TRANSFER NEWS: Man Utd's Cuadrado MEETING, Rooney's Everton return, Martinez twist

The summer transfer window may be just a distant memory, but with the season well underway managers have started their preparations for January...
Manchester United have already held a meeting with Juan Cuadrado over a prospective £35million deal.
The Fiorentina winger has been linked in the past with the Red Devils in the past.
Reports suggest that Cuadrado has had a change of heart after penning a new deal with La Viola, and is keen to force through a move away from the Serie A outfit.
Cuadrado it is believed hasn't seen eye-to-eye with manager Vicenzo Montello.
Wayne Rooney could make a surprise return to Everton one day according to Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright.
The 29-year-old left Everton in 2004 to join Manchester United in a £27m deal.
But Kenwright believes Rooney would be welcome back at Goodison Park anytime.
He said: "Yes. He comes back to Goodison. He's an Evertonian and his family are. He is welcome to come back."
Liverpool are lining up a £30million move for Porto forward Jackson Martinez.
The Reds have struggled this term following the departure of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge already missing a chunk of action through injury.
Martinez was previously linked to Chelsea and Arsenal, but there appears to be a fresh twist in the transfer saga.
He has admitted he could get a lucrative offer from the Reds when he said: "At the end of this season I hope to get some interesting proposals."
Talisca has been urged to reject a move to Chelsea by former Blues favourite David Luiz.
The 20-year-old Benfica star is also being tracked by Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
But Luiz believes Talisca shouldn't rush into a move to the Premier League.
He said: "Jorge Jesus empowers and teaches players though. Talisca still has plenty to learn and I'm sure he'll get better in the future."

At the end of this season I hope to get some interesting proposals

Jackson Martinez

Club chat and other gossip…
Thibaut Courtois has urged Chelsea not to be complacent as they chase the title.
The Blues remain unbeaten from their first 11 league games.
Chelsea are hunting their first title since 2010, but Courtois has told his team-mates to take nothing for granted.
He said: "There will be a still a long way to win the title. We are working hard. And hopefully that will be enough."
Manchester United are expected to announce a sharp drop in revenues today.
The Red Devils will count the cost of failing to qualify for the Champions League.
The financial results are expected to show United's revenue to drop by £50m.
Best of the rest…
Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he thought Manchester United great Paul Scholes when he clapped eyes on him for the first time.
He said: "I was very aware that the first time I clapped eyes on Paul Scholes, I thought: 'too small'. But that's when nurturing talent comes in."

 

£37 million Man United target ‘on way to Premier League’

Fresh reports have claimed Manchester United target and Sporting Lisbon star William Carvalho is on his way to the Premier League this January, according to the Daily Express website.

It was reported earlier this month that the Portuguese club were willing to do a deal for Carvalho at a knockdown price in January.
The 22-year-old midfielder has a £37m release clause in his current contract but a deal could be struck during the winter transfer window at a lower price.
Carvalho recently admitted that he is keen to one day play in the Premier League.
“We all have ambitions and I hope one day to play in the best leagues in the world, the English or Spanish,” he told the Portuguese Association‘s magazine.
“It was not this year, but if I continue to do my job as I have done so, it will certainly come sooner or later.”

 

Manchester United transfer target Ron Vlaar could be in line to make 'nice big move', says agent 

Ron Vlaar's agent has admitted the Aston Villa skipper has a chance to make a "big" move in the not-too-distant future.

The defender is out of contract at the end of the season and will be allowed to talk to other clubs in January. Among those linked with Vlaar is Manchester United.
He will not be sold in the transfer window though and Villa boss Paul Lambert, who has a strong relationship with his skipper, has spoken to Vlaar about a new contract.
But the 29-year-old is yet to sign and agent Arnold Oosterveer admits the situation is in Vlaar's favour.
Oosterveer told Dutch publication Voetbal International: "It is obvious that for Ron, now is the moment to make a nice big move in his career.
"Ron is very ambitious. The situation is ideal for Ron right now.
"You can imagine that we are not in a hurry. I don't want to react to the rumour that he will go to either Arsenal or Manchester United, but Ron is very ambitious."

 

Mesut Ozil injury: Arsenal midfielder confirms that he will be sidelined for another SEVEN WEEKS 

 

Mesut Ozil has confirmed that he will be out of action for another seven weeks, meaning he will not play football again this year.

The Arsenal midfielder joined up with Germany on international duty in early October with a knee problem, which was diagnosed by the German FA as ruptured ligaments.
Ozil was speaking last night at the Laureus awards in Berlin, where he received an award for his charity work after paying for 23 Brazilian children to have life-saving surgery.
"I've been out injured for five weeks, and I will miss another seven weeks. That's a long time, indeed," he said.
"Sadly, I am ruled out because of my knee. But it is like that in football sometimes. Chin up, and move on."

 

Move over Morocco Equatorial Guinea to host Africa Cup of Nations

 Equatorial Guinea is to host the Africa Cup of Nations after Morocco requested a postponement amid Ebola fears.

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Equatorial Guinea were disqualified from the tournament in the preliminary rounds for fielding an illegible player.
They will now be able to compete as the host nation.
Morocco feared the thousands of fans pouring into the country could potentially spread the virus.
Caf disagreed rejected calls for a postponement and kicked Morocco out of the tournament.
The 16-team Africa Cup of Nations begins on January 17 to 8 February.

 

Kevin Strootman's agent rubbishes talk of Manchester United transfer and says Roma midfielder is focusing on injury recovery

Kevin Strootman is solely focusing on a return to full fitness with Roma and not dreaming of a future with Manchester United, according to the midfielder's agent.

The Dutchman, 24, has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, where he would link up with former national team coach Louis van Gaal.

But Fabio Parisi says Strootman is working on recovering 100 per cent from a cruciate knee ligament injury, so the Serie A side can have a 'great player' at their disposal again.

 

'The healing of Kevin is good for him and for the team because they end up back with a great player,' he told Calcio Mercato. 'Now Kevin only has to stay focused to gain confidence and put minutes in the legs. 

'The future at Manchester United? Forget the rumours. We just think to 100% recover his condition.'

United signed Daley Blind in the summer to fill a defensive midfield slot, but have long cried out for a player with the physical stature of Strootman.

He played his first game this season in a 3-0 win over Torino in Serie A last weekend. 

 

Why Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain could be the man to save Liverpool’s season

Rumours are circulating that Italian giants Napoli are looking for a replacement for Liverpool target Gonzalo Higuain.
The Argentine striker has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield and is apparently unhappy with life in Naples.
Liverpool seem desperate to add to their firepower in the January transfer window and it has been suggested they have already opened negotiations with the Italian club for the 26-year-old Argentina international.
The Reds are missing Luis Suarez’s goals and, with Daniel Sturridge continuing to have injury problems and Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert are not providing the goals Brendan Rodgers hoped they would, it is easy to see why the club would be keen to get a deal done.
Higuain is a proven goal-scorer and unless Liverpool sign someone like them they could see their chances of qualifying for the Champions League again slip away from them. It would be a real shame if they undid all the good work of last season by not scoring enough this term.
It is so important for Liverpool to establish themselves as a top four team and not make last season just a one season wonder.
After an inconsistent start to the season the Reds must improve both defensively and in attack, and Higuain could be the man to bring them the goals they need.