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United prepare to release Anderson, Van Ginkel heading home to Chelsea?

January will be here before you know it. To tide us over, here's today's batch of rumours and gossip.

Anderson's United days are numbered

Louis van Gaal has been in charge of Manchester United for just under four months but has already seen enough of Brazilian midfielder Anderson to decide it's worth spending 1.4 million pounds to shift him off the Old Trafford books.

The Daily Express said the 26-year-old has been told by the Dutchman that he has no future at United, and unless another club swoops for him in January and makes an offer for the former Porto charge, the Red Devils will simply pay out the rest of his contract.

Bought by Sir Alex Ferguson for 20 million pounds in 2007, Anderson has made just one Premier League appearance for the Red Devils this season, when he came on as substitute against Burnley.

Hit the road, Jo

Speaking of contract terminations, Anderson's former Brazilian teammate and Manchester City striker Jo (remember him?) has been released by Atletico Mineiro because of indiscipline.

The Belo Horizonte club released the striker and two other players Monday and said they committed a "serious" breach of team rules after a Brazilian league match the past weekend.

Liverpool linked with another keeper

Simon Mignolet must not feel very comfortable up at Anfield.

In what has become almost a monthly occurrence, Brendan Rodgers has once again been linked with a goalkeeper. First, it was former Barcelona custodian Victor Valdes, then it was Espanyol's Kiko Casilla. Today, The Daily Express said Mexico hotshot Guillermo Ochoa has moved into contention to be the Reds' next shot-stopper.

After starring for El Tri at the World Cup, Ochoa joined Malaga on a free transfer at the start of the season. But the 29-year-old is yet to register a La Liga appearance for his new Spanish side and is said to be eager to move on if another club can guarantee him first-team football.

Malaga slapped a 4 million pound price tag on Ochoa, which will net them a tidy profit should Liverpool decide to make a move.

Van Ginkel heading home?

Marco van Ginkel might be heading back to Chelsea if AC Milan don't start playing the Dutchman more often,

The 21-year-old, who is on a season-long loan with the Rossoneri, has only played 31 minutes in Serie A this season, and his agent, Karel Jansen, isn't too pleased about it.

"The buildup in the beginning at Milan was good. Marco began the season on the bench, and it was expected, as he was getting used to a new club and country," TalkSport reported Jansen saying.

"But even after he recovered from the injury, he has had very little time on the pitch. We were not happy about it, and it went against all logic. We made it clear this was not the intention when he joined on loan. Marco did not have to go to Italy and do nothing. Look, if he wasn't very good, this treatment was understandable, but a fit Van Ginkel would walk into the Milan side.

"Chelsea have not pulled the plug, but they might if the current situation continues."