Tag Futebol

A week ago the shock news that Mauricio Pochettino would be leaving Chelsea was announced.

There had been uncertainty surrounding the Argentine's future at Stamford Bridge but it was a rather successful end to the campaign for the Blues.

Pochettino had steered the west London club to five straight wins to close out the season but that was not enough to keep him in the job.

The two parties parted ways mutually and we are now reportedly edging closer to finding a successor.

The latest on Chelsea's manager hunt

The Athletic's David Ornstein reported late on Sunday evening that Chelsea's managerial search had now been narrowed down to two names.

The highly-coveted signature of Kieran McKenna is no longer in the frame, with the hunt being narrowed down to Leicester's Enzo Maresca – who was Pep Guardiola's number two at Manchester City – and Brentford's Thomas Frank.

Maresca now seems to be closing in on a move, with the Blues advancing in talks to hire the Foxes tactician, as per Fabrizio Romano.

However, there has been another name in the conversation. According to a journalist for TEAMtalk, that is Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.

The claim states: 'There was uncertainty over his ideals and if they would suit Chelsea. However, I'm assured he was in the conversation and would be open to a chat with Chelsea'.

Amorim's name has been the centre of attention on English shores this summer. He was initially the frontrunner for the West Ham and Liverpool jobs before he ruled himself out of contention for the former following a meeting in London. The Reds then opted for Arne Slot to replace Jurgen Klopp.

Why Amorim would be better than Maresca and Frank

Uncertainties surrounding Amorim's ideals and philosophies are perhaps understandable. After all, his style of football would make for a rather radical change.

Chelsea have played with a three-man defence in the past but that is the formation the young Portuguese coach has operated with in Lisbon. Pochettino tended to focus on a four-man backline.

The Blues could adapt to that but with a focus on playing down the flanks, rather than the middle, it might not suit some of their elite technicians such as Enzo Fernandez, Connor Gallagher and Cole Palmer. Indeed, Amorim prefers his wingers to hug the touchline, something that Palmer certainly doesn't do, drifting inside to score or create from central areas.

That being said, his credentials are far more attractive than both Maresca and Frank.

The former has learnt a lot of his coaching philosophies from the great Guardiola, something that helped him achieve promotion with Leicester, but he has just one full season of senior first-team managerial experience under his belt.

That, of course, didn't matter for someone like Mikel Arteta but Chelsea could do with some stability and someone that knows what they're doing. Frank is also an interesting proposition but like Maresca, his only notable triumph to date has come via earning promotion from the Championship.

Frank has done well to stabilise Brentford as an established Premier League side but he hasn't really been able to take them to the next level, finishing safely above the drop zone but down in 16th.

Win %

69%

62%

40%

Goals per game

2.1

2.2

1.6

Points per game

2.26

2.01

1.57

Trophies won

6

1

1

Avg possession in 23/24

59.1%

62.2%

44.9%

Age

39

44

50

Amorim, on the other hand, has earned plenty of plaudits for his "incredible" work – as it was noted by reporter Zach Lowy – on the continent.

The 39-year-old is one of the best young coaches in Europe and after guiding Sporting to title glory this season has now won Portugal's top-flight on two occasions. Add in three League Cup triumphs too and this is clearly a boss who knows how to win trophies.

Further boasting more points per game and having also managed in Europe's premier competitions, this should be an attractive option for Chelsea in the face of some surprising candidates to replace Pochettino.

Interview has happened: Chelsea could hire a "genius" who Colwill will love

The Chelsea manager target has already worked with Colwill previously.

ByTom Lever May 23, 2024

Is that trepidation that lines the airs surrounding Anfield, or is it, perhaps the subtle scent of optimism that Jurgen Klopp's departure will not send Liverpool into a spin?

History would suggest that the Premier League side's supporters have just cause for worry, with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United falling by the wayside after losing legendary helmsmen Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson.

But FSG have acted prudently to veer away from the chance of regression, appointing Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes in senior capacities to head the new infrastructure. Arne Slot will succeed Klopp in the Anfield dugout but he will, importantly, be Liverpool's head coach, not their manager.

History would also suggest that this could be a providential endeavour, with the club's transfer strategy knocked off course somewhat since Edwards departed in 2022.

Liverpool fans can expect an exciting summer ahead, especially with one of Europe's most coveted talents being linked with a move to Merseyside.

Liverpool sent scouts to watch coveted talent

According to a recent report from transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are prepared to lock horns with Manchester City for the signing of Bayer Leverkusen talisman Florian Wirtz, who was central to Xabi Alonso's invincible Bundesliga season.

Pep Guardiola's side will begin to seek a successor to Kevin De Bruyne, 33 in one month, and after West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta's match-fixing charge by the FA, they might shift their attention to a player like Wirtz.

But Liverpool are also firmly in the race and sent scouts to watch Leverkusen's 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

The German international might be considered untouchable by the Bundesliga champions but reports have suggested that a bid of £111m could do the trick, which, admittedly, is a hefty sum.

Florian Wirtz's season in numbers

Talent scout Jacek Kulig recently hailed Wirtz's remarkable array of abilities and how they have supercharged Leverkusen's staggering campaign. He said: "The perfect mix of a goalscorer, dribbler, and creator. Incredible player."

Bundesliga

32

11

12

Europa League

11

4

4

DFB-Pokal

5

3

4

Indeed, the talented forward has proven himself effective across every competition for Leverkusen this season, never waning. His team might have failed at the final hurdle on the continent but face second-tier Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal final to complete an emphatic unbeaten domestic double.

In the top flight, as per Sofascore, Wirtz complemented his brilliant direct return by creating 12 big chances and completing 85% of his total passes across 26 starting appearances, averaging 2.3 key passes, 4.5 ball recoveries, 2.5 dribbles and 4.4 successful duels per game.

Fleet of foot, sharp of mind and endowed with an innate creative spirit, Wirtz has induced fear into opponents near and far, with Freiburg boss Christian Streich even claiming that "you can't defend against Florian Wirtz" – and fair enough, the 21-year-old posted two goals and an assist in two games against his team this season.

Deservedly crowned the Bundesliga's Player of the Season, beating even the masterful attacking quality of Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, Wirtz has walked the walk in his homeland, and while Alonso's decision to remain at the BayArena despite interest from Liverpool and Bayern could convince Wirtz to remain at the centrepiece of the project, the Premier League would offer him the perfect chance to take his game to the next level.

It would be a gargantuan deal for Liverpool to pull off, and despite the strenuous effort likely involved, it would be well worth it for Slot and his budding system.

Why Florian Wirtz would be perfect for Slot

Slot's progressive style of play does not differ too greatly from the heavy-metal way of life under Klopp, though the recently departed Feyenoord manager does like more control, more meticulous build-up, from his teams.

Wirtz, in this sense, would be a brilliant addition, ranking among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for pass completion and progressive carries and the top 17% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

The £74k-per-week phenom is an incredible technician and still only at the beginning of his career, with his prolific quality in a No. 10 role making him the perfect player to surpass the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Fabio Carvalho in the current Liverpool squad and rise to the apex of the European game, especially as Slot typically fields a 4-2-3-1 formation when pushing forward.

Liverpool's former 2005 Champions League final hero Vladimir Smicer certainly thinks that it would be a wise investment, speaking from the hearts of the Anfield support when suggesting that Wirtz boasts the skill set that Reds supporters lap up.

The retired midfielder said: "If I could urge Liverpool to sign anyone this summer it would be Florian Wirtz, who is a player that reminds me of Phillipe Coutinho.

"Liverpool fans love that type of player, Bobby Firmino was another player who was very popular, so I’d go with Wirtz."

Wirtz's flair could definitely evoke memories of a player like Coutinho, who was the linchpin of Liverpool's attack in the early days of Klopp's reign but was sold to Barcelona for £142m in January 2018 to fuel the acquisitions of stars like Alisson and Virgil van Dijk – proving to be a bullseye move from Edwards and co.

Matched played

14

Goals

7

Assists

6

Pass accuracy

79%

Key passes per game

2.9

Dribbles per game

2.8

Tackles per game

1.2

Duels won per game

5.6

Coutinho's playmaking prowess was at its ultimate level during his final stretch on Merseyside and Wirtz could now take his place and rekindle a position at Liverpool that brought such joy to the supporters.

It would be a high-cost venture but Liverpool need to be emphatic in the market this summer if they wish to leapfrog Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League and stand a good chance of winning the Champions League.

Wirtz is a star in the making, with everything he needs to enter the English scene and craft a career of lasting brilliance.

Liverpool now eyeing summer move to hijack "monstrous" Leverkusen target

The Reds have joined the race.

ByTom Cunningham May 24, 2024

Glasgow Rangers are still in the hunt to bring home an unlikely treble to Ibrox with just five games of the season to go.

Philippe Clement’s men held off St Mirren last weekend, yet it took a late goal from Cyriel Dessers to seal all three points.

A clash against Kilmarnock awaits the Light Blues on Sunday. Given how poorly they performed against the Buddies last week, a vast improvement will be required if they wish to head into the showdown with Celtic still in with a chance of winning the Premiership.

What’s clear, however, is that the current squad needs a major overhaul if Clement wishes to be challenging for honours next season, especially with how the previous few weeks have gone.

His summer budget remains unclear, as he may need to sell a few first-team players before he can make any signings, indicating he will have to rely on free transfers and loan deals primarily.

Despite the window not opening for a few weeks yet, it appears Clement is already aiming to start his business early.

Rangers transfer news

According to the Athletic, Rangers have reportedly held talks with the agent of West Ham United defender Ben Johnson in the hope that they can lure him to Scotland when his current contract expires at the end of the season.

The right-back has turned down a few contract offers previously, including an enhanced six-and-a-half-year extension in February 2022, while most recently, turning down a four-year deal, as both parties failed to reach an agreement in the end.

The Gers are not the only club interested, as Leeds United and Crystal Palace are also keen on making a swoop for the Englishman in a bid to strengthen their squads.

Johnson has plenty of experience in the Premier League, which could be beneficial to Clement, plus he won't cost a penny, allowing the Belgian coach to prioritise funds for other areas of the team.

Last summer, the Light Blues signed a few players from England on free transfers who turned out to be excellent additions. Jack Butland has been sensational and has been nominated for the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year award.

It has been the emergence of Dujon Sterling as a key member of the first team squad which has perhaps been the most surprising aspect of the campaign. Should Rangers sign Johnson, he could certainly be Clement’s next Sterling, judging by his positional versatility.

Dujon Sterling's season in numbers

Upon his arrival last summer, Sterling was cast as a player who could be a useful squad option, someone who could come into the side when others need a rest and perform in a few positions.

Indeed, the former Chelsea starlet only featured in seven games before Beale was given his marching orders following a 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen in September, staring twice.

Under Clement, however, Sterling has shown his flexibility across the pitch, stepping in to play positions that he may not be entirely comfortable in, yet getting on with the task at hand.

Accurate passes per game

17.3

Key passes per game

0.7

Big chances created

0

Total duels won per game

3.3

Possession lost per game

8.1

Via Sofascore

Across the 2023/24 campaign thus far, the 24-year-old has played in six different positions, including as a right-winger and even at left-back.

Despite starting just nine league games, Sterling has won 51% of his ground duels, averages 0.7 key passes per game while losing possession only 8.1 times per match, indicating how solid an option he has for Clement to call upon.

The defender even received the man of the match award in the League Cup final win against Aberdeen, despite playing the whole game as a central midfielder – a position he had played just a handful of times before.

By signing Johnson, Rangers could have Sterling 2.0.

What Ben Johnson could bring to Rangers

The current season has not been a good one for Johnson. Across all competitions, he has played 25 times for the club, yet only seven of those have been in the starting XI, failing to displace Vladimir Coufal from the right-back slot.

In truth, he hasn’t had the chance to really showcase his true talents, which came to the fore in previous campaigns.

The defender made his debut during the 2018/19 term. Two seasons later, he became a regular in the first team, making 51 Premier League appearances across three years.

Last season, Johnson ranked in the top ten across the whole West Ham squad for accurate passes per game (19.6), successful dribbles per game (0.5), tackles per game (1.2) and clearances per game (1.4), showing how reliable he was, despite playing only 17 Premier League games.

The 24-year-old can also play in numerous positions, including left-back, centre-back, and even in the heart of the midfield if urgently required, which could be a major bonus for Clement.

When compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, the £20k-per-week gem even ranks in the top 13% for aerials won per 90 (1.52) and in the top 11% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.41), showing that not only is he a force to be reckoned with aerially, but Johnson is impressive when bombing down the flanks in order to support the attack.

Former West Ham player Trevor Sinclair has praised him previously, lauding Johnson as “superb” back in 2021 as he was beginning to make a name for himself in the first team.

While the current season may not have been the most productive, hence why he is leaving this summer, there is no doubt about his ability.

Rangers could repeat their Cantwell masterclass by sealing £0 transfer

Rangers have their eyes on a current Championship player who has shone this season

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 29, 2024

With Rangers set to lose a number of first team players this summer, there will be plenty of spots open for new arrivals to join.

Sterling has shone in his first year at Ibrox, demonstrating how effective he can be if given a chance in the starting XI.

Johnson could certainly have a similar sort of impact if Clement manages to bring him to Glasgow during the summer, especially as he won't cost a single penny.

حقق الفريق الأول لكرة اليد بنادي الزمالك انتصارًا ساحقًا على كريكوس الإثيوبي في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم الخميس ضمن منافسات الجولة الأولى لبطولة إفريقيا للأندية.

وتقام بطولة إفريقيا للأندية لكرة اليد، في مدينة العيون المغربية من 10 إلى 19 أكتوبر.

طالع..الزمالك يسقط أمام بتروجيت بثنائية استعدادًا لـ كأس السوبر المصري

انتهى الشوط الأول بتقدم الزمالك بنتيجة 28-6 واستمر تألق الفريق في الشوط الثاني، ليحقق الكوماندوز الفوز بنتيجة 50-16 بفارق 34 نقطة.

يشارك الزمالك في البطولة بقائمة تضم كلًا من: “أحمد الأحمر، كريم هنداوي، محمود خليل (فلفل)، يوسف ناجي، أكرم يسري، بلال أحمد، أحمد حسام، عمر الفولي، زياد حشاد، عمر الوكيل (بكار)، أحمد سامح، مازن رضا، شادي خليل، محمد طارق، يوسف عزو، عمر بيبو، ويوسف بن معرف”.

ويُعتبر الزمالك الأكثر تتويجًا بالبطولة الإفريقية، حيث حصل على اللقب 12 مرة سابقة.

يذكر أن الزمالك، احتل المركز السادس في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد، التي أقيمت في العاصمة الإدارية منذ أيام.

The series was to be played in June as part of the World Test Championship cycle

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Apr-2020The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Cricket Australia (CA) have mutually agreed to postpone the two-Test series that was scheduled for June, due to the persisting Covid-19 threat. The boards took the decision with the welfare of their players and communities in mind, and will work together to find a suitable date to play the series once the situation becomes clearer.The series was to be played between June 11 and June 23 in Chattogram and Dhaka, and is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. It becomes the third WTC series to affected after the Sri Lanka-England series scheduled for March, and the second Test of Bangladesh’s staggered tour of Pakistan, which was scheduled to begin on April 5.BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said, “This is understandably disappointing for players and fans of both sides. However, in the current global scenario of the Covid-19 outbreak and considering the nature of the health emergency, the BCB and CA are in agreement that this is the most sensible and practical decision. We hope that the situation will improve soon and we are able to hold this series at a convenient time in the near future. To that end, the BCB will continue to work closely with CA with whom we share a history of support and cooperation.”The series is among two WTC series that are scheduled for June, with England scheduled to host West Indies around the same time. It was also to be Australia’s first visit to Bangladesh since their 1-1 series draw in 2017 – and, in fact, their first meeting in a bilateral setting since that one. Australia had, in 2018, called off hosting Bangladesh for two Tests and three ODIs because broadcasters were understood to have been uninterested in televising the series in the middle of the football season.”Postponing the tour is regrettable,” CA chief Kevin Roberts said through a statement, “but I would like to thank the Bangladesh Cricket Board for the open, honest and responsible discussions that led us to this mutually-agreed position. The health of our people and communities is the number one priority for both Boards and that is reflected in the action we have taken in postponing the two Test matches. As we know, the global cricket calendar is very busy but we will do everything we can to honour our commitment to Bangladesh and will continue to work with the BCB on an agreed date.”Australia are currently second in the WTC table with 296 points, having won two of their three series, while Bangladesh sit at the bottom, in ninth place with no points after one completed series.

Simply put, Manchester United are on fire at the moment.

Erik ten Hag's team is one of three in the Premier League to have not tasted defeat in the new year, and they've won all of their last four league games.

The latest of those was against Luton Town on Sunday, where they narrowly won 2-1, despite having the opportunity to hit at least five.

However, there was one player who cut out a frustrated figure while sitting on the bench at the weekend, with his Red Devils career not exactly going to plan.

Amad Diallo's start to life in Manchester

Ivorian wonderkid Amad Diallo announced himself to the world as a 17-year-old for Atalanta in 2019, coming off the bench to score on his debut in a 7-1 win over Udinese.

In January 2021, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finally got his man, as United secured the signature of the young winger in a whopping £37m deal, despite only playing five games for Atalanta's first team.

He immediately joined the academy upon his arrival, where he proved to be levels above those both on his team and the opposition, scoring twice against Liverpool U21s and registering four goal contributions against Blackburn Rovers U21s.

Amad's first real taste of action at United came in the Europa League against AC Milan, when he replaced Anthony Martial at halftime to take on a false nine role. Just minutes after his introduction, he already had the ball in the back of the net after making a darting run in behind and finishing with an excellent instinctive header.

Unfortunately, this has been the pinnacle of his United career so far.

Amad Diallo's record in 2024

The 5 foot 8 gem's first loan spell away from the Red Devils was to Rangers, yet that move wasn't exactly successful, with Diallo starting just four league games and featuring on the bench in every game on their run to the Europa League final.

Luckily, his second loan spell was far more fruitful, as last season he was one of the most influential players in the Championship, where he was dubbed "unplayable" by journalist Graham Falk. His time at Sunderland ended with a record of 13 goals and three assists in 27 league starts.

The left-footed whizz has seen his development and momentum from last season come to a complete stop, with an injury in pre-season keeping him out of action until December, and since then, Ten Hag has prevented him from going out on loan for the rest of the season. The former Black Cats ace has played just 36 minutes all campaign.

To this day, Diallo is still regarded as one of the most exciting talents at the club, and if it weren't for Alejandro Garnacho arguably being one of their most dangerous players in the team and playing in the 21-year-old's position, he may have had more chances to work his magic on the field.

However, his lack of action in the United first team has caused his value to drop significantly, with the gem now estimated to be worth around £4m, according to CIES Football Observatory, which is £33m less than what Solskjaer and co paid for him in 2021.

Although United did massively overpay for Diallo, he is still an exciting prospect with bags of potential. All he needs is an opportunity to showcase what he's really about.

If not, it looks set to be another expensive mistake of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Nottingham Forest have certainly splashed the cash since promotion in 2022, with owner Evangelos Marinakis investing over £250m on new talents to ensure survival.

Big-money signings such as Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White have both been money well spent despite their large fees, with the club set for a huge profit on the pair.

However, the club have also wasted a lot of money in the market with Emmanuel Dennis the main example – signing for up to £20m from Watford just under two years ago, before re-joining the Hornets on loan in January after an unsuccessful stint in the East Midlands.

Despite being handed a four-point deduction for breaking PSR rules, the club have a squad more than capable of securing survival in the Premier League this season.

Nottingham Forest may have to sell a "sensational" star to ease PSR worries

The club still might be forced to sell another star after Brennan Johnson’s departure.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 20, 2024

One player in particular has impressed in recent weeks, with the youngster finally looking settled at the City Ground after his summer transfer.

Callum Hudson-Odoi's stats at Nottingham Forest

After arriving at the club from Chelsea during the summer of 2023, winger Callum Hudson-Odoi looked as though he would be a shrewd addition to the club given his previous successes in the Premier League.

He made an instant impact on his first appearance for the Reds, scoring a goal-of-the-season contender against Vincent Kompany's Burnley side to secure a vital point for his new team.

He suffered a dip in form after his debut, with the 23-year-old not scoring again until the 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth at the start of February – a run of just under six months without a goal.

His strike at the Vitality would be the start of his best run of form in a Reds shirt, with the winger also scoring in his next two outings against Newcastle United and West Ham United, making it three games in a row in which he'd found the net.

However, he's controversially been dropped by boss Nuno Espírito Santo in recent weeks, with the former Chelsea man having to sit on the bench with loanee Divock Origi featuring in an unnatural wide role ahead of the 23-year-old.

In the last two matches, Hudson-Odoi has only featured for a combined 33 minutes, with the winger undeserving of the treatment he's receiving given his form just a couple of weeks ago.

Callum Hudson-Odoi's market value in 2024

The "sensational" talent, as described by scout Antonio Mango, joined the Reds for a deal in the region of £3m in the summer, with the move allowing the winger to kickstart his career after a stop-start couple of years.

However, fast-forward just seven months on from his arrival, and the youngster has a market value of £12.8m as per Transfermarkt – an increase of 326% compared to the fee paid for the wideman.

His rise in market value has seen Hudson-Odoi leapfrog many Forest players, with the former Chelsea player now worth more than fellow youngster Andrew Omobamidele and World Cup winner Gonzalo Montiel, with the pair valued at £9.4m and £8.5m respectively.

Andrew Ombamidele

£9.4m

Gonzalo Montiel

£8.5m

Matt Turner

£7.6m

Chris Wood

£6m

Divock Origi

£4.2m

Despite Forest's poor dealings in the market in recent times, Hudson-Odoi's deal is proof that the club can operate to a high quality when not making erratic and unneeded signings.

With the club at risk of a potential further PSR breach next season, Marinakis and Co need to be savvy to stay within the confines, with the club needing to prioritise cheap additions that could make them a profit – therefore making Forest more sustainable in the process.

Manchester United have identified three potential Erik ten Hag replacements as the United boss looks increasingly unlikely to begin the 2024/25 Premier League season in the Old Trafford technical area, it has emerged.

Ten Hag on the ropes at United

Despite a considerable injury list, there is a feeling that this season simply hasn't been good enough for Manchester United.

Currently 11 points outside the top four, they finished bottom of their Champions League group and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the round of 16 stage by Newcastle United. Though they remain in with a chance of silverware, they face in-form Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals, while Manchester City, Chelsea or Newcastle United could all lurk beyond that.

With just one defeat fewer than relegation battlers Everton this season, Sunday's heavy 3-1 defeat to Manchester City demonstrated the vast gulf in class between the two sides, and extended the club's terrible run against the top half clubs since Ten Hag's arrival.

Ten Hag's awful record away to Top 9 sides (22/23-23/24)

Brentford (L)

4-0

Manchester City (L)

6-3

Aston Villa (L)

3-1

Arsenal (L)

3-2

Liverpool (L)

7-0

Newcastle (L)

2-0

Spurs (D)

2-2

Brighton (L)

1-0

Spurs (L)

2-0

Arsenal (L)

3-1

Newcastle (L)

1-0

Liverpool (D)

0-0

Aston Villa (W)

2-1

Man City (L)

3-1

The inability to go toe-to-toe with clubs around them is a major factor in the uncertainty around Ten Hag, along with some questionable transfers that he has signed off on. With the addition of Omar Berrada and impending addition of Dan Ashworth above the United boss, the latter may no longer be a problem. However, that has not stopped new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe from scouring possible replacements for Ten Hag.

Brentford boss among the options

Now, a report from ESPN suggests that Brentford boss Thomas Frank is among the options under consideration to take charge at Old Trafford should the Dutchman depart. The Bees head coach has endured his toughest season to date this time round thanks in part to injuries and suspensions, with his side currently just six points above the drop zone and having won just one of their last five games.

However, his broader record has rendered him a man for consideration, and it is added that the Red Devils are also assessing England boss Gareth Southgate, who is widely expected to step down from Three Lions duty in the aftermath of this summer's Euro 2024 championships, along with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.

Manchester United learn huge release fee needed for "excellent" manager

United have been warned that their first-choice managerial appointment won’t come cheap

ByBen Browning Mar 6, 2024

Though it is stressed that no decision on Ten Hag has been made, ESPN report that Ratcliffe and co are 'determined to avoid being unprepared in a summer when Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are already in the process of identifying and hiring a new manager'.

Any move for Frank would have the blessing of ex-Watford man Troy Deeney, who believed that the Brentford boss would have been perfect to take over at Tottenham before they eventually appointed Ange Postecoglou.

"Frank is an outstanding, ambitious and hungry manager", Deeney explained in May 2023. "I know some will say that his Brentford side play a lot of route one football but when they were promoted from the Championship under the Dane they were an excellent footballing side."

It remains to be seen whether or not Ten Hag is granted a stay of execution, but the speculation surrounding his post is only likely to increase between now and the end of the Premier League campaign.

Savage 80% salary cuts and stand-down orders for all but a handful of Cricket Australia staff until the end of the financial year were forced partly by demands from banks, for the governing body to drastically scale back its costs in order to be considered for an A$200 million [US$126.5 million approx.] line of credit.Last October, at its AGM, CA reported cash reserves of A$26 million [US$ 16.4 million approx.] plus an additional A$90 million [US$56.9 million approx.] committed in equity investments, numbers that have been hit severely by market downturns and have served to hurt the board’s financial position as it deals with the banks.CA is also closely monitoring the health of its major broadcast partners and, by extension, cash providers Fox Sports and Seven, with daily discussions between the organisations about how to progress. At this point, Fox and Seven have maintained their regular payment instalments to CA, as part of a six-year, A$1.18 billion [US$ 746.1 million approx.] broadcast rights deal signed in 2018.CA has been seeking A$200 million in credit from the banks for some weeks, with these latest measures devised partially to help convince financial institutions that the board and its management have done all they can to pare the business down to critical functions out of season.There has been considerable dismay among some CA staff as they digested news of the stand downs and salary cuts over the past 24 hours, after chief executive Kevin Roberts had previously indicated that the organisation would largely be able to absorb the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated financial downturn “into the business”.”We’ve been assured we’ve just got to make sure we come up with some really constructive feedback on how we can save some money going forward, but the expectation at the moment is that CA as a business can absorb this,” national women’s team coach Matthew Mott had said last month. “Obviously the longer it goes on, it’s going to put more pressure on everyone.”I haven’t got a crystal ball, I don’t know how long this is going to last, nor does anyone, but in the short to medium term we’ve been assured that we’ve got enough equity and agility within the business to be able to absorb it, and we just need to be smart and pretty clinical about how we prepare and get our players ready.”ALSO READ: ‘It would be a strange feeling’ – Alex Carey on possibility of closed-door T20 World CupSome staff have been mystified as to how CA only have enough cash plus reserves to pay 20% of wages until end of June when they weren’t spending in that time, still getting broadcast instalments and have saved cash on cancelled tours to New Zealand, South Africa, Bangladesh and a likely postponement of a tour of England.CA insists that staff have been kept in the loop about decisions and the potential need for stand downs even though the organisation was gifted the chance to tackle the virus at the very end of its home season, in contrast to Australia’s winter football codes and also the English and Indian boards facing delays to the northern summer and the IPL, respectively.Nevertheless, CA has a range of expenses that generally hinge on year-to-year revenue from the regular cricket programme, including annual distributions to state associations that in some cases are in wildly contrasting positions. The South Australian Cricket Association has been among the worst hit due to its Adelaide Oval lease agreement and reliance on football revenue, while other states such as New South Wales are believed to be better off.Roberts told staff via videoconference on Thursday that the vast majority of them would be stood down on 20% of pay until July, with executives and a skeletal staff retained on 80% of their regular salaries. Staff were informed late on Friday afternoon about who would stay and who would be stood down, with handovers to take place next week.It is believed that further discussion of CA’s likely scenarios to return to work in July will also be shared with the staff next week, with variations in the number of employees and contractors coming back on board to depend on how numerous issues related to coronavirus have progressed.At the same time, CA is in discussions with the Australian Cricketers’ Association about contracts and various measures inked into the MoU signed in 2017 that afford male and female players a fixed share of Australian Cricket Revenue.”It only happened yesterday, don’t think I’ve spoken to any of my team-mates about it. We know the ACA and CA are talking and they are obviously going to have the best outcome for the players and the partners as well,” allrounder Ashleigh Gardner said on Friday. “All we know is that CA have to announce the next contract list by April 30 which isn’t too far way. Once that happens we’ll probably know what’s happening for the next season but until then that’s the only details we’ve got.”

This afternoon, Manchester United will look to beat Fulham for the fifth time in a row.

Bruno Fernandes has been Erik ten Hag's hero in this fixture since the manager's arrival, scoring four goals in four games against Marco Silva's side.

The Red Devils' captain will lead his side tomorrow, but one player who will not feature at all is Luke Shaw, who is set to miss almost all of the season from this point on due to a leg injury.

With Tyrell Malacia still out injured – and with Sergio Reguilon having departed the club in January following his brief loan spell – United have no left back available in the squad, which may lead to the former Ajax boss being slightly creative with his back four.

The ways Man Utd could replace Luke Shaw

When Shaw was replaced at half-time against Aston Villa and moments before the break versus Luton Town, Ten Hag called upon Victor Lindelof to fill in at an unnatural left-back role.

As a right-footed centre-half who isn't blessed with speed, athleticism, or physicality, this has the potential to be taken advantage of by Fulham on Saturday, just like the Hatters did at the weekend.

During the second period, the Swedish defender was exposed both off the ball and on it, as highlighted by his 50% pass accuracy, zero duels won, and his yellow card for a rash challenge.

The passing aspect is a huge concern because Lindelof always looks to come inside on his right foot, which makes the team extremely vulnerable to the press.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, there is a player who has been dubbed "super talented" by journalist Julien Laurens who could come into the side and not only fix the left-back issue but also be an upgrade on Lindelof at the same time.

The reasons why Willy Kambwala should start v Fulham

19-year-old Willy Kambwala has already been handed some first-team action this season by Ten Hag, with the French defender making four appearances across all competitions.

The highly-rated gem is a centre-back by trade, but in his last two outings he has been subbed on as a right-back and quietly impressed despite going under the radar slightly.

In just eight minutes against Newport County in the FA Cup, Kambwala showed his excellent defensive ability, physicality, and dominance, making two clearances, one tackle, and winning five of his six duels, including all four of his aerial battles.

The United academy star has also already made his first Premier League start in the 2-0 away loss to West Ham United, but his showing was impressive for someone of his experience, and an away day to the Hammers is never an easy trip.

However, during that match, he did show another side of his game, which would make him suited to the right-back role this weekend, with his confidence on the ball standing out as well as his ball retention. The table below shows his key stats from that match.

Minutes

84

Passes completed

78

Pass accuracy

90%

Touches

95

Clearances

3

Kambwala's inclusion in the starting XI would see the usual right-back, Diogo Dalot, move to left-back, with the Portugal international having regularly lined up in that role under Ten Hag's watch.

In truth, neither Lindelof nor Kambwala are the answer to Ten Hag's Shaw dilemma in the long-term, but the young prospect is perhaps far more suited to lining up at full-back than the experienced Swede.