Journalist James Pearce cannot believe what he has heard about Liverpool's late penalty claim against Manchester City, following yet more controversy in the Premier League.
Liverpool held by Man City at Anfield
The Reds drew 1-1 at home to Pep Guardiola's side on Sunday afternoon, in what proved to be one of the most pulsating games of the season to date. John Stones' opener was cancelled out by an Alexis Mac Allister penalty, and Jurgen Klopp's men probably deserved to pick up all three points given their display in their second half.
The biggest moment of the game arguably arrived in the dying seconds, however, as Jeremy Doku appeared to foul Mac Allister inside the area, kicking him in the stomach after initially getting a touch on the ball.
Alexis Mac Allister scores.
Referee Michael Oliver waved away Liverpook's protests, however, and following a VAR check, the on-field decision remained the same without sending the referee to the screen. After the game, Klopp showed his displeasure at the decision.
It is the latest incident in a big game where Liverpool can feel hard done by, having been robbed of a fair goal away to Tottenham earlier in the season, following an unfathomable VAR error when Luis Diaz scored, as well as not being awarded an apparent penalty after Arsenal's Martin Odegaard handled the ball at Anfield in December.
James Pearce stunned by Liverpool penalty claim
Taking to X, Pearce shared Shay Given's thoughts on why Liverpool weren't awarded a penalty, facepalming at the former Man City goalkeeper's explanation on Sunday evening.
Given's thoughts on the decision are baffling, as there is no qualifcation within the laws of the game regarding just how high a boot must be to be considered dangerous. Quite how Oliver and VAR couldn't decide that Mac Allister was fouled between them is staggering, considering Curtis Jones was shown a red card for winning the ball and then going through a man at Spurs, with Mac Allister himself also harshly sent-off for a much lower challenge against Bournemouth, in a decision that was overturned after an appeal.
Liverpool's 8/10 star has made himself undroppable after Man City
The Reds produced a stunning display against the champions but failed to clinch three points.
ByAngus Sinclair Mar 11, 2024
All football fans want with VAR is consistency, and these decisions have the potential to ultimately define the Premier League title race – relegation could easily be decided by a huge mistake, too. There is an increasing feeling from many that football was better before this technology came along.
Surrey allrounder desperate to get in on the action, starting with England’s first Test of the summer against Ireland next week
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2019
Sam Curran caused the Australians problems with the swinging ball•Getty Images
England’s Test cricketers will be feeding off the “buzz” of a historic World Cup win as they prepare to try and regain the Ashes, according to Sam Curran. The Surrey allrounder is set to return to international duty in next week’s maiden Test against Ireland and he said the dramatic scenes at Lord’s on Sunday had set England up perfectly for the second half of the summer.Curran missed out on World Cup selection, but did enjoy a productive first season at the IPL earlier this year. After a hamstring injury interrupted his return with Surrey, he has since played three Championship games as well as making an early impact on the touring Australians with England Lions – Curran claimed 6 for 95 in this week’s game at Canterbury, as well as making half-centuries in each innings.Although Curran was left out of England’s most-recent Test XI in St Lucia, he was Man of the Series against India last summer and looks likely to return to face Ireland. The match at Lord’s, starting on Wednesday, will be England’s first four-day Test since the ICC approved the optional reduction in 2017.”It’s obviously really exciting to be in the squad for the first Test of the summer,” Curran said. “It’s the first four-day Test for England and the first against Ireland which makes it a massive event for them and an awesome thing to be part of. It’s a slightly different England side to be in with a few of the big guns rested after the World Cup, but it’s a really exciting group and we are looking forward to linking up this weekend.”I don’t think I’m alone in saying that it’s probably the greatest cricket match ever, and for that to be the World Cup final was incredible. That will provide a buzz for everyone across English cricket going into the Ashes, which is the biggest series an England player can be involved in in Tests, and this match against Ireland. Days like Sunday get everyone, whether they were involved or not, more excited and desperate to do well so I’m sure it will rub off as we head into the Test part of the summer.”I watched the final with the Lions boys in Canterbury and the excitement was amazing. It was an incredible win and the boys have so worked hard. Having spoken to my brother and a few of the others I think they celebrated pretty hard as well.”As well as his success against India, Curran played an important role with the bat in Sri Lanka last winter, helping to set England up for a 3-0 whitewash. Although his bowling was less successful in the Caribbean, he could play a pivotal role in the Ashes – his haul for the Lions, sparking an Australia collapse of 6 for 17, possibly a sign of things to come.Curran is expected to play in the Vitality Blast for Surrey on Friday night before linking up with the Test squad, and said the “body felt good” after his recent injury.”I feel really good going into the Ireland game,” he said. “It’s been quite a frustrating season really, I came back from the IPL, played my first Champo game and got injured, had a couple of weeks out. I’ve come back and felt good, putting in some decent performances with bat and ball. Confidence is really good, it’s just trying to contribute as much as I can. Hopefully I’m in the XI on Wednesday and I can put in a performance.”Performing against India last summer has given me quite a lot of confidence. It’s a new challenge, a new summer. I can’t rely on that, I need to look ahead and find performances that will beat the Australians in the Ashes. The team is pretty exciting, there will be some great cricket played. I’m really excited to see what this summer holds.”The first aim for the World Cup guys was to win that, and they’ve achieved that. But there’s another big test coming up, and the Ashes are the biggest thing you can play in as an England cricketer, that’s what I’ve always felt. Hopefully we can be lifting the Urn at the Oval in September. We have to take one game at a time and try to contribute as much as you can.”
Ciente de que o centroavante uruguaio Abel Hernández não deve continuar no Internacional após o término de sua atual vínculo que vai até o mês de junho, o Fortaleza observa com interesse a situação e pretende fazer uma investida para contratar o avante.
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>Como está o Leão na disputa da Copa do Nordeste
A informação deixou o ramo das especulações e entrou na área dos fatos com as palavras ditas de maneira bastante sincera e aberta do presidente Marcelo Paz para o jornal ‘Diário do Nordeste’:
– A gente fez uma consulta ao centroavante do Internacional, e ele ligou pro Jussa (ex-Inter) para saber como era aqui. O Jussa está aqui há um mês e meio e falou super bem do clube, disse que pode vir, é um lugar bom.
Abel não conseguiu traduzir a expectativa criada por sua longa passagem na Europa no sentido de suprir a ausência de Paolo Guerrero, lesionado de maneira grave no joelho em agosto de 2020 e que só voltou nesta temporada. Desde a chegada, foram 29 jogos disputados e apenas cinco gols marcados.
Com ou sem a confirmação da chegada de um novo nome para o ataque, o Fortaleza entra em campo nesse sábado (3) pela Copa do Nordeste onde enfrenta o Bahia. A partida está marcada para às 16h (de Brasília) na Arena Castelão.
The allrounder limped heavily after the match with his left knee hampering his movement
Melinda Farrell at Trent Bridge31-May-2019West Indies allrounder Andre Russell is confident he will be fit for the side’s second World Cup match against Australia on June 6, despite limping heavily after his match-turning spell in the thumping seven-wicket win over Pakistan.ALSO READ: INTERVIEW – ‘Sometimes the ball goes for six even if I’ve not timed it, because of the work I’ve put in’Russell has a history of knee injuries and bowled just three overs in West Indies’ opening match but his spell was the stunning blow from which Pakistan never recovered. A barrage of short-pitched deliveries earned Russell figures of 2 for 4 and he was not required to bat as his side cruised to victory.But after the match Russell was hobbling gingerly, his left knee clearly hampering his movement. The West Indies medical team now have five days to work on his rehabilitation.”I’ve been playing for years with these knee injuries,” Russell said after the match. “And sometimes it feels worse than some days but, at the end of the day, I’m a professional. I know what to do to get back. I think I have five days before the next game so that is more than enough time to get my knee back to normal and get it settled.”Let’s just see what happens. I have a good physio team, massage team, here so they’re going to be working with me closely for the next couple of days.”This was Russell’s third ODI appearance since the 2015 World Cup. He has mostly bowled in short spells at various T20 competitions around his one-year anti-doping ban and, on the evidence of this match, he will need careful management throughout the tournament. But while he was included in the squad primarily for his batting, Russell desperately wants to contribute as a bowler.”Well that’s the plan,” Russell said. “I want to make sure that my knee is 100 percent or if it’s not 100, 80 percent. I’m still ready to bowl. I’m ready, this is the World Cup. So I don’t mind resting for a month or two months after the World Cup but I want to leave everything here for the World Cup.”There were also concerns when Chris Gayle called for the physio after appearing to injure his back pulling a short ball from Wahab Riaz. He limped initially and held his back, but went onto bring up a 33-ball half-century before falling to Mohammad Amir.”He sent the physio back off the field so that’s a positive sign for us,” captain Jason Holder said. “So again, we’ve got five days. So we’ll see how he goes the next couple of days.”
Leeds United's full-back ranks have become significantly lighter since the start of the January transfer window. First, Djed Spence was sent back to Tottenham after his loan spell was cut short, and then Luke Ayling joined Middlesbrough on loan as he approaches the end of his contract this summer.
Predictably, then, Daniel Farke has been looking for reinforcements in that area, and a couple of Premier League players have already cropped up on his radar. Leeds are admirers of Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams but he's unlikely to be made available for transfer, while Burnley's Connor Roberts is also on their radar. And now, a third target in the top-flight has emerged.
Leeds eye Johnson to fill gap
According to The Athletic's Phil Hay, Championship promotion-chasers Leeds are "interested" in signing West Ham's Ben Johnson on a temporary deal. One of his biggest assets is his versatility – he can play on either side of the back four and also featured in midfield earlier in his career.
Johnson is a product of West Ham's academy and is nearing 93 games for the club, but he's fallen down the pecking order this season. Last year, he played 29 matches in all competitions and featured in 17 Premier League games, nine of which he started. He also made the XI for six of West Ham's games on their run to Europa Conference League glory.
However, this year, he's only been involved in six first-team games, and it took until West Ham's goalless draw with Brighton last time out, their 20th league game of the season, for him to start a top-flight match. His other starts have come in the Europa League against Backa Topola, and the Carabao Cup against Lincoln and Liverpool.
Appearances
6
29
Starts
4
21
Minutes played
365
1,925
Having logged some action with the under-21s at Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy level, he's nearly played as many minutes for the youth team (270) as he has for the senior side (365). Last year, when he was given significantly more game time, Johnson called his standing in the squad "disappointing", so you can only imagine how he feels about his situation now.
Johnson has shown more than enough talent
Given that he's been used so little this term, it's easy to forget just how talented a player Johnson is. Last summer, he was part of the England Under-21 squad that won the European Championship without conceding a single goal, starting two of their games in the group stages.
In terms of individual prizes, meanwhile, he was named West Ham's Young Player of the Year in both 2020/21 and 2021/22 after what Paul Robinson called an "absolutely brilliant" first-team breakthrough. One of his coaches at the time, Stuart Pearce, added that he was a "wonderful professional".
It's worth noting that Johnson's contract is up in the summer, so West Ham may look to protect his value with a new deal before loaning him out, but once that gets done, it's hard to see why there'd be any obstacle to a move.
The American is arguably in the best form of his life – which is quite the achievement given how things are falling apart around him at San Siro
Christian Pulisic presently finds himself in a rather peculiar position. He's playing arguably the best football of his career at AC Milan – and yet his future at San Siro is shrouded in uncertainty. As former United States international Alexi Lalas said recently, "It would be ironic if the best season he's had results ends with him having to go elsewhere."
It still seems unlikely, of course, but nothing can be ruled out right now – because Milan are a mess. The Rossoneri will finish the season in second place in Serie A but, domestically, they've been humiliated by city rivals Inter, and humbled in continental competition by Roma.
Consequently, Stefano Pioli is set to be sacked as coach, the fans are furious with the club's owners, while stars such as Rafael Leao, Theo Hernandez and Mike Maignan could be sold this summer. And the thing is, nobody is in the least bit surprised. Indeed, there was always the fear that by leaving Chelsea for Milan last summer, Pulisic was simply swapping one crisis club for another – and so it's proved…
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The Leao dilemma
Not for the first time this season, Pulisic was Milan's best player in Saturday's 3-3 draw with Genoa, a lovely assist for Olivier Giroud the highlight of a dynamic display. He was a "constant" threat, as the acknowledged in its match ratings: "[He] always made the right moves. The problem is the others…"
It was a fair point. So many of Milan's most important players have underwhelmed this season. Maignan hasn't dropped any clangers but just hasn't been his usual magical self, while Fikayo Tomori's form has dipped since the surprise Scudetto success of 2022.
And then there's Leao. The Portuguese remains Milan's talisman, and statistically speaking, he's had a more productive campaign than Pulisic. But Leao is a level or two above the American, meaning the bar is set so much higher for him.
So, a subdued showing against Genoa, which came after dismal displays against Inter and Juventus, resulted in Leao not only being rightly withdrawn by Pioli, but also being booed as he left the field. The winger responded by heading straight down the tunnel rather than taking his seat on the bench.
Consequently, there is a very real chance that Milan may decide to cash in on their most valuable asset. "He's no longer able to be Leao," the pointed out. "Now it's decision time: does he feel able to start over here in Milan or would it also be better for him to change team?"
It's quite the dilemma for the club's America owners, Redbird Capital Partners, whose management has come under increasing scrutiny over the past two years.
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'Winning project starts from the club'
Before the Genoa game, the Curva Sud unveiled a banner which read "Communication strategy. Institutional presence. Targeted signings. Cohesion, ambition, ability. A winning project starts from the club."
When the game kicked off, there was a sustained round of applause from the ultras and then… nothing. No singing of songs, no waving of flags, no signs of support at all. Worse still, with 10 minutes remaining in a game that was still in the balance, they just left, labelling their protest 'The sound of silence' – and it was deafening.
"You have to respect the fans," Pioli said afterwards. "They have their reasons." There are a lot of them, too, but it all basically boils down to a perceived lack of clarity, communication and ambition – as perhaps best illustrated by the calamitous coaching situation.
(C)Getty Images
Lopetegui backlash
While RedBird owner Gerry Cardinale rarely speaks to the press, Milan president Paolo Scaroni, CEO Giorgio Furlani and technical director Geoffrey Moncada have been repeatedly asked about Pioli's position, but not one has confirmed what everyone else knows: that the Scudetto-winning coach will be sacked at the end of the season.
This, in spite of the fact, that Milan were ready to hire Julen Lopetegui as Pioli's successor just last week, only for a bitter fan backlash to prompt a stunning 11th-hour U-turn. As far as Cardinale & Co. were concerned, the Spaniard ticked all the boxes. He had plenty of experience of continental competition (even winning the Europa League with Sevilla) and working with young players (at under-age level with Spain).
However, the fans were seriously underwhelmed by the prospect of hiring a man who had lasted just 10 league games in charge of Real Madrid – and been out of work since leaving Wolves at the end of the 2022-23 Premier League season.
Less than 48 hours after news of his imminent arrival at San Siro broke, '#Nopetegui' was trending on X, while 10,000 Milan supporters had signed a petition calling on the club's owners to call off the deal.
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'Total chaos reigns'
It was a painfully embarrassing climbdown that not only made Milan's owners look weak, but also leaves them in a very awkward position. As the Curva Sud pointed out in a statement released before last week's walkout, "You can't think of having a winning project if you still don't know who the new coach will be in May… It becomes difficult to construct a team that is compatible with the needs of the new coach. Total chaos reigns within the club."
The ultras also made it clear that, two years into Cardinale's tenure, their patience has run out. While accepting that Milan don't have access to "rivers of money like other teams in other leagues", they argued that greater investment in the first-team squad was the only way for RedBird to prove that they care more about winning trophies than making money.
"Milan is not a product to speculate on and Milan is not a club that is content to merely participate," the Curva Sud warned. "Milan has a people behind it who by history and tradition are used to being in the elite of world football."
And it's worth remembering that club legend Paolo Maldini repeatedly made the very same argument before being ruthlessly axed by Milan last summer.
O Palmeiras embarcou, na noite desta terça (02), para o Qatar em busca do bicampeonato mundial. Em um voo fretado que suporta 5 vezes mais pessoas do que tem na delegação do Verdão, toda a estrutura foi montada para gerar conforto durante as mais de 15 horas de viagem entre São Paulo e Doha.
Confira a tabela do Mundial de Clubes
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Os ônibus que conduziram o elenco e comissão campeões deixaram a Academia de Futebol por volta das 20h30 (de Brasília), com festa de torcedores em frente e também aplausos dos funcionários do clubes que foram convidados, cerca de 700 pessoas, para dar um último apoio ao grupo.
Pouco mais de meia hora depois, seguido por torcedores e batedores da polícia, os ônibus chegaram ao Aeroporto Internacional de Guarulhos recebidos com uma festa muito bonita, com muitos sinalizadores, rojões, batuques e cânticos – respeitando a distância para com os jogadores, seguindo o protocolo sanitário.
A delegação do Verdão será bastante reduzida. Apenas a direção executiva, de futebol e dos demais setores envolvidos no dia a dia da comissão técnica, além dos atletas e núcleo de saúde, estão na viagem para o Qatar. Na final da Libertadores, sócios e torcedores foram convidados, mas a cena não se repetirá nesse torneio.
O Palmeiras desembarca em Doha no início da tarde nesta quarta-feira (03), descansa, e treina na quinta e sexta, além de fazer reconhecimento do gramado na sábado antes de estrear, no domingo, às 15h (de Brasília), contra Tigres-MEX ou Ulsan Hyundai, da Coreia do Sul.
Manchester United won by a three-goal margin for only the second time this season as they defeated Everton in the Premier League over the weekend.
The 3-0 win will surely be a confidence booster as the Red Devils prepare to face Galatasaray in what is a vital Champions League match on Wednesday evening.
Erik ten Hag will be hoping the comfortable win over the Toffees could be the catalyst which turns around United’s season, as they haven’t exactly had the best of times recently.
Indeed, since the start of the campaign, the club have won just ten of their 19 matches and have already suffered elimination in the EFL Cup.
Surprisingly, especially with their form, the Old Trafford side occupy sixth spot in the table, just six points off the leaders Liverpool, and while a title challenge may be a tad farfetched, Ten Hag will be aiming for another top-four finish.
Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag.
There needs to be some improvement to the squad, however, and with the January transfer window fast approaching, the Dutchman may just delve into the market for another signing or two ahead of the second half of the season.
Not content with just bolstering his first-team squad, Ten Hag is also keen on luring the very best young talent in the world to Manchester, and they have been linked with 16-year-old Estevao Willian recently.
Man Utd transfer news – Estevao Willian
According to reports in Spain, United are showing a keen interest in the talented winger, although they face stiff competition from close to home as Manchester City and Chelsea also retain an interest in making a potential swoop.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are another two names keeping tabs on him too, and with a reported release clause of €60m (£52m), clearly indicating that he isn’t going to come cheap regardless of who signs him.
The report claims that Ten Hag is pushing United to begin advanced negotiations with the teenage prodigy in order to fend off some intense competition.
Whether this works or not remains to be seen, although Palmeiras look resigned to losing him in the near future, such is his limitless potential.
The Red Devils are no strangers to picking up some of the best young talents in the business and a couple of them are already starring in the first team.
Alejandro Garnacho is one and could Estevao Willian follow in his footsteps?
Alejandro Garnacho’s statistics at Man Utd
The Old Trafford side signed the young Argentinian from Atlético Madrid back in 2020 when he was just 16 – the same age as Willian – and he has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the senior squad over the previous 12 months.
Indeed, the winger enjoyed a breakthrough campaign during 2022/23, making 34 appearances across all competitions and chipping in with five goals and five assists, proving himself to be a useful member of Ten Hag’s squad during his first season in charge.
The 19-year-old has already won three caps for World champions Argentina, and he can operate on either wing, giving the former Ajax boss plenty of options.
He showcased just how good he is by scoring a stunning overhead kick against Everton on Sunday, with many comparing it to a similar effort by Wayne Rooney against City 12 years ago.
Although the Dutchman will be aiming to add some more players who possess a winning mentality to his team, complementing them with some excellent young talent could be the correct way to go from now on.
Willian looks like he is the next big thing to emerge from Brazil and if he joins United, he may be Garnacho 2.0 for Ten Hag.
Estevao Willian’s youth statistics
The Brazilian is the product of Palmeiras’ excellent academy, which has produced talents such as Danilo, Endrick and Luis Guilherme while he is yet to make a senior appearance for the club, despite his potential.
The right-winger has scored twice in 14 matches for the U20 side, and it surely won't be long before he finally makes his long-awaited senior bow for the Brazilian side.
He was part of the Brazil squad for the U17 World Cup recently and despite being sent packing from the tournament by arch-rivals Argentina, he still managed to score three goals and register three assists, displaying his wide array of skills on the biggest stage for the best young talents in the world.
It was the tie against Ecuador in the last 16 in which Estevao was at his best in front of goal. Not only did he score twice, but he managed five total shots, supplied five key passes, and succeeded with all five of his attempted dribbles, making a mockery of the Ecuadorian backline on a regular basis.
This led to praise from talent scout Jacek Kulig, who said this after the game: “The youngest member of this excellent Brazilian team. World-class talent.”
Anderson
181
Kleberson
30
Fred
213
Casemiro
63
Antony
56
Rafael
170
Fabio
56
Alex Telles
50
Andreas Pereira
75
Stats via Transfermarkt
His performances have obviously attracted plenty of attention from the likes of United and City and while he may not be able to leave until he turns 18, it is looking increasingly likely that a club will agree a move for him before then.
Kulig lauded further praise on the youngster earlier this month, claiming that “the sky is the limit” for the 16-year-old and if the Brazilian hotshot continues his wonderful rise, he will be able to showcase those aforementioned skills on the senior stage in the coming months.
It's no wonder the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona are all sniffing around the teenager as they look to sign the next big thing.
Man Utd's £47m star deserves as much praise as Garnacho and Mainoo
Man Utd roared to an excellent 3-0 over the Toffees yesterday in the Premier League
ByRoss Kilvington Nov 27, 2023
There have been so many youngsters emerging in Brazil and Argentina over the previous few years who have been poached by the biggest teams. Although some hit the big time, such as Vinicius Jr, many are left with false promises and a career on European soil which doesn’t quite turn out as first anticipated.
If the Red Devils are certain on signing Estevao, they may be better off watching him play some senior matches first before deciding to go straight in and pay £52m.
His talent could lead him to become a first-team regular like Garnacho, but he must be nurtured if he does find his way to Manchester.
Manchester United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly has an exciting new hire in his sights as he lays the foundations for his expected arrival at Old Trafford.
Manchester United's takeover latest…
Following a long drawn out saga regarding the ownership situation at Old Trafford, Ratcliffe is edging closer to taking control of 25% of the Premier League giants' affairs and he is said to have plans to shake up their recruitment structures once he enters the fray at the Red Devils.
According to The Daily Mail, Ratcliffe plans to urge his recruitment team to target homegrown talent as he aims to introduce a more domestic feel within the core of Manchester United's side, which has dwindled in recent years due to a focus on shopping in foreign markets for new players.
The 71-year-old is said to believe that the previous experience of the English game gained by prospective signings from the Premier League would prove to be beneficial at Old Trafford despite the market becoming inflated in comparision to other avenues for recruitment around Europe.
Looking ahead to January, Erik ten Hag is keen to add a right-sided central defender, defensive midfielder, number eight and striker to his squad; however, his January wishlist may depend on the timescale as to which Ratcliffe is installed in the North West, as per The Guardian.
Financial Fair Play concerns will also dictate the Red Devils' mid-season transfer activity, with Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial potentially on the chopping block.
Manchester United's next five fixtures – Premier League
Opponent
Venue
Newcastle United (A)
St James' Park
Chelsea (H)
Old Trafford
Bournemouth (H)
Old Trafford
Liverpool (A)
Anfield
West Ham United (A)
London Stadium
Now, a fresh report has indicated that Ratcliffe could make an exciting appointment at Manchester United to help put his stamp on matters at the club.
Dougie Freedman now top Director of Football candidate
According to Football Insider, Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman has emerged as a leading candidate to take up the position of Director of Football at Manchester United.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton man Paul Mitchell was believed to be in the frame for the role, but a twist has seen Ratcliffe focus on the Palace transfer guru instead, with Mitchell slipping down the pecking order of potential contenders for the role.
Nice owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Brought to Selhurst Park in 2017, Freedman played a significant role in the acquisitions of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise and has previously been labelled "brilliant" by Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish on The Rest is Football podcast.
Undoubtedly, Manchester United have slipped behind their rivals Manchester City among others over the last decade or so as a potential destination for players, with part of this reality being down to the differing appeal of both clubs in regard to silverware.
Nevertheless, Ratcliffe's prospective tenure is likely to offer some hope to disgruntled elements of the Red Devils' fanbase and the initial signals coming from his end look to be encouraging ones.
Sheffield Wednesday are experiencing a tough time of things in the Championship, and now a concerning injury update has dropped, courtesy of journalist Joe Crann.
Sheff Wed's relegation struggles
The Owls have seen a little bit of positivity return to the club since Danny Rohl was appointed as manager, following a disappointing spell under Xisco Munoz. While results haven't necessarily changed too much, their new boss has instilled a different style of football and generally brought a freshness to proceedings.
That being said, Wednesday came crashing back down to reality on Saturday afternoon, as they suffered a demoralising 4-0 defeat against Millwall at Hillsborough.
For large chunks of the game, Rohl's side actually matched their opponents, but the visitors showed a ruthlessness in front of goal that was horribly missing at the other end of the pitch, eventually cruising to all three points.
Saturday's defeat means that the Owls remain rooted to the bottom of the Championship table after 16 matches, only winning once in that time, and there is now a nine-point gap between themselves and Huddersfield Town in 21st place.
As things stand, a swift return to League One looks like a real threat in the coming months, but the hope is that Rohl gradually masterminds an escape act, as he continues to adjust to life as a manager for the first team, having been assistant manager with the likes of Germany and Bayern Munich in the past.
Michael Smith injury blow for Sheff Wed
Writing on X on Saturday evening, Crann claimed that Sheffield Wednesday striker Michael Smith suffered an injury setback before Saturday's clash with Millwall, explaining his absence from proceedings:
"Michael Smith picked up an injury ahead of the game, hence him not being part of #SWFC’s game against Millwall – while Lee Gregory just wasn’t selected."
There are so many issues on show with Wednesday at the moment, but a lack of firepower in the final third clearly stands out as one of ther biggest shortcomings, having scored just seven times in 16 league matches.
Smith is currently the Owls' top scorer this season with just three goals, and while the Englishman isn't necessarily perfect, especially at Championship level, losing him for an extended period would be a blow.
As Crann mentions, fellow striker Lee Gregory has simply been left out by Rohl, and is now a veteran who needs to be improved upon, while Josh Windass has found it difficult to make the step up from League One.
Michael Smith
3
Anthony Musaba
2
Tyreeq Bakinson
1
Juan Delgado
1
Lee Gregory
1
Barry Bannan
1
The January transfer window will offer Wednesday the opportunity to bring in attacking reinforcements, but much may depend on whether there are even funds available for new signings, with the ownership of Dejphon Chansiri continuing to be unpopular with many Wednesday supporters.
Either way, huge improvements are needed as soon as possible, in order to close the gap on the teams above them, and Smith being available in the near future would certainly be a boost in that respect.