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.

ARSENAL TO MAKE £10M TRANSFER OFFER TO FINALLY SIGN BASEL STAR FABIAN SCHAR

 

Arsenal are reportedly set to make a £10million bid to sign Basel centre back Fabian Schar in January to end their defensive problems.
The Gunners, who are on the lookout for a quality centre half, have been watching Schar for months and were strongly linked with him in the summer.
Schar ignited transfer talk this week by admitting he wants to leave Basel in the new year, and now reports say Arsenal will make a £10million offer for his services.
Arsene Wenger has competition from a host of different teams, including German side Borussia Monchengladbach, but the 22-year-old favours a switch to the Emirates Stadium – and that could prove crucial.

 

REAL MADRID ‘TO OPEN TRANSFER TALKS WITH MANCHESTER UNITED OVER GARETH BALE FOR ANGEL DI MARIA SWAP DEAL’

Manchester United will be offered the chance to sign Gareth Bale from Real Madrid in January – as part of a sensational swap deal involving Angel Di Maria.
United have been strongly linked with a move for Bale in the new year, with Louis van Gaal looking to add a quality winger to his side.
And now the Daily Express says Madrid are willing to hand over Bale – in exchange for Di Maria.
Madrid flogged the Argentine to United in a £59million deal only a matter of months ago, but they desperately want him back, and hope the offer of Bale would be enough to do business.

MANCHESTER UNITED ‘DETERMINED’ TO SIGN ENZO PEREZ WITH £24.4M TRANSFER OFFER

MANCHESTER UNITED ‘DETERMINED’ TO SIGN ENZO PEREZ WITH £24.4M TRANSFER OFFER

 

Manchester United are ‘determined’ to sign Benfica midfielder Enzo Perez in January and are set to make a £24.4million bid for his services.
Perez was strongly linked with United back in the summer, with suggestions at the time that Louis van Gaal had made a deadline day bid for the player.
United scouts have since been following Perez closely, and while Chelsea are also in for the 28-year-old, the Red Devils are reported to be ‘determined’ to do business and will lodge a £24.4million offer soon.
A classy central midfielder who is also strong in the tackle, Perez is seen as the missing piece in United’s midfield jigsaw, and with Benfica reportedly short on cash, a deal is on the cards.
 

UNITED 'TO MAKE MARTINS INDI BID'

UNITED 'TO MAKE MARTINS INDI BID'

Manchester United are reportedly planning a £10m swoop for Porto defender Bruno Martins Indi, while Gerard Pique and Ron Vlaar remain options.

Louis van Gaal wants to beef up his struggling defence with a move for the Portuguese-born Holland defender, who is comfortable at the heart of defence or at left-back.
The 26-times capped defender, who played under van Gaal at the 2014 World Cup, only joined Porto in the summer having joined the club from Feyenoord, where he came through their academy.
It is thought Martins Indi is valued at around the £10million mark, and The Sun claims a bid for the defender could be in the pipeline.
Martins Indi spoke recently of a special connection to LVG, with the same paper quoting him as saying: "Spiritually I still have contact with Van Gaal.
"I think about him and I think he also thinks about me."
The United boss, who has seen his defenders struggle for form and fitness in his first season at Old Trafford, is also known to be considering January moves for Aston Villa's Vlaar and Barcelona's Pique.
Vlaar, who is out of contract next summer, has recently been linked with a £6million move to United, while Pique was again left out by Barca in the Champions League on Wednesday, amid claims he is wanted by United, Chelsea and Arsenal.