The Dutch football association is targeting Louis van Gaal for a senior role.

Van Gaal parted ways with Netherlands as their head coach in 2014 after the World Cup to replace David Moyes as manager of Manchester United.

Van Gaal's current contract with United expires in 2017 but he's widely expected to be fired in favor of Jose Mourinho.

Netherlands have suffered a downturn in form since their showing at the 2014 World Cup, with the team missing out on qualification for Euro 2016.

Danny Blind is currently manager of the Netherlands and he's said he would welcome working with Van Gaal again.

Five key members of the United States women’s national soccer team have filed a federal complaint charging U.S. Soccer with wage discrimination.

In the filing, the five players contend that the women’s team is the driving economic force for U.S. Soccer, the governing body for the sport in America, even as its players are paid far less than their counterparts on the men’s national team, said their lawyer, Jeffrey Kessler.

Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Hope Solo, Alex Morgan and Becky Sauerbrunn have filed the complaint.

The players requested an investigation of U.S. Soccer. But in taking official action, they also thrust their team into a debate roiling in several sports, notably professional tennis, about equal pay for men and women.

“We have been quite patient over the years with the belief that the federation would do the right thing and compensate us fairly,” Lloyd, the most valuable player of last year’s Women’s World Cup, said in a statement released by the players and Kessler.

Chelsea are attempting to recall Andreas Christensen from his loan deal at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Christensen, signed from Brondby as a 15-year-old in 2012, joined Gladbach on a two-year loan deal last summer without break clauses after signing a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge and has started 24 games there.

Christensen is still just 19 and scouts from Bayern Munich and clubs in Spain have been interested in the center-half.

Cutting short the loan would need agreement from all three parties but, whereas Gladbach might have considered an offer, Christensen is understood to be more inclined to remain in Germany in the knowledge he will benefit from regular football for a further season. 

Wolfsburg are seeking to end Nicklas Bendtner’s time at the club by terminating his contract 15 months early.

Bendtner joined on a free transfer from Arsenal in 2014 but has failed to make an impact and has had several disciplinary issues this season, including being fined for oversleeping and being late for training.

Bendtner has been training on his own for the past two weeks and the club’s sporting director, Klaus Allofs, said on Thursday that they are hoping to let the striker go as soon as possible.

“We have attempted to hold talks with his advisers and have discussed a solution. I think that there will be a decision soon,” Allofs told the German newspaper Bild. “We have decided that he does not have to come in for now. The fact that he has been training on his own recently was not something we wanted to carry on.”

Andres Iniesta wants Barcelona to win Saturday's El Clasico to honor Johan Cruyff.

Cruyff, who was both a player and manager for Barcelona, died from cancer last week at the age of 68.

Fans present at Camp Nou will hold up a mosaic of 90,000 cards bearing the message 'Gracies Johan' [thanks Johan].

"The best tribute to Cruyff would be to win the Clasico," Iniesta said. "The best tribute is, in reality, what he left us all. But it would be special to win and I hope we do."

Jurgen Klinsmann used an attack-oriented 4-3-3 in the United States' 4-0 win over Guatemala.

Klinsmann inserted Kyle Beckerman into the lineup as a defensive midfielder and Steve Birnbaum as a center back. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan, midfielder Graham Zusi and forward Gyasi Zardes represented the other changes to the lineup. Aside from the five new faces, Klinsmann also shifted Geoff Cameron to central defense and DeAndre Yedlin to right back.

The criticism of Klinsmann has grown each year.

“I’m cool with that,” said Klinsmann, who emphasized his emotional balance. “I let people say whatever they would like to say. It’s all good with me.”

Valencia has terminated the contract of Gary Neville.

Pako Ayestaran will replace Neville as manager for the remainder of the season.

Ayestaran was assistant coach of Valencia between 2001 and 2004 and helped the club to two league titles and the UEFA Cup.

Watford plan on pursuing Joe Allen and Jordon Ibe of Liverpool this summer.

Allen will enter the final 12 months of his contract with Liverpool. Allen has started only 10 of Jurgen Klopp's first 38 matches.

Ibe has also endured a difficult season at Liverpool and the England under-21 manager, Gareth Southgate, claimed that the winger had suffered a loss of confidence following his dismissal against Switzerland on Sunday.

Ibe has had a small role under Klopp.

Remi Garde has left Aston Villa by mutual consent after just five months as manager.

Garde was hired to help Villa avoid relegation but he won just two of his 20 Premier League matches in charge of the club.

Eric Black will take temporary charge of the team, with the club releasing the following statement on Tuesday night: “Rémi Garde has today left Aston Villa by mutual consent. The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Rémi for all his efforts during a difficult period and wish him well in the future.”

It added: “Eric Black will take over as acting manager until the club appoints a new manager. There will be no further comment from the club at this stage.”

Garde replaced Tim Sherwood at the start of November.

Villa are bottom of the Premier League and stand close to no chance of avoiding relegation to the Championship. 

Atletico Madrid was linked to a move for Carlos Tevez but he instead decided to return to Argentina with Boca Juniors.

Tevez moved back to Boca after two years with Juventus for a fee of €6.5 million. He signed for Juve from Manchester City in 2013 and scored 20 Serie A goals in 2014-15.

"[Diego Simeone] called me and I was excited about the idea," Tevez told Marca. "Playing in Spain is something that is pending in my career, but I could not say no to Boca. Last year the only offer I had in Spain was from Atletico, but before that [Real] Madrid expressed interest in me."