Manchester United used to set the benchmark for great strikers. Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Eric Cantona, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Robin van Persie -- it's a long list of formidable goal scorers, but one that is now a fading memory obscured by a succession of expensive misfits who have tried and failed to join that elite list in recent years.

At 22, it would be a big challenge for Liam Delap to prove himself a worthy successor to some of Old Trafford's most iconic centre-forwards, but the Ipswich Town striker is the club's favoured summer target because he has the potential to do so.

Sources have told ESPN that United have placed Delap, who could be available for a transfer fee of 40 million if Ipswich are relegated this summer, ahead of Sporting CP's Viktor Gyökeres, RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen, who is on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, in their list of potential attacking reinforcements.

In his first full campaign in the Premier League this season, Delap has scored 12 goals in 30 appearances for an Ipswich team playing in the top-flight for the first time since 2002. He has shown pace, physical presence and the ability lead the attacking line and Kieran McKenna's team have also benefited from Delap being able to hold the ball up and provide a platform for Ipswich's midfielders and wingers, as well as displaying the alternative skillset of turning his marker and creating his own efforts on goal.

Delap's attributes bear similarities to those of a young Alan Shearer, who remains the Premier League's all-time leading goal scorer with 260 goals for Blackburn and Newcastle. And, with United and Chelsea now emerging as rivals for Delap's signature this summer, Shearer said last week that the former Manchester City youngster has what it takes to make it to the top.

"Big clubs will be looking at him [Delap], because I think he's got something about him," Shearer told Betfair. "He's got an arrogance about him, which I really like and he's got an aura. He's already been linked with a number of clubs in the Premier League and looking at who he's been linked with, I think he can go in and command a starting role. He's better than anything Man Utd have got up front. He's also better than anything Chelsea have got up front, so the answer is simple - yes, he would start for those clubs."

United's track record of signing strikers since Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded Arsenal to offload Van Persie in a 24m transfer in August 2012 has been abject, with the club lurching from short-term signings -- Radamel Falcao, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani -- to inexperienced youngsters including Anthony Martial [who is now at AEK Athens], Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee. Panic January loan moves have also resulted in deals for Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst.

Aside from the 75m signing of Romelu Lukaku from Everton in July 2017, United have not acquired a forward at his peak since Van Persie. Lukaku's return of 42 goals in 96 appearances now looks exceptional as the years have passed, but the Belgium forward was moved on by the club after two seasons and they have made mistake after mistake ever since.

This is why the summer's striker pursuit is so crucial. If United are to once again challenge for the major trophies, they must sign a reliable goal scorer.

Having scored just 37 goals in 31 league games so far this season -- Sunday's 0-0 draw against City at Old Trafford was the 12th time United failed to score in a Premier League game during this campaign -- United will set a new record for their lowest goals tally in the Premier League era by eclipsing the existing low of 54 goals in the 2016-17 if they fail to score at least 17 goals in their remaining seven fixtures.

Højlund, a 64m signing from Atalanta in August 2023, has scored three league goals this season and registered only one goal in his last 24 games all competitions, while Zirkzee has also netted three league goals since arriving from Bologna in a 36.5m transfer last summer.

United's lack of attacking threat was identified by the club's scouting team, headed by technical director Jason Wilcox, who brought Delap through the City Academy, and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, prior to Amorim's arrival in place of the sacked Erik ten Hag last November.

With a lack of available options during the January transfer window and a need to reduce the wage bill, the club focused on offloading out-of-favour forwards Marcus Rashford and Antony on loan deals to Aston Villa and Real Betis respectively -- a decision which has left Amorim's squad since desperately short of attacking options.

But sources have told ESPN that the signing of a new striker, preferably Delap, coupled with the return to fitness of winger Amad Diallo and development of 17-year-old striker Chido Obi (who signed on a free transfer from Arsenal), will give the team the cutting edge it has lacked.

With a 100m release clause in Gyökeres' contract at Sporting, the cost of pursuing the 26-year-old is regarded as prohibitive by United. He was a crucial figure in Sporting's title success in Portugal under Amorim last season, scoring 50 goals in all competitions and backing it up with 43 goals so far this season, but the potential fee and a poor track record of strikers moving from the Portuguese league to the Premier League -- United abandoned interest in Darwin Núñez for the same reason when he left Benfica for a 75m move to Liverpool in 2022 -- has diminished interest in the Sweden international.

Amorim rates him highly, but with the fee, concerns over his ability to succeed in England and likely interest from Champions League clubs, Gyökeres is not a priority target. Similar doubts over cost and Premier League compatibility also hang over Sesko and Osimhen.

But Gyökeres' attributes, which are almost identical to Delap's, underscore the profile of what Amorim wants from his centre-forward in his favoured 3-4-3 formation and neither Højlund or Zirkzee meet the coach's requirements.

Amorim wants a physical presence, but also a striker with the ability to escape his marker and hold the ball up, depending on circumstances. Delap fits the bill and would cost half of what Sporting would expect for Gyökeres.

United want long-term value and an instant impact. It is a difficult balance to strike, as they have repeatedly discovered to their cost. But right now, Delap is showing that he could offer both.

Close friendships were formed as Ward-Hibbert travelled the world playing tennis, and in 2012 he reached the pinnacle as he teamed up with Liam Broady to win the Australian Open junior doubles title.

Ward-Hibbert turned professional and won one singles title and 13 doubles titles on the ITF Futures circuit, including five with Broady and four with Lloyd Glasspool, another who is now a regular on the main ATP doubles circuit.

But he struggled to progress beyond that, and at 22 he decided to step away from tour life to go to Loughborough University to further his education.

"There were a few things that happened in my personal life, and I had a little injury that kept recurring and was not going away how I wanted it to," he said.

"Everything just combined to put me to a tipping point.

"Tennis is a super-tough sport, physically and mentally. You are always travelling, you are constantly living out of a suitcase.

"No matter where it is, you have got to live it. It's difficult, it's very much a lifestyle, 45, 50 weeks of the year."

But Ward-Hibbert would not be without his tennis career.

"It is an amazing sport. There were so many highs, it taught me so much as a person, and the kind of person I am today is from the journey I had.

"I'm definitely glad I had that journey. It would be remiss not to say I wish I had got to world number one, but that wasn't in my path.

"I got to win a Grand Slam with one of my closest friends still to this day. That is a memory I am never going to forget."

Egypts Salma Hany and Mexicos Leonel Cardenas have claimed the Manchester Open 2025 titles after beating top seeds Georgina Kennedy and Aly Abou Eleinen in the PSA Squash Tour Bronze-level events.

The womens final was first up on finals day as defending champion Kennedy looked to score a win in her third consecutive Manchester Open final. Hany had been in terrific form all week and started in superb style in the final. She raced out to a 1-0 lead winning 11-2, silencing the home crowd. 

Kennedy fought back in game two and started to get in front of the Egyptian. Her trademark quick boast was starting to ask questions of the Hanys movement and answers werent forthcoming. Kennedys line hitting improved and so did her points haul. She moved through the gears to win the game 11-9. 

Hany turned the tide back in her favour in game three and after winning 11-3 to lead 2-1, looked determined to close the match out in four. Kennedy had other ideas however and chose to change the ball which worked perfectly at the start of the fourth game.

The top seed ran out to a 4-1 lead by stepping up on the volley and forced Hany into making guesses when her attacks were loose. Hany gave up the ghost at the end of the game with Kennedy holding a strong lead at 10-5 and it wasnt long before we entered the fifth game. 

In a nervous fifth, neither could get away on the scoreboard until Hany won three points in a row to earn three match balls at 10-7. Kennedy clawed two points back to set up a nervy final match ball for Hany but a wicked cross court from a heavy Kennedy drop sealed the first title of the season for the Egyptian.

I still cant believe its over. What a battle. said Hany after her win.

I feel really proud with how I kept it together til the end. I felt really sharp but playing Gina is not easy at all. Shes such a fighter. We played a battle here last year so Im just really happy I could win this one.

This means a lot. This is extra special. Especially after my injury at the start of the season and it was really important to me and my team and weve all been through a lot with the injury. It was really tough and today I just wanted to stand up for myself and my team and Im always so grateful for their support and heres to more wins.

Both mens finalists had reached the title decider relatively unscathed and knew that only their best would be good enough to capture the trophy. The Mexican No.1 stormed through the first game, using his strength around the middle of the court to dominate the rallies and leave Eleinen searching for answers. None came for the top seeded Egyptian and in a matter of minutes, the No.2 seed was in the lead.

The Egyptian fired back in game two and started to assert himself at the front of the court to showcase his attacking abilities. He claimed the game 11-5 to draw level in a match that was just getting started. Cardenas did well to reverse the momentum once again and sneak ahead in game three. The World No.17 closed out the game with several hard-nosed rallies, squeezing Eleinen on the side walls and tidying up the resulting loose balls. 11-9 was the score in the third game, as the Mexican moved ahead.

A big response was needed by the Egyptian and thats what we got. The World No.13 showed exactly why he is capable of beating the top players such as Mostafa Asal. He resorted back to basics and forced errors from the Mexicans racket to force an exciting decider. 

As the fifth game progressed, there was nothing between the two with both eager to remain solid and not give anything away. Cardenas kept his concentration the better and moved through to 9-6. Eleinen wasnt done there however and came back to 9-8. Cardenas earned a match ball and pumped a ball straight down line on match ball and after a no let was given after a review, the Mexican was the champion.

It was an unbelievable match.said Cardenas.

All credit to Aly, it could have gone either way and Im just happy with the way we played today. Im sure it wont be the last final that well play together. Weve been playing since juniors and hes one of the best players on the tour right now.

I want to thank all my supporters in Mexico, my sponsors and my family. I want to thank the crowd, this is probably the biggest crowd that Ive played in front of and it helped me get over the line for sure and I hope to be back next year.

PSA Squash Tour action heads to Egypt next for the El Gouna International Squash Open 2025, the final Platinum level event of the 24/25 season. The tournament runs between 12-18 April.

Result: Manchester Open Womens Final

[3] Salma Hany (EGY) bt [1] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 3-2: 11-2, 9-11, 11-3, 5-11, 11-9 (63m)

Result: Manchester Open Mens Final

[2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt [1] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 3-2: 11-2, 5-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8 (71m)

The inaugural edition of the U23 World Squash Championships got off to a rip-roaring start at DHA Creek Club as 20 top quality matches wowed the Karachi crowd.

The tournament, which will see the winners claim the lions share of a $60,000USD prize pot and qualify automatically for this years PSA World Championships, is taking place in Pakistan from 6-10 April.

In the match of the day, Malaysian 3/4 seed Ameeshenraj Chandaran was pushed to the limit by unseeded Pakistani Muhammad Ammad in a 71-minute epic on the glass court.

Ammad, 19, thrived in front of the assembled squash royalty including Jahangir Khan and Qamar Zaman, taking a surprise lead against the World No.89 with a thrilling 12-10 win.

Chandaran fired back with an 11-7 win only for Ammad to dig in to reclaim the lead 11-9 in game three.

Ammad, whose highest World Ranking to date was 336 in 2023, was briefly in the ascendency in game four as he sensed a famous upset, only for Chandaran to finally find his rhythm, drawing level once again with an 11-9 win of his own.

With the wind in his sails, Chandaran pushed on and the 21-year-old closed out after a nervous video referee decision on match ball 11-8 to set up a second round clash with Hong Kong, Chinas Matthew Lam.

There was so much on the line and Ammad put up a very good fight.  Ive got juice left in me, but Im going to take it one game at a time, Chandaran said afterwards.

Ammad was one of six home representatives in action today. In the womens draw, Amna Fayyaz and Sana Bahadar battled bravely before going down in close matches against Kurumi Takahashi and Tamara Holzbauerová, while Mariam Malik was beaten in straight games by Noa Romero Blazquez.

In the mens event, the hosts secured two wins via Noor Zaman and Hamza Khan. Noor Zaman grandson of Pakistan great Qamar Zaman fought back from a game down to beat Kuwaits Hussain Alzaatari, while Khan World Junior Champion in 2023 cruised past Radu Stefan Pena of Romania.

Click here to view all the results from round one of the 2025 U23 World Squash Championship.

Squad selection for the Lions always stirs up debate and fly-half is set to be a hotly-contested position.

England duo Fin Smith and Marcus Smith, Scotland's Finn Russell and the Ireland pair of Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley will be under consideration to wear the 10 jersey.

Former Ulster fly-half Ian Humphreys believes England fly-half Fin Smith could be named in the squad at the expense of England team-mate Marcus Smith, with Russell and Prendergast also included.

"I think Prendergast will go and will start the first Test," said Humphreys.

"Marcus Smith could miss out because he didn't play there much in the Six Nations, so I think it will be Fin Smith, Prendergast and Russell.

Seymour disagreed and said Marcus Smith's versatility and credit in the bank before the Six Nations means he is still in a strong position to get the nod.

"I feel like Marcus Smith was in a really strong position before the Six Nations," said Seymour.

"Through performance and selection he's maybe not as clear-cut now, and Fin Smith has been a wonderful player for England.

"Marcus Smith's ability to play 15 as well might provide him with a little bit of a leverage on Fin Smith."

An outside contender is Owen Farrell, son of head coach Andy, who has recently returned from injury for Racing 92, but has not played Test rugby since the 2023 World Cup.

"He's missed a lot of the season, but if he can get back to playing well - you talk about multiple positions," added Humphreys.

"In a good way, I don't think he [Andy Farrell] cares what anyone else thinks.

"If he can go out there and do a job, which no doubt he probably can, then it's not beyond the realms of possibility."