Alaba targets January return

Paul Pogba s return and subsequent performance off the bench was the only plus in Manchester United s 2-0 defeat to Watford, according to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United once again produced a disappointing display against an opponent they would be expected to beat, as rock-bottom Watford gave their survival hopes a boost.

Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring just after half-time when David de Gea allowed his tame volley to squirm into the top corner, before Troy Deeney made it 2-0 from the spot following Aaron Wan-Bissaka s clumsy tackle on Watford s first goal-scorer.

Pogba was introduced from the bench for his first appearance in nearly three months and looked comfortably United s best player.

Although he was unable to inspire a turnaround, Solskjaer co…

Valencia midfielder Mario Suarez has claimed that his former Atletico Madrid team-mate Koke is a more complete player than Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi.

Suarez looks set to go head-to-head with Atletico for the first time since leaving the club in July 2015 when Valencia host Diego Simeone s men in LaLiga on Sunday and the contest will have him facing off against a host of familiar faces, none more so than Koke.

Although five years Koke s senior, Suarez has known the Spain international since they were both boys coming through the ranks at Atletico and now Suarez, 29, believes Koke is on course to become one of the world s elite players.

He told Marca: To me, when compared with Xavi saving the different eras Koke seems much more complete. He can play out wide,…

Serie A giants Napoli are weighing up January move for River Plate striker Lucas Alario, .

The Azzurri were reportedly pondering a move for free agent Miroslav Klose as key forward Arkadiusz Milik picked up a serious injury, but it looks as though they will wait until January before reinforcing their front line.

Sport Mediaset understands that Napoli are instead readying a January bid for River Plate striker Lucas Alario, who has enjoyed a bright start to his career at Monumental.

The 24-year-old signed from Colon in the summer of 2015 and went on to score 13 goals in his first 24 league outings for the Argentine giants.

Chances are that Alario will not be staying in Argentina for much longer and Italian Serie A should be his next destination.

Na…

Marseille president Vincent Labrune has admitted that Andre Ayew could leave the club if the right offer comes in.

Ayew, 23, has expressed a desire to move away from the Stade Velodrome, with Liverpool his preferred destination.

Aside from loan spells at Arles and Lorient, the Ghana international winger has spent his entire career with Marseille, helping them to the Coupe de la Ligue title in 2011.

However, Ayew is reported to have clashed with manager Elie Baup over his desire to play as a central striker.

Baup is keen to retain the nucleus of the side that secured second place in Ligue 1 last term, but Labrune is willing to part company with Ayew.

Ayew has informed me of his intentions, Labrune told Le Parisien.

If an offer from a big club comes in …

According to , Japanese club Vissel Kobe have announced the signing of Andres Iniesta.

Since making his debut in 2002/03, Iniesta played 674 games for and scored 57 goals in all competitions. He has won the Champions League four times, nine La Liga and six Copa del Rey trophies with the Catalan club, coupled with two European Championships and a World Cup with Spain. One of the finest midfielders of his era, Iniesta was instrumental for that period of success for both club and country. In his last three seasons with Barcelona, he wore the captain s armband.

However, at the age of 34, his importance for Barcelona had been dwindling during the 2017/18 season, and despite signing a lifetime contract as recently as October last year, he has decided to move on. Only a few …

Salomon Rondon has completed a medical ahead of a proposed move from West Bromwich Albion to Dalian Yifang, according to Sky Sports.

The Venezuelan spent last season on loan at Newcastle where he worked with Rafa Benitez, scoring 12 goals in a total of 33 appearances for the Magpies. Unable to agree terms on a fresh deal, the Spanish manager left the club following the expiration of his contract and took over at the Chinese Super League side, and Rondon was one of the first players to be linked with a move there afterwards.

The striker, who has a £16.5 million buyout clause in his West Brom contract, is also keen on a reunion with the former Valencia, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Napoli boss. His fine performances in the Premier League during the 2018/19 season had also…

Austria will miss five regular starters because of injuries for next month s 2010 World Cup qualifying games against Lithuania and France.

Defenders Emanuel Pogatetz, Martin Stranzl and Sebastian Proedl, along with strikers Rubin Okotie and Marko Arnautovic were all missing from the 22-man squad announced Tuesday by Austria coach Dietmar Constantini.

Defender Gyoergy Garics and former captain Andreas Ivanschitz, who was expected to return to the team for the first time under Constantini, were both overlooked.

LASK Linz midfielder Thomas Prager received his first call-up since February 2008.

Three players could make their first appearance in the team goalkeeper Christian Gratzei, defender Ekrem Dag and midfielder Christopher Drazan.

Austria has a …

Goals from Valter Birsa and Nejc Pecnik helped Slovenia topple Slovakia 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier that all but secured the top two spots in Group Three for both teams in Bratislava on Saturday.

Slovakia, which needed a point to go straight to South Africa, now top Group Three with 19 points ahead of Slovenia, which have 17 points and face minnows San Marino in the last qualifier on Wednesday while Slovakia travel to Poland.

Auxerre midfielder Birsa put Slovenia ahead in the 56th minute with a shot from 20 metres that swerved across the box and into the top corner.

Pecnik then sealed Slovenia s victory just before the final whistle after converting a four-on-one break.

The result upset 25,000 people at a crumbling Tehelne pole stadium, who were hoping …

Newcastle United have given manager Alan Pardew permission to hold talks with Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.

The 53-year-old fuelled speculation that he will return to Selhurst Park when he failed to appear at a media conference following Newcastle s 3-2 victory over Everton on Sunday.

And the Tyneside club revealed on Monday that they have agreed a compensation package with Palace and Pardew has been permitted to enter negotiations with the London outfit, who sacked Neil Warnock on Saturday following a 3-1 home defeat by Southampton on Boxing Day.

A statement on Newcastle s official website said: Newcastle United can confirm that Crystal Palace have made a formal approach requesting permission to speak to Alan Pardew in relation to their vacant manageri…

United in new assault on Marchisio

Italian newspaper that Manchester United are not giving up on Juventus star Claudio Marchisio.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been keeping close tabs on the Italy international since 2010 and has already attempted to lure him to Old Trafford on several occasions.

Tuttosport now reports that the Scottish manager has once again made an effort to sign Marchisio, this time through an intermediary.

United are believed to be ready to offer between €25m and €30m for the talented footballer, but they have been told Marchisio is not for sale.

Juventus chiefs see the player as an integral member of the squad and are not interested in negotiating his sale.

The 27-year-old came through the youth ranks at Juventus and we…