Getty ImagesSam DruryBBC Sport journalist26 minutes ago62 CommentsIn the summer of 2020, Jadon Sancho had his pick of Europe’s top clubs.The England winger had not long turned 20 and, after registering 17 goals and 16 assists for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, he was considered one of the game’s most exciting young talents.He chose Manchester United but they had to wait until the following year to complete the deal after wrongly taking Dortmund’s deadline to complete a deal as a negotiating tactic.Eventually, though, United got their man for a fee of £73m in July 2021 with Sancho calling it “a dream come true” and there was an expectation that the former Manchester City academy player would take the Premier League by storm.Four years and two loan spells later, Sancho’s career is at a crossroads with Chelsea willing to pay United £5m not to sign him permanently.BBC Sport looks at how he got to this point…Sancho’s timekeeping issueThat Sancho’s United career did not get off to the best of starts was not helped by the side’s struggles under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.The Norwegian was sacked in November 2021 and, as things failed to improve under interim boss Ralf Ragnick, Sancho ended his first season with just five goals and three assists in all competitions.Erik ten Hag was appointed in the summer of 2022 and while the hope was that things would get better for the Old Trafford club and Sancho, there was a recurring issue that did not help the player endear himself to the new boss.Sancho’s timekeeping had been a problem during his time in Germany but his performances on the pitch meant Dortmund were more willing to allow a little leeway.The same was not true with England and, despite an excellent first pre-season under Ten Hag, neither was it at United once Sancho’s form nosedived in the autumn, after it became obvious he would miss out on selection for the World Cup in Qatar.The problem of lateness is one that had caused Sancho issues for a number of years and he – along with team-mate Phil Foden – was dropped from an England Under-19 match against Latvia as a disciplinary measure having been late for training.Accusations and dispute with Ten HagGetty ImagesEntering his third season back in England, expectations for Sancho had already dropped significantly.United had signed him to play on the right wing, despite his preference being to play on the left – a position that was locked down by Marcus Rashford at that point – and his underwhelming performances meant he was no longer a guaranteed starter.But when the London-born forward was left out of the squad for a loss at Arsenal in September 2023, Ten Hag was asked about his absence after the game.”Because of his performance in training, we didn’t select him,” the Dutchman said bluntly. “You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United.”Sancho did not accept the reasoning and in a now-deleted social media post, hit back almost immediately.”I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue,” he posted. “I have conducted myself very well in training this week.”I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into. I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time, which isn’t fair.”A stand-off ensued with Ten Hag – who had previously questioned Sancho’s “fitness state” – demanding an apology and, despite numerous pleas from team-mates and United officials, Sancho refusing to provide one.Re-finding form back at DortmundGetty ImagesSancho’s steadfast refusal to apologise to Ten Hag led to him being frozen out at United and it was little surprise when he left the club, albeit only on loan, in January 2024.A return to Dortmund for the second half gave the winger the chance to rediscover his best form – and rehabilitate his reputation – in a familiar environment.”It felt like coming home,” he said of being back in the Dortmund dressing room.Without ever reaching the levels of his first stint, Sancho certainly looked more comfortable as he helped the Bundesliga side reach the Champions League final – where they were beaten by Real Madrid.Three goals and three assists in 21 games might not be the most eye-catching of statistics but given he had not played for a number of months prior to the switch, it was no surprise that it took him a bit of time to get back up to speed.Former Tottenham and Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann said he “had a rough time finding his rhythm again and settling back again” but by the final games of the season was “looking good and looking sharp”.But the finances involved meant a permanent return to Signal Iduna Park was always highly unlikely so back to Manchester he went.Chelsea pay £5m not to take SanchoWith Ten Hag still in charge at Old Trafford last summer, there was little prospect of Sancho sticking around and he joined Chelsea on loan on 31 August.As part of the deal, the Blues agreed to an obligation to buy Sancho for a fee of around £25m – if they were to finish higher than 14th in the Premier League – or pay a £5m clause to get out of the deal.Chelsea did not pay a loan fee for the player and covered just half of his reported £300,000-a-week wages.Sancho finished the season well and scored in the final as Chelsea beat Real Betis to win the Uefa Conference League.However, it was a mixed campaign overall and he ended it with five goals and 10 assists in 42 games.As such, the Stamford Bridge side have chosen to £5m to avoid signing him – his wages rather than the £25m fee believed to be the primary reason – and Sancho is on his way back to United again.What comes next remains to be seen but should the 25-year-old find himself on the move again, his options are likely to be rather different to five years ago.Related topicsBorussia DortmundManchester UnitedChelseaFootball

Rex Features3 June 2025, 17:31 BSTUpdated 1 minute agoNorwich City have appointed Bristol City boss Liam Manning as their new head coach on a four-year contract.Manning had been in charge at Ashton Gate since November 2023 and led the Robins to this season’s play-offs, only to lose 6-0 on aggregate to Sheffield United.He replaces Johannes Hoff Thorup, who was sacked by Norwich on 22 April with the team 14th in the Championship following a run of six defeats in eight games.First-team coach Jack Wilshere, the former Arsenal and England midfielder, was put in interim charge for the final two games of the season, but he also left after learning he would not be considered for the permanent post.”I’m privileged and honoured to have the opportunity to work for this fantastic football club. It’s a wonderful club with a big history and tradition,” said Manning.”It’s clear, there has already been a lot of valuable groundwork laid in recent seasons – it’s now important we build further on that and move the club forward.”An announcement about his backroom staff will be made in due course, with Manning’s long-term friend and assistant coach Chris Hogg as well as first-team analyst James Krause, who both worked with him at Ashton Gate, also having strong links to East Anglia.Manning’s contract at Bristol City ran until the end of next season and the Canaries have paid an undisclosed sum to meet a release clause in order to bring him in.The 39-year-old was born in Norwich and played for the club’s academy before joining Ipswich Town – but he never made a senior appearance for them and spent most of his career in non-league football.His first coaching job was at West Ham and he then took charge of Belgian club Lommel in 2020 before returning to England as MK Dons head coach the following year.He guided them to the League One play-offs in 2022 and subsequently had an eight-month spell at Oxford United, who were second in the third tier when he accepted an offer to move on to Bristol City.Despite Bristol City having the smallest squad in the Championship this past season, Manning guided them to their first play-off finish in 17 years, largely built on a strong foundation of home form and squad togetherness.Only promoted Burnley and Leeds, and play-off finalists Sheffield United bettered their record at home of 13 wins, seven draws and three defeats.Norwich eventually finished 13th in 2024-25, 11 points outside the play-offs, and are set to embark on their fourth season in the Championship since relegation from the Premier League in 2022.’Liam’s ambitions match our own’Getty ImagesLast November, Mark Attanasio, whose Norfolk FB Holdings group are now the majority shareholders at Carrow Road, set a target of a return to the top flight in “three to five years” and Manning’s task now will be to try and achieve that ahead of schedule.”This is an exciting appointment, and we are so happy to get it over the line and have him on board,” said sporting director Ben Knapper.”It quickly became clear that Liam’s ambitions match our own and we are all committed to driving this club forward towards our targets. “Liam knows the league, has consistently demonstrated an ability to outperform resources and his approach aligns with our footballing ideas and strategy.”He is an exceptionally bright coach who will push himself, and everyone around him, to develop and improve. We are so excited to have him as a key part of our club.”Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil and ex-Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders were also spoken to and considered for the head coach role.Bristol City chairman Jon Lansdown said: “We are disappointed to lose Liam after such a successful campaign. We are assessing all options as we look to replace Liam.”Analysis – ‘first Norwich-born boss’By Chris Goreham, BBC Radio Norfolk’s Norwich City commentatorNorwich City’s extensive search for a new head coach has led to the club’s first ever Norwich-born boss.Liam Manning’s formative years as a Carrow Road season-ticket holder are a nice extra but it’s not why he’s been appointed.Canaries sporting director Ben Knapper has expressed frustration that they fell so far short of the play-offs last season. “When I look at the teams that did make it, it confirms that kind of belief,” he said.Envious eyes were being cast in the direction of Ashton Gate where Liam Manning’s well coached team was outperforming the sum of its parts.It felt like Manning was onto a good thing at Bristol City, and the fact that Knapper has managed to sell to him the project of rebuilding a squad that finished 13th should offer any concerned Canaries fans some much needed encouragement.Related topicsNorwich CityChampionshipFootballBristol City

Rex Features3 June 2025, 16:44 BSTUpdated 1 minute agoSheffield Wednesday have been charged by the English Football League with multiple breaches of its regulations relating to payment obligations.Owner Dejphon Chansiri has also been charged with “causing the club to be in breach of EFL Regulations despite his commitment to fund their cash requirements”.The charges relate to the club failing to pay players’ wages on time and in full in both March and May this year.The club and Chansiri have 14 days to respond to the charges.Wednesday said in a statement on the club website: “The club continue to seek a resolution regarding outstanding salaries due for the month of May at the earliest possible opportunity.”Mr Chansiri sincerely apologises to all players, coaches and staff affected and everyone connected with the club.”March’s wages were eventually paid in full on 7 April, with the club saying it was a “temporary issue” due to debts owed to Chansiri, whose family control the Thai Union Group, the world’s largest producer of canned tuna.The Thai businessman has been in charge of the Hillsborough side for 10 years and his tenure has been littered with financial issues.Wednesday were placed under a registration embargo in both 2023-24 and 24-25 seasons and were deducted six points in 20-21, a season where they were relegated from the second tier, for breaching spending rules.They finished 12th in the Championship last season in their second season back after winning promotion from League One.Related topicsSheffield WednesdayChampionshipFootball

ReutersBen CollinsBBC Sport journalist26 minutes agoAccidental ‘double-touch’ penalties will be allowed to be retaken – but only if the kick was successful.European football’s governing body Uefa asked for the laws concerning these rare instances to be reviewed following controversy in Atletico Madrid’s Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Real Madrid in March.Atletico’s Argentina forward Julian Alvarez slipped as he converted during a penalty shootout and his standing leg made slight contact with the ball.The spot-kick was disallowed and Real went on to win the shootout to progress to the quarter-finals.The International Football Association Board (Ifab), which sets the sport’s laws, has now made a clarification to Law 14 regarding this issue.The law does not directly cover what to do in the event of an accidental double touch, and Ifab said referees had “understandably” been penalising players up to this point.However, the board said Law 14’s primary purpose was to deal with deliberate double touches and a clarification has now been issued to all national associations and confederations.Ifab acknowledged it would be unfair not to penalise a double touch at all and allow such kicks to stand as a goal, because goalkeepers can be disadvantaged by the altered trajectory of the ball.However, it has now clarified that where an accidental ‘double-touch’ kick is scored, it should be retaken rather than ruled out.Where such kicks are unsuccessful, an indirect free-kick will be given to the defending team if they occur in a match or be recorded as a miss if during a shootout.The clarified law will be effective from 1 July, but Ifab said it “may be used by competitions starting before that date”.The Fifa Club World Cup takes place in the United States from 14 June-13 July.Related topicsFootballAtlético Madrid

Getty ImagesSimon StoneChief football news reporter1 hour ago618 CommentsIt’s been a busy few days at Manchester United.From agreeing to sign Matheus Cunha, speaking with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, finding out Bruno Fernandes won’t be joining Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal and that Jadon Sancho will return from Chelsea, along with a £5m payment, it has been a whirlwind return from their troubled post-season tour of Asia.So, where are they now and what is their transfer strategy moving forward?What is Man Utd’s transfer strategy?Fernandes took a bit of time mulling over the Al Hilal offer after United head coach Ruben Amorim said in Hong Kong on Friday he thought his captain would stay at the club.The 30-year-old wanted to talk it through with his family as, after all, the sums being offered were truly staggering and could not just be dismissed out of hand.At this point last week, many at United thought Fernandes would go. Now we know he won’t.Lost amid his assertions about Fernandes, Amorim said something else that resonated.Knowing nailing him down on individuals and specifics would be impossible, I asked Amorim if he knew what he wanted his squad to look like when pre-season training began at the start of July.”Yes,” he said. “I have a clear idea what we want.”As you know, we are bit limited and can’t do it all in one summer. But there is a clear picture for what we want.”The initial approach – and as a guide it still holds – was to go for younger, hungry players, who can improve.That is the basis on which 20-year-old Denmark international Patrick Dorgu arrived in a £25m deal from Serie A outfit Lecce in February to address the problematic left wing-back berth. It was the same with 18-year-old Arsenal central defender Ayden Heaven.Both players made promising contributions, albeit in a struggling team.However, some issues are so urgently in need of addressing, no time for development is available.And, what Amorim wanted, as an absolute priority, was to reinforce his attack. Time and again towards the end of the Premier League season, the United boss had lamented his side’s ability to make the most of the chances they were creating.Between them, Wolves’ Cunha and Mbeumo scored 35 league goals last season. The campaign before, it was 21. They are proven in England in a way Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were not before moving to United for a combined fee of almost £110m in the summers of 2023 and 2024 respectively.Two signings alone is a bit early to confirm a significant shift away from buying in from overseas – and the arrival of Mason Mount from Chelsea in 2023 is proof United had not completely ignored the domestic market before.But it does take out some of the risk when you buy players who know the challenges that lie ahead.”I think they are players who can come in and hit the ground running,” former United skipper Gary Neville told Sky Sports.”United has become a very difficult place for new signings to operate in the last 10 years. Cunha and Mbeumo have got Premier League experience and lots of games under their belt.”When I watch Manchester United’s wide players, they have to be able to get from box to box quickly, and they have to be able to travel with the ball and without the ball. Mbeumo and Cunha can do that, they both run forward with real intent and purpose.”The players who are going to leave are more jinkers and play in smaller spaces.”The great unknown is whether Amorim would play Cunha and Mbeumo – if he signs and, as yet, United have not made contact with Brentford – behind a number nine in the two ’10’ slots, or if one of them will operate as a main striker, or they will swap.Who could leave and what are the challenges ahead?Getty ImagesAmorim was adamant in Hong Kong that United could work around Fernandes staying at Old Trafford from a financial point of view.However, the situation is not straightforward.With no European football of any sort next season, finances will be tight. Amorim has already said he can operate with a smaller squad given there are fewer matches, so sales are inevitable.Broadly speaking, there are three categories.Players Amorim just does not want – so the likes of Sancho, Antony, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.Players who have struggled and it would make sense to sell – Hojlund and Zirkzee fit into this group, as does Casemiro.Then, the bulk are players who have something to offer and United would be open to keeping but would let go if the right bid came in.Yet the major issue around all of this is how long would it take to do a deal and how much would it cost?Take Sancho for example.It has been established Chelsea would have signed him on reduced terms, which he was not prepared to accept.If a Premier League club that has just qualified for the Champions League are baulking at Sancho’s wages, it is fair to assume most other clubs will reach the same conclusion. If Sancho refuses to drop his demands and Amorim wants him out, United will have to negotiate some kind of compromise.This puts them back in the uncomfortable position of paying a player to play for a rival. It is the kind of situation minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe finds so irritating and wants to end.Yet, when you take a realistic approach to Sancho, Antony and Rashford in particular, it is hard to see how that situation is avoided. The same could also be said of many United players who remained at the club last season.The matches may have finished but for United technical director Jason Wilcox and chief negotiator Matt Hargreaves, the hard work is just beginning. It is how well they do, getting players in and out, that will determine how much progress Amorim can be expected to make.Related topicsManchester UnitedFootball

Getty ImagesChris JonesRugby Union Correspondent49 minutes agoEngland look set to kick off their inaugural Nations Cup campaign with fixtures against Fiji, South Africa and Argentina next summer.Discussions are under way to play the Fiji “away” match at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham before trips to South Africa and Argentina.England will then host New Zealand, Australia and Japan the following autumn before a grand final.The Nations Cup will take place every two years, excluding years with a Rugby World Cup or a British and Irish Lions tour.While Nations Cup organisers have stressed plans are yet to be finalised, sources have told the BBC negotiations are ongoing to stage the England against Fiji match in Europe, with Twickenham a mooted destination.The Nations Cup top division will consist of the teams that make up the Six Nations, the four Rugby Championship teams, and most likely Japan and Fiji, although their participation is still to be rubber-stamped.While the Six Nations and Rugby Championship will continue as normal, the summer and autumn windows will see each country play the six “other” teams, with three matches in July and three in November.The matches in those windows will be amalgamated into a table, with the winners crowned after a finals weekend at the end of November.However, discussions are ongoing about some sides playing one of their “home” matches on neutral territory to reduce travel.But instead of facing England in South Africa or Argentina, it’s thought Fiji are open to playing in Europe given the number of their players operating in the northern hemisphere. A match at Twickenham would also provide a significant financial boost and draw a big crowd.The Nations Cup was confirmed by World Rugby in October 2023, with the first iteration taking place in 2026 and relegation and promotion scheduled from 2030 onwards.Related topicsRugby Union