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Thomas Frank is finding out the hard way just how challenging managing Tottenham Hotspur can be.

He could have been told that for free by the likes of Ange Postecoglou, Nuno Santo, or even some of the greatest managers of the 21st century, in the form of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

The early days of Frank’s reign promised calmer waters. After finishing 17th in the Premier League under dear old Ange, they needed a bit of stability and they got that.

During Frank’s first seven games in charge, excluding the Super Cup, they conceded just three goals. The negative turn things have taken, therefore, is quite staggering.

Wins

5

Draws

1

Defeats

1

Goals scored

14

Goals conceded

3

Data excludes European Super Cup

The Lilywhites ended a run of five straight games in all competitions without winning by defeating Brentford, but they were up to their old tricks again when they visited Nottingham Forest on Sunday, losing 3-0.

So, a change in the dugout could be on the cards.

The latest on Spurs' managerial situation

After Spurs suffered a disastrous loss on the road last time out, Frank’s future in north London was thrown further into the spotlight. If the Dane wasn’t already feeling the pressure, then he certainly will be now.

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that a number of top names are in the club’s crosshairs should they decide to get rid of Frank, including the likes of Barcelona legend Xavi and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

However, according to CaughtOffside, a leading contender for the job has now emerged in the form of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine is currently gearing up to lead the United States at the home World Cup next year and therefore, an exit feels unlikely.

Yet, Pochettino is one of very few managers to get the most out of Spurs in the last couple of decades, guiding them to a Champions League final.

Perhaps more realistic options are the aforementioned Glasner and Marco Silva. The same report suggests that the two Premier League bosses are on ENIC’s managerial shortlist.

Why Silva could be Spurs' new Pochettino

Cast your mind back to the year 2014. Poch has just left Southampton behind and taken on the Spurs job.

With the Saints, he made them an established top-flight side, finishing eighth in 2013/14, the South Coast’s side’s highest ever finish in the football pyramid.

Manager Focus

He did so by playing a progressive and attractive style of football. At his disposal, he had the likes of Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw, two players he helped become England regulars. At Spurs, it was a similar story. Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Co all owe Pochettino a great deal of gratitude for how he developed their careers.

Well, it feels as though Silva is cut from a similar cloth. Now, we all know that Spurs have tried and failed with the proven Premier League manager strategy before. Nuno Santo didn’t last long in the capital and now Frank is enduring a difficult time.

However, prominent names in the form of Mourinho and Conte hardly drove Spurs to newfound success either. In Silva, they could find their new Pochettino. Like the Argentine, he has been recognised as one of the most underrated the English top-flight has to offer.

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has even heralded the Cottagers’ boss as “one of the best managers in the Premier League.”

As Pochettino did with Saints, Silva has firmly established Fulham in the Premier League. Having guided the Londoners out of the Championship back in 2021/22, they have never finished below 13th place. They even finished in tenth during their maiden campaign back in the big time.

So, other than doing well with mid-table sides, how else are they alike? Well, both prefer proactive, attacking football rather than sitting back and soaking up pressure. There is a lot to like about the way Spurs played under their former boss.

Silva isn’t quite as full-throttle as Pochettino was and still is. That said, Fulham tend to defend in a midblock, rather than a low one, enabling them to turn the ball over higher up the pitch like a Poch side would do. So far this season, Fulham rank sixth in the Premier League for percentage of high turnovers (18.84%) that lead to a shot.

They also rank seventh in the division for PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action), which measures how many passes a team allows in the opposition’s defensive and middle thirds before making a defensive action like a tackle, interception, foul or pressure.

Pivotally, however, is the comparison in developing players. The likes of Christian Eriksen, Kane and Dele all became genuine superstars under Pochettino.

While Fulham don’t have any truly elite global stars in their team, Antonee Robinson has become “one of the best left-backs in the world” in the words of Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley and Harry Wilson is now in the form of his life under Silva’s guidance, scoring four goals and registering three assists in his last seven matches for Fulham.

“I believe this is going to be the best season for him in terms of numbers,” the Spurs-linked boss said about Wilson at the weekend.

So, while there are some differences between the two managers, the similarities could well mean he’s perfectly suited to this Spurs team. After all, they are a young side and they need a manager capable of extracting their potential.

Spurs must sack Frank this week and hire the "best coach in the PL"

Tottenham Hotspur suffered arguably their worst defeat of the Thomas Frank era on Sunday.

ByMatt Dawson 2 days ago

After sleepwalking through to a series win, Pakistan raised the tempo courtesy Fakhar Zaman’s double century. What does Sunday have in store?

Umar Farooq21-Jul-2018Big Picture After sleepwalking to a series win, Pakistan blew life into a dull series courtesy Fakhar Zaman’s record-breaking double-century. This sparked tremendous interest momentarily on Friday afternoon in Pakistan. There’s little to suggest the joyride won’t continue on Sunday, but only a performance of Fakhar’s kind again can elicit the same level of interest.Zimbabwe have shown no fight whatsoever. If 67 all out wasn’t the nadir, they were blown away in the fourth ODI by 244 runs – Pakistan’s second-biggest ODI win in terms of runs. The batsmen have shown little resolve, and the bowlers have lacked consistency or potency. About the fielding? Less said, the better. Whatever can go wrong, has.As such international fixtures are few and far between for Zimbabwe. Finances don’t allow them the luxury of staging multiple home series. That said, this year has been a bumper one, but even so, the hope with which they began the World Cup Qualifiers has long dissipated. The walloping in the T20I tri-series against Australia and Pakistan has spilled over, and there’s a pall of gloom around the state of cricket, as it has been for a better part of the last decade and a half. On Sunday, they can’t erase the pain of the home summer, but at least try and put up a fight and give the 500-odd faithful that turn up every match day whether or not there’s something to cheer about.Form guideZimbabwe LLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WWWWLIn the spotlightUsman Khan went onto to play the entire tri-nation series and all four straight ODIs without aggravating any injury. This has been a longest streak for him in international cricket since he made his debut in 2013. He had been battling against injury, but every time he bounced back, some part of his body broke down again. He is back to full fitness now, and looks stronger than ever. He is the joint leading wicket taker with 9 at a strike rate of 16 in four games so far. He has made the most of his opportunities while Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali are being rested, and will have an eye on nailing down a World Cup spot as soon as possible.Usman Khan celebrates a wicket•AFPTarisai Musakanda was tipped to be captain for the tri-series and this bilateral contest against Pakistan. While in the end the job went to the vastly more experienced Hamilton Masakadza, Musakanda has shown glimpses of what he could offer Zimbabwe in the long term. Frustratingly for Zimbabwe, most of his contributions have been in the form of cameos; he has reached double figures in all but one of the last eight innings, but only once crossed 40. You could chalk it down to inexperience, but Zimbabwe desperately need a standout performance to have a chance of pushing Pakistan in this final game, and have something positive to take away from a nightmare series.Team newsZimbabwe don’t have too many options on the bench that are likely to make a difference, or they’d have tried them out by now. They have lost with each combination they tried, evry game more convincingly than the last. They may make one or two changes, but a change in the result would be one of the upsets of the year.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Hamilton Masakadza (capt) 2 Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 3 Tarisai Musakanda 4 Ryan Murray (wk) 5 Peter Moor 6 Elton Chigumbura 7 Donald Tiripano 8 Liam Roche 9 Wellington Masakadza 10 Blessing Muzarbani 11 Tendai ChisoroPakistan played two combinations across four games, and have played nearly every batting reserve on the bench other than Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail – who had to return home after his daughter’s illness. Mohammad Nawaz is the only bowler unused throughout the ODIs. There is a chance Hafeez and Nawaz could be given a chance, but Pakistan are doing so well anything they do looks like it might come offPakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Shoaib Malik/Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Asif Ali, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Yasir Shah, 10 Junaid Khan/Mohammad Amir, 11 Usman KhanPitch and conditionsThe weather remains cool in Bulawayo, but the pitch has dried out since the first game, and another runfest could be on the cards, particularly if Pakistan bat first.Stats and trivia Fakhar Zaman is 20 runs away from becoming fastest to reach 1000 runs in ODIs. If he does so tomorrow, he will have reached there in 18 innings. The fastest at present are five players who got there in 21 innings: Viv Richards, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Quinton de Kock and Babar Azam.Quotes”It’s not like the guys (Pakistan) are bowling anything amazing, it’s about us not applying ourselves,” Donald Tiripano thinks the reasons for his side’s underwhelming batting come from within”It does hurt me quite a lot and it’s very disappointing to see. I see a lot of guys putting in their best efforts but when you lose half of your team, especially with the resources that Zimbabwe have, it’s hard to be competitive against a very good Pakistan side at the moment,” Pakistan coach Grant Flower takes no pleasure from his country’s struggles

Glasgow Rangers are currently in the process of finding a new head coach to lead the team forward for the remainder of the season and beyond after Michael Beale's exit earlier this month.

The club opted to part ways with the 43-year-old flop after an unsuccessful stint at Ibrox, which ended with a 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Steven Davis has led an interim team over the last two games and has overseen a 2-1 Europa League defeat to Aris and a 3-0 league win over St Mirren.

The Light Blues now have the international break to find their man and Yokohama F. M. manager Kevin Muscat has emerged as a strong contender.

What's the latest on Kevin Muscat to Rangers?

TalkSPORT have reported that the Australian head coach is one of the 'leading' candidates to take on the job, alongside Belgian chief Philippe Clement.

The Scottish Sun have also claimed that the club, led by chairman John Bennett and chief executive James Bisgrove, have conducted an interview with the former Millwall defender as they continue to decide on who they want to replace Beale.

Their report revealed that the 50-year-old tactician is also prepared to walk away from his current club in spite of their ongoing season, which shows how keen he is to grasp this potential opportunity to manage Rangers.

The Sun also ruled out Scott Parker as a potential successor to Beale but did add that Clement has impressed the Scottish giants during the interview phase of their search.

Matches

172

Wins

99

Points

339

Titles

Four

What is Muscat's style of play?

Muscat is an attack-minded coach who could be the ideal manager for a young talent like Zak Lovelace, who has the potential to develop into a monster for the Gers over the years to come.

Scottish coach John Walker described his system as a 4-3-3 set-up with "real" attacking intent that focuses on being direct at all times, whilst still trying to play football on the deck.

His "aggressive" brand of football also caused Pep Guardiola to say "wow" as the Manchester City boss hailed Yokohama's impressive build-up play.

Analyst Petar Petrov claimed, last month, that Muscat and his forward-thinking style of play allied with his coaching skills would make him the "perfect" hire for the Scottish club.

Petrov stated that the Australian tactician is capable of getting the most out of his squad and this suggests that he will be able to get Rangers' players playing to the best of their abilities.

This could, therefore, make him perfect for Lovelace as the 50-year-old chief could integrate the teenage whiz into the first team on a regular basis and ensure that the talented gem is put in the best possible position to succeed on the pitch and translate his outstanding youth form over to the senior squad.

Muscat's attacking 4-3-3 formation could also allow the ex-Millwall forward to be utilised in a variety of ways, as he has showcased his ability to play on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward throughout his time at Ibrox to date.

How many goals has Lovelace scored for Rangers?

The 17-year-old wizard has racked up 19 goals in 46 matches for the Scottish giants in all competitions at first-team and academy level combined.

He joined from English Championship side Millwall on a permanent basis at the start of last season and the club's former sporting director Ross Wilson hailed him as an "exciting" prospect and backed him to progress during his time at Ibrox.

Lovelace made an immediate impact for the academy throughout his debut campaign in Scotland as he displayed his ability as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

The England U18 international produced an eye-catching 15 goals and six assists in 26 Lowland League matches for the B team and one goal in three Challenge Cup appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

He also showcased his talent on the European stage with two goals and four assists in six UEFA Youth League outings for the club's U19 team.

This means that Lovelace racked up 18 goals and ten assists in 35 matches for the academy throughout the 2022/23 campaign, which is a fantastic rate of production from the various attacking positions he was deployed in.

For context as to how impressive that return was, no Rangers forward managed more than 14 goals or nine assists in the Scottish Premiership for the first team.

This suggests that the potential is there for the teenage marksman to emerge as an outstanding senior option for the Light Blues if he can translate that form to a professional setting.

How many first-team appearances has Lovelace made for Rangers?

Lovelace has played four first-team games for Rangers since the start of last season and two of those have come in the Premiership this season.

He was handed his full debut from the start against St Mirren last weekend by interim boss Davis and caught the eye before suffering an unfortunate injury before halftime.

The exciting youngster showed some impressive touches and ultimately played a crucial role in the opening goal. He brilliantly danced his way past Scott Tanser on the right flank and fizzed a terrific ball across the face of goal that forced a handball from the opposition defender.

Ryan Strain was subsequently sent off and a penalty was awarded to the Gers as his handball prevented Abdallah Sima from tapping the ball into an empty net.

James Tavernier converted from the spot and Rangers went on to win the match 3-0 with a man advantage, which was created by Lovelace's sensational play on the wing.

Lovelace has since confirmed, via his social media, that he will be back "soon". Although, it remains to be seen exactly when supporters will be able to see the forward back in action after being stretchered off with a painful-looking muscle injury to his thigh.

The appointment of Muscat, if he is the man Bisgrove and Bennett decide to place their faith in, could be the making of the talented teenager when he is back fit.

A direct and attacking style of play suits Lovelace and his ability to drive at defenders, as evidenced by his play against St Mirren, and could allow him to thrive at the top end of the pitch as a scorer and a creator.

Muscat could help the ex-Millwall man to fully establish himself as a first-team regular and develop him into a monster in the final third, if the young gem can replicate his academy form at senior level.

Inter Miami may decide to rest star player Lionel Messi for their MLS clash against on Sunday, assistant coach Javi Morales has said.

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Messi started and finished all four gamesArgentina star has four goals from as many matchesHerons may decide to rest him on SundayWHAT HAPPENED?

Messi has played every minute of the Florida club's four competitive matches across MLS and the Champions Cup so far this season. With his team coming up against Canadian side Montreal just days after their midweek draw against Nashville, coach Tata Martino could opt to rest him.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT JAVI MORALES SAID

Assistant boss Morales says, as reported by Jose Armando, that the Miami club are yet to make a decision on whether or not Messi will be involved in Sunday's game, adding that they will have a talk with the World Cup winner before a call is made.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Herons head coach Martino said this week that he is worried about the 36-year-old suffering "significant wear and tear" amid their recent return to action. The captain has already scored four goals in as many games since the new season started in late February.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Having won two and drawn one of their three MLS matches so far, Inter Miami will aim to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they host Montreal. Should Messi miss this weekend's clash, the Argentine will likely return to the fold for the second leg of their Champions Cup last-16 tie against Nashville next week.

Manchester United have been dealt a significant transfer blow after rumoured target Mathys Tel agreed to a new deal at Bayern Munich.

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Tel linked with Man Utd Signs new deal at BayernWill remain at the club until 2029Imago ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The 18-year-old forward has put pen-to-paper on a new deal – which will keep him at the Bavarian club until 2029 – after previously being linked with a possible move to Old Trafford.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT BAYERN SAID

In a statement released by the club, Bayern's sporting director said: "“We are very pleased that Mathys Tel has extended his contract with FC Bayern.

"He is an important building block for the future of this team, with him we already have the next generation of FC Bayern in our squad.

"Mathys came to Munich as a young player and, at the age of 18, has already gained important experience at the highest level. He will make a lot of exclamation marks – here, at FC Bayern.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Tel was said to have grown frustrated with his limited role at the German giants, leading to talk of a possible exit from the club. It was reported as recently as February that Premier League giants Man United had 'enquired' about the player, although those rumours have now been put to bed after the announcement of his new deal at Bayern.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR TEL?

After beating Lazio 3-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, Tel and his Bayern team-mates will now look ahead to the upcoming Bundesliga clash against Mainz, as they seek to cut the 10-point gap to league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

Sri Lanka team manager submits report on the incident, board to investigate further

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2018Legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay could face further punishment from the Sri Lankan board in wake of a disciplinary breach over a night out in St Lucia.Vandersay’s tour of the Caribbean was cut short on June 23, when he was sent home due to the incident, which was in breach of his contract. Sri Lanka team manager Asanka Gurusinha has submitted a special report on the matter to the board, which will investigate further and take action as needed.”Once we [review] the manager’s report, we will decide the next course of action,” Kamal Padmasiri, the Competent Authority in charge of Sri Lankan cricket at present, told . “But there will definitely be an inquiry and if found guilty, he will be punished.”Padmasiri and SLC CEO Ashley de Silva are both currently at the ICC meetings in Dublin, and the matter is likely to be taken forward only when they return to Sri Lanka.

Leeds United were relegated back down to the Championship earlier this year as they failed to extend their Premier League stay beyond three seasons.

They went down under Sam Allardyce, having also been managed by Javi Gracia and Jesse Marsch during the campaign, and are now in the second tier with Daniel Farke at the helm.

The first three of those bosses all failed to build on the success that Marcelo Bielsa achieved during his impressive spell at Elland Road.

He joined the Whites ahead of the 2018/19 season and immediately led them to a third-placed finish before going on to win the Championship title the following year.

Bielsa then secured a top-half finish in the Premier League, in ninth, at the end of the 2020/21 campaign but was then sacked and replaced by Marsch during the 2021/22 season.

Rodrigo

£25.9m

Dan James

£25.1m

Jean-Kevin Augustin

£18.2m

Diego Llorente

£17.3m

Raphinha

£16.1m

There is little doubt that the Argentine tactician was a success over the course of his time in Yorkshire but, as you can see in the table above, he had a mixed track record in the transfer market.

One potential signing that Bielsa did, however, avoid a big blunder with was Norwich City attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell in the summer of 2021.

Were Leeds interested in Todd Cantwell?

Journalist Dean Jones told GIVEMESPORT at the start of 2022 that the Whites were "very keen" on a deal to sign the English dynamo during the summer transfer window ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

It was reported, live on Sky Sports, by Dharmesh Sheth that it would have cost a team at least £40m, and possibly up to £50m, to sign Cantwell from the Canaries that year, as Norwich had just been promoted to the Premier League from the Championship under Farke.

The Whites were also interested in the Yellows academy graduate the previous year. Football Insider reported in the summer of 2020 that Leeds made an offer of £15m to sign the young gem but the Norfolk-born ace remained at Carrow Road and played a crucial role in their promotion.

Cantwell, who was hailed as "special" by former youth team coach Gary Cockaday, scored six goals and produced six assists in 33 Championship games as his side earned promotion back to the top-flight and that led to Bielsa being 'very keen' on his services in 2021.

Spanish wizard Pablo Hernandez departed Leeds on a free transfer that summer and the Norwich magician may have been viewed by the Argentine boss as the heir to his place in the squad.

How many goals did Hernandez score for Leeds?

The former Swansea playmaker scored 36 goals in 175 matches in all competitions for the Whites as a right-footed midfielder, who was deployed off the right, the left, and through the middle at times.

After a number of years of excellent service, Hernandez struggled for form throughout the 2020/21 campaign and was eventually allowed to depart upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.

The veteran midfielder produced zero goals and two assists in 16 Premier League outings that term as he failed to provide consistent quality as a scorer or a creator of goals from an attacking midfield position.

That came after his sublime return of nine goals and nine assists in 36 Championship matches for the Whites during their 2019/20 promotion season.

This shows that, like Cantwell, Hernandez was a midfielder who could contribute with goals and assists, in equal measure, on a regular basis in the second tier.

What happened to Cantwell?

After Leeds failed to get a deal over the line for the Norwich star in the summer of 2021, whether that was down to their reluctance to pay £40m for him or his club's refusal to sell remains to be known, the former England U21 international struggled badly.

Cantwell, who had scored six goals in 30 Premier League starts during the 2019/20 campaign, failed to score or assist a single goal in eight top-flight outings during the first half of the 2021/22 season.

He did not create a single 'big chance' for his teammates in that time and was then sent out on loan to Bournemouth by manager Dean Smith, where the attacking midfielder managed zero goals and zero assists in 11 Championship matches.

Cantwell, who can play on the left, the right, or through the middle in midfield, was given another opportunity to revive his career at Norwich at the start of the 2022/23 campaign but did not contribute with any goals or assists in 18 second-tier games for Smith.

This then led to a permanent transfer for the then-24-year-old maestro to Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers during the January transfer window at the start of this year.

How much is Cantwell worth now?

At the time of writing (09/10/2023), FootballTransfers has his Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at just €3.4m (£2.9m) after nine months in Scotland.

Cantwell has racked up six goals and six assists in 26 outings in all competitions for the Light Blues to date and has showcased his attacking quality in the Scottish Premiership, with six goals and four assists in 20 games.

The 25-year-old technician was unable to display his ability on a regular basis at Premier League level for Norwich and then struggled to get back to his best in the Championship for the Canaries, or Bournemouth.

However, a move north of the border has allowed him to find his feet again and it now remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to get another chance to prove himself in the Premier League before the end of his career.

The chances of him being worth £40m again, as he seemingly was in the summer of 2021, appear to be quite slim as his current xTV is a staggering £37m less than the fee that Norwich wanted for him from Leeds under Bielsa.

Cantwell's dip in form and plummeting transfer value suggest that the Whites and their former boss dodged a bullet that year as he would not have been a good replacement for Hernandez, in terms of his performances on the pitch or the money that it would have cost the Yorkshire-based outfit.

It looked as if a Manchester United takeover saga could have been resolved this week, however, there has now been a frustrating update regarding a deal involving Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Man Utd takeover news; Sir Jim Ratcliffe

The Glazers first put the Red Devils up on the market almost 12 months ago now, with Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim making numerous bids to take control earlier this year. However, Jassim withdrew his offer to take 100% control at Old Trafford over the weekend, with one source telling Sky Sports:

“Sheikh Jassim offered them almost double the market capitalisation. He was a cash buyer, he was going to clear all their debts, there would have been no new debt and he was going to put in another £1.4bn for the stadium and the team.

“All that still wasn't enough for the Glazers. What we're left with now, after almost a year, is someone who is going to overpay for 25 per cent of the club. They are arguably the greatest and most historic football club on the planet and after a year there's just one bidder and he can only stump up enough for 25 per cent.”

Key Man Utd takeover updates

Date

Glazers put club up for sale

November 2022

Ratcliffe and Jassim make bids

February 2023

Glazers split on a sale

February 2023

Ratcliffe and Jassim make second bids

March 2023

Ratcliffe and Jassim make third bids

April 2023

Ratcliffe and Jassim make fourth bids

May 2023

Jassim makes fifth bid

June 2023

Jassim withdraws from process

October 2023

That left Ratcliffe and INEOS in pole position to secure a 25% stake in the club, with reports claiming that Ratcliffe’s deal with Man Utd would see the Red Devils supporter pay £1.3bn for his stake and that the club’s 12 board members – including the six Glazers and CEO Richard Arnold – may approve the proposal at a pre-planned meeting on Thursday.

However, in a new Man Utd takeover update from The Telegraph’s Tom Morgan and James Ducker, that will no longer be the case. They have heard from a well-placed insider aware of discussions on both sides that there will now be “no decision this week” in a frustrating twist.

How much of Man Utd do the Glazers own?

As we know, the Glazers have been majority owners at Old Trafford since 2005 and currently own 69% of the club. However, they have 96% of the voting rights due to a complex share structure at Old Trafford.

If Ratcliffe’s 25% deal eventually goes through, though, that could soon change in what may well be the first part of a phased takeover over a period of time. It appears as if Ratcliffe would also look to take immediate control over sporting decisions in Manchester, but by the looks of things, everyone involved will have to wait a little longer, with a vote today not looking likely.

Wrexham's League Two promotion aspirations got a significant boost on Monday when second-placed Stockport dropped points late on at Crawley.

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Wrexham lost again on weekendBut Stockport drop points on MondayLeague Two promotion to go to the wireWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Dragons had a weekend to forget at home against 14th-placed Tranmere as an early Luke Norris goal sealed a narrow 1-0 victory for the visitors. That looked to put a huge dent in Wrexham's automatic promotion hopes, who remained in third before Monday's matchup with Stockport in second on goal difference. However, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's club were handed a boost by an unlikely source on Monday night, with mid-table Crawley rescuing a point late on.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Antoni Sarcevic's header for Stockport in the 61st minute looked set to be the decider going into the final stages, which would have extended the gap from Wrexham to three points. In the end, though, Klaidi Lolos popped up with a goal seven minutes from time to make it 1-1, meaning Stockport now only boast a slender one-point advantage over the Red Dragons with one game in hand. Only the league's top two go up to League One automatically, meaning the season is set for a thrilling promotion finale.

DID YOU KNOW?

Stockport are in awful league form of late, with Dave Challinor's side boasting a miserable run of just one win from their last seven matches. Of their nine league away matches this term, Stockport have won just two.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

After Stockport and Wrexham drop more points it could be anybody's League Two to win, with Mansfield holding the obvious advantage as it stands. Wrexham are four points off top spot and play 21st-placed Grimsby away from home on Saturday.

Leeds United continued their impressive start to life back in the Championship this season with a 4-1 victory over Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

The Whites find themselves third in the table and amongst the group of clubs vying for promotion up to the Premier League, following on from their relegation earlier this year.

Daniel Farke was brought in to lead the club back to glory and his team have scored an impressive 24 goals in the opening 14 matches of the season, helped by Saturday's four-goal haul.

Ipswich Town

29

Leicester City

29

Norwich City

25

Leeds United

24

Sunderland

24

The German tactician, who previously managed in England with Norwich City, was able to bolster his attacking options during the summer transfer window with the signings of Joel Piroe and Jaidon Anthony.

However, only one of them has been able to make a consistent impact at the top end of the pitch for the Yorkshire-based outfit, and that has been the Dutch marksman.

Piroe has racked up five goals and one assist in 11 Championship starts since his switch from Welsh side Swansea. Only Crysencio Summerville has scored more league goals (six) for the club this term, which highlights the quality that the left-footed whiz has provided.

Whereas, Anthony has struggled to prove his worth at Elland Road and Farke could land an instant upgrade on him by securing a deal to sign Amad Diallo in January.

Amad Diallo's transfer availability

The Whites were reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Ivory Coast international on loan during the summer transfer window after his impressive exploits for Sunderland throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

However, a pre-season injury whilst playing for Manchester United put an end to any possible move – to any club – for the talented magician, which meant that Leeds were not able to take their interest any further.

TEAMtalk reported earlier this month that the Red Devils are now prepared to send him out on loan for the second half of this season upon his return to fitness.

Erik ten Hag is willing to sanction a temporary exit, seemingly as he does not have immediate first-team plans for the Ivorian ace, and Farke should reignite his interest in Amad to secure a deal for his services in January.

However, Sunderland are also said to be in the race to land his signature for a second time and this means that the club could face some stern competition for the former Rangers loanee.

Whites chief Angus Kinnear recently revealed that the club have left some loan spots vacant in order to leave room for possible January signings, which opens the door to a potential swoop to land the ex-Sunderland star.

The stats that show why Amad would be a good signing for Leeds

Amad's performances for the Black Cats throughout the 2022/23 season suggest that the young talent has the quality and maturity in his game to step in and hit the ground running in Yorkshire.

The left-footed wizard is no stranger to the rough and tumble of the Championship as he made a substantial 39 appearances at that level on loan on Wearside last term. This means that the club would be bringing in a player who already knows exactly what it takes to perform in this league.

This could be a better way to go than bringing in someone who has not experienced English or Championship football and expecting them to be able to make an instant impact without a pre-season under their belt as Leeds aim to win promotion back to the Premier League.

Amad has proven that he has the ability to contribute with goals and progressive play on a regular basis as he ended last season as Sunderland's top goalscorer with 14 league strikes – four more than any of his teammates produced – despite playing in an attacking midfield position.

He only registered three assists for the Black Cats but that total was not a fair reflection of the creative impact he made on the pitch. The United loanee ranked within the top 8% of his positional Championship peers for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.14), which shows that he consistently created opportunities for himself and others to take aim at goal.

Alongside that, the dynamic gem ranked within the top 6% for progressive passes (5.12) and the top 15% for progressive carries (3.72) per 90. This shows that he was among the best in his position at progressing the ball up the pitch to make things happen, by both utilising his passing and dribbling skills.

Whereas, Anthony has struggled to make a consistent impact in the final third for Leeds since joining on loan from Premier League side Bournemouth ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Jaidon Anthony's statistics this season

The 23-year-old forward, who – like Amad – predominantly operates in the attacking midfield or wide positions, has failed to break into the starting XI on a regular basis.

He has featured in nine Championship matches for the Whites this term but only two of his outings have come as a starter under Farke so far. In those games, Anthony has contributed with one goal and zero assists, along with zero 'big chances' created, as he has been unable to punish opposition teams with regularity.

The Cherries loanee has created 0.3 chances and completed 0.8 dribbles per game for Leeds. Whereas, Amad managed one key pass and 1.8 dribbles per match for Sunderland last season.

Anthony, who scored eight goals in 45 Championship games for Bournemouth during the 2021/22 campaign, has not proven himself to offer an outstanding goal threat, for his parent club or Leeds, in comparison to the Red Devils prodigy.

Amad's form for Sunderland was significantly more impressive than what the English whiz has shown in a Whites shirt so far this season, both in terms of his ability to score goals and create for his teammates on a consistent basis.

Therefore, Farke could land a big upgrade on his current loanee by securing a deal to sign the 5 foot 8 ace, who was dubbed a "joy to watch" by journalist Josh Bunting, for the second half of the campaign ahead of the Black Cats and any other interested parties come the turn of the year.