If versatility is a crucial part of Louis van Gaal's infamous football philosophy, he's got a new muse.

The Manchester United boss reckons Anthony Martial can slot into four different positions on any given occasion, upfront, both wings and as a number 10.

Things are a bit tougher for Jesse Lingard, however. Van Gaal told MUTV: "Lingard's competitor is Juan Mata and his competitor is also, for example, Ander Herrera or Wayne Rooney or, when he is played on the left... his competitor was Memphis [Depay]. So it's not easy to come in."

We have live text and radio commentary of Thursday's Champions League action from around 18:30 BSTright here.

Image source, Reuters

Edward Turck: USA will win the World Cup and be a major footballing side.  

One Sportsday writer has a relative willing to put decent money on that, Edward. True story.

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Stephen Crowther: £2m a week.

Short and to the point, Stephen. Are we adjusting for inflation?

Keep your predictions for what sport will look like in 30 years' time to #BBCBackToTheFuture or post on the BBC Sport, external and BBC Match of the Day Facebook, external pages.

Manchester United offered Barcelona £139m for Neymar during the summer, according to Spanish newspaper Sport., external

And any hopes that the apparently impending arrival of Ezequiel Lavezzi at the Nou Camp would tempt Barcelona to sell in January has been quashed by the Mirror., external

Furthermore, the Star is reporting, external that another target - Edinson Cavani - has no interest in making a £50m move to Old Trafford. 

Meanwhile, Portuguese newspaper A Bola is reporting, external that United pulled out of a £22m deal to sign Benfica winger Nico Gaitan last summer.

More from all that can be found here

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Eventer William Fox-Pitt remains sedated and under constant observation in a French hospital after being injured in a fall.

The dad-of-four was thrown from his horse during the cross-country stage of the World Young Horse Championships on Saturday.

In their latest statement, British Eventing said there had been "no change" in his condition overnight, and added: "We ask that the privacy of the family is respected at this time; his family and support team are very grateful for all the concern expressed."

Image source, Rex Features

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has admitted he is concerned by his side's current winless run of six games. 

Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Hull saw the early Championship leaders drop to 11th in the table. 

"There's nothing that anybody can say to me that's going to make me feel any better," he told BBC Radio Suffolk. 

"We're having a real tough time and it's a worry, but the only thing we can do is get back at it, get to Nottingham Forest and see if we can beat them."

Image source, Rex Features

George Evans only met his new Walsall team-mates for the first time when he boarded the coach for Tuesday's League One game at Barnsley.

It proved a memorable away day for the on-loan Manchester City midfielder as he hit the opener on his debut in the Saddlers' 2-0 win at Oakwell.

"It's a good start - one to remember," he told BBC WM. "I'm happy with any goal and the team played very well."

We're on countdown to Thursday's Champions League action now. T-minus three hours, seven minutes, or thereabouts. 

So, to get you in the mood, have a look at this Football Focus Forum featuring the learned opinions of Dan Walker and Jermaine Jenas, who have been discussing Manchester City's prospects against Sevilla and Manchester United at CSKA Moscow.

Watch it here and remember we'll have live text and radio coverage of the night's proceedings from around 18:30 BST here.

Cornelius Lysaght
BBC Sport horse racing correspondent

Twenty-nine European horses have been entered at America's two-day Breeders Cup, the self styled world championship of horse-racing, being staged on 30 and 31 October, this year at Keeneland in Kentucky.

Heading the 13 British challengers is the Epsom Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Golden Horn in the Breeders Cup Turf, the star colt's final career start. Amongst the Irish entries is dual 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles, in the Classic, while France's Karakontie is due to attempt to repeat last year's success in the Mile.

Image source, Reuters

Andrew Flintoff has been singing Alastair Cook's praises ahead of the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai.

The England captain shone with the bat in the first Test, and Flintoff said it is "laughable" that he has faced criticism in the past about his ability. He added: "Alastair Cook is the type of guy who gives nothing away

"He came into the side back in 2006, and there was something impressive about him then. We’re seeing now he’s one of the best we’ve ever produced."

Flintoff also picked out James Anderson as a "world great" but was less gushing about his own captaincy of the national team, saying: "I think it was one job too many for me, batting and bowling was enough without being captain as well."

Image source, Getty Images

In 2014, South African athlete Oscar Pistorius was jailed for five years for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead on Valentine's Day 2013.

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Jermain Defoe has reminded Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce he did not join the club to sit on the bench. 

The 33-year-old striker was used as a second-half substitute in the new manager's first game in charge, Saturday's 1-0 defeat at West Brom.

Defoe told the Chronicle:, external "Obviously, I can understand the manager coming in and saying he's not too sure if he wants to play 4-4-2. He might want to be more solid in midfield so you don't concede goals.

"But at the age of 33, you want to play football. I didn't come here to sit on the bench. You want to play football and score goals."

BBC Sport athletics commentator Ed Harry has gone back in time to London 2012 to show us his notes from the men's T44 100m at the Paralympic Games. Kudos for the Back To The Future reference, Ed...

For those who haven't seen the film (I won't name the Sportsday member who hasn't) Grays Sports Almanac is a list of sporting results that is taken back to the 1950s where its potential to clean up at the bookies is boundless. Not that we're suggesting Ed would do that.

Remember to keep your predictions for what sport will look like in 30 years' time to #BBCBackToTheFuture or the BBC Sport, external and BBC Match of the Day Facebook, external pages.

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It's all Back to the Future stuff today ... so why not use it as an excuse to look back at a memorable day for British athletics 30 years ago, when Steve Cram smashed mile world record in Oslo.

Cram says he is proud to have set a record that lasted more than eight years from 1985 before it was beaten by Algeria's Noureddine Morceli in 1993.

The 'Jarrow Arrow' set a time of 3:46.32 which still stands as a UK record.

Watch it here.

Image source, Getty Images

Hang on, things are getting interesting.

Remember how we just told you (15:48) that the ice hockey match between Belfast Giants and Sheffield Steelers on Friday had been postponed so a rescheduled One Direction concert could take place?

Well, Houston we have a problem.

The unhappy Steelers have hit out at the "unacceptable" late postponement, with the club as well as the supporters now facing the prospect of being left out of pocket.

Steelers owner Tony Smith said: "This is unacceptable and not the end of the matter."

One to keep an eye on.

Image source, Getty Images

One of the UK's most exclusive golf clubs is to start charging £125,000 to new joiners.

Wentworth, which was bought by the Beijing-based Reignwood Group in September 2014, has told existing members they must stump up £100,000.

Annual fees at the Surrey club are also to rise from £8,000 to £16,000. James Wyatt said he and other members faced having to pay "an enormous amount".

The golf club said membership pricing "is a private Wentworth club matter".

Image source, Getty Images

England Saxons prop Scott Wilson has agreed a new three-year contract with Newcastle Falcons.

Tight-head Wilson, 21, has made 49 appearances for the first team since progressing from the Premiership club's academy set-up.

Fans of One Direction will be in pop heaven on Friday - but spare a thought for supporters of the Belfast Giants.

The Elite League ice hockey side have postponed their match against Sheffield Steelers at the SSE Arena in the Northern Ireland capital to allow the boy band to reschedule a concert.

Image source, Getty Images

Hundreds of fans were left devastated when One Direction postponed Tuesday's gig after singer Liam Payne fell ill. But now they get to see their heroes - at the expense of the ice hockey.

"We are extremely grateful to the Belfast Giants and Sheffield teams and apologise to their fans for the inconvenience caused," said SSE Arena general manager Neil Walker.

Juliette Ferrington
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp is far from happy with the FA over Jordan Rossiter's hamstring injury picked up playing for England's Under 19s. The Liverpool midfielder played three full matches in five days. 

"Rossiter is a special story. I've never heard of an 18-year-old playing three games in five days," Klopp said. "That is why he is injured. I don't know who I have to talk to about this but I will find a way because it is not okay."