Manchester United target Mesut Ozil

First of all, Brendan Rodgers almost won the Premier League. Look at the mesmeric confidence which he uses to illustrate how he beat Arsenal once. Given the pasting Jose Mourinho gets for his attitude, it is bizarre that pseuds like this are so regularly and fabulously indulged for actually achieving very little. If you want to work out how good Rodgers really is, then have a look as his record without Luis Suarez. We should all be very grateful that he didn’t win the league for Liverpool, because it would have been absolutely insufferable.

According to this story in The Mirror, Antoine Griezmann now wants £400,000 a week. There’s a slim chance that United couldn’t afford that, but it will probably be a case of giving him a massive wedge up front and shedding some of the worst players in the squad - which should be about 15 players. Still, if United don’t get him, at least they’ll be able to keep Marouane Fellaini on.

Manchester United face competition from Juventus in pursuit of Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil. Ozil will be available on a free transfer in the summer, but there’s a chance that he can be taken for £35m in this transfer window. It depends how desperate or brave either side wants to be to steal a march on their rivals. Given Henrikh Mkhitaryan has retired from football, United’s need is more pressing.

Mourinho did apologise to Mkhitaryan for taking him off at half-time, but it still seems likely that he will be on his way out of the club soon. Inter Milan are interested, but it is not really clear why.

And lastly, David de Gea is pleased to see Sergio Romero get some first team action. He played well against Derby County, and needs action to secure a World Cup place in the Argentina squad.