BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Mark Hughes is reportedly on a shortlist of potential news managers drawn up by Chelsea, but the Stoke boss gave a textbook evasive answer when asked about the stories.

"There's always speculation. It's nice to be mentioned but it's a reflection on the players doing well," he said, no doubt with a menacing glare.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Mark Hughes is keen to add to his Stoke City squad this month but will not be panicked into signing someone for the sake of it.

"We're still hopeful," the manager said. "We'd like to add if the right person is available but it's not easy to get players over the line. There won't be any last-minute deals - they will be well thought out."

BBC World Service

Image source, Getty Images

Emmanuel Ememike is not good enough for West Ham, according to the former Nigeria and Wolfsburg striker Jonathan Akpoborie.

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic says he’s hoping to compete a loan deal for the Nigerian in the next couple of days. But Akpoborie says Emenike will struggle in the Premier League.

"Over the last two or three years he hasn't been in good form for his club and country. To be a striker in the top flight in England you need to have a good first touch and that has always been his problem. His ability is in question."

You can listen to BBC World Service's interview with Akpoborie by clicking here.

Walsall have signed teenage midfielder Bryn Morris on loan from Championship club Middlesbrough.

The promotion-chasing League One side side have brought in the former England Under-19 captain on an initial two-month youth loan.

In 2007,Roger Federer won his third Australian Open men's singles title by beating Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 7-6 (7/2) 6-4 6-4.

Image source, AFP / Getty Images

Ahead of a BBC Radio 5 live programme later on Thursday on the history of football computer gaming, we’re asking for your favourite football video games and why.    

Love that caption - Carlos Valderama, International Superstar. Is this the US version then? Assuming there wasn't a Colombia-specific one...

There's been a bit of team news from Louis van Gaal as well - Matteo Darmian will miss Friday's FA Cup match at Derby but the injury isn't too serious. 

Michael Carrick could return, but the midfielder won't be able to play the full 90 minutes.

On the reaction of his side since losing to Southampton Van Gaal added: "When you lose a game, especially in the last minute, you are fed up. But it is your duty as a manager and a player to stand up again and to do what you have to do, because that is a professional attitude."  

Dan Roan
BBC Sports editor

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has come out swinging, with a dramatic tirade against media stories about him offering to quit.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Louis van Gaal calls stories suggesting he had offered to resign as Manchester United manager "awful and horrible."

"I think I don't have mentioned that ever," Van Gaal said. "You make your own stories. Then I have to answer. I am not doing that. It is awful and horrible but you can write. 

"It is the third time I am sacked and I am still sitting here. I am obliged to do that (attend press conferences). A lot of people ask in a disrespectful way. I have always faith.

"When you lose it is worse. I predicted before Southampton. Now I cannot lose any more because then for the fourth time I have been sacked. Then it might be the truth."

Image source, Reuters

BBC Radio 5 Live

David Haye made a return to the ring after a three-and-half-year lay-off with a first-round knockout of Mark de Mori in London earlier in January. 

Now he wants to fight Anthony Joshua. 

"His handlers know how dangerous I am," Haye said. "You know, I’m a former two-weight world champion who knocks out pretty much anybody I hit. For a young prospect who’s had 15 fights it will be a big step so I think they’re going to try and angle him towards a world title first.

"I fight between myself and Joshua would be the biggest heavyweight fight on the planet, I think they know that and they want to get him a little bit more experienced before that fight takes place.”

Image source, Getty Images

It's Gianluigi Buffon's birthday today. He's 38, and has been with Juventus since joining from Parma 15 years ago.

To mark the occasion it's worth looking back to when Juve took a page out of Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport to thank him for sticking with the club through relegation, 10 years ago...

Image source, Gazzetta Dello Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Ashton's appeal against the 10-week ban which would rule him out of the Six Nations will be heard on Wednesday, 3 February.

The Saracens and England wing was cited for making contact with the eyes of Ulster's Luke Marshall in a European Champions Cup game.

The 28-year-old's appeal will be heard in London by an independent Appeal Committee consisting of Scots Lorne Crerar and Rod McKenzie and Roger Morris of Wales.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Over the past month, Louis van Gaal has demanded an apology from the media, railed against the impact of stories about him on his family and claimed it had him sacked already.

On Thursday, he faces the press for the first time since his Manchester United side were beaten at home by Southampton and stories emerged claiming he had made an offer to resign, which was rejected by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

In theory, he should be being asked about Friday's FA Cup tie at Derby, which is televised live on BBC One.

Such niceities are often ignored in the hustle and bustle of a media conference though, so Van Gaal is almost certainly going to be asked to respond to questions about his future.

Image source, Getty Images

Both the Yorkshire Evening Post, external and the Evening Chronicle, external are reporting high interest from Newcastle United and Sunderland in Leeds United defender Sol Bamba. 

The Ivory Coast international, 31, has been in and out of the side since signing in the summer, with manager Steve Evans keen to keep hold of him but owner Massimo Cellino apparently willing to let him go...

The Chronicle also says that Sunderland's chase of Swansea forward Andre Ayew is "dead". 

Dan Walker
BBC Sport presenter

It was all about Sensible Soccer for me. I played Kick Off but Sensible Soccer filled hours of my youth.

The show was great fun to do. We've got industry insiders, pro gamers, YouTuber Spencer Owen, England captain Steph Houghton & an audience to look at the cultural phenomenon of football video games and how they effect the very game they're modelled on.

Listen to Dan present a show on the history of football computer gaming on Thursday on BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport website, Red Button and iPlayer from 19:30 GMT.

Ahead of a BBC Radio 5 live programme later on Thursday on the history of football computer gaming, we’re asking for your favourite football video games and why.    

Thanks for that Olly. But I'm not sure how the Sensi community will feel about you playing a console... Surely a man with your means could get himself sorted with an Amiga 1200?, external

Nick Godwin
BBC Radio London sport reporter

Alan Pardew says it's 'not a risk' to have Emmauel Adebayor in his squad for the rest of the season. He was keen to emphasise what a fantastic player he still is, and how his arrival has lifted a squad that needed a boost.

He was also still very positive about the FA Cup. He's taking the game against Stoke very seriously and still wants a long run in the competition. Adebayor won't start the game though.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Happy birthday Jessica Ennis-Hill. The gold winning heptathlete is celebrating the big three-zero on Thursday. 

An eclectic mix of sports stars are also blowing out the candles...

• Zimbabwean golfer Nick Price (59), who won both the Open and USPGA Championship in 1994
• Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher (38)
• Former England and British and Irish Lions hooker Mark Regan (44)
• Ex-Formula One driver Takuma Sato (39), now driving in the IndyCar series

New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne has signed a deal to play for Essex in seven 2016 T20 Blast group games.

The 23-year-old has played 29 one-day internationals and 14 Twenty20 internationals for the Black Caps, taking 18 wickets at an average of 20.83 in the shortest form.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, .

Serena Williams took just 64 minutes to thrash Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0 6-4 as she chases her seventh Australian Open and 22nd Grand Slam title, but how much do you know about her?

Our pals at CBBC have put together this quiz...