Manchester United might finally be set to off-load exiled forward Mason Greenwood as French club Olympique de Marseille (OM) have reportedly sent a “formal bid” to sign the youngster.
However, since his loan has now expired and the 22-year-old is still named on United’s retained player list, many fans are understandably wondering what will happen next.
Now, even despite the controversy surrounding the Bradford-born player, several teams across Europe have expressed their interest in signing the undeniably talented attacker, with Marseille now having taken that a step further and submitting a formal bid for Greenwood.
🚨🔵⚪️ Understand Olympique Marseille have sent formal bid to Manchester United for Mason Greenwood!
Talks underway between the two clubs, Greenwood’s still OM main target with agreement getting closer.
As per ever-reliable transfer source Fabrizio Romano, talks with the Ligue 1 side are well underway and is thought that not only is Greenwood their “main target” but that an “agreement [is] getting closer.”
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s said that the offer could be a loan initially with an obligation to buy and sell-on clause included, as United are not only just expected to sever ties with the problematic name but also make as much money as possible from a valuable asset that was once considered one of if not their most promising starlet.
A large group of female fans banded together to protest his potential return prior to his La Liga loan after some supporters still wanted him to be reintegrated into the squad and it was claimed former CEO Richard Arnold was keen to keep him at Old Trafford.
ADVERTISEMENT
The club’s most recent position was seemingly that Greenwood would not be playing for the Red Devils again but with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS Sports having since taken over the board of executives, there is some uncertainty as to their stance on the matter.
Also reported by Romano earlier this month, Ratcliffe did receive some criticism for his lack of clarity on the matter in the few words that he has offered on the matter:
🚨 Sir Jim Ratcliffe on Mason Greenwood: "It's a new decision to make for us. He's Man United player".
"We need to look at facts, judge fairly and take into consideration what the values of the club are".
While Getafe did cover roughly a third of Greenwood’s wages during the loan spell, United were still paying the academy product approximately £50,000 a week – a set-up that many more fans took issue with for various reasons.
ADVERTISEMENT
A massive rebuild is now taking place throughout Manchester United‘s infrastructure and with more players already/soon to be offloaded from the books, it would seem the chances are Greenwood will be among the outgoing names.
Nevertheless, as financial specifics are yet to be revealed, it remains to be seen how much Marseille are willing to pay for him and whether it will prove a big enough figure for a club looking to be much more shrewd in the transfer market.
The latest signing in the backroom might also factor into where the chips fall.
Featured Images — Ardfern (via Wikimedia Commons)/Getafe CF (via Instagram)
Sport
Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
The Hundred is calling for up-and-coming presenters to co-host this year’s tournament
Danny Jones
The Hundred 2025 is fast approaching and cricket’s fastest-growing tournament is once again asking for aspiring presenters to join their roster of co-hosts and help cover the action.
The fast-paced 100-ball format is entering its fifth year and next to T20, you find a more accessible and thrilling form of cricket, so it’s no wonder the competition is gaining a greater audience each year.
With that in mind, the need for a top-notch broadcast team is more crucial than ever but just like those who backed The Hundred in its infancy, they’re looking to invest in future creatives and on-screen talent.
Are you someone looking to get into presenting or know someone who is? Keep reading.
For the fifth year in a row, we want you to be part of #TheHundredRising! 🎤
So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty straightforward: The Hundred is looking for eight up-and-coming presenters to join their team of main venue hosts up and down the country.
Tasked with guiding and talking fans through an action-packed five weeks across all host cities, successful applicants will be responsible for building excitement and atmosphere inside the seven cricket grounds on each match day.
From player and pundit interviews to crowd engagement and interactive other activations with partnered brands, not to mention members of this year’s live music lineup, you’ll be a key part of putting out the top-quality sports and entertainment product they promise every year.
The best part of all is that no prior hosting experience is necessary – this is all about platforming you and The Hundred as a whole.
Successful applicants will be mentored by the main hosts at their respective venues and will attend a two-day workshop with special guests to get them ready to hit the stage this summer.
The ‘Rising Hosts’ scheme has been set up in tandem with their dedicated event production agency, Progress Productions, which will be in charge throughout the application and selection process.
Shortlisted applicants will then have their details shared with the ECB (English Cricket Board) who will be involved when it comes to making their final decisions.
It goes without saying that even if you just love sports or just want to find a way into the industry, this is an opportunity that is not to be missed.
Danny Jones -
8th July 2024 
