Will Guardiola become England manager? | Stokes returns for second test | Back pages tonight

Back Pages Tonight: A First Look at the Sports Stories in the Morning’s Newspapers

A special episode of Back Pages tonight, where we bring you the top sports stories from the morning’s newspapers. Joining us are Charlotte Dyer, football reporter for The Times, and John Cross, TR Football writer. We’ll guide you through the sports pages and share the latest news and analysis.

The Times’ Lead Story: Pep Guardiola Sounded Out as England Manager

According to The Times, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has been sounded out by the England football association (FA) to consider the national team’s manager position. This comes as the FA is on the hunt for a new manager after Lee Carsley’s departure. The Guardian and The Mirror also report on the story, with The Mirror stating that Guardiola is the FA’s "dream target."

The Mirror: Guardiola Being Sounded Out as England Manager

John Cross from The Mirror notes, "It’s a rollercoaster week for Lee Carsley, to be honest. He’s had a tough ride, even before the game against Greece. We thought he was going to be in the clear, but this news has changed the landscape."

Charlotte Dyer from The Times agrees, "Pep Guardiola is the ultimate target for the FA. He’s the best manager in the world. He’s got a winning mentality, and he’s the kind of person who would bring great success to the England team. But, it’s a big ask to get him to leave Manchester City, and we’ll see if the FA can make it happen."

More Frights for Manchester United

The Express reports on the injury crisis at Manchester United, with striker Jesse Lingard joining others on the sidelines. Chris Smalling, a former United defender, has advised the Red Devils to make a big spend in the transfer market to rectify the situation.

Dementia in Sport: A Growing Concern

The Telegraph has published a powerful story about former rugby player Will Green, who was told to lie about his dementia diagnosis. Green claims to have been pressured to join a group action lawsuit and was subsequently sued. This is just one of many stories highlighting the growing concern over dementia in sport.

Benjamin Mendy’s Tribunal Hearing

Benjamin Mendy, the Manchester City player, is suing his former employer for loss of earnings, claiming he was not paid during his suspension and subsequent imprisonment. His agent gave evidence at the tribunal, stating that he was told by Manchester United’s executive chairman, Ed Woodward, that Mendy would be re- reimployed by the club if he was acquitted.

Europe’s Top Leagues Unite Against Abusive FIFA

The Guardian reports that Europe’s top leagues, including the Premier League, have joined forces with the players’ union, FIFPro, to take action against FIFA’s plans for the 2025 club World Cup. The leagues are concerned about the fixture congestion caused by the tournament.

That’s all for Back Pages tonight. Join us again on Tuesday when our guests will be Miguel Delaney and Charlie Wyatt from The Sun, covering the latest Nations League action. Until then, goodnight!