Manchester United chasing Igiebor?

Super Eagles and Real Betis midfielder Nosa Igiebor has reportedly emerged a surprise target for Manchester United boss David Moyes. Moyes has made strengthening his midfield options this summer a priority and Nigerian Igiebor is on his radar. English newspaper, The Daily Mail says he plays as a holding player but can also play box to box and impressed Manchester United manager Moyes in pre-season when they played a behind-closed door friendly at Carrington while on tour in England.

Igiebor was a standout performer for Betis on that tour, and capped the outings with a goal in the final game against Fulham. Moyes will step up interest in Igiebor now that he has returned after 2 months sidelined with a groin injury.

Sunshine Stars FC in ghastly accident

The Sunshine Stars ill-fated bus

Players of Sunshine Stars of Akure were involved in an auto accident on Friday. The accident happened on the Benin-Ore expressway while they were on their way to Akure from the team’s camp in Ijebu-Ode. A source, who did not want his name mentioned, said the team’s bus was plying a part of the Benin-Ore expressway due to ongoing repair when an SUV ran into their bus.

He added that five players, who were injured, have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. “The team has been camping in Ijebu-Ode for days now and were on their way to Akure when they were involved in an accident at the Benin-Ore expressway. The road is under repair and all vehicles were making use of one part of the road, and suddenly a jeep ran into our bus which led to the accident. Right now five players are in teh hospital undergoing treatment”, the source said.

De Gea flirting with Maradona's fiancée

Maradona's fiancée

Diego Maradona reportedly flew off the handle when he thought his fiancée had been flirting with Manchester United’s David De Gea. The Spanish goalkeeper met the legend this week when David Moyes took his beleaguered Reds on a warm-weather break to Dubai.

And Maradona is said to have ‘exploded with jealousy’ when he became suspicious that bride-to-be Rocia Oliva was getting a little too close to De Gea. Argentine television claimed Oliva tried to swap social network details with the 23 year old. Talking on a show called Intrusos, presenter Jorge Rial said: “It’s a real mess. Diego exploded with jealousy”. Maradona only proposed to Oliva, 23, last week at a ‘massive party’ in Rome.

Aguero to return to full training next week

Blues supporters are hoping Aguero comes back as soon as possible

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero has revealed he will return to full training next week, meaning he is ulikely to feature against Stoke on Saturday.

Blues supporters were hoping the Argentinian ace could make it back for the Barcelona clash, but it now seems the Capital One Cup final against Sunderland a week on Sunday is a more likely target.

He tweeted: "Feeling very good about my last week of recovery work. If I keep it up next week I'll train with the team!"

Premier League Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United

David Moyes is hoping Manchester United can start to apply pressure on the teams above them in the race for the top four when the Reds travel to Crystal Palace.

United are now outsiders for a Champions League spot, 11 points behind fourth-placed Liverpool with 12 games remaining.

The situation means United are reliant on teams above them slipping up.

Moyes said on the race for fourth: "We have to try, don’t we? We have to try to get as close as we can and see if we can put some pressure on the teams above us."

United used their week off to travel to Dubai and Moyes is hoping the trip will make a difference to their fortunes: "It was great that we had some time together with the players - the first time I've really had the chance to have a few days with the lads.

"We trained, we had some relaxation time as well, so it was good. You hope you get some benefit from it. I'm sure it will benefit the players, having the chance to relax... We'd have rather been in the FA Cup, let me tell you that more than anything, but we weren’t so the next thing  we have to do is get them ready for the 12 remaining games."

Moyes knows Crystal Palace under Tony Pulis will be a tough prospect and added: "Tony always has his sides well organised and well drilled. The players are made well aware of how he wants them to play and what’s expected from them. He's had great success throughout his career. He’s been a really successful manager in the Premier League. The start he's got off to at Palace... if he keeps Crystal Palace up there won't be anybody in this room or any other journalists who’d have asked questions who’d have thought they'd stay up. He's doing a great job with them."

The respect between the managers is mutual, with Pulis backing Moyes despite the Scot's testing start at United.

"David has had a tough start but they have some fantastic players," said Pulis.

"I've watched their last three games on tape, and they could have won them all comfortably. They just haven't had the breaks, that momentum to take them forward.

"Last year under Sir Alex they didn't play as well as the year before, but they got the breaks

"This year they've not been able to pick up any momentum. But they have wonderful players and are a wonderful football club and we will be proud to host them.

"When I was manager at Gillingham Moyesy was at Preston and we locked horns there. He'll know what we're about and he'll pick a team to win the game.

"David will turn it the way he wants it. He will be given the time to turn the club around like Sir Alex did when he first got the job. It's a proper football club.

"Irrespective of what the media say, he will be afforded time. They've been in this position before. But David is a top manager and a top bloke. If they stick with him, and I'm sure they will, he will be successful.

"I just hope their luck doesn't change on Saturday."

Jerome Thomas is Crystal Palace's only injury concern ahead of the visit of Manchester United.

The winger has suffered a back strain and his fitness will be assessed by manager Tony Pulis ahead of kick-off.

Striker Glenn Murray returned as a substitute against West Brom a fortnight ago after 10 months out with cruciate ligament damage and should be involved again.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Hennessey, Gabbidon, Moxey, Mariappa, Delaney, Dann, McCarthy, Ward, Parr, Murray, Thomas, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Ledley, O'Keefe, Bannan, Williams, Bolasie, Ince, Puncheon, Gayle, Jerome, Chamakh, Wilbraham.

Manchester United: De Gea, Lindegaard, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling, Evra, Buttner, Valencia, Mata, Carrick, Fletcher, Cleverley, Giggs, Young, Januzaj, Rooney, Van Persie, Hernandez, Welbeck.

Crystal Palace league form: LWWLW

United league form: LWLDD

Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester United

Don't agree? Leave your predictions in the comments section.

Manchester United's style of play is 'difficult' for Van Persie, claims Van Gaal

Robin van Persie is finding the style of football being played at Manchester United under David Moyes "difficult", Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has claimed.

Van Persie has clashed with Moyes over the Scot's training practices this season, and the Dutch FA have contacted United about the striker's continued injury problems ahead of the World Cup.

Van Gaal believes the former Arsenal striker will be prepared for the World Cup because the national team's game is less simple than United's and is more suited to his abilities.

"I think he should be great in the tournament because he loves to play [for his country]," Van Gaal told reporters. "He has shown that in all the qualification matches more than ever, because he’s our top scorer, and I hope he can continue this.

"The football from Manchester United now is, for him, maybe difficult but then he wishes to show his ability. Technique [levels] in the Dutch team are higher.

"The Dutch team might benefit, you never know."

Robben denies spitting at Sagna

Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben has denied spitting at Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna during Wednesday night's Champions League round-of-16 tie at the Emirates. A video ciculated on social media of the Dutchman appeared to spit at Sagna while he was on the ground during Bayern's 2-0 triumph.

However, Robben, who led to Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny's sending-off during the game, has insisted that he did no such thing.

"I will never spit on a player in my life", Robben told Bild. "It was sweat that dripped from my head. If I would have spat I would not have come home."