Man United get De Gea boost as Bayern target Sterling

Manchester United could have a fight on their hands to keep goalkeeper David de Gea after he was earmarked by Real Madrid as the man to replace Iker Casillas at the Bernabeu. The Spanish keeper has been in impressive form this season and, according to the Daily Express, that has convinced Real boss Carlo Ancelotti to make him the world's most expensive shot stopper.

"The Italian hopes De Gea can replicate Casillas' legendary status at the Bernabeu, and is prepared to offer big money to secure his services," says the paper, claiming he would cost more than the £33m Juventus paid for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001, which remains the world record for a goalie.

However, The Sun is not so sure that De Gea will leave Old Trafford and says that he has told his "pals" at United that he "is happy to sign a new deal".

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Raheem Sterling's future could become one of the big talking points next month after Bayern Munich became the latest European giant to be linked with a move of the Liverpool winger.

According to The Independent the German champions have expressed an interest in taking the 20-year-old to the Allianz Arena after he turned down the offer of a new Liverpool deal worth £70,000 a week. Pep Guardiola's side are just the "latest in a number of clubs to signal their potential interest", with Real Madrid also thought to be interested.

Manager Brendan Rodgers sought to play down the speculation, insisting: "Raheem is happy here and he loves being a Liverpool player".

Happy birthday Martin Odegaard. The teenage sensation turns 16 today but the situation surrounding the Norwegian starlet's future remains as confusing as an Arsene Wenger tactics board, with Metro reporting that the youngster visited Arsenal's training ground yesterday.

That was the same day it was widely stated that the attacking midfielder – who currently plays for Stromsgodset – was tipped for a move to German outfit Hoffenheim. But now Metro, taking its cue from German rag Bild, claims that Odegaard has had a tour of Arsenal's training facilities (and presumably the physios' room where most Arsenal players can be found these days).

Whether that means the Norwegian international will throw in his lot with Arsenal remains to be seen, as Metro says that Bayern Munich remain "confident" of signing the player. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said recently "we have a good chance" of landing the teenager but who's to say Odegaard might fancy joining Europe's most consistent fourth-place finisher.

Meanwhile the Daily Star reports that Arsenal are happy to sell defender Carl Jenkinson to West Ham, where he is currently on loan. The Hammers are unlikely to meet Arsenal's valuation, however. Arsenal want £8m for the full-back, who is at Upton Park for the season, but West Ham, despite being pleased with the 22-year-old's form, are reluctant to cough up such a sum. Jenkinson wouldn't appear to have much of a future at the Emirates following the summer acquisition of Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers, so West Ham boss Sam Allardyce might decide to call Arsenal's bluff by refusing to meet their initial demand in the hope the Gunners will bring down the price.

In other news Talksport says that Manchester United have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Juan Cuadrado with the Colombian firecracker reportedly "ready to push for a move away from Fiorentina" next month. The Red Devils were first linked with the twinkle-toed winger in the summer and although that speculation vanished, Talksport claims a transfer could now happen in the new year. The 26-year-old is said to be "frustrated" with life at Fiorentina and believes he deserves better. The Serie A club "may be prepared to cash in on Cuadrado", says the website, although it's unlikely United will meet their summer asking price of £40m.

Finally the Daily Mirror reports that Liverpool are planning an "audacious" January swoop for discarded Chelsea gloveman Petr Cech. And the paper adds that Chelsea are amenable to the move. Brendan Rodgers gave bungling Belgian stopper Simon Mignolet the chop last week, and the Reds are in desperate need of a reliable shotstopper if they're to turn around their season after Christmas. The Mirror says that Chelsea no longer see Liverpool as a rival in the title race because of their disastrous slump in form and therefore Jose Mourinho might be willing to farm out Cech until the end of the season.

The Mirror also speculates that Liverpool might be one of a number of clubs preparing to make a move for Barcelona right back Martin Montoya. The Spanish international's agent, Juande Dios Carrasco, was asked about the future of his client following rumours he wanted out of the Camp Nou. "He is going to go in January and all that has to be done is to reach an agreement with Barcelona," conceded Carrasco. "There are a number of clubs in England that are ready to negotiate for him and his buy-out clause is €20m."