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Much has been said about Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag’s reduced role since the arrival of Ineos, and the additions of sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
However, Agenda understands the Dutchman is still taking a very active role. In the latest transfer window, the club’s brains trust, which includes interim director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, identified targets but Ten Hag made direct contact with agents to express interest in those players.
20 years after a miracle
Ex-players are thought to be involved, along with Rafa Benitez — whose famous half-time team talk was integral to one of the greatest ever Champions League comebacks.
Agenda has learned how involved Erik ten Hag really is an Manchester United amid a flurry of summer changes
Netflix, meanwhile, have commissioned a Liverpool documentary to mark 20 years since their Istanbul comeback
Guardiola’s generosity
It emerged last week that Pep Guardiola gifted £10,000 each to 70 members of staff in Manchester City’s first-team building following the club’s fourth Premier League title in a row.
Agenda understands this was the third instance of such generosity, with staff unaware of the gesture until they checked their bank accounts.
Meanwhile at United, Kate Nixon, former personal assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, is among those leaving after the club announced 250 redundancies.
Staying at Palace
The saga over Marc Guehi’s non-move to Newcastle had an intriguing subplot.
Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman, who rejected a move to the Magpies last May, was pitted against Paul Mitchell, the man who took the job.
Talks continued for weeks but Newcastle could not meet the Eagles’ valuation and Guehi, like Freedman, remained at Selhurst Park.
Wonder-ful
The FA were happy to roll with it when they were approached over Wembley’s availability to host dates on the Oasis reunion tour.
Agenda understands the FA will receive a significant cash boost from the gigs under the arch, with an extra night added yesterday after surging demand.
The saga surrounding Marc Guehi’s failed move to Newcastle from Crystal Palace had an intriguing subplot
The FA, meanwhile, are set to earn a solid pay day from the heavily-talked about Oasis reunion
No one in Monaco
Given the song and dance they made when they agreed a deal for Champions League highlights this season, it was surprising that not one representative from the BBC made it to the competition draw in Monaco last week.
Such was the confidence in the computer program doing the draw for the revamped Champions League that the chief executive of the firm who provided it returned to the UK the night before the event, leaving a colleague in Monaco to deal with any issues.
AE Live chief technology officer Dave Gill, a Sheffield Wednesday fan, joked it may be some time before his IT system pulls out an opponent for the Owls in the competition.
Stepping up the fight against racism
FIFA have introduced a way for players to complain of racist abuse to referees at the Women’s Under 20 World Cup in Colombia.
Those targeted can cross their arms at the wrists, which would see the game stopped. Should the abuse continue, everyone would leave the field.
Former Chelsea Under 23 coach Mark Robinson is in charge of Burton and his side signed 22 players in the summer
22 through the door
Few clubs have seen the scale of change underway at League One Burton following the arrival of the Nordic Football Group.
They have signed 22 players, redesigned the tunnel and dressing rooms, created fan zones where punters are given free pints of Carling to hand to friends when they buy one, and former Chelsea Under 23 coach Mark Robinson has been made manager.
