Transfer Rumours And Paper Review – Thursday, July 24

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Thursday's newspapers...

Liverpool are ready to revive their interest in Ryan Bertrand as they continue their quest to find a new left-back. Chelsea are reluctant to do business with a side they now regard as credible title rivals and they would be looking for a fee in excess of £8million. (Daily Mail)

Liverpool are hoping to hijack Manchester United’s move for Juventus star Arturo Vidal by matching their £42.5million bid for the player. (Metro)

Atletico Madrid believe they can persuade Arsenal to part with Santi Cazorla this summer. The Spain midfielder is a long-term target of Diego Simeone and the Argentine hopes this could be the year he lands the 29-year-old. (Daily Mail)

Arsenal have snapped up highly-rated Barcelona youth product Georgios Spanoudakis, who previously rejected a number of offers to sign with Arsene Wenger's side. The 15-year-old central midfielder joined the Catalan club's La Masia academy from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2009, but will now join Arsenal's Under-18 set-up for the coming season. (Daily Mail)

Arsenal have also taken Serbian wonderkid Mladen Micanovic on trial. The 17-year-old will train with the Gunners with a view to a transfer to the Emirates this summer. (Daily Mail)

Harry Redknapp ‎wants to strike a deal to bring former Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o to Queens Park Rangers. The 34-year-old's agent, Claudio Vigorelli, is flying to London to try to thrash ‎out an agreement. (Daily Mirror)

Frank Lampard is set to be confirmed as a New York City FC player at 3.30pm on Thursday. A press conference has been called in New York to unveil the MLS franchise's latest new signing, expected to be the ex-Chelsea man. (Daily Mail)

Ronald Koeman will swoop for the ‘Dutch Xavi’ - his old Feyenoord captain Jordy Clasie – if he fails to persuade Arsenal and Tottenham target Morgan Schneiderlin to stay at Southampton. (Daily Mirror)

Tottenham are ready to grab Aston Villa’s Dutch destroyer Ron Vlaar with a cash-plus-players bid. Spurs supremo Daniel Levy is determined to beat Southampton to the Holland World Cup centre-half and will offer money plus the chance to take German midfielder Lewis Holtby in exchange. (Daily Mirror)

Everton boss Roberto Martinez will make Bosnia World Cup star Muhamed Besic his next signing – after thrashing out a £4million deal. (Daily Mirror)

Burnley have made an £8million bid for Watford striker Troy Deeney. The 26-year-old has been made captain for the new season but Watford will sell if they get a bid closer to £10m. (Daily Mail

Van Gaal Vows To Stick With 3-5-2 System After Man United Reign Gets Off To Stunning Start

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal hailed his players as ‘fantastic’ after they demolished MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy in their opening pre-season friendly.

United thrashed the Galaxy 7-0 in the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California, with summer signing Ander Herrera producing a sparkling performance in his first appearance in a Red Devils shirt, to get Van Gaal's reign off to a flyer.

It was a result which took Van Gaal by surprise, and he believes it will give his squad a big confidence boost ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

"The result always matters. With such a result you get confidence," the new United boss said.

"It is fantastic how they have performed today. When you see us train, you can expect something but not 7-0. It was a surprise, but they were beautiful goals and beautiful attacks."

Van Gaal sent United out in the 3-5-2 system which he used to great effect with the Netherlands at the World Cup.

And the Dutchman has vowed to stick with that attacking formation.

"We introduced a new system that we have only played two times on the training pitch 11 v 11. But the boys are willing to pick up the information," he said.

"It is fantastic how they have performed. Last week, 10 players who played tonight were not even in our training complex.

"When you want to change a system, you must start at once. We don't have time to prepare for other things. The other system they can play is 4-3-3 and they have played it for many years.

"I can change back if the system doesn't work. With the quality of the players we have, I can play 4-3-3 with three strikers on the bench, but I want to play with two strikers.

Van Gaal's predecessor David Moyes usually played 4-2-3-1 as his squad was awash with players who like to play just behind a main striker.

Van Gaal believes the Scot left him with an "unbalanced" squad.

He said: "We have four number 10s, so the selection is not balanced in my eyes.

"I have decided to play this system because of the quality of the players. But if we lose, I can change back to another system."

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena thinks Van Gaal's introduction has sharpened the United squad up following their seventh-place finish last year.

"I have nothing but the greatest respect for the show that Manchester United put on," he said.

"A bunch of guys out there fighting for jobs and it looked that way. It was a real lesson for a lot of our players."