Manchester United's post-Ferguson signings - success or failure?

Odion Ighalo's loan move to Manchester United was the 31st notable signing the club have made following their last Premier League title win in 2012-13.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement at the end of that campaign, four different permanent managers have spent close to £1bn pounds on new players without adding another league crown to their record haul of 20.

The Scot's chosen successor David Moyes got the ball rolling with the recruitment of Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, Louis van Gaal stepped up the spending on the likes of Angel di Maria and Anthony Martial, Jose Mourinho topped the lot with the then world record-purchase of Paul Pogba, while current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has recently overseen the big-money signings of Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.

They are averaging over £30m per signing on transfer fee alone, with an FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League title to show for it.

Their finishing league positions since Ferguson left: seventh, fourth, fifth, sixth, second and sixth.

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BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2020: Nominees to be revealed

The BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2020 nominees will be revealed on Wednesday, and you can vote for your favourite on the BBC Sport website.

The five-person shortlist has been chosen by a panel of experts including coaches, players, administrators and journalists.

Voting will open at 07:00 GMT on Wednesday and close at 09:00 GMT on Monday, 2 March.

The winner will be announced on Tuesday, 24 March on BBC World Service.

Olympique Lyonnais striker Ada Hegerberg won the award last year.

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Kobe Bryant's widow 'refusing to accept' deaths of husband and daughter

Kobe Bryant's widow, Vanessa, says her "brain refuses to accept" the deaths of her husband and their daughter, Gianna.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Bryant, 41, and 13-year-old 'Gigi' were among nine people to die in a helicopter crash in California in January.

Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, played for the Lakers throughout his career and is considered one of the greatest players in the game's history.

"I've been reluctant to put my feelings into words," said Vanessa Bryant.

Writing on Instagram, Vanessa - who had three other daughters with Bryant - added: "My brain refuses to accept that both Kobe and Gigi are gone. I can't process both at the same time. It's like I'm trying to process Kobe being gone but my body refuses to accept my Gigi will never come back to me. It feels wrong.

"Why should I be able to wake up another day when my baby girl isn't being able to have that opportunity?! I'm so mad. She had so much life to live.

"Then I realize I need to be strong and be here for my three daughters. Mad I'm not with Kobe and Gigi but thankful I'm here with Natalia, Bianka and Capri."

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Manchester United apply for permission to install rail seating at Old Trafford

Manchester United have applied for permission to install rail seating for up to 1,500 fans at Old Trafford.

United, one of the major supporters of safe standing, made the request to their local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) in December 2019.

The club proposes to replace some existing seats in the north-east corner of the stadium.

Season ticket holders in that area have been told a safe standing trial is likely to take place later this season.

In minutes published from a recent fans' forum meeting, United said it believed the introduction of rail seating will "enhance spectator safety" in areas of "persistent standing".

It added that the SAG is still reviewing the request.

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Pele: Brazil legend 'embarrassed' to leave house because of ill health

Legendary Brazil forward Pele is reluctant to leave his house because he cannot walk unaided, his son has said.

The three-time World Cup winner, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, was taken to hospital with a urinary infection last year.

Pele, 79, has had problems with his hip for some time and now needs a frame to walk, with many of his recent public appearances in a wheelchair.

"He is very sheepish, reclusive," his son Edinho told TV Globo.

Pele scored a world record total of 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during his 21-year career, including 77 goals in 91 appearances for Brazil.

His health has been a concern in recent years and he had prostate surgery in 2015 after he was admitted to hospital for the second time in six months.

"Imagine, he's the King, he was always such an imposing figure and today he can't walk properly," Edinho explained.

"He's embarrassed, he doesn't want to go out, be seen, or do practically anything that involves leaving the house.

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England recall Keaton Jennings and Ben Foakes for Sri Lanka tour

England have recalled opener Keaton Jennings and wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes for next month's Sri Lanka tour.

Neither has played for England in a Test since the tour of the West Indies at the start of 2019.

James Anderson, England's leading Test wicket-taker, is omitted as he recovers from a cracked rib suffered in the 3-1 series win in South Africa.

Batsman Jonny Bairstow and all-rounder Moeen Ali will also miss the two-Test series, which starts on 19 March.

Jofra Archer had already been ruled out because of a low-grade stress fracture in his right elbow, but fellow fast bowler Mark Wood will make the trip.

Left-arm spinner Jack Leach came back to England from the tour of South Africa in January because of illness but returns to the squad of 16 players.

"The South Africa tour marked the emergence of a very exciting group of young players, creating a nice balance with an experienced core of senior players," said national selector Ed Smith.

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Premier League reverts to longer summer transfer window

The Premier League’s summer transfer window will run until September 1 after top-flight clubs voted to bring themselves back in line with the rest of Europe.

For the previous two summers Premier League clubs have had to conclude their business before the start of the domestic season, which meant while European clubs could still recruit players from the Premier League until the end of August, no replacements could be brought in.


Liverpool chairman Tom Werner admitted that arrangement had “given an advantage” to the other European leagues and he welcomed the change, which was voted on at a Premier League shareholders’ meeting in London on Thursday.

This summer’s window, which closes at 5pm on September 1 with August 31 a Bank Holiday this year, promises to be an extremely busy one as clubs take advantage of the final opportunity to recruit on existing transfer rules, before the Brexit transition period concludes at the end of 2020.

From January 2021, new rules will be in place around the recruitment of players from the European Union, which are still to be determined by the football authorities.

It is understood title-holders Manchester City had initially been proponents of a ‘hybrid’ transfer window, whereby domestic transfers had to be done before the start of the season but the international window remained open until the end of August.

However, when it came down to a choice of retaining the status quo or extending the window for all transfers, it is understood City favoured the latter.

Manchester United did not comment on how they voted this time, but voted against the decision to bring the deadline forward in September 2017.

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