Slot’s summer bonanza | Man Utd chase Tyler Dibling | Aston Martin eye Verstappen
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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 Dave Reed and joining me are the Independence Chief Football writer Miguel Delaney and ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden. Welcome to you both.

Lots of the papers going with Arna Slot and his comments about the summer transfer window and the signings or re-signings of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah is just the start for them in this summer transfer window. Miguel, where else do they need to strengthen them this summer? Do you see it as a big spending summer for Liverpool?

It does feel like that and they've got a lot of, I suppose one of the phrases that we've had to become accustomed to in the modern game, a lot of PSO or headroom. They can spend, obviously there was restraint last summer as slot came in and it's kind of, the team itself is in a bit of a funny situation. Obviously they're about to be champions, best team and I suppose by extension squad in England given the implication of what a title means.

And yet it still does feel, despite that, there has been room to improve. There are some obvious areas where they need to actually strengthen. And obviously Trent Alexander going leaves a gap, luckily for Liverpool, Conor Bradley can come straight in. And the sense has been of potentially about five incoming. I mean...

I think it was known last summer that Slott wanted to have a look at the forward line and maybe would have done more business there had the right deals become available. They want the left back. Obviously, everyone expects that to be Kirkees from Bournemouth. They're one of many clubs looking at Huys from Bournemouth. Semenyo, another Bournemouth player, I suppose we've got echoes of this Hampton thing a few years ago here, is another player that a lot of clubs are looking at, including Liverpool. So you are talking about five to complement maybe this title winning base, right?

the striker positions Mark as well because there's a lot of chatter around Darwin Nunes, Diogo Jota and what exactly Arnaud Slot wants from his number nine because he's chopped and changed a little bit hasn't he?

I think it's probably likely that Darwin Nunes will probably leave this summer and obviously Federico Chiesa came in last summer and has been a bit part player really so yes four or five may come in but I think there's going to be a bit of evolution as well Liverpool you know you look at Alexander-Arnold will go, Kierkegaard will probably phase Andy Robertson if Darwin Nunes and Chiesa move on that's four that you know that need to be replaced straight away so I don't think it's going to be adding on top of what they've got but obviously

you know, Liverpool are in a position of strength and that's what they used to do back in the 80s and 90s or certainly the 80s when they were winning things. They would make sure that they strengthened when they were at the top. So if they win the league, they've already, you know, asserted themselves as one of the best teams in Europe this season. So I think, yeah, strengthen the way they're on top and then try and add a striker to the package. I do think they have been

I want to say they've over-relied on Mo Salah's goals this year, but if Mo Salah hadn't have contributed as much as he had done, then they might have struggled if Salah had been out for any period of time. There's an African Cup of Nations next season, so they need a more reliable goal outlet than Darwin Nunes. Diogo Jota's always scored goals, but he's never really done it prolifically as a starter. So I think prioritising the forward line as well as adding Kirk as would be the way that they would go.

And at centre-back, Ibrahima Konate is going to be entering the final year of his contract. And a player that you've reported on previously, Miguel Dean-Huysten, at Bournemouth is someone who a lot of the top clubs are looking at. Is centre-back also a priority for Liverpool? Yeah, I mean, even I suppose, as you say, the Konate situation changed the dynamic a bit. He's been a little bit in and out this season with various issues. He has been one of Van Dijk's best partners for some time now.

I think it's natural of course they look to evolve. Huysen, the last suggestions I heard which I think I spoke about in the show a few weeks ago where it was actually Liverpool and Chelsea were probably leading quite a wide pack for Huysen with

Real Madrid obviously monitoring and potentially playing on his own Spanish nationality given he switched from the Netherlands to Spain and lived in Spain for most of his upbringing where Madrid obviously had this massive effect. But I think Liverpool would still be fairly confident on that one. But yeah, I think that it's... And to pick up on Mark's point as well, I think the issue as well with bringing some of these players in

It did become clear maybe, especially in the latter half of the season, that with players like Chiesa and a few other squad members, Slott maybe didn't fully trust them as much as 14 regular starters. And there is maybe a slight argument that played into why they didn't go on and add, say, another trophy

to the league just because the core 14 ended up being a bit stretched and I suppose that's what new signings will actually they'll kind of replace players that weren't being used as much so maybe increase depth a bit more

Let's move on and talk a little bit about Manchester United because an incredible comeback on Thursday evening against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final. They now have a semi-final to look forward to and a couple of interesting bat pages, none more so with the sun really, where they mock up

Harry Maguire. I don't think we need to read too much into Harry Maguire's politics there with the hat. Make Amarim great is the headline on the back of the sun where they suggest that he's open to playing as a striker or a makeshift striker. He has played as an auxiliary striker given United's problems in the centre forward position.

I mean, Mark, you know the club well. Is Ruben Amrim actually considering Maguire as an option there or is it just a kind of last minute stick your big man up top situation? Yeah, I think it's more the latter that, you know, 20 minutes to go, you need somebody to have a bit of presence up front. But I think

The fact that Maguire is in that situation highlights the problems United have got up front. Obviously, Joshua Xerxes is out for the season with a hamstring injury. And let's be honest, he's not been very good anyway. He's only scored three league goals. And then you've got Rasmus Haaland, who is probably even worse. United have no...

no punch up front, they're a toothless attacking force and that's why they're prioritising a strike in the summer. They want Liam de Lappe but obviously they can't bring him in yet so between now and the end of the season it's a huge end to the season as well because the Europa League is absolutely massive for United. They have to win it to get into the Champions League and that would transform everything for the club in terms of their budgets for the summer. But they're having to do it with, you know, obviously Bruno Fernandes keeps digging out goals, you're looking around the squad, you're thinking will Amad Diallo get fit before the end of the season?

possibly, possibly not, Gannaccio doesn't score enough goals so the situation is that they need to rely on Harry Maguire or somebody to cause a problem up front and the fact that he scored the headed goal and won the game for United when Rasmus Hoyle had another difficult night couldn't find a shot on target that shows you where United are at so you might see a bit more of Harry Maguire up front before now between now and the end of the season

Mark, I just want to continue with you for a moment because you've been reporting around United's interest in Tyler Dibling as well. Where would you see him fitting in? Because he's played obviously as a wide player. Would he play in one of those twin tens or one wide forward position that Amrim likes?

That would be the idea, but obviously United have got a twin approach to signings at the moment because they have to have one plan for being in the Champions League, which again, they'd have more options in terms of finances to spend, or another plan which would involve not being in Europe next season and just having a lot less to spend and prioritising on maybe two or three signings. And if that was the case, if it was the latter, then Tyler Dibling, they'd miss out on him. If they were in the Champions League, that would open the door for more

More targets, more prospects to bring players in. And Dibling, as we know, has had a great season at Southampton despite their problems. He's only 19. He's one of the players that is catching a lot of attention in the Premier League and in Germany as well. He is a player that will probably or certainly move this summer. I think Southampton's £100m asking price is way beyond what it will actually go for. But United would be in for him if they qualify for the Champions League. It's a big if. They'd love to have him, but if they don't make Europe next season, it's just not one they can do.

Miguel, Ruben Amrim has suggested that he might well play the kids against Wolves on Sunday. Can you blame him for that, given the importance of the Europa League now, where United's season essentially hinges on it?

Oh, absolutely not. I mean, why risk it? I mean, even if people want to make the argument about, say, the difference you get in Premier League prize money, depending on where you finish in terms of one spot or the other, that obviously pales in terms of what qualification for the Champions League would mean. And it's almost a bit sad that that means more in the actual trophy of the Europa League, but that's where we are. Actually, that's where modern football is and that's where United are right now. I mean, there was an image last night when it went to 4-2, it cut to, was it Wilcox and Barada?

And I suppose their faces have been told maybe more than the fact that the team had just gone down 4-2 or they're facing up to Europa League elimination. It felt like there was an awful lot more in that. So in that context, given what it means for the future, as Mark has touched on, especially with the two transfer plans and given just how badly they evidently need business, I think it's an entirely rational move.

In fact, I'm actually slightly surprised even last week, say, Arteta didn't play more of the kids in between the Madrid legs. And it's not just obviously United that are through to the Europa League semifinals, Tottenham are as well. And we can touch on actually a former Manchester United manager here as well, because Jamie Carragher in the Telegraph describing Spurs' decision in the summer as a similar one to the one that United had with extending Eric Ten Haag.

He said after Ten Hag's team defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup final, they made a logical decision but were criticised for that when actually they probably should have made the decision there and then to move on from Eric Ten Hag. Is that a fair comparison, do you think, Mark, the kind of Ten Hag to Postacoglu situation? Absolutely. I was in Frankfurt for the game last night, basically because...

I thought that Spurs might lose and it would put Postakoglu in a very difficult position, potentially out of a job. And Spurs won and it was a very unspurs-like performance. They were resolute, they kept a clean sheet. They were, you know, like Anjad said all season, when the players are back, they'll be a different team. And they were, credit to him. But Jamie Carragher's point is a valid one that, you know, United stuck with Ten Hag last summer. After winning the FA Cup, the fans really pushed him to stay. And at the time, United had a bit of a state of flux with the

structure behind the scenes in terms of Jason Wilcox, Omar Barada, Dan Ashworth, short-lived as he was at United. It's a bit different at Tottenham. I don't really get the sense that there's a groundswell of support for Anz to stay if he wins the Europa League. The noise that I'm getting, I'm not sure if it's the same with Miguel, is that Anz will have to do very, very well to stay in the job this summer, whether they win it or not. I think

He's burnt a few bridges, certainly with the fans. I don't think his style of football is suited to a team that will prosper in the Premier League. But if you win the Europa League, Tottenham haven't won a trophy for so long that it might be enough to keep them in a job. And then the question is, is it the right decision? And I think the jury's definitely out. And I think it'd be more unlikely for Ange to stay with the trophy as it was for Ten Hag last summer.

Yeah, does that play a factor, do you think, Miguel, that the simple fact is that maybe United as a club, I know they haven't really since Sir Alex Ferguson left, but they have a history of winning trophies and it's slightly different in Tottenham's situation where it's been so long that actually if Postacoglu does win it, then maybe he is more likely to stay.

I think that is the caveat. But I agree with Mark there. I mean, also with the Ten Hag situation, there were two major factors in it. One, of course, was the kind of the sense of vacuum as United were changing the structure. And also I think there was the issue about they hadn't fully settled

on a potential replacement, given all the managers they spoke to, well, Dan Hagg was in the job. And the other side of it was that actually, despite some misgiving, despite some criticism, Dan Hagg was actually quite popular with the fans. And as Marcus said, that doesn't really feel the case with Postacogbia with Spurs now. We're a long way from the days of his first 10 games when they were all singing along to Angels at the start of the game. I was at the Chelsea game and obviously that whole scenario and even some of his...

response after it to cupping his ear it didn't feel like it really helped speaking to Spurs fans I know Manny said that was almost kind of the final straw all that said and I think where there is a parallel with United speaking to people around Spurs there's almost a sense that

The cup competition or the Europa League in this case has done something different. It's almost kind of just about held the season together. The players themselves obviously want to win something. And it has led to this transformative effect. I mean, I mentioned the Chelsea game a few seconds ago. I thought they were really, really poor for most of that game. Chelsea could really destroy them in the first half if they wanted to. But then I was at the Frankfurt home leg last week.

and I thought it was one of Spurs' most more convincing performances of the past few months and I mean I was watching the United game last night given everything but from seeing the highlights it did look a continuation of that and really a Spurs team we haven't seen in the league and as Mark's referenced there

Given the massive gap for Spurs, not just since 2008, but given how long it's been since they won a European trophy in the early 80s, there can't be an emotional momentum behind these things. And suddenly a manager who fans maybe weren't that warm towards, if he delivers you what you've waited years for, it can change the context. Now, former clubs, ex-teammates and those in the media have been paying tribute to former Rochdale midfielder Joe Thompson, who's died at the age of 36.

Joe was diagnosed with cancer for a third time in April last year. He made 225 professional appearances during his career and was forced to retire from the game in 2019. Mark, you knew him well from your obviously time in the North West. You lived in the local area. Just pay tribute to Joe for us.

Yeah, I mean, you know, Joe was such a lovely guy, first and foremost. He had a great family, two young daughters and obviously massive sympathy go to his family at the moment. But I remember the day he scored a goal to keep Rochdale in League One. It was a goal that won a game. It kept them just, I think, the last day of the season in the US.

ESPN have a show called SportsCenter and it's basically the American version of Sky Sports News and they have a section called Play of the Day and it's usually restricted to NFL games, NBA games. Little Rochdale do not get on the Play of the Day on ESPN but the day after it did because it was such a compelling story. A player that had beaten cancer twice, he was playing for his hometown team, he grew up about, he went to school about half a mile from the ground at Rochdale so an incredible story of fighting back from adversity and obviously

you know he left football at a young age and forged a career as a motivational speaker went to the media but obviously a year ago the cancer came back for a third time and unfortunately joe

he tried everything you know i met him about a year ago in a plant-based cafe it was it's suggesting because he tried everything he wanted a clean lifestyle he tried everything to beat cancer to to try every possible remedy but unfortunately this time it didn't work out for him but such such a lovely guy an inspirational guy and you know he's left behind a lot of friends and a lot of people who will you know forever admire him and take inspiration from from what he did

Mark, we echo those thoughts as well and our condolences go to Joe's family. Let's talk about the race for promotion to the Premier League. Leeds with a crucial victory over Oxford United to send them back to the top of the table. I wonder what this says, Miguel, about the strength of the Premier League, but also the strength of the Championship. We're seeing possibly Leicester City be relegated this weekend and all three promoted sides are going to come back down again.

And at the moment, Leeds in the driving seat alongside Burnley, possibly Sheffield United, though that might end up going up through the playoffs along with lots of other teams who will be hoping to get in there. But what does it say about the strength of the Premier League, but also the championship as well?

Well, it does feel like there's a gap. And this is obviously a very relevant subject because it's sort of at the center of the ongoing story of the independent football regulator and especially the kind of the dispute between the EFL and the Premier League about the gradient of money, about the kind of the package that was supposed to come after COVID.

And really the gap between two divisions, the EFL wants a much steadier gradient of prize money distribution. So essentially to close the gap, whereas the Premier League are arguing on the other side that they need to keep competitiveness through their division. But it does feel like we're seeing maybe

about 14 to 16 kind of Premier League clubs who are now pretty established in the division, obviously beyond the kind of the wealthiest eight and that. And then maybe almost a Premier League two of about...

that goes about what 10 to 12 positions into the championship of a few clubs that almost interchange positions and I mean this was actually most visibly seen a few years ago when I think there was a four year spell where Norwich and Fulham basically exchanged places every season whereas now it looks like I mean look it should be stressed it's only a short sample for the moment but it does look like it's developing where we're getting into the situation where the three that come up are

almost immediately at risk of going straight back down to be replaced by clubs that were recently in the Premier League and we have a little bit of a kind of a wider yo-yo situation and I suppose there's bigger issues there I mean there was a

The FA released figures the other day showcasing how much money clubs spent on agents fees over the past two windows. And Leeds United were something like at least 15 million more than the rest of the championship. We're all around kind of one to three million. And I think there is very much a developing issue there that is also affecting maybe the traditional unpredictability and volatility, the glorious volatility, I would say, of the championship.

Mark, on Burnley, Josh Brownhill got the goal that sealed the 2-1 victory for them over Watford today. We saw how they competed in the Premier League last time under Vincent Kompany. Do you think if they go up this time, it would be different next season for Burnley?

It's hard to say that because obviously they really struggled last season but the season prior to that under Vinnie Kompany they ran away with the championship and you know they haven't run away with it this year but obviously they've got more than 90 points so they're doing a very good job of doing the same so I don't think that Burnley would you know thrive in the Premier League next year I think they'd find it very difficult I think Leeds are the same and whoever comes up with those two if those two come up and I think it is a concern that you know this season the three clubs that like to go down are the promoted teams and that happened last year as well

But the gap is massive and the quality between the two leagues is only growing. And I think the one kind of outlier is that Luton were relegated last season. They could be relegated again this year, which is a bit of a quirk. But generally, the teams that go down are strong. They have the parachute payment and it's very, very difficult for anyone to compete. So I do fear for next season whether the three teams that come up will survive. But hopefully they do because what we don't want is a situation where each season the three teams that come up are going back down again.

And we'll finish on Formula One because The Times and The Telegraph both talking about the future of Max Verstappen and potentially leaving Red Bull Racing and going to Aston Martin. Aston Martin having some sponsorship, but also part owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Miguel, it's been called, described in The Telegraph as a deal of the century that

They're ready to offer Max Verstappen £230 million over three years to drive for Aston Martin. Is this a good thing for the sport if Max Verstappen moves teams?

I suppose it will bring diversity. It's obviously connected to the wider questions about state interference on sport or state influence on sport and how the kind of disruptive effect of that sort of money, not least with the way sport is politically used, which I would say is not really good for sport. And

But this is obviously of a piece, I suppose, with wider PIF strategy and wider Saudi strategy in sport where it does almost become about, ironically, other than Newcastle United, who of course won the League Cup this year, but it does become about spending as much money as possible on the biggest names and brash, sensational players

headlines and Verstappen as the star or the dominant figure in Formula One at the moment very much fits in with that. On the sporting side as well Mark obviously there's been issues around Christian Horner at Red Bull Adrian Newey going to Aston Martin can you see the sporting sense of this?

Well, I think, obviously, Verstappen is the best driver out there right now and he'd want to go for a competitive car. The money situation is huge, but by now, Max Verstappen will have earned enough money to do what he wants when he wants. So, I think an Aston Martin move would only work in his favour away from Red Bull if he felt the car was competitive. And I think...

I don't think it would be in his interest or he would want to go to a racing car that would spend two or three years developing and trying to get to where he is with Red Bull. So I think from a sports perspective, I still think there's a lot of work to be done. But financially, obviously, it's a very big deal on the table.