Liverpool Summer Transfer targets

Liverpool have an extensive list of potential summer targets, with Southampton’s Dejan Lovren, Xherdan Shaqiri of Bayern Munich and Chelsea’s Ryan Bertrand all in Brendan Rodgers’ sights.

Croatian centre-back Lovren enjoyed an excellent debut season on the south coast, but has emerged as a prime target of Rodgers, who is monitoring several possible recruits for the heart of his defence.

Lovren cost £8.5 million when he joined the Saints last season and his valuation will have significantly increased.

Liverpool have made Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana a priority signing as Mauricio Pochettino’s side are in danger of being broken up over the summer. However, with a move for Lallana stalling, Liverpool have a back-up plan to line up Swiss international Shaqiri.

The 22-year-old midfielder has been scouted extensively by Liverpool since his Basle days and, at around £10 million, would be considerably cheaper than Lallana.

Rodgers will also revive his pursuit of Chelsea full-back Bertrand as he seeks to find a solution at left-back.
Part of the problem in negotiating for Bertrand is Chelsea may not be willing to sell to a top-four rival. There is also bad blood between the clubs following Liverpool’s loan capture of Victor Moses, who they barely used.

Bertrand, 24, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, is Rodgers’ preferred choice at left-back, although Seville’s Alberto Moreno has also been extensively scouted.

Rodgers has made it clear he wants well-established players added to his squad, including a striker to add competition with Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suárez.

One of those under consideration is Swansea’s Wilfried Bony, who - like Lovren - enjoyed an impressive first season in the Premier League.

Bony would command a fee in excess of £15 million.

Meanwhile, Rodgers says there is no possibility of his captain Steven Gerrard dwelling on his Premier League disappointment when the World Cup starts.

“I have no concerns whatsoever,” said Rodgers.

“I think Steven will go away and when he reflects on what has been personally a brilliant season of football, he has been very unfairly pointed out in terms of his slip. It could have happened in the third game, it could have happened in the fourth game ,but it certainly wasn’t anywhere near the defining moment of our season. That was not what cost us the league.

"It was more games when we won the games. When we won 5-3 at Stoke when we conceded, when we won 6-3 at Cardiff, when we won 4-3 at home and conceded three. It was those games, not Steven’s slip or Kolo’s [Toure] misplaced pass [at West Brom]. Because he [Steven] is a very conscientious boy and he loves Liverpool and he is very hard on himself.

"He’s his own worst critic but he comes away recognising that he has been involved in a real title run-in and next season he will be better for it and we will be a better squad for it and we will be ready to fight again and he will play a pivotal part in it. He will take that confidence into a world cup.

“I always say to players when you go to England don’t think of Liverpool. Think about your country and the team you are playing for.

"One of his qualities is that he can do that. He is a model professional at that, he is very proud to play for England and captain his country and I am sure he will go and do the country proud again.”

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Ashley Cole: Staying at Chelsea is not an option

Ashley Cole is set to leave Chelsea this summer after revealing that staying at Stamford Bridge is not an option for him.

The 33-year-old's contract at Stamford Bridge is set to expire at the end of June, while he retired from international duty after being left out of England's World Cup squad.

Jose Mourinho has preferred the right-footed Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back this season, but the 51-year-old was upbeat over Cole's future at the club and hinted a new deal could be reached.

However, late on Monday evening, Cole conceded an extension is unlikely and will now assess offers elsewhere ahead of the new season.

"I am weighing up my options for playing next season with my agent and sadly it does not look like Chelsea will be one of them," the left-back posted on Twitter.

Cole joined Chelsea from Arsenal in 2006 and went on to win the Premier League tile in 2010, the Champions League in 2012 and the FA Cup four times.

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Agent : Toure could leave City

Yaya Toure is considering the possibility of leaving Manchester City because he feels "disrespected" by the club, according to the player's agent.

Dimitri Seluk claims his client is weighing up his future after no one wished him a happy birthday at a club event in Abu Dhabi on May 13 to celebrate City's Premier League title win.

City, however, may well be inclined to take Seluk's latest comments with a pinch of salt, given that he has suggested that Toure could leave the club in each of the last two seasons.
"There is a big possibility Yaya will leave this summer. He is very upset. What happened at his birthday means the club don't care about him. It was proof," Seluk told The Sun.

"They can say whatever they want, 'Oh we like him but we forgot'. Forgot? About Yaya? The player who helped you to be two-times Premier League champions? The guy who helped you win the FA Cup and League Cup?

"In a normal team, his team-mates and club would at least give him good wishes. But when you win the title and two days later you have a big party to celebrate the title and nobody comes to Yaya to say happy birthday, what more do you want?"

It remains to be seen whether Seluk is true to his word, or potentially chasing a new and improved contract for Toure, who has completed one year of a four-year deal agreed last summer.

Seluk was quoted in March 2013 as claiming 'only Roberto Mancini respects Yaya', although the Ivory Coast international has stayed on at the club under new manager Manuel Pellegrini, and has performed superbly over an extended period of time.

But Seluk warned: "If a player like Yaya went to Liverpool and they won the league for the first time in 24 years, Yaya would be a god in Liverpool.

"But at City, Yaya is no hero. He's nobody. That's how the club make him feel. He's very upset and he started thinking about leaving the club. And he will leave if things carry on like this.

"We're not doing this for more money. We probably can go for less money to another club. If they think they can buy everything, they are wrong. I think these people don't care. Only stupid people would want Yaya to leave."

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Van Gaal : Mourinho is jealous of my CV

Louis van Gaal has revealed that Jose Mourinho texted him on his appointment as Manchester United manager to reveal his jealousy at the list of clubs the Dutchman has managed.

Van Gaal's imminent move to Old Trafford will provide the latest chapter in an illustrious career which also includes spells in charge of Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Mourinho was interviewed by the Catalan giants prior to the appointment of Pep Guardiola in the summer of 2008, and was widely reported to be keen on succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson as United boss before David Moyes was chosen.

And speaking to Dutch television channel RTL, Van Gaal claimed that Mourinho - his former assistant and long-time friend - had been in touch to reveal his awe at his mentor's CV.

"Jose Mourinho was one of the first people that texted me when I got the job. He said that he was jealous of my resume of clubs," Van Gaal said with a smirk.

The 62-year-old also insisted he does not foresee any problems with Ferguson, who remains on the board of directors at United and previously endorsed Ryan Giggs for the manager's job.

"I will probably have a drink with Sir Alex Ferguson, but we've done that a couple of times before," he added. "We get along quite fine.
"I don't think his pressure will be a big problem. I put a lot of pressure on myself. We need to get United back to the summit, as soon as possible.

"Maybe people will think that this will happen in the first seeason, but we'll have to see. In the end, there's only one team that becomes champions."

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Mourinho: We don't need many new signings

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said his team don't require too many new additions this summer and suggests they will wait until after the World Cup before making any moves.

But with many transfer targets pre-occupied with this summer's tournament in Brazil, Mourinho admits it could be some time before Chelsea have any new faces to unveil, but said there won't be too many brought in.
"Since the market will be open until August 31, like it is, I think it will be more of the same," he told Sky Sports News.

"I think people [will] wait for the World Cup, wait for the first reaction of the first team, wait until after something happens.

"At Chelsea, the manager is the same, the basic structure of the team is the same, we don't need the season to finish and the results of the season [to] make the decisions about what we need and what we don't need," he added.

"Everything was done during the season. We knew perfectly what we wanted and I don't think we have huge work to do during the summer really."

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Mangala: I would rather join Chelsea than Manchester City

Eliaquim Mangala has dealt a blow to Manchester City's hopes of securing a deal for the £35m-rated Porto defender by claiming he would rather sign for Chelsea.

The France international had been close to moving to the Etihad Stadium in January when City attempted to complete a double move for the 23-year-old centre-half and Brazilian midfielder Fernando.

Manchester United and Paris St Germain have also pursued Mangala, but City had appeared to be favourites to sign the player, despite accepting a £49million fine from Uefa last week for falling foul of Financial Fair Play regulations.

However, in an interview with Bein Sports, Mangala has now admitted that he favours a move to Chelsea because he would rather play in London.

"City or Chelsea? Chelsea because it is London,” Mangala said, when asked which club he would prefer to play for.

"It is true that I love the Premier League because it is a spectacular championship. In January, there were discussions with City, but it fell through because the two clubs could not reach an agreement.

"Every player wants to play in the biggest clubs. I am an ambitious player and the team that can help me win titles is the one that interests me."

With Mangala now preparing for the World Cup after being named in Didier Deschamps’ France squad, he has insisted that he will put his club future on hold until after the tournament in Brazil.

"My goal now is the World Cup,” Mangala said. “We will see what happens after that. I told Jorge Mendes [his agent] that I don't want to know anything about the transfer window until then.”

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Eto'o: Mourinho is a fool for calling me old

Samuel Eto'o has labelled Jose Mourinho a "fool" after the Chelsea boss questioned the veracity of his official age earlier in the season.

Mourinho was unwittingly caught on camera lamenting the quality of the strikers at his disposal at a sponsors' event in Switzerland in February, and jokingly suggested that Eto'o could be older than he claims to be.

The now-33-year-old appeared to react in jest by celebrating his next Chelsea goal by holding his back in false pain, aping the manner of a geriatric.

However, Eto'o - who is now out of contract at Stamford Bridge - has blasted Mourinho for his comments, while also insisting that he can continue playing at the highest level for the foreseeable future.

"Today, I am 33-years-old - and it is not because a fool called me an old man that you must believe it," the Cameroonian told africanfootball.com.

"And you may have noticed that the old man was better than the youngsters. Some believe I am going to retire in the United States or in the Middle East, but I have regained the joy of the Champions League and I am going to carry on playing in the Champions League.

"Where? I am not going to tell you."

Eto'o is set to feature at his fourth World Cup for Cameroon next month, and the four-time African Player of the Year feels he could go on and break Lothar Matthaus' and Antonio Carbajal's record of playing at five World Cups.

"I am going to carry on playing because physically and mentally I feel great," he added.

"So I am going to go to this World Cup and to the next one when I will be 37. Some did it at 42, so I can still play at two more World Cups."

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Sagna set to hold talks with Manchester City

Bacary Sagna will hold talks with Manchester City next week as he steps up plans to find a new club.

As revealed by Goal, the Frenchman has told Arsenal he will not sign a new contract and will leave at the end of the season.

He let manager Arsene Wenger know at the end of last week that the FA Cup final against Hull City on Saturday will be his final game for the Gunners.

Sagna has attracted strong interest from Premier League big-hitters as well as clubs on the continent, including Chelsea, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

But newly-crowned Premier League champions City are believed to be in pole position to capture the versatile full-back.

Manuel Pellegrini’s team are ready to offer Sagna a £100,000-a-week deal spread over three years, even though his premier position at right-back is the same as that of Pablo Zabaleta, one of City’s best players this season.

Arsenal had been close to an agreement with Sagna last month after offering him an £80,000-a-week, two-year deal with the option of a third year in a final attempt to keep him at the club.

However, the 31-year-old has rejected the offer and he will end his seven-year spell at Emirates Stadium after Saturday's final.

The right-back is believed to be settled with his family in England and is keen to remain in the Premier League.

Losing Sagna will be a blow to Arsene Wenger, with the player offering experience and versatility that is not easy to replace. He filled in at centre-back against Norwich City on Saturday as Wenger chose to rest Per Mertesacker ahead of the cup final.

Toulouse's Serge Aurier is currently top of Arsenal’s target list to replace Sagna. Goal revealed on Tuesday that the Gunners have opened preliminary talks with the Ligue 1 club about a £7million summer move for the Ivory Coast international, 21.

The defender, who turned 31 in February, is able to join another club on a free transfer on July 1.

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Xavi: Puyol taught me a life lesson

Xavi has hailed Barcelona team-mate Carles Puyol as an example to follow as the 36-year-old prepares to call time on his Camp Nou career.

Barcelona held a farewell ceremony for the iconic defender on Thursday, who will leave the club this summer after making over 500 official appearances for between 1999 and 2014.

Xavi spoke on behalf of the squad to thank Puyol for his remarkable achievements at the club at paid particular tribute to his decision to let Eric Abidal - who had recently recovered from a battle with liver cancer at the time - lift the Champions League trophy in 2011.

"We have a lot to thank you for: sacrifice, bravery, generosity. You're the most professional player I've ever shared a dressing room with," Xavi said.

"I'll never forget the final at Wembley when I told you that you should lift the cup, even though you'd only played for a few minutes, and you turned round and said to me: 'No, Xavi, Abidal has to lift the cup.'

"You gave me a life lesson. You've always been there for everyone, for the injured, for those who played less, giving them encouragement and advice.

"I'm so proud to have shared my career with you, and I would love to share a project with you here at the club in the future. You are Barcelona, and the club needs you."

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Arteta: I'm not too old for Arsenal

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta believes that he can still give a lot to the club despite his advancing age.

The 32-year-old has just one year left on his current contract at the Emirates Stadium and is keen to extend his stay but is well aware of the Gunners' policy of preferring short-term deals for veteran players.

While acknowledging the philosophy, Arteta argues that it might not be the best approach, though says that he would be glad to step aside if he could no longer compete.

"I don't know what is going to happen," he told the Daily Mirror of his future.

"With players over 30 they have a policy and I don't know if they plan to change it or maintain it. Depending on what their mind is, I will give them my opinion and how I see it.

"Yes, [we'll talk] this summer and see what they want to do. I'm relaxed because I am only going to stay here or wherever if they really want me to stay and I feel productive.

"The day I don't feel productive, the day I feel like I can't perform, I will be the first one to say: 'Listen, you have kids here of 25 much better than me; it's my time to move on.' They are not going to have a problem with me.

"I don't value players by age, whether it is Tomas Rosicky or Jack Wilshere. I analyse many other things before age. For me, a much bigger asset is someone who has played over 125 games in three years compared to someone who has played 25 and is 20.

"I understand the club’s point of view - 'Mikel is not a £25 million player because he is not 22 any more' - but I know what I can give so it is to find the right balance. It is something that we need to analyse and talk about."

Arteta has made 44 appearances for Arsene Wenger's side in 2013-14, with their season set to conclude with Saturday's FA Cup final against Hull City.

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One-year extension for Terry

John Terry has signed a one-year contract extension at Chelsea.

The 33-year-old's future at the club was in doubt as his previous deal was set to expire this summer but the centre-back will now remain at Stamford Bridge until the end of next season.

"I'm delighted to have signed an extension to my contract with Chelsea taking me into my 20th year with the club," Terry told the club's official website.

"I'd like to thank the fans and club for their continued support, and the manager who was instrumental for me the last season."

Chief executive Ron Gourlay added: "We are very pleased John, who is an undoubted Chelsea legend, will continue to lead the team next season, as he has done for so many years with unrivalled achievement.

"Both Chelsea FC and John have been clear throughout that we wanted his outstanding career at the club to continue, and it is important the matter has been concluded so soon after the end of the season, allowing us to look forward to and plan for 2014/15."

Terry made 47 appearances in all competitions under Jose Mourinho last term but could not stop Chelsea ending the campaign without a trophy, with the club finishing third in the Premier League and being eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

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Victor Valdes open letter to fans

Victor Valdes has said farewell to Barcelona in an emotional letter on the club's official website, thanking former coaches Louis van Gaal, Frank Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova for their support over the years.

The shot stopper will leave the Camp Nou side at the end of the season, but will not get the chance to wave his fans farewell on the pitch due to a knee injury that has kept him out of action ever since March.

"The time has come for me to say goodbye to you all. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to say goodbye playing football, as I would have liked, but that’s life at times, and this year has been a bit cruel to me in this regard," the letter reads.

"Thank you to Louis Van Gaal, for showing the courage necessary to gamble on a talent that only he could see. He began building this historic Barca side, which I have been privileged to be part of. My heartfelt thanks

"Thank you Frank Rijkaard, for giving me the confidence necessary, and allowing me to achieve glory, getting my hands on the European Cup in Paris. Wherever you are, I will be indebted to you for the rest of my life Mister.

"Thank you Pep, for having opened the door to playing a game that was unknown to me, for guiding me along the road where one has to keep looking for success, and we did it together, right? We’ll always have that Mister, and believe me, it will be eternal!.

"Thank you Tito! Wherever you are, I thank you for having taught us not only the way to keep winning as a team, but also the strength and character needed to face life.

"Thanks to all my colleagues with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work, that involves wearing the Barca crest on our chests day after day, for making me feel important within the group that we developed over all these years.

"And of course I cannot forget the most important people, over these 12 years as a professional, wearing this shirt, my most loyal fans."

Valdes has made over 500 official appearances for Barcelona since making his official debut in 2002-03.

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Lescott confirms Manchester City exit

Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has confirmed he is set to leave the Premier League champions.

The 26-time England international has not been offered a contract extension to remain with the club, and is eyeing a move to a lower-profile club.

The 31-year-old former Wolverhampton and Everton man said he departs Manchester with no regrets.

"It is the end. I know I'm going to be leaving," Lescott said. "We've had a good relationship, this club has been a big part of me.

"As far as I'm concerned it's the end. If something changed then great but if not there are no hard feelings between me and the club. I've had a great relationship with them.

"I know the business side of it. We've been successful and I hold no grudges.

"Everyone talks about how you look back when your career has finished on what you've won - and I can look back and say I've won some amazing things. It wasn't a bad decision, in the end."

Lescott has been linked with Turkish club Besiktas, as well as Premier League outfits West Ham, Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham, but he said his family came first when weighing up the suitors.

"I'm going to see what's best for me and my family and then make a decision," Lescott said. "I've spoken to a number of clubs in different countries. There's been no decision made.

"But I want to get it sorted soon. I don't want to leave it till after the World Cup. But at the same time I won't rush."

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Lineker: Barkley just like Gascoigne

Former England international Gary Lineker says Ross Barkley reminds him of his old international team-mate Paul Gascoigne.

Lineker, who scored 48 goals in 80 international appearances, believes manager Roy Hodgson should put faith in the younger members of his squad at the 2014 World Cup - particularly Barkley, who has shone in the Premier League for Everton this season.

"I see things in Barkley's game, in terms of strengths and weaknesses," Lineker told the Daily Mail.

"Like Gazza he can go past people. He's incredibly strong. He's got a similar stature, got amazing ability and will score amazing goals like Gazza.

"On the defensive side he's slightly lacking in terms of tactical nous, but if you play him in a certain position that wouldn't necessarily be that important."

Barkley is one of a number of players in England's squad with a relative lack of experience at international level, together with the likes of Liverpool's Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana of Southampton.

"I think a good percentage of them (the younger players) will start," added Lineker.

"I think he (Roy Hodgson) knows that's his best chance, rather than trying the ones that have been there, seen that, done it.

"Sterling is a phenomenal talent. He's probably the best of the youngsters.

"He looks slightly ahead of Barkley in terms of consistency, and his ability to play in a number of positions is incredible for one so inexperienced.

"Lallana is a beautiful footballer. He lacks a bit of pace but he is wonderfully gifted with both feet and he keeps the ball well. Daniel Sturridge could also comfortably emerge and become a star."

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Liverpool to bid for Lallana

Liverpool are set to table a bid for Southampton playmaker Adam Lallana this summer, according to Sky sources.

The 25-year-old is expected to feature heavily for England at the World Cup finals in Brazil after a superb season for the Saints.

Lallana, recently voted Southampton's Player of the Year, has scored nine goals in 37 Premier League games this season.

He also has six assists and has created 69 chances for his team while earning regular England call-ups alongside team-mates Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Luke Shaw.

Yaya Toure, Steven Gerrard and Eden Hazard are the only other midfielders to have scored more league goals than Lallana this term, while Aaron Ramsey and Raheem Sterling have also scored nine.

Southampton have insisted that they have received no official bid for the player from Liverpool.

Ahead of Southampton's final game of the season with Manchester United on Sunday, Saints coach Mauricio Pochettino said he was only aware of what has been reported in the media.

"I pretty much have the same information you have. The club has not spoken to me officially about anything (regarding Adam)," he said.

Sky sources suggest that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is determined to complete a deal to sign Lallana before England depart for Brazil on June 8.

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Premier League transfers: 10 worst of 2013-14 season

10-Martin Demichelis, Atletico Madrid to Manchester City, £3.5m

9-Tiago Ilori, Sporting Lisbon to Liverpool £7m

8-Nicolas Anelka, Shanghai Shenhua to West Brom, free transfer

7-Mesut Ozil, Real Madrid to Arsenal, £42m

6-Jozy Altidore, AZ Alkmaar to Sunderland, £6.5m

5-Dani Osvaldo, Roma to Southampton, £15m

4-Roberto Soldado, Valencia to Tottenham Hotspur £26m

3-Andreas Cornelius, FC Copenhagen to Cardiff, £8m

2-Erik Lamela, Roma to Tottenham Hotspur, £30m

1-Marouane Fellaini, Everton to Manchester United, £27.5m

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Premier League transfers: 10 best of 2013-14 season

10. Willian (Chelsea) £32 million

9. Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City) Loan

8. Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City) £16 million

7. Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace)Loan

6. Tom Huddlestone (Hull City) £5 million

5. Dejan Lovren (Southampton) £8.5 million

4. Gareth Barry (Everton) Loan

3. Fernandinho (Manchester City) £34 million

2. Wilfried Bony (Swansea City) £12 million

1. Romelu Lukaku (Everton) Loan

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Rodgers : Title race not over yet

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has refused to concede the Premier League title to Manchester City ahead of the final day of the season, while also revealing he is close to signing a new contract.

Rodgers admitted the crown would go to Liverpool's north-west rivals after the 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace on Monday night, but told his press conference for Sunday's meeting with Newcastle that he had not given up on a first league trophy in 24 years.

Firstly, the Reds must beat the Magpies at Anfield and hope West Ham overturn leaders City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with both matches live on Sky Sports.

Rodgers is hopeful that the Hammers have enough quality to help Liverpool out with their side of the bargain and said: "It's certainly not over.

"First and foremost, we can only concentrate on our job, our job is to win the game.

"I think Alan (Pardew) will come and he'll want to finish his season strong. We know that it's a tough game.

"But the combination of us at home and our supporters has been fantastic for us. To look to get 16 wins out of 19 come the weekend would pencil in a great return for us at home.

"For them (Manchester City), West Ham have got some really talented players. To be able to go to Tottenham and win 3-0, you can certainly go to Manchester City and win, specially if you a guy like big Andy (Carroll) up front with the quality that he has.

"City have got a really good defensive record, 14-odd clean sheets I think, so it shows that they're a really difficult team to play against.

"So our focus is on ourselves, if we do our job then I'll be happy."

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Ferdinand : Manchester United will regret Vidic exit

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand fears that the club could end up regretting Nemanja Vidic's departure - just as they did Jaap Stam's exit in 2001.

Vidic, 32, will join Inter in the summer after opting not to renew his contract and Ferdinand has compared the loss to that of Stam - of whom Sir Alex Ferguson later admitted that "in playing terms, it was a mistake" to let the Dutch centre-half go at the age of 29.

Stam was sold to Lazio in the summer of 2001 and went on to play at the top level with various clubs for another six years.

"Only time will tell if Man United regret allowing [Vidic] to leave," Ferdinand told reporters at the launch of BBC Sport's World Cup coverage.

"Obviously Jaap Stam played on for quite a few years at a good level after he left Man United and the same thing could happen with Nemanja. He's a great player and it's a shame he had to leave."

The 35-year-old Ferdinand could join Vidic in leaving Old Trafford this summer with his contract also due to expire.

The former England captain was coy on his future, insisting that no decision will be made until David Moyes's long-term successor - who will be Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal - has been confirmed.

"I'm fit, I'm healthy and I want to continue playing," Ferdinand added. "I've spoken to a lot of mates of mine in the game and they all say the same thing - keep playing for as long as you can. I want to do that.

"The club at the moment is in a position where they can't really make any decisions about anything. For me to be saying that I want to do this or that is irrelevant.

"We've got to see who becomes the new manager and boxes will be ticked from there.

"I just want the best solution for the club. Whatever it is, I'll respect it and, after that, I'm open to offers. I'd rather wait and see what happens at United and then there'll be a decision made."

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Januzaj : CR7 my role model for Manchester United success

Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj says that he is using former Red Devils hero Cristiano Ronaldo as a model for his development.

Since making his United debut against Sunderland as an 18-year old earlier in the season, the Belgian is now regarded as one of the brightest prospects in world football and sees the Real Madrid superstar as the example to follow.

Januzaj cites the Portuguese's commitment to physical training in the gym as a particular lesson as he attempts to become stronger on the ball.

"I watch [Ronaldo] a lot and try to do the same things that he does," the youngster told Inside United. "He is a very good player.

"I always look at him and watch his games as well and try do what he is doing and remember what he did at Manchester United.

"I have to work hard in the gym like he did because, when he came here, he wasn't strong but, after a year or so, he became really strong and could push people away. I'm getting a bit stronger now due to the gym work."

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