MARTIN SAMUEL: As he likes to remind the world, Louis van Gaal is a smart man. So it is perplexing that he refuses to grasp why speculation about his future at Manchester United will not go away.

CHRIS FOY: Eddie Jones has come to the early conclusion that his England squad need to get up to speed quickly in fitness terms if they are to compete with the best of the Southern Hemisphere.

SAM CUNNINGHAM: Harry Redknapp believes the Anfield walk-out by Liverpool fans at the weekend to protest at rising ticket prices should act as a warning to other clubs.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic described their thrilling 2-1 extra-time FA Cup fourth-round replay win against Liverpool at Upton Park on Tuesday night as one of the greatest games in the club's history.

NEIL ASHTON AT UPTON PARK: Jurgen Klopp suffered another night of disappointment as the Liverpool boss returned from appendix surgery to take his place on the bench.

CHARLES SALE: FA chairman Greg Dyke could face a vote of no confidence from the blazers next week because they are so upset over his proposed governance reforms.

OLIVER TODD: Crystal Palace say they have frozen ticket prices for next season but some fans are still facing a hike of over £500 to stay in their seats.

Sportsmail understands that Old Trafford's entire pricing structure is set to remain the same in 2016-17 and the cheapest seat for a child, regardless of where they sit, stays at £13.

Premier League supporters across the country are considering walk-outs following the protest from Liverpool supporters about the the price of match tickets at Anfield.

The Rio Olympics faces a boycott from some of its biggest female stars amid rising fears over the Zika virus. Jessica Ennis-Hill, is monitoring the situation closely with the Games less than six months away.

LAURIE WHITWELL: Riyad Mahrez is in line for a new contract in the summer following his huge impact in Leicester's title charge. The Algerian has 14 goals and 10 assists this season.

Former Arsenal target William Carvalho has extended his contract with Sporting Lisbon until 2020. The 23-year-old's impressive displays for Portugal and Sporting had attracted admirers.

West Brom captain Darren Fletcher has urged Albion to create an FA Cup legacy as he eyes a second winners' medal. The FA Cup was the first trophy midfielder Fletcher won with Manchester United.

Football Leaks has published what it claims is the contract signed by De Gea and by two Real Madrid directors, Jose Angel Sanchez and Manuel Redondo.

Steven Finn will be named in a youthful England World Twenty20 squad and will be given until a week before next month's tournament in India to prove his fitness.

Valdes has been loaned out to Standard Liege for the rest of the season after failing to play for United at all this season and training alone with academy goalkeeping coach Alan Fettis.

The Premier League has launched a new logo which will be used from next season onwards. The top-flight clubs decided in July to move away form a title sponsorship model.

Barcelona star Sergio Busquets has opened the door to a potential reunion with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The Spain international said he owed Guardiola for launching his career

Memphis Depay may have been dropped to the Under 21s but Wayne Rooney wants the Manchester United winger absconded from blame after his Chelsea blunder.

Manuel Pellegrini has had some elite jobs, but the last seven days have shown why he won't ever be considered an elite manager.

Manchester United's hopes of finishing in the top-four took a blow on Sunday when Diego Costa equalised in stoppage time to snatch a point against Van Gaal's men.

Brendan Rodgers has been offered work at five top clubs since being sacked by Liverpool, but insists he will not get back into management until the summer.

A study by CIES Football Observatory has shown that Newcastle should have paid £23.5million to sign England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey. However, the Magpies overspent on winger Andros Townsend.

Charlton Athletic were shocked to learn earlier this month that Companies House had ratified the termination of Katrien Meire's role on the club's board of directors.

The BBC will broadcast the first-ever Champions League of Darts this year in a move that spells the end for the World Championship tournament after 38 years on terrestrial TV.

Reports in Spain have linked the 27-year-old with a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid at the end of the season, but Kucharski insists Lewandowski will remain at the 'perfect club for him'.

Jose Aldo has previously said that he will only accept a title fight or a rematch with Conor McGregor, who knocked him out in 13 seconds in December, on his UFC return.

Team GB camps can be tricky because you don't really think about it as a selection process, it just feels like a normal camp. You don't arrive thinking: 'I need to be better than that person or that guy'.

MIKE DICKSON: As Andy Murray and his wife Kim come to experience the joys of parenthood they will find they are in burgeoning company among the elite of the global game.