is in the last year of his Aston Villa contract so a lot could depend on just what sort of budget he is handed to invest in his squad.



Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich to Tottenham)

The Swiss international is criminally underused at the Allianz Arena and the 23 year old will not want to warm the bench much long and Tottenham are known to be keen on bringing in the winger on a loan deal. Such a move makes good sense for all parties and Mauricio Pochettino may feel Shaqiri can provide some added quality in the final third as he looks to secure a top four finish.

Arsenal Star Insists Players Are to Blame for Champions League Draw With Anderlecht

Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain thinks that it was the players fault that the team let slip a three goal lead on Tuesday night, reports the Metro.

The winger believes that he and his teammates became complacent and didn't focus for the full ninety minutes. They should have closed down the Anderlecht wingers before they were able to deliver the crosses that led to to the Belgian team's three goals.

The England international also says that a lesson has been learnt, and that they have to make sure that it doesn't happen again. He claims that they should have known better having been in a similar position when they came back from a goal down to beat Anderlecht last week.

"They were simple goals, we need to stop crosses... It is hard to put our finger on what went wrong, maybe a bit of complacency there. When you are 3-0 up you cant afford to have any complacency at this level because you get punished.

"We were at Anderlecht a couple of weeks ago in a similar position to what they are now so we should know better than anyone that the game is not over until the final whistle."

"This is a hard lesson that we cant be complacent and we have to go into those games with full focus for the 90 minutes and get the job done."

The Gunners will be hoping for a reaction when they face Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium next Sunday. Manager Arsene Wenger will be hoping for a win so that his team stay in the top four over the international break.

Tottenham Plot Ambitious January Bayern Munich Raid

White Hart Lane side chase Swiss international.

Tottenham are planning a loan for underused Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri according to the Daily Star.

The 23 year old Swiss international, who netted a hat-trick at the 2014 World Cup finals, has struggled to retain a foothold in Pep Guardiola's first team set-up and may be ready to quit the Bundesliga side in pursuit of regular action.

Liverpool had been keen on signing the former FC Basel man over the summer but Shaqiri opted to fight for his place at Bayern Munich, a fight that now looks a little futile.

Shaqiri started 13 Bundesliga fixtures in his first season at the club and this reduced to just ten last term and thus far this campaign he has managed just three starts and was subbed on two of thos occasions.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino could well do with fresh effective options in the final third as he looks to secure a top four finish and Shaqiri may see a short term move as a good shop window for his services with Juventus and Galatasaray also said to be tracking the wide-man.

UEFA Champions league results

Juventus3 - 2 Olympiakos
Malmo FF0 - 2 Atletico Madrid
Basel4 - 0 PFC Ludogorets Razgrad
Real Madrid1 - 0 Liverpool
Zenit St. Petersburg1 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen
Benfica1 - 0 Monaco
Arsenal3 - 3 Anderlecht
Borussia Dortmund4 - 1 Galatasaray

Liverpool Club Legend Offered Insulting New Contract On Slashed Wages

Liverpool's owners have made their initial contract offer to their captain.

The contract battle between Steven Gerrard and Liverpool began in earnest last week, with the midfielder telling the press he was keen to stay at Anfield, and was just waiting to be offered a new deal.

Liverpool's American owners have now responded with a low-ball bid that will see the star's current £180,000-per-week deal significantly slashed.

According to the Daily Star, Gerrard will be offered a two-year deal, earning £90,000-per-week in its first year, then £60,000-per-week in its second.

The deal puts the ball back in the club legend's court: does he take the lower offer and prove his love for the club runs deeper than the money, or does he leave for potentially more lucrative offers elsewhere?

The Merseyside club's offer also includes a clause which would allow Gerrard to take up a coaching role when the playing part of the contract expires in 2017.

The Daily Star's report on the situation suggests that the Liverpool skipper is looking for wages closer to his current weekly salary, and thus won't be happy with the offer on the table.

Gerrard has been linked with a variety of moves once his contract expires, with pundits speculating about a move to the MLS or to Italy.

The former England midfielder has had an up-and-down season, with some good performances overshadowed by his sides' troubles.