Image source, PA

Manchester United's £6m loan signing Radamel Falcao must "prove himself", says boss Louis van Gaal.

The 28-year-old forward has scored just three goals since arriving from Monaco and was dropped from the squad for Sunday's defeat by Southampton.

"If a player costs £95million or £5,000, it doesn't make any difference. You have to prove yourself," says Van Gaal.

First up is a bit of team news. Netherlands striker Robin van Persie is a doubt for tomorrow's match at QPR with a "minor injury", says Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal.

Van Persie, 31, suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's defeat against Southampton and had a scan on Monday to assess the damage.

Will he be fit for the trip to Loftus Road? "You have to wait and see," adds Van Gaal.

Image source, Getty Images

European Ryder Cup hero Martin Kaymer is a man who knows how to win the Abu Dhabi Championship - and he is looking good again after round two of this year's tournament.

The German, winner of this tournament in 2008, 2010 and 2011, carded a five-under 67 earlier to sit on top of the leaderboard at 13 under par.

But Belgium's Thomas Pieters is closing in, just one shot adrift after 13. Follow the latest leaderboard here., external

BBC Sport's Simon Stone at Carrington: "Louis Van Gaal has arrived looking very businesslike in official club suit and tie for his latest Manchester United press conference.

"Wonder if Radamel Falcao will be on the agenda given he didn't even merit a place in the 18-man squad for the home defeat by Southampton."

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, who reportedly will discuss £150m worth of January transfer targets with the club hierarchy today,, external has arrived for his news conference.

Daily Mirror football writer David McDonnell on Twitter: , external"Van Gaal suited and booted this morning. Dressed for a transfer summit..."

West Ham's shirt sponsor - currency brokering firm Alpari - file for insolvency.

The firm signed a three-year deal with the Hammers, worth a reported £3m a season, in 2013.

Charlie Austin became only the second QPR player to win a Premier League player of the month award by scooping the December gong earlier today.

The first, Trevor Sinclair, has been rummaging around in the loft.

He tweets:, external "Just pulled out of a box and here's what the Player of the Month trophy used to look like 10/1995."

Image source, @trevor8sinclair

Image source, Getty Images

All over in Sydney where a David Warner hundred led Australia to a comfortable tri-series victory over an England side who were only saved from embarrassment by Eoin Morgan.

Reduced to 0-2 in three balls, England were taken to 234 by Morgan's century.

In the first one-day international since he replaced Alastair Cook as captain, Morgan made 121 while the rest of his team managed 93 between them.

Warner then dominated the chase, making 127 as Australia won by three wickets with 10.1 overs to spare.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp reckons he does not know anything about Premier League player of the month Charlie Austin's continuing contract talks.

It has been reported the 25-year-old, who has 18 months left on his deal, has told the club he will wait until the summer to decide his future., external

"I don't get involved in contract talks. I couldn't tell you anything about that - I don't know what he earns. But I know he is happy here.

"I'm delighted that he has won the Player of the Month. Let's hope he keeps scoring for us."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida will not be signing for Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka reveals despite the 24-year-old free agent training at Rockliffe Park.

"He was training with us because I know him," Karanka told the Evening Gazette., external

"He's a good player but when I said yes to him we expected Albert Adomah to be away for a month in the African Cup of Nations with Ghana and we didn't have Tomas Kalas on loan from Chelsea."

Merida signed for Atletico Madrid in May 2010 after turning down a contract extension with the Gunners, but is without a club after spells with Hercules and Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense.

QPR striker Charlie Austin:, external Delighted to be named Premier League Player of the Month for December. Thanks to everyone who voted for me. Couldn't have done it without my teammates.

Image source, @chazaustin9/Twitter

Five goals in five games. December was a productive month for QPR striker Charlie Austin, as he helped his team to two wins and a draw in their battle for Premier League survival.

Now the 25-year-old striker has been rewarded with the Premier League player of the month prize.

Derby County are close to completing the signing of Spanish centre-back Raul Albentosa from La Liga side Eibar, BBC Radio Derby reports.

Head coach Steve McClaren confirmed Derby's interest in the 26-year-old earlier in the week.

Harlequins scrum-half Karl Dickson has signed a new contract, which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

The 32-year-old has scored 16 tries in 124 appearances for Quins since joining from Bedford Blues in 2009.

"Karl is one of the most competitive and best people you will come across," director of rugby Conor O'Shea said.

Transfer alert! Or rather that should be 'lack of transfer alert'.

Wigan midfielder Shaun Maloney's proposed move from the bottom end of the Championship to the bottom end of the Premier League with Leicester City is OFF.

The Scotland international, 31, has failed to agree personal terms with the Foxes after the two clubs had agreed a fee.

"Shaun went to talk personal terms and those talks have broken down," says Latics boss Malky Mackay.

"He is back as my player again, I have spoken to him this morning and he is here until July unless something changes."

Former France international David Ginola could not name a member of Fifa's executive committee at a press conference to launch his bid for the organisation's presidency.

The 47-year-old also revealed a betting company is paying him to be involved in his candidacy.

After England boss Roy Hodgson was widely ridiculed for choosing Barcelona and Argentina defender Javier Mascherano as his first pick in the Ballon d'Or vote, QPR boss Harry Redknapp is asked for his top three.

"Ronaldo, Messi, I've not thought about Neuer really, but if he was third I wouldn't dispute it. But the two forwards have got to be one and two."

Image source, Reuters

Arsenal players would have been allowed to attend England manager Roy Hodgson's cancelled dinner get-together at the end of the month, but manager Arsene Wenger says the timing was "not the best".

Some Premier League managers reportedly blocked their players from travelling to St Georges Park for the event, forcing Hodgson to cancel, but Wenger insists he was not one of them.

"It was 48 hours before a Premier League game and managers do not want their players to travel two days before the game," he said.

"It's good to have a get together for Roy Hodgson but maybe the date was not the best."

Former England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, who is out of favour at Loftus Road, has turned down a number of loan offers from Championship clubs, says QPR boss Harry Redknapp

"We've offered Shaun the chance to go out on loan, but he's not wanted to go. I think he needs to move on and play - I've told him that many times," adds Harry.

"He is a good lad, he's not a minute's problem. He trains hard. I think he needs to move on. But he's not going to move when he's on a fantastic contract.

"It is not the boy's fault. If someone wants to give you a lot less money you're not going to move are you? Blackburn, Bolton, maybe Charlton, they've come in for him and he didn't want to know. He doesn't want to go on loan."

Harry Redknapp is asked about January transfer targets, but plays a straight bat to a host of names put to him.

Jermain Defoe? "Well, he's gone to Sunderland now hasn't he? But we couldn't afford a deal for him."

Aaron Lennon? "A lot of bets have been put on him moving to QPR, have they? Well I don't know who is putting those on. Because I don't know anything about it."

Emmanuel Adebayor? "He would be out of our budget - but I haven't discussed it with anyone."