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Manchester United had Anderson and Danny Welbeck to thank for their 2-0 win over plucky Norwich after Paul Lamberts side threatened to leave Old Trafford with a point.

It took until the 68th minute for the home side to break the Canaries resolve with Anderson heading home to the relief of Sir Alex Ferguson who saw his players struggle to overcome Lamberts team. Welbeck added a touch of gloss to the win which keeps the Red Devil’s top ahead of neighbours City on goal difference. With Wayne Rooney back from injury and restored to the United attack many envisaged an easy, high scoring win for the hosts but they were made to battle by a Norwich team who have grown in confidence over the past couple of weeks. Wins against Bolton and Sunderland have lifted the Canaries spirits and their determination to take something back to Carrow Road was admirable. If midfielder Anthony Pilkington had shown some prowess in front of goal they might well of came away victorious.

United were still suffering from the disastrous 3-3 draw against Basel in the Champions League on Tuesday and they looked to be suffering a terrible hangover as Lamberts counter attacking plan almost paid off. Wes Hoolahan was the first to really test Anders Lindegaard, making his first Premier League start, in the United goal stinging his palms with a long range effort. Norwich’s early pressure failed to pay dividends and as the half drew to a close they were made to defend with all their might as the home side poured forward in search of the opening goal. They never really tested John Ruddy in the visitors goal with Darren Fletcher’s flicked header from a corner the closest they came.

The second period saw Norwich step up their game as frustration started to build in the stands. Hoolahan was becoming an ever increasing influence in midfield and he almost got on the end of Steve Morison’s cross only for Phil Jones to divert the ball out of his path. He then turned provider with his through ball putting Pilkington, who took advantage of a slip from Antonio Valencia, clean through on goal only for the former Huddersfield man to crumble at the vital moment and shoot wide. That proved costly as Anderson nodded home from Ryan Giggs corner to finally break the deadlock as relief rippled through the stands . Norwich didn’t back down though and Pilkington was again presented with a glorious opportunity only to see his sweet strike deflected onto the post by Anderson. He was again made to rue another missed chance as Welbeck wrapped up the points exchanging passes with Park Ji Sung before sliding home his fifth goal of the season.

Get over to Goaldash and check your numbers to see what you might have won!

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If you are a Newcastle fan at the moment you have certainly become used to Alan Pardew’s key players being linked with Premier League rivals. Rumours of players leaving St James’ Park in January were incessant, with Andy Carroll eventually heading to Liverpool for a whopping £35 million. Many Newcastle supporters will understand the move to some extent, what with the amount of money the club recouped for their number nine, but surely that needs to be it as far as high profile exits are concerned? Once is bad enough, but twice would be the final straw.

Unsurprisingly, the two players that the Premier League big boys are being linked with right now are two of Newcastle’s best performers this season: Jose Enrique and Cheik Tiote. I might be a bit biased, but I would challenge anyone to find a better left back in the Premier League than Enrique. He may have been at fault for Damien Duff’s goal against Fulham and had a bit of a shocker in the first half last week against Arsenal (who didn’t?), but I would put him right up their with the likes of Patrice Evra and maybe even Ashley Cole. If reports to be believed it is telling that Manchester United are interested in ‘The Bull’ as that shows how even Sir Alex Ferguson rates him comparably with Evra.

Then there’s Cheik Tiote who’s been nothing short of a revelation in the Premier League this season. Cries of ‘Cheik who?’ when he signed in the summer for a modest fee have quickly disappeared as he has become a legend on Tyneside in an incredibly short space of time. His stunning volleyed equaliser against Arsenal last weekend certainly hasn’t harmed his growing reputation in the north east, and comparisons are already being drawn with defensive midfielders of yester year. Chelsea reportedly made a bid for the Ivorian in January and are likely to follow that up in the summer, as they look to Tiote as their new Claude Makelele. While Tiote might not have the experience yet, I would argue he impacts the game more than someone like Makelele and is perfectly suited for the style of English football, as has already been shown thus far.

As far as Newcastle are concerned, on the back of the departure of losing Carroll in January, selling either of these two players would be an incredibly bitter pill to swallow. However, I am realistic enough to know that if a Champions League club were to offer stupid money, like Liverpool did for Carroll, then Mike Ashley will put his business head on and be happy to sell. Newcastle don’t want to become a selling club though. They did a decent job of standing relatively firm over Carroll, even if it meant they didn’t have any time to replace him, but there comes a time when you have to say that a player is not for sale, within reason.

Pardew has already said he has all the £35 million from Carroll to spend on rebuilding the squad. I won’t believe that until I see it, but if Newcastle want to keep their best players they have to show they are serious about mounting a challenge for the upper echelons of the Premier League table. As far as Enrique’s and Tiote’s personalities are concerned, the Spaniard has already showed commitment to the club by sticking with Newcastle through relegation, while Tiote seems like someone with his head screwed on. Come summer though bids will come in and heads will be turned, I just hope that Newcastle stand firm as the departure of more key players would really put another nail in the coffin.

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Arsene Wenger has reiterated his desire to keep Robin van Persie at the Emirates Stadium next season but the Dutch striker is not the first player the Frenchman has tried to keep at the club. After forcing the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry into one final stint in North London with mixed results, many Arsenal fans are questioning the merits of keeping another unhappy player at the club when the potential money received for him could be reinvested in the squad.

It’s a debate that has split Gunners fans down the middle for many believe Van Persie is such a talented player that keeping him is must while others feel his motivation will be affected and struggle to see the value of losing upwards of £20m for one more season. After all the prolific form he enjoyed last time out has not been a consistent part of his injury prone Arsenal career and having only signed for £2.75m from Feyenoord back in 2004, any fee received would still represent a decent profit for a player with only one impressive season on his CV. Clearly the forward possesses enough talent to attract admirable stares from Europe’s top teams but it’s unclear how inclined Arsenal will be to offloading him onto one of their rivals. Ultimately it boils down to some all important questions, would Arsenal fans prefer to keep Van Persie or sell him and if the latter then who would they be happiest selling him to?

So far Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus have all been credited with an interest and while keeping their cards as close to their chest as possible, each team has reportedly made a tentative offer that falls well short of Arsenal’s valuation. The inevitable cat and mouse of transfer negotiations will most likely rumble on for most of the summer as Arsene Wenger plays hardball and prospective buyers try to keep the fee as low as possible but after the fiasco surrounding Fabregas and Samir Nasri last summer, many supporters are keen to conclude the issue and move on. This is because it’s becoming increasingly likely that the striker will be seeking pastures new and it’s unproductive to delay his departure so much that it becomes increasingly difficult to find a replacement, especially if transfer deadline day has anything to say about it. Many believe it’s far better to sell Van Persie before the season starts and concentrate on organizing the remaining players for an important campaign than have their preparations disrupted by uncertainty. After all one season of RVP upfront isn’t worth £20-£30m and however nostalgically fans want to remember his stint in North London, he’s often been injured and has only recently proven his worth before deciding he’s bigger than the club.

They have moved on without the likes of Henry and Patrick Vieira so clearly they can continue without the Dutchman’s influence. In fact few players who leave North London go on to bigger and better things so perhaps cashing in on a player who could leave for free next season is the wisest option. That is as long as the club receives a suitable fee for his services and unfortunately while the earlier mentioned sentiments are perfectly valid, the reality is a vicious cycle is set to ensue. The club want any deal to be done quickly and have a price in mind but buyers want the best deal and are willing to wait until Arsenal lower their demands. While they would happily keep the player, they also appreciate his desire to leave and as such require a suitable deal to satisfy all parties. It remains to be seen who will break first but it’s complicated drama that will dominate the rest of the summer transfer headlines.

Such is the inevitability of the situation that if, as expected, the striker does leave then the biggest concern is where his future actually lies. While fans may be resigned to his departure, the prospect of seeing another of their stars defecting to Manchester City is indicative of a shift in dominance currently transpiring in the Premier League. While Manchester United have openly admitted their own interest, there is still a distinct rivalry between the teams that implies Van Persie will not be allowed to join Old Trafford out of principle while City’s ‘new kid on the block’ mentality seems to allow them to take Arsenal’s top players without the club feeling quite so aggrieved. Links with Juventus are perhaps more acceptable in the eyes of the Gunners faithful as he would be playing in a different league and as such would not be reminding them of the ever increasing shift in Premier League power. It’s certainly a move that would appeal to both clubs but the Turin based side do not offer a particularly attractive challenge for a player who insists he is not concerned by money and is looking for a better chance of winning silverware.

If United and Juventus cannot conclude a deal for the striker then the sad truth is Van Persie will be plying his trade in Premier League next season but this may not be want Arsenal fans want to hear and given the lack of viable options on offer it’s becoming more and more likely the striker will be lining up in Sky Blue rather than Red and White next season.

Should Arsenal cash in on Robin van Persie? Should they keep the striker and let his contract expire to get one last season out of him?

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Let me know your views and opinions by following me on Twitter – Tweet me @Alex_Churcher

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Harry Redknapp is pondering a fresh move for Gary Cahill the Daily Mail understands with David Bentley used as bait.

The Tottenham manager is concerned by the lack of defensive cover at White Hart Lane and wants a dependable centre back to provide competition.

Negotiations for Christopher Samba have so far failed to bear fruit causing Redknapp to turn his attentions to Cahill.

He watched him put a sterling performance in for Bolton against Manchester City on Sunday, which convinced him to step up his interest.

Wanderers value the England defender at £17 million, which would be too much for Spurs at this current time.

Redknapp knows that kind of money won’t be sanctioned by chairman Daniel Levy but could offer Bentley and Sebastian Bassong to try and see the price reduced.

Trotters boss Owen Coyle is in the marker for a right midfielder after losing Chung Yong-Lee for the season and would be keen to give Bentley a chance at revitalising his career at the Reebok.

Bassong would also be an attractive proposition as he would be an instant replacement for Cahill.

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Arsenal are also weighing up a bid for the defender who have more financial clout at this moment in time and Spurs will have to fend off their fierce rivals to land the player.

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Juventus manager Luigi Delneri has blamed an injury crisis at the Stadio Olimpico for his side’s January struggles.

Juve fell 2-1 at home to Udinese on Sunday, signing off on a bleak January period that saw them lose three of five Serie A fixtures.

The horror run has seen Juve fall to seventh on the table and 12 points adrift of leaders AC Milan, ahead of a difficult string of fixtures against Palermo, Cagliari and Inter Milan.

The proud club are not being helped by a rash of injuries in the squad, with the absence of strikers Fabio Quagliarella, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Luca Toni leaving Delneri’s side desperately thin up front.

Delneri was understandably disappointed after Sunday’s defeat, which came despite Juve leading 1-0 with half an hour to play.

But he said he expected his side to resume their Scudetto campaign once his key players return from injury.

“We’re struggling at the moment, mainly because we haven’t got replacements in certain key areas,” Delneri said.

“The players are still producing good performances though, even when they’re asked to play in different roles. They’ll be playing again on Thursday (at Palermo) and on Sunday (at Cagliari).”

“Now January is over we hope we’ll have some of our important resources back in order to make a final push, since Juventus are always competing for the championship.”

“Of course we should do better, but we also need to get players back otherwise it won’t be possible to improve our performances.”

“You can play well, battle and have a good spirit, but in order to compete for the championship the whole team needs to be available and right now at Juventus we don’t have that. We’re already doing our best though.”

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“January has been a negative month, one of the worst months, maybe this is also due to certain personal issues, but it’s definitely been a very bad period.”

“Things have gone really well also considering all the difficulties we’re having now. At the moment we’re paying for even the small mistakes, therefore there is nothing to say.”

“Right now we should have the strength to accept the criticism in these difficult times and focus on the next match.”

Everyone loves their football rumours and therefore the summer can often be one of the most exciting times in football despite the lack of playing action. This summer has been filled with more football than you’d usually expect to see at the end of a season though, thanks to the European Championships. Whilst the football on offer was of the highest quality, the tournament did have one downside; all the coverage surrounded events in Poland and Ukraine and not the open transfer window.

However, the Premier League clubs have still been busy, tying up a number of deals before pre-season starts again and making the adjustments to their squads to try and better their league position from last year. A lot of this movement has taken place under the radar and is easy to miss unless you keep a keen eye on proceedings. However, using our A-Z of the transfer window, you can check out any deals you might have missed and catch up with the summer’s transfer activity so far.

Click on Xisco below to unveil the A-Z of the transfer window

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The honeymoon period is well and truly over for Premiership new boys QPR and Swansea City. The ecstasy of promotion to the top flight has been cast out and replaced by the harsh reality of playing in the unforgiving terrain of top flight football. Whilst fellow promotees Norwich City can be satisfied with their endeavours following a 1-1 draw at Wigan, the picture in West London and South Wales tells a very different story. The hope and confidence of cementing a long-term stay in the Premiership has already hit a massive stumbling block, as both sides kicked off their respective seasons with soul-destroying 4-0 defeats.

Both sides thoroughly earned their right to play in the Premiership and with both sides having put in so much hard work to get to where they are now, it was vital that they didn’t let the thrill of top-flight football get to their heads and ensure that they started the season as positively as possible. And yet, despite both sides putting in good 1st half performances, they completely capitulated against their respective opponents and, by the time 90 minutes was up, both teams had their tails firmly between their legs.

QPR were a class act last season as they ran away with the Championship title. A home game against Bolton Wanderers to kick off their first top-flight match in 15 years was never going to be easy, but it was certainly a match that they would hope to get a result from. And for almost 45 minutes, they were the better team. Yet one lapse in concentration just before half-time cost them dearly, and from then on, the team simply imploded against a well-organised and confident Bolton squad. Players like Jay Bothroyd, DJ Campbell and Adel Taarabt, who was so influential for QPR last season, were merely shadows of their usual selves and by the time Bolton scored their fourth, it was difficult to see how this club were going to survive the next 37 matches. With concerns off the pitch by a potential sale of the club, a lack of big-money signings and doubts over the future of manager Neil Warnock, this was not the start that the club needed or wanted.

Swansea’s determination and attacking style of football were significant factors as they achieved promotion via the play-offs to become the first Welsh team to play in the Premiership. Yet their opening game could not have been tougher. Whilst a result for QPR against Bolton was believable, a result for Swansea away at Manchester City would have been perceived as nothing short of a miracle. To put things in perspective, Manchester City’s new striker, Sergio Aguero, cost the club £13 million more than the entire Swansea squad put together. In the eyes of most football fans, a 2-0 defeat would have been a respectable scoreline for Swansea. But like QPR, they attributed themselves admirably against the giants of Manchester City and they managed to hold them for almost an hour, with new goalkeeper Michel Vorm in inspired form. Yet once they conceded the first goal, it was simply a matter of time before the Eastlands club would prove their dominance. In fact it was Aguero who was the biggest tormentor to the Swans as he put in an outstanding debut performance for his new club. It was a commendable performance by Swansea, but good performances count for nothing if you back it up with a good result. Let’s not make excuses, this was a heavy defeat.

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If ever there was proof of the gulf in class between the Premiership and the Championship, these were results were surely it. Of course it is way too early to condemn either club to an immediate return to the Championship, a league they worked so hard to get out of, and both clubs did show glimpses of why they now find themselves playing in the Premiership. Yet it’s so often said that a good start to the season is the benchmark to a successful campaign. The road that lies ahead for these two clubs will now seem considerably longer following the weekend’s results and a lot of work needs to be done in order for a successful campaign to be achieved.

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It’s a joy to have these two proud, well-established football clubs in the Premiership. But they have a lot of work to do to make sure that they stay there.

Read more of Sam’s articles at http://diamondformation.wordpress.com/. Also follow him on Twitter: @DiamondFormat.

Steven Pienaar’s move to Tottenham wasn’t just another massive transfer coup for manager Harry Redknapp. Sure, he signed on a minimal fee and adds strength in depth and real quality to a midfield already full of class. But what does it say about Spurs when the team he turned down was their London rivals and Premier League champions, Chelsea?

Chelsea aren’t having the best of seasons by any means. But even now, I wouldn’t write them off just yet. Retaining the title is not out of the realms of possibility and any footballer can recognise that. They have quality players, a proven manager and the experience to get themselves out of a position like the one they find themselves in.

So what did Steven Pienaar see? It certainly wasn’t a team currently in a false position. He compared them to the team in London everybody seems to be talking about. Tottenham are on the up, and the fact the South African midfielder chose North London over their rivals from the west of the capital, proves Spurs have to be classed in the same bracket as the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United.

The options available to Harry Redknapp will enable him to pursue his dream of bringing the Premier League title to White Hart Lane with even more conviction. It has been well documented that the majority of their goals come from Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, but Pienaar can offer another dimension, a dimension Chelsea could really do with at the moment. Where they lack in confidence and a bit of quality, Tottenham already had plenty of it and Pienaar can only improve their attacking options.

I remember another one of the brightest talents in Premier League snubbing the champions: In 2003, Harry Kewell turned down a move to Manchester United in favour of their fierce rivals, Liverpool, because he wanted to join a team on the up. It didn’t quite work out like he would have liked, but the whole deal smelt of something corrupt anyway. It was ludicrous to think he turned down United because he felt they could no longer compete for major honours. If reports are to be believed, money traded hands unlawfully which was probably the biggest factor in his decision.

Pienaar’s move is completely different. If Chelsea wanted him as much as they say they did, they could have thrown plenty of money to get him to Stamford Bridge. Maybe they offered to. But the move is one full of ambition. Pienaar wants to be part of history in the making. Spurs have already upset the apple-cart once by breaking up the finishing top quartet last season, and who is to say now they can’t go one further? They certainly have the players now to do so. London’s champions will be looking over their shoulder at two teams from North London now capable of stealing their crown.

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Love fantasy football? Love live footy? You’ll love live fantasy football! Take part in the Wolves v Liverpool match and play Picklive for FREE Go on, give it a go!

Is the dreadful June weather currently matching the mood at White Hart Lane? With no Champions League football to lure potential transfer targets and Cold War like tensions between Harry Redknapp and Daniel Levy proving terminal, it looks set to be a summer of upheaval in N17.

Such uncertainty over the managerial post at White Hart Lane certainly isn’t helping a team with more than a fair bit of work to do in the transfer market. The departures of Emmanuel Adebayor and Louis Saha leave a frontline that is in some need of addressing and the destinies of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale could have quite an impact on the personnel coming and going this summer.

But the Lilywhite’s will, as ever, remain an attractive prospect to players both at home and on the continent. And just in case Spurs’ shortlist gets scuppered by the absence of Europe’s premier cup competition, here are ten more realistic targets for Harry Redknapp’s successor, that won’t mind plying their trade in the Europa League.

Click on Giuseppe Rossi to unveil the top 10

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What do you think of the players mentioned? Happy to see any of these boys in a Spurs shirt? Or are you still gunning for the Llorente’s of this world? Follow me on Twitter and let me know who you’re craving, @samuel_antrobus

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Everton have told Arsenal they’ll need to double their offer for Phil Jagielka if they are to land the defender BBC Sport understands.

The Gunners had a £10 million bid for the defender rejected yesterday as manager Arsene Wenger continues his summer search for a partner worthy of lining up alongside Thomas Vermaelen next season.

Wenger has been chasing for the 28-year-old for two seasons and Everton will settle for nothing less than £20 million.

Arsenal bid £12 million last summer and their latest bid has fortified the Toffee’s resolve to keep the player.

Signed from Sheffield United for £4 million in 2007 Jagielka’s superb form and commanding performances have turned him into an England regular during his time at Goodison Park.

However boss David Moyes is keen to strengthen his squad this summer and selling his star player could be the only option.

With a sell before you buy policy at Goodison Park there is a quiet acceptance that Jagielka may have to leave.

It’s not up to Wenger who must decide whether they are going to increase their offer or focus on other targets as the pressure grows on him to add to his backline.

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Bolton’s Gary Cahill still remains in the Frenchman’s crosshairs with a £17 million move being touted whilst Blackburn’s Christopher Samba and Birmingham’s Scott Dann have also been linked.