Man Utd are planning to overhaul their midfield this summer and one big-name signing is likely to arrive at Old Trafford.

Manchester United have completed 11 permanent first-team signings since Ineos took charge of football operations just over two years ago, and the direction of travel isn’t difficult to see.

First under Dan Ashworth and now Jason Wilcox, United have turned their focus on transfers towards youth, with director of recruitment Christopher Vivell playing a key role in the process as well.

Of those 11 signings since the summer of 2024, all of them have been 26 or under, seven were 23 or younger and the average of them all is just over 22. Financial rules have forced clubs to look at resale value in the transfer market and the trend is towards youth, something United have been willing to embrace.

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Last summer was a good example of the approach now. United spent around £130million on 26-year-old Matheus Cunha and 25-year-old Bryan Mbeumo, two players with Premier League experience who are about to enter their peak years. Then they spent around £100million on 23-year-old Senne Lammens and 22-year-old Benjamin Sesko.

Lammens and Sesko are two Premier League imports who can afford a year or so getting up to speed with English football and have plenty of time on their side. That they have both hit the ground running this season is encouraging.

It is expected that this strategy will continue at Old Trafford and the vast majority of targets they are looking at fit the bill when it comes to the age profile. Of the major midfield targets, Elliot Anderson (23), Adam Wharton (22) and Carlos Baleba (22) all have their best years of them. Sandro Tonali is 25 and is in a similar position to Mbeumo and Cunha, in that he could come in and make an immediate impact.

The outlier here is Tonali’s Newcastle teammate Bruno Guimaraes. United have shown interest in Italy international Tonali, who could push for a move this summer, but have also since been linked with Guimaraes. Newcastle will be desperate to hold on to their captain, and he has rejected the chance to force a move out in previous windows.

Guimaraes has proved himself to be an outstanding Premier League midfielder and he might be the most complete option available to United, but he is also someone already in his prime years. The Brazil international will turn 29 in November, and the days when players in their 20s and early 30s make big-money moves seem to have passed.

The last time United paid a fee for someone of that age was the £70million they paid Real Madrid for a 30-year-old Casemiro in August 2022. He has been an excellent servant to the club, but has cost more than £140million in wages and fees, and was highlighted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe as an example of poor recruitment during due diligence ahead of his investment.

United have invested heavily in data since Ratcliffe’s February 2024 investment, and they have clearly shifted towards a recruitment model that focuses on youth and getting value for players who have their best years ahead of them.

Trying to sign Guimaraes would break that mould, but then there is an argument that for three years, he might push United closer to the ultimate aim of regaining the Premier League title.

That is the balance Ineos will be weighing up when it comes to major investment in the midfield this summer. Does the focus remain on building a squad for tomorrow, or is there a case to be made every now and again for going after a player who can deliver instantly, even if that might be more short-term?

The approach United take this summer might be instructive to their ambitions over the next couple of seasons.

Anushka Sharma got maiden India call up for Women’s T20Is© AFP

Tiger Woods aims to play in the 2026 Masters, but before he can commit to the first major of the year at the course where he’s had his most success, the 15-time major champion has decided to ramp up his play with a return to competitive golf on the final night of the TGL season. Woods will suit up for his Jupiter Links GC, which needs to win two matches on Tuesday night to claim the TGL championship, the league announced.

Jupiter Links fell to Los Angeles Golf Club on Monday night in the first match of TGL’s best-of-three finals. Should Woods lead his team to victory Tuesday evening, an immediate rubber match will be held. It is not yet known whether Tiger would play both matches if the opportunity presents itself.

Woods, a five-time Masters champion, has been the most dominant figure at Augusta National Golf Club for nearly three decades. Over the last few weeks, he has left the door open for playing in the 2026 edition of the tournament despite undergoing his latest back surgery in October 2025. That surgery to repair a collapsed lumbar disc was Woods’ seventh since 2014 and his second in the span of 13 months. 

Woods also ruptured his Achilles one month before the 2025 Masters, but he previously stated that he’s fully recovered from that surgery, listing the final hurdle he needed to clear to return to competitive action as becoming comfortable with his back. Woods has not played a tournament since the 2024 Open Championship.

Path to the Masters

The magical run of Woods’ Jupiter Links squad to the TGL Finals presented Tiger with an opportunity to get some competitive swings in the controlled environment of the SoFi Center. Woods has spent this TGL season as the coach/cheerleader of his young Jupiter Links teammates, but he will now step into the lineup for the first time in 2026 with everything on the line. 

After the TGL Finals, Woods could decide to travel across the country and make his PGA Tour Champions debut by playing in the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club. There, he can see how his body handles three rounds of competitive golf, while being allowed to ride in a golf cart per PGA Tour Champions rules. That would keep mileage off his legs, allowing Tiger to ramp up his physicality before facing the strenuous walk around Augusta National. 

From there, Woods would be able to travel back home for a week of rest, recovery and practice before making his way to Augusta, Georgia, to prepare for his 27th career Masters start. Once on site, Woods won’t need too much work in terms of understanding a course he’s long loved, but will look to get comfortable with the walk as well as reacquaint himself with some of the shots he’ll be tasked with hitting around Augusta National. 

Tiger Woods’ history at the Masters

Only Jack Nicklaus has put on the green jacket more times than Woods, and the 2026 edition would present what figures to be an extreme outside chance at matching Nicklaus’ record if Tiger commits to playing. Woods became a Masters champion for the first time in 1997 at age 22 and picked up his fifth green jacket in 2019 at 44 years old, with nine other top 10s alongside his five victories. 

Now 50, Woods is aiming to become the oldest Masters champion in history — another record currently held by Nicklaus. While few will pick Woods to top a field of the best golfers in the world in his first event back, Woods will insist, as he has every Masters for the last decade, that he wouldn’t tee it up if he didn’t think he could win. Even so, success for Woods at this year’s Masters might be continuing his made cut streak while successfully navigating his way around Augusta National for four rounds without any physical incident. 

Since his victory in 2019, Woods has made the cut in all four of his starts but hasn’t finished better than T38. He was forced to withdraw in 2023 after making the cut on the number. Getting through four rounds on a course that is among the toughest walks in all of golf would be a great start to Woods’ latest comeback attempt at age 50. He’ll have designs on something much more, but just seeing Tiger on the prowl once again at Augusta National would be a delight to the patrons on site and fans watching at home. 

Chris Waller, trainer in the Hall of Fame, was prompted to declare Autumn Glow a champion when the mare crushed a glamorous opposition in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

“She’s a champion in my eyes,” Waller said.

“I’ve been fortunate to train many good horses, I’m qualified to know what one’s like, and she is something special.”

Waller’s resume boasts greats like the mighty Winx, Verry Elleegant, Via Sistina, and Nature Strip, but Autumn Glow received his supreme endorsement for the first time, unchallenged by peers.

Racing’s “Miss Invincible” Autumn Glow produced a flawless career-best run to claim her 11th win in 11 attempts.

She sent a clear message, playing with a lineup holding eight Group 1 winners individually, cementing her as Horse of the Year favourite.

Slipper Day drew 15,070 fans, where Autumn Glow sealed Waller’s and McDonald’s Group 1 treble in consecutive races amid history-making feats such as:

McDonald’s Group 1 haul reached 131, a record eclipsing Damien Oliver’s 129.

Waller’s hat-trick lifted him to 192 Group 1s, approaching 200 – breached only by Cummings and Smith on 246 each.

The pair’s 56 shared Group 1s top Smith-Moore’s 54.

Autumn Glow tied Barakey’s 11 straight debut wins, second to Black Caviar’s 25 flawless, 15 Group 1.

Her third Group 1 this prep – including Epsom Handicap and Verry Elleegant Stakes – joins last spring’s Golden Eagle, surpassing $8 million earnings.

Over 50 years, Arrowfield’s John Messara has owned many stars, yet ranks Autumn Glow highest.

“It’s for others to say whether Autumn Glow is a champion or not but she’s the best racehorse I’ve had anything to do with,” Messara said.”She does things only champions can do. She has just beaten an outstanding field and beat them easily. I’m lost for words.”

In top form at Rosehill, McDonald swept Group 1s on Aeliana (Ranvet Stakes), Autumn Boy (Rosehill Guineas), and Autumn Glow (Ryder) in epic style.”It was evident during the week when Chris (Waller) said you’ll see something special in the Ryder, so when he says that, I take notice,” McDonald said.”Her work’s been phenomenal. I truly believe she loves fast ground, because there’s not a horse that could come with her.

“It doesn’t matter what is in the race. She’s just got an amazing sustained speed, it’s quite incredible what we’re witnessing.

“She’s the jockey’s dream – you get nervous on horses but she’s one you don’t.”

The $1.28 elect, Autumn Glow gifted Waller Ryder win number eight, clearing by close to three lengths from Gringotts ($19), Pericles ($16) third by a neck.

McDonald restrained late, 100m out, to prolong the thrill.

“Let’s not beat around the bush, she’s 11 from 11, people are here to see her, and she’s got such an amazing following now,” McDonald said.”And it’s growing, it’s incredible. The feeling you get off these horses, it’s special. I thought Anamoe was a big deal. This horse has taken it to a new level.”

Waller, McDonald, Messara meet soon for Autumn Glow’s next at Randwick Championships: $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m) April 4 or $5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) April 11.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds shortened to $1.80 from $3 per TAB Fixed Odds.

“We’ll give them (owners) our best opinion of what we think,” Waller said.

“Look, she just does everything so effortlessly and that’ll help her get 2000m.”

Find the best betting sites for George Ryder Stakes style racing betting markets.

Bruno Fernandes got a goal and an assist and Harry Maguire marked his return to the England squad by getting a red card as Manchester United drew 2-2 at Bournemouth in the Premier League on Friday.

After a dull first half, Fernandes, so often United’s saviour, put the visitor ahead from the penalty spot an hour in.

Ryan Christie equalized for Bournemouth with a perfectly executed low shot six minutes later.

Fernandes’ in-swinging corner was headed into his own goal by James Hill under pressure from Maguire at the far post.

Then with 12 minutes remaining Maguire – who hours earlier was named in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for pre-World Cup friendlies against Uruguay and Japan – was red-carded for bringing down Evanilson in the box.

Teenage Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi converted the penalty to make it 2-2.

The home side threw everything at its more illustrious visitor during a frantic final push but could not get a winner. Instead, it was a fifth consecutive draw for the Cherries, whose unbeaten run clicked on to 11 matches.

“I’m happy for the performance – it’s a decent point always when you face United,” Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola said. “But in the big picture it’s five draws in a row. It doesn’t give you a lot in the standings. Probably, especially at the end, we were looking for a win.” 
Bournemouth was 10th in the table.

United remained in third place, six points behind Manchester City, but captain Fernandes could not hide his disappointment at not taking all three points.

“We were in front two times, we gave it away,” he said.

FIFA has cancelled the reservations for thousands of hotel rooms originally reserved for this year’s World Cup event in Philadelphia, but hasn’t said why.

Approximately 2,000 hotel rooms have been cancelled by FIFA, the world soccer organization, at hotels in the city, according to the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association.

The group had previously blocked off approximately 10,000 rooms.

Ed Grose, the president of the Philadelphia Hotel Association, told ABC 6 that the bulk of the cancellations were at four City Center hotels. He also told reporters that FIFA did not provide a reason for the cancellations, but acted within the terms of its contract and was not penalized for the cancellations.

The Independent has requested comment from FIFA and the Philadelphia Hotel Association.

FIFA hotel cancellations are hitting other U.S. host cities as well, according to Grose. He said it’s unclear how the cancellations will affect hotel pricing, but he encouraged fans who are looking for rooms not to wait to book their stays.

“While we were not excited about that, it’s not the end of the world either,” Grose said. “These are rooms that are going to be put back out on the marketplace and sold to fans who want to come to Philadelphia.”

He also said that a pair of conventions will be happening in Philadelphia around the same time as its scheduled World Cup game, and believes filling the rooms will not be difficult.

The news in Philadelphia follows an announcement in early March that FIFA cancelled 40 percent of its hotel rooms in Mexico City, according to El Financiero.

The paper cited Alberto Albarrán Leyva, the director general of Mexico City’s Hotel Association.

Albarrán Leyva told the publication that in the previous month, 800 of the 2,000 rooms that FIFA booked in the city for the World Cup were canceled.

In a separate interview with ESPN, Albarrán Leyva cautioned against reading into the cancelations, suggesting FIFA simply overbooked out of caution.

“FIFA booked 2,000 rooms months ago to prevent (running short) and guarantee its operation,” he told the outlet. “Over time, it canceled some reservations because it realized that it was no longer going to use them. There is no other reason or other type of context.”

According to FIFA, between 5 to 6.5 million fans are expected to attend this year’s tournament, which will take place in cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

Trainer Matt Laurie’s mare Treasurethe Moment is now set for a Group 1 test in Sydney after regaining her winning touch at Caulfield.

Saturday’s win in the Sunline Stakes (1600m) ended a drought for the mare since her Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) victory at Caulfield last spring.

In her autumn resumption, Treasurethe Moment ran third behind the field in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield a month back, causing some to question her readiness.

The mare’s defeat as $1.90 favourite left certain fans unsatisfied, though Laurie stood by her having been relegated to lead from the front unusually.

Treasurethe Moment benefited from settling behind Astral Flame during Saturday’s race, drawing level approaching the 200m before taking charge for a decisive triumph.

Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse as the $1.55 choice, Treasurethe Moment triumphed by two lengths from Astral Flame ($21) with Suntora ($31) three-quarters back in third spot.

Laurie admitted to pre-race nerves on Saturday, but the mare came through as expected.

“I’ve been happy with her whole career,” Laurie said.

“Her first-up run was fantastic without winning and this was a step down in grade to what she had been competing against.

“It’s lovely to see her go about it in that fashion and for the lead in to her next start, it looked ideal.”

The decision to gallop Treasurethe Moment at Caulfield last Saturday yielded positive results, Laurie explained.

“It had been a number of weeks since she last ran, so she needed a trip away,” Laurie said.

“I’m glad we did it. She was on her toes and having a good sweat last weekend.

“She was much quieter today, more relaxed, and it certainly served its purpose.

“Well done to Daniel, he was cool, calm and collected and got the job done for us.”

Treasurethe Moment eyes the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap on April 4 or the Group 1 Queen of The Turf Stakes over 1600m at Randwick on April 11, preferring the latter.

“That will be a discussion with the owners, but I think a three-week gap to her next run would be ideal,” Laurie said.

“I think with the trip up there, it gives her time to settle in.

“The Doncaster is going to be a pretty strong race. Sheza Alibi goes there, Autumn Glow, I presume, so that might be the right way for us to go.”

Visit trusted betting sites to find the keenest racing odds on Treasurethe Moment for the Doncaster Handicap.

Werder Bremen sporting director Clemens Fritz has admitted that the club’s summer loan signing of Victor Boniface has not gone as planned.

The Nigerian forward joined Werder Bremen on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with hopes of boosting the team’s attacking options for the season. However, injuries and inconsistent performances have prevented Boniface from showing the form that once made him one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting attacking talents.

Speaking to German outlet Mopo, Fritz explained the reasoning behind the transfer, saying the club was willing to take a calculated financial risk.

“To take a manageable financial risk and to have the courage to see the opportunity,” Fritz said, referring to the decision to bring in Boniface.

He added that the move was also aimed at supporting the development of young forward Keke Topp. “On the one hand, we wanted to develop Keke, and on the other hand, we also wanted to acquire the quality that Victor undoubtedly possesses,” he said.

Despite the intentions, Fritz admitted the loan has not delivered the expected results. “As things stand now, we have to say that it hasn’t worked out in that form,” he said.

Boniface struggled to make an impact at the Weserstadion, registering just two assists in 11 Bundesliga appearances. His difficulties were made worse by injuries, which disrupted his rhythm and limited his contributions on the pitch.

The Nigerian forward is currently recovering from a knee injury, raising doubts over whether he will feature again for Werder Bremen this season.