It’s also been predicted that Manchester City will break the record for most consecutive Premier League title wins, claiming their fourth crown in a row next May. Arsenal would once again end up in second place, while Liverpool are expected to enjoy a much better campaign than last time out and finish third.

Tottenham would take the final top four spot, but with the new-look Champions League set to offer five English teams a place in the 2024-25 edition, who finishes fifth could be just as important. According to an Opta-led simulation from the Analyst, Newcastle would earn the final spot in Europe’s elite competition.

That’d see Aston Villa narrowly miss out, with Brighton and West Ham following in seventh and eighth respectively. Then would be United, who’ve endured their worst start to a season in 34 years, while Chelsea would sink all the way to 10th.

Fans fume over ‘not-so-super Sunday’

More TV talk now…

Sky Sports are facing backlash from subscribers ahead of yet another ‘not-so-super Sunday’.

Aston Villa will welcome West Ham in Sunday’s sole Premier League fixture due to Manchester United’s involvement in the Champions League. United travel to Copenhagen for a crucial group-stage clash next Tuesday, meaning that their match at Bramall Lane against basement-dwellers Sheffield United has been brought forward to 8pm on Saturday instead of being played at 2pm the next day.

The rule in question was implemented at the beginning of the 2022-23 season to allow Premier League teams more time to recover before and after playing European matches. Fans already fumed at Sky after Nottingham Forest versus Brentford was left as the only televised fixture on Sunday, October 1. They’re getting pelters again on social media, with one user saying: “Fix Super Sunday. We’ve gone from three games to one.”

Premier League warned over new TV deal

The Premier League may struggle to drive up the value of its broadcasting rights, despite vastly increasing the number of games on offer.

The league announced on Wednesday that it was opening the tender process for the next round of TV rights. The likes of Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon will soon bid for five packages across a four-year period starting with the 2025/26 season.

The current domestic TV rights are worth £5billion to the Premier League, but having rolled over the last deal due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the league is hoping to generate even more this time around. It has therefore increased the number of matches on offer per season from 200 to 270 in the hope that more games means more money as companies bid for rights for the first time since 2018.

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Liverpool advised to “steal” Sancho

Liverpool were urged to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 – just months before Manchester United broke the bank to land him.

The England international, 23, is expected to leave Old Trafford in January after a public spat with Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils boss dropped Sancho in September after accusing him of training poorly – with the winger hitting back at his manager on social media.

Ten Hag was angered by Sancho’s response and is now refusing to play him. Sancho has struggled since his £73million switch from Germany, scoring just nine goals and providing six assists in 58 Premier League games to drop out of the England squad.

With his career stalling, it seems Sancho joined the wrong club back in the summer of 2021. Liverpool were linked with the player before his move to Old Trafford, with one of their former stars telling Jurgen Klopp to make Dortmund an irresistible offer

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Sancho prefers loan move

Jadon Sancho isn’t ready to give up on his Manchester United career and would prefer a loan move in January.

That’s coming from the Evening Standard, who add that both Sancho and boss Erik ten Hag aren’t willing to back down from their stances after a fallout, despite senior United figures and the PFA intervening.

Ten Hag, it’s said, is happy to let him leave permanently.

ICYMI: January transfer concerns for Ratcliffe

Just when Manchester United though new investment was finally arriving – the club are set to be dealt another blow to their transfer ambitions.

Some 331 days after the Glazers first announced their intentions to sell the club, on Thursday a 12-person board met to rubber-stamp a £1.4billion offer from INEOS supremo Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The proposal would see the lifelong United fan acquire a 25 per cent stake in the club, leaving the US family as the majority owners.

However, the Daily Mail has reported that the board meeting did not yield any kind of concrete conclusion. Instead, lawyers will continue to work on the intricate details of the deal, a process likely to take weeks if not months.

Rooney vs Vardy picked for TV coverage

Sky Sports have confirmed that Birmingham vs Leicester has been selected for live TV coverage on Monday, December 18.

The Championship fixture will see new Birmingham boss Rooney line up his side to face Leicester striker Vardy after their wives, Coleen and Rebekah respectively, went through the ‘Wagatha Christie’ court saga last year.

More reports of Glazer involvement

Joel Glazer will remain invovled in Manchester United’s transfer business even after Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS take chief control of footballing operations, the Times report.

After it emerged earlier today that Glazer – one of six siblings who own the club – would be part of Ratcliffe’s new-found football committee, it’s been added that he’ll still be a part of United’s transfer business.

Sancho excluded from squad photo

Jadon Sancho was left out as Manchester United’s first-team squad posed for their official group photo today.

It was the first time that United’s players had assembled for a team snap since start of the 2014-15 season.

Sancho, 23, was absent, with his future looking more and more likely to be away from Old Trafford following his high-profile fallout with Erik ten Hag.

United plan to extend three contracts

Manchester United are planning to trigger extension clauses in Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof’s contracts which both expire at the end of this season.

According to the MEN, the defensive duo will see their stays extended, while youngster Hannibal Mejbri is also being lined up for a new deal.

ICYMI: Dortmund ready to make Sancho offer

Borussia Dortmund are ready to bring Jadon Sancho back in January as he remains frozen out at Manchester United.

Dortmund previously got the best from Sancho during his four years in the Bundesliga and, despite previously denying their interest, could come to the table in the New Year with an offer, reports ESPN. The finances would have to work out for the German outfit if they were to strike a deal.

It would require the Premier League outfit to pay part of his £300,000-a-week wages. Sancho remains highly thought of at Dortmund, where he scored 50 times in 137 appearances, and is still in contact with coach Edin Terzic.

United face fresh January transfer concerns

Just when Manchester United though new investment was finally arriving – the club are set to be dealt another blow to their transfer ambitions.

Some 331 days after the Glazers first announced their intentions to sell the club, on Thursday a 12-person board met to rubber-stamp a £1.4billion offer from INEOS supremo Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The proposal would see the lifelong United fan acquire a 25 per cent stake in the club, leaving the US family as the majority owners.

That development came after Sheikh Jassim withdrew his offer to buy the club outright. After months of prolonged negotiations, the Qatari banker grew frustrated with the lack of clarity from the club, with his reported £6billion bid reportedly falling short of the owner’s valuation.

FULL STORY: Casemiro out of Sheffield Utd clash

Manchester United have confirmed that Casemiro will miss Saturday’s clash with Sheffield United.

The midfielder, 31, suffered an injury while on international duty with Brazil, where he’ll stay to recover from a “small issue.” Casemiro played the full 90 minutes against Uruguay on Tuesday in a World Cup qualifier, despite coming off injured against Venezuela last Friday.

United confirmed on Thursday afternoon: “Casemiro was absent [from training], having remained in Brazil, on the club’s advice, to recover as swiftly as possible from a small issue picked up while playing for his country.

“He will be unavailable for Saturday’s game with the Blades but is expected back at Carrington early next week to resume training, although he is suspended for the UEFAChampions League encounter with FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford, after being sent off in the defeat to Galatasaray.”

Joel Glazer to have footballing role

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has risked further upsetting the Manchester United fan base by agreeing for the much-maligned Joel Glazer to have a place on the club’s new ‘football committee’.

Ratcliffe, 70, is set to complete a £1.4billion deal in the coming weeks to not only acquire 25 percent of United but also take control of the club’s footballing operations. Sports chiefs from his company, INEOS – such as Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc – are expected to play key roles, but it’s now emerged that Joel – one of six siblings who’ve owned United since the death of their father, Malcolm Glazer, in 2014 – will also have a say.

According to a fresh report from the Financial Times, Joel is to sit on the newly-found committee overseeing football matters. The news has riled supporters who are desperate for the Glazer family to have little say on the sporting side of the club after years of failure. The current owners are likely to retain control of commercial operations.

It’s also noted in the report that United chiefs have discussed the prospect of raising additional funds which would be used for the club. Selling further shares which are currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange could allow INEOS founder and chief executive Ratcliffe to increase his stake while injecting funds directly into United.

Casemiro ruled out

Manchester United’s squad have reunited at Carrington following the international break.

And according to the club website, Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat were among those to take part.

However, Casemiro was absent, having remained in Brazil on the club’s advice to recover from a knock picked up while playing for his country. He’ll be unavailable for Sheffield United on Saturday.

United braced for January transfer blow

Supporters Trust welcome Ratcliffe proposal

Andy Green, a board member at the Manchester United Supporters Trust, has lauded the prospect of Sir Jim Ratcliffe buying into the club.

“It’s finally a little crack in the glass. You can see some change coming and that’s got to be good for United,” he said, via the Financial Times.

“Ineos are in it for the glory — they don’t appear to be in it for the financial return. Having somebody in the boardroom who wants the sporting side to be better has got to be a good thing.”

Cole wants Rashford out of “firing line”

Former Man United striker Andy Cole has called for Marcus Rashford to be rested amid is poor club form.

“I can see why it’s good for some players to be taken out of the firing line,” he told Betfred. “When you look at Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, you’d never have a conversation about them having an off year. Marcus needs to discover how he can maintain that high level of consistency.

“If you don’t count last season for Marcus and you look at the two seasons prior to that, his form was exactly the same as it is now. You can only ask Marcus what the problem is.”

Belgium v Sweden decision

UEFA have confirmed the Belgium v Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier will not be replayed, with the 1-1 half time score counting as the final result.

United defender Sweden captain Victor Lindelof had previously argued there was no need for a replay, saying: “Belgium are already qualified and we don’t have the opportunity to get to the European Championship, so I see no reason to [replay the game].”

Sancho expected to outlast Ten Hag

Betting experts at Sportslens are expecting Jadon Sancho to last longer at Old Trafford than Erik ten Hag.

Sancho is 4/5 to outlive under pressure Ten Hag at Old Trafford with neither seemingly ready to back down following their spat earlier this season. A January transfer move looked likely for Sancho but Sportslens go odds-on that he will play for the club again. It’s 6/4 that Sancho apologises to Ten Hag in a bid to get playing again.

Dortmund have been linked with a move for Sancho in January with odds of 4/1.

Reguilon risks upsetting teammates

Manchester United loanee Sergio Reguilon has picked his dream five-a-side team without naming a single Old Trafford star!

The Spaniard named compatriots Sergio Ramos, David Silva, Xavi, Iniesta, and David Villa.

Ten Hag demands move for ‘next Bruno Fernandes’ as Man Utd transfer plan takes shape

Manchester United are ramping up their interest in signing teenage midfielder Joao Neves from Benfica.

The talented 19-year-old broke through into the first-team ranks of the Lisbon giants in the second half of last season. Neves has gone on to make 31 appearances for Benfica and has started eight of the side’s matches this campaign – including their Portuguese Super Cup clash against Porto and both Champions League matches to date.

Neves has already more than won the hearts of Benfica’s faithful as his one goal for the club at senior level to date was an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time to rescue a point in last season’s Lisbon derby away to Sporting CP.

ICYMI – Ex-Premier League star explains why Glazers’ plan is “genius”

Former Premier League striker Jan Age Fjortoft says that the Glazers must be “geniuses” after agreeing to sell just a quarter of Manchester United to Sir Jim Ratcliffe for a huge £1.4billion.

Ratcliffe, Britain’s second-richest man and founder of petrochemical conglomerate INEOS, is expected to take charge of United’s footballing operations once the deal is done, while the Glazers will retain control from a financial standpoint as majority owners. The American family – made up of six siblings, including United bigwigs Joel and Avram Glazer – were split on a full sale of the club, so will instead receive investment from Ratcliffe and, as Fjortoft explains, no longer have the pressure of sorting out the football.

“The Glazers must be geniuses!” the ex-Swindon, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Barnsley ace posted on social media. “Still in control of Manchester United; financially they can still do whatever they want; the ‘sport-department’, where they are judged/criticised, they give Ratcliffe responsibility for; and they get paid a fortune! Must be a party at the Glazers’!”

It’s unclear how much fiscal power INEOS will have once the deal has been completed, as United have a Class A and Class B share structure which Ratcliffe will’ve had to straddle. Exclusively held by Glazer family members, Class B shares are worth 10 times their Class A equivalent when it comes to voting on crucial club decisions.

Sofyan Amrabat ‘returns to Man Utd with injury’ after withdrawing from Morocco squad

Manchester United will be sweating over the fitness of Sofyan Amrabat after the midfielder was forced to miss Morocco’s final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old was left out of the Morocco squad for their 1-1 draw with Ivory Coast on Saturday and did not recover in time to play against Liberia three days later. The Atlas Lions ended up winning the latter 3-0 thanks to goals from Amine Harit, Ayoub El Kaabi and Amine Adli.

However, according to Al Ayam, Amrabat missed out on Tuesday’s victory over Liberia because of an unspecified injury. Speaking over the weekend, Morocco boss Walid Regragui said: “We will not hide behind absences, because we knew about Amrabat’s absence before the start of the camp.”

Borussia Dortmund ‘ready’ to make Jadon Sancho transfer offer

Borussia Dortmund are ready to bring Jadon Sancho back in January as he remains frozen out at Manchester United.

Dortmund previously got the best from Sancho during his four years in the Bundesliga and, despite previously denying their interest, could come to the table in the New Year with an offer, reports ESPN. The finances would have to work out for the German outfit if they were to strike a deal.

It would require the Premier League outfit to pay part of his £300,000-a-week wages. Sancho remains highly thought of at Dortmund, where he scored 50 times in 137 appearances, and is still in contact with coach Edin Terzic.

Cristiano Ronaldo sent retirement message by former Man Utd teammate

Cristiano Ronaldo still has “another two or three years” left in him, according to former Manchester United teammate Dimitar Berbatov.

Berbatov – who played alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford during the 2008-09 season – is adamant that he’ll be sticking around until at least 2025. “Cristiano will stop when he wants to stop,” the ex-United striker told Betfair. “When you look after yourself the way he has, have the team around you that he does, the chances of playing football for longer than expected gets bigger.

“In Cristiano’s case, I think he has the chance to play for another two or three years. People will say that he’s playing in a slower league that’s not as good as the Premier League but it doesn’t matter. He’s still proving that he’s going strong, especially recently with his performances and goals for Portugal.

ICYMI – United timescale given before title push

Manchester United may have to wait another four years before they challenge for the title – according to Stan Collymore.

He said: “Jim Ratcliffe has such vast experience in business and within a sporting environment in terms of sponsorships and team building. He will understand and know how successful organisations work.

“I think it will take around three or four years before United are successful again and are ready to win the Premier League title. The most important thing is to have someone at the football club who is a leader and a winner and that is what Jim Ratcliffe is. He is the most important Manchester United signing in over a decade.”

Maguire told to cut out “silly mistakes” and ignore “ego” to save Man Utd career

Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has told Harry Maguire in no uncertain terms what he must do to stay at the club.

“Harry Maguire was good against Brentford,” he told Betfairf. “The only thing he can do is stay concentrated when given the chance to perform and not make silly mistakes.”

“When he speaks, you can see that Harry is confident in his ability,” added the Bulgarian. “When he was given the captains armband, his confidence obviously increased, but so did his ego.

Ratcliffe deal delay

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will have to wait even longer to take control of Manchester United with the Glazers reportedly putting the breaks on his deal.

Ratcliffe looked set to purchase a 25 percent minority stake in United for £1.4billion after his only competitor, Sheikh Jassim, backed out of the drawn-out process. The Glazers and the United board were expected to vote on whether to accept Ratcliffe’s bid at a meeting on Thursday.

But The Telegraph now reports that Ratcliffe and his INEOS group will have to wait a little longer, because there are still important factors to be ironed out. With Ratcliffe bidding to take over the footballing operations, there are still some things which need further discussion before it is put to a vote.