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Manchester United are now reportedly working on replacing Ruben Amorim with one Premier League manager now emerging as an early frontrunner.

Gary Neville: Amorim "complicated" Wolves draw

Man United’s 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers would have felt all too predictable for those inside Old Trafford on Tuesday night. For many, it came as a shock. Wolves picked up just their third point of the season, after all. For onwatching fans, as the Red Devils reverted back to their 3-4-2-1 system, it was an all too familiar feeling.

It seemed as though Amorim had finally cracked the code when he admitted the necessity of a system change with the current crop of players at his disposal, but it was back to square one against Wolves.

Like many, Gary Neville was left baffled by the change and said on his Sky Sports podcast: “He doesn’t need to say ‘I haven’t changed because of the media’ because then he’s telling us basically that the media is in his head.

“The reason he’s had to change is because the performance levels with the 3-4-3 have been so poor and the results have been appalling.

“When I see that we go back [to three at the back] after five minutes tonight and I’m thinking, no, Ruben, why have you done that?

“The manager has to look at that and think, I got that wrong. I complicated it.”

Related UCL club now prioritising January move to sign £120,000-a-week Man United ace

The Red Devils could cash in.

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INEOS have continued to back their man, but there’s no denying the embarrassment of Man United’s struggles against a Wolves side destined for relegation at Old Trafford.

It has done nothing for the pressure on Amorim to turn a permanent corner and reports are now claiming that INEOS are working on finding his replacement.

Man United working on Oliver Glasner move

According to Caught Offside, INEOS are now working on a move to appoint Oliver Glasner to replace Amorim and have discussed the Crystal Palace manager internally.

An early frontrunner to land the job, Glasner is on course to become a free agent in the summer when his current Crystal Palace contract expires and there are currently no signs that he’ll be signing an extension in South London.

But would Glasner solve Man United’s problems? INEOS reportedly see the Austrian as a safe pair of hands, yet his system uses the same formation as Amorim’s.

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Dubbed “fantastic” by Clinton Morrison, Glasner has preferred to use a 3-4-2-1 at Crystal Palace and whilst he has shown his ability to adapt at other clubs, questions will be asked if Man United turn towards another back three manager.

2026 will be a crucial year for Amorim’s tenure. He’s been backed in the transfer market and has the trust of INEOS, but that won’t last forever if results such as the draw against Wolves continue to arrive.

Cricket Australia will honour a commitment for its Australia A and under-19 sides to tour Pakistan despite Hockey Australia’s decision to pull out of December’s Champions Trophy for security reasons. The trips are scheduled for September and October, and a five-man delegation from Australia completed a security inspection of Pakistan last week.”It’s our intention to fulfil our tour obligations,” a Cricket Australia spokesman told . “We will continue to monitor with the relevant security agencies both in Australia and overseas on the day-to-day developments in Pakistan.”The commitment was only for this year’s series, however the Australian board said at this stage it was still planning for Australia’s three-Test tour of Pakistan next March to go ahead. There have been security concerns in Pakistan lately, after a wave of suicide bombings and other attacks by militants following an army raid on the pro-Taliban Red Mosque in Islamabad in early July.Last week’s inspection was led by Cricket Australia’s operations manager Michael Brown and Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association. “The group received some first-class presentations from the PCB and Pakistani authorities on a wide range of issues including security,” the Cricket Australia spokesman said. “We feel we are in possession of good and the most up-to-date information.”

Scorecard

Stuart Law was at his best during the 121 that has put Lancashire in control © Getty Images

Sometimes a single innings stands out above anything else in a match. Not for the first time in a run-filled career, Stuart Law reached that level at Edgbaston as Lancashire built a match-winning lead of 144 in conditions that were still far from cakewalk for the batsmen. He and Iain Sutcliffe added almost as many as the whole Warwickshire line-up managed together – their stand of 165 could be the defining period of this match.There was less help for the seamers than on the opening day; when the sun shines at Edgbaston batsmen tend to prosper. However, it had by no means turned into a featherbed and an early wicket apiece for Dougie Brown and Heath Streak threatened another batting collapse. The ball that scooted through low to trap Brad Hodge would certainly have raised the odd eyebrow.But Law belied the conditions and whenever he was on strike it was as though an entirely different game was being played. He stamped his authority early with a succession of sweetly timed straight drives, but the sign of his class came with a delicate late cut off Lee Daggett that raced down to third man. The shot was played with complete confidence and control and Law was on his way.With the ball still offering to seam Law ensured he got a large stride down the pitch to cover any movement while still being in a position to rock back if the bowler dropped short. The Warwickshire attack offered plenty of both lengths, although erred on the side off too full, especially the young pair of Daggett and James Anyon. Daggett had found the perfect length on Saturday when Warwickshire bowled out Durham, but here he strived too hard rather than letting the pitch help him.The pace of scoring in this match has never threatened to beyond near three-an-over, so the fact Law’s century came off 151 balls showed how dominant he was. In contrast Sutcliffe crept along but that should not detract at all from an innings that was equally vital to Lancashire’s cause. He performed the anchor role that none of the Warwickshire top order could manage. What will have frustrated him, however, would be the manner of his dismissal when he edged a drive off Jim Troughton’s first ball, which was sharplytaken to slip’s right.Sutcliffe’s wicket sparked a mini-collapse as Warwickshire hauled themselves back into contention through Troughton and Moeen Ali, who ended Law’s outstanding innings with a delivery that turned behind his legs and hit legstump. It was due reward for Ali, and a memorable maiden first-class wicket, who bowled with encouraging flight and he soon added Dominic Cork via a soft edge to slip.However, Lancashire have always prided themselves on a long batting line-up. This match it is not quite as strong without Glen Chapple, but Kyle Hogg took the chance to display his prowess. Since being tipped for higher honours at the same time that James Anderson was selected in 2003, Hogg has regressed rather alarmingly and hasn’t been able to gain a regular spot in the first team. Dougie Brown will be wishing he wasn’t in this side.In the first over with the second new ball, Hogg launched Brown straight into the pavilion, then in his next over dispatched three fours in four balls in a calculated assault that significantly changed the balance of power. The spinners had given Heath Streak a modicum of control so taking the new ball was a risky decision and the first 10 overs with it brought 56 runs.When Hogg held out to deep square-leg, Tom Smith contributed more useful runs with the last three wickets putting on 100. The Warwickshire attack stuck to their task all day, but couldn’t quite find the talisman that Lancashire had in Cork yesterday. The tail-end efforts have shown that batting certainly is possible and the home side can take heart from that. But they’ll need more than some lower-order defiance to turn this match around; someone will have to play an innings out of Law book.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball

Andrew Strauss sweeps on his way to 98, sealing England’s place in the final © Getty Images

Andrew Strauss filled his boots against the Bangladesh attack for the third time in the NatWest Series as England comfortably sealed their place in the final with a five-wicket win at Headingley. Strauss was out with just one run needed, for 98, following Andrew Flintoff’s 4 for 29 which restricted Bangladesh after they made a promising start.Strauss attempted to finish the match in the grand manner, by reaching his century, but was bowled by Manjural Islam, the ball after hitting a six to get within two runs of his milestone (208 for 5). It was another impressive innings from Strauss and it is important that he now starts to take this form into the remaining matches against Australia – starting at Edgbaston on Tuesday.A target of 209 was never going to be enough to trouble England, especially when Strauss and Marcus Trescothick continued to gorge themselves on the Bangladesh bowling. Trescothick was in great touch again and it was a surprise when he got a feathered edge against Manjural for 43 – a relative failure against after his previous scores of 100* and 85 against Bangladesh in the tournament.Habibul Bashar was forced to turn to his spinners – Manjural and Mohammad Rafique – within the 15 overs and Trescothick took advantage and slog-swept into the Western Terrace (or Stand as it now prefers to be known). However, Manjural got his revenge when Trescothick tried another dab to third-man and got the thinnest of edges to Khaled Mashud (99 for 1).Flintoff was promoted to No. 3 but he again failed to make the most of his opportunity when he fell lbw sweeping at Rafique (134 for 2). Kevin Pietersen gave the Headingley crowd a brief glimpse of his power, clearing the midwicket boundary once during his 23, before finding long-on as he attempted to win the match quickly (182 for 4).

Andrew Flintoff slowed the Bangladesh innings with two wickets in two balls © Getty Images

Bangladesh stuttered to 208 for 7 as England’s bowling improved after a poor start with Flintoff leading the resurgence with another menacing spell. Javed Omar provided the backbone to the innings with 81 from 150 balls and Mashud brought some much needed late acceleration with 42 off 43.Omar’s innings was a model of concentration and he largely managed to eradicated the cross-batted shots that have been is downfall in this series. But at times it was questionable whether he was doing more harm than good to the innings. However, after their rapid collapse against Australia yesterday they can be forgiven for ensuring they batted out their 50 overs.Simon Jones gained a useful workout. He grabbed the first wicket to fall, when Shahriar Nafees edged a expansive cut to first slip, where Trescothick took a well-judged low catch (22 for 1).But Flintoff was easily the pick of England’s seam attack after they generally wasted the new ball in a lazy display of bowling and fielding. As Tushar Imran attempted to increase the scoring rate he chopped into his stumps after comfortably scoring at a run-a-ball (92 for 2). It was typical of so many Bangladesh dismissals on this tour, with a batsman doing all the hardwork then losing concentration at the vital time.Mohammad Ashraful had a perfect base to continue his scintillating form, but picked out Trescothick at midwicket from his first ball (92 for 3). Flintoff was then within a whisker of a hat-trick – although not as close as Tremlett last week – when Habibul Bashar just managed to get his pad outside off stump.But Bashar did not last much longer and became another victim of Paul Collingwood’s sharp fielding in the covers. Omar dropped the ball and set off for a single but Bashar’s dive was not quite enough to get him home as Collingwood’s underarm flick just clipped the stumps (112 for 4). When Aftab Ahmed was bowled by Ashley Giles, Bangladesh had lost all their momentum (138 for 5) but Mashud used his experience to ensure they at least passed 200 and gave England a decent chase.Although not the most convincing of England’s performances against Bangladesh, they still got the job done with plenty of time to spare. Now the attention turns firmly to Australia for the rest of the summer. Although Tuesday’s game has no bearing on the final, some important psychological points can be scored ahead of the Lord’s showdown.

Adam Gilchrist biffs another record – only this time, with a pen© Getty Images

Adam Gilchrist has entered record territory with a $2 million life-long contract with Puma, overtaking Michael Clarke’s recent $1.25 million deal with Dunlop-Slazenger and Steve Waugh’s million-dollar agreement with MRF.According to a report in , Gilchrist’s deal with Puma, and other sponsorships with Nestle, Travelex, Fox Sports and Castrol, as well as the $500,000 retainer with Cricket Australia – besides match fees – all combine to make him one of the top-earning sportsmen in Australia.Gilchrist attributed this to cricket’s reach, and said that it had helped the players. “You’d have to ask the companies, but I guess to a certain extent it shows that the game’s bigger, the exposure’s bigger and there’s generally greater marketability for players,” Gilchrist said. “This [The Puma deal] has been a work in progress for a little while and I’m looking forward to contributing to them wherever I can.”The contract more than made up for any loss of earnings Gilchrist may have suffered by opting not to play county cricket – a lucrative option for international cricketers in the off-season. Australia’s hectic schedule may have had something to do with it. After touring Zimbabwe, Australia play Sri Lanka at home, then tour Holland and India, before returning home for more Tests and the VB Series. But Gilchrist believed that as long as players could handle the amount of cricket played, there would be no need to restrict them from playing county cricket.”County cricket is an interesting debate. I just think so long as guys are honest and realistic about how they cope with the extra cricket, then I have no qualms with it. There shouldn’t be a blanket policy,” Gilchrist said. “For me, the break has been sensational and now it’s off to camp next week.”

India v Kenya:Virender Sehwag (IND) 106 runs to complete 2000 ODI runs
Dinesh Mongia (IND) needs 96 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Javagal Srinath (IND) needs 118 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Anil Kumble (IND) needs 158 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Ravindu Shah (KEN) needs 3 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Thomas Odoyo (KEN) needs 51 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Hitesh Modi (KEN) needs 147 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Zaheer Khan (IND) needs 5 wickets to join the 100 ODI-wicket clubSteve Tikolo (KEN) needs 43 runs to complete 500 World Cup runs
Maurice Odumbe (KEN) needs 139 runs to complete 500 World Cup runs
Ravindu Shah (KEN) needs 176 runs to complete 500 World Cup runs
Kennedy Otieno (KEN) needs 187 runs to complete 500 World Cup runs
Maurice Odumbe (KEN) needs 7 wickets to join the 25 World Cup wicket-clubAustralia v Sri Lanka:Adam Gilchrist (AUS) needs 38 runs to complete 5000 ODI runs
Andy Symonds (AUS) needs 36 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs
Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) needs 86 runs to complete 9000 ODI runs
Michael Bevan (AUS) needs 20 runs to complete 500 World Cup runs
Adam Gilchrist (AUS) needs 131 runs to complete 500 World Cup runs
Darren Lehmann (AUS) needs 192 runs to complete 500 World Cup runs
Aravinda De Silva (SL) needs 64 runs to complete 1000 World Cup runs
Marvan Atapattu (SL) needs 112 runs to complete 500 World Cup runs
Hashan Tillakaratne (SL) needs 138 runs to complete 500 World Cup runs

A record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership, in which both Owais Shah and BenHutton scored centuries, saw Middlesex gain a commanding position by the endof the first day of their CricInfo Championship match against Derbyshire atSouthgate.Winning the toss and batting first in ideal conditions – an easy-paced pitchand a lightning-fast outfield – Middlesex did not get the best of starts,although the first wicket did put on 55 before Andy Strauss went for 33. ButMike Roseberry and Stephen Fleming soon followed, with all three wicketsfalling to Tom Lungley in a spell of 3-3 in 18 balls.At 62 for 3, Middlesex were hardly in a position of strength but Derbyshirehad to wait another 82 overs before their next success, while thefourth-wicket pair prospered against a less than taxing attack. Tim Munton,captaining Derbyshire in the absence on test duty of Dominic Cork, triedseven bowlers but not another wicket fell until Munton himself took the newball and had Hutton caught at first slip for a career-best 139.It was the young left-hander’s first Championship hundred and he reached itby pulling Richard Illingworth for six. It was one of three he hit in hisinnings, which also included 17 fours.Shah, scoring his second century in three matches, struck 23 fours and was141 not out at the close with Middlesex on 358 for four and no doubt hoping toadd many more runs on the second day.

Aston Villa are reportedly amongst the clubs monitoring Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin after it was reported that the Magpies would be prepared to sell the Frenchman for £50m.

What’s the story?

According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are willing to cash in on their star player this summer with Villa monitoring the situation at St.James’ Park.

It is believed that the £50m asking price, if received, would be added to Newcastle manager Eddie Howe’s transfer kitty with the Tyneside club expected to make major additions to their squad following the takeover by PIF.

The 25-year-old signed a six-year contract in 2020 and is a majorly popular figure in the North-East, but could be sacrificed in order to raise funds for a squad overhaul.

Villa must swoop for Saint-Maximin

The idea of Saint-Maximin being available to purchase will undoubtedly prick up the ears of an array of clubs, particularly in the Premier League with the winger’s talents very much known of in England.

Since joining Newcastle from Nice in August 2019, the £28.8m-rated 25-year-old has scored 12 goals and registered 14 assists in 84 appearances for the Magpies and has been previously labelled as “breathtaking” by pundit Gary Neville.

Although that may not seem a tally that justifies a £50m price tag, the Frenchman has largely been playing in a drab, uninspiring Newcastle side since arriving from France.

In the two full seasons under Steve Bruce the Toon Army finished 13th and 12th respectively, with both campaigns seeing some dire football at times, with both seasons seeing the Magpies pick up 44 and 45 points respectively and score 38 and 46 goals whilst conceding 58 and 62.

This term in particular was looking set for disaster for a sustained period of time before Eddie Howe took over and steadied the ship, largely thanks to January arrivals.

Moreover, the Frenchman averages a 62% dribble success rate as well as a 75% passing accuracy and provides 1.5 key passes a game.

However, now that the Tyneside outfit are the richest club in the world following the Saudi-backed takeover, there are undoubtedly ambitious plans for the upcoming transfer window which could see fan-favourite Saint-Maximin sacrificed.

As well as Newcastle, Aston Villa are expected to spend as they enter Steven Gerrard’s first summer transfer window as Villa boss and have already been linked with big-money moves, such as paying £50m for Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.

Currently, the Villans have the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Emi Buendia, Leon Bailey and Bertrand Traore on the flanks but only Coutinho can hold his head high for his efforts this campaign.

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The Brazilian joined on loan from Barcelona in January and has already become a fan favourite with four goals and three assists and could be set for a permanent move to Villa Park this summer.

Both Traore and Bailey have spent good portions of the season out injured whilst Buendia has scored just twice after becoming the West Midland’s club’s record transfer last summer, joining from Norwich City for £38m.

There is certainly room in the Villa squad to accommodate Saint-Maximin in the Villa ranks who, alongside Coutinho, could establish a cut-throat partnership that would undoubtedly terrorise defences.

Major boost: Aston Villa now handed big double injury lift, supporters will be buzzing

ScorecardMark Stoneman made his second consecutive hundred in the Championship•Getty Images

Depleted Warwickshire battled back at Chester-le-Street after Mark Stoneman’s second century in successive Championship innings for Durham. His stand of 153 with Scott Borthwick took the score to 184 for 1, but Durham were all out for 314 with Rikki Clarke taking 5 for 62.Durham’s decision to bat was probably helped by Chris Wright and Boyd Rankin joining Keith Barker and Richard Jones on the casualty list. Both had stiff backs and Jonathan Trott was on paternity leave. Chris Woakes impressed but was sparingly used in his first appearance of the season, while Tom Milnes recovered from conceding 48 in his first eight overs to take three wickets.Clarke led the attack well, although the lbw decision he gained against Paul Collingwood did not go down well with the Durham captain. He trudged off with extreme reluctance, clearly believing he had nicked the ball. Following his 131 against Yorkshire, Stoneman reached 112 before becoming Milnes’ first victim.Clarke found some movement in a testing opening spell, but Stoneman hit him for three fours in his fifth over, the third one gloved so fine down the leg side that it just evaded Tim Ambrose.Oliver Hannon-Dalby shared the new ball, but there was a bigger threat when Woakes came on for the 14th over. He found Stoneman’s edge twice in his first two overs and, after taking time to settle in, Borthwick became the dominant partner in the run-up to lunch.Stoneman took over on the resumption, scoring the first 22 runs to bring up the 100 stand as his second 50 came off 51 balls. Jeetan Patel had bowled seven overs for 11 runs until Stoneman hit him for four fours off the back foot through the off side in two overs to speed from 84 to his 127-ball hundred.Borthwick fell for 67 to Woakes, who initially looked to be appealing for lbw. But the ball had nicked the inside edge and flown off the pad to gully.Milnes moved a good-length ball away off the seam to hit Stoneman’s off stump, then Michael Richardson aimed across the line and was lbw to Clarke. Another good ball from Milnes had Gordon Muchall caught behind and John Hastings failed to capitalise on being dropped at mid-off. Two balls later he lofted Patel to deep midwicket.Warwickshire were convinced they had Ryan Pringle caught behind on 10 but he played some bold strokes in making 53 before he was last out, hoisting Clarke to deep midwicket. With four overs to bat, Warwickshire reached ten without loss.

Cricinfo has found no evidence to support comments made by Dinanath Ramnarine, the president of the West Indies Players’ Association, that players have been threatened and intimidated during the current sponsorship dispute.Ramnarine, whose role in the row is coming under increasing scrutiny, claimed that players had faced “overwhelming pressure including death threats, and threats from the WICB never to play again … threats and intimidation from sponsors, and pressure from the highest political levels within the length and breadth of the Caribbean community.”The West Indies board dismissed the comments as “highly emotional and totally inaccurate,” adding that they were “most unbecoming and unworthy of an organisation representing professional sportsmen.” A source at Digicel said the claims were “utter nonsense”.And Michael Holding was equally forthright. “It’s absolute rubbish,” he told Sky SPorts. “No player has even mentioned it. They have been under pressure from many parties – WIPA, Cable & Wireless, the public – but no death threats.”And Cricinfo spoke to representatives of some of the players involved who denied any knowledge of the allegations purporting to involve their clients. One said there had been pressure, but pointed out it had come from representatives of Cable & Wireless and WIPA.Ramnarine’s outburst came following the announcement that Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan had decided to terminate their personal contracts with C&W. But it now seems that both players had been trying to withdraw for more than a fortnight but they had been stalled by C&W and WIPA officials.The conduct of Ramnarine in recent weeks has been increasingly volatile, and his latest outburst hardly seems to be in the best interests of the bulk of players who he should be representing.