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• Michael Carrick faces first true test of authority at Man Utd after angry Sesko message

  Michael Carrick is weighing whether to hand Benjamin Sesko a starting spot against Crystal Palace following the striker’s crucial goal-scoring run and pointed celebration at Everton. Manchester United manager Michael Carrick faces a critical decision regarding Benjamin Sesko ahead of Sunday’s clash with Crystal Palace. Despite a stellar record of five wins in six games, the “good vibes” at Carrington are being tested by the Slovenian striker’s undeniable form. Sesko has netted six goals in seven matches, with his latest strike against Everton sparking an “angry” celebration interpreted as a message. Carrick must decide whether to start the £73.7million signing or stick with Bryan Mbeumo as the central attacker. While the manager claims to have “a really good relationship with Ben,” the pressure to start the 22-year-old is mounting. “It’s one of those decisions that we got to try and get right,” Carrick admitted, acknowledging the difficulty of managing high-profile egos during United’s Champions League push.

• Premier League striker caught up in chilling blackmail and friend’s near-fatal shooting

  Sunderland star Brian Brobbey was the target of a violent extortion ring in Amsterdam that included arson, explosives, and the shooting of a close friend before his move to England.

  Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey was the victim of a harrowing blackmail and extortion campaign during his time at Ajax, according to an extensive report from The Athletic and Het Parool.

  The plot, orchestrated by Amsterdam criminal Jeymon A, involved demands for €150,000 and escalated into violent attacks against Brobbey’s family property and vehicle.

  The striker has been confirmed as completely innocent of any wrongdoing throughout the ordeal.

  The situation turned near-fatal in July 2023 when a childhood friend of Brobbey’s, who attempted to intervene on the player’s behalf, was shot three times by the extortionist.

  The perpetrator was sentenced in November 2024 to 10 years for attempted manslaughter and drug offenses.

  Brobbey’s lawyer, Leon van Kleef, stated that the footballer does “not wish to cooperate with this publication in any way” regarding the trauma.

• Tottenham appoints Igor Tudor as interim boss amid possible Pochettino return

  Tottenham Hotspur have hired former Juventus defender Igor Tudor as interim manager until the end of the season following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.

  ​Tottenham have reached an agreement with Igor Tudor to serve as interim manager until the end of the season.

  The club turned to the 47-year-old former Croatia international after sacking Thomas Frank following a dismal run of two wins in 17 games.

  Spurs hope Tudor’s appointment will provide an “instant impact” as the North London side sits just five points above the relegation zone.

  ​The short-term deal intentionally leaves the door open for a potential summer reunion with Mauricio Pochettino.

  Tudor faces a daunting start against Arsenal next Sunday while navigating a “huge injury list” including James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

  While Tudor could earn the role permanently, the hierarchy is reportedly monitoring long-term candidates like Roberto De Zerbi and Andoni Iraola for the 2026-27 campaign.

• Harry Kane close to beating Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal record milestone

  Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has reached 497 career goals and is poised to hit the 500-mark in fewer appearances than Cristiano Ronaldo, though he remains behind Lionel Messi’s record pace.

  ​Harry Kane is on the brink of football history following a weekend brace against Hoffenheim that took his career tally to 497 goals.

  The England captain has reached this figure in 741 matches, meaning he needs just three more goals in his next 11 games to reach the 500-goal landmark faster than Cristiano Ronaldo.

  Ronaldo achieved the feat in 753 appearances, while Lionel Messi remains the benchmark, having hit the milestone in just 632 games.

  ​The 32-year-old striker has flourished in Germany, averaging a goal every 85.6 minutes for Bayern Munich.

  Kane’s upcoming DFB-Pokal clash against RB Leipzig provides an immediate opportunity to close the gap.

  Reflecting on his ambitions to mirror the longevity of his inspirations, Kane previously stated: “I want to try and get on the level Ronaldo and Messi got to. That’s my ultimate goal – to be winning trophies season in, season out.”

• How Ruben Amorim’s Man United era ended in turmoil and toxicity

  Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United following a total breakdown in relations with club leadership over his refusal to abandon his back-three system and public challenges to the club’s executive authority.  

  Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim after a turbulent 14-month tenure, appointing Darren Fletcher as interim manager.

  The dismissal followed a “massive fall-out” on Friday between Amorim and director of football Jason Wilcox over tactical flexibility and recruitment.

  Tensions peaked when Amorim reportedly threatened to call his agent after Wilcox suggested the squad had lost trust in his rigid 3-4-2-1 system. Amorim leaves with a 38.1 percent win ratio, the worst in United’s Premier League history.  

  Internal friction extended beyond the pitch, involving disagreements with recruitment director Christopher Vivell and a training ground confrontation with Lisandro Martinez.

  While the club invested over £260 million in talent like Benjamin Sesko, Amorim felt his authority was eroded when his personal targets, such as Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez, were overlooked for younger profiles.

  Amorim eventually lashed out in his final press conference, insisting, “I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming.”  

  The club’s leadership, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Omar Berrada, ultimately decided Amorim was no longer a fit for their collaborative “ecosystem.”

   

  The hierarchy was particularly concerned by Amorim’s public criticism of players and his “bomb squad” treatment of stars like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

  Berrada and Wilcox informed the squad on Monday that Amorim had changed, stating, “We don’t understand where the last 48 hours have come from,” following his defiant media outbursts.  

  United are now weighing their next move, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick under consideration for caretaker roles until the summer.

  The club faces a £10 million compensation bill for Amorim and his staff, a figure that sits awkwardly against recent staff redundancies.

  As the search for a permanent successor begins, the club aims for a manager who can balance tactical identity with the corporate structure, avoiding the “toxicity” that defined Amorim’s final days.