Manchester United have identified Paris St-Germain boss Luis Enrique as their preferred candidate to become the club’s next permanent manager before this summer’s World Cup.
Senior officials at Old Trafford aim to secure a high-profile appointment prior to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family have reportedly reached a consensus on the Spaniard as the ideal long-term successor in the dugout.
The club’s hierarchy is keen to avoid dragging the process into the tournament, effectively ruling out national team coaches such as Carlo Ancelotti and Julian Nagelsmann.
Carrick’s interim impact
Current caretaker manager Michael Carrick has thrust himself into contention for the role following an impressive run of form.
The former midfielder has guided the Red Devils to six victories in his eight matches in charge, including significant wins against Arsenal and Manchester City.
These results have lifted the club to third in the Premier League, placing them firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
However, a disappointing defeat by 10-man Newcastle United in midweek has seemingly reinforced the board’s desire for an experienced elite coach.
Carrick will look to respond immediately when his side host fourth-placed Aston Villa at Old Trafford next Sunday.
European pedigree
Luis Enrique is viewed by the United board as a significant upgrade capable of restoring the club to the pinnacle of European football.
The 55-year-old has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell in the French capital, securing two Ligue 1 titles since his arrival in 2023.
Crucially, the former Barcelona coach ended PSG’s long wait for Champions League glory last season, achieving the feat with a focus on collective effort rather than individual superstars.
His attacking philosophy has delivered 381 goals in 158 games, a statistic that appeals heavily to decision-makers at the Theatre of Dreams.
The challenge ahead
While the Premier League side are determined to land their man, prizing the Asturian away from the Parc des Princes remains a hurdle.
There are fears the Spanish tactician could extend his stay in Paris as he looks to defend his European crown.
United must now convince Enrique that a move to Manchester is the right step before the summer’s international showpiece in North America begins.
Marcus Rashford’s prospects of securing a permanent transfer to Barcelona have come under intensified scrutiny after the Spanish media labelled his latest performance “disastrous”.
Struggles at San Mames
The Manchester United loanee was handed his first La Liga start in a month during Saturday’s narrow 1-0 victory against Athletic Club.
However, the England international failed to influence the game and was substituted after just 60 minutes.
Hansi Flick replaced the forward with Raphinha as the Catalan giants sought to break the deadlock in the Basque Country.
While Barcelona eventually secured the three points to maintain their title charge, the spotlight has fallen firmly on Rashford’s ineffective contribution.
Media criticism intensifies
Spanish outlets were unanimous in their negative assessment of the winger’s performance.
Madrid-based newspaper AS delivered a particularly withering verdict, characterising the display as “disastrous” for his future prospects.
The publication suggested Rashford is maintaining a “mediocre form of recent weeks” and questioned his long-term viability within the squad.
“The situation is quite worrying,” the report stated.
It added that the forward had squandered a golden opportunity to prove he is “not useless to the project”.
Permanent deal in the balance
Barcelona reportedly hold an option to make the loan move permanent for a fee in the region of £26m.
Yet Mundo Deportivo questioned whether the outlay is justifiable given recent output.
The Catalan outlet described the player’s showing as “stagnant” and noted he “offered nothing” in terms of creativity or accurate crossing.
The former Old Trafford regular has now gone five matches without registering a goal or an assist across all competitions.
La Liga context
Despite individual concerns surrounding the Englishman, Barcelona successfully preserved their cushion at the top of the table.
The victory keeps Flick’s side four points clear of rivals Real Madrid as the season approaches its climax.
Rashford will hope to recapture his early-season form as the club chases a domestic double.
New Zealand bowler Brett Randell has become the first player in the 254-year history of first-class cricket to take five wickets in five consecutive deliveries.
The 30-year-old seamer achieved the unprecedented feat while playing for Central Stags against Northern Districts in the Plunket Shield.
Randell’s devastating spell occurred across two overs on the second day of the match.
He claimed his first victim with the final delivery of his second over before removing four batters with the first four balls of his third.
‘A pinch-me moment’
The right-arm medium pacer’s onslaught caused Northern Districts to collapse spectacularly from 4-0 to 9-5.
“I’m pretty blown away,” said Randell following the day’s play.
“The high was pretty crazy, it was like a pinch-me moment.”
Despite the chaos unfolding around the batters, Randell focused on maintaining his discipline.
“I was trying to stay level-headed and keep putting the ball in the same area and then after the actual hat-trick, just the same things – trying to put the ball in the same area,” he explained.
An unprecedented spell
At the height of the drama, the Central Stags bowler sat on remarkable figures of 5-2.
He continued to press the advantage, taking a wicket with the first ball of his next over to record six wickets in just eight deliveries.
Randell eventually finished the innings with figures of 7-25.
“It gets drummed into us a lot that we don’t want to go searching for wickets, so I was trying to just keep bowling the same ball, and our ‘Plan A’ that we’d talked about, and it came off,” Randell added.
“I had no idea that it was the first time it had happened in the world, it’s seriously cool.”
“I mean, I don’t really have any words at the moment, to be honest. I’ll take it.”
Rare company
While Randell stands alone in the first-class record books, similar milestones have recently been reached in limited-overs formats.
Ireland international Curtis Campher became the first male player to achieve the feat in a professional match during a domestic T20 game in July 2025.
Additionally, Zimbabwe Women’s all-rounder Kelis Ndhlovu took five wickets in five balls during a domestic under-19 T20 fixture in 2024.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell believes a collective sense of ownership within his squad is driving their bid for a Triple Crown against Scotland on Saturday.
The Men in Green have recovered from an opening-round defeat by France to secure three consecutive victories in the Six Nations.
A hard-fought 27-17 bonus-point win over Wales has set up a tantalising finale at the Aviva Stadium this weekend.
Farrell has utilised 33 players throughout the championship, a testament to the depth currently available to the Irish management team.
“You’ve got to find out about people but these [caps] are not freebies – we’ve given starts and the chances out to people who deserve it,” said Farrell.
“It just shows that the whole of the squad is hungry to be part of it, and grow the squad.”
“It’s nice to feel that the whole squad thinks it’s their team and that they’re all trying to contribute to us pushing forward.”
Backing up big performances
The head coach was particularly impressed by those who maintained high standards following the emphatic victory over England at Twickenham.
Farrell highlighted the contribution of Ulster winger Robert Baloucoune, who retained his place after shining in London.
“For people to back up good performances at this level that haven’t had that much exposure, that’s pretty impressive,” he added.
“We’re probably talking about Robert Baloucoune. To have a performance like he did in the last game and then to back it up this week is what you want.”
There was also praise for Jack Conan, who returned to the starting XV after missing the England clash through illness.
“I thought Jack Conan, he’d have been a bit peeved off, so to get his start he showed up really well.”
The impact of the replacements, including Josh van der Flier and Joe McCarthy, was also noted as crucial to the team’s consistency.
Refining the exit strategy
Despite the positive results, the coaching staff have identified the exit strategy as a key area requiring attention before the Scottish test.
Farrell admitted the team struggled to clear their lines effectively under pressure against the Welsh.
“I thought we didn’t exit quite as well as we did in the past,” Farrell admitted.
“They obviously pressured Jamison [Gibson-Park] quite a bit and got some rewards from that.”
The hosts were guilty of overplaying inside their own territory rather than establishing field position.
“Sometimes you have to respect what the opposition are doing well, and they were defending pretty well,” said the 48-year-old.
“A bit of territory is what we needed to take the pressure off I would have thought.”
Farrell insists the players will take the lead in the video review sessions to correct these tactical oversights before Saturday’s kick-off.
“We’ll obviously review it and talk about it, but they will come up with it themselves,” he concluded.
Finnish doubles star Harri Heliovaara has described the surreal experience of winning the Dubai Tennis Championships while hearing explosions and fighter jets overhead following missile attacks in the region.
The 36-year-old and his British partner Henry Patten were in the United Arab Emirates when geopolitical tensions escalated dramatically.
Heliovaara was woken at 02:00 local time by emergency alerts on his phone warning of incoming missiles.
‘Are we still playing?’
Despite the unfolding situation, the doubles final against Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo went ahead as scheduled.
Local authorities had issued no shelter-in-place orders, prompting the ATP to confirm play could continue.
However, the reality of the strikes became apparent as the players prepared to take the court.
“We were walking to the court, and at the same time you could hear this huge roar of fighter planes,” Heliovaara told The Athletic.
“It was crazy. And then, during the first set, we heard some explosions. And you think, ‘Are we still playing, really?'”
Heliovaara noted that the match atmosphere remained “surprisingly normal” despite the audible disturbances and a sparse crowd.
The decision to play on
The Finnish player admitted the team came “very close” to requesting the match be cancelled.
The reigning Wimbledon champions were ultimately swayed by the total loss of ranking points and prize money if the final was scrapped.
“Everybody is a little greedy,” Heliovaara acknowledged regarding the collective decision to compete.
Patten urged his team-mate to focus on victory, noting that a loss under such stress would linger in their minds for days.
The duo went on to secure the title with a straight-sets 7-5 7-5 victory.
Singles finalists Daniil Medvedev and Tallon Griekspoor were also briefed by the ATP alongside the doubles specialists before their matches proceeded.
An ATP spokesperson stated the decision to play was “in line with guidance from local authorities at the time”.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has moved within touching distance of Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time NBA scoring record after leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to victory against the Golden State Warriors.
Chasing Chamberlain’s benchmark
The Canadian guard scored 27 points to help the defending champions secure a 104-97 win at the Paycom Center.
He has now scored at least 20 points in 125 consecutive games, a remarkable sequence of consistency that began on 1 November 2024.
NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain currently holds the record of 126 games, which was set between October 1961 and January 1963.
Gilgeous-Alexander can tie the long-standing mark against the Denver Nuggets on Monday before potentially breaking it against the Boston Celtics on Thursday.
Thunder first to 50 wins
Victory over Golden State was the Thunder’s fifth in a row, consolidating their position at the top of the Western Conference.
They have become the first team to reach 50 wins this season as they look to retain their NBA title.
The Warriors, who were without the injured Stephen Curry, rallied to cut the deficit to 99-97 late in the fourth quarter.
However, Gilgeous-Alexander settled the contest with a decisive three-pointer in the final minute.
Reflecting on the team’s ambition, the Thunder star emphasised their goal to repeat last year’s success.
“If we were the best team last year, all year, we win a championship, and we get better, we should put ourselves in great position to repeat.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
He added: “This year’s had a little bit more ups and downs for us, but I think we’ve done a pretty good job keeping that front of mind.”
Nets stun Eastern Conference leaders
Elsewhere, Michael Porter Jr scored 30 points as the Brooklyn Nets produced a stunning comeback to beat the Detroit Pistons 107-105.
Brooklyn overturned a 23-point deficit to end a 10-game losing streak against the East’s top-seeded side.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks with 27 points in a 113-99 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz.
In Atlanta, Jalen Johnson posted 35 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to guide the Hawks past the Philadelphia 76ers 125-116.
Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points as the Los Angeles Clippers erased a 19-point first-half deficit to edge out the Memphis Grizzlies 123-120.
The Orlando Magic also enjoyed a comfortable night on the road, winning 119-92 at the Minnesota Timberwolves despite Anthony Edwards scoring 34 points for the hosts.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill provides squad update ahead of Ibrox showdown
Celtic are sweating on the fitness of Kieran Tierney and Kasper Schmeichel ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers at Ibrox.
The Glasgow rivals meet for the second time in a week following a dramatic 2-2 draw in the Scottish Premiership last weekend.
That result dented the title hopes of both clubs, though the Hoops recovered to beat Aberdeen in midweek.
The victory over the Dons moved the Bhoys above Rangers in the table, closing the gap to league leaders Hearts to five points.
With silverware on the line, the Parkhead club are looking to join Dunfermline Athletic in the last four of the competition.
Defensive duo remain doubtful
Martin O’Neill has confirmed significant doubts over the availability of full-back Kieran Tierney.
The 28-year-old is struggling with a foot issue picked up earlier this week.
The Northern Irish manager described Tierney as a "colossal" figure for the side but admitted there is no guarantee he will feature against Danny Rohl’s team.
Kasper Schmeichel is also facing a late fitness test after missing the previous two league fixtures.
The veteran goalkeeper has trained this week following an injection.
O’Neill must now decide whether to recall the Denmark international or stick with deputy Viljami Sinisalo between the posts.
In better news for the defence, Dane Murray could return to the squad after recovering from a warm-up injury sustained prior to the Aberdeen match.
Suspension boost and injury absentees
Celtic have received a significant boost with the availability of Auston Trusty.
The defender is currently serving a ban, but his three-match suspension applies only to league fixtures.
However, O’Neill remains without several key first-team stars for the trip to Govan.
Midfielder Arne Engels is still sidelined with the thigh injury he suffered against Livingston last month.
Long-term absentees Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand also remain out of contention.
Johnston and Osmand have suffered minor setbacks in their recovery, though the Canadian full-back is targeting a return for the Premiership split.
Forward Kelechi Iheanacho is available for selection depending on the manager’s tactical preference.
Home favourite Oscar Piastri has suffered a disastrous start to the Australian Grand Prix after crashing his McLaren while making his way to the starting grid.
The Melbourne-born driver lost control of his car during the reconnaissance laps shortly before the race was scheduled to begin.
It is a major blow for the 23-year-old, who had arrived at Albert Park hoping to secure a podium finish in front of a passionate home crowd.
Pre-race drama at Albert Park
The incident occurred on a damp track as drivers tested conditions before forming up on the grid.
Television footage showed the McLaren slid off the circuit and sustained damage to the front of the car.
Piastri was able to communicate with his team over the radio immediately following the impact.
Mechanics face race against time
The car has been returned to the garage where McLaren mechanics are frantically assessing the extent of the damage.
Under Formula 1 regulations, the team must repair the vehicle quickly if the Australian is to take any part in the grand prix.
If the car cannot be fixed in time for the formation lap, Piastri may be forced to start from the pit lane or withdraw completely.