Paper Talk
New manager Gary Neville has urged Valencia to snap up Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy.
Manchester United are planning a £50m summer swoop for Tottenham striker Harry Kane.
Manchester United will snub Pep Guardiola and stick with current manager Louis van Gaal.
Sunderland are considering a January swoop for Lorient defender Lamine Kone.
Tottenham are keeping tabs on promising Rennes winger Ousmane Dembele.
Aston Villa are weighing up a move for Roma defender Ashley Cole.
Leicester City are keen on former Wigan frontman Andy Delort, who currently plays in France for Caen.
Liverpool and Real Madrid are set to battle it out for old boy Xabi Alonso next year. Alonso's contract at Bayern Munich is up at the end of the season.
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has admitted the current side are not good enough to win the Champions League.
Turkey could be the January destination for an unsettled Diego Costa after it emerged that Galatasaray are weighing up a move for the under-fire striker.
Arsenal and Chelsea are in a battle to sign Charlton superkid striker Ademola Lookman in next month's transfer window.
The future of Jose Mourinho is hanging in the balance after Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich watched in horror as the champions crashed to another defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
David Moyes says Gary Neville is brave and has made the right call to move to Spain, but his job will not be easy.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has restored belief, says James Milner ahead ahead of the Newcastle United game.
Chelsea have made Atletico Madrid and France striker Antoine Griezmann their No 1 target for the January transfer window.
Manchester United seem determined to sign a huge player with their wish-list including Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Neymar as a club insider admits they "must have a player who will be in the top 10 for the Ballon d'Or".
David Moyes is poised to become the new Swansea manager with Garry Monk's future on the line after a miserable run.
Manchester United are so happy with Louis van Gaal they would snub Pep Guardiola. Van Gaal is to be given a £200m kitty to strengthen the United squad.
Newcastle are mulling over a January swoop for QPR wing wizard Matt Phillips, while Tottenham wide man Andros Townsend is also on the Magpies' radar.
Suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter says he expects to make his case to the ethics committee of football's governing body in the coming weeks.
Striker Gerard Deulofeu wants to stay at Everton beyond this season because of the positive influence manager Roberto Martinez is having on his career.
BBC
Manchester United plan to take a back seat when Pep Guardiola's contract with Bayern Munich expires at the end of the season, leaving the way open for Manchester City to pursue the 44-year-old former Barcelona coach at the expense of Manuel Pellegrini. (Guardian)
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal, 64, is set to be handed £200m to spend next summer as the Old Trafford club have no plans to move for Guardiola. (the Sun)
And the Red Devils will buy at least one of the world's top players, drawing up a wish-list that includes Real Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale and Barcelona's Neymar. (Sunday Mirror)
Chelsea have made 24-year-old striker Antoine Griezmann their number one target for the January transfer window, with the France international valued at £25m by his club Atletico Madrid. (Sunday Mirror)
New Valencia head coach Gary Neville has urged his new club to sign Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, 28. (Daily Star Sunday)
Former Manchester United boss David Moyes says Neville has taken a risk by becoming the Valencia boss, but says the former England defender won't be judged on whether he speaks Spanish. (Sunday Telegraph)
Moyes, 52, will be offered a return to the Premier League as replacement for beleaguered Swansea City boss Garry Monk. (Sunday Mirror)
Newcastle are mulling over a January move for QPR winger Matt Phillips, 24, while Tottenham wide man Andros Townsend, 24, is also on the Magpies' radar. (The Sun)
Striker Gerard Deulofeu, 21, wants to stay at Everton beyond this season because of the positive influence manager Roberto Martinez is having on his career. (Mail on Sunday)
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says he plans to build the squad for the future around goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, 28. (London Evening Standard)
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek says that the club must not allow the situation surrounding manager Steve McClaren's future to drag on. (Newcastle Chronicle)
Arsenal are in contention to sign Paris St-Germain winger Lucas Moura, 23, and could offer in excess of £30m for the Brazilian, who has also been linked with Manchester United. (BuzzSport via Metro)
Former Liverpool midfielder Igor Biscan has been found guilty of attacking a taxi driver in his hometown of Zagreb, Croatia by butting him in the face. (Liverpool Echo)
Everton and Republic of Ireland defender Seamus Coleman says he would be more than happy to face England at next year's European Championship finals in France. (Daily Star Sunday)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says his team are not ready to win the Champions League even if they manage to beat Wolfsburg this week to secure a place in the knockout stages. (Sunday Telegraph)
Best of social media
West Ham's Mauro Zarate missed a golden opportunity in the Hammers' scoreless draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United and later expressed his regret on Twitter.
And finally
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed he has received a message of congratulations from former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson after his impressive start to life at Anfield. (Liverpool Echo)
Mail
Manchester United 0-0 West Ham: Louis van Gaal's side held to goalless draw as visitors hit the post twice at Old Trafford
Chris Smalling nearly put West Ham ahead when his clearance hit the post via a Mauro Zarate deflection
Just minutes later the visitors were unlucky not to take the lead when Winston Reid's strike also hit the post
Marouane Fellaini, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard miss good chances for the hosts in the second half
By Chris Wheeler
Even before what used to be known as Fergie Time, they began to head for the exits. They had tried urging their team to attack, tried booing, but hope finally ebbed away.
Manchester United’s supporters disappeared into the night having witnessed a fourth goalless draw in the last six games at Old Trafford. Three goals for, none against, in that sorry sequence. It’s not just United who have trouble scoring here.
West Ham came desperately close on Saturday. They hit the post twice in as many minutes in the first half and created the better chances for an hour until United came alive.
West Ham captain Mark Noble celebrates at the full-time whistle after he and his team-mates earn a point at Old Trafford
United midfielder Marouane Fellaini (left) shields the ball away from West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna
The 28-year-old (centre) was in the thick of the action moments later as he watched his header fly over the crossbar
Martial (right) spins and sees his goalbound shot blocked by Winston Reid as the hosts search for the opening goal in the first half
Victor Moses cuts a crestfallen figure after missing a golden chance to give West Ham the lead at Old Trafford
‘When I meet the fans on the streets or wherever, they are very happy with Manchester United and with me. I’m not so worried but we have to pass over this period because it is too long that we don’t score.’
It is an even more pressing concern given that United must win away to Wolfsburg on Tuesday night to be sure of progressing to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
They are already without Rooney, and Morgan Schneiderlin and Paddy McNair are also doubts after going off injured.
In the absence of the England captain, Van Gaal gave Fellaini his first Premier League start in almost three months and the Belgian was never far from the thick of the action.
He headed onto the roof of the net in the first half but should have scored from Martial’s pass in the second period only to see West Ham goalkeeper Adrian produce a fine reflex save.
‘When you miss a chance three metres before the goal, what can you say as a trainer?’ said Van Gaal. ‘We have to be more composed in that situation I think.’
United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin (right) tackles Alex Song in the middle of park
West Ham came close to taking the lead midway through the first half when United defender Chris Smalling's clearance hit his own post
Mauro Zarate (left) looks on in disbelief as his tangle with Smalling somehow fails to find the back of De Gea's net
Winston Reid (centre left) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (centre right) confront each other following an off-the-ball incident
Reid (left) then tugs Fellaini's shirt as the match becomes feistier during Saturday's Premier League encounter
West Ham were forced into making a first-half substitution when Moses (left) pulled up with an injury
We also saw the ugly side of Fellaini again when he left a foot in on James Tomkins and was lucky to escape punishment from referee Mark Clattenburg.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was also fortunate that the officials did not have a better view of an incident before half-time when he thrust a forearm into the throat of Winston Reid.
‘It was a moment of madness and he deserved to be sent off,’ said Hammers boss Slaven Bilic. ‘But it’s impossible for the ref to see everything.’
Martial wasted United’s two other best chances, firing a volley straight at Reid from point-blank range and somehow steering the ball wide from Memphis Depay’s cross.
Any frustration on United’s part was tempered by the fact that West Ham could have been well ahead by that point.
David De Gea had blocked one-on-one from Victor Moses before the United keeper was saved by his right-hand post twice in quick succession midway through the first half.
United made their second change at the interval when Guillermo Varela (right) came on to make his debut - in place of Paddy McNair
Jesse Lingard (right) tries to run past West Ham centre back Tomkins as the Red Devils go on the attack once more in the second half
Fellaini (centre) came close to giving the hosts the lead in the second half but was denied by this brilliant Adrian (right) save
First, De Gea spilled a cross whipped in from the left by Aaron Cresswell and Chris Smalling’s clearance hit Mauro Zarate in the face and deflected against the woodwork.
Then Reid climbed at the near post to meet Moses’ corner and direct his header against the foot of the post.
Andy Carroll also set up a golden opportunity for Zarate in the 56th minute when he cushioned substitute Michail Antonio’s cross into the Argentine’s path yards from goal, but Zarate’s effort was so poor that it almost went out for a throw-in on the far side of the pitch.
Still, given that West Ham had lost 20 of their last 22 league games at Old Trafford, it was not a bad result for Bilic who lost another attacker to injury when Moses limped off clutching his right hamstring just before half-time.
‘Considering that we came here without four key players and we played against the team that conceded at home only one goal so far, we’ve done enough to score and we deserved at least a point,’ he said.
‘This game deserved goals, you can’t say it was a boring game.’
Schweinsteiger (left) tries his luck at goal late on as the hosts press in search for the decisive goal
The Germany international goes down on the edge of the penalty area as he tries to win a free-kick for the hosts
MATCH FACTS
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6.5; McNair 6.5 (Varela 46, 6), Smalling 6, Blind 5.5, Darmian 6; Schweinsteiger 6 (Depay 73, 7), Schneiderlin 5.5 (Carrick 44, 6); Mata 5.5, Fellaini 6.5, Lingard 6.5; Martial 6.5.
Subs not used: Young, Romero, Borthwick-Jackson, Pereira.
Manager: Louis van Gaal - 5
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Adrian 7; Tomkins 6.5, Reid 8, Ogbonna 6, Cresswell 6.5; Song 6.5 (Obiang 77, 6), Kouyate 6.5; Moses 5.5 (Antonio 37, 6), Noble 6, Zarate 6 (Jenkinson 87); Carroll 7.
Subs not used: Randolph, Collins, Jelavic, Oxford.
Manager: Slaven Bilic – 6.5
Referee: Mark Clattenburg 6.5
Star man: Winston Reid
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Attendance: 75,350
Winston Reid fumes at Bastian Schweinsteiger after Manchester United star accused of using elbow
Winston Reid accused Bastian Schweinsteiger of elbowing him
The West Ham defender feels the German should have been sent off
Marouane Fellaini was also fortunate to escape punishment
By Chris Wheeler
West Ham defender Winston Reid accused Bastian Schweinsteiger of elbowing him in the face after a goalless draw at Old Trafford, and insisted that referee Mark Clattenburg should have sent off the Manchester United star.
The incident happened just before half-time when Reid collapsed to the floor after he and Schweinsteiger jostled at a corner. Clattenburg summoned both players over for a ticking-off but took no further action.
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic spoke to the officials as they went in at the interval, claiming that it was ‘a big-time red card’, and Reid supported his manager’s view.
Winston Reid has accused Bastian Schweinsteiger of elbowing him during the goalless draw at Old Trafford
‘It was a red card,’ said Reid. ‘He knows what he’s done – he’s elbowed me in the face. The referee couldn’t see it, so we move on.’
Bilic accepted that Clattenburg was unsighted, saying: ‘It was a moment of madness and he deserved to be sent off, but it’s impossible for the ref to see everything. No matter how many referees you have, sometimes they can’t see.
‘I’m sure if he did see it, it would have been a straight red. Of course we are disappointed but it happens. He just didn’t see it.
‘I saw it on the replays at half-time. It was a red, a big-time red. I understand the decision but it was a crucial moment. I can’t blame the referee.’
United’s Marouane Fellaini was also fortunate to escape punishment after he appeared to leave a foot in on James Tomkins earlier in the first half.
Guardian
Fans jeer as Manchester United are held to dull stalemate by West Ham
Paul Wilson at Old Trafford
Wayne Rooney had an alibi for this latest Manchester United disappointment. If the home side’s play was slow and ineffective, lacking conviction in front of goal, it clearly could not be the injured captain’s fault. This could have been the day when United overtook their neighbours in the top four, instead it was another letdown.
The home wingers displayed an early confidence but soon lost it, the midfield passing was predictable and frequently inaccurate, consequently Anthony Martial was as uninfluential as Rooney has been. United have now drawn their last three games and scored one goal in the process, so good luck to them on Tuesday night with their must-win Champions League game at Wolfsburg.
“We don’t have any luck, but we need to be more composed too,” Louis van Gaal said. “We dominated in the second half but you have to score. We need to get over this period because with the chances we are creating we could be first in the league. But you have to put them in. I am not so worried, but everybody knows we must score in Wolfsburg.”
Unusually for Old Trafford these days the game got off to an eventful start. Marouane Fellini sent a header narrowly over Adrián’s bar from Paddy McNair’s inviting cross in the opening minutes, then David de Gea prevented an early goal at the other end by coming out to save from Victor Moses. Actually Moses should have done better with that early chance, particularly as he pulled up injured before the interval. He had only the goalkeeper to beat after Daley Blind had wrongfooted his own defence by passing straight to Mark Noble. West Ham could not have asked for a clearer opportunity to go in front.
Fellaini’s ability in the air was being put to good use, and when he knocked down a cross for Martial the striker seemed certain to score with a close-range shot on the turn, only to find Winston Reid putting his body in the way to block. With West Ham hitting the same post twice in quick succession, once when Chris Smalling and Mauro Zárate challenged for the loose ball after De Gea spilled a cross, the next time when Reid was unlucky with a header from a corner, there was more goalmouth incident in the first half hour than this crowd has seen in whole games of late.
There was a certain amount of atmosphere too, thanks mostly to the West Ham fans keeping up a persistent din and celebrating the 15th anniversary of Roy Keane’s prawn sandwich remarks by noting the reserve of the home support. “Is this the Emirates?” they chorused, getting in two digs for the price of one. Reid was having a busy game, involved at both ends, as well as getting on the end of an elbow from Bastian Schweinsteiger just before half-time that ought to have earned the German at least a booking. “He deserved to be sent off,” Slaven Bilic said. “The referee told me he didn’t see it. Fair enough, I believe him.”
The tempo had dropped by the break, however, and the second half was a plodding affair all too familiar to critics of Van Gaal’s patient passing game. By the hour mark only the flair and occasional audacity of Zárate was keeping the West Ham fans awake. The forward should have scored when a touch from Andy Carroll played him in behind the home back line yet he managed to miss the target completely after timing his run to perfection to stay onside.
In the closing stages West Ham were defending most of the time and living a little dangerously, as their opponents applied pressure without managing to make it tell. Juan Mata capped an anonymous game by shooting wide, Schweinsteiger’s last act before being substituted was to fire over the bar. Ten minutes from the end United at least put a stylish attacking move together, Memphis Depay and Fellaini combining to allow Martial a shot, though the effort went wide, as did one from Jesse Lingard moments later.
There was no need for spectators to chant “attack, attack, attack” (although a few did), because United were attacking. They just lacked the invention to find a way through. There were boos at the end and a mass exodus before the final whistle. The West Ham contingent had been waiting for that. “Is there a fire drill?”
Telegraph
Fans reach end of their tether as United draw blank yet again
By Chris Bascombe, Old Trafford
Manchester United supporters located the end of their tether after 70 minutes of their goalless draw with West Ham United. “Attack, attack, attack,” was the rallying cry of the Stretford End.
It is a mantra that has been heard plenty of times in the Louis Van Gaal era, but this carried a venom as much as an instruction. Boos preceded it.
It is becoming a recurring soundtrack to all United’s fixtures, notes now being compared as to whether the agitation levels were greater than previous chants of dissent.
Watch closely enough, and you would swear that Van Gaal’s full-time walk from dugout to tunnel is being negotiated as if he is on a tightrope rather than the touchline.
West Ham's Mauro Zarate comes close in the first half
The prompt for supporters’ unrest was one midfield back-pass too many in search of the breakthrough. It seemed harsh. United were not flamboyant, but this was as entertaining a game Old Trafford has witnessed for a while – the strangest of nil-nil draws and far from boring.
West Ham contributed plenty to this end-to-end contest. After so many months of tedium, many home fans are no longer cutting their side any slack after five goalless draws in their past nine games.
The accusation lingers that United are trying to overcome opponents with their powers of sedation more than spectacular football.
Van Gaal is having none of it. It is unlikely that he will be compared to PT Barnum in the near future but any accusation of a preoccupation with defence would be misplaced on this occasion. Finishing was the main problem for both sides.
Few will agree with his airbrushing of previous dour games, but his assessment of this one was reasonable enough. “I cannot say we played bad,” the Dutchman said. “We started well and after that it was an equal game. Then we dominated the second half and created a lot of chances. You have to score.
“The fans are disappointed, yes, I know because I am also disappointed and so are my players. They want to score every minute of this game.
“I don’t understand why they are shouting ‘attack, attack, attack’ because we are the attacking team not West Ham United and it’s the same in every game.”
United certainly played with more pace and with more bodies in attack, which hinted that Van Gaal was taking more notice of pre-match criticism than the manager will admit.
Fears that a patchwork quilt of a line‑up would be ordered to be cautious were eased when Marouane Fellaini – utilised as a No 10 in the absence of Wayne Rooney – strode past James Tomkins on four minutes and gave himself an early sight on goal.
The finish was disappointing, sliced past Adrian, but it was a sign this would be a more open contest. United were more direct and used the wide areas to good effect, but lacked composure when the openings came.
Fellaini caused problems. He missed United’s best chance in the second half – a sitter from three yards – but was fortunate to see half-time. An ugly tackle, leaving his studs on Tomkins, went unpunished by the referee Mark Clattenburg.
Bastian Schweinsteiger might also have suffered at the hands of a more Draconian application of the law when the German midfielder raised an elbow to Winston Reid in the closing stages of the first half. Replays suggested minimum force, but it put the defender on the floor. “A moment of madness. A red card,” Slaven Bilic, the West Ham manager, protested.
West Ham had settled by then, and were unlucky not to be leading. Victor Moses, sent clean through by Mark Noble on 12 minutes, missed the perfect opportunity to ensure plenty of references to United’s defence resembling the parting of the Red Sea. David De Gea saved with his legs.
Then the visitors hit the post twice in a minute. First Mauro Zárate was denied the oddest of goals, a ricochet off his face bouncing off the woodwork to safety following De Gea’s fumble and Chris Smalling’s clearance.
Reid headed on to the same post on 23 minutes, meeting Zárate’s corner. Then the Argentine squandered the easiest of chances 10 minutes into the second half. He sliced wide from six yards after Andy Carroll’s clever lay-off. West Ham would not have a better opportunity in the match.
For all the craving from an increasingly agitated support, the pressure on West Ham was incessant as full-time approached. Bilic accepted his side created the chances to win, but it demanded defensive excellence to secure a point by the final whistle.
“It was everything but a boring game,” he said. “This game deserved goals. It could have been 2-2, 3-3 or 3-2 for us. They had chances of course but we deserved a point. I have nothing but praise for my players.”
The charitable words from the opposition won’t appease those home supporters who greeted full-time with more jeers.
Van Gaal insisted that he was not for changing. “When they don’t like my style of Manchester United, everyone knows all the teams of Louis van Gaal play like that. In Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AZ Alkmaar we played like that,” the United manager said.
There was a look of consternation as he said it and it is a fair point.
If the Van Gaal way and the Manchester United way is not compatible, it is not the manager’s fault but those who appointed him.
HITC
West Ham interested in Houston Dynamo's Tyler Deric despite signing new contract
West Ham are reportedly looking at Houston Dynamo ace .
Olly Dawes
According to The Sun, West Ham hold an interest in Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric - despite him signing a new contract earlier this week.
The Hammers looked to North America almost a year ago in order to sign Canadian defender Doneil Henry, and they could now do the same again with Deric.
The Sun report that Deric, 27, has caught the eye of West Ham's goalkeeping coach Chris Woods, and the club could now make a move for the American in January.
A Houston Dynamo player since 2007, Deric has had a long-standing affiliation with Owen Coyle's men, and even signed a new contract to keep him with the Texas-based club earlier this week.
Despite committing his future to the Major League Soccer club, Deric's future remains a hot topic as it's suggested that the Hammers are seeking talks with the shot-stopper.
Slaven Bilic does have two top goalkeepers in his ranks in Adrian and Darren Randolph, but the latter's impressive displays for club and country mean he could seek first-team football at some point in the near future.
Deric could be a suitable candidate to be a backup goalkeeper for the Hammers, but it still seems unlikely that the American will make the move having only recently penned a new deal with Houston Dynamo.
Mirror
Sunderland plot West Ham transfer raid with TWO defenders in their old boss Sam Allardyce's sights
Relegation-threatened Black Cats have just three fit senior centre-backs so are eyeing £10m-rated James Tomkins AND free-agent-to-be James Collins
Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce wants a centre-back in next month’s transfer window.
Big Sam is down to three senior central defenders – John O’Shea, Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Coates – with Wes Brown, 36, struggling with a knee problem.
Allardyce would love to land West Ham’s £10million-rated James Tomkins, 26, but could tempt his old club with a knockdown offer for James Collins, 32, who is out of contract next summer.
Allardyce told the Sunday People: “Wes is not fit, he’s got a bit of a knee problem, and we haven’t got another centre-back.
"If we had a problem in that area, we’d have to go back to a back-four.’’
