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Erik ten Hag is demanding Manchester United raise the bar once again having overseen “necessary” and “immense” improvements during his first year in charge. Last summer the Dutchman took the reins at a club in disarray, with a lack of coherency, quality and joined-up thinking resulting in a wretched 2021-22 campaign. Ten Hag brought in a new style, implemented demanding standards and handled star Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit as well he could before masterminding the end of United’s six-year wait for silverware. The Carabao Cup triumph was followed by a third-placed Premier League finish and FA Cup final loss to eventual treble winners Manchester City, who are the target as they push for further improvements. “I think the levels all across increased (at an) immense (level) and that was necessary,” Ten Hag said, reflecting on his first year in charge. “But, still, we are not there where we want to be and we have to raise the bar, so we have to go to next levels. “You learn always and I think English football evolves and I think you see nowadays the league is stronger and stronger. When you compare it with three, four years ago, it’s definitely the case. “Because all the strong players get attracted to the Premier League, all the best managers got attracted to the Premier League, so every time it develops and progresses. “It’s really a challenge and I’m really looking forward again to go in the season and to get the challenge.” United have been bolstered heading into the new season by the arrivals of Mason Mount from Chelsea and Inter Milan’s adventurous goalkeeper Andre Onana. Rasmus Hojlund is set to join them after United agreed a deal in principle to sign the talented Atalanta striker for a £64million fee rising to £72m – a potentially key addition to a goal-shy group. “I can’t talk about this player in this moment because I’m a long time in football and I know first we need signings,” said Ten Hag, who always tends to keeps cards close to his chest. “So far, we have to keep calm and let the professionals do their work. “ Hojlund’s arrival will take United’s summer outlay to £162.8m – a figure that would increase to £179.2m if the respective clauses in the three arrivals’ contracts are met. Club success is key to many of those add-ons and fans could be concerned it will be hard to reach those heights under the Glazers given their track record. Hope that their long, unpopular ownership could end grew with November’s announcement of a “strategic review” at United, with Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe placing bids. But the Glazers are dragging their heels and no resolution is in sight with the Premier League kick-off less than a fortnight away. “I focus on my job, and that is to improve the team,” Ten Hag told the PA news agency when asked about the takeover situation. “I have to do my work to sign the players and I have to work on the way of play. That is my focus area. “That’s what I’ve done, so I don’t get distracted from any of the strategic review. That’s what others in the club will deal with. We are building, we are building a project. We want to win trophies Erik ten Hag “We have a good information line. We’re sharing the information, so I know where I am and I can focus on my job. “Most of the times (the information) is going over (chief executive) Richard Arnold or (football director) John Murtough. But sometimes also we have direct contact, as you have seen in New York.” Ten Hag faced a variety of questions about different topics in the New York area ahead of kicking off their US tour with a 2-0 friendly win against Arsenal at MetLife Stadium. The Dutchman pointed back to his comments there when asked for an update on Mason Greenwood, who has been suspended since January 2022. The Crown Prosecution Service announced in February that all charges, including attempted rape and assault, had been dropped but an internal investigation continues. “I explained in New York and I don’t think I have to reply again on that question,” Ten Hag said. “I answered this question, but I can’t every time answer the same question.” Another major topic heading into the New York leg was the United captaincy as Ten Hag had just stripped Harry Maguire of the armband and handed it to Bruno Fernandes. The club have since rejected a £20m bid from West Ham for the out-of-favour defender, who it was suggested could dominate the first few months of the season like Ronaldo did last term. “I don’t see it like that, but you can have that impression,” Ten Hag retorted. “That’s your choice. “But not last year, not this year. We are building, we are building a project. We want to win trophies. “And, so we have to invest in the way of play, we have to invest in the team and our focus is not on one player.” Ten Hag says consistency across the team is essential if United are to kick on next season, with the early acquisitions of Mount and Onana boosting their preparations. “I wouldn’t call it an Erik ten Hag squad,” the manager added. “It’s about the demands of top football. “We have to find the players, or we have to increase the levels from the players who are there. “I think many players improved during last season. My expectation is that we can make another step that we increase the levels of the individuals.”

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag does not see Saudi Arabia’s eye-catching spending as a problem for the Premier League as England remains the go-to place for top players. The football landscape has been disrupted by the ambitious Saudi Pro League since world star Cristiano Ronaldo’s winter move to Al Nassr made ripples. The Saudi splurge shows no signs of abating, with Al Hilal making a world-record £259million bid for Paris St Germain star Kylian Mbappe. ... I don't see it in this moment as a problem for the Premier League because the Premier League is the league where the big players want to play Erik ten Hag Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said Saudi Arabia has changed the market after Riyad Mahrez joined Al Ahli, but United boss Ten Hag does not see it as a problem for the Premier League. “I think in Europe it has an effect because there is some money over there and it will attract players,” the Dutchman told the PA news agency. “But I don’t see it in this moment as a problem for the Premier League because the Premier League is the league where the big players want to play. “That is not in competition with a league like America or Saudi Arabia.” Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante completed moves to Al Ittihad, with Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy and Mahrez switching to Al Ahli this summer. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has joined Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq, with Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly leaving the Premier League for Al Hilal.

It’s crunch time at the Women’s World Cup as co-hosts New Zealand battle for a place in the last 16 on the final round of fixtures in Group A. The Football Ferns will qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first team if they beat Switzerland, but a draw may also be enough if Norway defeat the Philippines. Norway come into the final day bottom of Group A after a tumultuous campaign so far, and they must beat the Philippines to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages, while hoping results elsewhere go their way. Hege Riise, who controversially dropped Caroline Graham Hansen for the 0-0 draw against Switzerland, will be without star forward Ada Hegerberg due to a groin injury. Germany will look to make two wins out of two in Group H as the two-time World Cup winners take on Colombia, while Morocco and South Korea go in search of their first points. Check out our Women’s World Cup tips for Sunday with four of the best bets. Follow the latest World Cup scores, updates and news in today’s live blog: Read More Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Who do England women play next? World Cup fixtures and route to the final Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup?

Everton signed Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea for a club record £28million on this day in 2014. The move came after a successful loan spell at Goodison Park the previous season in which the forward scored 16 goals in 33 appearances and helped the club finish fifth in the Premier League. The then 21-year-old, who had also spent an impressive year on loan at West Brom since joining Chelsea from Anderlecht for £18million in 2011, signed a five-year contract with the Toffees. “I decided very quickly I wanted to come back here because it was a good step for me,” said Lukaku. “This is the place I belong. “I’m 21, I need to be playing in a good team. I needed to be in a place that felt right.” The fee paid by Everton shattered their previous club record of £15million for Marouane Fellaini in 2008. Manager Roberto Martinez said: “It is not just one of those important days for the season, but it is a very significant day in the history of our football club. “It is fair to say Romelu was our number one target to bring in and the pursuit was relentless, but it had to be a record transfer and it is worth every single penny and effort we put behind it.” Lukaku spent a further three years with Everton, taking his overall tally across two spells at the club to 87 goals in 166 appearances, before joining Manchester United for £75million. He later moved to Inter Milan and then back to Chelsea. He is now back with the Blues after spending last season on loan at Inter. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

The Cardinals got their point across loud and clear in a message to the league: We are not trading Nolan Arenado.The St. Louis Cardinals are in a position to sell at the upcoming deadline, but they're also being extremely picky about which pieces to keep and which to offload.One of thei...

The honeycomb of free agent running backs, Ezekiel Elliott, has been looking more enticing to teams ahead of the 2023 season. Here's the latest on his hot and heavy suitors.Ex-Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott may have been off the saddle for most of the offseason, but he's getting ...

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor just requested for a trade out of Indy. Is this the end of the running back position in the NFL?Amid an ongoing running back strike of sorts in the NFL, Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor just had to add more kerosene to the fire.As first reported by NFL's...

Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill will be seeing a familiar face at practice this offseason: notorious trash-talker Eli Apple.From enemies to frenemies, Dolphins' Tyreek Hill and newly minted corner Eli Apple will make for quite an exciting training camp matchup in Miami.Apple joined Miami e...

Alabama football relied on hero ball from Bryce Young and Will Anderson too much in 2022, according to former quarterback Greg McElroy.By Alabama football standards, the 2022 season was a giant disappointment. Returning Heisman winning quarterback Bryce Young and All-American Will Anderson, the ...

The Nationals vs. Mets game scheduled for July 29 received a sobering weather update: the start time would be delayed due to a Mets rain delay.No, the New York Mets-Washington Nationals game scheduled for Saturday will not be delayed due to Max Scherzer's impending trade. It's just a c...

Max Scherzer trade details between the Rangers and Mets are awaiting finalization. Here's what we know about prospects involved so far.The MLB trade deadline is coming up quick and Max Scherzer became the main character on Saturday with a trade agreed between the Rangers and Mets.Scherz...

The New York Yankees are in desperate need of help. Which prospects could be traded to bolster this struggling lineup?As the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline approaches, many fans are wondering what the New York Yankees can do to turn this season around. Some are wondering if they will buy at the deadl...