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Manchester United will discover the true cost of this decision in the summer transfer window

Thousands of players have come through the doors at Manchester United’s academy over the years. Some of them make it into the first team, others go on to have relatively successful careers in the lower leagues. For a long time, there were very few who the Reds regretted selling.

These days, there are a couple United may wish they had stuck with. Alvaro Carreras was not given a chance and is now the starting full-back for Real Madrid. Scott McTominay was reluctantly sold to make way for Manuel Ugarte – a decision that becomes more baffling by the day.

Both of those exits were given the green light by Erik ten Hag. However, another deal that was struck under the Dutchman’s watch could prove to be extremely costly this summer. When James Garner returned to Carrington in the summer of 2022, he looked capable of kicking on.

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He had been loaned to Nottingham Forest and played a vital role in their promotion from the Championship. The second tier has been used as a proving ground for United’s academy gems for years and, as Amad proved, a good spell in that division can be the gateway into the first team.

And yet, by the end of that summer, Garner had been sold to Everton for £15m. A year later, the midfielder explained why he agreed to leave the Reds. “When I came back to United, I felt like I had a good enough season to have a shot,” he said.

“But unfortunately I got injured on the first day and it set me back two or three weeks, so the manager did not get to see me in training and games. It was a decision where – after having two seasons in men’s football – I wanted to be part of a team and squad, ideally starting too.

“I knew I wasn’t going to get that at United so I made the decision to move here. I could have gone on loan again and come back but I felt I would have been in the exact same position I was then.

“I didn’t want to be stuck in the mud, I needed to make a decision to leave one of the best clubs in the world, which was hard, but it is one I am happy I made.”

Now 25, Garner has matured into an impressive Premier League midfielder. This month, the former United man received his first England senior call-up with Thomas Tuchel singing his praises. “James Garner has just had a fantastic season,” the England head coach explained.

“He’s always available for Everton. He plays in multiple positions – right defender, left defender, six, eight. He’s fast, he has a clean foot and takes all the set pieces. I think he deserves it. He’s a bit of an underrated player.

“I have seen him many times now live and [I am] convinced about his quality and his character and want to see how he does in camp.”

What United would do to have a player like Garner in their prime, in their squad, heading into the summer transfer window. The Reds hope to buy two midfielders at the end of the season.

Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have all been linked with United and all have whopping price tags. The Reds will need to spend more than £100m to shore up their midfield.

Garner is proof of the risks of selling your homegrown assets to make a quick buck. Yes, United benefitted at the time from a pure profit sale but the midfielder is now worth considerably more to Everton than £15m and would have saved the Reds millions this summer.

This short-term approach to transfers is something Ineos are looking to address moving forward. But the aftershock of poor decisions from the past continue to be felt today.

Tiger Woods has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence amid his involvement in a rollover car crash in Jupiter Island, Florida, on Friday afternoon. Woods blew a 0.00 on an administered Breathalyzer but did “exemplify signs of impairment” at the scene and subsequently refused a urinalysis test, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.    

The accident occurred near 281 South Beach Road around 2 p.m. ET, police said.

A pick-up truck pulling a pressure cleaner on a trailer was headed Northbound, attempting to turn into a driveway when the driver saw a Land Rover speeding towards him, according to Budensiek. The truck was unable to get out of the way in time, and while the Land Rover that belonged to Woods tried to swerve to avoid collision at the last moment, it clipped the back end of the trailer and turned over onto the driver’s side.

Neither driver was injured at the scene, and no other passengers were in the vehicles. Woods was brought to Martin County Jail and placed under arrest for DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. He will be detained for at least eight hours as required by Florida law.

Woods, 50, crawled out of the passenger door of his vehicle with police initially recognizing signs of impairment. He explained to officers his string of injuries and surgeries and also submitted to “in-depth roadside tests.”

“He was lethargic on scene, but that was, we believe, because of what he was intoxicated on,” said Budensiek, who clarified that Woods was “not impaired by alcohol but rather some type of medication or drug.”

A photo from the scene published by WPTV showed a Land Rover on its side with police blocking traffic and emergency crews responding. 

This is the fourth known car accident involving Woods since 2009.

In November 2009, Woods was cited for careless driving after crashing an SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree outside his then-home in Windermere.

Eight years later, in May 2017, he pled guilty to reckless driving after being arrested on a DUI charge in Jupiter when police found him asleep behind the wheel of a parked vehicle. 

In February 2021, Woods suffered severe leg injuries after being involved in a rollover car crash in Southern California. Authorities observed no evidence of impairment or intoxication. He subsequently underwent multiple surgeries and took nearly 10 months to recover before returning to golf.

Woods’ return to golf has been a significant storyline since he last played a tournament in July 2024 at The Open Championship.

The 15-time major champion had been recovering from a torn Achilles when he underwent back surgery in October 2025, his second inside the span of 13 months, to replace a collapsed lumbar disc. He played competitive golf for the first time since that surgery on Tuesday in the TGL Finals. Woods has gone under the knife seven times for his back since 2014.

There has been speculation that Woods could attempt to play in the 2026 Masters in two weeks, but he has yet to disclose his official status for the first major of the season. 

CBS Sports will continue to update this breaking news as more information becomes available. 

Punjab Kings, under their new captain Shreyas Iyer, showed a lot of promise in IPL 2025 after years of mediocre performances. The side entered the final but lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the title clash. Still searching for their first title, Punjab Kings begin their IPL 2026 journey at home against former champions Gujarat Titans. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan says Punjab Kings are finally “moving in the right direction” after making smart and bold choices at the auction table, raising hopes of ending their long wait for an Indian Premier League title.

Speaking on ‘IPL Today Live’, Pathan credited Punjab’s improved clarity in leadership and squad-building for their turnaround. Punjab finished as runner-up last season, losing the close final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

“Leadership has played a huge role in Punjab’s turnaround. You win half the IPL at the auction table. Big purses don’t necessarily mean you will always get what you want, but they did, and they reached the final,” he said.

Pathan pointed out that the franchise has not shied away from taking tough calls, including releasing underperforming players such as Glenn Maxwell, while also strengthening their bench.

Punjab Kings full IPL 2026 schedule:

March 31 – Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans – New Chandigarh – 7:30PM IST

April 3 – Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings – Chennai – 7:30PM IST

April 6 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings – Kolkata – 7:30PM IST

April 11 – Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – New Chandigarh – 3:30PM IST

April 16 – Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings – Mumbai – 7:30PM IST

April 19 – Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants – New Chandigarh – 7:30PM IST

April 25 – Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings – Delhi – 3:30PM IST

April 28 – Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals – New Chandigarh – 7:30PM IST

May 3 – Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings – Ahmedabad – 7:30PM IST

May 6 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings – Hyderabad – 7:30PM IST

May 11 – Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals – Dharamshala – 7:30PM IST

May 14 – Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians – Dharamshala – 7:30PM IST

May 17 – Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Dharamshala – 3:30PM IST

May 23 – Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings – Lucknow – 7:30PM IST

North Carolina’s men’s basketball program parted ways with head coach Hubert Davis earlier this week following an upset loss to VCU in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

UNC did not disclose details about Davis’ departure, instead describing the move as a change in leadership. The now-former Tar Heels coach later confirmed on social media he was “let go” despite wanting to continue coaching at Chapel Hill.

Since Davis’ exit, several possible candidates with ties to UNC have emerged, including Kenny “The Jet” Smith, who was notably mentioned by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.

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North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis talks to Armando Bacot (5) during a game against the UC Riverside Highlanders on Nov. 17, 2023 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)

After praising Hubert Davis, who both played and later coached at North Carolina, Kenny Smith shut down any interest in the vacant job, calling speculation linking him to the opening “disrespectful.”

“Yeah, we can talk about North Carolina,” Smith, a basketball analyst, said during halftime of the Texas-Purdue Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA tournament. “But that vacancy – I thought that was honestly disrespectful. But first of all, Coach Hubert Davis, thank you. Your service and what you did for North Carolina basketball as a player and as a coach, you moved it forward. I think people forget that because of one game here and there.”

2025-26 MEN’S ELITE 8 ODDS: SPREADS, LINES, WHAT TO KNOW FOR ALL 4 GAMES

Smith emphasized the importance of preserving North Carolina’s coaching lineage.

“But I also think this is a precarious position for North Carolina and for us as Tar Heels. Because what makes us special, when you fire one person, that’s Hubert Davis. But when you have Coach [Brad] Frederick, you have Sean May, you have Jeff Lebo, you have Marcus Paige, you have Pat Sullivan. What that is, is you have a lineage to every era of basketball that’s Carolina that was on that staff, including Hubert Davis. Every era was connected.”

Former North Carolina Tar Heels basketball player Kenny Smith poses for a selfie with fans as he hosts the annual Late Night with Roy Williams basketball kickoff at the Dean Smith Center on Oct. 23, 2015 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

“That’s what makes us special. Forget all that ‘blue blood.’ What makes Carolina family is the connection of all of those eras were in one building at one time. That’s what makes people pay attention and have some animosity or some love for us.”

It remains unclear how wide UNC will cast its net, but hiring outside the program would break from a tradition tied closely to Dean Smith. Nevertheless, Smith hopes the next coach will be committed to Chapel Hill for the long haul, much like Davis was.

TNT basketball analyst Kenny Smith on air before the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the North Carolina State Wolfpack at State Farm Stadium on April 6, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona.  (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

“I will say this. Dean Smith retired as a Tar Heel. Roy Williams retired as a Tar Heel. Hubert Davis was going to retire a Tar Heel. Whoever we come in, they have to want to retire a Tar Heel,” Smith said. “I don’t care what that means. You don’t want to look for, ‘Oh, [what] J.J. Redick has done in LA. I want to be a Laker.’ You retire a Tar Heel, the next person.”

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Davis succeeded Roy Williams in 2021 after being elevated from his assistant role. Williams led the Tar Heels to three national titles. North Carolina’s deepest tournament run under Davis was a Sweet 16 appearance.

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The 2026 NFL draft is fast approaching, and the mock drafts and draft opinions are in full swing. The popular man to be sent to the Minnesota Vikings right now is Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. Is he the right pick for the Vikings at 18? Is anybody? Or could we be looking at a Vikings draft-day trade back?

Vikings Trade Back Scenario Is Gaining Steam

The Vikings draft suddenly seems to hinge on Thieneman, who moved from a potentially second-round prospect to a first-rounder after a phenomenal performance at the combine. Should a performance in some drills on one day drastically change the view of a player? The fact is, it can. On the flip side, other options that looked good for the Vikings, like interior defensive linemen Caleb Banks and Peter Woods, have seen their draft stock tank.

If you look at the positions that the Vikings still need to address this offseason – defensive tackle, safety, center, running back, linebacker, WR3 – and assuming Calen Downs and Jeremiyah Love are off the board at 18.

The players Minnesota might be looking at, like Thieneman, Woods, Banks, Kayden McDonald, Emannuel McNeill-Warren, and CJ Allen, might still be available after the trade back. You might even be able to get two of those players, and when they aren’t at the top end of draft prospects, it gives better value.

Thieneman’s draft stock may have even risen to the point that someone takes him before 18, in which case the trade back should look even more agreeable to the Vikings’ brain trust.

Don’t Let the Scars of the Past Affect Judgement

Trading back in the first round might bring horrible memories of the 2022 draft for some, but Kwesi Adofo-Mensah got his marching orders back in January. Rob Brzezinski and Kevin O’Connell will be putting this draft together, and if a quality player falls into your lap – as Kyle Hamilton did in 2022 – then you pull the trigger. However, if that doesn’t happen, then there is no need for the Vikings to reach for a player.

Of course, then it becomes a case of getting good value from the trade. What good value looks like is somewhat subjective; there are many draft trade chats out there that have their own ideas.

The slight concern is that the Vikings only have an acting general manager in place, a very strange position to be in. Navigating a successful draft, including successful trades, could put Brzezinski in the frame for the full-time GM role, but we don’t know what the Vikings are thinking long term, with everyone keeping their cards close to their chest in Minnesota.

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft kicks off on April 23 in Pittsburgh.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

Barcelona could be forced to deal with a huge Raphinha injury blow which will almost certainly impact Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford could be set for a major Barcelona twist after Raphinha appeared to suffer an injury playing for Brazil. At half-time of their friendly defeat to France, the Barca winger was replaced by Luiz Henrique with fears over another hamstring issue.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed as much after the game as the Brazil boss explained why he was taken off at the interval. He said: ”Raphinha played very well, then he had a problem at the end of the first half and we had to change him, his muscle bothered him a little and I think they’re going to evaluate him tomorrow.”

Since returning from injury, Raphinha has started eight of the last nine Barcelona matches which has seen Rashford’s minutes decrease significantly. The 28-year-old, who is on a season-long loan from Manchester United, has played just 28 minutes across Barcelona’s last four games.

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Rashford started the two games that Raphinha missed out entirely and thus would more than likely return to the team if he has picked up an injury. Barcelona have four big games after the international break, with Rashford’s role seemingly set to change.

That could arrive at the perfect time as he looks to secure the England starting spot on the left of Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI. A glimpse on his position in the pecking order is likely to emerge over the coming days during friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

The Catalan club have been impressed by his displays this season and are keen to activate the £26million buy-option clause included in his loan switch. However, it has been claimed that they are actively trying to pay a fee below that.

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United do find themselves in a strong position though, with clubs in the Premier League and around Europe making enquiries over his availability, as per ESPN.

Rashford returning to Old Trafford has also not been ruled out with United in a commanding position either way. On one hand, a player very near the top of his game could be back in the squad or United sell to the highest bidder this summer.

Any final decision over his future is expected after the World Cup with Rashford’s full focus likely to be on that after hoping to finish the season strong.

Barcelona currently sit top of La Liga, clear of Real Madrid by four points and are also in the Champions League quarter-finals where they will take on Atletico Madrid.

Hansi Flick’s side have already faced their domestic rivals over two legs this season with Atletico winning 4-3 on aggregate. During the second leg win for Barca, Rashford played up front with his versatility opening up more avenues for minutes.

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL

It’s time, folks. Your underdog 4th-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide will hit the court shortly for a Sweet Sixteen showdown with the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines. Dusty May’s group has the best roster money can buy, as this Michigan squad is every bit as good as the UConn and Duke teams that ended Alabama’s NCAA Tournament journeys of the previous two seasons. It’s going to take everything this team has to stun the Wolverines and advance to the program’s third straight Elite Eight.

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Enough from me, time for some hype videos:

Idle Flyer has steadied the ship after a turbulent launch to her prep, realigning towards her Group One objective, where the upcoming Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill acts as a crucial lead-in.

Trainer Matthew Smith was forced to delay the mare’s debut owing to a tenacious virus, starting her instead across an unbefitting 1200m in the Wenona Girl Quality March 7, but Idle Flyer underlined her potential with a solid fourth.

A barrier trial triumph has kept her on song since, paving the way for Saturday’s Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) engagement, in which she rates an initial market pick.

“We started in a race we didn’t really want to start in because we had a few interruptions to her ‘prep,’” Smith said.

“She has been a little bit behind. Her run was good first-up, so she goes into this race fit and well, but is she at her peak yet? Probably not.

“She is ready to go, but one more and she will be cherry ripe.”

Smith’s operation has a full slate, including Portland in the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) and Derby candidates Eureka Rebel with Dezignation tackling the Tulloch Stakes (2000m) ahead of the ATC Australian Derby.

Though longer shots among competitors, these three-year-olds have affirmed stamina at the distance, with Smith expecting progression to the 2400m showpiece.

“Both look like they will stay really well,” he said.

“I just want to see them hitting the line. The danger in these races is you get no tempo, and then they’re not going to be suited.

“I don’t know what the Derby field will be like. I thought it might lack a bit of depth in the staying ranks, and we’d give it a shot.”

Fierce Impact, a prior Smith inmate and triple Group 1 captor best known for shorter trips, sires Eureka Rebel.

The trainer’s Mountain Queen, another from that pedigree, mirrors Eureka Rebel’s staying promise and is in the mix for the Australian Oaks (2400m).

“The ones by him that we’ve got showing ability are more middle-distance horses. It would be nice if we could get one through to each of the (classic) races,” Smith said.

In the Neville Sellwood third-up, the gelding Portland takes on classy import Barnavara, yet Smith views the middle-distance assignment on a rain-impacted surface as ideal progression.

“He has been looking to get out to this trip,” Smith said.

“He’s not right at his top yet, but he’s on the way and this will be another step in the right direction. His work has been good, and I can’t fault him really.”

For the Emancipation Stakes, racing odds are available across various betting sites.