Man Utd closing in on Cunha | Preview to the Europa League final | City drop interest in Wirtz
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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 Teddy Draper and joining me are Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer at The Independent, and Charlie Wyatt, Football Editor at The Sun. Welcome to you both.

OK, Charlie, let's come to you then, the back page of your paper. Wonderful picture of Ange Postakoglu in a blue track. Super below that, let's focus on Manchester United for the first part of it. We couldn't win big. Kun, as in Mateus Kunja. Amarim United need glory in Bilbao. Devils will trigger £62.5m mat clause and Beckham urges board to back boss. What's the big news, do you think, Charlie? Is it Kunja come what may? Is that the big thing today?

Yeah, it seems that way. I mean, as you've just pointed out, really, it's three stories rolled into one. And yeah, Cunha, 62.5 million release clause. He sort of had a new contract a few months ago, didn't he? And I think that would be a great signing for Manchester United. But of course, before that, there's this huge game against

And Amrim saying that, you know, reaching the finals isn't good enough. They need to do more. They need to win it. And I think every single Manchester United fan would agree with him. If Manchester United lose to Spurs, then it's basically a disastrous season. And of course, if they win, it's been a pretty good one, despite their embarrassing position in the league table. And I think it's pretty much a similar story for Spurs, isn't it? It really is, you know, win or bust.

And yeah, there's also in the back page, there's David Beckham basically telling the board to stick with Amarim. I'm sure they will, but he's given the United manager his backing, knowing full well that over the years at United, they benefited from stability.

under Sir Alex Ferguson. But, yeah, Kunio would be an interesting signing, but I think all eyes certainly are on Bilbao at the moment. As we understand it, Miguel, I believe Kunio's keen, regardless of whether they win the Europa League and go into the Champions League. How big a boost is it for Manchester United's flailing ego at the moment, of the club, of the fans, of the whole entity?

Yeah, I mean, it still shows the attraction of the club. And I suppose this is the one thing about clubs the size of Manchester United, that no matter how they're doing, no matter where they are at certain points in the history, there's always that status, as well as that idea that if a player goes there, he can re-energise the club. I think it is striking, actually, that everyone at United seems so confident about this deal, given that, obviously...

so much of this final and actually I do find this slightly poignant with Europa League given the history of the competition given how big the trophy itself used to be before the European Cup became the Champions League and

so much of the focus is actually on what it means for Manchester United in the future rather than necessarily the glory of this season I know that's not quite the same as Tottenham Hotspur but obviously that has real effect given as we've discussed in the show before Manchester United basically have parallel transfer plans one is for if they don't win the Europa League and one is if they do and as we understand it eh

Cunha and a striker fit on both of those plans. It's obviously if they win the competition, they can do much more. But I suppose this is also promising for the club in the sense that a lot of other big clubs do like to look at Cunha. Arsenal have been warned. They considered a move in January. They still like him now. But everything we hear, of course, is that, yeah, it's virtually certain that it ends up United having him.

Charlie, how significant for Amarim is the backing of David Beckham, do you feel? I think it's nice to have, isn't it? I mean, ultimately, you know, he's not going to help his job, but I think he'd enjoy backing from Beckham. I'm not sure how well they know each other, whether they've ever actually met. But, yeah, look, you know, for David Beckham...

He obviously wants Manchester United to win trophies. He's got other priorities, of course, in the United States. But of course, even when Ameren was appointed, I think he spoke about saying that he felt it was the right appointment. I think pretty much everyone else did at the time as well. It's been very, very difficult for Ameren. We obviously love his honesty, don't we, over the last year.

a couple of weeks in particular. At times, I've been surprised by some of his honesty. And once again, you know, the story on our back page, again, just stressing the fact that, you know, he feels that getting to the final and not winning is not an achievement. And, you know, again, I think that's the right thing to say. He's obviously going to put a lot of pressure on the team. United...

I think they'll expect to win, to beat Spurs. But obviously it's a 50-50 game. And it's an absolutely fascinating match. And while it's a shame we're not going to have any English teams in Munich...

I've yet to speak to any football fan who supports any team that's not going to be watching that game in Bilbao. It's going to be a brilliant occasion. Compelling, isn't it? Yeah, a bit of a knife edge for both teams' seasons. On that front, there's been a bit of a subplot, Miguel, in travel plans. You see that picture on the back page of The Sun of Ange arriving 24 hours before Manchester United will in Spain to scout out the sunbeds, etc. But Van de Ven vows to stop

rivals from taking the mickey. He says everybody knows that when you join Tottenham, you get, ah, you're not going to win a trophy. People saying you will be trophy-less for the rest of your career. How surprised are you that all the Spursy tags, et cetera, have got through to the overseas players? I mean, I suppose there's such a noise about it that it's natural. I have to say, even when I've been writing about this game,

Some of your commentary is almost conditioned basically by this, I suppose, simple idea that we're very used to Manchester United winning trophies and we're not used to Spurs winning trophies. And there's obviously the question of how much almost this kind of historic culture actually influences a game like this. I think that's all the more interesting given that this season, Posse Coglu's side have beaten United three times out of three.

But now as it gets to the big game that really, really matters, you do wonder whether these old cultural tags actually matter. It obviously, as you can see from what Van de Ven is saying, it's made its way down into the dressing room. And I must say, I find, just touching on Amram again for a second, I find his comments in that context quite interesting.

I don't want to say Amram has been too honest. I obviously want people to speak their mind. But I do wonder at this point whether he's saying a lot of this because it's almost as if he offers cover for himself. It's as if if he offers the criticism, no one else will be as strident about it.

how bad Manchester United have been and yeah I think it's a touch on what Charlie is saying there despite this culture despite the way this season has gone despite the histories of the two clubs it does genuinely feel a 50-50 game and it could well be a really really open game as well where it's just it almost becomes a free-for-all I mean that's been the lesson of their matches this season despite Spurs winning three

Let's hope it's a good game. It's interesting the point that Miguel makes there, actually, doesn't he, about the pressure on Tottenham Hotspur, Charlie? We should point out that for Ruben Amorim, I suppose, Manchester United have won trophies recently under Eric Ten Hag, reached three domestic finals out of a possible four. But what significance is the Spurs' history on this fixture, do you think? Is it a catalyst for extra motivation or is it a weight around their shoulders?

I think it's a bit of both. I mean, you know, it's just a huge game, isn't it? And I think that's probably, uh, I mean, we're probably going to talk about the number of fans going down to Spain, uh, later, but I think there'll be more Tottenham fans there. Uh,

Because it's such a huge game, because they've not been in as many big finals as Manchester United have over the last two decades. So of course there's huge pressure. Whether a win will be enough to keep them out of it, well that's another question, isn't it? But yeah, I think it's just a must-win for Tottenham.

in so many respects, just to somehow get that trophy. And maybe this season, it has been season of the underdogs. Of course, we had that brilliant story on Saturday at Wembley with Crystal Palace. We've had Newcastle, of course, win. And I don't think too many Spurs fans at the start of the season would have truly felt that they could have won the Europa League. I think some have felt that they would do quite well. But it's a great opportunity. And, you know, Manchester United,

again, Spurs fans will feel that they could beat United, particularly as Miguel said, they've got to have a decent record in those three matches this season. Tottenham fans will be hoping for that, be hoping to actually make the game as well. Miguel, you've been writing about this in The Independent, how scandalous the Europa League final left Tottenham and Manchester United fans scrambling. Tell us about this, Miguel. I think luckily you've got family out in Spain, but others not so lucky, are out of pocket in some style.

so i'm actually in spain now at the moment about 90 minutes away from bilbao navarro because my mother's family are from the area so it was took the the opportunity to come on sunday morning when the flights were much much cheaper uh than than tomorrow or wednesday and it was of course already a lot of manchester united and tottenham shirts at gatwick airport and i'm going up to bilbao tomorrow um and i do you could already feel it when i

fluent about itself on the day because it's fairly close to the closest airport. There was already that kind of buzz building. But yeah, this has been one of the unfortunate aspects about this final. So the piece I've done today, it's about two elements of it really. One, the difficulty of all this and just how essentially, I suppose, fans are bearing the cost

of decisions taken way above their head. And secondly, how those decisions are taken, which as many people close to UEFA or close to decisions would say, aren't necessarily always the most transparent. And I think the thing is, I've got kind of mixed feelings about this because look, Bilbao, it's a great city. It's a great football city. The stadium is amazing.

I think if it was maybe one English club, it could just about handle it. Because we are talking about a city the size of Leicester. But it's not just about the size, of course. It's about kind of the transport links, which even though it's Spain, aren't great. So essentially the...

the supply can't quite meet the demand. So as a result of that, I mean, I had a look today again, the prices for Tuesday, if you want to fly one way on Tuesday from Manchester, it's just under £1,000, and that's just one flight. And there is this question of why do...

Why do fans have to pay this much? Why is this the kind of decisions to make for our historic opportunity? Especially because UEFA and football authorities ultimately know that the reason we have a football business in the first place is because of fans' emotional investment in all this. And while I wouldn't go so far as saying that the game should be moved just because there's two massive English sides there, there are all sorts of other considerations. It is the sort of thing that

Other solutions could be looked at. Could clubs put on more charter flights? Do UEFA think about this in future? Because the reality is now, with the strength of the Premier League and with the fact that, well, notionally only five or usually it's four Premier League clubs getting into the Champions League, so there'll be strong Premier League clubs in the Europa League. This has to be a consideration at the start of the season because another massive factor in this course has been that UEFA have stopped

Champions League clubs dropping down into Europa League, which essentially has diminished Europa League as a competition. And really, I mean, both United and Spurs all season have been playing teams kind of, you know, wage bills a fraction of theirs. So they're almost not destined to get here, but they had a good chance. And suddenly it's like it's almost like a Champions League scale game in a city that's been obviously picked for Europa League final. Yeah.

I think you're in a fairly difficult situation. You can't keep having the same finals at the same grounds. And equally, you know, it's Arsenal fans. I was looking when there was a potential of them getting to the Champions League final. They were still going to have to pay £800, £900 just to get to Munich. Of course, many were the driven. You know, Chelsea are going to Wadsworth in Poland, which is relatively central. Obviously, less fans are going there. Next year, the Champions League final will be in Budapest.

The Europa League final will be in Istanbul. The conference final will be in Leipzig. So, again, it just depends which teams are going to get there. It will create different problems. So I do have a bit of sympathy for UEFA. In two years' time, they were looking at having the Champions League final at Baku, which would have been absolutely ridiculous. And I think only the last few weeks they've decided to have it in Madrid, back in...

at Atletico Madrid Stadium. So that would have been a crazy decision, but I do have a bit of sympathy for you, Anthony. Indeed, some incredible prices that the fans are paying. I think Miguel pointed out £555 for even a hostel in Bilbao. Let's talk about the Guardian and the Monday Night Football now. Hinchelwood fires Brighton bid for Europe. Big goal from Jack Hinchelwood off the bench, revealing he's going to be a father as well. Miguel, how big for Brighton? And how do you evaluate their season as it stands? Probably eighth?

Yeah, I mean, look, if they get Europe, then it's a massive success, given the club's recent history and the kind of lack of experience there. It's been once in the last few years. Because I suppose for Brighton, it might just feel a little bit disappointing, given what a few months ago, a little bit like their neighbours, Bournemouth, well, not their neighbours, but a closer team in Bournemouth.

It looked like this season could have had much more promise. There might have been more unpredictability to the season. That dropped off a bit, but now there is this late resurgence. And I think it does speak to, even if it hasn't necessarily been as much of a stride as they might have expected. I think Herzl has done a very good job. The team is great to watch. They've had some really good results against wealthier sides tonight. Just another one of those.

And everything looks promising. I mean, they do look like they're going in the right direction, even if, as you say, it is just eight. But, yeah, it's general progress. And, yeah, and tonight, just another mark on that.

on 800k in BBC exit rights. Tom Morgan, match of the day presenter, is forced to leave with no payoff. Contract extension also torn up after anti-Semitism video, which Lineker has taken down and apologised unreservedly for, as it was not intentionally posted. Miguel, what is your reaction to this? Did it feel inevitable?

Yeah, I mean, I suppose given what it felt, tension between, or rumbling tension, or at least maybe an underlying tension between maybe some new BBC leadership and Lineker, I suppose since the events of last year.

that something like this might have been coming down the tracks. Obviously, Lineker has insisted as well that he was going to be outspoken on it. And it's amazing in one way, I suppose, in that essentially it's a media story. It's a pure news story given the topics involved. But also, of course, as we're discussing now, it's a sports story, both because of Lineker's status and legacy in the game and, of course, I suppose, what a cultural institution Match of the Day is as a programme. And there are elements of the story, I think, that are... I mean, look,

There are elements of it that are difficult to discuss here. Among them, I'd say, the nature of the post that Lineker put up that he has since apologised for, that has been criticised for using anti-Semitic tropes. Obviously, then, there's this other side of it, which is this constant analysis of how Gaza is spoken about. But, yeah, it has resulted, essentially, in, I suppose, massive change to one of...

A, the staples of football in this country, and maybe also, I think, quite a curious way for... I mean, let's be fair. In terms of his football and his broadcasting career, Lineker is one of the great figures of the English game in that sense. And it's quite a curious way for his career to go. Obviously, I suppose, at the moment, he's got a whole other podcast empire going.

Yeah, he's got a little bit going on on the side, to be fair to Gary Lineker, financially. I think he's going to be all right. But culturally, media-wise, Charlie, how significant is it for those of us who grew up watching the likes of Desmond Lynham, who were very much front and centre, famous across the country? Lineker, 48 goals for England and now fronting match of the day. Is it the end of an era? Perhaps no-one will ever, I guess, covet so much attention again in the media. I'm not so sure. I still think people will sort of remember him as...

Well, we remember him as a great footballer, don't we? Of course, a lot of people that just have seen him as a terrific broadcaster will not remember him being a brilliant footballer. But, yeah, it is a shame. My colleague, Clemmie Moody, broke the story on The Sun last night. And, yeah, it is obviously a shame. But equally, you know, it's not a surprise in that, you know, at times he's pushed the boundaries. But, obviously, on this occasion, you know,

The tweet that got into trouble, he didn't see quite what he was reposting. But look, it is a shame, but I don't think that will really tarnish him too much. He will definitely get another top job, as you mentioned, and he will continue to be a terrific broadcaster and presenter.

Indeed. Let's move on to Liverpool again. More transfer news for them. Time Sports are concerning a player linked with Manchester City heavily last week, Florian Wiertz. Liverpool vying for Wiertz. City drop interest in £126m value German, leaving the title winners and Bayern in competition rights, Paul Hurst and Paul Joyce. Miguel, if Manchester City are put off by the price, how on earth can Liverpool afford it?

I find this a very interesting one. So I wrote about this last week and that basically in the Bayern dressing room, which obviously has a lot of Wurz's international teammates, they feel he's going there. And that's what his top choice would be. Now, there has been one wrinkle to that story, which is Bayer Leverkusen absolutely don't want Wurz going to Bayern Munich. So the story is apparently that they're willing to double the price for...

for Bayern than they would say if it was Manchester City and Liverpool. But I just find in that context, I do find it notable that City have actually just dropped out altogether and Liverpool are almost seeing this as a moment to seize it. I mean, Paul Joyce in particular has excellent contacts at Liverpool. I wonder...

Just from reading what I've heard on the other side, I wonder, is there some sense of Liverpool, are they being used as a leverage maybe in a bigger situation? Perhaps not. Perhaps Wurz actually is very interesting going to Liverpool. And why not? It's a very attractive option. But given what I've been told about Bayern Munich...

My sense is still that a deal will end up being done there. This is again something that could be played back with social media in a week when he's holding up a Liverpool jersey. Charlie, what's your read on it? It's a lot of money, isn't it? Understanding Leverkusen would prefer to sell him to an overseas club than Bayern Munich.

Yeah, I mean, he was over with his family who were his agents last week. You know, the cynic in me suggests that Manchester City, who seven days ago were definitely interested in him, now drop their interest. Maybe they know that he's either going to Liverpool or to Bayern Munich. As Miguel said, it's been felt the last two or three weeks he was going to Bayern. Liverpool would have to obviously fork out a hell of a lot of money, what, €150 million, right?

But he is a great player. And, you know, Liverpool do have a bit of money or a lot of money, rather. Equally, Manchester City, obviously, that's too much for them. But they're going to be bringing in three or four players, having already spent quite heavily in January. So it's an intriguing situation. I really hope that he plays in the Premier League next season. But as Miguel said, my hunch is it'll be playing Harry Kane in Munich.

Yeah, we'll see how that situation develops. Be a lot of flux at Manchester City anyway, won't they, from what we've seen, what we've heard. Let's talk about Jack Grealish, covered in The Telegraph by Ian Whittle. Grealish heads for showdown summer talks over City future. Shearer says £100m man has to leave after Wembley snub. Guardiola has sympathy but will stay out of negotiations. One goal this season and he's scored three times in 17 months, Miguel. He's got a lot of trophies, but in the final minute, just tell us why you think

what he should do because is there a decision to be made or does he have to leave? Well, look, both myself and Charlie are at the cup final on Saturday. What almost sums it up really is that City were chasing the goal and Guardiola went for the punt of bringing on a teenager and giving him his debut rather than a £100 million star in the same position. And this is the other thing, Grealish was a star. He still is a massive name but obviously,

It's been some time, certainly in a City shirt, where we've seen the sort of flourish to his play. That was one of the reasons they bought him in the first place. There's been so much discussion about Guardiola's tactical demands. And it does feel, actually, it has resulted, despite all the trophies he's won, there's just that disconnect between what Grealish really is as a player and what Guardiola wants. And if Guardiola is...

going to stay in City, as we can now see, it does feel like it's time for Grealish to go to maybe a club that puts a bit more prominence on a playmaker like him in the way he needs. Yeah, give us 10 seconds, Charlie, what you think will happen to Jack Grealish, where he might end up? Absolutely, he needs to go. I tell you what, why doesn't he go to the FA Cup winners? If they're going to lose someone like Eze, get Jack Grealish to Crystal Palace.