Jadon Sancho is expected to leave Manchester United permanently this summer even if Erik ten Hag is dismissed as manager.

Sancho was loaned back to Borussia Dortmund back in January. Dortmund would like to keep Sancho, but they would struggle to afford his contract and transfer fee.

A second loan spell covering the 2024-25 season is a possibility, but United's preference is for a permanent transfer.

United signed Sancho in 2021 from Dortmund for $91 million.

Sancho has returned to form since rejoining Dortmund.

Ralf Rangnick has declined an approach by Bayern Munich to remain manager of the Austria national team.

"I am the Austrian team boss with all my heart," Rangnick said in a statement on Thursday.

"I really enjoy this task and am determined to successfully continue on our chosen path.

"I would like to expressly emphasize that this is not a rejection of FC Bayern, but rather a decision for my team and our common goals. Our full concentration is on the European Championships. We will do everything we can to get as far as possible!"

Rangnick was previously interim manager of Manchester United and also took Schalke to the Champions Leauge semifinals in 2011. Rangnick  was also director of football at RB Leipzig and FC Salzburg.

Manchester United have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.

Olise has a release clause that becomes active this summer that is believed to be between £50 million and £60 million.

Olise has seven goals and four assists in 16 matches this season with Palace. 

Liverpool is calm over the future of Mohamed Salah with the club and expect him to return next season as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.

Salah refused to shake Jurgen Klopp's hand on Saturday before coming on a substitute.

Salah has given no indication he wishes to leave Liverpool and the club expects him to remain a critical part of their plans under Arne Slot.

Liverpool rejected a £150 million offer from Al-Ittihad last summer.

Eddie Howe has revealed that Newcastle's £100 million ($125 million) release clause on Bruno Guimaraes expires in June.

“Having that was well planned and structured in the sense that there’s a finish point,” said Howe. “We don’t want a summer of speculation. I don’t think that would be healthy for the player or for us.”

Howe is desperate to build his roster around Guimaraes, but if a club meets the release clause, it would allow Newcastle to use those funds this summer. 

Howe is optimistic the short window will keep Guimaraes on his squad.

“We want to keep Bruno,” he said. “We want to build our team around him. He’s an integral part of what we’re doing. His form has been very good. He seems very happy and settled here. He’s a big part of where we can hopefully take the team. But we’re not in control of that so we shall see.”

Arne Slot has confirmed he would like to leave Feyenoord to become the next manager of Liverpool. Slot has two seasons remaining on his contract and it will take a compensation fee of approximately €10 million to release him from his deal.

Jurgen Klopp is stepping down as manager of Liverpool at the conclusion of the season.

“The only thing I can say about it is that the clubs are in negotiations – and then you sit in the waiting room and wait for what will come out. It seems clear to me that I would like to go to Liverpool,” he said. “Now I am waiting to see whether the clubs reach an agreement. I have every ­confidence in that.”

Slot added: “The clubs have to do their job and then I am waiting, and as the ‘main character’ I have to respect that. It will undoubtedly become clear in the coming days. It’s no secret that I want to go to Liverpool.”

Xavi has agreed to remain as manager of Barcelona until the end of his contract at the end of the 24-25 season. Xavi previously announced he would step down at the end of the current season.

Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste appeared to confirm the agreement when exiting the meeting late Wednesday night.

"We had a meeting with the coach and the president in which Xavi showed us his commitment," he told reporters. "He is a Barça guy, he is the coach who can lead our project and our young players from the club. I am convinced that he will do a great job, I am very happy for him because he is a great 'culé.'

"I am happy [with Xavi staying] because I always defended the continuity of the project he started two-and-a-half years ago.

"We have not talked [in the meeting] about changes in our team at all. Xavi has shown his enthusiasm and we must support him and his staff to continue with this project."

Xavi was appointed manager in 2021 and led them to win their first LaLiga title in four seasons last year.

Erik ten Hag will face a 25 percent pay reduction next season if he is retained as manager of Manchester United due to the club's failure to quality for the Champions League.

Ten Hag signed a three-year contract after leaving Ajax to join United in May 2022.

United's new football regime, headed by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have been exploring possible alternatives to Ten Hag by assessing the qualities of other managers including England's Gareth Southgate, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, Brentford's Thomas Frank and Wolves' Gary O'Neil.

Feyenoord manager Arne Slot has been identified by Liverpool as a leading candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool's interest in Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly cooled. Slot has emerged ahead of Amorim and Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi in the race to replace Klopp.

Xabi Alonso was Liverpool's top choice, but he decided to remain with Bayer Leverkusen. 

Slot, 45, rejected Premier League advances from both Chelsea and Tottenham last season in order to remain at Feyenoord. 

Aston Villa have exercised their one-year option on the contract of Unai Emery to extend his stay at least through 2027.

Bayern Munich and Barcelona had interest in Emery as they look to fill their vacancy.

Emery is on course to lead Villa into the Champions League and, after reaching the Europa Conference League semi-finals, he could deliver the club’s first major trophy since 1996. 

Emery has transformed Villa since succeeding Steven Gerrard 18 months ago .

Villa finished seventh last season and are six points clear of Spurs for fourth place, though Tottenham has two matches in hand.