HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGGSY..

Tribute to the Welsh midfielder who celebrates his 40th birthday on Friday.

40 years old?? .. 

and he does not want to stop yet ..

Man United scout BVB star Marco Reus

Manchester United have scouted the Borussia Dortmund Winger Marco Reus as David Moyes search to bring in more elite players continues .

Moyes , who was frustrated in summer attempts to sign Cesc Fabregas, Sami Khedira , Daniele De Rossi and Ander Herrera , dispatched his assistant Steve Round and coach Jimmy Lumsden to watch Reus as Dortmund beat Napoli 3-1 on Tuesday .

United were also in the same area of Germany at the time, preparing for Saturday 's 5-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League .

Germany international Reus has a 35 million euro release clause in his contract at the Westfalenstadion . However, there have been reports that's it does not come into effect until 2015.

The 24 -year-old has scored nine goals for Dortmund this season, which is more than United 's midfielders have managed between them, and cost the Champions League finalists 17.1 million euros when he joined from Borussia Moenchengladbach in 2012.

Although Reus can play as a No. 10 , he usually operates on the left for Dortmund . Moyes has selected Adnan Januzaj , Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck , Nani and Shinji Kagawa in that's position for United this season .

Moyes had also sent his scouts to watch Real Madrid midfielder Khedira , who is now sidelined with a long-term injury , as he ponders how to add to his squad in January . Marouane Fellaini was his only major signing in the summer .

Leverkusen 0-5 Manchester United

Manchester United thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 to book a slot in the knockout stages in the Champions League campaign on Tuesday.

Although Wayne Rooney has not scored in Group A action at the BayArena , sensational striker England has played a big role .

Rooney became a key figure who helped United earn a four-goal first , thus presenting the worst defeat in Leverkusen at home in European competition .

United displaying the most convincing action under David Moyes era by recording the largest network in Europe thanks to goals Antonio Valencia , Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling , Nani and an own goal Emir Spahic .

" This is probably our best performance of the season. For us , to come to away games and earned five goals is something very special .

" Performances like this is what I 'd expect, there are signs that we are on the rise , but there are signs that we miss a lot of opportunities , " said Moyes .

United will complete the action group against Shakhtar Donetsk as the leader of Group A after collecting 11 points , while Shakthar in second, three points behind after a 4-0 win over Real Sociedad .

Also qualified for the last 16 of the best teams are Real Madrid and Paris St . Germain , while Bayern Munich , Manchester City , Chelsea , Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have already confirmed the earlier slot .

Juventus , Benfica and Shakhtar are also now an opportunity to join the elite club by the last action on 10 and 11 December.

Meanwhile, Real advancing to the knockout stages after beating Galatasaray 4-1 in Group B action at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium .

However, the nine-time champion had to play with ten players after defender Sergio Ramos was sent off .

"I think we played very well in the second half , although we lack a player.

" We played with great courage , personality and overall very satisfactory.

"Playing with ten players is not easy but all our players worked very well, " said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Kagawa turned down Madrid - Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has revealed he tried to sign Shinji Kagawa for Real Madrid in 2012 but the player did not want to be Mesut Ozil 's understudy at the Bernabeu .

Kagawa , who had just won back-to-back Bundesliga titles at Borussia Dortmund, instead opted for a move to Manchester United , where he had hoped for more first -team football in his preferred No. 10 role .

Mourinho , explaining the reason the move did not come to fruition , told Japanese publication Shukan Bunshun : " It was not being able to always play at Real Madrid. My first choice at the time was Mesut Ozil . I told him honestly without hiding it . "

United themselves were offered Ozil this summer before he went to Arsenal , with manager David Moyes saying he decided against it as he already had Kagawa and Wayne Rooney available in his position.

However , Kagawa , who has scored six goals in 35 games for United, has struggled to get regular first -team football as a number . 10 at Old Trafford , with Rooney generally preferred in that's role and the Japan international used often on the left wing .

Kagawa has been linked with a return to Borussia Dortmund manager Juergen Klopp after it had a bid to re- sign him rejected at the end of last season .

Morrison was Fergie's best prospect - Rio

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed said Sir Alex Ferguson Ravel Morrison was the best 14 -year-old he had ever seen .

Manchester - born Morrison came through the ranks at Old Trafford, before Ferguson sold him to West Ham United in January 2012 after it the 20 -year-old had a series of disciplinary problems.

Morrison , who spent last season on loan at Birmingham , has broken into the West Ham side are solely for this year and is a five -goal top scorer , as well as becoming is a regular for the England U21 team .

Ferdinand , working as a bladder on the BT Sport , said: "I would pay to watch him train let alone play in a match . Ever since the first day I saw him , my old boss [ Ferguson ] said: ' Have a look at this boy . '

" He was taking the mick out of everyone on the pitch when he was about 14 . The manager thought he was the best player he seen at that's age .

" He trained with the first team at about 16 and Darren Fletcher said to me : ' He runs with the ball, he just runs with it and he 's almost looking at me while he 's running with the ball, and waiting for me to make a move and then he reacts . "

" The top players cans do that - for hire nations react to a defender 's movements . "

Mike Phelan , Ferguson 's former assistant , last month defended the decision to allow Morrison to leave Old Trafford , but Hammers boss Sam Allardyce said he feared United would try to re- sign the player.

Michael Carrick out until Christmas

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick could be out of action until Christmas as he battles an Achilles injury, the club confirmed on Wednesday. Carrick , 32 , has started all but two of United 's Premier League and Champions League fixtures this season and has again been are solely for the most consistent player in the center of the park . But afterwards he was forced to pull out of the England squad on Tuesday for the friendlies Germany against Chile and he now faces an extended period on the sidelines of between four and six weeks .

The loss of Carrick until the festive programme would be a major blow for manager David Moyes who, according to the Guardian , is hoping to tie the player down to a new two-year contract in the near future . Expires Carrick 's current deal in the summer and Moyes is hopeful of persuading the United hierarchy to abandon policy of only giving hearts are solely for players aged 30 and over a 12 - month extension.

Carrick has already insisted that's he sees his future at Old Trafford last month stating . "I'd love to carry on playing as long as possible at this club. It's a fantastic club and I've had great times here . I feel good at the moment . I've just turned 32 , so I've got a bit of time yet. " United face Champions League games against Bayer Leverkusen and Shakhtar Donetsk look to secure peace for hire are solely for place in the knockout rounds , plus face Premier League matches against Cardiff City , Spurs , Everton , Newcastle , Aston Villa and West Ham before Christmas arrives - as well as a Capital One Cup quarter- final at Stoke City .

The absence of Carrick is likely to mean 27.5 million pound capture Marouane Fellaini will have to step up and take his chance in the team , having started only two Premier League fixtures so far since his move to Old Trafford from Everton two months ago.

A 16 million pound signing from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2006 , Carrick has won over many of his critics after it being a largely unsung hero of the United side in recent seasons . He finally gained recognition for his performances when he was Nominated for the PFA Players ' Player of the Year Award earlier in April , Although he did not make the top three in the voting , was topped by Gareth Bale , and was in the Premier League team of the season - as well as being named Manchester United 's Player of the Year .

He made ​​his England debut in an international friendly victory over Mexico in May 2001 but has won only 30 more caps over 12 years since making his bow.

Man United Chief Predicts further growth

Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward is excited by BT Sport's deal to win Champions League television rights, claiming it will lead to further increases in the club's revenue. Woodward was speaking after it United 's profits rose in the first quarter of the financial year by 29.1 percent to 98 million pounds thanks to new sponsorship deals and as a consequence of the new Premier League TV rights deals .

BT Sports outbid Sky and ITV to win the Champions League rights between 2015 and 2018 , and Woodward believes this will aid United. He said: " We are excited by the continuing rise in the value of sports content , evidenced , amongst other things , by the recently- unwrap BT deal for the UK rights to broadcast the Champions League and Europa League matches for three seasons from 2015 - 16 .

"This deal represents a meaningful increase over the current arrangement , should translate into broadcasting higher revenues for the participating clubs . " United 's broadcasting income has already by 40.9 percent thanks to the Premier League deal , but that's has been bettered by the club 's commercial income has grown 62.6 percent due to new sponsorship deals .

Woodward added: " We are pleased to have achieved another record first quarter , driven by the strength of our commercial business and Increased revenues broadcasting . "Our unique approach to the commercial business will continue to drive future growth. "

Winning Over Arsenal blow United

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has been taken to hospital after it suffering a head injury in Saturday 's 1-0 win against Arsenal .

Vidic suffered the injury after it colliding with his goalkeeper David de Gea 's knee , and remained on the ground for a number of minutes .

When he got up , he was led down the tunnel , holding his head , and was replaced by Tom Cleverley at the start of the second half .

United manager David Moyes confirmed the 32 -year-old was conscious afterwards the incident but " will get a scan and as far as we know he is okay " .

" He's gone to hospital. I've only just seen it myself , " he added . " I did not see how bad it was from the touchline , but now I've had the chance to look at it again it's a terrible sort of clash . It's an accident , and hopefully he'll be okay .

"I'll find out more from the medics later on. "

Also in the first half , United 's Phil Jones and Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny clashed heads, with Szczesny seeming to come off the worst and Jones that accept a booking.

RvP puts United back in race

Robin Van Persie scored the only goal down to blast old club Arsenal and Manchester United back into the Premier League title race as David Moyes enjoyed his biggest win as the Red Devils manager. Van Persie rose unchallenged to guide home Wayne Rooney 's 27th - minute corner to spark scenes of jubilation at Old Trafford and silence the taunts of the visiting fans .

On another amazing weekend , in south Chelsea 's home draw on Saturday was followed within 24 hours by shock defeats for Tottenham and Manchester City , United have now closed to within five points of Arsenal , who suffered are solely for first league defeat since the opening day of the season. Indeed , six points now separate the first eight in the table , with Arsenal , Liverpool and Southampton 's closest pursuers now .

Quite apart from Van Persie 's goal , Rooney ran himself to a stand still and Phil Jones was immensely , initiating in midfield , central defense then following the departure of Nemanja Vidic with a head injury . The hosts owed ​​a debt of thanks to Chris Smalling too . Smalling wasted might have an outstanding chance to seal victory when he failed to get a proper connection to Van Persie 's deep free -kick and headed disappointingly wide .

But , just as Olivier Giroud was lining up a shot from an excellent position inside the United box , it was Smalling who stepped in to make the decisive tackle and preserve United 's unbeaten home record against the Gunners that's stretches back to 2006. There was no real surprise Van Persie should return to the United starting line -up , still less the Dutchman celebrated the opener with intent . The trend has been for players to merely acknowledge what they had done , rather than glory in the pines they had caused solely for old club. Van Persie refrained himself when he scored in the corresponding fixture last term .

United Already show the actual Ability

Wayne Rooney has warned Manchester United have shown a real ability under David Moyes operational and ready to prove their class against Premier League leaders Arsenal tomorrow . The league champions face eight matches in all competitions without defeat , thus will receive a visit Gunners at Old Trafford with high confidence .

United before the beginning of the worst weather in 24 years after taken over by Moyes , who replaced Alex Ferguson .Rooney insists however , the team showed a lot of improvement since lately because the players are starting to get used to the style and style of play Moyes wants to apply .

Early in the season , we had to play with the style of play and a completely new idea .It takes a little time to adapt and implement all the ideas, after a few months I believe we have to accept the changes made .Now we know , what is demanded by the manager. Endured eight -match unbeaten run proves we are on the right track , our confidence grew every day and we begin to boom more goals as the freedom to play .We increasingly find favor with every game and be ready to face all challenges , "said Rooney .

Meanwhile, former United defender Gary Pallister believes tomorrow will be a benchmark in which Moyes led the team to this point after going through a difficult transition in the early season .I think, they are in the middle of the road .They have endured some disappointing games , but there are also good performances on display. Hopefully we are starting to discover the true pace little by little because if we look at the last few games , you already saw United start to show their ability true , "said Pallister .

According to the former England international again, the clash against Arsenal , the team that started the season with brilliant enough will be the biggest test for both teams .Still there are critics out there who feel they ( Arsenal ) are not good enough to win the league title this season , but I do not think the team is too far from the title .

I think, they are a great team , so Sunday's game certainly a huge clash .

It also will be the benchmark against Manchester United, where they stand now, " he said.

TRANSFER TALK

Miralem Pjanic

           Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)

         Leighton Baines (Everton)

   

                                                                                                          Michael Goncalves (Basel) 

10/29/13 : Roma Serie A pacesetters are braced for a € 30 million approach from United for Miralem Pjanic , the Gazzetta dello Sport reports . The Bosnian midfielder was a target for Tottenham in the summer but is under contract until 2015 . After scoring three goals already this term , the 23 -year-old is in top form .

10/28/13 : Free newspaper Metro reckons Gareth Bale could make an unlikely move to Old Trafford next summer , a matter of months after it joined Real Madrid for a world- record transfer fee . The former Tottenham star has "pretty" only a handful of games for his new club but the report Indicates that's United could try and buy him in 2014.

10/28/13 : The Sunday Express believes that's United will sign Leighton Baines from Everton in January for a fee of around £ 15 million . David Moyes admitted his former player at Goodison was a top target in the summer and is reportedly ready to test the Toffees ' resolve to keep the defender When the window reopens .

10/28/13 : Basel prospect Michael Goncalves is on the Reds ' wish list , according to the Daily Star . The 18 -year-old Swiss defender apparently could link up with fellow countryman Janko Saidy at Old Trafford if he Continues to impress United scouts . Goncalves has "pretty" twice in the UEFA Youth League with his first experience a 5-0 home defeat to Schalke before a 1-1 draw against Steaua Bucharest .