Alejandro Garnacho's strike to give Manchester United a 1-0 Europa League victory over Real Sociedad on Thursday was in vain as the Spanish side retained Group E's top spot.

A win by two or more goals would have seen United through as group winners by virtue of a superior head-to-head record, and Garnacho's early finish sparked hopes of Erik ten Hag's side achieving just that.

But a resolute defensive display from La Real saw them do enough to prevent United getting a second, despite coming under increasing pressure late on.

Ten Hag's men advance but will be forced into a two-legged play-off with one of the teams knocked out of the Champions League, a list that includes Barcelona and Juventus.

La Real started brighter but United grew into the game and took the lead after 17 minutes, Garnacho latching onto Cristiano Ronaldo's throughball and holding off a defender before rifling home from a tight angle.

David de Gea made a stunning double save to preserve United's lead before the break, tipping Andoni Gorosabel's long-range strike wide at full stretch before somehow blocking Pablo Marin's shot from the rebound over.

United still required another goal, but La Real threatened at the other end 16 minutes from time, with substitute Ander Guevara forcing a smart save from De Gea with his low drive.

La Real continued to defend resiliently and limited United to few chances, ultimately seeing out the game to secure top spot and their place in the round of 16, while the Red Devils will face a nervy play-off.

Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is expected to cost €100million if the undefeated Serie A leaders choose to sell at the end of the season.

Kvaratskhelia, 21, was with Rubin Kazan for three seasons before the Russian invasion of Ukraine halted their 2021-22 campaign, allowing the Georgia-born player to sign with Georgian club Dinamo Batumi.

Napoli scooped him up from Batumi for around €10m, and he has been in fine form since arriving in Italy. In 12 Serie A games, Kvaratskhelia has six goals and seven assists, while adding two goals and three assists in five Champions League matches.

A January sale has been ruled out, but if the club decide to cash-in on their shrewd piece of business, they could reportedly multiply their investment 10-fold.

TOP STORY – BREAKOUT NAPOLI YOUNGSTER SET TO COMMAND NINE-FIGURE FEE

According to Kvaratskhelia's agent Christian Emile in an interview with Fabrizio Romano, the Georgian sensation affectionately referred to as 'Kvaradona' by Napoli fans is one of the hottest names on the transfer market.

In the interview, reported by the London Evening Standard, Emile said there is "a zero per cent chance" he is sold in January as Napoli push for their first title since the 1989-90 season. 

However, he said "people are talking about €100m" when discussing Kvaratskhelia's value now, and if his form continues in this fashion the rest of the season, Emile added "he will reach €100m for sure".

The report names Liverpool and Chelsea as two of the key clubs known to have interest at this point.

ROUND-UP

– Mundo Deportivo is reporting Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan – who is out of contract at the end of the season – is a target for Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid. 

– According to The Daily Mail, Manchester United have made Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham their top target.

– Eden Hazard could leave Real Madrid in January, per Mundo Deportivo, with Juventus named as a club interested in the 31-year-old.

– Media Foot is reporting United are "seriously considering" a move for 33-year-old Bayern Munich forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, but they will not be making any significant purchases in January.

– According to L'Equipe, Lionel Messi does not want to leave Paris Saint-Germain without winning "a major trophy", and is considering extending his contract beyond this season.

Erik ten Hag's obsession with success has both surprised and impressed Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.

The Brazil international moved to United from Real Madrid as part of Ten Hag's spending spree heading into his first season Old Trafford, joining compatriot Antony in making the move to England.

Casemiro has made an impression at United already, and the same is the case for the 30-year-old when it comes to the former Ajax coach.

A mainstay of Madrid's midfield for much of the last decade, Casemiro has won the Champions League five times and LaLiga on three occasions, but acknowledged he has been taken aback by Ten Hag's will to win.

"After being in football for quite a while even though I'm only 30, his obsession for winning is what surprised me the most," he said in a press conference ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash against Real Sociedad.

"I think he's got many strengths, we all know it's a process and we're growing together. We want to win and he is obsessed with teaching us and making us better to the millimetre.

"That obsession with winning is something I've only seen with very few managers."

Ten Hag was equally positive about Casemiro's growing impact at United.

"He told me he needs a new challenge because at Real Madrid he won everything," he said.

"He was a big part at Real Madrid and they didn't want him to go but he had the feeling 'I have to go to another club, another league to prove myself and that shows his hunger. I really like that.

"From the first day he has come with that attitude in every training, every match and I really like it. He will be more and more important to our team."

Casemiro is set to be a key figure for Brazil at the upcoming World Cup, though he is putting any thought of the tournament to one side for now.

"This game is too important to start thinking about the World Cup," Casemiro said when asked if he was concerned about sustaining an injury prior to travelling to Qatar with his national team.

"I think any player who thinks like that will pick up an injury at the end. I'm focussing on the game."

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says his side "have a plan" to secure the margin of victory they need against Real Sociedad to top their Europa League group.

While a spot in the knockout stages of the competition has already been secured, United need to win by a two-goal margin to finish as Group E winners – which comes with the added benefit of avoiding a two-legged play-off against one of the eight teams to drop out of the Champions League.

Instead, group winners will resume their involvement in the Europa League from the round of 16, which would prove a valuable boost not only due to ensuring United would be a step closer to the final, but also in light of the hectic fixture schedule caused by the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

Securing such a win is the clear target for Ten Hag and his side, who lost the reverse fixture in the opening match of the group stage.

"Obviously, it's important. We can win tomorrow night. We know what we have to do - win by a two-goal margin," he said in Wednesday's press conference.

"But if you want to win the trophy you have to win all the games, so we have to win every one.

"It's six weeks ago or so and it's a different team, not all the players then are fit. We're growing, developing, making good progress.

"We know it's difficult to win games here but we like the challenge. We know we have to win by two goals, we have a plan for that and we will do everything to get it done.

"I don't think you speak about how far you come. You can't win anything at this moment, it's game by game and we have to win every game."

While United have lost their last two matches against Spanish opponents, against Atletico Madrid in last season's Champions League and La Real earlier this campaign, they have won six of their last seven away games in the Europa League, scoring 19 goals at an average of 2.7 per game.

La Real, on the other hand, have won their last two Europa League home matches, as many wins as in their previous 10 such games in the competition (D4 L4). They last won three consecutive home fixtures in a single season in major European competitions in the 1998-99 UEFA Cup.

United will be depleted for Thursday's game, with Antony, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial all unavailable, though the trio could well be back soon.

"Jadon was ill, Martial is still in rehab. He did train this morning so we're going in the right direction," Ten Hag added.

Jude Bellingham has plenty of admirers following his outstanding performances this season for Borussia Dortmund.

Bellingham is contracted with Dortmund until 2025 and the eight-time German champions are eager to ward off interest in him.

The 19-year-old midfielder has scored nine goals in 19 appearances in all competitions this term.

TOP STORY – LIVERPOOL LOOK TO INJURED LEIPZIG MIDFIELDER FOR REINFORCEMENTS

Borussia Dortmund may demand a Premier League-record fee of £130million (€151m) for Jude Bellingham, claims The Sun.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Liverpool are all looking to secure the playmaker's services.

It had previously been expected that the Premier League clubs would bid around £87m (€100m) for Bellingham.

Manchester City's £100m-plus signing of Jack Grealish remains the most a Premier League club has forked out for a transfer fee.

ROUND-UP

– Fichajes claim Chelsea are in pole position in the race to sign Juventus' midfielder Adrien Rabiot. The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of this season and was linked with Manchester United in the last window.

– David de Gea is willing to accept reduced terms to extend his stay with Manchester United, according to The Athletic. The Spanish goalkeeper's current contract expires at the end of this season.

– Uruguay international winger Facundo Pellistri is set to leave Manchester United in January, claims Nicolo Schira, with some interest from Spanish and Italian clubs.

– Tottenham are weighing up a January move for Atalanta forward Ruslan Malinovskyi, reports Il Giorno.

– CBS Sports claims Everton and Newcastle United are keeping tabs on Chelsea's 21-year-old striker Armando Broja.

Liverpool's search for midfield reinforcements has reportedly led them to RB Leipzig's Konrad Laimer – and a move could come as soon as January.

Laimer, 25, enjoyed a career-best season in his last Bundesliga campaign, netting four goals and contributing four assists despite starting in just 15 of the 26 league games in which he featured.

This season, the man with 24 senior international appearances for Austria has started every Bundesliga and Champions League game he has been available for, although a high-ankle sprain has kept him out for six weeks now, and he may not return until January.

TOP STORY – LIVERPOOL LOOK TO INJURED LEIPZIG MIDFIELDER FOR REINFORCEMENTS

According to Sky Sport Germany, Liverpool are considering going for Laimer in January, six months before the end of his contract with Leipzig.

Laimer is hoping to return from his injury in January, and there could also be interest from Bayern Munich, who sized him up in the last transfer window.

Regardless of what happens with Laimer and the January window, Sky Germany reports Liverpool are planning "significant investment" into their squad at the end of the season.

ROUND-UP

– Football Insider is claiming 32-year-old Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan will leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.

– Manchester United are looking at Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong, 21, and Norwich's Max Aarons, 22, to compete with Diogo Dalot for their starting right-back role, per The Sun.

– According to The Sun, Arsenal sent scouts to Brazil to watch 21-year-old Palmeiras midfielder Danilo, whom they are interested in making a move for in January.

– GiveMeSport is reporting Manchester United still have interest in PSV's Cody Gakpo, with recent reports claiming the Dutch club's financial position could prompt them to accept a bid in the range of £30million.

– Bayer Leverkusen have made Inter left-back Robin Gosens their primary target, with the 28-year-old also attracting interest from Eintracht Frankfurt and Wolfsburg, according to Sky Sport Germany's Florian Plettenberg.

Marcus Rashford insists winning a place in England's squad for the World Cup is not in his thoughts as he looks to maintain his strong form for Manchester United.

Rashford powered home a header to lift United to a 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham on Sunday, his 100th goal for the Red Devils in all competitions.

The forward needed 25 Premier League appearances to score four goals last season, a tally he has already matched after 12 games of the current campaign. 

Rashford's poor performances last season saw him lose his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad, but the 25-year-old is not obsessing over his fight to make the trip to Qatar.

"I'm not thinking about the World Cup at the minute," Rashford said. "I'm concentrating on the next game, we have to try and keep winning games here, we've got two more league games before the World Cup. 

"If we win those two games, we'll stay in touch with the top four, so that's what I'm focused on."

United have won seven of their last 10 league games after starting the season with back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford, and Rashford puts that improvement down to the approach of Erik ten Hag.

"I just think the energy is different, that's the biggest thing, the energy is more positive within the whole team and at the training ground, for me that is the biggest thing," he added.

"I just want it to keep going really and keep enjoying it. If we're winning games, I'm sure that will happen.

"It's stuff that he mentioned as soon as he came in, we've been working on that, not meaningfully, but we've been improving and the best way to do it is on the pitch and in games."

Rashford's goal against West Ham was just his seventh in club football with his head, and the forward has been working with Ten Hag to improve his aerial prowess.

"Getting into the areas is one thing, but the technique and the desire and wanting to get your head on the end of it, that's what I've been working on. It's nice to get a couple of goals out of that," he added.

"He just wants me to be in the right areas, scoring goals, pressing high up the pitch, little things I'm trying to keep chipping away at, keep working. 

"Even if you're not having the best of days, let's try and stick to those principles [and] use that as a base, those fundamentals, to round off your performance."

Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes has only played 27 games for the club since arriving from Lyon, and he has been so impressive that he is now a target of Barcelona.

Guimaraes, 24, spent three seasons with Lyon before Newcastle secured his services in a £40million move in January.

He scored five goals in just 11 starts this past Premier League campaign, and has added two goals and two assists this season, with Newcastle unbeaten in the 10 games he has started.

The Brazil international with eight senior caps to his name is a key part of why Newcastle currently occupy fourth place in the Premier League table, but they will now reportedly have to fend off interest from Barca.

TOP STORY – BARCELONA INVESTIGATE A MOVE FOR GUIMARAES

According to The Sun, Barcelona have officially moved on from their chase of Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and are instead focusing their attention on Newcastle's Guimaraes.

The report claims Barcelona were "priced out" of a move for Silva after City slapped a price tag of £80m on him and Guimaraes would certainly not come cheap.

With his contract tying him to Newcastle until 2026, it would need a huge offer to land the 24-year-old. 

While their spending spree will eventually need to be balanced out with some sales, the Magpies are said to be offering Guimaraes a new contract that will pay him £200,000 per week to put any questions about his future to bed.

ROUND-UP

– Calciomercato is reporting both Roma and Juventus are expected to pursue 23-year-old Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi, who is valued in the region of €30m.

– According to The Mirror, Sporting will attempt to bring in Cristiano Ronaldo in January, and are preparing a second contract offer despite previously stating they can not afford the Portugal legend.

– Relevo claims N'Golo Kante is seen by Barcelona as a potential successor to Sergio Busquets, with the Chelsea midfielder's contract set to expire at the end of the season.

– It could be a busy January for Barcelona as Sport are reporting they hope to sell Memphis Depay, while Fichajes believe Franck Kessie will push for a move back to the Serie A.

– According to IG Esporte, Brighton and Everton are interested in 25-year-old Monaco left-back Caio Henrique.

Marcus Rashford could yet become one of the world's best players after scoring his 100th goal for Manchester United, according to his Red Devils team-mate David de Gea.

Rashford became the 22nd player to score 100 goals for United – and the first since Wayne Rooney in 2009 – as Erik ten Hag's men beat West Ham 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

After powering home a header from Christian Eriksen's cross, the England international has now scored four Premier League goals against the Hammers, including two in 2022.

Only against Leicester City (six) and Liverpool (five) has Rashford been more prolific in the competition.

Having struggled for game-time last season, Rashford has looked a player reborn since Ten Hag took charge, leading De Gea to suggest he still has huge potential.

"He's still very young. I think he has been here his whole life as a kid and as a first-team player with experience already, and he's still very young," De Gea told MUTV.

"He's doing great. I think he can be one of the best players in the world if he keeps focused and training hard and performing well. 

"I think he's a very, very good player and we are happy that he's with us and playing the way he's playing."

The result saw United overtake Chelsea to go fifth in the Premier League table, and they have now kept five clean sheets in their last six games in all competitions – only conceding via a Jorginho penalty during that run.

Sunday also represented the first time this season that United ended a day with a positive goal difference (+1) in the Premier League, but De Gea believes the entire team deserve credit for their defensive improvements.

"I think the whole team [are contributing], not just the defenders," he said. "I think we are pressing well, we are recovering the ball high in the opponents half so that's massive for us. I think we defended really well.

"Of course, we conceded some chances at the end, but we're playing against West Ham, a great team who have good players. I'm really, really happy, to be honest."

Erik ten Hag does not yet believe Manchester United can threaten Manchester City, even if Pep Guardiola warned of the Red Devils "coming back".

Speaking ahead of the weekend's Premier League action, Guardiola highlighted United and Newcastle United as challengers to City.

"I have the feeling United are coming back," Guardiola said. "Finally United is coming back. I've seen it against Chelsea, the first half. I like what I see of United right now."

United beat West Ham 1-0 on Sunday to climb to fifth, a point behind fourth-placed Newcastle but still six shy of City and eight off leaders Arsenal.

While United manager Ten Hag is pleased with his side's progress, he could not agree with Guardiola's assessment after that match.

"I think it's a little bit too quick to see," Ten Hag told Sky Sports. "Second half, I have to be critical.

"I also said to the players we have to think better, but the spirit we have is fabulous, and I also think we have the qualities to score goals.

"We have attacking football, we have to improve that, but if we keep going, I think we are in the right direction.

"To be a threat to them [City]? We have a long way to go."

Marcus Rashford has revealed "other things off the pitch" were the cause of his difficult 2021-22 season, with the Manchester United forward now "in a better headspace" and "really motivated".

Rashford scored only five goals in 32 appearances for United last season, prompting doubts around his Old Trafford future as he lost his England place.

But he has rediscovered something approaching his best form under new manager Erik ten Hag.

Rashford, who turns 25 on Monday, has seven goals in 15 matches and brought up 100 in United colours with his headed winner in a 1-0 victory against West Ham on Sunday.

Afterwards, he told Sky Sports of the reason for his rejuvenation, explaining: "To be honest, it's a complete different energy around the whole club and the training ground.

"That, for a start, puts me in a better headspace.

"And I just feel really motivated now; I think I've struggled with that at times, more mental things, not really my own performance. It was other things off the pitch. That's the biggest difference."

He added: "We have to be in the right headspace for every game. Too often last season, I wasn't in the right headspace."

Rashford became the 22nd player to score 100 goals for United, with his milestone strike following hot on the heels of his 99th against Sheriff on Thursday after a five-game drought.

"It's probably been on my mind for the last couple of games, but we've been winning games," he said, "so I've been happy and just waiting for it to come. Thankfully, today it came."

Marcus Rashford's 100th Manchester United goal gave the Red Devils a hard-fought 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham on Sunday.

United handed Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire rare league starts, but Rashford snatched the headlines in bringing up his milestone with a fine 38th-minute header.

West Ham looked uninspired for long periods before finding David De Gea in strong form when they exerted some pressure late on, with the United goalkeeper making three crucial saves.

The victory lifts Erik ten Hag's team above Chelsea into fifth in the Premier League table, one point below fourth-placed Newcastle United with a game in hand.

Ronaldo sent a long-range effort into Lukasz Fabianski's arms as United dominated the early exchanges, before Rashford cut inside to send a deflected shot onto the roof of the net.

West Ham weathered that early storm and then escaped when Anthony Elanga badly miscued a volley from just six yards out after 36 minutes.

United led from their very next attack, however, with Rashford planting a brilliant header beyond Fabianski after meeting Christian Eriksen's hanging cross.

Ronaldo should have done better with a left-footed effort following Rashford's reverse pass as United continued to press after half-time, before David de Gea tipped Michail Antonio's fierce strike over the crossbar.

De Gea then made a brilliant reflex save from Kurt Zouma's header and denied Declan Rice from range after Maguire blocked from Jarrod Bowen, before which substitute Fred had nodded against the right-hand post at the other end – a near miss that did not prove costly.

Marcus Rashford reached 100 goals for Manchester United by converting a fine header in Sunday's Premier League meeting with West Ham.

Rashford met Christian Eriksen's delicate right-wing delivery with a powerful header at the back post after 38 minutes at Old Trafford, putting Erik ten Hag's side 1-0 up.

The forward's goal – just the seventh he has scored with his head for United – made him the 22nd player to bring up a century of goals for the club.

He is the first United player to reach the landmark since Wayne Rooney in 2009. He went on to become United's all-time leading goalscorer.

Rashford has scored 82 of his 100 club goals with his right foot, while 88 have come from inside the penalty area and just 13 have not come from open play (four free-kicks, nine penalties).

The England international, who turns 25 on Monday, achieved the feat against one of his favoured opponents – he has now hit the net four times against West Ham in the Premier League.

However, prior to Sunday, all three of his goals against the Hammers in the competition had come as a substitute – only five players have scored more from the bench against a single opponent – Julian Joachim v Derby Count (five), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer v Nottingham Forest, Javier Hernandez v Chelsea, Olivier Giroud v Southampton and Robbie Keane v Man City (all four).

Raphael Varane indicated he is on course to be fit for France's World Cup campaign as the Manchester United defender recovers from a leg injury.

Centre-back Varane is not expected to play any club football until the Qatar 2022 tournament gets under way, having been substituted in pain during United's October 22 draw at Chelsea.

He jarred his leg badly just before the hour mark at Stamford Bridge, casting doubt on whether he would be able to play any part in the finals for France boss Didier Deschamps, as Les Bleus defend their title.

News on the 29-year-old's recovery is positive though, with the 87-cap international posting pictures and a video on Sunday of him training at the France team's Clairefontaine headquarters.

He wrote in English: "Thank you everyone for the kind messages this week. I have been working! Feeling good."

His French language message said he had "been working hard and I feel a lot better", which is an update that will be welcomed by Deschamps.

The directive from Deschamps is that only fully fit players will go with France to Qatar, with a major question mark also hanging over Paul Pogba's readiness, given he has been sidelined for Juventus since July with a knee injury.

Deschamps said in a recent interview with French website Brut: "Leaving for a big competition with players who are not ready, already it occupies too much attention, and for those who have to play, it also monopolises the medical staff. I consider that we must leave with valid and capable players."

France start their World Cup campaign against Australia on November 22.

In his message on Sunday, Varane also wished United well for their Premier League game against West Ham, saying: "Good luck today boys."

Cristiano Ronaldo was given a start for Manchester United's meeting with West Ham, his first in the Premier League since being temporarily exiled from first-team activities.

Ronaldo was dropped for last week's dramatic 1-1 draw with Chelsea after refusing to come on as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Tottenham, and he was subsequently left out of first-team training.

However, Erik ten Hag recalled Ronaldo for Thursday's 3-0 Europa League win over Sheriff – a decision the 37-year-old validated by scoring his third goal of the season in all competitions – and the Dutchman kept faith with the striker.

Club captain Harry Maguire also earned a rare league start – his first since August – after Raphael Varane suffered a leg injury at Chelsea.

Fellow defender Victor Lindelof missed out through illness against David Moyes' team, as did Brazilian winger Antony.

Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Anthony Elanga were brought into the starting line-up by Ten Hag, having all been benched last time out.