Paper Talk: Van Gaal ‘on the brink’, United eye £29m Mahrez

Riyad Mahrez: Wanted at Manchester United

Riyad Mahrez: Keeping calm about Leicester's title prospects

Louis van Gaal’s time at Manchester United is running out and United are set to bid £29million for Riyad Mahrez, all in the papers.

ONE GAME, TWO GAMES? LVG ‘ON THE BRINK’

The papers are full of reaction to Manchester United’s stinking 2-1 home defeat to Norwich and they all have a slightly different spin on just how long the Dutchman has left at Old Trafford.

They do all tend to agree that his time is running out though and the Daily Mirror suggests a defeat at Stoke on Boxing Day will be the end.

The Sun: Van Gaal is on the way out of Manchester United after contact was made with Jose Mourinho – before Saturday’s defeat to Norwich.

Daily Mirror: Van Gaal is one match away from losing his job at Manchester United.

Daily Star: Van Gaal has two games to save his job as Manchester United boss.

Daily Mail: Van Gaal is “on the brink” and Jose Mourinho is ready and willing to walk into his shoes at Manchester United.

Independent: ‘Van Gaal’s slump puts ‘energised’ Giggs in a dilemma’

The Times: Van Gaal is confident that he retains the immediate backing of his players and Manchester United’s board, despite admitting some fans are starting to lose patience with him.

Daily Express: Man Utd and coming under growing pressure from their fans to axe Van Gaal.

Daily Telegraph: Van Gaal has two games to save his job.

UNITED CHASE £29M MAHREZ

Manchester United will bid £29million in January for Leicester star Riyad Mahrez, according to French outlet Le 10 Sport.

United have been heavily linked with his partner in crime at the King Power Stadium Jamie Vardy, but Algeria wideman Mahrez, 24, is now the man United want to add some goals to their attack.

Mahrez has scored 13 times already for the league leaders and United are “ready to beat Arsenal” to his signature, say the Daily Express.

WANYAMA BACK ON ARSENAL’S RADAR

Southampton enforcer Victor Wanyama is the priority for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger in the transfer window, according to the Daily Mirror.

Wenger has hinted recently that he could try and add to his squad next month and central midfield would seem to be his priority after injuries to Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Francis Coquelin.

Arsenal scouts have been watching the former Celtic midfielder Wanyama and he remains the “no. 1 priority” say the tabloid. Wenger has admitted his admiration for the player recently but claimed they were not chasing him

“I rate the player, but we are not on the case,” Wenger said earlier this month.

The Mirror also state that PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot remains an alternative and he could be available on a loan deal in January.

 

AND THE REST

Chelsea have lined up Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini as a permanent replacement for Mourinho. (Fox Sports)

Manchester City are favourites to land outgoing Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola, but they face competition from Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris St-Germain when he leaves the Bundesliga side at the end of the season. (Guardian)

Jeremain Lens  has been dropped from the first team by Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce and fined two weeks’ wages for refusing to take part in a post-match workout, after the 1-0 defeat by Watford. (Daily Mail)

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce will try to sell Lens when the transfer window opens in January. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea’s Colombia striker Radamel Falcao wants talks with new manager Guus Hiddink to find out if he has a future at Stamford Bridge. (Daily Mirror)

Guus Hiddink, in charge on a temporary basis until the end of the season, wants former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to be part of his coaching staff at Stamford Bridge. (Times)

Drogba is being groomed as a future Chelsea manager with Roman Abramovich keen to bring the 37-year-old back to the club. (Sun)

Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder David Silva, 29, wants to see out the final three-and-a-half years of his contract. (Manchester Evening News)

Swansea look set to allow caretaker boss Alan Curtis to continue over Christmas instead of bringing in Marcelo Bielsa. (Wales Online)

Chelsea and Manchester City are eyeing a shock move for Karim Benzema in January. New Blues boss Guus Hiddink has English pair Jamie Vardy and Saido Berahino in his sights but will consider the Real Madrid star. (The Sun)

Sheffield Wednesday are plotting a sensational move for jobless Emmanuel Adebayor. (The Sun)

Norwich will bid up to £12m for Wolves striker Benik Afobe. (The Sun)

Bournemouth are weighing up the transfer of Atalanta’s Marco Sportiello after injury has ravaged their options between the sticks (Daily Mirror)

Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal are on red alert as Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez, Isco and Toni Kroos are all ready to leave. (Daily Star)

Jurgen Klopp has played down speculation linking Chelsea with a move for Liverpool striker Christian Benteke. (Daily Express)

Bolton have launched an internal investigation after allegations were made about manager Neil Lennon’s private life in a Sunday newspaper. (Daily Mail)

Jose Mourinho does not believe Cesc Fabregas was one of the Chelsea players who had stopped playing for him, and the midfielder is determined to win over those Stamford Bridge supporters who were have been critical of him. (Telegraph)

Diego Costa spent the last three weeks of Jose Mourinho’s tenure at Chelsea voluntarily taking part in double training sessions to improve his fitness. (The Times)