Why Ruud van Nistelrooy's position at Man United is raising eyebrows. Plus, player anger at Crystal Palace and the latest on Mason Greenwood: THE SAMI MOKBEL COLUMN

The elephant successful nan room astatine Manchester United: Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Goals - tons of them - for nan club. Revered by supporters. An undeniable relationship to nan club’s glorious past, a play United - successful its existent guise - are truthful desperately trying to replicate.

A narration pinch Sir Alex Ferguson. Van Nistelrooy’s semipermanent supplier Roger Linse has a agelong opinionated narration pinch nan club.

According to sources successful Holland, Linse has spent much clip successful Manchester successful caller weeks.

For galore reasons, Van Nistelrooy’s return to Old Trafford has surely sewage tongues wagging backmost successful Holland.

The large man is back. You wonder, though, what Erik 10 Hag makes of it all.

In discussions pinch United chiefs astatine nan extremity of nan play that resulted successful Ten Hag keeping his occupation nether aggravated speculation that he would beryllium leaving for INEOS to make their ain appointment, it was decided nan Dutch coach would replenish his support team.

Rene Hake, a semipermanent friend of Ten Hag, was among nan caller coaching arrivals.

Intriguingly, Hake, for illustration Ten Hag and a big of players to person arrived astatine Old Trafford since nan Dutchman’s assignment from Ajax successful 2022, is simply a customer of Dutch guidance agency SEG.

SEG’s engagement successful United’s transportation dealings anterior to INEOS’ presence has been heavy documented successful caller months.

The different coach to get was Van Nistelrooy, a move greeted pinch immoderate skepticism backmost successful Holland.

Van Nistelrooy had been retired of activity for complete 12 months having near his occupation arsenic PSV Eindhoven’s leader nether a cloud.

The 48-year-old’s reign astatine Philips Stadion was overshadowed by talk of backstage clashes pinch his players, galore of whom held sedate concerns complete Van Nistelrooy’s coaching abilities.

Some players felt he was stubborn and unwilling to accommodate his approach. Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf carried a communicative detailing that a number of cardinal players had moreover approached PSV's committee to definitive their reservations astir Van Nistelrooy’s methods.

Van Nistelrooy is simply a celebrated fig successful PSV’s history having scored 62 goals successful 67 games earlier clinching his move to United successful 2001.

But that only gets you truthful acold pinch nan modern player. It surely did for Van Nistelrooy during his 15 period spell successful complaint of PSV: nan erstwhile Holland striker felt truthful fto down by nan full matter that he took nan determination to locomotion distant earlier nan 2022-23 play had finished.

At nan time, location was a consciousness successful Holland that Van Nistelrooy would locomotion into a caller job. His floor plan speaks for itself and he'd conscionable led PSV to nan Dutch Cup successful 2023, wherever they defeated Ajax successful nan final.

Heerenveen considered Van Nistelrooy for their caput coach’s position, but decided against nan assignment arsenic concerns of his coaching attack did nan rounds.

So erstwhile United called successful nan summer, nan attraction for Van Nistelrooy - moreover though it wasn’t a caput coach’s position he craved - to return to activity was clear.

Yet, moreover past location was a level astonishment backmost successful his homeland that Ten Hag had approved Van Nistelrooy’s appointment.

At PSV, Van Nistelrooy was assisted by respected Dutch coach Fred Rutten, who is coincidently 1 of Ten Hag’s closest confidants.

Indeed, Rutten turned nan opportunity to subordinate United arsenic Ten Hag’s adjunct 2 years ago.

There is each chance Ten Hag would person consulted Rutten astir nan imaginable of moving pinch Van Nistelrooy astatine immoderate constituent complete nan summer.

Given really Van Nistelrooy’s spell successful complaint of PSV panned out, you’d ideate that whitethorn person been an enlightening speech for Ten Hag.

Of course, nan attraction to Van Nistelrooy for INEOS is obvious. An iconic sanction from nan club’s prestigious past; successful position of PR it ticks respective boxes.

He has instant in installments successful nan slope pinch supporters, too.

But you can’t thief but consciousness nan protector of Van Nistelrooy is 1 Ten Hag could astir apt do without.

Was Van Nistelrooy’s return a Ten Hag aliases INEOS production? If Ten Hag fails to move United’s play around, we will find retired soon enough.

Whether Van Nistelrooy is considered for nan apical occupation astatine United, possibly initially connected a caretaker capacity, should Ten Hag suffer his occupation will beryllium intriguing.

Many successful Holland judge Van Nistelrooy would struggle to move down specified an opportunity.

He loves nan nine and has lofty ambitions of his own. It doesn’t get loftier than Manchester United.

League sides divided complete broadcasting inovation 

The Premier League are successful talks pinch clubs complete introducing mid-game subordinate interviews arsenic a staple of their broadcasting packages from adjacent season.

Sky Sports trailed nan thought for nan first clip connected Monday nighttime arsenic portion of their sum of Bournemouth’s 3-1 triumph complete Southampton.

Cherries subordinate Marcus Tavernier, who was substituted successful 76th infinitesimal was interviewed by Sky’s pitchside newsman arsenic he came disconnected nan field.

And Mail Sport has learned that top-flight chiefs are successful consultation pinch each 20 clubs astir making nan caller characteristic a regular fixture successful adjacent season’s output.

However, location is understood to beryllium important guidance towards nan proposals from teams towards nan precocious echelons of nan division.

While teams towards nan little reaches of nan convention spot worth successful nan idea, location is simply a consciousness that nan cons outweigh nan pros, pinch issues specified arsenic subordinate information and nan imaginable of interviewees being near successful compromising situations according to what develops connected nan section among nan first concerns of apical clubs.

Nevertheless, nan Premier League spot nan conception of capturing players' views while they play unfolds arsenic an innovative measurement of bringing nan spectator person to nan action.

That level of entree will besides apt adhd worth to forthcoming world broadcasting packages erstwhile they adjacent spell retired to tender.

The Premier League person taken statement of really wicket-keeper cam successful cricket and pit lane interviews successful centrifugal racing person brought nan spectator richer penetration than ever before, and are examining ways of replicating that pinch football.

Villa look conflict for academy prospect 

Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey is absorbing a number of Premier League clubs up of adjacent summer.

Ramsey, who came disconnected injured during past night’s Champions League lucifer versus Bayern Munich, managed to support clasp of their talented 23-year-old successful nan summertime contempt varying levels of liking from Tottenham and Arsenal.

Having successfully solved their profit and sustainability issues successful June, location was ne'er immoderate realistic chance of Villa cashing successful connected their academy postgraduate successful nan erstwhile transportation window.

But Ramsey remains connected nan ‘long-term recruitment lists’ of a number of apical sides who are already preparing to revisit their liking successful 2025, leaving Villa facing a conflict to support their highly-rated midfielder.

As things stand, Ramsey will person 2 years remaining connected his Villa Park statement astatine nan extremity of nan play which could tempt nan Midlands nine into considering offers to debar their midfielder entering into his last 12 months.

Tensions ramp up astatine Selhurst Park 

Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was angered by caput coach Oliver Glasner’s determination to hook him astatine half-time of their caller conflict against Manchester United.

The guardant was replaced earlier nan 2nd half successful nan 0-0 tie against Erik 10 Hag’s squad connected September 28 and sources person bespeak Mateta was acold from happy astir nan substitution.

Palace were mostly dominated by United successful nan first-half of nan crippled and Glasner took disconnected Mateta and Adam Wharton astatine half-time, successful spot of Ismaila Sarr and Jefferson Lerma, pinch a position to fixing his team’s clear deficiencies.

Glasner stuck pinch nan 27-year-old striker for past weekend’s conflict against Everton arsenic Mateta played nan afloat 90 minutes of nan the 2-1 nonaccomplishment astatine Goodison.

Mateta’s semipermanent early astatine Selhurst Park is presently unclear amid a statement stand-off.

The guardant wants a caller woody in-excess of £100,000-per-week - but arsenic yet location is nary agreement. Talks, though, are described arsenic unfastened and ongoing.

Eddie Nketiah’s presence from Arsenal successful nan summertime model has placed further mobility marks complete Mateta’s position astatine Palace.

So acold Nketiah has been deployed successful a deeper than accustomed role, pinch Mateta continuing astatine centre-forward.

But Nketiah was signed arsenic a striker and it remains to beryllium seen whether Glasner tin proceed playing nan erstwhile Arsenal man successful nan aforesaid XI arsenic Mateta.

Merson misses out 

You tin return Paul Merson retired of football. Taking shot retired of Merson, nevertheless - that’s proving much difficult.

Merson, a regular Sky Sports pundit, has afloat immersed himself into his caller domiciled arsenic a contestant connected iconic BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing.

But it appears his dedication to keeping abreast of developments astir nan grounds connected Saturday nighttime is conscionable arsenic fierce.

His Strictly schedule, which sees Merson committed to hours of dress rehearsals connected Saturday afternoon, has created evident hurdles for nan erstwhile Arsenal and Aston Villa guardant from keeping an oculus connected nan scores.

But, by each accounts, is utilizing each spare infinitesimal to guarantee he is updated connected nan goals arsenic they spell in.

It’s not rather nan Soccer Saturday studio, but needs must.

Hodgson's Eurotrip 

Roy Hodgson is scheduled to be adjacent week’s European Club Association General Assembly successful Athens adjacent week.

The highly-respected coach has kept a debased floor plan since his departure from Crystal Palace successful February but is scheduled to make a nationalist quality successful nan Greek superior for nan two-day convention which starts connected October 8.

Hodgson suffered a wellness scare successful nan days starring up to leaving Selhurst Park and has spent overmuch of his clip recuperating by travelling.

But nan 77-year-old's dedication to shot shows nary signs of relenting.

No determination yet from Greenwood 

FIFA are yet to person Mason Greenwood’s general exertion to move his world registration from England to Jamaica.

Greenwood, according to sources, has decided he wants to correspond nan Reggae Boyz, who person made nary concealed of their intentions to seduce nan striker to play for them.

The 23-year-old, who is of Jamaican descent, has impressed since joining Marseille successful nan summertime - scoring 5 goals successful six Ligue One appearances truthful far.

But, arsenic of Wednesday night, FIFA were still waiting for Greenwood to record his ‘change of relation request’ up of anticipated move to Jamaica.

Greenwood has fallen retired of nan England image owing to his well-documented off-the-pitch problems but has been handed an world lifeline by Steve McClaren, who is successful complaint of Jamaica.

Greenwood has 1 elder England cap, which came against Iceland successful 2020. He was sent location aft nan crippled successful Reykjavik, together pinch Phil Foden, for bringing women backmost to nan squad hotel.

Walker boils complete astatine nan Etihad 

Members of nan Arsenal chair were near shocked astatine Manchester City defender’s Kyle Walker’s fury successful nan aftermath of John Stones' melodramatic precocious equaliser successful nan caller Battle of nan Etihad.

Both benches fought aft Stones collapsed Arsenal hearts to equalise successful nan last infinitesimal of stoppage time. And it is understood that Walker’s furious guidance during nan heated scenes had taken galore sat connected nan Gunners chair by surprise.

Walker had to beryllium restrained astatine 1 constituent but yet regained his composure arsenic nan first escalation successful tensions calmed.

A return travel for Hughes - pinch an oculus to buy?  

Liverpool sporting head Richard Hughes was successful nan stands astatine erstwhile nine Bournemouth this week for their conflict against Southampton.

The Anfield supremo returned to nan nine he near earlier this twelvemonth and was sat successful nan board container of nan Vitality Stadium arsenic his ex-employers notched a comfortable 3-1 victory.

There was surely plentifulness talent for nan Hughes to support an oculus connected Monday night.

Bournemouth duo Antoine Semenyo and Milos Kerkez are emerging arsenic targets for a number of Premier League teams.

Southampton’s talented teen Tyler Dibling, 18, is wide viewed arsenic 1 of England’s brightest young prospects.

More clip for Textor 

Raine Group, nan merchant slope handling nan projected waste of John Textor’s liking successful Crystal Palace, person told nan remaining parties to let nan businessman clip to ‘reflect’ connected his adjacent move aft his bid to bargain Everton collapsed.

The tycoon appeared to beryllium successful rod position to takeover astatine Goodison Park earlier it emerged Dan Friedkin had agreed a woody to bargain existent proprietor Farhad Moshiri’s shares successful nan Toffees, leaving Textor’s position unclear.

Textor had hoped to fast-track nan waste of his 45 percent shareholding astatine Selhurst to facilitate his bid to bargain Everton but Friedkin’s hijack has created uncertainty complete nan US businessman’s plans for his shares successful Palace.

Indeed, it is understood Raine person told nan remaining willing parties to let Textor clip to see his options regarding his Eagles shareholding.

Eagles sources person indicated that Textor would beryllium willing successful buying Josh Harris and David Blitzer’s shares successful nan Selhurst Park club.

However manufacture insiders judge Harris and Blitzer are presently not consenting sellers.

Schouten matches awesome grounds amid Premier League interest

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Jerdy Schouten became nan first subordinate to grounds 17 shot recoveries successful a Champions League crippled since Rodri achieved nan feat successful April 2023.

Schouten is being adjacent watched by a number of a Premier League sides and his capacity successful nan 1-1 tie versus Sporting has been noted by his English suitors.

Rodri made 17 shot recoveries successful nan Champions League 4th last triumph complete Bayern Munich and his feat hadn’t been matches until now.