LVG to stay?
> However, Mourinho appears to approve raid on youngsters Stones, Sanches
TOTTENHAM REAL MADRID’S Colombia international forward James Rodriguez, 24, could favour a move to Juventus this summer despite interest from Premier League clubs.
REAL ASTON VILLA want former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson as their new manager but are delaying an announcement to focus on a proposed takeover.
OF THE DAY CRYSTAL PALACE manager Alan Pardew wants to sign West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 22, who has one year left on his contract with the Baggies.
DEFIANT Louis van Gaal (caricature) has given his clearest indication yet that he expects to be in charge of Manchester United next season while revealing for the first time that it was at the club’s insistence, not his own, that he signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford in 2014.
It is a fascinating development in the saga that has built up over van Gaal’s future with United as he reaches the end of his second year as the club’s manager.
Van Gaal has long stated that it has always been his intention to see out the third, and final, year of the deal he signed when he left his previous post as manager of the Dutch national team.
But it had never been revealed before that the 64-year-old’s original preference had been to sign a two-year contract with the Premier League club before retiring to his luxury villa on The Algarve.
“Of course,” said van Gaal when asked if he expected his time in charge to date to have been quite so challenging. “That is why they have hired me and also we have spoken about that. And also we have a process of three years.
“I wanted to sign for two years. They want three years, not I. I have signed for three years so next year you see me again!”
Van Gaal has grown increasingly frustrated and angry at reports that have repeatedly claimed a decision has already been taken by the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to dispense with him this summer, with Jose Mourinho apparently lined up as his replacement.
But as United prepared to face Leicester City, Van Gaal did not hesitate to defend the progress he claims United have made on his watch and could yet make if they qualify for next season’s Champions League.
“I am a realistic man and I only speak about facts,” said van Gaal. “Up until now, we are less because last year we were fourth, now we are fifth.
“But still we are able to end the season third so we have to wait and see on May 15, then we know for sure.
“I can’t say again “if, if.” The facts count and the fact is we are in the FA Cup Final, the fact is we were in the Champions League, that we didn’t do last year.
“The fact is we went further in the Capital One Cup and so on. So there are a lot of positives but now we are one position less than last year and that position is very important for the club, the most important position.
“We are the best home team but we are one of the lousiest away teams of the top clubs. That’s our point that we have to prove.” match with the 71st-ranked Almagro as a heavy favourite after dominating opponents all week as he returned to the event a year after losing the final to Richard Gasquet. “It was tough conditions, he played better and I didn’t serve great. But this was only my first week on clay,” Kyrgios said. “I played two solid matches, so it’s not too bad.” Carreno Busta will be involved in his second career final. The Spaniard constructed his second straight victory over Paire to put himself into possible title position after reaching the Sao Paulo final last February, where he lost to Pablo Cuevas. Alternatively, is has been reported that Jose Mourinho has approved Manchester United’s transfer pursuit of Benfica midfielder Renato Sanches and Everton’s John Stones. The Portuguese manager has been heavily linked with the manager’s job at Old Trafford and according to the Telegraph, he has agreed a deal in principle to replace Van Gaal in the summer. It is claimed the ex-Chelsea boss has already begun preparing for next season and this summer’s transfer window. And the main focus is on Sanches and Stones, who are among the best young players in their position. Sanches was a target for the club in January but a deal failed to materialise. However they are understood to have held talks with Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira in the last 48 hours about the 18-year-old and are at an advanced stage in negotiations. The only stumbling block is said to be Benfica’s desire for a fee close to club record paid for Anthony Martial when he joined from Monaco last summer. The £61.6million (RM352.21m) deal includes several clauses for milestones achieved by the French forward. The report also says Mourinho is keen to work with Stones, having failed to sign him when at Chelsea. Stones has had a mixed season but his stock remains high and Everton could look for as much as £50m (RM285.88m) for him. – The Independent
possibility of a Monday finish at the TPC Louisiana. The golfers were called off the course because of approaching thunderstorms and four hours later officials abandoned any further prospect of play after 1.2 inches (30 millimetres) of rain had drenched the already sodden course. The tournament has been severely behind schedule since the opening round on Thursday when nearly five hours of play was wiped out by thunderstorms. When the weather-delayed second round was finally completed yesterday morning, American journeyman Brian Stuard held a one-shot lead after recording four birdies in his last nine holes. Seeking his first PGA Tour victory, Stuard continued to benefit from a putter he picked up last week in San Antonio as he fired a flawless four-underpar 68 on a rain-softened layout. Australian world No. 1 Jason Day, who was also among the players who had to finish off the second round yesterday, carded a 68 to sit five strokes off the pace.