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Change is afoot for Premier League strugglers Leicester City. They announced their decision to sack manager Steve Cooper on Sunday afternoon after a poor start to the season, with the club just 12 games into the new top-flight campaign.

They are certainly in danger of being dragged into the relegation zone at this stage of the season. The Midlands club are 16th in the table, having won just two games and lost six thus far. One of the most worrying things is their goal difference, which currently stands at minus eight.

The search is on for a new boss at the King Power Stadium, and they have recently been linked with one manager who is coming off the back of a good interim stint.

Leicester target Dutch manager

The manager in question here is Ruud van Nistelrooy. The former Dutch striker recently enjoyed a stint as interim boss at Manchester United following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, although he was not kept on as a coach under Ruben Amorim.

Now, according to Football Insider, the former Red Devils centre-forward has emerged as a target at the King Power Stadium. He is viewed as ‘the wildcard candidate’ for the Foxes, but is someone ‘on the managerial shortlist’ of the club.

He is not the only out-of-work boss in consideration for the vacant Leicester role. Former West Ham United and Everton manager David Moyes is one name who has cropped up, as is ex-Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea boss Graham Potter.

Why Van Nistelrooy would be a good appointment

Leicester learnt exactly what Van Nistelrooy is capable of as a manager. During his short but sweet time in the hot seat at Old Trafford, the Foxes were on the wrong end of two of his three wins as United’s interim. They suffered a 5-2 drubbing in the Carabao Cup and a 3-0 loss in the league.

He also coached United to a 2-0 win in the Europa League against Greek side PAOK and earned a point in the Premier League at home against Chelsea. The Dutchman certainly made a good impression during his short time as a manager in English football.

However, his pedigree as a manager extends further than those four games. He has previously managed PSV Eindhoven in his native Netherlands and was fantastic during his time at the Philips Stadion.

The 48-year-old oversaw 50 games during his time at PSV and played some entertaining football. He picked up 38 wins and scored an impressive 127 goals. He also coached the club to Dutch Cup success in his only season in charge, beating Ajax 4-3 to lift the trophy.

Comparisons between Van Nistelrooy and former Foxes boss Enzo Maresca can certainly be drawn. The Italian, who is now head coach at Chelsea, helped the former Premier League champions to promotion last season, winning the Championship in emphatic fashion. He won 36 out of 53 matches in all competitions to give Leicester fans a memorable season.

Stat

Van Nistelrooy

Maresca

Games

50

53

Wins

34

36

Draws

8

4

Losses

8

13

Goals for

127

103

Goals against

60

50

Average domestic league points per match

2.22

2.11

Interestingly, the duo both began their non-playing careers as assistant coaches, with Van Nistelrooy working with the Netherlands national team and Maresca at Ascoli, Sevilla and then West Ham. They then coached at youth level, with Van Nistelrooy taking charge of the PSV academy sides and the Chelsea boss coaching at Manchester City.

Both managers were also assistants at one of the Manchester clubs, Van Nistelrooy, of course, on the Red half via PSV and Maresca on the Blue side. The similarities are clear to see and are incredible coincidences.

Bringing in the former United interim, who Ten Hag described as “very driven”, might be worth a shot for the Foxes. Backing an inexperienced manager has worked in the past, and it could be the key to surviving this season.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast's Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

It is certainly a risky move, but one that could pay off in the short and long term for Leicester.

Leicester City now eyeing move for "exceptional" manager to replace Cooper

It comes with the Foxes firmly on the ropes in the Premier League.

1 ByBen Browning Nov 24, 2024

West Indies toil during unbroken 193-run second-wicket stand but rain cuts further time from the game

Valkerie Baynes11-Mar-2022Joe Root looked genuinely impressed by what he was seeing. As Zak Crawley drove Kemar Roach down the ground for a boundary – not exactly sweetly struck but with the momentum of his considerable levers behind it – the England captain met him in the middle of the pitch for a couple of fist-bumps and approving nods, chattering away in encouragement and eliciting a broad grin from his young charge.Given that it was boundary number eight of 16 and counting for Crawley, who was compiling the second Test century of his career, the exchange may not have been unusual but in the circumstances, it stood out.After a dirty day three when Root more commonly wore a look of anguish as his attack failed to capitalise on prior opportunity, not to mention a tumultuous start to the year, England turned the tables on West Indies with an unbroken second-wicket stand in Antigua worth 193, a century and fifty so far to its protagonists and a 153-run lead heading into the final day.Related

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The hosts failed to make further inroads after Roach removed debutant opener Alex Lees, lbw in single figures for the second time in the match, to put the tourists at 24 for 1, still 40 runs in arrears.On a pitch that had admittedly offered nothing for the bowlers all match, the West Indies bowlers leaked runs, Veerasammy Permaul particularly expensive in conceding 51 off his 10 overs.Fellow left-arm spinner Jack Leach, meanwhile, had been one of the brighter lights for England, bowling 20 maidens – almost half his overs – as he took 2 for 79, including West Indies’ last wicket with the third ball of the day as the hosts took a 64-run first-innings lead.Quick Jayden Seales was the man dismissed, and he did not enjoy much more success with the ball, 12 wicketless overs costing 51 runs.But Roach, who was getting considerable swing with the new ball on the fourth morning, set Lees up with a series of deliveries that moved away from the left-hander before banging one in full and straight to beat the inside edge and slam into the front pad. Lees reviewed, perhaps in hope after seeing Crawley successfully overturn an lbw decision from umpire Gregory Brathwaite in the first over, only to have it confirmed that the ball was crashing into leg stump.Crawley was yet to score when he was reprieved the first time, with Hawk-Eye showing the ball was missing leg stump by some way. He had moved to 18 when West Indies burned a review shortly after Lees’ dismissal, Crawley adjudged not out to a Roach inswinger that hit him high on the back leg outside off stump.He had to wait out a 10-minute rain delay and Alzarri Joseph maidens either side of it on 49 before he regained the strike from Root and flipped Roach off his hip for a single to bring up his fifty off 100 balls. Crawley peeled off his next fifty from 81 balls as he and Root hit full flow and West Indies floundered for ideas despite trying seven different bowling options.Joe Root celebrates his half-century•Gareth Copley/AFP via Getty ImagesCaught behind off Seales for just 8 in the first innings, Crawley tightened up his defence but played expansively where it was warranted, pulling the short ball with authority, cutting anything wide and finding the boundary with the sweep and drive also.Root raised his half-century late in the afternoon session with a four off Permaul through third, and Crawley survived a hearty shout by West Indies, thinking he’d been caught at slip off the spinner, but for replays to show he had edged the ball into the pitch before it bobbed up to the fielder.Having scored 267 against Pakistan at Southampton in August 2020, his eighth Test, Crawley had made 12 single-figure scores – including two ducks – in 21 innings since.Called back into the side for the first time since the English summer for the last three Ashes Tests when England initially dropped Rory Burns and then Haseeb Hameed, Crawley scored a second-innings 77 in Sydney and survived the post-series clear-out, which also saw Lees called up to accompany him at the top of the order.Just like 19 months before, Crawley again lived up to the potential that put him there as he and Root gave England something to smile about before the intermittent rain that had punctuated play briefly a few times set in.

USMNT star Christian Pulisic set a personal career best with his quickfire brace in AC Milan's comeback win at Lecce.

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Milan secure 3-2 comeback winPulisic scores brace at LecceAmerican posts personal best statFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Milan came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Lecce in Serie A on Saturday, thanks in no small part to Pulisic's double in the 73rd and 81st minute. And according to Opta, that is the fastest the United States international has scored twice in a match in his career for club or country.

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The result keeps Milan in the hunt for European football next season but they are still down in eighth in Serie A. Without Pulisic's goals this term, they could be a lot further down the league table.

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The 26-year-old has scored 14 goals and bagged nine assists for Milan in all competitions this season.

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Pulisic's Milan will hope to build on this victory when they host Como in their next Serie A encounter on Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur "will" consider winter window approaches for one "fantastic" player after a situation "change" at Spurs.

How have Spurs started this season?

Ange Postecoglou has guided his new team to second in the Premier League standings after an absolutely exceptional start to the 2023/2024 season. Spurs are enjoying a brand new lease of life under the Australian, despite some early doubt surrounding the former Celtic coach. Postecoglou's lack of experience in major European divisions made his appointment an arguable risk, but so far, he's proving all of his doubters very wrong.

A completely new-look Spurs side, compared to that of Antonio Conte's last term, remain unbeaten over their opening seven league matches. The north Londoners have even scored just as many goals as league champions Man City, winning five games in all and seriously exciting supporters with a fresh brand of attack-minded football. Tottenham next take on Luton Town this Saturday, prior to another international break, and the odds heavily favour a routine win for Postecoglou's imperious Lilywhites.

While the likes of Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are now thriving among Postecoglou's main starters, despite being outcasts under Conte, but the same cannot be said for a few others.

Will Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg leave Tottenham?

The player to have suffered most since Postecoglou's arrival at Tottenham has, arguably, been Denmark international star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The former Southampton star was a lynchpin of Conte's midfield last term, scoring four goals and assisting five others in 35 league appearances.

However, Hojbjerg has been a victim of Postecoglou's new system at Spurs this season, with there being no room for his influence as Tottenham's manager looks to prefer the dual midfield pivot of Bissouma and Sarr. The 28-year-old can feel hard done by this, as Hojbjerg was one of the club's most consistent performers last season and has been since his arrival in 2020.

Nevertheless, his "radical change" in situation means Tottenham "will" make Hojbjerg available for transfer in the January window. Juventus are named as major suitors for the midfielder, who have made contact already. This has spiked interest from Hojbjerg and his agents, with Juve believing he can be a real difference-maker. That is according to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness).

The "fantastic" player could well be a hot commodity when the window reopens, and it is little surprise given Hojbjerg's quality and reliability in the centre of midfield. Indeed, the Dane was once called an "invaluable" cog in Tottenham's system.

"He’s proven already this season what an important player he has become under Conte, " said Noel Whelan to Football Insider in 2022.

"He has become more consistent, and he’s a permanent fixture on the teamsheet straight away. I can understand why Real Madrid want him, because he’s playing like one of the best midfield players – not just in the Premier League, but in Europe.

“I think they’ve got to try and do what they can to keep him, and I didn’t think I’d be saying that after some of his performances when he first signed. What he’s doing right now is invaluable for that front three at Spurs.”

Sunil Narine’s 36-ball 75 and Dinesh Karthik’s 23-ball 50 outdid KL Rahul’s 29-ball 66 in a match that produced an aggregate of 459 runs

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy12-May-2018Dinesh Karthik brings out one of his trick shots•BCCIFlat pitch, short boundaries, the best hitters in the game. This match featured all three ingredients, and by the end of it, only one match in all 11 IPL seasons had exceeded its 40-over run aggregate of 459. In the end, Kolkata Knight Riders’ total of 245, the fourth highest in IPL history, proved a stretch too far for Kings XI Punjab, who went into the match with at least one batsman too few.KKR boasted far more depth, and almost all their batsmen fired after they were sent in on a 45-degree Indore afternoon. Sunil Narine and Dinesh Karthik did the bulk of the heavy lifting with half-centuries at 200-plus strike rates, but there were important contributions from Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa and Andre Russell as well, and end-overs cameos from Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill.There was, in short, no respite for Kings XI, who were also without a key bowler, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, for a significant chunk of the innings. Struck on the hand by a blistering Narine drive while bowling his second over, Mujeeb was off the field for 11.4 overs, and it was too late for him to make any sort of difference by the time he came back to bowl the 16th.Chasing 246 with a line-up that had Axar Patel at No. 6, Kings XI were even more dependent on their openers than usual. KL Rahul kept them hoping with a 29-ball 66, but by the time he was dismissed in the ninth over, the batsmen at the other end (and extras) had only made 27 for 3 off 25 balls.Kings XI didn’t quite have the batting to chase 153 off the last 11 overs, and though there was some furious hitting from Aaron Finch and R Ashwin towards the end, it was never going to be enough.Narine blasts offThe first 20 balls of this match gave no warning of what was to follow. Only 20 runs came off them, and two boundaries – both inside-edged past the stumps by Chris Lynn. This was partly down to the two openers gaining a feel for the conditions, and partly to Mohit Sharma tucking Narine up for room in the third over. Narine drove the 20th ball hard and flat, back to Mujeeb, who ended up going off the field with an injured bowling hand. Ashwin brought himself on to complete the over, and Narine immediately went after him, clattering his first two balls over mid-on for six and four.It was as if Narine had flicked a switch. Having scored only seven off his first eight balls, he would smash 68 off his next 28, most of them with loose-limbed lofts in the midwicket-to-cover arc. With Lynn and Uthappa contributing 51 off 34 between them, KKR moved to 123 for 1 by the end of the 11th over.KKR go full speed aheadWhen Narine fell to an Andrew Tye short ball in the 12th over, Russell walked to the crease. Karthik joined him when Uthappa fell two balls later, slicing a slower ball to backward point. Rather than send in Rana or Gill and wait for the death overs, KKR wanted their best hitters at the crease right then.Both delivered, exploiting Kings XI’s field placements brilliantly. Russell and Karthik hit five big sixes between them, all in the arc between square leg and midwicket, but they also hit six fours and a six behind the wicket, mindful that Ashwin had stationed both third man and fine leg inside the 30-yard circle for most part. It could be argued that these fields played into Karthik’s hands in particular – given his fondness for behind-the-wicket innovation – but moving third man or fine leg deeper would only have brought someone else – say long-off or square leg – into the circle. On this pitch, there was little anyone could do to stop the haemorrhage of runs.Scooping short balls over his shoulder and reverse-slapping good-length balls between backward point and short third man, Karthik scored his first half-century of the season, getting there in 22 balls.Another Rahul specialOver the last two years, pretty much every limitation Rahul may have thought he had as a batsman has fallen away. During his unbeaten 95 against Rajasthan Royals in Kings XI’s last match, he realised perhaps too late that he’s also capable of finding the boundary with scoops and reverse-hits.Now his team needed sixes, lots of them, and Rahul immediately set about hitting them, starting in the first over with two effortless lofts over mid-off and extra-cover off Narine. There would be seven sixes in all, eventually, including a wide yorker sliced over third man, and anything seemed possible as long as he was in the middle – even when Russell sent back Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal with back-to-back bouncers in the sixth over.But Narine, coming back to bowl the ninth over, dismissed Rahul, who dragged an attempted sweep onto the stumps, and the magnitude of their task hit Kings XI afresh.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a tough start to their 2023/24 campaign, as issues from last season and the summer break have tarnished Gary O’Neil’s plans with his squad.

The Englishman took charge of the Old Gold just four days before their Premier League opener, following Julen Lopetegui’s departure due to worries about the size of his squad due to the club’s financial restrictions.

After making sufficient sales without room for replacements, O’Neil admitted that his side is “£80m short” of players this term, which is unfortunately reflected in the level of performance so far.

Losing star names such as Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez, Joao Moutinho and Matheus Nunes got Wolves off to a difficult start, resulting in the need for other players in the squad to step up and attempt to contend in the league.

What does Gary O’Neil have to improve at Wolves?

In their opening six Premier League fixtures, the Midlands side have recorded one win, one draw and four losses, where they have conceded 12 goals which stands at the third-highest number of goals conceded so far.

Only newly promoted Sheffield United and Burnley have let in more goals from the opposition than Wolves, hinting that O’Neil may have to go back to basics to ensure his side can improve.

Speaking of the basics, the Molineux outfit have scored the joint-fourth lowest number of goals so far, with six in six games, with the common narrative of their games being that they didn’t take their chances.

The 2022/23 campaign saw Wolves end the season as the Premier League’s lowest-scorers with just 31 in 38, and with no fresh firepower in their arsenal, history could repeat itself if changes aren’t made.

O’Neil may not need to look far to seek a goalscorer, with one academy player showing just how clinical he can be in the final third during his time at the club, as Nathan Fraser has shown signs that he could be nearing a breakthrough.

What could Nathan Fraser offer to Wolves?

A product of Wolves’ academy, Fraser worked his way through the ranks at his boyhood club over the years to make his senior debut earlier this campaign in the Carabao Cup.

It didn’t take long for the Wolverhampton-born starlet to showcase what he’s capable of, as he scored and assisted in the 28 minutes that he featured in the 5-0 win over Blackpool.

The 18-year-old was handed another senior appearance earlier this week during Wolves’ defeat to Ipswich Town in the cup, suggesting that O’Neil may be tempted to hand him a sporadic role in the first team as time passes.

Previously lauded as “dangerous” by analyst Mark Broomy, Fraser has what his club desires, which is the ability to score goals.

Last season, the youngster played in the Premier League 2 as an integral part of the U21 side, where he scored seven goals and recorded two assists in 23 appearances in the level above his age group.

This term has started swimmingly for the striker, who has already scored five from seven appearances in all competitions, including his senior goal that had people gushing over his talent.

If O’Neil can integrate the academy star into his plans going forward, the manager could significantly improve Wolves’ fortunes in the final third, in a player that is both well-equipped and hungry to succeed for the club.

Manchester United have run checks on one of Rasmus Hojlund's old teammates over the international break and are well acquainted with what he would offer if they made a move, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

As per The Guardian, Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho has been ousted from the first-team picture at Old Trafford and will train away from the senior squad at Old Trafford after refusing to apologise for his public rebuttal to Erik Ten Hag's criticism of his performances in training.

Sancho has since taken down his statement on social media platform X that read: "Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair!"

Nevertheless, it now looks like his future at the club is in doubt. According to The Manchester Evening News, Sancho is reportedly open to leaving the club in January and some close to his camp believe that it may be in his best interest to seek a new challenge elsewhere. His former club Borussia Dortmund and Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest have been named as two potential destinations.

Ahead of the Red Devils' home clash against Brighton & Hove Albion at home on Saturday, manager Ten Hag has confirmed that Lisandro Martinez will be available for selection following his injury against Arsenal before the international break.

Raphael Varane and Mason Mount are progressing well in their recovery from injury issues; however, both aren't ready to take any part in the clash this weekend.

Which one of Rasmus Hojlund's old teammates are United interested in?

According to 90min, Manchester United ran checks on Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini during the international break by scouting the 19-year-old in Italy's 2-1 victory over Ukraine in EURO 2024 qualifying at the San Siro.

Benfica starlet Antonio Silva was also watched by Manchester United scouts; however, they may face competition from arch-rivals Liverpool, who are also keeping tabs on both players and sent club officials out to observe their performances.

In the case of Scalvini, he has made 58 appearances in all competitions since breaking through at Atalanta, registering three goals and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

This term, the Chiari-born ace has managed to obtain an average match rating of 7.23/10 in Serie A for his exploits on the pitch, winning 3.3 aerial duels per fixture, according to WhoScored.

Scalvini has also excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues in the art of progressive passes, completing around 5.69 per 90 minutes in the last 365 days, putting him in the 94th percentile for this metric, as per FBRef.

Manchester United have conceded seven goals in their opening four matches in the Premier League, signifying that they have plenty of room for improvement in defence. In the near future, Scalvini could prove to be a long-term solution to issues in the backline at Old Trafford if they can get a deal done to secure his signature.

West Indies coach Stuart Law also said he was impressed by some of the young players despite they 3-0 drubbing they took from Pakistan

Umar Farooq in Karachi04-Apr-2018A three-day cricket feast in Karachi, after nine barren years, came to an end on Tuesday, with over 70,000 spectators having gone through the turnstiles at National Stadium. West Indies – who last toured Pakistan in 2006 – lost all three games heavily, but won lots of goodwill for the part they played in helping return international cricket to the country.”I’m a big fan of Pakistan cricket,” head coach Stuart Law said at a press conference. “The fans here in the subcontinent are pretty passionate. This was the first time I’d been to Karachi and the fans here were outstanding every night. They were very respectful to us. Everywhere we’ve been, we’ve been treated very well. The security has been outstanding, and we haven’t had any problems.”It’s a bit daunting if you’re not used to the set-up. It’s a bit daunting for the people outside but once you get here and see for yourself, you feel more confident. I’m not saying that it will open the floodgates and bring everyone rushing back, but from what I’ve seen here, it’s more than adequate and we should be able to get cricket back to Pakistan. I feel sorry for the Pakistan players who don’t play enough cricket in front of their home fans. Every game for them is an away game so you feel for those boys who can’t play in front of their families week in week out.”

The tour was somewhat rushed and the IPL is starting soon. We have a lot of players involved in the IPL and their franchises are pretty ruthless when it comes to player activityStuart Law when asked if the result could have been different had West Indies had the time to prepare better

West Indies had committed to touring Pakistan last year, but then the series was postponed to April. It suffered another setback with key players including Chris Gayle and captain Carlos Brathwaite pulling out. Their reluctance to tour Pakistan due to safety concerns has been evident with Cricket West Indies even having to offer them USD 25,000 as extra incentive. In the end, a weakened 13-man squad was assembled together, hastily, and they landed in Karachi mere hours before the opening game on Sunday.The difference in quality between the two sides was stark. Pakistan beat West Indies by a record-breaking 143 runs on Sunday. The second T20I was, again, barely a contest and even though the visitors, reduced to 12 men with Veerasammy Permaul’s injury, put up a better fight in the third game, Pakistan romped home in a chase of 153 with eight wickets and three overs to spare.”The positives we can take is that we brought a very young team here with little experience,” Law said. “I’m pretty impressed with Keemo Paul, who I thought stood out. He worked for us in Zimbabwe in the 50 over format too. Another debutant tonight Andre McCarthy showed good intent with the bat. It’s a difficult task coming here and playing in Pakistan. We did lose the series 3-0 but we got better as the series went on and that’s a good sign for us.”West Indies coach Stuart Law addresses the press conference•WICBWest Indies’ schedule was cramped, and they weren’t able to have a conditioning or training session before or during their three days in Karachi. They were driven back to the airport immediately after the final game to fly home and were unable to shrug of the lingering jet lag.When asked if the result of the series could have been different if his side was given enough time to train, Law said, “You never know, we don’t have a crystal ball. But we got better as the tournament went on. The tour was somewhat rushed and the IPL is starting soon. We have a lot of players involved in the IPL and their franchises are pretty ruthless when it comes to player activity. It wasn’t probably ideal timing, but I’m glad for the people here in Karachi. When you look back, yes I’m disappointed with our result, but there’s lot of smiles on faces, and there are lot of people happy out here.”I thought every time we went out we had a more positive attitude towards the game. We probably lacked desire in the first two games whether that was jet lag or whatever, it’s still no excuse playing international cricket and representing your country, your people, your family and yourself. So you shouldn’t have to be up for any contest, it should be automatic. But Pakistan are playing with a lot of confidence at the moment, and playing very good cricket.”

Manchester United face losing one of their first-team squad members in January, and a reliable journalist has revealed the club that are looking to prise him away from the Premier League.

Who have Manchester United signed recently?

Over the summer, Erik ten Hag secured seven fresh faces in the form of Andre Onana, Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, Jonny Evans and Altay Bayindir on a permanent basis, whilst taking Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat on loan for the remainder of the season.

In terms of outgoings, David De Gea, Fred, Eric Bailly and Dean Henderson were some of the bigger names to depart for good, and even though the window closed on September 1st, there have already been future exit rumours circulating around one out of favour player in particular.

Following the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the start of the month, Jadon Sancho took to social media to vent his frustration after being completely omitted from the squad which following disciplinary action, has since seen him placed on his own individual training programme away from the group.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Friday, the boss admitted that he doesn’t know whether the 23-year-old will ever play for the club again, and should that be the case, it sounds like he’s already got a potential suitor waiting to secure his services.

Is Jadon Sancho leaving Man United?

Taking to X, 90min's Graeme Bailey claimed that Sancho is attracting interest from his former club Borussia Dortmund who appear ready to offer their ex-attacker a lifeline to reignite his career after falling down the pecking order at Man United. He wrote:

"We understand that Jadon Sancho's former club Borussia Dortmund are keeping close tabs on the situation as they would be inclined to offer him a route back in January. It is believed that Sancho too would 'love' to return to the Bundesliga."

How many goals does Jadon Sancho have in his career?

Since the start of his career, Sancho has posted a remarkable 167 contributions (86 goals and 81 assists) in 263 appearances which has seen him dubbed a “phenomenon” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so whilst he’s acted out of line off the pitch, he has so much to offer on it.

The Red Devils’ left-winger, who pockets £250k-per-week, also ranks in the 96th percentile for pass completion which highlights how strong he is at linking up the play with his fellow attacking teammates in the final third, though it’s not just his usual role he can operate in.

The Elite Project Group Ltd client has been deployed in six various positions over the grass since first bursting onto the scene, including everywhere across the frontline and even two roles in the midfield, so the versatility that he provides makes him a wonderful option for the boss to have at his disposal.

Whilst Man United will take some time to assess their next steps regarding Sancho, it looks highly unlikely that he'll pull on the shirt again, therefore, it would be a real shame if this was how his journey was to come to an end at Old Trafford.

After having lost to the hosts in the tournament opener, India face a side that have come into this series a little bruised

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Mar-2018Big PictureAlmost everyone remembers Bangladesh-India match. World T20, 2016, Bangladesh need two runs from three balls to knock out the hosts. Instead, a senior batsman allows his emotions to get the better of him, and India pounce to claim a heart-stopping one-run victory.Two years later, Bangladesh players are still asked questions about this match. Have the wounds from that game healed? Will the World T20 clash play on their minds if they find themselves in a similar situation? Perhaps they have the skill, but do they possess the nerve to overcome this opponent?It does not help that even without some of their most formidable T20 players, India appear the more confident side. Though defeated by the hosts on Tuesday, they have a powerful top order, and a promising attack – even if it is a little short on experience.Bangladesh have the raw materials in place, but following a poor home series against Sri Lanka, they have come into this series a little bruised. Without Shakib Al Hasan in the top order, they are not producing runs as consistently as they have done over the past two years, and their bowling appears a little light – particularly as Mustafizur Rahman’s efficiency has recently waned.They do, however, have one thing this Indian side does not have – a win on Sri Lankan soil, on this trip. A comprehensive victory in their practice match in Colombo on Tuesday will have helped repair some of the damage sustained in their most-recent series. Whether that is sufficient to put them on even terms with India, remains to be seen.Form guideBangladeshLLLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
India LWLWWAssociated PressIn the spotlightShikhar Dhawan came into the tournament with good T20 form, and on Tuesday hit a 49-ball 90 – his highest score in the format. Although he was by far India’s highest scorer, his innings was not without a little luck. He was often awkward against the short ball, top edging no fewer than three for six. If he shows a similar vulnerability on Thursday, in Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh do possess the quicks that could exploit it.If there is anyone who must exorcise the memory of Bangalore, it is Mushfiqur Rahim who had the game in hand, but then celebrated too early, and ushered in Bangladesh’s failure. With Shakib now out of the side, there is also the added pressure of being one of the few senior men left in the middle order. He arrives with a little form behind him, but should India take early wickets, Mushfiqur’s ability to handle the occasion may prove crucial to the outcome.Team newsBangladesh could opt for Nurul Hasan ahead of Sabbir Rahman, while Mehidy Hasan could be picked ahead of a seamer, for his batting. Ariful Haque and Soumya Sarkar are seam-bowling options, if they opt for only two frontline pace bowlers.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Liton Das, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah (capt.), 6 Ariful Haque, 7 Nurul Hasan, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Nazmul Hossain 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur RahmanIndia may think about fielding seamer Mohammed Siraj in place of Shardul Thakur, who was expensive on Monday. Otherwise, they may remain unchanged – though it is also possible that KL Rahul could enter the top order.India (possible): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Rohit Sharma (capt.), 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Vijay Shankar, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Mohammed SirajPitch and conditionsA standard Khettarama pitch is expected – half decent for batting, but a little on the slow side. It is possible – but not likely – that an evening thunderstorm will blow through.Stats and trivia Bangladesh have lost all five T20s they have played against India. India have not lost two T20s in a row since 2016. They have played 19 completed T20s since then. Shikhar Dhawan’s 90 on Tuesday is the second-highest T20 score at Khettarama, after Luke Wright’s 99 not out against Afghanistan in 2012.Quotes”The Bangalore match was over that day. Accidents occur in cricket. There’s no point sitting with it. It is better to learn from it though.”