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The Three Lions coach's legacy is secure after turning the team's fortunes around dramatically since 2016, but his days in the hot seat feel numbered

While Gareth Southgate and England will have their attention fixed on Euro 2024 having secured their place in Germany, a great abyss lies beyond the summer amid uncertainty over the manager's future. After a testing few months on and off the pitch, cracks have finally begun to show in Southgate's perpetually composed demeanour.

Despite everything he has done for the national team and its standing on the world stage over the last eight years, his selection decisions, performances and, indeed, words have arguably never been under more scrutiny.

With a golden opportunity to end England's agonising wait for silverware on the horizon, and a momentous decision facing him beyond that, it feels as though we are already witnessing Southgate's final days as England manager.

Getty'Not where we want to be'

Southgate should predominantly be judged on qualification for major tournaments and England's performances at those showpieces, with lulls in the months in between perhaps par for the course. However, inconsistent and disjointed displays since the 2023-24 season began are cause for concern with so few games between now and Euro 2024. Their form was even worse going into the 2022 World Cup, courtesy of a forgettable Nations League campaign, and that was arguably reflected in an overall underperformance as they bowed out in the quarter-finals.

Since September, the Three Lions have been held to draws by Ukraine and North Macedonia on the road, and only managed unconvincing victories over Australia and Malta at Wembley. Southgate has a knack for getting the best out of his team when the cards are down, but it's evident that something is amiss.

Speaking after edging Malta recently, the manager rather alarmingly admitted: "We know the level we've got should be better, can be better. Those games that you know you can win at a canter, the number of games these players are playing, it's almost a self-regulation. There are positives, but we know we were not where we want to be and can be."

AdvertisementGettyQuestionable selections

Despite the relative success he has delivered and his usually inoffensive, calm demeanour, Southgate has become a polarising figure for England fans – not least because of his squad and team selections.

While there has always been light-hearted debate over who should start on the wing or at right-back, the manager has come under intense scrutiny in recent months for inexplicably continuing to call upon Jordan Henderson, despite his money-motivated move to the inferior Saudi Pro League at the age of 33 and the political connotations that go with that decision.

There have been some glaring inconsistencies, too, with blind loyalty shown to those who are out of form or out of favour at club level, such as Kalvin Phillips, Marcus Rashford and, previously, Harry Maguire, while in-form Raheem Sterling has been consistently overlooked despite having been one of Southgate's most trusted lieutenants.

No more Mr. Nice Guy

Southgate's vehement defence of Henderson's continued involvement was particularly telling. This is a manager who is revered as someone who, alongside his players, has united the country – taking a stand against racism and discrimination while promoting progressive politics. Indeed, his open letter ahead of Euro 2020, 'Dear England', has even been adapted into a West End stage production.

A self-proclaimed LGBTQ+ ally, Henderson's lucrative move to Saudi Arabia – where homosexuality is punishable by death – belies those supposed values, and Southgate is now complicit in that. However, to date his response and defence of both himself and Henderson has been tone deaf and disappointing, with his exasperated tone suggesting that media scrutiny might be getting to him.

In a fraught press conference in September, he said: "My job is to pick a football team. I don’t think you can pick a football team based on any prejudice about where they might be playing their football. I am a bit lost with some of the questioning. You walk in to talk about a squad for football and we are wading into complex political situations, which I am not really trained to do."

He then doubled down when Henderson was booed during the friendly with Australia at Wembley, saying: "I really don’t understand it. He’s a brilliant role model for all of the group in his professionalism and his approach. Some people deciding to boo I really don’t understand what that is for. Come on.

"I don’t really know where we are heading with everything. I’m hugely impressed with the impeccable values and decisions that everyone in our country is making now. I know what’s created it and it’s happened but it defies logic to me that you would give a player – who is putting his heart and soul into playing for England – why you would boo him? Is that going to help him or the team? I don’t understand it.”

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Getty ImagesAn underwhelming World Cup

Southgate has built an unlikely reputation as an adept tournament manager since taking the reins from Sam Allardyce in 2016, memorably guiding England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the Euro 2020 final in consecutive major tournaments, although they came up agonisingly short on both occasions.

Expectation, then, was heightened when last year's World Cup rolled around, with the hope that England could finally go one step further. However, although they swiftly clicked into gear and cruised into the quarter-finals, their hopes were brought to an abrupt end by France as Harry Kane missed that crucial penalty.

There is no doubting the quality in the French squad, but a quarter-final exit was quite literally a step backwards for Southgate's England given what had come before, resulting in the nagging sense that a golden opportunity had been passed up by an exceptional set of players. Indeed, with the tools he has at his disposal, Southgate arguably should have delivered some form of silverware, with the Nations League also eluding him.

Carlo Ancelotti brushed aside speculation linking Real Madrid with a move for Kylian Mbappe and insisted that he remains focused on the job at hand.

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Mbappe continues to flirt with Real MadridAncelotti refused to be drawn in by rumoursInsisted balance is most important thing(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe has reportedly informed Paris Saint-Germain of his intention to depart the club, once he hits free agency in the summer. Real Madrid have been long-term admirers of the 2018 World Cup winner and after being snubbed on two occasions in the past, it seems that they would finally achieve their target.

AdvertisementWHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID

However, Ancelotti remains unfazed about the growing speculations and told reporters: "I see and hear everything but nothing else. I understand that it’s the topic of the day for you but not for us. We have prepared for tomorrow’s game and that’s what we have talked about, not about anything else. I’d like to work on this season, there’s a long time to go before next season."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Aurelien Tchouameni reached for the popcorn after Mbappe's bombshell exit news went viral. However, Ancelotti asserted that the ongoing speculations won't be a distraction for the squad as they continue to fight for silverware on multiple fronts.

"If I’m worried about Mbappe, do you see me worried?" he asked. "I think it’s going to be the same for the next few press conferences, I’m not worried."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Ancelotti currently has Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Joselu, and Brahim Diaz at his disposal in attack, with Jude Bellingham firing on all cylinders in midfield in an extraordinary debut campaign in Madrid’s colours. When asked if the inclusion of Mbappe would disrupt the equilibrium of the squad he explained: "Yes, I agree that good players can play together, but the important thing is to keep the balance. The most important thing is quality and balance. If you combine those two aspects well, it’s good."

Real Madrid will be in action against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in a La Liga encounter.

Though the majority of the team's biggest stars have been given the tournament off, the Stars and Stripes will still be among the favourites

We're just days removed from the United States men's national team's Nations League triumph and two dominant wins over Mexico and Canada. Several USMNT stars will likely still be washing away the champagne smell and, yet, here we are, looking ahead to the next summer tournament.

Just six days after finishing off the Nations League in Las Vegas, the U.S. will kickstart the Gold Cup in Chicago. There's no rest during a CONCACAF summer, that's for sure. Still, the USMNT set to compete in this second summer tournament will be very different than the one that won the first. Gone are the likes of Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie, as this roster has just five holdovers from the Nations League team.

In place of the established stars, interim coach B.J. Callaghan is taking charge of a squad filled with young upstarts and veterans looking for one last push. From two-time World Cup veteran DeAndre Yedlin to teenagers like Cade Cowell, there's an interesting mix.

That mix, though, still could be good enough to win the Gold Cup, but it will be a challenge, much as it was in 2021 when the U.S. pulled off their first CONCACAF double. Doing so again will require several players to take leaps forward, although there are plenty capable of using this tournament as a springboard to bigger and better things.

With that said, here's a look at what to watch out for with the USMNT at the Gold Cup:

GettyTurner (and Slonina) in goal

The goalkeeper position is perhaps the most interesting one on the field for the U.S., as the goalkeeper of the present and the goalkeeper of the future have both been named to the squad.

Matt Turner is sticking with the team after the Nations League triumph, and he likely isn't sticking around to sit on the bench. He is the USMNT's No.1, after all, and all signs point to him being starter for the meaningful games in this tournament.

Still, it will be interesting to see if Gabriel Slonina gets any minutes, as the Chelsea youngster is also in the team after shining at the Under-20 World Cup. Slonina is widely seen as a superstar in the making and, after making his USMNT debut in January, it seems to be a matter of when, not if, he gets his crack at the No.1 spot.

This summer may be a bit too soon for him, but it'll be a good experience, at least, learning under Turner and Sean Johnson, two World Cup veterans.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRobinson's return to form

With the full team, Miles Robinson very well could be the go-too starter. He was phenomenal against Mexico in the Nations League and, like Turner, is one of the holdovers from that squad.

A devastating Achilles injury kept him out of the World Cup last fall, but Robinson is looking back to his old self. Still, getting reps in the Gold Cup will be good for him, especially as he continues to draw European interest.

How many games can Robinson go? It remains to be seen. So far, the USMNT has taken it easy with him by limiting his minutes somewhat. We know that Robinson will play quality minutes at the Gold Cup, but the quantity is the mystery, especially considering the other veteran center-backs in the team.

Look out for Jalen Neal, too, who could make an impact despite being one of the younger members of the squad.

GettyYoung full-backs making a push

Of the full-backs in the squad just one, DeAndre Yedlin, has significant USMNT experience. John Tolkin, Bryan Reynolds and DeJuan Jones, meanwhile, are all players that are looking to make a rise up the depth chart, with all having the ability to play a key role this cycle.

Tolkin is the youngest of the bunch, and it could be argued he has the highest ceiling. A standout in MLS with the New York Red Bulls, Tolkin is seen as a future European transfer, with many outside of North America already taking notice of his abilities.

Reynolds, meanwhile, has three caps to his name and is back with the USMNT after having a difficult time with his own European adventure. His time with Roma has been a mess, but a loan to Westerlo in Belgium helped him regain some much-needed confidence ahead of the Gold Cup.

And then there's Jones, the New England Revolution star. He's the oldest of this trio at 25, but he's looked solid in his two USMNT caps thus far. He'll battle with Tolkin for a spot on the left, while Reynolds and Yedlin will duke it out on the right-hand side.

Left-back, in particular, is a position of interest for the USMNT, who have been looking for a back-up to Antonee Robinson for some time. Could it be Tolkin or Jones? We'll find out this summer.

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Getty ImagesWhat's up with Aidan Morris?

One of the more interesting inclusions and another dual-national battle the U.S. has won. Morris has drawn interest from Canada, and could be a key player for them. He, ultimately, opted for the U.S., though, saying: "I think my heart felt more comfortable and more shaped towards the U.S. than Canada. That’s no disrespect towards Canada, it’s just where I’ve grown up and something I’ve been working towards my whole life."

That's good news for the USMNT, as the 21-year-old midfielder has been playing well in MLS. He's the youngest player in league history to start an MLS Cup, having helped lift the Columbus Crew to the 2020 title, and he's only grown as a midfielder since then. A defensive-minded option, Morris could be an answer at the senior level, where there isn't really a backup in Tyler Adams' mold.

This is a good tryout for him to prove he can be that guy, and perhaps more, in the years to come.

Real Madrid have reportedly “laughed at” Paris Saint-Germain’s €250 million (£213m/$272m) demands in any transfer for Kylian Mbappe.

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French forward yet to sign new dealDue to become a free agent in 2024Blancos heavily linked for some timeWHAT HAPPENED?

The World Cup-winning forward has been welcomed back into the fold at Parc des Princes at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, but he is yet to agree an extension to a contract that is due to expire next summer. As a result, intense speculation continues to rage regarding the 24-year-old’s future plans.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

PSG are still hoping to agree fresh terms, with exit triggers set to be inserted into new one or two-year agreements. They are eager to include a €250m release clause in any deal, with the Ligue 1 champions looking to generate a world-record fee from any sale.

AND WHAT'S MORE

reports that said figures have been laughed out of Santiago Bernabeu, with Real having no intention of parting with such a fee. Instead, the Blancos have made it clear that they will only go as high as €175m (£149m/$190m) in any deal – which includes bonuses – with their opening offer expected to be closer to the €130m (£111m/$141m) mark.

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Goal / GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Real are also eager to make it clear to Mbappe and his representatives that they are prepared to walk away entirely, dropping all interest in a long-standing target, if no deal is done in the current window or the summer of 2024.

The 2017-18 FIFA Ultimate Team of the Season has been revealed, with all this year's biggest and best performers getting huge ratings boosts

EA SportsSergio Aguero – Man City89 > 97AdvertisementEA SportsDele Alli – Spurs84 > 92EA SportsCesar Azpilicueta – Chelsea86 > 92ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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EA SportsDavid Silva – Man City89 > 95

Harry Kane has lifted the lid slightly on his private life, with the Bayern Munich striker revealing what he likes to get up to away from the pitch.

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England captain now in GermanyHas always been a model professionalFamily comes first for prolific frontmanWHAT HAPPENED?

The England captain has never been one to chase the limelight, with the humble 30-year-old frontman happy to let his football do the talking. That has continued to be the case in 2023-24, with Kane rewriting the history books while netting 22 goals through 18 appearances for Bayern – with three hat-tricks recorded along the way.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT KANE SAID

Kane has now told of how he spends his time off the field, with there never any desire on his part to enjoy wild nights out. He has said: “I like to keep things private and I think that’s all down to the type of person I am. I’m a pretty normal guy and do normal things. I’ve never been someone who goes out to nightclubs. When I have spare time, I like to spend it with my wife and kids, I like to play some golf. Unfortunately, there are some things that are a bit more difficult to do when you are going to a busy place and people recognise you. In general, I’m just a pretty normal guy.

“People have different personalities and take different paths in their life. You can’t say one is right and one is wrong, but this is just the way I have always been. I don’t tend to give too much of my personal life away and like to keep my children away from the spotlight as there is so much out there on social media and you have to be careful. That is all part of learning to be a dad, being a parent. You need to protect your kids from seeing things you don’t want them to see. There are advantages to the internet and social media, but you don’t want to expose your kids to too much too young.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Kane is yet to be joined in Germany by his young family, with a house hunt in Bavaria having dragged on, but they will soon be reunited and the expectation is that stability off the pitch will help the record-breaking forward to take his game to even greater heights.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

Kane is already the all-time leading goalscorer for Tottenham and England, but a €100 million (£86m/$109m) transfer to Bayern was completed in a bid to get his hands on elusive major silverware – with the Bundesliga title holders in the hunt for another domestic crown and continental glory in the Champions League.

While United's manager has used his selection headaches as an excuse for failure, the Merseysiders brushed aside their injuries to win another trophy

Liverpool's Carabao Cup win over Chelsea was a tale of both senior leadership and youthful exuberance. One defining image was the sight of Jurgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk lifting the trophy together. Klopp shook the club up and rebuilt it in his image while Van Dijk's defensive steel completed their transformation, delivering the latest in a long line of trophies with a towering header deep in extra-time.

The other takeaway was Liverpool's long cast of academy graduates, all born in 2003 or after, streaming off the bench and being utterly unawed by the occasion. As Gary Neville put it so succinctly: "Klopp's kids against the billion pound bottle jobs." Liverpool resembled the walking wounded last week, losing Diogo Jota, Cutis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah in the days before the final, in addition to the already-missing Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker.

And their injury crisis was aggravated during the game as Ryan Gravenberch, Andrew Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister were all forced off. But far from being knocked down by the absence of their best players, Liverpool rose to the occasion. "Liverpool have been absolutely sensational," Neville added. "Those young players have been incredible. Klopp must be so proud."

What a contrast to Neville's own club Manchester United, who had fallen apart against Fulham a day earlier after losing two players to injury. Erik ten Hag pointed to the key absences of Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund as he sought to explain their latest dire home display this season, but he is beginning to sound like a broken record.

After all, Liverpool have demonstrated that injuries do not matter if you have a clear playing identity and rally behind your coach.

GettySenior players not helping out

Ten Hag had taken a chance on youth the day before by handing 19-year-old Omari Forson his full debut against Fulham to cover the absence of Hojlund. It meant there were four academy graduates in the line-up (including three from the 2022 FA Youth Cup winning side) and four more on the bench.

No one could accuse the Dutchman, whose young Ajax team took the Champions League by storm, of not believing in young players. The difference was that while the likes of Van Dijk, Wataru Endo and Luis Diaz led the way for Liverpool, United's senior players shrunk.

Marcus Rashford was anonymous at centre-forward and Bruno Fernandes was incapable of sparking any danger, save for long-range shots. Casemiro and Harry Maguire were clumsy in the tackle and Victor Lindelof again looked lost trying to deputise for Shaw, whose absence for several months has left United with no natural left backs.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesYou win nothing with (just) kids

After the Carabao Cup triumph, Klopp said: "I got told outside you don't win trophies with kids. Write it new." The German was referring to former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen's infamous declaration on in August 1995 after watching United sink to a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.

Those words came back to haunt Hansen at the end of that season when a United team containing David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt went on to win the Premier League title and FA Cup.

But Hansen's words have been taken out of context. He meant you can't win anything with kids. The catalyst of that great double winning side, after all, was Eric Cantona, who was still suspended at the time for kicking a fan but who galvanised the team when he returned in October.

United have a lot of exciting young players such as Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Hojlund, but they badly lack a talismanic figure like Cantona. Current captain Fernandes has not scored a league goal since November, while Rashford is a shadow of the brilliant player who scored 30 times in all competitions last season.

Getty ImagesPressing problems

Another huge difference between United and Liverpool could be seen in the way the two teams are set up and work as a unit. Reds youngsters are educated in the art of 'Gegenpressing' from an early age, allowing the likes of Bradley and Bobby Clark to fit so seamlessly into Klopp's team. But United's senior players seem incapable of pressing together, allowing Fulham to repeatedly play their way through them at Old Trafford.

Fernandes is a big part of the problem as he is a free spirit, often blindly chasing down opponents and ruining United's shape. Jamie Carragher said recently: "He's emotional. He runs 30 yards to close the goalkeeper down. People sometimes get kidded by it and say, 'look at him working hard'. No, he's killing the team."

Neville has also criticised Fernandes' free role. "He must be told to go and do what you want. Ten Hag is giving him the freedom to go there, there, there. And that means you can never have a combination or a pattern because you've got your main midfield player everywhere on the pitch."

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(C)Getty ImagesLost without Martinez

Ten Hag has acknowledged that not all of his squad fully get his methods or understand what he wants them to do, which becomes a huge problem when just a few key players like Shaw, Hojlund or Lisandro Martinez are unavailable.

"They know what the routines are but definitely things are changed [with injuries]," he said after losing to Fulham. "Not everyone [gets the ideas], other players coming in, different identities, different skills, that is what we have to adapt as a team."

But the fact that a number of players are unable to implement his style and demonstrate the 'automatisms' he talks about ultimately falls on him. More than 18 months into the job, it is still unclear what Ten Hag's playing philosophy is. It seems that with a full squad available, he wants his team to play on the front foot, with Martinez and Andre Onana starting moves from their own area.

But when the Argentine is absent, as has been the case for most of the season, United seem only capable of playing on the counter, leaving Onana with little option but to launch the ball forward with long punts.

And without Hojlund, they have no one capable of holding the ball up and bringing others into play, leading to the hurried attacks they fashioned in the closing stages of each half against Fulham.

Robert Lewandowski was at his best in Barcelona's 5-1 win over Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday.

If anyone had any doubts about Lewandowski's move to the Blaugrana – which they shouldn't have given his entire career – those are quickly fading now.

The Polish star was spectacular in his first Champions League game since making the move from Bayern Munich, scoring a hat-trick to lead Barcelona past Viktoria Plzen.

He was joined on the scoresheet by another new signing, Franck Kessie, as well as Ferran Torres, who came off the bench to provide a goal and an assist.

Yes, it was Viktoria Plzen, certainly no match for Barcelona, but what a performance it was from the Catalan side, led by their star striker.

Xavi's team will be so difficult to stop when he's in this mood.

GettyThe Winners

Robert Lewandowski:

No matter what shirt he's wearing, Lewandowski gets his goals.

He delivered three of them in this one, his first Champions League finishes since making the move to Barcelona. The first was a lovely one, a perfectly-place finish into the bottom corner. The second? A header on the back post thanks to the work of Ousmane Dembele (more on him later). And then a third in the second half, another absolute missile of a finish.

This is what Lewandowski does. He scores and scores, then scores some more. It's why Barcelona brought him into the club, and why there is reason for optimism about their chances in this competition.

Ousmane Dembele:

Now that's a £100 million player right there!

Dembele is finally looking like the player Barcelona thought they bought from Borussia Dortmund, with the second half of last season showing the level he can reach when healthy.

On Wednesday, it wasn't the £100 million talent, but the £100 million effort that shined through. Barcelona's third goal was all Dembele, as he made a tackle, recovered the ball, dribbled to the line and played an absolute peach of a cross straight onto the head of Lewandowski.

What a sequence from Dembele, and what a player Barcelona have on their hands.

Ferran Torres:

Talk about taking your chance…

Inserted into the game in the second half, Torres made his presence felt immediately, assisting Lewandowski's hat-trick goal. Moments later, he had a goal of his own, a lovely volleyed finish to make it five for Barca.

In a crowded Barcelona attack that includes the likes of Dembele, Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay and Raphinha, every moment matters and every showing could be the difference between starting or sitting the next game.

Torres made the most of his moment, perhaps earning more time going forward.

AdvertisementGettyThe Losers

Ansu Fati:

Fati is a young player who still has plenty of growing to do. That was on full display as he made his first start in quite some time.

The young winger was the weakest of the front three, although that's to be expected considering the level that Lewandowski and Dembele are playing at. He was active, sure, but Fati was also wasteful, squandering several chances with poor shots.

He wasn't bad, but in a performance this complete from most of those around him, he stood out.

With Fati, things will take time, given his layoff and age. Are Barcelona patient enough to give it to him given the embarrassment of riches in the attack? Time will tell.

There's a hell of a player somewhere in there; he just wasn't quite there today.

Inter:

Bayern are Bayern, so you know they won't slip up. And, knowing that, the race in this group always looked like it would be for second.

Barcelona's new-look squad vs. Inter's Serie A champions. That was the expected battle.

If Wednesday was any indication, Barcelona will feel good about their chances.

As Inter were thoroughly beaten by Bayern in a 2-0 defeat, Barcelona ran rampant. They now have three points and six goals on Inter in the goal difference column, giving them a massive advantage.

There are plenty of twists and turns to come, but Inter will have work to do after checking the Barcelona score.

The doubters:

"I want you to put the word out there that we back up."

It may be a BIT too soon to coronate Barcelona, especially since they just beat a team from the Czech Republic. But given what Barcelona fans have had to watch the last few years, this was a refreshing scene.

The transfers have shined, with Kessie, Lewandowski and Kounde all playing well. Dembele, a player who nearly left this summer, was fantastic as well.

Lots to feel good about at Camp Nou.

GettyBarcelona Ratings: Defence

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (6/10):

Not too much to do as Barcelona held the ball.

Jordi Alba (6/10):

Helped set up one goal and was solid enough on the left. Was caught out on Plzen's finish, though.

Jules Kounde (7/10):

Fantastic header on the opener set up Kessie. Looked solid enough.

Andreas Christensen (6/10):

Took an elbow to the face and was also nearly sent off, only for VAR to intervene to correctly overturn the call.

Sergi Roberto (6/10):

Had a good first half before being taken out at half-time due to an apparent injury.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Franck Kessie(8/10):

Great finish and lots of energy. Was everywhere.

Frenkie de Jong (6/10):

A few very nice passes, playing the Busquets role well enough as he continues to adjust to it.

Pedri (8/10):

Does so many little things well. Deservedly saluted by the crowd on his way out.

United have been placed in a very difficult position by the wantaway striker, given there are very few proven goalscorers on the market right now

Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid to secure a transfer this summer could force Manchester United into a sudden change of plan.

The Portugal international has asked the club to accept any satisfactory offer after declaring his determination to play in the Champions League.

United insist he is not for sale and expect him to see out the final 12 months of his contract – but his absence from their travelling party for the tour of Thailand and Australia for "family reasons" adds to the uncertainty surrounding his future.

And if he is successful in convincing United to sell, it will force Erik ten Hag to bring forward his plans to sign a top class centre forward by 12 months.

While United had targeted Darwin Nunez, their failure to beat Liverpool to the Uruguayan saw them decide to wait until next summer to look for a replacement for Ronaldo.

One of the biggest issues is a budget that has to be focused on other parts of the squad, with around £55 million ($65m) needed to land top target, Frenkie de Jong.

United are hoping to sign Ajax winger, Antony, for around £50m ($60m) – and team-mate, Lisandro Martinez, could cost in the region of £40m ($48m).

It would take vast amounts to sign the calibre of striker required to replace Ronaldo, while the lack of credible options on the market is another issue.

Consequently, Ten Hag will have to weigh up both internal and external striking solutions if he can’t convince his star man to stay for one more season…

Getty ImagesPaulo Dybala

Solskjaer wanted the Argentina international back in 2019 – but a move fell apart for a number of reasons, with United put off by his wage demands, while Dybala also made it clear he wanted to stay at Juventus.

That same summer, United were rejected by Eriksen, who has now agreed a three-year deal as a free agent.

Could this be the summer to go back in for another missed target? Especially as Dybala would also be free…

AdvertisementGetty ImagesHarry Kane

Has long been high on United’s wanted list and would be precisely the profile of player to fill the enormous boots vacated by Ronaldo.

Kane wanted to join City last season, only for Spurs to hold firm and refuse to sell.

It’s highly unlikely Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, would be any more open to selling now – particularly after Conte has guided them back into the Champions League.

It is also debatable whether Kane would see United as a better bet to achieve his ultimate ambition of major trophies.

Getty ImagesNeymar

Another player that United have followed for years.

Ex-executive vice chairman, Ed Woodward, was desperate to bring the Brazilian to Old Trafford – but there has been little sign of his successor, Richard Arnold, focusing on such marquee signings.

There are also serious doubts as to whether he would suit Ten Hag’s high-pressing system – much like Ronaldo.

But he would be a spectacular statement in Arnold's first transfer window.

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GettyTammy Abraham

Ignited his career in Italy with Roma under Jose Mourinho, scoring 27 goals last season in all competitions.

There was a feeling among Chelsea fans that he was let go too soon – and England manager, Gareth Southgate, believes he could be the natural cover for Kane.

Still questions over his finishing at the highest level – and whether he could replicate his Serie A form in the Premier League.

New USWNT boss Emma Hayes delayed start with the U.S. poses an issue, per sporting director Matt Crocker, but the USSF is happy to wait for her.

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Emma Hayes delayed start presents issues for U.S. SoccerUSSF 'hopeful' Hayes can travel to meet squad

USWNT host China PR on December 2

WHAT HAPPENED?

In a press conference on Monday, Crocker said that despite the complications with the current situation regarding Hayes' status with the USWNT, he's 'hopeful' that the new boss will be able to visit the squad in Florida next week. The U.S. has a pair of December international friendlies against China PR to end the calendar year.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Hayes is a picture-perfect hire for the USWNT, and the way they negotiated her contract, she will still end on good terms with her beloved Chelsea; it's an ideal scenario. The 47-year-old manager will still be on the touchline for at least four games prior to her first major tournament with the national team in the Paris Olympics, too. However, the one negative is that for any matches played in 2024 from January until the end of the WSL season, Hayes won't be on the bench with her squad.

WHAT CROCKER SAID

"It's not ideal Emma can’t start with us right away. But from my perspective, what was important is that we’ve got the best candidate for the long term rather than wrong candidate for short term," he said.

The USSF Sporting Director added: "We're just again working to final details around her schedule… it would be an ideal situation for her to come and meet the players and staff and we're very hopeful that that can happen."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR HAYES AND THE USWNT?

The current Chelsea boss will continue out the WSL season with the Blues before joining up with the USWNT on a permanent basis in 2024. They're back in action on Thursday in the UEFA Women's Champions League against Paris FC. The U.S. meanwhile, announced the November camp roster Monday morning ahead of a pair of December friendlies against China PR.