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Nigel de Jong has cast his Manchester City future into doubt as the midfielder has been reportedly seeking showdown talks with manager Roberto Mancini.   According to the Daily Star, the tough-tackling Dutchman was shocked at being dropped from Mancini's squad for City's 3-2 win over QPR and watched the game from the stands.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has admitted that he is desperate to bring another central defender to the club on an emergency loan after yet another injury decimated the clubs defence. New Zealand international Winston Reid dislocated his shoulder at the weekend to leave Allardyce with very limited options at the heart of defence.

Sir Alex Ferguson is keeping tabs on Everton midfielder Ross Barkley's progress, and could make a move for the 17-year-old in January.   The Manchester United boss is a huge admirer of the Everton youngster and would love for him to follow in Wayne Rooney’s footsteps from Goodison.

Serena Williams, despite her unfamiliarly low seeding of 28th, continued to justify her billing as US Open favourite by seeing off Victoria Azarenka to reach the last 16 at Flushing Meadows.   The match provided a thrilling contest, as Azarenka fought back against Williams’ strong start to force a second set tie-break.