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Azhar Ali made his second century in two innings as they eased to 363 for 5 while Misbah-ul-Haq spent useful time in the middle albeit against a weakened Sussex attack

Andrew McGlashan at Hove08-Jul-2016
ScorecardThis was a gentle day by the seaside for the Pakistanis. Azhar Ali made his second century in two innings as they eased to 363 for 5 while Misbah-ul-Haq spent useful time in the middle albeit against a weakened Sussex attack.Azhar, who reached his hundred from 205 balls, and Younis Khan added 125 for the third wicket. Azhar then put on a further 146 with Misbah; their three-figure stand came up when the Pakistan Test vice-captain swept a six over the roof of the pavilion at square-leg. The over-rate for the day was so good that the innings was only one short of the mandatory 100 overs by stumps.Sussex had only returned home at 3am following last night’s T20 match against Glamorgan in Cardiff, so the five players from that fixture who were named in this XI could be forgiven for being a touch bleary-eyed.One of those who did not make the trek to Wales and back was debutant Jofra Archer, a former West Indies Under-19 allrounder with a British passport who is aiming to secure a full-time contract with Sussex, and he enjoyed a memorable first day in first-class cricket, finishing with 4 for 49 in a wholehearted display of nippy seam bowling. “I hope I’ve put my foot in the door,” he said. “The coach said just enjoy it, but I was a bit nervous.”A telling part of the day came early on and reinforced that England will view Pakistan’s opening pair as a weak link to target. Shan Masood became Archer’s maiden first-class wicket when he struck with his 11th ball, finding a touch of extra bounce as he slanted the ball across the batsman to take the outside edge.Archer’s morning got better when he trapped Mohammad Hafeez, who had been dropped on 15, playing across a full delivery. This meant that Hafeez’s first three innings on the tour had failed to produce a substantial score or substantial time in the middle.Pakistan would have been 53 for 3 had Azhar been taken low at second slip by Harry Finch, the drop denying club debutant, Abidine Sakande, a wicket. It was not, though, a day without good news for Sakande, who found out he had achieved a 2:1 in a Human Science degree from Oxford University.Younis escaped an inside edge past the stumps off Ajmal Shahzad before reaching double figures, but he and Azhar soon settled against bowling that, from the seamers other than Archer, veered far too frequently into the pads.A lapse in concentration, or the feeling that enough was enough, appeared the likely route to a wicket and so it proved during the afternoon session when Younis advanced at Danny Briggs but only picked out mid-off.During their innings, Younis and Azhar both passed milestones: 16,000 and 8,000 first-class runs respectively. That the junior partner has half felt quite apt; sooner rather than later the baton will be passed as the fulcrum of Pakistan’s batting.Azhar’s average outside of Asia is 28.70 compared with 52.36 in UAE, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh combined but he has the defensive technique to withstand England’s bowlers. This is a tour for him to cement his senior standing in the batting order in conditions he has found less comfortable.He was dropped again on 57 at deep mid-off, then on 72 an outside edge ran fine of first slip. He eventually brought up his century after tea with his 16th boundary from 205 balls.Misbah was not entirely convincing to begin with but in the final session settled into his familiar block-and-bash mode against the spinners as Briggs and Will Beer operated in tandem. He skewed one lofted shot against Briggs over mid-off then started to pick off Beer: it was a shame a young legspinner only bowled seven overs in the day, they have to bowl to learn. Misbah’s fifty came off 65 balls when he swept Briggs for his ninth four. Moeen Ali will be in for a challenge if he has to bowl extended spells during the series.Sussex took the new ball as soon as it became available and in the fourth over, Archer claimed his third wicket of the day when Misbah padded up to a ball that would have taken off stump. Archer struck again when Azhar was late on a pull and was taken by the keeper. It is the mark of a promising bowler when his last spell of the day can be as good as the first.

Fans online have torn Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea to pieces after his terrible mistake in the club’s most recent game.

What did David De Gea do against West Ham?

The shot-stopper has been the subject of plenty of debate over the course of the season with many uncertain about his suitability to play the sort of football Erik ten Hag wants to see at Old Trafford.

For instance, journalist Jacque Talbot recently questioned the sense of handing the Spaniard a new contract, accepting that he can make “world-class saves” but insisting “Man United need to progress” beyond just that and get a keeper who is more comfortable with the ball at his feet.

The Red Devils certainly have a big decision to make regarding the player’s future and they’ve already seen an extension worth £200k-per-week reportedly turned down by De Gea as they look to sign him on a new deal where he’ll earn less than his current £375k-per-week.

Well, the 32-year-old did his hopes of getting a big offer plenty of harm on Sunday night in the Premier League when coming up against West Ham United.

Indeed, with the score still at 0-0, winger Said Benrahma broke forward and fired a tame shot at goal from about 25 yards out.

It looked to be trickling harmlessly towards De Gea but the Spaniard somehow made a complete meal of it as he fell to the ground and failed to stop the ball from crossing the line.

As per Opta, De Gea has now made four errors leading to a goal in all competitions this term, which is the joint-most of any Premier League player – he shares the unwanted record with Tottenham Hotpsur’s Hugo Lloris.

It’s safe to say fans online were rather brutal when responding to the shocking mistake. Here are some of the best reactions…

Man United fans just couldn’t seem to believe what they were seeing…

YouTuber Mark Goldbridge had claimed he feels" betrayed" as Sir Jim Ratcliffe may now by only around 50% of Manchester United.

What's the latest MUFC takeover news?

Back in February, the British billionaire was understood to have made a bid for 69% of the club – the exact amount currently owned by the Glazers. Had that offer been accepted, it would have meant the family would not be involved under Ratcliffe's ownership (via Sky Sports).

However, it has now been reported that he has made a bid which is close to 50 per cent, meaning Joel and Avram Glazer would still hold a 20% stake in Man United.

Speaking about the development on TalkSport, Goldbridge certainly wasn't happy about it all as he no doubt wants the Glazers out completely.

He explained: "I do feel a little bit betrayed by this Sir Jim Ratcliffe bid because as little as two weeks ago, we thought it was between Qatar and Sir Jim to buy the whole club.

"And literally three days ago we got this breaking story that Sir Jim couldn't afford the whole club and was going to buy 50% of it. And then he was going to keep 20% of the Glazers there and 30% on the New York Stock Exchange.

"And, you know, you're borrowing money to do that, and the debt would be there."

How much will Sheikh Jassim bid for Man United?

With this being the case, it is easy to see why some supporters much prefer the idea of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani taking over.

After all, the Qatari banker would supposedly take complete control of the club, removing all debt as well as adding additional capital and infrastructure investment, while seeing the Glazers depart.

However, Sheikh Jassim is reportedly only prepared to make an offer in the region of £5bn, which is roughly £1bn below the current owner's asking price.

With that being the case, the Glazers may feel as though there is not enough of a financial incentive to completely sell their asset right now, so Ratcliffe's offer may be the most appealing prospect.

After building up the belief that ownership could completely change at Old Trafford, it's likely that many fans will agree with Goldbridge in feeling concerned by this latest news.

As this saga continues to develop with twists and turns, it will be interesting to see how it all eventually turns out.

West Ham United chiefs have been 'alerted' to Ligue 1 boss Will Still as they kickstart the process of considering replacements for David Moyes.

What's the latest on Moyes and West Ham?

The Scotsman has been a pivotal figure at the club over these last two Premier League seasons, guiding West Ham to consecutive European qualification campaigns and making supporters dream again.

Moyes' side reached the semi-finals of last year's Europa League and could yet reach the same stage of the Europa Conference League this year with victory tonight against Gent.

West Ham supporters have been gifted fond memories since he replaced Manuel Pellegrini in December 2019, yet this campaign has been a disappointing one overall.

The east Londoners have fell far below expectations despite spending around £160 million last summer and a further £10.5 million in the signing of Danny Ings mid-season (Transfermarkt).

West Ham are still in the relegation dog-scrap despite picking up form of late, losing just once in their last five league games, but this won't be enough to save Moyes as the club apparently start considering replacements.

According to The Daily Mail, sources have indicated that the task of weighing who will succeed Moyes has 'begun', and there are a few candidates.

There is apparently a 'growing sense' Moyes will leave before the start of 2023/2024, with Reims boss Still firmly in the running. Indeed, West Ham chiefs have apparently been 'alerted' to the tactician who also has family ties to the club.

Still's side went on a headline-grabbing unbeaten run earlier this season, a period which seriously rose his stock in the footballing world and him one of this season's fairytale stories.

Should West Ham turn to Still?

The 30-year-old is hugely inexperienced for a job this big in England, which could count against him as the West Ham board measure their most suitable candidates.

That being said, Still has been revered for his work at Reims this season, and could even be considered one of Europe's most promising young coaches.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe certainly thinks so, recently hailing the 'incredible' job he's done whilst calling it very impressive – explaining (via Chronicle Live):

"I'm not sure on Will's background and how he's built his career to this point but very impressive to be managing at his age.

"The success he's had has been incredible. Are managers getting younger? I'm not sure if that's a fact or not. But certainly it is a very demanding job."

Leeds United could reportedly decide to sell goalkeeper Illan Meslier in the summer transfer window to offset any finacial difficulties associated with relegation.

Is Meslier having a good season?

The Frenchman has been a key figure for the Whites for a number of years now, performing with great consistency despite his tender years. He has been the undisputed first-choice between the sticks over past few seasons, racking up 124 appearances and counting.

This season has been a struggle for Leeds, however, with their 2-1 defeat away to Fulham on Saturday lunchtime leaving them in 16th place in the Premier League by the end of the weekend. Meslier arguably hasn't been at his best during the campaign, which hasn't helped matters, with the 23-year-old making errors at Craven Cottage that sum up a hit-and-miss year for him.

His current Whites deal runs until the summer of 2026, but a fresh update suggests that he may have left Leeds well before that date arrives, following rumours he could quit the club if they are relegated.

Will Leeds cash in?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, journalist Pete O'Rourke said that Leeds may now take it upon themselves to cash in on Meslier at the end of the season:

"It's a potential exit that could happen, especially if Leeds get relegated. I don't think Meslier will want to drop down to the Championship after enjoying a couple of years in the Premier League with Leeds.

"They might be forced to balance the books if they suffer relegation. Meslier is probably one of their most sellable assets right now."

This is a tricky one for Leeds because Meslier remains a highly impressive young player with a potentially big future ahead of him, with Micah Richards describing him as "excellent" in the past. He could even be a future No.1 for France, such is his ability, which suggests that the Whites would be wise to keep him.

That being said, his form this season has been patchy as mentioned, and the club are in a strong bargaining position where they could earn big money for Meslier's services. If a huge offer came in, it could be hard to turn down – relegation may give them no other option – as those funds could be used to invest in several players and fit the whole squad ready for a promotion charge.

It is a big decision that may have to be made in the coming weeks and months, and it will only be proven to be right or wrong in the future, as £30,000-a-week Frenchman's career continues to develop.

Manchester United target Evan Ndicka will leave Eintracht Frankfurt for nothing this summer, Fabrizio Romano reports.

What’s the latest news on Ndicka?

Ndicka made the move to the Bundesliga side back in 2018 and has gone on to make 177 senior appearances for his current employers.

The 23-year-old, who can play as a centre-back or as a left-back, is now valued at a career-high €32m (£28m) by Transfermarkt and is out of contract at the end of the season.

A potential move to Old Trafford to join up with Erik ten Hag has been speculated in recent weeks as well as Premier League rivals Liverpool, and the Red Devils have been handed a boost in a possible swoop.

Romano took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to relay an update from Frankfurt on attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada, saying that the Japan international will leave the club on a free transfer in June as expected. The transfer expected then shared news on Ndicka, adding that the same will happen with the defender, who is also "set to leave on a free".

Should Man United discuss pre-contract terms?

Due to Ndicka’s contract situation, United can actually discuss pre-contract agreement terms right now ahead of a free transfer this summer, and from the outside looking in, it appears to be a no-brainer of a decision ahead of Ten Hag’s second season in charge.

That’s because the United manager has reportedly given the green light to summer sales for defenders Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, which could leave the manager with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez as his only senior centre-back options.

Described as a “towering” defender by journalist Jacque Talbot, the Frenchman has been a solid performer in recent months, averaging a Bundesliga match rating of 6.68/10 this season, as per WhoScored, better than Red Devils defenders Varane, Maguire and Lindelof.

He has made more clearances per 90 than any Frankfurt and United player this season and also ranks highly for interceptions and pass completion rate, showing that he is also good on the ball.

Therefore, signing Ndicka for free could be a wise move, especially as he would provide a versatile option and appears to be at the top of his game with his market valuation. Doing so could then allow funds to go towards big-money midfield and attacking signings – areas that the club also want to add to over the coming months.

Arsenal were dealt a hammer blow in their Europa League clash with Sporting CP last month, not only as they exited the competition on penalties, but as William Saliba was forced off with an injury.

The Frenchman had been ever-present at the back for Mikel Arteta alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, with the two having featured in every Premier League game before his enforced absence.

However, the 22-year-old has now missed their last three games and his return date remains unknown.

As such, Rob Holding has had to deputise in his absence, much to the worry of fans.

For someone who had not made a single start in the league all season to instantly have such pressure heaped upon him was a big ask, but in their wins over Leeds United and Crystal Palace, the 27-year-old 'deputised well' in the words of Goal's Mark Doyle.

However, in what was his toughest test yet at Anfield, the defender looked hopelessly out of his depth. Surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2, it marked a vital two points dropped that could have been even more not for the heroics of Aaron Ramsdale.

How did Rob Holding play vs Liverpool?

Starting in his third successive league match, his 6.3 Sofascore rating was the lowest of any who started for the Gunners that afternoon.

This was a figure largely upheld by his lazy challenge on Diogo Jota, which conceded a penalty. Fortunately for him, Mohammed Salah shot wide, but it only heaped further pressure onto a side that was struggling to contain the rampant hosts.

Journalist Josh Bunting even labelled the act “clumsy”, lambasting him for the “gift” he had presented to the Reds.

This was not all that Holding would perpetrate, as the £40k-per-week dud also made an error that led to a shot, as well as losing five of the nine duels he competed in, as per Sofascore.

Not only was the stalwart defensively lacking, but his lack of competence on the ball often led them into compromising situations. The former Bolton Wanderers ace maintained an underwhelming 73% pass accuracy, and just four of his 12 long balls attempted hit the mark.

Perhaps this gives credence to the fact that Arteta should now abandon his failing experiment, and instead start his £20m January signing Jakub Kiwior.

The Polish defender was brought in to bolster their back four for such an occasion as this Saliba injury, yet the Spanish boss seems intent on omitting his new purchase

With this recent Holding disasterclass, perhaps the manager might have had his hand forced for the coming weeks until his starting centre-back returns.

An "extra stage of bidding" has now arrived at Manchester United, according to journalist Ben Jacobs, as talk of a big-money takeover at Old Trafford continues.

What's happening with Man Utd's takeover?

This has been a successful season for the Red Devils to date, following their EFL Cup triumph earlier in the campaign, and it could get even better over the next month or so. United are still in with a good chance of securing both Europa League and FA Cup glory before the end of the season, with a top-four finish in the Premier League also on the cards.

Away from the pitch, rumours continue to emerge regarding the potential takeover of the club, with the Glazers possibly open to selling either a minority stake or 100% of the club to the highest bidder. It looks like a straight shootout between Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, as things stand, with both already seeing initial offers rejected and have since made revised bids.

Now, a new report has emerged regarding the matter, as the saga continues to rumble on.

Could there be another round of bids?

Taking to Twitter, Jacobs provided an update on the situation, claiming things are still 'on track' and that there is expected to be clarity 'this week' after second offers were submitted last month.

"Manchester United suitors expect to hear back from Raine Group this week and get clarity on the next step of the process. Things largely still on track despite the second bids of Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe coming in slightly late."Quick second-bid deadline after meetings at Old Trafford has allowed for an extra stage of bidding, if needed, without altering the timescale significantly."

From a United perspective, the hope is simply that a deal can be struck as soon as possible, with the vast majority of supporters now clearly wanting the Glazer era to come to an end as soon as possible. Most likely won't care too much about who eventually becomes the Red Devils' new owner – Ratcliffe being a boyhood United supporter could appeal to some – as long as they provide more funds for signings and generally steer the club in a positive direction.It will be intriguing to see what the reaction to the next batch of bids is, as the pair try and outdo each other and take control of arguably the biggest football club in the world. Should a takeover goes through, it could feel like a seismic day in United's recent history, representing a much-needed fresh start.

Referee Stuart Attwell and his VAR team may have made a big mistake in the most recent Newcastle United game after not awarding a penalty for a foul on Fabian Schar.

What's the latest on Fabian Schar and Newcastle?

The Magpies picked up a huge three points in the quest to end the season with Champions League football as they eased past Manchester United with a fairly routine win.

Indeed, coming up against the Red Devils in the important Premier League clash, the home side ran out 2-0 winners at St James' Park thanks to goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson.

Despite the final scoreline, the game wasn't entirely settled until Newcastle got their second goal with just two minutes left to play. However, things could have been much easier had Attwell or VAR noticed a possible foul on Schar.

Indeed, as seen in the Sky Sports highlights package (2:30), the defender seems to be kicked in the head when trying to win the ball.

Did Schar deserve a penalty for the foul?

Judging by the replays, it seems quite clear that Schar wins the ball with his head while Man United player Bruno Fernandes then dangles a leg and makes contact.

It's not necessarily a high boot from the Red Devil, as the Newcastle United centre-back throws himself to a lower height to win the ball, but that doesn't have to be relevant.

In the end, it's just a simple matter of two players going for the ball, one winning it and the other man kicking the opponent in the head.

However, Man United may find themselves slightly unlucky too as they had an incident involving the same two players in the first half, with Fernandes' penalty appeal waved away by VAR and the referee.

On the Sky Sports commentary, Gary Neville claims there was a VAR check for a handball on the line from Anthony Martial – which was easily dismissed. If this was the case, it's quite remarkable that the officials didn't spot the possible foul on Schar in the same passage of play.

Ultimately, it didn't matter too much as the Magpies still managed to get the win and seal the three points with that second goal through Wilson later on. Had Man United found a way to get themselves level before then, however, Eddie Howe and his side may well have been fuming about this incident on Monday morning.

As it happens, he seemed delighted with his team's performance after the game, telling BBC Sport: "It was an important win and mostly it was a really good performance from the players. It was really high energy, high quality and a lot of chances created.

"We kept knocking on the door. Tribute to our fitness levels today. In my opinion, we got stronger in the game, even though we were giving so much to it."

Tottenham Hotspur would be looking for a much higher offer than £100m in the summer if they are to allow Harry Kane to leave the club.

Does Harry Kane want to leave Spurs?

There have been reports suggesting the England captain would be open to listening to the contract offers that the club are expected to put forward in the coming months.

However, there have also been some claims that the 29-year-old is looking to leave Spurs in the summer with the likes of Manchester United said to be interested.

That being said, perhaps the most important thing is Daniel Levy and Spurs are reluctant to allow Kane to leave this summer despite his contract close to entering its final year.

And speaking on the FIVE YouTube channel, David Ornstein has claimed the price – if Spurs were to listen to offers – would be well over £100m:

"Daniel Levy will want the highest possible price. And there was a report in The Times, ahead of us recording this, that they want at least £100m in a lump sum. And that isn't the final price – that would be, like, the initial outlay.

"You will speak to people at Tottenham who will hypothetically say way higher than that [£100m], crazy numbers, to even consider it with just a year to go. And that's their stance at the moment."

Should Spurs allow Kane to leave in the summer?

Just two years ago, Kane tried to force his way out of north London with Manchester City said to be interested in the England captain.

However, the 29-year-old lost the battle and has been with Spurs ever since as Pep Guardiola's side were unwilling to match Tottenham's price tag for Kane.

Since then, Kane has gone on to score a further 38 Premier League goals and become the club's highest-ever goalscorer b surpassing Jimmy Greaves' record.

And there could well be a feeling that Kane has done his part for the club and Spurs should grant his wish – if he does want to leave – with just one year remaining on his deal.

But this is a business, and Spurs will have their price set on Kane that Levy should stick firm to if clubs are going to come in for Kane over the coming months.

Kane is not a slightly above-average player who Spurs will be able to replace with ease if they are to part ways.

This is a striker who is at the very top of his game. Not only would it cost a huge amount of money to find a potential replacement, but there is no guarantee of finding someone to come in and match his consistent output of goals.

Signing a club's best player should not be easy for any interested party – no matter how big of a club they are – and Levy absolutely should stand firm on his valuation of the striker.