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Manchester United have been in hot pursuit of Mason Mount in recent weeks and now a new update has emerged on the club’s progress in securing the Chelsea midfielder’s signature.

What’s the latest on Mason Mount’s future?

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, the England and Chelsea star has agreed personal terms with Manchester United.

As per a report written for Football Insider, O’Rourke claims that Champions League football has played a huge factor in Mount’s decision to sign a £200k-per-week deal to join the Red Devils instead of Liverpool this summer.

Such news even sparked interest from the racing community. Mount attended the Spanish Grand Prix at the weekend and was stitched up by Ben Chilwell, who got Martin Brundle to ask whether the England star was moving to Old Trafford.

Who will Mason Mount replace at Man United?

It is clear that Erik ten Hag is keen to improve his midfield this summer with a number of high-profile midfielders linked to the club including Adrien Rabiot, Manuel Ugarte and Mateo Kovacic to name a few.

As a result, the signing of Mount – who will reportedly cost £70m this summer – will be a great opportunity for the Red Devils to not only bolster their midfield options but also bring in a replacement for Christian Eriksen who offers plenty of Premier League and Champions League experience.

The 31-year-old midfielder joined the Manchester giants on a free transfer last summer and whilst he has offered some consistency in the centre of the pitch he is not a long-term solution that can lead the club back to greatness in years to come, due to the fact he is now 31 years old.

Over 24 Premier League appearances this term, Mount – hailed as “superb” by none other than Kylian Mbappe – scored three goals, registered two assists and created three big chances.

It’s not his best season, particularly when you consider his 29 goal involvements last term, but he has proven to be a well-rounded asset, averaging 1.3 key passes, 1.4 tackles, 1.4 shots on goal and 3.5 duels won per game, boasting attributes that make him an ideal advanced midfield asset should he make the move to Manchester.

When comparing the England midfielder to his positional peer at Man United, it is clear Mount has outperformed Eriksen in several key attributes this season, notably progressive carries (48 v 23), progressive passes received (114 v 66) and successful take-ons (48.4% v 47.1%), as per FBref.

It shows that the Chelsea star is a more energetic presence who can play between the lines expertly.

With that being said, Mount would be a perfect player to add a fresh perspective and excellent experience to comfortably compete in the Champions League next season and under Ten Hag’s guidance could reach his full potential at Old Trafford.

James Anderson has admitted he may need to sit out some Tests this winter if he is to cope with England’s demanding schedule

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2016

James Anderson has admitted he may need to sit out some Tests this winter if he is to cope with England’s demanding schedule.England are to play seven Tests in two months in Bangladesh and India. While Anderson, England’s record Test wicket-taker, insists he would like to be involved in every one, he accepts that, aged 34 and with many miles on the clock, he may to miss the occasional game to ensure he retains his effectiveness.Anderson was a key performer when England last played a Test series in India. While he claimed a modest-looking 12 wickets in the four Tests, MS Dhoni rated him the difference between the sides as England came from behind to win 2-1. No other seamer claimed more than four wickets.But Anderson has warned that, with so many Tests in such a short period, he will have to be “a bit sensible” in terms of managing his workload. He has endured a few absences due to injury in recent times, missing almost half of the 2015 Ashes due to a side strain, the start of the South Africa series with a calf injury and part of the Pakistan series with a shoulder injury. The signs that his heavy workload – among seamers, only Courtney Walsh, Glenn McGrath and Kapil Dev have bowled more deliveries in Test cricket – are beginning to tell.”It’s a tough one because as a player if you’re fit you want to play, simple as that, no matter what the format you’re desperate to play,” Anderson told Press Association Sport.”But there may well come a time when it will get managed. At 34 I probably have to manage myself, or be managed, quite well. You want, if possible, to play every Test but India is going to be five back to back and that’s a huge ask for any bowler.”We’re in constant discussion with the captain, coach and medical staff about the best scenario. We’ve got good backroom staff who are very switched on and it will be managed well.”You take it game by game. You can’t say now ‘I’ll miss the second Test of five’, because you might bowl 15 overs in the first game. So you be a bit sensible and there will probably come a point where we try to look and maybe I’ve got to sit out.”Anderson carried a heavy burden with the seam bowling in 2012 – Stuart Broad did not take a wicket in the series and was dropped after two Tests – but he expects greater assistance this time. The England team may well contain two seam-bowling allrounders – Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes – while Moeen Ali’s ability to bat in the top six provides the opportunity to play an extra bowler if required.But while Anderson welcomes the assistance, he still expects to have an important role to play in India and Bangladesh.”We’re fortunate now, with Stokesy and Mo, it looks after the seamers,” he said. “That’s a real bonus for us because it has been difficult in India when we’ve had just two seamers and two spinners.”But there’s a danger to go over there and expect spinners to take the wickets. There are still opportunities as a seamer, the ball swings out there and reverse swings later in the innings. You have to look at the positives and think how you can make an impact.”

While acknowledging that Steven Smith “took some convincing” to sit out the rest of the Sri Lanka tour in order to rest and re-charge for Australia’s forthcoming fixtures, coach Darren Lehmann has strongly defended the move

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Aug-2016While acknowledging that Steven Smith “took some convincing” to sit out the remainder of the Sri Lanka tour in order to rest and re-charge for Australia’s forthcoming fixtures, coach Darren Lehmann has strongly defended the move as being in the team’s best interests.”We just wanted to make sure that he’s fresh and ready to go for South Africa and then the big summer ahead,” Lehmann told reporters in Colombo. “It was well-planned and well thought out, and that’s what we’re doing.”Australia are due to tour South Africa for 5 ODIs in September-October, before hosting them for three Tests in November. That will be followed by home series against New Zealand and Pakistan. Australia will then tour New Zealand and India early next year.Despite leaving the tour early, Smith has emphasised his desire to continue captaining Australia in all three formats, and Lehmann backed that sentiment.”He wants to keep doing that and we’re very happy with the way he’s leading the side,” Lehmann said.Smith’s departure will give David Warner the opportunity to captain his country for the first time. Warner’s captaincy experience so far is limited to leading Sunrisers Hydrabad in this year’s IPL season and a lone match as captain of Sydney Thunder in an earlier edition of the Big Bash League.”If Steven happened to get injured then we need David to have some experience,” Lehmann said. “So that’s another opportunity and that’s important for us to get him that experience. They’re a great leadership duo together and David’s been exceptional over the last couple of years, coming through some difficult times and now playing really well.”Obviously we’d like him to make a few more runs in this tour but, having said that, with the leadership, he did really well with the IPL side [Sunrisers Hyderabad] so we’re confident he’ll do a good job for us.”The move to send Smith home mid-way through the ODI series in Sri Lanka has been criticised by a number of former players. Michael Slater tweeted that “the captain should be there to the end”, while Dean Jones and Michael Clarke felt that, if Smith had to be rested, it should have been done before the ODI series began, rather than halfway through it.

I don't understand Steve Smith returning early from ODI series. The captain should be there to the end! @Iheals @BigSportsBrekky #AUSvSL

— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) August 24, 2016

In the same breath if Smithy needed a break then he should have flown home after the Test matches not 2x ODIs in. https://t.co/i0WEWqOVe7

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) 25 August 2016

Meanwhile, Mahela Jayawardene also expressed surprise, wondering if other Australia captains would have done likewise.

Surprised to see smith going back home to prepare for SA tour when this one is not finished. Would any other @CricketAus captain done this?

— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) 25 August 2016

Lehmann accepted that past players were entitled to their opinions, but reiterated his stand that resting Smith was for the best.”We respect our former captains and former greats who have an opinion. There’s no dramas, they’re entitled to that. But we think it’s the best thing for Steven to get him right and ready to go.”

Liverpool have a 'very genuine' interest in Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount heading into this summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Mason Mount?

As per Football Insider, Liverpool and Arsenal are set to go toe-to-toe in an attempt to try and entice Mount away from Stamford Bridge in the forthcoming transfer window.

The report states that Mount wants to be among the highest earners at Chelsea, which has proved to be a roadblock in contract negotiations, sparking both Liverpool and Arsenal into life as they look to strengthen their respective midfield departments. Bayern Munich are also said to be keen to offer the 24-year-old a new challenge.

Mount is believed to be interested in moving to Bayern Munich in the off-season and the German giants may hold a significant card in their pursuit as they are managed by former Blues manager Thomas Tuchel, as per The Guardian.

With his £80k-a-week deal in west London set to expire in 2024, Chelsea are fearful that they may have to cash in on Mount sooner rather than later unless progress can be made regarding potential fresh terms.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that Liverpool hold a 'strong' level of interest in Mount and will be at the front of the queue to try and sign him this summer.

Jacobs said: "From Liverpool's perspective, they see a real window of opportunity; the interest is very genuine and relatively strong and they also have to understand what Chelsea are going to counter with and whether or not Mount truly wants to leave the football club.

"Then you've got to factor in a new manager into all of this and also consider other outgoings because Mount will want to understand, by the time the first game of next season comes around, who else is going to be there in his position? How much competition will [there be] and what role does the new manager think that he has to play at the football club."

Would Mason Mount be a good signing for Liverpool?

Mount is a player who could be set to enter his prime in the not-too-distant future and would add another dimension to Liverpool's midfield if Jurgen Klopp could sanction a deal for him this summer.

In 2022/23, the 24-year-old – hailed a "superstar" previously by journalist Rob Guest – has made 35 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, registering three goals and assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Despite Chelsea's poor form this term, Mount has still provided a regular supply of chances, successfully performing 83 shot-creating actions in his time on the pitch, as shown on FBRef.

With Liverpool known to want to add midfield reinforcements in the off-season, Mount could definitely freshen up the Reds' engine room heading into 2023/24.

Tottenham Hotspur hold a concrete interest in Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti, while they could also target the Serie A side's sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, according to reports from Italy.

What's the latest Tottenham manager news?

There are conflicting reports about who Tottenham's number one manager target is, as it has recently been reported that chairman Daniel Levy is ready to green light a move for Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso.

That would suggest Julian Nagelsmann has fallen down the list of priorities, despite Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg claiming Levy is "pushing" to appoint the German, who is set for "more talks" with the north London club.

Many of the coaches Spurs have recently been linked with have been young, up-and-coming managers, with Ruben Amorim also in the picture, which is why the recent reports about Spalletti may come as a little bit of a surprise.

According to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness), the Lilywhites hold a concrete interest in the 64-year-old, with his future at Napoli uncertain, despite the fact his contract has recently been extended until 2024. Spurs are said to have a number of targets on their list, and they are keen on the Napoli boss, but they are not the only club interested.

Chelsea and PSG are also keen on the Italian, while Tottenham could also consider a move for Napoli's sporting director, Giuntoli, having recently had contacts with the 51-year-old, who could be brought in to replace Fabio Paratici.

Should Tottenham appoint Spalletti?

It is no wonder the Certaldo-born coach is being targeted by a number of top European clubs, as he has recently led Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990, doing so with four games left to spare, after a remarkable campaign.

Hailed as an "elite football coach" by members of the media, the 4-3-3 attacking manager has won nine trophies throughout his career, however it must be noted the vast majority of that success was quite some time ago.

Prior to leading Napoli to their recent Scudetto, the last trophy the veteran manager won was the Russian Premier League with Zenit St Petersburg in 2012, while he has also never managed in England, so his appointment would undoubtedly be a risk.

Given that Tottenham are said to want a young and progressive manager, it would probably be wise to steer clear of Spalletti this summer, despite his achievements with Napoli.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the clubs who are monitoring the Championship centre-back Nathan Wood as an option for the summer.

Who is Nathan Wood?

The north London club's defensive record this season has been woeful with the Lilywhites having already conceded 45 goals in the Premier League alone.

Only six other teams in the league have a worse record than Spurs and all six of those sides find themselves in a relegation battle going into the final games.

It is believed Daniel Levy is keen to bring in two new central defenders over the summer after failing last summer to land their main target Alessandro Bastoni.

Spurs brought in Clement Lenglet over the summer on a season-long loan deal but it is not believed the north London side hold the option to buy at the end of the campaign.

But it seems as if their search for a new centre-back could take them to the second tier again with Fabrizio Romano naming Wood as a potential target on his Here We Go podcast:

(20:10) "I can also tell you that, from what I understand, Arsenal are monitoring some talents around in England. Nathan Wood is a player of Swansea. A very talented centre-back born in 2002, doing very well also with England U21. Arsenal, Tottenham sending their scouts to follow this boy."

Would Spurs be a good move for Wood?

Over recent years, Spurs have brought in a number of promising young talents from the Championship which could provide the 20-year-old with an idea of what to expect.

Last summer, Spurs signed Djed Spence from Middlesbrough and his time in north London has failed massively so far with Antonio Conte refusing to give the youngster any real opportunity in the side.

Having labelled the wing-back as a 'club signing', Conte oversaw Spence's exit in January on a short-term loan deal to the Ligue 1 side Rennes.

And it was a similar case for centre-back Joe Rodon who has also found himself at Rennes on loan this season with opportunities few and far between in north London.

After signing for Spurs back in 2020 as a promising young defender, Rodon has since made just 24 appearances for Spurs across all competitions (via Transfermarkt).

It has been made clear the Spurs philosophy has not benefited young players since Mauricio Pochettino's exit so perhaps the decision on the next manager make them appealing once again to young talents.

However, when there are also reports suggesting the Lilywhites are looking to reward Eric Dier with a new contract, there has to be questions asked as to where the club's long-term vision is.

The England international has been slammed throughout the season for his poor defensive judgement, yet it seems as if Spurs are looking to stick with him in defence.

Wood has played a significant role in Swansea City's promotion push this season with 36 appearances in the Championship alone so far (via Transfermarkt).

The 20-year-old has been hailed as "outstanding" by Romano but whether he will get the chance to show that if he was to move to Spurs is another matter.

Liverpool have held positive discussions regarding a deal for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, according to reports.

What's the latest on Mount to Liverpool?

The Premier League playmaker’s contract in SW6 is set to expire next summer, and having rejected the opportunity to extend his stay, has been linked with an exit. Football Insider reports that the 24-year-old is a huge admirer of Jurgen Klopp and would be keen to make the move to Anfield.

Speaking during his most recent pre-match press conference, the Reds boss revealed that he used the international break to reach out to his transfer targets, admitting: “It was good. On the player side, it was positive, I would say. But it’s talks, not decisions… we are busy, you can imagine.”

According to GOAL, Liverpool are “keen” to take advantage of Mount’s situation at Chelsea and have already held “productive” talks regarding a possible deal. The Merseysiders would be “willing and able” to meet his salary demands but are set to face competition from Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

The Reds have “admired” the midfielder for a long period of time and believe that his age, experience and skill set make him an “ideal fit”, while they came close to signing him when he was an under-16 player. The Blues, as it stands, are “open to selling” but have set a price tag of £70m, which has been labelled “ambitious” for someone who’s out of contract next year.

Would Mount be a good fit for Liverpool?

Mount might only be 24, but he’s already been lauded as a “leader” of the midfield at Chelsea by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so his authoritative qualities may allow him to fit in seamlessly in the centre of the park at Liverpool.

The Nike-sponsored star has clocked up 70 senior goal contributions in 192 Blues appearances and has whipped a total of 64 crosses into the box this season, showing that he’s always looking to find the back of the net and create chances for his teammates to do the same.

The Portsmouth-born talent is also extremely versatile, having operated in seven various positions since the start of his career across the midfield and frontline, making him a useful option for any boss to have at his disposal.

Finally, Mount has helped Chelsea secure three trophies since stepping up to the first team in the form of the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup, so is clearly a key player when it comes to being on the hunt to secure silverware.

Leeds United have reportedly held talks with the representatives of Morocco international Abde Ezzalzouli.

What’s the latest Leeds transfer news on Ezzalzouli?

The Whites are currently involved in another tight relegation battle in the Premier League and are preparing for a meeting with Liverpool on Monday evening.

Javi Gracia’s side are looking to bounce back from a heavy 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last time out, but it looks as if sporting director Victor Orta is already making a head start when it comes to potential summer additions.

Ezzalzouli is the latest player to be linked with a move to Elland Road, with the 21-year-old currently on loan at Osasuna from parent club Barcelona.

Sport Witness relayed an update from Spanish outlet Sport in the last 48 hours regarding Leeds and Ezzalzouli. They said that the Whites appear to be moving seriously when it comes to signing the player as they have held a meeting with Ezzalzouli’s agent, Javier Garrido, over a possible transfer.

The report adds how Leeds are currently focusing on remaining in the Premier League before making an offer, showing how the club’s top-flight status could be crucial to any deal.

Who is Ezzalzouli?

As mentioned, Ezzalzouli is a Barcelona player currently plying his trade out on loan with Osasuna. The 21-year-old can play on either wing and is valued at a career-high €8m by Transfermarkt, with his deal at the Nou Camp running until 2026.

The Morocco international made three appearances at last year's World Cup in Qatar and has turned out on 26 occasions for Osasuna this season, 21 of which have come in La Liga. Ezzalzouli has contributed to seven goals during his loan spell, with the player once labelled as "spectacular" by Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez.

This isn't the only Barcelona winger Leeds have their eye on this summer, though, with links to Ilias Akhomach emerging in recent months. However, Ezzalzouli has more senior experience than Akhomach and is three years older, so could represent an immediate first-team option at Elland Road, with Akhomach potentially viewed as a development signing.

West Ham United apparently fear a mass exodus from the club if they’re relegated with Said Benrahma coming as one of the players who could depart.

The Lowdown: Hammers face drop…

David Moyes’ men are in serious danger of dropping to the Championship after what has been a season to forget domestically for the east Londoners.

West Ham currently sit 18th in the Premier League table, having lost 14 games and winning just six, all the while being among the division’s lowest goal scorers.

One shining light for Moyes’ side is that they actually boast the best defensive record of any side in the bottom ten bar Chelsea, potentially giving them something to build upon in the latter stages of this season.

Amid this relegation worry, though, it is now believed that more players could leave West Ham alongside the heavily mooted potential departure of star midfielder Declan Rice.

The Latest: West Ham hold Benrahma fear…

As per club insider Claret & Hugh, as well as the England international, West Ham are worried that midfielder Benrahma could be one of the players pushing to leave if they go down.

The Algeria international would apparently be unhappy to drop back down after securing a move to West Ham from Brentford in 2020/2021.

Winger Jarrod Bowen is another squad member who could want to quit the London Stadium in West Ham’s worst case scenario.

The Hammers hierarchy have also apparently written wage cut clauses into all contracts should they get relegated.

The Verdict: Worrying times…

Benrahma can be a player of real talent and poise in the forward areas when playing at his very best.

As per WhoScored, the 27-year-old sits joint-top of West Ham’s charts for most attempts at goal per 90 in the top flight and also completes more take-ons per 90 than any Irons player.

Benrahma one of West Ham’s most prolific in terms of key passes per 90 with only Bowen and left-back Aaron Cresswell making more per match (WhoScored).

Called ‘magic’ by former West Ham winger Trevor Sinclair, losing the attacker could be a blow for Moyes if they go down.

YouTuber Mark Goldbridge has claimed that if Manchester United are bought by Qatari-linked Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, “there might be a situation” where Kylian Mbappe joins in the future, while the likes of Harry Maguire go to Paris Saint-Germain.

What’s the latest on the Qatar-linked bid for Man United?

The Glazers may well be looking to sell the Premier League club in the near future and so a number of interested parties have been tipped as possible new Man Utd owners.

Indeed, alongside Sheikh Al Thani’s bid, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and a third “mystery” US bidder have all been reported in the media as having made offers for the Glazers to consider.

Of course, the ownership group already have strong ties to PSG and it remains to be seen if the Qatar-based consortium can get passed UEFA rules to own both clubs who of course regularly play in the Champions League.

While speaking about it all on The United Stand, Goldbridge pointed out that the Red Bull-owned clubs in Salzburg and Leipzig often both play in the same European competition and are allowed to do so despite being owned by the same company.

He explained: “That’s my point. There’s already two clubs in Europe that play in the same tournament in Europe and they feed each other players, so I don’t think it would be unprecedented.”

Goldbridge then suggested that the club would have to be “subtle” to avoid “dodgy” transfers but could end up agreeing to some exciting deals with PSG if a relationship was established.

He said: “It won’t happen anyway, it will be way more subtle than that. We won’t have a situation where [Marco] Verratti and Mbappe come to Man Utd for £5m and Maguire and [Scott] McTominay go to PSG for £100m. That would be dodgy.

“But you might have a situation where Mbappe leaves PSG and comes to Man Utd because of the relationship he’s got with the Qatari ownership of PSG and they’ve got close ties with our ownership – that might happen.”

What could a Qatari bid mean for Mbappe to MUFC and Maguire to PSG?

Interestingly enough, there have already been reports in The Sun that Harry Maguire could end up joining PSG in the summer for a touted £50m transfer fee.

That rumour, as far-fetched as it sounds, might be something the Ligue 1 outfit want to pursue regardless of any relationship with Man Utd – especially seeing as the Glazers may not even end up selling.

But if there is any truth to the report, then you can see how negotiations could be made less complicated in the summer if the Red Devils are owned by the Qatari-linked Sheikh Al Thani.

And so, in theory, if a deal was sorted this could then open the door for other future transfers, potentially such as Mbappe, who has been urged to join the club in recent times, so perhaps it wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary if United can put themselves in a position to fund such a move.