Manchester United fan and presenter Mark Goldbridge has been left “devastated” at an update that has emerged from Old Trafford.

Man Utd announce new 100,000 stadium plan

It has been a busy few days for co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who sat down with the media on Monday to talk all things United.

From managers to players and finances, Ratcliffe, who has injected £300m into the club since coming in last year, worryingly claimed that the money was due to run out at Old Trafford by the end of the year.

“If you think about Manchester United as a business, it’s gone off the rails. It’s gone off the rails a long way, really. If you look at the numbers, the numbers were fairly scary, really. Because they’d sort of lost control, I think, of where the ship was headed. And the costs had got out of control.

“If you think of it in really simple terms, you’ve got the operating costs, which are all the staff and the fixed costs of running the business. And then you’ve got all the squad costs, player salaries and player purchases.

“In super-simple terms, the club has been spending more money than it’s been earning now for the last seven years, and it ends in a very difficult place. And for Manchester United, that place ended at the end of this year, the end of 2025, with the club running out of cash.”

Since then, United have confirmed plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium, which will see the current Old Trafford knocked down. Plans were revealed on Tuesday and the new stadium is set to cost around £2bn.

Referred to as “New Trafford Stadium”

New Stretford End will have a capacity of 23,500

Stadium will be visible from the Peak District

5-10 years to build

Second largest stadium in Europe behind Nou Camp

Will be tallest building in Manchester

Talking on Tuesday, Ratcliffe said: “Today marks the start of an incredibly exciting journey to the delivery of what will be the world’s greatest football stadium, at the centre of a regenerated Old Trafford.

“Our current stadium has served us brilliantly for the past 115 years, but it has fallen behind the best arenas in world sport. By building next to the existing site, we will be able to preserve the essence of Old Trafford, while creating a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience only footsteps from our historic home.”

Goldbridge “devastated” at Old Trafford update

On Monday evening, Goldbridge took to X to react to the news he heard of Old Trafford being knocked down and replaced, an update which was confirmed by INEOS the next day.

Then, on Tuesday, Goldbridge had this to say on the images of the new stadium. “I’ve just seen the images of the new stadium… Some will like it, some won’t. Reminds me of the old Olympic stadium in Munich. Spiders web.

“I think it works well. Looks like a circus tent and we’re run like one.”

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All being well and if United get government backing, it will take around five years to build the new stadium, but it doesn’t look as if Goldbridge is best pleased.

Chelsea are now willing to make a huge bid to sign a “world-class” player despite him having a release clause of £833m, according to a report.

Blues set to spend big this summer

The Blues have overhauled their squad over the past few years, spending vast sums of money in the process, but they are showing no signs of slowing down, with several expensive targets on their shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window.

One such player is Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma, with the west Londoners now prepared to make a £75m bid for the Japan international, having been impressed by his performances this season.

Not only that, but an approach has been made over Barcelona gem Marc Casado, who has a £83m release clause in his contract, with the same report detailing that January target, Mancheser United’s Kobbie Mainoo, could cost £80m at the end of the campaign.

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Casado is not the only Barca player of interest to Chelsea, however, with a report from Spain stating they would be willing to pay €100m (£83m) for Jules Kounde, indicating just how highly the right-back is thought of at Stamford Bridge.

However, Kounde is said to be very happy at the Camp Nou, with the La Liga side set to offer him a new contract over the next few weeks, in light of some impressive performances this season, which have impressed Hansi Flick.

As such, it may be very difficult for the Blues to get a deal done, and the fact the Frenchman has a €1bn (£833m) release clause in his contract will not help matters.

Kounde proving himself as "world-class"

It is no wonder Enzo Maresca’s side are so keen on signing the defender, given that his performances for Barcelona have been lauded as “world-class” by members of the media.

However, the Spanish side are in a very strong negotiating position, given that the 26-year-old is happy at the Camp Nou, and he is protected by an astronomical release clause.

The France international has proven himself to be a top attacking full-back this season, picking up three goals and seven assists in 36 appearances in all competitions, indicating he could be a great acquisition for the Blues if he doesn’t agree a new contract.

That said, there are doubts over whether Kounde would be a necessary signing, given that Maresca is already well-stocked in the right-back department, with the likes of Reece James and Malo Gusto at his disposal.

Of course, there are always question marks about James’ fitness, but the Chelsea captain can be “fantastic” when fully-fit, while Gusto’s stellar performances this season have attracted the attention of Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

Arne Slot admits it would be "stupid" if Liverpool did not look to add this summer, with "a few" transfer targets being identified.

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• Chiesa the only signing in 2024-25
• Movement expected in next window
• Reds aware that rivals will spend big

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Reds have taken in two quiet windows since seeing managerial reins passed from legendary former boss Jurgen Klopp to Dutch tactician Slot. Federico Chiesa was the only cut-price signing during the summer of 2024.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  No fresh faces arrived at Anfield in January, with Liverpool favouring continuity and consistency in a season that saw them quickly rise to the top of the Premier League table. Another top-flight title triumph – a 20th in total – has been enjoyed on Merseyside.

• AFP
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  New contracts have been put in place with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is preparing to leave as a free agent. Movement is expected over the coming months, with Slot eager to bolster a squad that only requires minor tinkering.

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• WHAT ARNE SLOT SAID

  He already has potential additions in mind, telling of his recruitment plans: "[Manchester] City will probably strengthen the squad again. If the rumours are correct, Arsenal is planning the same, so it would be stupid if we are not looking at trying to strengthen the squad as well.

  "Again, I've said it many times, it's not that easy because this team has already won the league. So to find players that can strengthen us – that might not be that difficult – because there are certain players in the world where I think, 'if they would come, it would be nice'.

  "But they're also playing at clubs where they don't want to leave. So there are not many that can strengthen us, but the few that are out there, we will try to get them. At this moment of time we're not sure if that's possible."

MatériaMais Notícias

Jeffinho ‘passou no teste’ de Luís Castro. O camisa 47, uma das novidades na escalação do Botafogo na derrota para o Santos, foi alvo de elogios do treinador português após a partida. O jovem de 21 anos foi o atleta que mais acertou dribles na Vila Belmiro.

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+Jeffinho é a boa notícia do Botafogo na derrota para o Santos

– Jeffinho faz parte da minha forma de estar no futebol. Gosto muito de lançar jogadores jovens, para mim não há idade. Há qualidade ou não há qualidade, não é idade, não quero saber nada disso, de onde vem ou de onde não vem. Quero saber se tem qualidade e ele tem. Gosto muito dele, do atrevimento dele, da magia dele. Não estou dizendo que vai ser titular sempre porque há um perigo muito grande quando lançamos jogadores jovens – afirmou Luís Castro.

O comandante, porém, alertou sobre a comparação entre a expectativa colocada em cima de um garoto sobre a necessidade de resolver jogos.

+Renovação de Matheus Nascimento com Botafogo e reunião da Libra: o itinerário de John Textor no Brasil

– Muitas vezes lançamos (os jovens) com esperanças e às vezes estamos a matá-los porque eles não aparecem nas equipes no momento ideal porque as equipes não estão em um momento ótimo para eles. Tenho algum receio do momento que estamos a viver, também nessas aventuras de lançar jogadores jovens, mas faz parte dessa minha linha de vida e faz parte do projeto do Botafogo, além dos jogadores da base – completou.

O atacante se destacou no Campeonato Carioca pelo Resende e foi contratado pelo Botafogo inicialmente para o time B. Diante do grande número de desfalques, ele foi chamado para a equipe principal e impressionou, ganhando espaço. A partida contra o Santos foi a primeira como titular no Alvinegro.

Leeds United have endured huge success in such a short period of time, most of which has occurred ever since Marcelo Bielsa’s time in charge at Elland Road.

The Argentine transformed the club on and off the pitch, uniting the fanbase after numerous years of discontent, giving them a reason to be proud of their side, and helping them end their 16-year Premier League absence.

Even though the Whites have since dropped back into the Championship, current boss Daniel Farke deserves a huge amount of credit for building a side that looks to be closing in on a top-flight return.

He’s built an impressive side, boasting the best goalscoring record in the division, but also the second-best defensive tally, showcasing their all-round talent in England’s second tier.

As impressive as the recent form has been under the German, the hard work and foundations were laid for their success many years ago, enabling Bielsa to take the club to the heights he did.

Leeds United’s transfer window in the summer of 2016

Despite Bielsa joining the club in the summer of 2018, many of the key additions to his side were made a couple of years before his arrival in Yorkshire.

Pontus Jansson moved to the Whites on loan from Italian side Torino during the summer of 2016, making 36 appearances during his temporary stint at the club.

He would be so much of a key addition that he would join permanently the following season, notching a total of over 100 games during his three years at Leeds.

Luke Ayling was another player who moved to Elland Road during that summer, moving from Bristol City in a six-figure deal – with no supporter envisaging how much of a fan-favourite he would become.

The right-back featured over 250 times, playing a key role in the promotion-winning campaign, maintaining his place as a starter in the Premier League before eventually leaving in January last year.

However, one other player has departed Yorkshire in recent times, making a huge impact during his time as a player at Elland Road, with the hierarchy also making the right call in offloading him.

The player who Leeds struck gold offloading

Strikers have often been the players who receive the most love but also criticism from the Leeds faithful, having huge pressure to deliver and fire them to success.

Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford are two players who have endured such an experience within the current first-team side, but they aren’t the only ones to go through such a period.

Kemar Roofe joined the Whites from Oxford United in 2016, costing a fee in the region of £3m – with real expectations of transforming their forward line after what was then a big-money investment.

His first season in Yorkshire was somewhat of a disaster, scoring just three times in 49 appearances across all competitions – appearing to be a huge waste of money given his lack of goal return.

However, he would quickly turn his fortunes around, registering double figures in the two following campaigns, with his goals firing the club to a third-place finish in his final year with the Whites, leading to journalist Derek Clark dubbing him “sensational”.

Roofe would subsequently depart in a £7m deal to join Anderlecht in the summer of 2019, allowing the board to more than double their investment – offloading the striker whilst his stock was at its highest.

However, fast-forward nearly six years, the 32-year-old has just joined Championship rivals Derby County on a free transfer after his release from Rangers in the summer – now only valued at £600k by Transfermarkt.

2019/20

Anderlecht

16

7

3

2020/21

Rangers

36

18

4

2021/22

Rangers

36

16

2

2022/23

Rangers

6

2

0

2023/24

Rangers

24

2

1

Total:

118

45

10

Given his huge decline in value since his departure from Leeds, the club certainly made the right call in offloading the forward, especially considering they secured promotion the year after he completed the switch to Belgium.

Roofe was a superb option for the Whites during his three-year stint at Elland Road, with the supporters undoubtedly happy to see him get his career back on track after his lengthy period without a club.

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As Manchester United’s poor form continues, INEOS are already reportedly eyeing a move to replace Ruben Amorim after just four months in charge by hiring a World Cup winner.

Amorim's nightmare four months at Old Trafford

On paper, hiring a young, hungry manager seemed exactly what Manchester United needed. Amorim ticked most boxes and even backed up his credentials by defeating Manchester City with Sporting Club in the Champions League just before his Old Trafford arrival. What INEOS did not take a close enough look at is the system that the 40-year-old deploys.

For a squad full of wingers, an attack which lacks a leading goalscorer and one full of defenders used to playing in a back four, Manchester United hired a manager who plays without wingers, one key man leading the line and a back five rather than a back four. And as the months have ticked by, it’s become clearer that United simply did not do their homework.

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ByRobbie Walls Mar 4, 2025

Whilst Amorim should have done better at this stage than five wins in 16 Premier League games and a place in the bottom half, square pegs in round holes across his system were never going to turn Manchester United into a top-four side or perhaps even top half.

What makes matters worse is that the Red Devils simply cannot afford to rebuild their side in Amorim’s vision with the quality that he needs to take them back into European football. Amid a time full of cost-cutting measures, United have seemingly backed themselves into a corner once again.

It’s a problem which has seemingly sparked doubt over Amorim’s future, with a World Cup winner now reportedly being eyed by those at Old Trafford.

Man Utd eyeing move for Joachim Low

According to claims in Spain, Manchester United are now eyeing a move to hire Joachim Low to replace the struggling Amorim.

The 65-year-old has been out of a job since leaving the German national team in 2021 and hasn’t taken charge of club football since Austria Vienna in 2003. So, whilst this may be a World Cup winner, this is not an option who has great pedigree outside of international football which could instantly spark concerns for Manchester United.

However, one positive that United would benefit from hiring Low is that his preferred system with Germany was a 4-3-3, which would instantly suit the current Red Devils squad far more than a back five – therefore also possibly saving INEOS much-needed money this summer.

Whether those at Old Trafford pull the trigger on their Amorim decision this early remains to be seen, but he certainly needs to start picking up the right results sooner rather than later.

Keightley, replacing Trevor Griffin, has signed a three-year deal

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2023Lisa Keightley has signed with WBBL side Sydney Thunder as their head coach for the next three seasons. A highly decorated coach, Keightley takes over from Trevor Griffin, who was the coach when Thunder won the WBBL title in the 2020-21 season, the second time they had won the WBBL.”I know Sydney Thunder has a good history, and it has won two titles [they also won the inaugural edition in 2015-16],” Keightley said in a statement released by Thunder. “There’s also a good group of players who have enjoyed success.”When I say it’s a challenge, it’s in the sense of the team having a couple of seasons where they’d want to be. I’ll be making sure we’re competitive and winning games of cricket. Thunder has a core of players who have played for a number of years and have enjoyed success. I’m hoping it won’t take too much.”Related

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Keightley played nine Tests, 82 ODIs and one T20I for Australia between 1995 and 2005. After retiring as a player, she has coached the Australia national team – the first woman to do so – and the England national team, and has also worked with New South Wales, Western Australia, and Perth Scorchers.The first woman to score an international century at Lord’s, in an ODI against England in 1998, and also the owner of the second-highest individual score by an Australian in an ODI – 156* vs Pakistan in 1997 – is currently in South Africa as the tactical performance coach for Paarl Royals, the domestic T20 team.Phoebe Litchfield, Hannah Darlington are with ThunderAt Thunder, she would be working with, among others, two of Australia’s brightest young cricketers, Phoebe Litchfield and Hannah Darlington.”Hannah Darlington has had success, as has Phoebe Litchfield,” Keightley said. “Tahlia Wilson has been playing in [the NSW WNCL team] consistently over the years, and she’ll be looking to improve and have an impact.Lisa Keightley played nine Tests, 82 ODIs and one T20I for Australia•Getty Images”I look at other players and see Sammy-Jo Johnson as a seasoned campaigner who is probably a little disappointed in how she played this year. However, she’s had success in the past, so I can see no reason why that can’t be turned around.”Then you have the likes of Lauren Smith, another player who has played for a number of years and had success throughout the WBBL. It’s a matter of, to me, some overseas players being in and around the quality that we’ve got, and then playing some consistent cricket.”Keightley said her focus was to create a unique brand of cricket while at Thunder.”I’m looking forward to connecting with the players, especially the Sydney-based ones to make sure when we go into that competition it doesn’t feel new,” she said. “I’m looking forward to helping them and discussing their games and where they’d like to be. I want to share my observations of how they’re playing, and maybe, the areas where they can grow, learn and stretch.”I think that would be a good transition to make during the year, rather than coming in two weeks before the WBBL. I think that’s the nice bit of the challenge; knowing when we play in the WBBL that they’re clear about the brand of cricket we want to play.”

Gary Lineker was reduced to tears as he bid an emotional goodbye to the BBC after a 25-year run as Match of the Day presenter.

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Final show taken in as MOTD presenterEmotional night for ex-England strikerFinal year of BBC contract has been terminatedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

It has been confirmed that the former England international will be severing ties with the BBC after walking away from the final year of his lucrative contract on the back of a social media misstep where he shared an antisemitic image on his Instagram story, which was later deleted. Lineker has insisted it was accidental.

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He had been due to spend another year with the BBC, taking him through FA Cup and World Cup coverage in 2025-26. The 64-year-old – who has already moved into the world of podcasts – is now readying himself for a fresh start.

It had previously been confirmed that Lineker would be leaving MOTD at the end of the 2024-25 season, with his final show in that chair seeing him joined by Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. Tribute messages were received from ex-players and former team-mates such as Ian Wright, Paul Gascoigne and Peter Shilton.

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WHAT GARY LINEKER SAID

When signing off for the final time, Lineker struggled to keep his emotions in check, with tears finally flowing as the credits rolled on an iconic Premier League highlights show. Lineker said in his last piece to camera: "Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the other pundits that I have had the pleasure of working with over the last 25 years. You have made my job so much easier.

"Also, a huge thank you to those that you don’t see at home – the work that goes into making this iconic show is a huge team effort. From the editors to the analysis team, from the commentators to the floor managers, from the producers to the camera operators, from the PAs to subs, thank you all, you are the very best. Rather like my football career, everyone else did all the hard work and I got the plaudits."

Newcastle United will be offered three players in exchange for Alexander Isak by a huge European club this summer, according to a new transfer claim.

Newcastle sweating over Isak's future

Isak is enjoying a fantastic season for the Magpies, standing out as not only their star but also one of the best players in the Premier League currently, causing defenders nightmares with his pace, finishing and all-round game.

The 25-year-old has scored 19 league goals in 2024/25 to date, with only Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland ahead of him in the charts, which says a huge amount about the sort of company he is now in.

Isak’s blistering form is understandably seeing him being linked with a move away from Newcastle this summer, however, with some huge clubs battling to snap him up. Chelsea and Arsenal have both been mentioned as potential suitors to sign the Sweden international, while Liverpool are also reportedly pushing to sign him in a possible £148m deal.

The Magpies are understandably desperate to keep their most prized asset at St James’ Park for as long as possible, but there will be concern that he could eye a move elsewhere, feeling he could reach another level at an even bigger club.

Newcastle to be offered attacking trio in Isak swap deal

According to RMC Sport [via NUFC Blog], Paris Saint-Germain are ready to offer Marco Asensio, Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani to Newcastle this summer, in a swap deal that allows them to sign Isak.

The bottom line is that the Magpies would surely rather retain the services of the Swede than lose him, even if it means three players heading in the opposite direction.

Granted, he hasn’t been without injury problems, so there is a tiny element of sense in cashing in on him, but he needs to be viewed as the fulcrum of Eddie Howe’s attack for the foreseeable future.

Should the worst happen and Isak move to PSG, however, Newcastle would at least be bringing in three top-quality players who have proven themselves at a high level throughout their respective careers, with the Ligue 1 champions currently paying the trio a combined £383,000 per week.

In Ramos, the Magpies could have a particularly exciting option, having been hailed by Ian Wright after a stunning hat-trick for Portugal against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup:

“It was very impressive, he played very well, scored a hat trick and takes all the headlines and rightly so. He held the ball up brilliantly but the first goal it set the stall for him. ‘He scores a goal that he’s not meant to score (his first goal). He hits it so well, he’s not meant to score that side of the goal but that kind of set them on the road really.”

Meanwhile, Asensio is a three-time Champions League winner from his Real Madrid days, and is currently doing well on loan at Aston Villa, recently scoring a late winner against Chelsea in the Premier League.

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Kolo Muani was famously denied by Emiliano Martinez in the dying seconds of extra-time for France against Argentina in the last World Cup final, and he has five goals in as many Serie A starts on loan at Juventus this season.

He and S Sharath added 117 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand to take the side to 229 for 5 at stumps

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2023

Mayank Agarwal hit his third century of the season to rescue Karnataka on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Saurashtra at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.At stumps, Agarwal was unbeaten on 110, and his unbroken partnership with wicketkeeper-batter S Sharath was worth 117, as Karnataka recovered from a precarious 112 for 5 to 229 for 5 on a surface that had enough in it for the bowlers all day long.Saurashtra won a good toss, and struck twice in the first half-hour with the wickets of R Samarth and Devdutt Padikkal. Kushang Patel, who may have not played had Jaydev Unadkat been available, drew first blood with he had Samarth nicking to third slip with a loose shot in the sixth over.In the ninth, Padikkal was out nibbling at an away-going delivery from left-arm seamer Chetan Sakariya as Sheldon Jackson gobbled up a simple catch at first slip. Agarwal and Nikin Jose, in his debut season, saw off the rest of the session without much trouble, before Kushang had Jose nicking behind off the third delivery after lunch.Agarwal had a wobbly start in which he was reprieved on 13 by Snell Patel in the slips. But with wickets falling from the other end, Agarwal brought out another side to his game, one of self-restraint, as Karnataka attempted a rebuild. But when Manish Pandey fell looking to hoick one over midwicket, they were in dire need of a partnership.Shreyas Gopal, the centurion of the previous game, should have been out first ball but was reprieved as replays confirmed Kushang had overstepped. But he didn’t last long, and was out trying to steal a single as substitute fielder Samarth Vyas came up with a one-handed pick-up-and-throw to effect a direct hit from cover-point.However, Agarwal and Sharath then joined hands and blunted the bowling. Spin wasn’t introduced until the 44th over, and when Dharmendrasinh Jadeja finally came on, Agarwal was well set.Sharath, playing in only his second game this season, was stodgy in defence and kept giving Agarwal the strike for him to combat much of the fast-bowling threat, especially Sakariya’s as he swung the ball both ways.Sharath ended the day unbeaten on 58 and walked off to a huge round of applause from his captain and his team-mates.