Mauricio Pochettino not yet set for Spurs

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that touted Tottenham Hotspur manager target Mauricio Pochettino is still not guaranteed to be offered the job or to even want a return.

What's the latest on Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino?

It seems as though current boss Antonio Conte will almost certainly be leaving Spurs at the end of the season when his current contract is set to expire.

Indeed, the Italian has not been able to bring much success to that part of north London as the club's search for a first piece of major silverware since 2008 stretches on.

Over the weekend, Conte saw his team surrender a 3-1 lead to Southampton – currently bottom of the Premier League – in a 3-3 draw and couldn't contain his rage after the game.

Speaking to the press he suggested that the players aren't able to player under "pressure" and "stress" and questioned the club's mentality after so long without a trophy.

It's the sort of talk that suggests he won't be with Spurs in the long run and former manager Pochettino is widely tipped to make a return in the summer.

However, while speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that it remains to be seen if Sours will offer the Argentine the chance to come back and if it's what he wants.

The journalist said (3:59): “So we have to see what happens also with Mauricio Pochettino.

"If Tottenham will really propose him the opportunity to return, what Pochettino wants to do – this is an important point."

Conte-Spurs-Perisic-Mundle-Premier-League-opinion

Will Conte definitely leave Spurs?In full, Conte said after the Southampton loss said: “They don’t play for something important, yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.

“It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this, 20 years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench."

With all that in mind, it certainly would take a brave person to suggest the Italian has any desire to remain in north London next season – or that any Spurs fans and players would want him around.

Pochettino, on the other hand, is still loved by many supporters. After all, many fans started signing his name in the recent Champions League exit against AC Milan.

Despite all that, it seems nothing is set in stone just yet.

Man United Open Talks With "Fantastic" £90k-p/w Ace Over New Contract

Manchester United and Erik Ten Hag have opened contract talks with one of the boss' most reliable defenders, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

The Red Devils have endured a strange last few days since their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend and have seen a drop of over £600million in the clubs' market value since reports emerged that the Glazers were keen to take Manchester United off the market, according to Sky Sports.

Nevertheless, former Manchester United icon Gary Neville has his doubts over whether the Glazer family would actually follow through on taking the club off the market, as he told the outlet: "I just can't believe that the report is true. It's part of the game playing and the manipulating of stories that they have been doing for a long time. I don't see anyway that they can keep hold of the club because they've got no money."

Back in the world of squad planning, fringe player Donny van de Beek has been linked with a move to Turkish giants Fenerbache and reports in Turkey claim that the Netherlands international is 'looking forward' to leaving Old Trafford.

Injury problems have plagued Manchester United as they struggle to get a clean break regarding squad selection – Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Mason Mount are all doubts for the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion after the international break, as per The Evening Standard.

Is Aaron Wan-Bissaka signing a new contract?

According to Telegraph Sport, Manchester United are keen to tie down defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka to a long-term deal at Old Trafford – he has one year left on his current £90,000 per week contract in the North West.

Wan-Bissaka has turned his career around at Manchester United under Ten Hag despite being a spare part in the early part of his reign and the Red Devils are keen to ensure he remains a key part of the side moving forward toward the next few years.

man-united-aaron-wan-bissaka-fa-cup-final

Last term, Manchester United were open to offloading Wan-Bissaka during the first part of the campaign and a return to his former club Crystal Palace had been mooted for the 25-year-old, who joined from the Eagles for £50 million back in 2019, as per The Daily Mail.

Ten Hag praised Wan-Bissaka at the tail end of 2022/23 and noted his improvement in performances over the course of his time in charge at Old Trafford, telling Manchester United's official club website: "He has improved a lot, as many players have improved during the season. That's one of the jobs for a manager and the coaching staff, to get that done and we are really happy with it, that players are developing."

Labelled "absolutely fantastic" by talkSPORT commentator Micky Gray, Wan-Bissaka has made four appearances in all competitions so far for Manchester United this term and he registered an assist in their 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening day.

Following his upturn in fortunes at the Red Devils, a new contract looks to be afoot for Wan-Bissaka and few could argue that he hasn't merited reward for his displays.

Stokes 'delighted' to be able to resume England 'honour'

Ben Stokes has expressed his delight at being able to resume the “honour” of playing for England after he was made available for selection, following a meeting of the ECB Board, despite being charged with affray on Monday in relation to the incident outside a Bristol nightclub on September 25.Stokes, who was charged along with two other men, is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates Court to at a date still to be confirmed. He had been withdrawn from England duty after the incident in September, which followed an ODI against West Indies in the city, and missed the end of that series plus the recent Ashes and the five-match ODI series in Australia.However, he has now been cleared to return to action for the T20 Tri-Series against Australia and New Zealand that gets underway in February.On Wednesday evening, Stokes responded to the development on Twitter saying he “can’t wait” to get back on the field for England although his exact return could yet depend on the date of his initial court appearance.”Representing my country is one of the greatest things that I’ve ever been lucky enough to do, walking out on to the field with the England shirt on is a privilege and a honour,” Stokes tweeted. “I’m extremely delighted to be given this opportunity to do this again. I can’t wait to get back out on a pitch with the 3 Lions on my chest and feeling that pride that we all get and giving everything for the team.”An ECB statement said: “Following a full Board discussion, in which all considerations were taken into account, the ECB Board has agreed that Ben Stokes should now be considered for England selection”Given the CPS decision to charge him and two others with affray, confirmation of his intention to contest the charge and the potential length of time to trial, the Board agreed that it would not be fair, reasonable or proportionate for Ben Stokes to remain unavailable for a further indeterminate period.”To date, Stokes has been unavailable for selection throughout the Police and CPS process around the incident in Bristol in September, a period which has included One-Day Internationals against West Indies, the Ashes tour and the start of the ODI series against Australia.”ECB fully respects the legal process and the player’s intention to defend himself against the charge.”England selectors, management and players have been informed and Ben Stokes is expected to join the squad in New Zealand for February’s T20 matches.”ECB confirmed in December that the independent Cricket Discipline Commission [CDC] would stay the internal disciplinary process for both Alex Hales and Ben Stokes until the conclusion of court proceedings relating to the incident.”Shortly after the charge was confirmed, Stokes issued a statement saying he was keen for the opportunity to clear his name but wanted to focus on cricket.”I want to thank all those who have continued to support me in relation to the Bristol incident, not least my family, friends, fans and teammates,” Stokes said. “I gave a full and detailed account of my actions to the police on day one – the same day as the incident – and have cooperated at each step of the police inquiry.”I am keen to have an opportunity to clear my name but, on advice, the appropriate time to do this is when the case comes to trial. The CPS’ decision to charge me, as well as Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, at least means that my account of what happened that night can come out in court and be made public. Until then, my focus is very much on cricket.”The incident occurred outside the Mbargo nightclub in the Clifton area of Bristol in the early hours of the morning after England’s one-day international against West Indies on September 24, and resulted in one of those involved suffering a broken eye socket.As well as Stokes’ short-term England position, there is also the impact on his potential IPL involvement. He is expected to be highly sought-after in the auction at the end of the month, although franchise owners have told ESPNcricinfo that they need some clarity on his situation following the laying of charges.

Sky Sports: Man United Hold "Positive" Talks To Sign 27 y/o

Manchester United have held "positive" talks to sign a new defender, with Erik ten Hag personally wanting a deal to go through.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils appear to be on the search for a new defender to join the three new players already through the Old Trafford door in Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund. The club need to sell before they can make their next move, though, with midfielders Donny van de Beek and Fred two who could soon be on the way out.

Another player who is on course to leave Manchester is former captain Harry Maguire. An agreement in principle worth around £30m has been reached with West Ham, although the defender still needs to discuss personal terms over a move to the London Stadium.

Read The Latest Man United Transfer News HERE…

A new defender to replace Maguire is seemingly on the cards, and the versatile Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich appears to be an option. Fabrizio Romano said on Wednesday that Pavard was one of three names being considered.

“Manchester United have three options in the list for new centre back. Benjamin Pavard, Jean Clair Todibo and Edmond Tapsoba are being considered as possible names to replace Maguire.”

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg took to X to provide a further update specifically on Pavard, revealing that positive Man United talks have taken place and that the Red Devils are the favourites for his services.

“Man Utd, at this stage the favorite in the poker for Benjamin Pavard! Pavard can really imagine to join #MUFC as Ten Hag wants him.

“Concrete talks are ongoing and positive. Price valuation: Around €30m. Tuchel wants to keep him. Pavard wants to leave Bayern. Would be a massive loss for the club.”

Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard.

Who is Benjamin Pavard?

Pavard is primarily a right-back but can also turn out as a centre-back and is into the final 12 months of his Bayern contract. The 27-year-old has won the World Cup and Champions League during his career and has made over 250 club appearances during his career, with more than 100 of those coming as a centre-back.

The player also has plenty of self-belief, personally claiming he is better and more complete at right-back than Liverpool’s Trent Alexander Arnold and Paris Saint-Germain’s Archaf Hakimi, but adding that he is naturally a centre-back.

“My position is a central defender. It always has been, this is where I feel most comfortable, where I take the most pleasure. This is where I find myself the best. I think we see more of my qualities in this position.

“If the great coaches put me on the right side, it is because they have confidence in my abilities. With Deschamps I have always been a holder. If he trusts me it’s not for my beautiful eyes or my hair. He is aware of my qualities. After that I have to improve in certain areas: I have to take more risks, more initiatives, I am aware of it and I work on that on a daily basis.

“A defender must first defend well. On paper, Pavard may be less sexy than Hakimi, Arnold, but I find that defensively I am more complete.”

Therefore, a Man United move for Pavard could be a shrewd one, as not only would he provide an option to rival Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, but the France international could also challenge Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and by the looks of things, the Red Devils are working on a deal.

Welch rejoins Bears as bowling coach

Rejuvenating the Edgbaston academy is a prime target as an old favourite returns to Birmingham

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2017

Graeme Welch had a difficult time at Derbyshire•Getty Images

Graeme Welch is rejoining Warwickshire as bowling coach after losing out on the same role with England to Essex’s Chris Silverwood.Welch served as bowling coach at Edgbaston for four years from January 2010, during which time the club won the County Championship title in 2012 and the Clydesdale Bank 40 in 2010.He left the club in 2014 to take up a role as elite performance director at Derbyshire but when that did not work out he subsequently moved to Leicestershire as assistant coach in September 2016 only for them to finish bottom of Division Two in the Championship.Welch’s reputation as a bowling coach remains unblemished, however, and Warwickshire were quick to hail his return as the next step in a coaching reshuffle that saw Alan Richardson released from the role last month.Ashley Giles, sport director at Warwickshire, said: “Graeme Welch is an outstanding bowling coach who was part of an excellent coaching team that delivered trophies at Edgbaston.”In our view he is one of the very best bowling coaches in the game and it came as no surprise to us when he was recently connected with the position of England bowling coach.”We are delighted that he has chosen to return to Edgbaston where he will not only be responsible for getting the first team back to winning ways but also building a bowling academy equipped to develop a new generation of bowlers, from all backgrounds, capable of delivering continued success in all formats for Warwickshire and the Birmingham Bears.”Welch said: “I have enjoyed my time at Leicestershire, but the chance to return to Edgbaston was one I could not turn down. I have been lucky enough to be part of successful Bears teams in the past as both player and coach and am very excited by the challenge of building a bowling academy which will bring success to the club on a sustained basis.”Leicestershire responded quickly to fill the vacancy, appointing John Sadler, who initially rejoined them as Second XI Coach last winter before taking charge of first team affairs alongside Graeme Welch for the final three matches of the 2017 season. Sadler and Paul Nixon, Leicestershire’s new coach, played in the same Foxes side and were both key members of the team that in the early years had the most successful record in the country.

Iyer 90, Phillips 140* headline thrilling tie

Shreyas Iyer and Ankit Bawne helped India A recover from a precarious position in their chase of 270 but their efforts eventually fell short

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Oct-2017Shreyas Iyer fell ten short of a ninth List-A hundred•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

A sensational hundred from Glenn Phillips took New Zealand A to 269 for 6, but his efforts were so well matched by half-centuries from India A’s Shreyas Iyer and Ankit Bawne that the second unofficial ODI between the two teams in Visakhapatnam ended in a tie.Such a dramatic finish had seemed rather unlikely considering that at one point, India A were 84 for 5. Scott Kuggeleijn (3 for 56) and Todd Astle (4 for 22) had run through the top order to have New Zealand A dreaming about their first victory on the tour. But Iyer, the captain, and Bawne, coming in at No. 7, strung together a partnership of 126 runs in only 104 balls to enliven the game.With 60 needed off the last 10 overs, however, Astle and Kuggeleijn combined to dismiss Iyer for 90 off 73 balls and then claimed three further wickets to set up a tantalising situation – 11 runs to get, six balls to go, one wicket in hand. Bawne, though, was still batting, and together with Siddharth Kaul, was able to bring India A level with New Zealand A in a rain-hit game.The weather in Visakhapatnam had forced this game, which was originally scheduled to be played on October 8, down to a 42-overs-a-side contest. And Phillips, coming in at No. 3, began dominating it with an array of shots. He racked up 15 fours and four sixes at a strike-rate of 107, a timely innings considering the New Zealand management had said six players from the A team would be brought on board for the limited-overs series against India starting on October 22.

Zimbabwe need bowling revival to keep series alive

Zimbabwe must now win both remaining matches, if they are to avoid a series defeat, but a newly inspired Sri Lanka top order stands in their way

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Jul-2017Match FactsJuly 8, 2017
Start time: 0945 local (0415GMT)Can Graeme Cremer tighten up things on Saturday?•Peter Della PennaBig PictureWho would want to be a limited-overs bowler? For so long, Sri Lanka had been the home of the lower-scoring ODI, but in the past week, two totals of more than 300 have been mowed down, which suggests the island’s tracks are also beginning to conform to a global trend. As with so many of the pitches during the recent Champions Trophy, two of the three pitches in this series have afforded virtually no seam movement, and no menacing turn.While the bowlers have been defanged – Zimbabwe especially having failed to take more than five wickets in any of the three innings so far – Sri Lanka’s batsmen appear to be in a good rhythm. Chief among them is Upul Tharanga, who, batting in an unfamiliar no. 4 position, has scored 198 runs in the series without having been dismissed. The openers have been in strapping form, and virtually everyone else in the top six has contributed a score as well.Zimbabwe must now win both remaining matches, if they are to avoid a series defeat, but a newly inspired Sri Lanka top order stands in their way. The key, for them, is the discipline in their spin bowling; on Thursday, the hosts’ openers were fed too many wayward deliveries in the middle overs, and found it too easy to work the ball around.Both sides’ catching is under the microscope too. On batting-friendly surfaces, wicket-taking opportunities are at a premium, and bowlers need their team-mates to convert every chance that comes their way.Form guideSri Lanka WWLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe LLWWLIn the spotlightWhile Asela Gunaratne’s batting has been required only once in the series, he has contributed nonetheless with the ball, breaking substantial stands in each match. His presence in the attack is vital. While Sri Lanka wean young spinners at the top level, Gunaratne has been sort of an insurance policy – a bowler to fall back on when the front-liners are having an off day. Where Lakshan Sandakan went for 73 runs on Thursday, for example, Gunaratne returned 2 for 53 from his 10 overs, and prevented Zimbabwe’s total from getting completely out of hand.Graeme Cremer came into the series with some form from the Scotland tour, and also the Pro50 at home, but is yet to make a substantial contribution in this series. Partly this is down to indiscipline. On Thursday, there were five wides down the leg side in his first over, and errors of length in most of his overs after that. As Imran Tahir has repeatedly proved this year – this Sri Lanka top order does not enjoy accurate legspin. If Cremer can tighten up his bowling, he could find himself among the wickets. It might also help if he could win a toss on occasion – by his own count, he has lost nine on the trot so far.Nuwan Kulasekara might replace Nuwan Pradeep in the fourth ODI•AFPTeam newsNuwan Pradeep, who had left the field with a thigh strain on Thursday, has been ruled out of the rest of the series. This means a spot may be open for either Nuwan Kulasekara, or 19-year-old quick Asitha Fernando, who have been drafted into the squad.* Lahiru Kumara is the other seamer in the squad. Sri Lanka may want to keep the top order and the spin attack intact.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Upul Tharanga, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Asela Gunaratne, 7 Wanidu Hasaranga, 8 Dushmantha Chameera, 9 Lakshan Sandakan, 10 Nuwan Kulasekara/Lahiru Kumara/Asitha Fernando, 11 Lasith MalingaRyan Burl had been unavailable for the third ODI after being briefly admitted to hospital, having unwittingly consumed food he was allergic to. Though he comes back into contention for this game, Zimbabwe may be tempted to stick with his replacement Tarisai Musakanda, who hit 48 from no. 3. Tendai Chatara had an indifferent outing in the last match, but as he remains Zimbabwe’s top wicket taker in the series, will likely retain his place. Carl Mumba may also get another run as the second seamer, having returned an economy rate of 5.68 in 6.2 overs.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Solomon Mire, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Tarisai Musakanda, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Malcolm Waller, 6 Sikander Raza, 8 Peter Moor (wk), 9 Graeme Cremer (capt.), 10 Tendai Chatara, 11 Carl MumbaPitch and conditionsThere is likely to be more of the crosswind that was seen on Thursday, though apparently there is also some chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. The pitch may not be quite as batting friendly, but is expected to have plenty of runs in it.Stats and trivia Thursday’s century was the fifth of Hamilton Masakadza’s ODI career. He now sits at fourth on Zimbabwe’s century-makers’ list, behind Brendon Taylor (8), Alistair Campbell (7) and Grant Flower (6). Since his return to ODI cricket following a 19-month layoff, Lasith Malinga has taken five wickets at an average of 63.60, with an economy rate of 6.25 If Sri Lanka win either of their remaining games, this will be the first ODI trophy they have won since November last year, when they beat Zimbabwe and West Indies in a tri-series.Quotes”There’s not much you can change in one day. We will take the positives and try and and restrict them.”
“What we need is consistency. We can lose one or two games, but if we bat well every day that’s great. Some days we don’t do well. If we want to improve we need to be consistent.”
*13.57 GMT, July 7: The story has been updated to reflect the inclusion of Nuwan Kulasekara in Sri Lanka’s squad.

Man United Eye Move For £43m Ligue 1 Titan

Manchester United are working on a number of deals to bolster their squad ahead of next season and now a reliable source has revealed a fresh update on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Man United's interest in Axel Disasi?

According to Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are "exploring" a move for Monaco centre-back Axel Disasi.

Romano revealed on Twitter:

"Newcastle and Manchester United are both exploring Disasi deal, no bids yet. Newcastle approached player side this week, expected to make contact with Monaco.

"Ten Hag approved Disasi — talks for weeks on player side but still waiting for approach with Monaco. More to follow."

Is Disasi a good player?

Erik ten Hag is pushing to improve a number of key areas on the pitch at Old Trafford with a new goalkeeper imminent due to David de Gea's departure and an extensive search to identify the next centre-forward who can lead the front line next season.

The Red Devils have already completed the signing of Mason Mount this summer, however, with recent reports claiming that the club are ready to offload a number of players before they return to action next month, there is still plenty of work to be done.

One of the players the club is keen to sell to boost transfer funds is club captain Harry Maguire, with the England star falling out of favour since the arrival of the former Ajax boss – tallying up just eight Premier League starts last season.

As a result, the signing of Disasi – who has a €50m (£43m) price tag – could further push Maguire out of the team and potentially out of the club altogether before the transfer window closes, as the Monaco ace could provide Ten Hag with a fresh, energetic and youthful prospect who can become part of the future of the team.

The 25-year-old Frenchman ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, assists, progressive passes, progressive carries, successful take-ons and touches, demonstrating strong ball-playing qualities from his centre-back position, as per FBref.

Not only that, Disasi has been attracting huge praise for his Ligue 1 performances, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig claiming he was made to play Premier League football:

"Disasi is one of the most underrated youngsters in Ligue 1 at the moment. A true hidden gem. We don’t talk about him enough."

"He would be an amazing signing for any top Premier League club. He was born to play in England."

The Man United head coach is keen to implement his preferred style of play by developing the players who are capable of his intuitive ball-playing style and replacing those that can't adapt, which is the likely reason why Maguire hasn't been featuring as much.

When comparing Disasi's output over the last 12 months to Maguire's, the Monaco titan delivered more progressive passes per 90 (5.80 v 3.09), interceptions completed per 90 (1.81 v 1.35), more progressive carries per 90 (1.70 v 0.95) and successful take-ons per 90 (0.57 v 0.24), showing the younger man's superior ease with regard to playing out from the back.

With that being said, if Man United can beat off their competition to sign Disasi it would be a great piece of business for a player who fit Ten Hag's philosophy perfectly and will give the squad the depth needed to finally offload Maguire too.

Leeds Manager Update From Elland Road "Sources"

Leeds United are reportedly not close to appointing a new manager despite speculation claiming Daniel Farke has agreed on Elland Road terms.

What’s the latest Leeds manager news?

The Whites are still looking to bring in a new long-term manager under new owners the 49ers Enterprises. However, the club appear to be waiting for the EFL to give the green light on a takeover before any official announcement is made on a new manager.

Time is ticking, though, with a number of Leeds’ first-team players set to report back for pre-season ahead of the new Championship season over the coming days.

There have been plenty of rumours about Farke making the move to Yorkshire, with The Daily Mail claiming on Thursday lunchtime that the German has now agreed on terms with the Whites and has even been shown around the Thorp Arch training complex following a lengthy interview process.

However, according to talkSPORT’s Jason Bourne, Leeds are not close to appointing a new manager, saying on Thursday evening:

“Sources close to Leeds suggesting to talkSPORT they're not close with an appointment of a head coach yet. Daniel Farke is being heavily linked with the role today.”

daniel-farke-leeds-united-manager-gossip-live-updates-liverpool-klopp

What other managers have been linked with Leeds?

It has been a lengthy process on the search for a new manager after Sam Allardyce was relieved of his duties following a temporary stint, and Farke isn’t the only name to have been linked with a move to Leeds.

Reports earlier this month claimed that former Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira and ex-Bournemouth boss Scott Parker were also among the leading candidates. However, it looks as if Vieira is one of the favourites to take over at French side Strasbourg, so a move to Elland Road may not be on the cards.

Speculation has gone quiet with Parker, but on the face of things, you could argue that Farke is the standout option for the three mentioned.

Vieira doesn’t have any experience of the Championship, although Parker has two promotions to the Premier League on his CV with Bournemouth and Fulham, one of which came via the playoffs.

Farke plays a 4-2-3-1 system and has racked up a whopping 251 points in 138 games in the Championship with Norwich City. He led the Canaries to two titles in the second tier, so he could look to make it three with Leeds, but by the looks of it, a move may not be as advanced as some believe.

The 8 cheapest sports streaming services: Subscription plans and monthly prices

The GOAL guide on how to score a bargain in the world of sports streaming

Editors' pick

ESPN+

Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.

Offline downloads: Yes

Entertainment: No

DVR capabilities: No

Monthly from

$9.99

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Paramount+

Sports available: NFL, NCAA, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONCACAF, Serie A and more.

Offline downloads: Yes

Entertainment: Yes

DVR capabilities: No

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$4.99

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Hulu

Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.

Offline downloads: Yes

Entertainment: No

DVR capabilities: Unlimited w/ Live TV package

Monthly from

$12.99

Get HuluEditors' pick

ESPN+

Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.

Offline downloads: Yes

Entertainment: No

DVR capabilities: No

Monthly from

$9.99

Get ESPN+Cheapest choice

Paramount+

Sports available: NFL, NCAA, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONCACAF, Serie A and more.

Offline downloads: Yes

Entertainment: Yes

DVR capabilities: No

Monthly from

$4.99

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Hulu

Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.

Offline downloads: Yes

Entertainment: No

DVR capabilities: Unlimited w/ Live TV package

Monthly from

$12.99

Get HuluEditors' pick

ESPN+

Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.

Offline downloads: Yes

Entertainment: No

DVR capabilities: No

Monthly from

$9.99

Get ESPN+Cheapest choice

Paramount+

Sports available: NFL, NCAA, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, CONCACAF, Serie A and more.

Offline downloads: Yes

Entertainment: Yes

DVR capabilities: No

Monthly from

$4.99

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Hulu

Sports available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, UFC, boxing and more.

Offline downloads: Yes

Entertainment: No

DVR capabilities: Unlimited w/ Live TV package

Monthly from

$12.99

Get Hulu

Delving into the world of online video streaming services, it's typical to encounter a minefield of information. Increased competition can lead to increased confusion for the customer.

With so many plans, price points, add-ons, bolt-ons, and you name it, you need a digestible guide and luckily GOAL is on hand to help you out!

Through the lens of a sports-specific focus, this list will take you through the major players on the streaming scene. Ordered by cheapest first, we go through where the best value for money is for you and your particular preferences. So, without further adieu…

RELATED: The best streaming services for sports fans

#1. Paramount+ – $5.99 per monthShop Paramount+ plans

At $5.99, Paramount+ offers the cheapest sports subscription service currently on the market. As you might imagine at such a price point, coverage is limited and Paramount+ have so far only dabbled into the sports world via football and soccer.

Paramount+'s American football offering includes the latest from both the NFL as well as the NCAA.

When it comes to soccer, Paramount+ is the home of the UEFA Champions League and several other high profile tournaments across Europe. You can also watch Team USA in action in the CONCACAF Nations League.

RELATED: How to watch live sports on Paramount+: plans, cost, coverage and more

Start a Paramount+ subscription todayFind a plan

#3. ESPN+ – $10.99 per monthFind a plan

Priced at $10.99 per month, you can’t argue with ESPN+ when it comes to value for money. If you’re a fan of one particular sport, there is a good chance that ESPN+ will cover it in one guise or another.

Basketball, baseball, football soccer, UFC, boxing. The list goes on and on. But fair word of warning: some specific events within ESPN+’s sporting coverage is behind a PPV paywall that a standard plan won’t grant you access to.

ESPN+ Annual Plan Discounts

ESPN+ is available for $109.99 for the year. This would give you around a $20 saving if chosen instead of the monthly option – a worthwhile commitment for sports fans who are sure to get more than their money’s worth across 12 months.

RELATED:How to watch live sports on ESPN+: stream live soccer and more

Start an ESPN+ subscription todayFind a plan

#2. Fanatiz -$9.99 per monthGetty Images / GOALFind a plan

Fanatiz do actually have two options cheaper per month but their most popular Front Row Monthly plan is a fairer reflection of their typical price point.

Cheaper plans at Fanatiz – like the Liga1 Play, Brasileirao Play and AFA Play plans only give customers access to one specific soccer league. If, of course, you are a fan of either Peruvian, Brazilian or Argentinian football, then by all means take advantage of their cheapest price offering! A $5.99 per month option – the HandballSCA Plan – is also available

Fanatiz Annual Plan Discounts

All plans at Fanatiz come with a 33% discount when purchased annually. This means the most popular Front Row Annual plan will set you back $79.99 for a 12 month commitment (equivalent to $6.67 per month).

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#4. Hulu – $12.99 per monthGetty Images / GOALFind a plan

Hulu offer perhaps the biggest of price points on the live streaming market. Their Disney Bundle Trio at $12.99, however, is the fairest reflection for this particular list.

While their cheapest price starts at $7.99 per month, it isn’t until you get the bundle that includes ESPN+ as standard where you get value for your money as a sports fan.

At the higher end of their pricing is Hulu + Live TV, and it is here where you get into the territory of some real comprehensive coverage. Among their access to 85 live channels, customers can find live sports on ESPN, FS1, SEC, BTN and ACCN.

Hulu Premium and Live TV Add-ons

Along with everything mentioned above, further add-ons are available to various Hulu plans.

Premium add-ons – which can be tacked on to Hulu plan – include Max ($15.99 per month), Cinemax ($9.99 per month), SHOWTIME ($10.99 per month), STARZ ($9.99 per month).

Soccer fans will be interested to know that Max, the streaming service formerly known as HBO Max, has exclusive coverage to both men’s and women’s Team USA matches.

SHOWTIME, meanwhile, is a word and network that has always gone hand-in-hand with the world of boxing.

The Sports Add-on is priced at an additional $9.99 per month. It is one of four Live TV Add-ons that you can add to any Live TV plan. The Sports Add-on has six on-demand and live streaming services: NFL Redzone.

RELATED:How to watch live sports on Hulu + Live TV

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