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Plans to include Salman Butt in the Test squad to tour the West Indies were afoot, but the PCB has decided to shelve them for now in the wake of the PSL spot-fixing affair

Umar Farooq20-Mar-20170:47

Quick Facts – Salman Butt

Plans for an international recall for former Pakistan captain Salman Butt have been shelved for now, in light of the continuing fallout from the recent corruption allegations emanating from the PSL.Butt has no connection to the PSL corruption issue, but his role in the spot-fixing scandal in England in 2010, for which he was banned, has forced a selection rethink ahead of Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies. The PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan had publicly cleared Butt’s potential selection earlier this year, but it appears he will have to wait longer for a comeback.ESPNcricinfo understands Butt was even informed by a selector last month that he was being considered for the national side. But last week he was told that those plans had been set aside for now, as the present circumstances were not ideal for his return.Five players – Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed – were provisionally suspended for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing during the PSL and face various corruption charges. The PCB was thus keen to avoid criticism by recalling Butt, who has not featured for his country since returning to domestic cricket from a five-year ban for corruption.Butt’s name had cropped up in recent selection meetings – headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq – as a reflection of Pakistan’s continuing struggle with opening batsmen. There was reluctance among some members of the management but the proposition wasn’t rejected outright, and the chairman’s clearance was seen as a green signal.Since his return Butt has impressed on the domestic circuit. He was the second-highest run-scorer in the National One-Day Cup with 536 runs at 107.20 in 2015. He resumed his first-class career in 2016, as captain of the WAPDA side which won the Quaid-e-Azam trophy, and scored 749 runs at 49.40 in the season, including twin hundreds in the final. He was also the second highest run-getter in the National T20 Cup last year.Butt was 26 when he was banned, having played 33 Tests, 78 ODIs and 24 T20Is. Since then, he has attended anti-corruption rehabilitation programmes conducted by the PCB, taken part in social work and publicly apologised, though he had pleaded his innocence until 2013. Butt, who was Pakistan captain at the time, was also sentenced to 30 months in jail for his part in the Lord’s scandal. The two other players punished at the time, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, have also returned to cricket after completing their bans. Amir has been successfully re-integrated into the national set-up, and so forms a precedent of sorts for any more returns.Butt’s selection had also been mooted ahead of Pakistan’s tour to England in 2016, when the captain Misbah-ul-Haq admitted he was impressed by Butt’s form.”We have a settled line up between numbers three and seven but the opening slot is not as consistent as the rest of the order,” Misbah had told ESPNcricinfo last year. “There are issues and we are looking at a couple more options including Shan Masood and Salman Butt. Salman is playing well and overall I didn’t see any such difference since he left [in 2010]. He is a good prospect and he has also scored ample runs after his comeback.”With an average of 30.46 from 33 Tests, Butt was never prolific at Test level, but a dearth of other options has made Pakistan look towards him again. Ahmed Shehzad has not played a Test since being dropped from the side in 2015 and Masood has struggled to cement his spot at the top of the order. Mohammad Hafeez’s inconsistency has made him a less attractive option at the top.Sami Aslam had impressed with twin fifties in his first Test against England last year but faded away, with only one score above 22 in his last nine innings. Sharjeel’s suspension has deprived Pakistan of yet another opening batsman, and the only bright spark has been Azhar since being pushed up as a makeshift opener.

Manchester United are in the midst of an ownership battle at Old Trafford and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani's fifth bid to try and acquire the Premier League giants will also offer an 'exit route' if he isn't successful, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest ownership news involving Manchester United?

As per Sky Sports, Sheikh Jassim is understood to have submitted a new and improved fifth bid to try and secure control of Manchester United and has indicated that this will be the final offer on the table for the Glazer family to consider.

The Qatari businessman and his Nine Two Foundation want to buy 100% control of the Premier League giants and has set a deadline of this Friday, in a proposal that would see £1 billion of club debt wiped alongside a separate ring-fenced fund to improve infrastructure around Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex.

As per ESPN, his rival bidder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS want to buy a 69% stake in Manchester United instead of immediately seeking full authority at Old Trafford.

Ratcliffe is said to be the leading candidate to buy Manchester United and has put forward a deal that could see Joel and Avram Glazer stay on in minority stakeholder positions, as per Sky Sports.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has said that by submitting a fifth bid, Sheikh Jassim and the Nine Two Foundation has given them a platform to 'control the narrative' of the situation.

Jacobs told FFC: "I think the last thing to say is that with Nine Two Foundation, they were always going to have to improve, as I previously reported, and they have done now. They were always going to try and control the narrative. What the fifth bid does is not only gives them obviously a better chance of winning because their bid is higher, compared to the fourth one, but also an exit route too and that's another important point. If they are successful in beating Ratcliffe, even though the Ratcliffe group remain cautiously optimistic, then they are trying to force the issue."

Will Manchester United be able to conduct transfer business in the process of a sale?

Despite being in the process of potentially changing hands at ownership level, Manchester United and their boss Erik Ten Hag look to have taken a proactive approach in the transfer market and are already making inroads on potential summer additions.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has agreed personal terms with the Red Devils ahead of a move to Old Trafford; however, both clubs are still yet to come to a compromise over a fee for the England international, as per Football Insider.

Il Mattino via The Sun also claim that Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is also a target for Manchester United and is preparing for a move to the Premier League.

Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund has also cropped up on Manchester United's radar, according to talkSPORT. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Red Devils conclude many deals despite being in the process of a takeover.

Australia have earmarked Dale Steyn as the South African who will pose the biggest threat especially as they know he was recently wounded in the ODI format

Firdose Moonda29-Sep-2016Before the series started Australia had identified AB de Villiers as the man to keep in check but with news that he will be sidelined for the next two months, they have had to turn their attention elsewhere. Now, they have earmarked Dale Steyn as the South African who will pose the biggest threat especially as they know he was recently wounded in the ODI format.”He’s a class bowler and has been for a long time,” Steven Smith, Australia’s captain, said. “I watched the Test series against New Zealand, where he was almost back to his best. I think he’s been left out of their one-day side for a while, so he’s probably out to prove a point.”Officially, Steyn was rested from the triangular series, which also featured Australia, in the Caribbean in June. But he was allowed to play in England’s Natwest T20 Blast so, unofficially, he was left out. Steyn admitted as much during the New Zealand Tests in August. “I can’t even make the one-day team now,” Steyn said, after he had surged back with eight wickets in the Centurion Test.That was Steyn’s first completed Test in more than 18 months, after he was forced out of six of South Africa’s eight matches in the 2015-16 season with injuries that he picked up in the other two. But last month Steyn showed signs of old when he bowled at good pace and swung the ball to finish as the series’ leading wicket-taker. Now, at the same venue, Steyn will make his comeback to the 50-over team and stand-in captain Faf du Plessis is certain he will want to do just as well.”Dale’s personality sometimes is a bit cranky, that’s why you see that fire when he gets a wicket and that’s why we love him like that,” du Plessis said. “I think when he came back, felt like he needed to prove a point. He is the No. 1 bowler in the world. If you don’t produce the goods regularly, people are going to ask questions and that comes with its own pressures. Now he is back in the one-day team and he will try and make a huge impact and try and show everyone that one-day cricket is still a big part of his future.”Steyn has said winning an ICC trophy remains a goal of his and, with the Champions Trophy nine months away, it is within reach. He is expected to play in several ODIs before that – after this series South Africa host Sri Lanka and then go to New Zealand – and du Plessis hopes the mere prospect of Steyn will work to South Africa’s advantage. “The fear that he puts into opposition, just the name itself – you only have a few guys around the world who can do that,” du Plessis said. “His skill and experience is something you can’t get overnight. If Dale is fit and 100% and wants to bowl quick, he is an extremely big asset.”Perhaps more worryingly for the opposition is that the make-up of South Africa’s team, which will now include at least two allrounders, means Steyn can be deployed slightly differently. Instead of merely seeing off Steyn’s opening spell, they may have to contend with him for longer up front because South Africa have several other bowling options to use mid-innings and at the death.”If Dale is bowling well, he can bowl six or seven up front to try and strike whereas in the past, if any one of your opening two bowlers had to bowl more than four overs you are taking those overs out of at the end of the game,” du Plessis said.Kagiso Rabada has emerged as one of the candidates who can operate at the end of the innings while Andile Phehlukwayo, who debuted against Ireland, is another. Kyle Abbott is a third. Then South Africa have Wayne Parnell and Dwaine Pretorius to operate in the middle period along with the spinner and JP Duminy, taking the number of bowlers in their team to seven.It is a balance du Plessis wants applied in the long term, especially as the allrounders develop. “Once you have a six and a seventh bowler in the team, it’s great for a captain. We’ve got Wayne, Andile and Dwaine. Between the three of them, at least two can put their hands up and really become good one-day cricketers for South Africa,” he said. “We’ve been lacking that and so always when we were picking a team, the side was unbalanced. We were either one batsman short or one bowler short. I am hoping two of them will step up in this series.”Du Plessis’ aims for whoever makes the allrounder spot their own is that they will contribute as much with the bat as with the ball, especially because South Africa are also looking to combat another problem: slow scoring rates in the middle overs. The 25-40 over period is where South Africa have sometimes let the game drift but with power-hitting allrounders, du Plessis hopes that will change.”Most of the time, we’ve only had six batsmen and that makes you a little hesitant when you come to those overs,” he said. “You can’t lose wickets because your tail starts at seven or eight and goes down to eleven, so you have to sit a little bit in those periods. With us having a longer batting line-up now it allows us to push a bit harder.”

Newcastle United went into today’s game with Tottenham Hotspur expecting a hard-fought clash with another side chasing Champions League football, and the latter knew the challenge they faced. The neutral tuned in to see two top-quality outfits clash at St James’ Park.

Nobody could have predicted what unfolded.

Ahead inside two minutes, Jacob Murphy’s close-range finish would be the first of five before 22 minutes had been played in Tyneside. Cristian Stellini’s decision to play four at the back was questionable, but even he could not have accounted for the monumental collapse of his side before the game had even got going.

There were neat finishes, long-range screamers and tap-ins, all of which culminated in the final 6-1 scoreline. Then, having taken their foot off the gas, with Harry Kane netting nothing more than a consolation, Callum Wilson combined with Miguel Almiron off the bench to quell any minimal threat of a comeback.

The Magpies were imperious and unstoppable, backed by the raucous home support. A day few around those parts will not forget in a hurry.

Whilst the goalscorers will likely steal the headlines, with Alexander Isak and Murphy both boasting braces, there was another who deserved fine praise.

Indeed, Bruno Guimaraes was in the engine room silently orchestrating this historic result.

How did Bruno Guimaraes play vs Spurs?

With a 7.8 rating for his display, this perhaps underplays the Brazilian’s importance in today’s result. He was ever-present alongside the industrious Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff, adding touches of quality to cap off a perfect afternoon.

His 79 touches alone outline his importance, maintaining a 90% pass accuracy throughout his 70 minutes on the field. To uphold such perfection whilst also recording four key passes only exacerbates the highest level of quality on exhibition today, via Sofascore.

Dictating the play in such a way led Brazilian journalist Vincenzo Dalicani to brand him Newcastle’s “steering wheel.”

However, the £120k-per-week maestro was far from just technically proficient today. It was also a battling performance that earned the 25-year-old the right to play his football, as he made two tackles and won six of the seven duels he competed in at an 85% success rate.

As aforementioned, few could have predicted such a stellar all-around team display from the hosts. However, to see Guimaraes dictating the play in the midfield and at the heart of a famous win is far from a surprise. It’s actually becoming commonplace now as this magnificent outfit seemingly cannot be stopped.

Arsenal return to Premier League action tonight, as they host Southampton in what is a must-win clash; although, with just seven games left as they battle for the title, every game has taken on such importance.

That is what makes their recent slips against West Ham United and Liverpool all the more frustrating, especially given they squandered leads in both.

Tonight, however, they face a wholly different challenge, as they welcome the 20th-placed team in the division with the hopes they can use it as a return to form. With a trip to face Manchester City on the horizon, tonight marks a fine opportunity to bolster confidence in preparation for such a monumental game.

However, they are to once again be without William Saliba, as Mikel Arteta admitted:

"He’s not progressing as quickly as we hoped and it is a bit delicate so we want to be certain that when we push him, he’s ready to absorb the load and the risk that we’ll take, and that’s not possible at the moment."

Whilst Oleksandr Zinchenko is at a more advanced stage in his recovery, a start tonight also seems unlikely given the risk it would pose in a fixture they should be able to win without. However, his absence could pose an interesting opportunity for a tactical shift.

How could Arsenal line up against Southampton

Arteta could make as many as three changes to the side that drew 2-2 at the London Stadium, with alterations made both due to necessity and with one eye on Wednesday's crunch match.

Aaron Ramsdale will be seeking to put aside his disappointment from last week with a fine showing tonight, but will have to remain sharp when his moment comes. The 24-year-old made just one save last game, yet shipped two goals.

The back four is expected to remain largely unchanged, but after his struggles to perform in the inverted full-back role, Kieran Tierney could drop out. Given Granit Xhaka deputised in his position after his substitution last time out, perhaps Arsenal could seek to add such a fine creative presence to the defence given their expected dominance of the ball.

Ben White will occupy the opposite flank, whilst Rob Holding and Gabriel Magalhaes retain their spots through the middle.

Seeing the Swiss general move into the back four opens up an opportunity for Fabio Vieira to take his chance beside Thomas Partey. They will offer a defensive foil to supplement the creativity of captain Martin Odegaard.

As mentioned, their dominance in tonight's clash should see them through without needing a full-strength side, especially when the likes of Leandro Trossard and Emile Smith-Rowe are the alternatives to replace Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Seeking to keep the star men fresh, so they can truly wreak havoc next week, perhaps handing the 22-year-old his first league start of the season following a return from injury could be the injection of enthusiasm needed to put this game to bed early.

The Belgian's inclusion needs no explanation, with the £40k-per-week maestro having already garnered praise despite only joining in January. Journalist Richie Mills, who reports on Brighton and Hove Albion, will know more than most just what a "magic man" the 28-year-old can be.

These two will flank Gabriel Jesus, who has made a seamless return to first-team action after his own lengthy lay-off, scoring four in his last three.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Holding, Xhaka; Vieira, Odegaard, Partey; Smith-Rowe, Jesus, Trossard.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that both Ineos and the Qatari group are preparing new bids to buy Manchester United.

The Lowdown: Takeover talks rumble on

It seems as though the Man United takeover took a big step forward last week as the two prominent bidders – Ineos and the Qatari consortium – both made the journey over to Manchester and visited both Old Trafford and the Carrington training base.

Following those visits last week it was reported that the Qatari group were lining up an imminent second bid to try and at least get closer to the £6 billion valuation the Glazers have slapped on Man United.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been a long-time admirer of Man United as even in 2022 it was being mooted about him wanting to take the club off the Glazer’s hands, although he thought they were unwilling sellers at the time.

The Latest: Both groups set for second Man United bid

Romano has admitted on his YouTube channel that both Ineos and the Qatari consortium are now planning and getting set to lodge second bids respectively, which may well be a sign of yet another step in the right direction.

He said: (3:30) “We can say that both groups, Ineos with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari group with, of course, Sheikh Al Thani both of them are preparing new bids for Manchester United.

“The Glazers want around £6-7 billion to sell Man United and both the Qatari group and Ineos group are really interested after talks last week and last few days were very positive.

“Now, it is time to make a new proposal and enter into a crucial moment of the process. So, keep an eye on the Manchester United situation in the next days and weeks because now we enter into crucial moments of  the conversation.”

The Verdict: Crucial period for Man United and the Glazers

It will be huge for Erik ten Hag to know who will be owning the club ahead of the summer transfer window as it’ll help him to determine how much money he’ll have to spend and thus, decide which targets are plausible to go out and sign.

Last week it was reported that everything was looking positive in terms of getting a sale done and dusted prior to the summer transfer window opening, although if these next bids don’t get near the £6 billion valuation, things could being to be drawn out.

The Glazers have indeed slapped a monster valuation on the club, however, they are said to still be willing sellers, as long as they get a fair price for the club, although it remains to be seen here or not the Qatari group of Ineos are open to meeting that valuation.

A number of Arsenal fans online have all praised the substitute cameo made by Takehiro Tomiyasu last night in the Europa League as he came on and impressed at left-back.

What’s the latest on Takehiro Tomiyasu at Arsenal? The Gunners faced Sporting CP away from home in the first leg of their last-16 European match this week and found things pretty awkward in Portugal.Indeed, even though they took the lead thanks to William Saliba, they were pulled back level just 12 minutes later when Goncalo Inacio headed in from a corner.Then Sporting actually took the lead through Paulinho in the second half and it took a huge slice of luck when Granit Xhaka’s pass deflected off Hidemasa Morita and into the back of the net to draw Arsenal level at 2-2.With Kieran Tierney absent through illness, Tomiyasu was asked to come on at left-back for the last 27 minutes and he really helped steady the ship for Mikel Arteta’s men.As per SofaScore, he finished the game with a 7.3 match rating (the best of any substitute from either team). What’s more, he also made one interception, won one tackle, won five out of five ground duels and two out of three aerial duels, and also pulled off one key pass and completed three out of three successful dribbles.Clearly, he had a pretty impressive cameo and it’s safe to say the Arsenal fans enjoyed seeing him fill in at left-back. Here are some of the best responses online…[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/_philcosta/status/1633908357756010499?s=46&t=hH2NiXoN5Q53lPpbpDhPRA[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/ltarsenal/status/1633930184188473348[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/Fragiie_Millz/status/1633930163372032003[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/Cgancgan/status/1633930005188165633[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/trickyreds14/status/1633937317458235393[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/goonernumber31/status/1633937505543176192[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/lolgoil/status/1633939280396468224[/EMBED_TWITTER]

Barcelona sporting director Deco has suggested that Xavi could stay at the club for another season – despite announcing his intent to resign in June.

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• Club would be open to Xavi staying
• Search for a new manager not underway yet
• Struggling boss announced resignation in January

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  In January, Xavi revealed that he would leave the club at the end of the season, citing a need for change as the reason for his impending departure. It has since emerged, though, that the Blaugrana board would be open to him staying and aren't undergoing a search for a new manager.

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  WHAT DECO SAID

  Deco, the Blaugrana's sporting director, told that Xavi might stay, saying: "We are not making any decision about the future coach because it is early and we have many things ahead of us. If something changes, I will not say that we cannot raise it. We have nothing against him. It is not a decision that the club or the sports management has made. At the moment, there is no such possibility; if it happens, we will discuss it."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barca have enjoyed a resurgence of late. The Blaugrana are undefeated in the six matches since the disgruntled manager announced his resignation, and would appear to have a good chance of advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals with their two-legged tie against Napoli balanced at 1-1.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR XAVI AND BARCELONA?

  Xavi, for his part, has suggested that his mind is made up; he will depart in June. Still, Barca are yet to start their search for a new coach – despite being linked with a number of high-profile managers.

ScorecardCheteshwar Pujara is just the sort of overseas player Yorkshire need this season as they attempt to instil first principles of safety and security into their Championship side. Except that Pujara is also India’s run out specialist. In his most accident prone moments, safety and security don’t really come into it.Pujara has been instrumental in six of India’s last eight run outs in Tests. He has run himself out on four of those occasions so at least nobody can accuse him of selfishness: the damage is largely to himself. Against South Africa in Centurion in January, he was run out twice in a Test, a misfortune not suffered for 18 years. To make it extra special, one of them was a first-ball duck.In the switch to Yorkshire, it appears that Pujara’s characteristics remain implanted. His ability to perform on English surfaces, and affinity for the long game, ensured his services are valued in county cricket, but his latest run out came at a critical juncture against Nottinghamshire at Headingley and without a measured response from Yorkshire’s captain Gary Ballance it could have had bad repercussions.As it was by the close of the second day, Yorkshire’s position was a commanding one. At 189 for 4, they lead by 257, a position built in the last two sessions after they bowled out Nottinghamshire on the stroke of lunch for 188. Ballance will resume the third day on 76, although there is little sense as yet that England are studying his form too closely.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Pujara’s brainstorm came in the 15th over. Yorkshire had already lost Alex Lees, lbw to Jake Ball playing no shot. Pujara had been dropped on nought, an edge against Ball flying through Riki Wessels’ hands at first slip, but thereafter he had reached 18 comfortably enough.Then Adam Lyth dropped a ball from Harry Gurney at his feet and, although he reacted to Pujara’s appetite for a quick single with a surprised yelp of rejection, he found a stately Indian batsman standing too close to comfort. Pujara turned, but his quest was safety was hopeless and Jake Libby completed the run out from backward point.Yorkshire have nicknamed him Steve because “Cheteshwar” is too much of a mouthful and, although unexplained, it should be linked to Steve McQueen, the American actor who was known as the King of Cool, but who was not short of a few hair-raising stunts when the mood took him. In his defence, however, he had a previously unblemished running record as far as county cricket is concerned.When Lyth was caught at the wicket and Harry Brook was cleaned up by Ball, so ending an impressive 36 from 41 balls, Yorkshire were 163 on with six wickets left, far from secure with the pitch settling a little.Ballance guided the match back into Yorkshire’s favour, spared a confident lbw appeal first ball from Gurney. He looked untroubled, as he did this time last season, a burst of form that won a Test recall, which failed to last the summer.But with Ed Smith’s elevation to national selector, study of data might be on trend and that would do Ballance no harm at all. No regular county cricketer has a better record when it comes to converting first-class innings into half-centuries (more than 35%) or for that matter centuries.If he can gen up on a few more erudite matters that might the attention of Smith, such as the culinary habits of Greek philosophers, the polarising political qualities of Jacob Rees-Mogg or whether cricket has reached peak left-handedness (note to Ballance: best to conclude “no” as you are one) and he might be within range of that recall after all.

Wayne Rooney could follow Steven Gerrard's footsteps and manage a Saudi Pro League club in the near future.

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Rooney to follow Gerrard in Saudi ArabiaBirmingham sacked ex-striker last monthWants return to football managementWHAT HAPPENED?

According to , the former England international, who was sacked by Birmingham City just a month back, is ready to come back to management and could head to the Saudi Pro League following the footsteps of his former Three Lions colleague Gerrard, who is currently in charge of Al-Ettifaq.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Tom Brady-owned Championship side parted ways with the English coach just 13 weeks after his appointment as the club's manager. Under his tutelage, the Blues managed to win just two matches out of the 15 they played. But the 38-year-old remains positive even after his brutal sacking and is reportedly ready to take up a new challenge.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

The Sun also quoted a source saying Rooney "believes he learned a lot of skills which he thinks will hold him in good stead in the future" during his disastrous time at Birmingham. It is said that he "would love the chance to manage a team in Saudi Arabia".

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Rooney, along with his wife Coleen, was recently seen holidaying in the warm weather of Dubai. He is currently enjoying a break and it remains to be seen if a Saudi Arabian club comes up with an offer for the Manchester United legend in the future.