SOCCER

Manchester United have confirmed Erik ten Hag will become their manager following the conclusion of this season. The Ajax boss will leave his current position and become United’s fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferugson left the club in 2013.

The World Cup draw was made on Friday, with England to face Iran, USA and one of Wales, Scotland or Ukraine in the group stage. Following the draw, the reaction in the English press was largely that Gareth Southgate’s team will have a rather easy passage through to the knockout stages in Qatar.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has confirmed the club is up for sale, concluding his 19 years in charge at Stamford Bridge. Whoever buys the Blues will probably have to pay the most that has ever been stumped up for any football club previously.

Inter Miami will “push” to sign Lionel Messi, according to the club’s co-owner Jorge Mas, who has suggested that David Beckham’s relationship with the Paris Saint-Germain star may help them finalise a deal.

Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko and former AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko are among the prominent sporting stars from Ukraine to have called for solidarity within their country as political tension in the region escalates.