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Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag will look to 'fast-track' youngster Kobbie Mainoo and will keep him around the first-team rather than sending him out on loan to continue his development, according to journalist Steve Bates.

Who is Kobbie Mainoo?

Mainoo is a talented 18-year-old midfielder for Manchester United who is steadily making a large impression at Old Trafford due to his displays in the engine room at underage levels.

Last term, combining his exploits in various elite development competitions and in the first-team, Mainoo racked up 20 appearances and registered two goals and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

In the Red Devils' 1-0 victory over Lyon in a pre-season friendly earlier this week held at Murrayfield, Mainoo put in a strong performance and backed up the hype he has continued to build over the last few weeks.

Football analyst Statman Dave took to Twitter to share his positive impact on proceedings, stating: "Kobbie Mainoo’s game by numbers vs. Olympique Lyonnais: 94% pass accuracy 48 touches 2 blocks 2 interceptions 1/1 dribbles completed. Bright future."

According to The Manchester Evening News, Manchester United did consider loaning Mainoo out this campaign to continue his development; however, it is now understood that he will be kept in and around the first-team squad after impressing senior figures at the club.

The Stockport-born midfielder is capable of playing in a variety of central positions and will travel on Manchester United's tour of the USA after featuring in friendly victories over Leeds United in Oslo and against Lyon in Edinburgh.

Writing in his column for GIVEMESPORT, journalist Bates has issued an important update on the future of Mainoo at Manchester United.

Bates wrote: "AS soon as Manchester United signed Mason Mount, Erik ten Hag’s phone started ringing with clubs eyeing up a chance to grab one of his midfield stars. The clamour for one player was loudest – rising young academy star Kobbie Mainoo. But the multiple enquiries to take the 18-year-old star on loan met with an immediate and emphatic response from the Dutch boss – “No chance”.

"But ten Hag wants to oversee Mainoo’s development at the club’s Carrington training ground after tying the youngster to a new four-year deal last season."

What now for Manchester United?

Manchester United manager Ten Hag will be focusing all of his attention on preparing his side for the new season over the next few weeks and trying to secure key transfer targets.

Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana travelled to the Carrington training complex to complete his medical ahead of a £43 million move to Manchester United and is expected to be announced imminently, according to The Daily Mail.

The Red Devils are also in advanced talks with Atalanta over striker Rasmus Hojlund to iron out the structure of the fee they will pay for the Denmark international, who has already agreed personal terms with the Premier League giants, as per The Independent.

Talking on the ESPN YouTube channel, journalist Rob Dawson revealed that Manchester United's short-term signing Jonny Evans could end up penning a longer deal at the club, stating: “United privately are saying they are not ruling anything out with him. Possibly he could sign a longer deal for the coming season, spend a year at Old Trafford as a back-up for Varane and Martinez. If that were to happen it would cast a massive doubt on the future of Harry Maguire. If they were to bring Jonny Evans in, there really wouldn’t be a place for Harry Maguire.”

Arsenal are reportedly interested in RB Leipzig defender Benjamin Henrichs, as Mikel Arteta and Edu set their sights on bolstering the squad this summer.

The Gunners have already penned a deal with Kai Havertz, and with Declan Rice set to be announced imminently, the clubs’ two former players could be planning something special at the Emirates.

Arteta’s side battled well last campaign, surpassing expectations by taking the title race to the wire, however, a lack of squad depth signalled a time for refurbishment this summer.

Signing Henrichs could be a leap in the right direction in terms of boosting the depth of the squad, in a player that shows shades of a fellow Premier League gem.

Journalist Florian Plettenberg revealed earlier this week that ‘talks’ between the German’s management and the north Londoners had taken place.

Plettenberg added that Arsenal are ‘considering’ the versatile full-back as a ‘backup target’ this summer.

Valued by Football Transfers at €9.2m (£8m), the 26-year-old could be a solid option for the Gunners to consider.

Where could Benjamin Henrichs play at Arsenal?

Hailed as a “talented” player by former Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev, the 26-year-old has played at the top level for the majority of his career, working his way through the ranks at Bayer Leverkusen.

The versatile defender departed his boyhood club for Monaco in 2018, before returning to the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, where he has cemented himself as a valued member of the squad.

In signing Henrichs, Arsenal could get their hands on a widely versatile defence-minded player, with capabilities of playing both on the right side of defence and in central midfield.

The German international has contributed to 66 career goal contributions over 327 appearances, having an eye for a pass as well as being a sturdy figure at the back.

Averaging three tackles and 1.44 interceptions per 90 in the Bundesliga last campaign, Henrichs has excelled defensively, as well as showing his abilities on the ball, averaging 4.48 progressive passes per 90 at right-back, via FBref.

Having a versatile full-back is something that the Premier League has become accustomed to, with Arteta reaping the benefits of having both Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko capable of contributing to offensive play.

Despite arriving as a side to watch last term, Arsenal still saw a gap between themselves and champions Manchester City, however, the Gunners could provide an answer to one of City’s sensations by signing Henrichs.

Lauded as a “versatile and tactical genius” by members of the media, John Stones has been a revelation under Pep Guardiola, emerging last season as having the talent to be deployed as a deep midfielder.

Averaging 1.12 tackles and 4.92 progressive passes per 90, via FBref, the Englishman showcased just how far the depth of his versatility goes, acting as the complete player for City.

Like Stones, Henrichs has the ability to venture into midfield, described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as being a player that ‘dictates tempo’ in central areas.

Averaging 3.78 passes per 90 into the final third, the 26-year-old has room to grow and flourish around the field, displaying strengths in his distribution and reading of the game.

Arteta could take another page from Guardiola’s book by signing a defensively equipped versatile player, replicating past notes that have seen the revolution of how the Spaniard orchestrates his back line.

Amid links to Manchester United, fans online have been reacting after a viral video emerged highlighting just how impressive Inter Milan’s Andre Onana is with the ball at his feet.

What’s the latest on Andre Onana to Man Utd?

The Red Devils are competing with Chelsea for the goalkeeper’s signature this summer, according to Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian. And the latest news is that the English club have made a second bid for the goalkeeper worth €50m (£43m) but that’s still not enough to seal the deal.

Despite suffering the heartbreak of a Champions League final defeat against Manchester City, Onana enjoyed a season to remember at Inter Milan last season, as his stock increased once more.

Keeping eight clean sheets in 24 Serie A appearances, Onana also played a key role outside of action in the league, picking up silverware in the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup last season.

After a successful campaign, the goalkeeper has earned interest from both Manchester United and Chelsea, as per Steinberg. And, with David de Gea’s contract at Old Trafford now technically expired, the number one spot could be available for the first time in a decade.

De Gea’s ability has been questioned in recent times, too, particularly after United’s FA Cup final loss against Manchester City, in which he was potentially at fault for the second Ilkay Gundogan goal. Given recent mistakes, now could be the perfect time for Onana’s arrival.

Statistically speaking, Onana is also better with his feet than De Gea. According to FBref, Onana completed 34.9 passes per-90 last season, whilst De Gea completed just 22.8, half of the amount that Onana managed.

Such is the modern-day need for a top side to play from the back and involve the goalkeeper, too, perhaps swapping De Gea for Onana wouldn’t be such a bad idea for Erik ten Hag, who worked with the Inter number one at Ajax.

The Cameroon shot-stopper’s significant ability on the ball has been further backed up by the video posted on Twitter by @Yung_leslie, which you can see below:

Fans were certainly in awe of Onana’s ability, which is great news for MUFC supporters with their side reportedly in pole position to get a deal across the line.

Here are some of the best reactions below…

He would no doubt be an interesting addition to the Premier League.

Arsenal are closing in on their first signing of the summer transfer window as Kai Havertz is nearing a switch to the Emirates Stadium, according to reports…

Arsenal transfer news – Kai Havertz

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has provided a fresh update on the Gunners' pursuit of the Chelsea star as he took to Twitter on Sunday morning:

"News #Havertz: He‘s very close to join @Arsenal now! All depends on the final offer from Arsenal.

"Havertz, keen to join #Arsenal now as personal terms are almost agreed. Arteta loves to see him in addition to Jesus.

"Bayern inquired about conditions in the last days but the negotiations with Arsenal are too advanced – Bayern informed. Therefore no offer/hijack from Bayern yet.

"Transfer fee package expected: at least around €80m [£68m] all in."

How good is Kai Havertz?

The north Londoners have endured a mixed bag when it comes to signing players from their capital city rivals over the years.

Petr Cech has perhaps been the most successful arrival, whilst the likes of Willian, David Luiz and William Gallas have certainly divided opinion amongst the Gunners' faithful.

Havertz is more than likely to fall into the latter category.

The German international has been something of an enigma since his £72m arrival in English football back in August 2020.

At Bayer Leverkusen, the 24-year-old was utilised largely as an attacking midfielder or false nine, with his 46 goals and 31 assists from 150 appearances being the very reason behind the Blues stumping up such a hefty sum, but he hasn't really been able to replicate that since.

Just 11 games shy of the aforementioned appearance total, Havertz has managed 14 fewer goals and 16 fewer assists, largely being deployed as a sole striker under an array of different managers, as per Transfermarkt.

It seems likely that Havertz would be deployed in a similar role at the Emirates, given Mikel Arteta's 'love' for him to be an alternative to current no.9, Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian is actually a comparable player when using FBref's player comparison model and what the Chelsea star lacks in terms of goal threat, he more than makes up for in and out of possession – in some ways similar to Jesus.

When compared to other forwards across Europe's top five divisions over the past year, the £150k-per-week talent ranks inside the top 6% for pass completion, the top 9% for progressive passes, and the top 10% for tackles, all per 90 via FBref.

It's perhaps why Gunners legend Thierry Henry made a glowing comparison to another former Arsenal forward – speaking on CBS Sports' Champions League coverage earlier in the year, he said:

"He reminds me sometimes, a little, of Robin [van Persie] – back to goal the way he can hold the ball. Now he needs to make sure he can transform that into more goals because you can play off him."

The 6 foot 4 "machine" – as once lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – would certainly be a bold risk for Arsenal to take during the offseason but if anyone can get him back to his brilliant best, it's Arteta.

There will also be plenty of question marks over the £68m price tag, especially after the failings of club-record signing Nicolas Pepe, but the Arsenal boss has proven that he must be trusted – if he wants the player, then sporting director Edu Gaspar should do all he can to secure him.

Celtic are "very interested" in appointing Daniel Farke as their new manager, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

What's the latest Celtic manager news?

Celtic have identified Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca as one of their main targets to replace Ange Postecoglou, and Football Scotland report the Champions League winners will not stand in his way, should he make it clear he wants to leave.

Former Hoops assistant manager Johan Mjallby has urged the board to look at appointing either Kjetil Knutsen or Graham Potter, with Pat Nevin branding the latter coach "superb" and echoing Mjallby's calls for him to take over at Parkhead.

Other names linked with the vacant post include former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch, as well as Andoni Iraola, with the former Rayo Vallecano boss set to apply for the job after leaving the La Liga club.

In a recent update on Twitter, Plettenberg has now claimed that Celtic are also interested in appointing Farke, having already made contact with the former Norwich City manager.

The Sky Sports reporter states that "first talks" have already taken place, with the Hoops "very interested in signing him as a replacement for Postecoglou", while the manager himself is "ready to take over a new club".

Should Celtic appoint Daniel Farke?

RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has hailed the 46-year-old for his "attractive" brand of football, while Chris Kamara also praised him for the "attacking" style of play he implemented to great success against Manchester City in 2019, with his side winning 3-2.

Setting out that way against a team like Man City indicates the two-time Championship winner is unwilling to compromise on his expansive style of play, regardless of the opposition, which suggests he could be a perfect replacement for Postecoglou.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman has recently praised the club's new manager for his attacking outlook, and it could be vital that Celtic appoint a new head coach who is capable of playing a similar way, to ensure a seamless transition.

Hailed as "brilliant" by members of the media, Farke has enjoyed success in England's second tier, however he did not manage to do quite as well in his last job, being sacked by Borussia Monchengladbach after finishing 10th in the Bundesliga.

As such, despite the fact he plays attractive football, Celtic should look at appointing a manager who has more recent experience of success in a top league.

Sam Billings says he is flattered to have been talked up by Michael Vaughan as a potential reinforcement for the Test tour of India, but insists that he remains a work in progress

Andrew Miller02-Nov-2016Sam Billings, the Kent batsman whose technique against spin bowling is considered one of the best among England’s coming generation of batsmen, says he is flattered to have been talked up by Michael Vaughan as a potential reinforcement for the Test tour of India, but insists that he remains a work in progress in first-class cricket.Billings has been on the fringes of the one-day squad for several months without being able to secure a regular berth, but he gave an indication of his aptitude in Asian conditions in the ODI series against Bangladesh last month, when he was drafted in to open the batting in the series decider in Chittagong, and swept his way to a vital 62 from 69 balls in a stiff run-chase.”It was great to contribute,” said Billings during a Chance to Shine event in West London. “I should have got 120 not out to win the game but that’s life and I would have taken 60 at the start. To be involved in another series win in difficult conditions shows how far we are coming along as a group.”Everyone knew that Bangladesh had won their last six home series, including against India and South Africa, so it was no mean feat to win. People think it is only Bangladesh so you should just smack them around but, with Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes, they’ve got a seriously good side in their own conditions.”Bangladesh backed up that assertion in no uncertain terms in the subsequent Test series and, speaking in the aftermath of England’s shocking collapse in the second Test at Dhaka, Vaughan argued strongly for Billings’ inclusion for the five-Test series against India that gets underway in Rajkot next week – not least because, as a right-hander, he will be better placed to combat the offspin of India’s attack leader, Ravi Ashwin.”Obviously that is flattering,” Billings said, “Playing spin is one of my strengths. Manoeuvring the ball around and putting spinners under pressure is one of my strengths, but the guys who are there have done it regularly in first-class cricket and are there for a reason.”Billings had his moments in first-class cricket for Kent last season, most notably a career-best 171 against Gloucestershire in Bristol in August but, having missed the early weeks of the summer during his IPL stint with Delhi Daredevils, he played just seven Division Two matches and was unable to put together the weight of runs that earned Ben Duckett and Haseeb Hameed their call-ups.”Haseeb hasn’t had an opportunity yet, and to have a long run at it too,” he said. “These guys have done it over and over in first-class cricket. But any time England calls you just get on a plane and try and get the job done.”While the prospect of Billings joining the England squad remains, for the time being, a pundit’s pipedream, there is no diluting either his confidence or his eagerness to get involved if the chance should arise. And, having sampled the atmosphere of modern Indian cricket during his IPL stint, Billings believes he has been granted a fascinating insight into what it takes to succeed in conditions that previous generations might have regarded as alien.”The IPL was huge for that,” he said. “It is different to a Test match but the basics don’t change: your footwork is paramount.”I was very fortunate to work with Rahul Dravid in the IPL and pick his brains on playing spin. At some points we moved the stumps back and had the used crease to play with and he said, ‘if you can bat on that you can bat on anything’.”This is one of the reasons [Trevor] Bayliss and [Andrew] Strauss are pushing us to go over there. Yes it is T20 cricket but it is about the environment and learning how those guys go about it.”Billings’ grounding sounds somewhat counter to Alastair Cook’s assertion in the aftermath of the Dhaka defeat, that England’s batsmen were inexperienced in Asian conditions. And certainly, given the resources made available by the ECB on their recent Lions tours, and the coaching expertise that has been drafted in to prepare England’s next generation, the scale of the collapse in Dhaka – 10 wickets for 64 runs in 22.3 overs – was extreme.And if the talking point coming out of the Bangladesh tour is the vulnerability of England’s batsmen to the ball turning away from the bat – particularly the left-handers to the offspin of Mehedi Hasan – then Billings gives the impression that such a challenge shouldn’t have come as quite such a surprise, especially given the identity of two of the lead coaches in the Lions set-up.”Graham Thorpe and Andy Flower may be two left-handers, but they were great players of spin, especially against offspin with the turning away from the bat,” he said. “The basics don’t change, you have to get as close to the ball as possible or as far away from it as possible using the depth of the crease.”For me, I identified two years ago that left-arm spin was a really big area I needed to work on,” he said. “The ball going away or sliding on is generally more difficult for a batter when it is turning.”In the UAE last winter, he was able to pick the brains of New Zealand’s left-arm spinner, Daniel Vettori, who was drafted in as a consultant on the England Performance Programme. “We had a hybrid pitch that was ragging square. He was bowling at a good pace, it was seriously tough, and that’s when you work out what’s good for you.”As a consequence of the grounding that he and his fellow batsmen have been given, and given the experienced heads they can call upon during the India tour, Billings remains confident that England will find a means to battle back from their Dhaka ignominy and put up a fight in the coming weeks.”[Alastair] Cook, in his debut Test, got a hundred in India, so they’ve got no better bloke to pick the brains of – although, of course, he does it a different way. Stokesy [Ben Stokes] is still one of the younger lads, even though it feels he’s been around for years, and in terms of his game against spin, he’s come on leaps and bounds and will only get better. We’ll all get better, the more we are exposed to it.”It’s finding different ways all over the place. I’ve got no doubt there are some seriously good players of spin there. It’s a different kettle of fish against [Ravi] Jadeja and Ashwin, but it’s been great to have had these two Test matches. We got out unscathed – yeah we drew, I know we wanted to win – but we’ll go into the India tour with preparation time. I’ve got full faith in the boys and they are definitely good enough to win.”ECB will double its investment in cricket charity Chance to Shine, from 2017, to inspire millions of young people to play and learn through cricket. Visit chancetoshine.org

Arsenal, despite all their progress this season, are seemingly far from content to simply stand still and hope that slow and steady improvement will make them champions. Mikel Arteta is already eyeing moves that would bolster his squad further…

What's the latest on Moussa Diaby to Arsenal?

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who spoke on the Here We Go Podcast about the Gunners' interest in Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby.

With the Frenchman enjoying a standout season in Germany, thus commanding a reported €80m (£70m) price tag, it seems money will be no object even if it is to just acquire some competition for their stars.

The Italian journalist noted: "I think there is a concrete possibility that they will keep tracking the progress of Moussa Diaby of Bayer Leverkusen, he is a player they appreciate as a winger, but it's not something advanced or close at this moment."

Given Bukayo Saka penned a new contract earlier this week, it seems that this signing would put their star youngster in direct competition with the 23-year-old, gifting the north London outfit two of the most terrifying wide options in the Premier League.

Is Moussa Diaby better than Bukayo Saka?

Given their respective campaigns, it is hard to pull the two apart in terms of quality. From the right flank, these goalscoring wingers have consistently terrorised defences with their pace, trickery and proficiency.

It is therefore no surprise to see Diaby handed a 7.17 average Sofascore rating for his year, in which he has notched 14 goals and assisted a further 11 in all competitions. His creativity is only further emphasised through his 1.8 key passes per game too.

Funnily enough, this is a goal and assists tally mirrored exactly by the 21-year-old, who was recently lauded by Pep Guardiola as someone who commanded extra men to quell his threat.

He claimed: "I decided [to play Akanji left-back] because Saka is an incredible threat and we need a guy who can sustain one against one, like Kyle and Martinelli because they are so good.

“We could jump more the players inside but at the sides we should control these two players because they are amazing."

It seems this terror inflicted upon defenders and managers alike is one Diaby shares, as journalist Alex Barker described the forward as a "demon" just last year after one fine showing.

Whilst it might be a questionable move to spend so big on a player similar to Saka, the form of the England international of late outlines a worrying pattern that Arteta will want to fix.

Despite his impressive numbers for the season, the wide man is currently suffering a five-game barren run with regard to goal contributions, and has only registered a goal or an assist in one of his last nine league appearances. Such dependence on one man in a role makes burnout a certainty, and last campaign's similarity only exacerbates this worry further.

Once again his final four league appearances only merited a sole assist, coming in their dead rubber final-day drubbing of Everton when top four had already slipped out of their grasp.

It is clear that the youngster suffers greatly from fatigue late in the season, and given he has made 43 and 47 appearances in all competitions in his last two respectively, this is no surprise.

The addition of Diaby, whilst expensive, would finally offer a fine rival for the position to give Saka a break. Fortunately, he also boasts the versatility to shine wherever he is deployed, meaning he would come in as far from just a backup.

يرتبط نادي ريال مدريد الإسباني بالتعاقد مع كيليان مبابي مهاجم باريس سان جيرمان، منذ سنوات، ويقترب الفرنسي من نهاية عقده مع ناديه، حيث ينتهي بنهاية الموسم الجاري.

ورغم رغبته في ضم مبابي لتعزيز هجوم الفريق، يضع ريال مدريد حدودًا للمهاجم الفرنسي، حتى لا يتجاوزها.

وتتمثل هذه القواعد، كهدف ذي أولوية عدم تعريض المستقبل الاقتصادي للنادي للخطر والحفاظ على الحد الأدنى من النظام في غرفة خلع الملابس.

وتوضح صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية أن ريال مدريد لا يريد أن يكون أي لاعب فوق المجموعة أو يكسر انسجام الفريق.

وأشارت إلى أن ذلك ينطبق على مبابي المرتبط بالانتقال لريال مدريد، ولن يفلت الفرنسي ولا أي شخص آخر من هذه القاعدة.

واستشهدت الصحيفة بتخلي ريال مدريد في وقت سابق عن نجوم مخضرمين أمثال كريستيانو رونالدو وسيرجيو راموس والعديد من الآخرين.

ويشير التقرير إلى أن استراتيجية ريال مدريد لم تتغير تجاه مبابي، ويحافظ النادي على الصمت فيما يتعلق بالمفاوضات، على الرغم من الأحاديث الداخلية عن مستقبل المهاجم.

اقرأ أيضًا | إنريكي يثير الشكوك بشأن مستقبل مبابي مع باريس سان جيرمان

وسيكون القرار الأخير لمبابي فيما يتعلق بمستقبله، لكن هناك تفاؤل في ريال مدريد بشأن قدرة النادي على الجمع بين مبابي وفينيسيوس ورودريجو وبيلينجهام في فريق واحد.

ولفتت “ماركا” النظر إلى أن ريال مدريد سيقدر مبابي ماديًا مثل نجوم الفريق الحاليين، لكن في الوقت ذاته سيتعين على الفرنسي التخلي عن الكثير من الأموال التي يتلقاها حاليًا في باريس سان جيرمان، وأن يعرف ويقبل أن النادي ووحدة اللاعبين فوق كل شيء وكل شخص.

بالإضافة إلى ذلك، يعرف مبابي أن ريال مدريد يشارك في حقوق الصور لكل من اللاعبين والمدربين، وسيتعين عليه أيضًا الاستسلام وقبول معتقدات مدريد، في حال أراد أن تحقيق أمنيته باللعب للنادي الإسباني.

Australia have begun preparing for life after the sage influence of Rod Marsh and Greg Chappell by recruiting former Test wicketkeeper Graham Manou as the national Under-15-19 High Performance pathway manager.Manou, who has been working with the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) since 2013, will leave his role as cricket operations and membership manager late next month to oversee youth development and talent identification at Cricket Australia (CA).Having also served as captain of South Australia during his playing days, Manou was a key man for the players’ union. He made pre-tour security visits overseas while also sparring with the CA team performance manager Pat Howard over numerous issues such as the recent agreement over women’s pay and conditions.Whatever their differences of opinion, Howard and Manou worked closely together. The arrival of Kevin Roberts as executive general manager of strategy and people – after he resigned from the CA Board last year – saw the ex-gloveman come into calculations for the talent management and selection areas.”While it was a very difficult decision for me to leave the ACA, I’m very excited about the opportunity to influence the next generation of cricketers and assist in further enhancing a clear and inspiring pathway,” Manou said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the ACA and wish the Executive and the team at the ACA all the best for the future.”The 2011 Argus review called for succession planning in areas beyond the national team itself, and Manou’s appointment is a clear sign that Roberts and Howard are aware that national talent manager Chappell, 67, and national selector Marsh, 68, cannot carry on in their roles indefinitely. While there is no pressure on either man – both highly respected figures in the global game – to retire, Manou’s arrival will afford the chance to broaden the base of candidates for more senior roles. He will also add useful cricket experience to CA, as the organisation seeks a balance between commercial clout and knowledge of the game.Apart from the national coach Darren Lehmann, Trevor Hohns previously served as selection chairman from 1996 to 2006 and could do so again, while Mark Waugh has been on the panel since May 2014. It is believed that CA wish to take a more analytical approach to selection of the Twenty20 team in particular, after disappointing showings at the two most recent ICC events. Australia are ranked No. 1 in Tests and ODIs.”This is a terrific opportunity for Graham and his family, so whilst we are sad to see him go, we can certainly appreciate that these roles don’t come along every day,” the ACA Chief Executive Alistair Nicholson said. “Graham is regarded very highly at the ACA and has built fantastic relationships with the Executive, staff and of course the players in his three and a half years with us. His integrity and commitment to the players is of the highest order and we wish him well in this next challenge.”There has been considerable crossover between the ACA and CA in recent years, notably the choice of the former president Lehmann as national team coach and his successor Michael Kasprowicz joining the CA Board before being named interim chief executive of Queensland Cricket.Manou’s departure will leave a gulf of cricket experience at the ACA, though Simon Katich has agreed to work in a part-time role on player liaison matters. Jodie Fields and Brendan Drew will maintain their roles in working with the ACA membership.

Todd Boehly appears to be closing in on a new Chelsea manager, with Sky Sports claiming that Mauricio Pochettino could be formally announced as soon as next week.

The club need some stability and the Argentinian coach would bring a wealth of Premier League experience alongside the ability to manage massive egos from his stint at Paris Saint-Germain, and it could be a match made in heaven.

He will of course be given large funds to spend in the summer transfer window, although with a fairly strong squad to use as a base, he may not need to add many players before the start of next season.

There is no doubt he could give the players a massive lift by being appointed, and it could give hope to the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ethan Ampadu and Malo Gusto who are all currently out on loan with ambitions to get regular action next season.

One player who Pochettino could definitely revitalise is Romelu Lukaku as the Blues are currently lacking any sort of goalscoring threat this season, scoring only 30 goals in the league so far, which for context, is lower than Leeds United and Leicester City.

Could Romelu Lukaku return to Chelsea for next season?

The Belgian striker is currently on a season-long loan deal at Inter Milan, having re-joined the club following his poor stint at the Blues during 2021/2022, where he scored just 15 goals after signing on a £97.5m deal – a long way short of the 30 he scored for the Serie A side the season before.

The 51-year-old could be willing to give him another chance to shine at the London side and if he could get him firing, it will certainly save spending vast sums in the transfer window.

Pochettino usually deploys an attacking 4-3-3 formation which could benefit Lukaku, who would be flanked by two attacking wingers that could provide him with countless chances during every match which he could thrive on.

Across 598 games managed during his career so far, Pochettino has seen his teams score a quite remarkable 1027 goals, working out at 1.71 goals per game, and it’s evident that Chelsea could soon potentially see a lot more goals next term.

At Tottenham Hotspur, he managed to help turn Harry Kane from a relatively unknown, academy graduate into arguably the "world's best striker" – as per pundit Paul Merson – and although Lukaku, on his day, is up there with the best, Pochettino could perhaps relight his fire and give him a newfound energy ahead of what promises to be arguably the most important season in their recent history.

The 6 foot 3 “monster” – as dubbed by writer Thierry Nyann – has scored 283 goals during his club career so far and don’t be surprised if this total goes over the 300 mark in 2023/2024.