Eric Cantona is the surprise favourite to become Manchester United’s new director of football. The Red Devils are looking for someone to control the structure of the club, taking care of its core values and ensuring the football philosophy is maintained. Known for his charismatic persona, Cantona has an iconic status at the club, and was once voted its greatest ever player by Inside United magazine. He has been out of the game since his premature retirement in 1997, but a return to Old Trafford could now be on the cards, with bookmakers making him the even-money favourite to take the reigns. Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek said: “Manchester United’s need…

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has backed the Premiership players who are calling for artificial pitches to be removed from the Scottish game. PFA Scotland, the players’ union, announced on Thursday that 100 per cent of players at nine Premiership clubs want plastic pitches to be banned. The nine clubs surveyed all play on grass, with the three not included – Hamilton, Kilmarnock and Livingston – all using artificial surfaces at their home stadiums. A petition calling for action over artificial pitches with the players’ signatures is expected to be sent to sent to the Scottish Professional Football League. Rangers suffered the negative consequences of playing on a plastic pitch earlier…

talkSPORT.com rounds up all the latest transfer news and football gossip from Wednesday’s papers and online… Chelsea want to make Zinedine Zidane, the former Real Madrid coach, their next manager should Maurizio Sarri lose his job. Sarri is under real pressure following four successive away defeats. (Sun) Tottenham will make a summer move for Ivan Perisic, the Internazionale winger. Arsenal hoped to sign Perisic throughout January but the 30-year-old prefers to join Spurs over the Gunners. (Tuttosport) Spurs are also considering a swoop for Daniel Sturridge, who will be out of contract at the end of the season. The Liverpool forward is expected to refuse any new deal and depart…

Chelsea are reportedly one of several European giants currently monitoring Everton forward Richarlison. Maurizio Sarri’s men have been previously linked with a move for the versatile attacker – who can play as both a left winger and a centre forward – on multiple occasions, though nothing came of the speculation. Now however, it’s claimed by The Daily Star that Chelsea, PSG, Milan and Atletico Madrid are all watching Richarlison closely. Everton are understood to value the Brazilian at £80million, having paid £50million to sign him from Watford in July. The Blues may be in need of a new forward in the summer, should star man Eden Hazard opt to leave…