Manchester United have reportedly made contact for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as he ‘wants to leave’ Everton, amid the advances of a number of sides.

United’s current crop of strikers are underwhelming at present. Joshua Zirkzee has three goals in 31 Premier League games this season, and Rasmus Hojlund has three in 26; he has been better in the Europa League, with five in 10, as well as three assists.

Overall, though, the pair have left a lot to be desired, and United have been linked with a few strikers. In February, it was reported they could consider the free agent market, with Calvert-Lewin and Jamie Vardy mooted.

According to TBRFootball, the Red Devils ‘made contact’ for Calvert-Lewin, but nothing has gone any further as yet. There certainly is a chance of him becoming available on a free transfer, though.

The report states the Everton striker is ‘ready to leave’ despite the club’s hopes of handing him a new deal. It’s stated they haven’t given up hope of that, but they are yet to make progress.

Calvert-Lewin is said to be drawing attention from a few sides given a ‘player of his calibre’ is set to be available on a free in the summer. That said, he’s not been particularly effective in the last few years – his last 10-goal season coming four seasons ago, though he has been injured often since then.

This season, the Everton man is on just three goals in the Premier League, despite having started 19 games.

Still, the report suggests alongside United, Newcastle are interested, and West Ham and Nottingham Forest have both made enquiries.

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There is also a chance that Tottenham go after him, as per the report, which suggests he could swap places with Richarlison, after it was revealed the Brazilian striker could be of interest to the Toffees, a club he left in 2022.

On the face of it, that would see two underwhelming strikers swap clubs, but Richarlison scored 53 goals in 152 games at Everton, and Calvert-Lewin has surpassed 13 Premier League goals in two separate seasons, so a change of scenery could be good for the pair.

That said, it’s not clear which side is best placed to land Calvert-Lewin at the moment.

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The Sporting scout who first spotted Cristiano Ronaldo has died, with the Portuguese star praising him as “one of the great names in world football.”

Aurelio Pereira spent decades at Sporting and is credited for discovering players such as Luis Figo, Nani, Ricardo Quaresma and Ronaldo.

His influence was most notable in 2016 when Portugal’s Euro-winning squad featured 10 players discovered by him.

The former player died at the age of 77 on Tuesday and Ronaldo was one of the first to pay tribute.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner said: “One of the great names in world football has left us, but his legacy will live on forever.

“I will never stop being grateful for everything he did for me and so many other players. So long, Mr. Aurelio, thank you for everything. Rest in peace.”

A former Sporting player, Pereira took up coaching at Futebol Benfica before returning to Sporting to create and lead the Recruitment and Training Department.

The club said: “Sporting Clube de Portugal expresses its sorrow at the death of Aurélio da Silva Pereira, the unmistakable Mr Training, Member 3,226-0, who passed away this Tuesday at the age of 77.

“He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest names in the history of national football and, above all, in the history of Sporting Clube de Portugal.”

The Portuguese Football Federation said: “The death of Aurelio Pereira represents an irreparable loss for Portuguese Football.

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“For history, in addition to the enormous legacy built by the man who discovered some of the best players in our history, there will be a kind person, of fine treatment and who always defended our talent.”

In 2012, a pitch at Sporting’s training ground was named after him.

Ronaldo joined Sporting’s academy at the age of 12 having impressed in a three-day trial.

Having made his way through Sporting’s youth teams, Ronaldo was promoted to the first team in 2002 and made his debut at the age of 17.

In 2003, he moved to Manchester United for a fee of £12million and would go on to win three Premier League titles, one Champions League and the 2008 Ballon d’Or before heading to Real Madrid.

Arsenal legend Emanuel Petit leapt to the defence of abused Man City star Phil Foden today, referring to the chants he was subjected to during a 0-0 draw with Man City as a “disease” brought about by “stupid people”.

Foden, 24, was on the receiving end of derogatory chants from Man United fans on Sunday, primarily aimed at his mother, Claire Rowlands.

The 1998 World Cup winner, who made over 200 appearances for Monaco and scored 11 goals for Arsenal, made his feelings perfectly clear as he delivered a strongly worded statement on the “ruthless” action required to create a safer space for players.

The sinister chants weren’t quite the tip of the iceberg at Old Trafford, as news broke on Monday than Jack Grealish was subjected to an assault at the full-time whistle.

Petit believes the clubs have to take responsibility and make a strong statement in the way they deal with guilty supporters:

“Sometimes [they chant about] your mother, children [or about] your father who is dead. If I am Manchester United, I would be very hard on my own fans. I will say zero tolerance.

“You know you did that. We got the images. We have the proof you’ve done that. You’re out of the game, you’re out of the stadium.

“You don’t come back. We don’t need you. We don’t want you back in the stadium. You are not the fans we want.

“So that, for me, is very simple with everything there is – there is cameras everywhere. We know who do that. So it’s very simple to take action from that.”

The former French international, now 54, was also able to draw upon his own personal experience of suffering abuse while on the pitch.

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He added: “Back in the day when I was playing, I received some bad comments as well. Sometimes they used to call me Gypsy, and they said things about my family. There, I received some racist comments as well.

“I tried to avoid them all the time. I tried to protect myself not to get emotional about this. And I tried as much as possible.

“The best answer you can give is on the pitch – just win the game, shut your mouth and leave the game.”

The chants at Old Trafford were audible throughout Man United‘s fixture against Man City, eventually drawing a response from Foden, who sarcastically applauded sections of the crowd and offered a thumbs up. Pep Guardiola later withdrew the England international in the 58th minute.

Petit continued: “I’m talking about what happened in Man United, but it’s everywhere, the same. Fifa and Uefa, those guys, have to be ruthless. They have to take decisions and they have to make examples out of it.

“I think in France is the same. I think sometimes those who are responsible of the game don’t take those problems seriously.

“It’s funny to see the message that UEFA or FIFA try to send every time there is a fight against racism. You want to do it? Do it properly.

“I mean clubs, they are protecting their fans all the time. They have to be ruthless. So what can I say more honestly? It’s a pity, it’s a disease.

“This is something that we’ve been fighting against in football for years, and years, and years. I think the sanctions, the fines, should be more important, because you can identify people easily with cameras in a stadium. So something has to be done.

“Those stupid people, they feel free to do what they want to do in a ground.

“What is the point of spending money, buying a ticket to watch the game, and then you go there and just make some very bad comments about family, about loved ones, the skin of one’s colour, or religion? I don’t know. I don’t get it, honestly.

“So for me, it’s a disease in football, it’s a disease on social networks. And those people who are responsible of the game or social networks, I think they have to step up and take their responsibility.”

Petit also believes that officials should shoulder more responsibility and take some initiative to stamp out the behaviour.

“Well, I think the referee has to take the decision as well. They should stop the game. No more of that, send a strong message every time you hear bad comments, racist comments about family, stop the game. That’s it. Send the players back into the dressing room.

“Because I think it’s very easy for so many people to hide behind their fingers. So I think referees have to to step up to make a strong decision, even if it’s not popular.

“But as well, the players. I’ve seen the last few years some players and teams leaving the pitch after racist comments about their team-mates. And this is one solution.

“But in the meantime, it’s not the priority of the players to do that. They’ve been paid to play.

“Those people in charge of the laws, they have to step up and take the responsibility, and it starts with the referee.”