Rashford linked with Villa move | Arsenal set for crunch Man City clash | France thrash Wales in Six Nations opener
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Welcome to Back Pages, bringing you everything you need to know about the biggest sports stories making the headlines in the morning's newspapers. I'm Chris Latcham and joining me are the chief sports reporter for The Times, Martin Ziegler, and the Mirror's chief football writer, John Cross. Welcome to you both. We'll start with the Sun Back Page and the big focus as well is

is the transfers and Marcus Rashford. His name keeps getting mentioned. We know at the moment, frozen out at Manchester United, but Aston Villa have jumped on the scene. What do you make of this, John?

Well, it's really interesting, Chris, I've got to say, because I don't really think anyone saw this coming. There's been a lot of talk, hasn't there, in the last couple of weeks about Rashford going to Barcelona. Other options as well, of course. Man United, I think, has been well reported that there's some reticence

to allow him to go to a Premier League rival. Listen, you know, Villa have just done business on Duran. They've let him go to Saudi Pro League for £70 million. They do look a bit light up front, I have to say. I do think Villa have...

quality within their squad but probably need a bit of a lift with Champions League still to come to make a real push for the top four places and it has to be an aim I think of Unai Emery's to get back into the Champions League next season I think we've only seen flashes of Villa at their best and

And I do think, bearing in mind they've lost a striker, maybe to bring in a versatile forward like Rashford is a good option. I love Marcus Rashford. I think he's such a talented player. He needs to leave Manchester United, refocus, get himself back on track, get his career back, because honestly, he's a player of great potential. In my view, he just needs that fresh challenge now.

But I don't know. I still think they've got to deal with the £325,000 a week, which is a big ask for any club, let alone Aston Villa. Yeah, and it's not just the Sun that's reporting the Rashford to Villa links, Martin. The Times, your newspaper, Villa considering Rashford loan as well. I wonder who is in the strongest position. Is it Manchester United trying to shift their asset or is it Aston Villa and perhaps others just biding their time as we get closer to deadline day?

Yeah, I mean, I think Aston Villa probably needs somebody very, very quickly. So I actually think Manchester United are probably in a stronger position if they feel they don't particularly want to sell to a rival, as John says, because that creates its own potential problems for Manchester United. So I think United are in a strong position unless they're sort of desperate to get him off the wage bill. I mean, I think there is a...

causing some sort of instability perhaps in the club because Ruben Amrin has been less than complimentary, hasn't he, recently about Rashford. So I think it could be a problem for Manchester United to keep him there as well.

So I think it's absolutely intriguing where he's going to end up. But I think he must go somewhere. It doesn't make sense for him to stay for anybody. No. Telegraph's big spread is the Villa renting the race for Rashford.

And they're all talking about this loan move, which I suppose would suit all parties because for Marcus Rashford, it gives him six months to come out and show everybody what he can do. And then also maybe if it's not the perfect move for him, he can get something better in the summer. And for Manchester United, maybe hold on to some of the value in the asset if it comes to a full sale, John.

Yeah, and also, by the way, if Rashford then is hungry, if he is determined to get back on track, he might use this six months and really fire himself back sort of, you know, to the form and the ability which we know he's capable of, which he's shown in the past, you know, which he probably hasn't, you know, we haven't seen from him in a couple of years since he was chasing this mega contract, if you like. So the incentive is clear, right?

And I do think that, you know, there's no... I mean, listen, I was at Fulham Man United last Sunday night. Anyone who thinks there's a way back for Rashford at Manchester United with Amarillo in charge, when he's talking about he'd rather play the, you know, the 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, I mean, you're kidding yourself, aren't you, really? I mean, there's just no way back. So I do think, you know, it's just a question of whether, you know, a deal can be done. I do think we get lulled into this kind of thinking, you know, oh, it's...

It's inevitable. It might happen. But I do think increasingly, because of the contracts and because of PSR, because of the need to balance the books, if you like, I think it's becoming a little bit more difficult to place some players, even at the end of the window. So I do think at this point in time, I bet you Rashford is thinking it's probably 50-50 whether I get...

you know, sort of a move and therefore gains before the end of the season or not. Honestly, I do think this one's in the balance and probably go to the wire. Yeah, everybody needs a striker. So I wonder how much you'd get the 63-year-old coach at this time of the month. Just one quick one about PSR because there's...

There's a lot of speculation linking Garnaccio with a move. Tottenham seem to have manoeuvred. The Mail are reporting that, I think. They'd be mad to lose Alejandro Garnaccio, wouldn't they, John? Manchester United?

Oh, absolutely. Yeah, listen, Spurs are distancing themselves a little bit from the speculation tonight. But I must say, I do think Garnaccio is a cracking player. I think he's terrific. Really exciting. He's got a good attitude, Gordon, as sort of kind of holds this season. He's involved in key moments. He's a young player. It's still developing. Honestly, why United? Well, it's clear, isn't it? It's about PSI.

There was a bit of a fallout, you know, what, six weeks or so ago, a little bit longer maybe, when Garnaccio and Rashford would drop for the Manchester derby. There's been no way back from Rashford since. But Garnaccio has clearly done enough to, you know, kind of force his way back

into Amarillo's plans. And in my colleague David McDonald's piece here, Amarillo is talking glowingly about sort of Garnaccio and his attitude and his desire to come back and specifically about his reaction to being dropped for that City game. Honestly, don't sell him United. It would be a mistake. I do like this player. Yeah, Martin, it strikes me that...

Ruben Amorim, from that piece that we've just shown with change for the better, Ghana, Ruben Amorim can be won over if players change their attitude, but seemingly not with Marcus Rashford. Yeah, I thought it was interesting that he actually went out of his way to...

to stress this about Garnaccio because it's almost like a sort of another sort of message towards Rashford that he hasn't got a future here because he's saying yeah this player does because he's done what he wants him to do but Rashford hasn't I actually don't think Manchester United can afford to lose Garnaccio either because they've had a couple of decent results in the last week but before that they've been really struggling so

I think they would be crazy to let him go at this point. There is another story in that same page on the Daily Mirror, John. United against Jim. Furious Manchester United fans have warned bosses that hiking up ticket prices threatens to kill off the club's loyal support. I suppose they'd be referred to as legacy supporters. This pricing issue is not going away at Manchester United.

No, look, it's uncomfortable at the moment for just Sir Jim Ratcliffe, isn't it? About balancing it, basically, and sort of kind of, you know, warning that if you want to see sort of an increase in quality, if you like, on the pitch, then you'll have to pay for it, really. It's been pretty brutal, I think, those warnings, and indeed the cutbacks and redundancies off the pitch as well. Look, I think it's been a...

A challenging time, shall we say, since the takeover, really. And I think this promises to be the next chapter, really, because the fans are really up in arms and making their voices very clearly heard on the ticketing issue and the prices. Look, you know, as Martin, I'm sure, will agree, really, you know, the sort of the balance changed a few years ago. And it was much more about, you know, Premier League club thrives off its broadcast deal, much more than the actual ticket prices.

But, you know, I think because of the way that the ticketing is structured now, obviously they're looking to a new stadium. And I do think they're trying to redress that a little bit and sort of kind of get some of their profitability back again. So, you know, it is an interesting one. It's a fine balancing act because United are trying to be that super club, the mega club. And yet they're trying to hold on to the tradition as well. You can't do it both as a Premier League team, I don't think.

Yeah, very tricky situation they're in. Let's focus on the back page of the Daily Star Sport. The heat is on. This is all about our big Super Sunday focus, Arsenal against Manchester City. Four months ago, it certainly was spicy, Martin. The two managers have tried to play that down, but this is still the real rivalry at the top of the Premier League, isn't it?

Yeah, I think it really is. And yeah, the famous stay humble comment from Haaland to Arteta at the end of the last match, which he probably didn't expect was going to be picked up by the cameras and the microphone, but it was. And I think that's just going to add to the spice for this game. City seem to have recovered from their slump.

Let's just see how it works out. I actually think it's going to be an absolutely belter of a game and I can't wait for it. Yeah, heated rivals. I think we need a little bit of rivalry. This season has been a bit nicey-nicey. Liverpool seemingly running away with it at the top and everybody's going, well, they do a great job. But every now and again, you get a fixture that throws up a bit of spice, John, and everybody wants a part of it.

Yeah, they do. Listen, I spoke to Martin Odegaard today. It's made for a really nice interview, I think. You know, lots of the papers are sort of kind of giving it big licks today. He spoke really well, Martin Odegaard, about that kind of the heat, how he actually has embraced that rivalry with City because it's pushed them both on. He thinks that Arsenal have raised City's level and vice versa, basically. They push it and inspire each other. You know, it's been a strange season. He spoke about this about

as well, Martin Odegaard, saying about how frustrated he's been. He's missed a good two months of the season and he's been a bit up and down, not scored as many goals, if you like. And there's that wonderful contradiction because obviously, you know, Arsenal fans will make, no doubt about it, harlands.

Public enemy number one on Sunday at the Emirates because of, obviously, the stay humble comment. But actually, Haaland and Odegaard, as Odegaard was saying, they're great mates. They speak a lot. They're in WhatsApp group because they're Norway international teammates and they get on really well. So, look, I do think there's a lot of spice, though, behind this because Arsenal won this fixture at the Emirates last season. I think that made them believe that they could actually win the title. City, you know, picked them. It was an absolute cracker.

2-2 at the Etihad, wasn't it, sort of earlier this season, back in September, with loads and loads of controversy, loads of hangover. So I think this atmosphere is going to be really spicy. But I do feel Arsenal will also feel that it's going to be a bit of a marker for them. If they can win this fixture, then they'll believe that they can maybe overturn that kind of gap that they're still feeling behind Liverpool. And Odegaard was talking about, look, we haven't hit top gear, we haven't hit top form.

What is amazing to me is that Arsenal's longest winning streak in the Premier League this season is three games. You know, they've done it a couple of times, but other than that, it's just twos here and there. And they're just not, I don't think, caught live. And they're still waiting, I think, to really kind of catch light and really get going. And obviously the same is about City, who I just think have been on a different planet the last five years. But can they get that back? In The Times, my road to redemption...

after his year-long ban, and that is where we'll focus right now. We've already covered off Villa and Marcus Rashford, but this is a really nice piece, Martin, done by your newspaper, and Sandro Tonali had that 10 months out of the game because of his betting ban, but how he's returned a new man, scored at the weekend against Southampton, and he's really shining in that Newcastle midfield.

Yeah, a really nice piece by my colleague Martin Hardy. He did a long interview with Sandro Tenali about his road back from that ban. He's only 24.

So it's a long time to be out at that stage of his career, but he's put it behind him. He's accepted his problems. It took him six months before he realised quite how deep his addiction was and talked about his community work he's done as part of his punishment. And it's really, really interesting stuff. And it's been remarkable how his return has helped Newcastle. I think Eddie Howe changed his position, made him a bit more deep-lying.

That's coincided with a really good run for the Magpies. So, yeah, I mean, I think...

Somebody who, when he first came onto the scene, a lot was expected of him. Then obviously it didn't last very long because he picked up this ban. But now he's looking at one of the former players, midfielders, certainly in the Premier League. Yeah, so, I mean, a cautionary tale for any other athletes that might get involved in things like that, John. But at the same time, he's also a bit of a role model for the way that he's bounced back.

Yeah, he is. I mean, I think he speaks so well in this interview. Listen, I love a really good player interview on a Saturday morning. I think it's what kind of Saturday morning papers are all about, aren't they? And Martin Hardy's done a super job on this. It's a great read, really, you know, talking about those kind of the early setback, the road to recovery, kind of almost only feeling alive again once he's sort of returned to the football pitch. That first game back, I think it was at Forest, wasn't it?

And basically just, you know, that kind of redemption. I don't think we should shy away from the fact there that he talks about it being a disease. You know, and within this conversation, you know, we need to acknowledge that football has so many gambling sponsors. You know, it's something that they're trying to tackle about front of shirt sponsors. Of course they are. They're looking at that. But I do think that Tenali has been treated sensitively and rightly so.

by Eddie Howe and Newcastle. The Newcastle fan has been absolutely incredibly supportive on it.

And I think football, you know, needs to learn lessons from this because honestly, it's not something that, you know, Tenali wanted to do. He was stuck in this cycle, you know, and has come out the other side. And, you know, his character comes out of this so well about his determination, the support from his family. You know, there's some really nice colour in it as well. I think he shines brightly as, you know, I mean, Blimey, you look at him on the pitch and he's stacked

and the way that he looks. He looks older than 24. You can't believe it, can you? But he also allows himself a bit of a laugh about the support and, you know, how much they back him. You know, he even blames, I think, his missus. I don't know whether you remember that famous story about, you know, a table being booked for him at the local Wetherspoons. He blames his missus rather than his teammates for that.

So, you know, it's just really good fun. It's a really, really nice read. But at the heart of it is a really serious issue, which actually is dealt with incredibly sensitively and well. Yeah, nothing wrong with Wetherspoons. Other pubs are available. Let's focus on the Guardian, Martin. France, absolutely incredible against Wales in the Six Nations Championship opener. Dupont lighting up the Stade de France, 43-0. But Wales' wretched run continues now, a record 13 defeats on the spin.

Yeah, I mean, I watched it and I'm afraid Wales, they were lucky to get nil. They were that bad.

It just looked like France could run through them at will. I think they could have scored more, actually. One interesting thing for England fans is that Inter marked with a red card, a completely unnecessary late challenge. I mean, the match was in the bag. But a nasty shoulder-first tackle, and that could mean that he's going to be banned for the match against England ever again.

in the next round. So he will be cursing himself for having let himself down that way. But for Wales, I think that the terrible run continues. Very, very tricky time for Warren Gatland now.

Yeah, it certainly is. Tricky time for the Six Nations Championship as well. This is the final season on ITV and BBC, free-to-air TV. And look at that. Don't sell us out. That's the New England captain, Mauro Atoje, stressing that it must stay on free-to-air TV. I appreciate we're talking on a pay TV channel right here. And cricket went down a similar route. What's your take on this story, John?

Yeah, look, it is a debate, and Atoji is talking about that debate. He's talking about basically making it... ..trying to ensure that as many eyes on the sport as possible, really, and kind of keeping that kind of flavour and feel to it to ensure that kind of the interest remains in rugby. I mean, listen, I have to say, I always sit down in front of the Six Nations. It's one of those sporting events each year that I really enjoy, you know, having...

My wife was born in South Africa, so, you know, she wouldn't let me escape watching rugby, let me tell you. But, you know, we get the girls involved as well, we watch it, and it's just there. So I do think it kind of brings it into the living room. But, look, you know, other channels, you know, do elevate televised sport, you know, to the masses as well. I guess we're talking at the heart of it, aren't we, that basically there's always this belief that,

that if you have it, keep it on terrestrial, then it keeps it, you know, populist. It kind of gets everyone playing to it and basically enjoying it and really sort of kind of loving their sport. You know, I don't know. It is a difficult one because...

At the heart of it also, you know, we do see the funding debate. You know, where does the money come from? And sort of, you know, I know our TV commercial channel as well. I do think there's lots of talks in the round on whether that's a good thing or not to keep it on terrestrial. It's a good debate and I don't think that... I don't blame Itoji for putting it out there to something that's discussed because I do think it's one that we should sort of kind of stay on top of and it's probably a good thing at this point, actually,

He's doing this before the last season. So we see how it plays out before the TV negotiations really get into full swing. It's a juggling act, though, isn't it? For any sport, when you've got the opportunity to cash in versus maximising eyeballs, Martin. Yeah, I mean, the thing about the rugby union is it already has, you know, Sky's got the British Lions tour, for example. TNT Sports have...

So I think it would be strange if there wasn't any live rugby available on terrestrial TV. And actually, I think it's very likely it will remain on the BBC and ITV. TNT Sports have said it would be very challenging for them to bid, I think. Probably the same for Sky, because it's this strange, unique circumstances where you have the home nations...

And there's an expectation that they should all be covered. So it actually works very well, the situation at the moment. Ofcom have to approve it as well. They'll have to approve any deal to sell it to a non-terrestrial broadcaster. So I actually think that's probably going to be the likely outcome.

Yeah. Let's focus on your paper's front page of the sport again, The Times. Butler criticises India for not using a like-for-like concussion sub. England lost, the series is lost, but India had a batter concussed and sent on a bowler who won the game, Martin.

Yeah, I mean, amazing, really. Butler's absolutely fuming about this. Took three wickets. And basically he was saying it should be like for like. It wasn't the spirit of the game. And although it wasn't the only thing which won the game for India, it certainly contributed to it and left a very nasty taste in the mouth of England. I think they thought this was...

They didn't use the word cheating, but I think they thought it was underhand.