Ref Watch

• Both clubs submit offers that could rise to almost £75m

• Alexander Isak scheduled for talks with Eddie Howe

Manchester United are battling with Newcastle to sign the RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. Newcastle had appeared to be within touching distance of a deal for the 22-year-old but Manchester United made a rival bid on Tuesday and believe the player would prefer a move to Old Trafford.

Newcastle submitted a second offer for Sesko of £69.7m, which with add-ons could rise to almost £75m, after receiving encouragement that he was potentially open to a transfer to Tyneside. But cautious optimism at St James’ Park regarding an agreement was caveated by Manchester United’s interest.

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Speaking to Sacked in the Morning, former Rangers manager Philippe Clement says his time at Ibrox was hamstrung by “total chaos” at boardroom level.

Speaking to Sacked in the Morning, former Rangers manager Philippe Clement says his time at Ibrox was hamstrung by “total chaos” at boardroom level.

The South Korean will not be returning to the club following their conclusion of their pre-season tour.

The South Korean will not be returning to the club following their conclusion of their pre-season tour.

PGMO puts its officials through their paces on the Costa Blanca and offers an insight into what goes on off the pitch

“Three, two, one,” comes the countdown from Francis Bunce, a senior sports scientist at the referees’ body Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), before he blows the whistle to kick off the much-anticipated maximal aerobic speed (Mas) test. It is 8.53am at the La Finca resort on the Costa Blanca, about 30C and the warm-up has very much been and gone. This a six-minute all-out run. “They call it Mas because at the end you’re just praying for it to finish,” says a smiling Keith Hill, one of the referee coaches observing the session with Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer.

Part of Webb wishes he had a time machine, so he could teleport here a minibus of referees at their peak in 2003, when he joined the Premier League list, to witness the evolution of training. Now they run approximately 12km a game and use technology such as Playermaker, straps that attach to boots and can read running gaits, track how quickly officials change direction and identify injuries. Scott Ledger, who has been an assistant referee on more than 500 Premier League games, is wearing boots fit for the occasion, Adidas Copa Mundials decorated with the Spanish flag. This is day three of a five-day pre-season camp but the Mas is the main event from a physical perspective.

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