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Manchester United have been given a major Europa League boost with Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski set to undergo surgery. The midfielder suffered a patella injury during Spurs’ defeat against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Kulusevski limped off during the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Sweden international now seems set to miss the Europa League final after undergoing surgery. It is a cruel blow for Kulusevski, who has been one of struggling Spurs' strongest performers this season.

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A club statement read: “We can confirm that Dejan Kulusevski suffered an injury to his right patella in our Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace last weekend.

“Following further specialist consultation, the midfielder has undergone surgery today and will commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff immediately.”

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou had initially claimed that the medical team were not concerned by the 25-year-old’s injury. They believed he had only suffered a ‘knock’.

When asked about Kulusevski after the game, the Australian said: “He should be okay, just talking to him after. The medical team are not too concerned with him, more of a knock than anything else. So we're hoping he should be okay.”

United face Spurs in Bilbao on May 21. That would leave Kulusevski with only seven days to recover from his surgery before taking part in the crunch all-Premier League showdown.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has faced a fresh wave of criticism after reports of Manchester United's latest cost-cutting measures ahead of the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur. The INEOS kingpin is an unpopular figure in some quarters of the fanbase due to a series of ruthless financial decisions since he became part-owner in February 2024.

United have overseen around 450 redundancies since Sir Jim invested £1.3billion for a 28.9 per cent stake in the club. Other budget cuts have included the cancellation of the club's Christmas party, the removal of several staff perks, including free meals at the training ground, and mid-season ticket price rises.

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United employees also had to cover their own travel expenses for last season's FA Cup final, while losing other perks for the Wembley trip.

Sir Jim has struck again for the Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21, sparking further mass criticism.

According to The Athletic, United have told staff they won't receive complimentary tickets for the crunch showdown at San Mames Stadium.

Coaches, physios and support staff had to purchase up to two tickets themselves, prompting head coach Ruben Amorim to step in.

The report claims that Amorim has covered the cost for around 30 members of his backroom staff to bring their families to Bilbao.

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While the Portuguese boss has been hailed for his actions, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has welcomed more contrasting attention over the morale-squashing decision.

United supporters have already included the British billionaire in large protests against the majority owners, the Glazer family, outside and inside Old Trafford.

Sir Jim insists his primary focus is making the Red Devils successful and has framed his investment as a passion project rather than a money-making scheme.

In March, he admitted that if the ill-feeling towards him grew as strong as it is towards the Glazers, who can't attend matches without security, he would walk away from the project.

"It can be unpleasant. And I've probably failed on the having fun front. I mean, I can put up with it for a while," Sir Jim told The Times.

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"I don't mind being unpopular because I get that nobody likes seeing Manchester United down where they are, and nobody likes the decisions we're having to make at the moment.

"If I draw a bit of the ire, I can put up with that. But I'm no different to the average person. It's not nice, particularly for friends and family.

"So, eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I'd have to say, look, enough's enough, guys, let somebody else do this.

"They can't really come to a match, the Glazers. They've retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I'm getting all the bloody stick."

But - barring an altercation where an angry United fan aimed abuse at Sir Jim as he left January's 1-0 win at Fulham - he added that he hadn't come close to that level of animosity yet.

Manchester United have made no attempts to underplay the importance of the club qualifying for next season's Champions League. That is the prize, as well as a third trophy in as many years, if the Red Devils defeat Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final on May 21.

"I think it is about the budget when planning for next season. The Champions League can change everything," Ruben Amorim explained in April. "If you are in the Champions League, you play top teams on a Wednesday and at the weekend. This is the best thing. But we need to have the best team."

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In March, chief executive Omar Berrada said: "There's no doubt that if we qualify for the Champions League, we will have more revenues and we'll have more capacity to invest in the team.

However, Berrada insisted that measures had been put in place so that United were in a position to financially back Amorim even if they face a year away from European football.

While no Champions League involvement would be a hit from a sporting and financial perspective, it would hand the club an open goal to take desperately needed measures.

Amorim needs the freedom to transform his squad if he is to be a success at Old Trafford, having inherited a group of players who have struggled to adapt to a 3-4-3 system.

The Portuguese tactician needs recruits, that goes without saying. United can reportedly afford to outlay £92.5million on top attacking targets Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap with their base budget.

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Arrivals beyond the Premier League duo would likely rely on player sales, which should become easier to sanction with one less competition to plan for.

United last spent a season out of Europe under Louis van Gaal in 2014/15 after David Moyes' disastrous succession of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Van Gaal oversaw 17 first-team departures in his first summer as manager. His six signings included Angel di Maria, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera.

Amorim needs to be as cut-throat if United are to have a one-game-per-week schedule next season.

He currently has a senior squad of 28 players, a healthy size to deal with a European campaign that has gone the distance. That's discounting loanees.

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Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen are primed to leave as free agents. Tom Heaton is also out of contract but could stay for another year.

More clearance would be required. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia are surplus to requirements and should be cashed in on.

Andre Onana, Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund are among other players who are considered in the shop window.

Even with Champions League football, Amorim must move some of these names on and replace them with better fits.

But an absence from exploring the continent in 2025/26 would offer the silver lining of a clearout and reset that United desperately need.

Campaign Against Antisemitism have piled on pressure for the BBC to sack Gary Lineker after the outgoing Match of the Day host shared a pro-Palestine video on social media featuring a rat emoji. Lineker re-posted, and appears to have deleted, a cartoon image of a rat accompanied by a video that showed Canadian-Palestinian lawyer Diana Buddu attacking Israel’s war in Gaza.

Campaigners were outraged at Lineker’s apparent endorsement of the emoji, as rats were regularly used as tropes by Nazi Germany to depict Jewish people. He shared a post by the Palestine Lobby group after previously defending his right to express his opinions on issues such as Gaza.

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“Nothing to see here,” the organisation posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Just Gary Lineker’s Instagram account sharing an anti-Israel video misrepresenting Zionism, complete with a rat emoji.”

They then added: “Not only does this video deliberately misrepresent Zionism – the belief that Jews have the same right to self-determination as everyone else - but it adds a rat emoji in doing so. Why is it that Gary Lineker keeps sharing content on social media that seems to cater to Jew-haters?”

A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies condemned Lineker's actions, writing: "The BBC has allowed the situation with Gary Lineker to continue for far too long. He has caused great offence with this video particularly with his egregious use of a rat emoji to illustrate Zionists."

Alex Hearn, co-director of Labour Against Antisemitism, also spoke out against Lineker's re-post. He wrote: "Gary Lineker has been sharing increasingly extreme content as his fixation has grown, and it was apparent that it was only a matter of time before he crossed the line.

"Sharing content that uses a rat to demonise the very idea of a Jewish nation state draws directly from Nazi propaganda. It is unfathomable that this is apparently 'hateful conduct' on X, but acceptable conduct for the BBC."

Barrister Simon Myerson KC, who chairs the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, questioned if Lineker would “have the guts to explain this to Emily Damari”.

Damari, who was given a warm welcome on her visit to the UK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, was released from Hamas captivity after being held for more than 15 months. She was kidnapped from her home in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

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Lineker is stepping down from his role as MOTD host at the end of the season, with two more shows remaining. However, he will continue to front the BBC's coverage of the FA Cup and next year's World Cup in North America.

Weeks ago, the 64-year-old defended his right to discuss world issues such as Palestine and Israel, despite being a BBC employee subjected to impartiality guidelines in his contract.

“I know where I stand on this,” he said in an interview with the BBC's Amol Rajan. “I’m sorry. It’s more important than the BBC. What’s going on there is the mass murder of thousands of children is probably something that we should have a little opinion on.

"It needs to be factual.....It wasn’t impartial about Ukraine and Russia.... Why does it have to be impartial about...I understand if it’s partial about our government and things in this country and everything like that, but something that’s going on that far away. Why does it?”

In 2023, Lineker sparked an impartiality row and was suspended by the BBC after comparing language used by the in-power Conservative government to "that used by Germany in the 30s". His ban triggered a mass walk-out of BBC Sport employees and he returned to the broadcaster, after changes to the Beeb's social media guidelines.

Manchester United are planning for next season with Ruben Amorim as the club's head coach, even if they suffer a Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports. Amorim has endured a disastrous first season at the helm, but he is set to receive the summer transfer window to improve his squad.

The Portuguese boss sacrificed his self-built empire at Sporting to replace Erik ten Hag in November, despite wanting to wait until the end of the campaign. He has guided United to a European final, winning nine and drawing two of his 11 such games, but the club are enduring their worst-ever Premier League season.

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The Red Devils are at serious risk of finishing 17th, having won just six and lost 13 of their 25 fixtures since Amorim took charge.

Victory in Bilbao on May 21 would salvage the season, just as Ten Hag's shock FA Cup triumph over Manchester City last term.

Yet, even if United hand Spurs their first trophy since 2008, United are reportedly prepared to afford Amorim the time and backing he requires.

According to The Guardian, the Old Trafford giants intend to retain Amorim as their head coach next season, regardless of the outcome at San Mames Stadium.

It's claimed Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS hierarchy feel like the 40-year-old deserves the summer transfer window to start transforming his ranks.

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Amorim needs to recruit players who not only upgrade the mediocre quality he inherited from Ten Hag but who are also more suited to his 3-4-3 system.

The report adds that United boss has identified Wolves' Matheus Cunha and Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap as top targets for his summer rebuild.

However, it's claimed he will need to raise funds by selling players to lure the £92.5million attacking duo to Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund have all been listed as potential opportunities to boost the budget.

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Amorim will have more cash to spend if United qualify for the Champions League by lifting the Europa League next week.

But following Sunday's 2-0 defeat to West Ham United, Amorim boldly admitted that if he can't change the club's losing culture next season, he deserves the sack.

He said: "I'm talking about myself, I'm talking about the culture in the club and the culture in the team. We need to be really strong in the summer and be brave.

"We will not have a next season like this if we start like this. If the feeling is still here, we should give space [his position] to different persons."

Manchester United will not celebrate with an open-top bus parade if they defeat Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, according to reports. The Red Devils have made more low-key arrangements to commemorate the potential success due to time constraints, despite the significance of the clash in Bilbao.

United and Spurs meet at San Mames Stadium on May 21, knowing victory would salvage their equally disastrous seasons. There is not just silverware on offer, but also Champions League qualification for the two clubs sitting 16th and 17th in the Premier League, respectively. But United have no plans to host a trophy parade if they reign supreme and lift a third major trophy in as many years.

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According to The Times, the Old Trafford giants would instead enjoy a celebratory barbecue at their Carrington training ground.

Players, staff and their families will be able to savour the success behind closed doors at the complex, which is still undergoing a £50million transformation.

United's schedule has proven too tight to fit in a trophy parade, given Aston Villa visit on the Premier League's final day later in the week before the club head on a post-season tour.

Immediately after the Villa clash, Ruben Amorim and his first-team squad will jet off to Asia to face the ASEAN All Stars in Kuala Lumpur on May 28 before meeting Hong Kong on May 30.

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Players will report for international duty straight after those commitments, leaving little time to free up an entire day for a trophy parade.

United have won five major trophies since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 - two FA Cups, two Carabao Cups and a Europa League.

But they haven't marked any of them with a parade, last doing so when an estimated 100,000 fans lined the streets of Manchester to celebrate the club's 20th Premier League title 12 years ago.

The longer United go without a Premier League or Champions League crown, the more significant their cup wins feel.

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Spurs haven't won any silverware since 2008, so it comes as no surprise that the club will mark a Europa League triumph with a parade.

The report adds that the Lilywhites plan to partake in an open-top bus celebration between the final and their final game of the season against Brighton and Hove Albion.

They would join Newcastle United, who celebrated the Carabao Cup in March, and Liverpool, set for their latest parade in a couple of weeks, in doing so this term.

United's lack of public celebrations won't take away from the final's importance as Amorim bids to conclude his difficult first season with a flourish.

Tottenham have endured a rollercoaster of a season so far, impressing in cup competitions but playing out an incredibly poor campaign in the Premier League. As a result, they could remarkably win the Europa League whilst also finishing 17th, directly above the relegation zone.

Ange Postecoglou has made it no secret that he feels there are plenty of problems that need to be addressed in his squad, but his focus, as it stands, is firmly set on securing glory against Manchester United in Bilbao later this month.

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The Aussie boss will need his forwards to step up to the mark against the Red Devils if the club are to end their trophy drought - but there is one player Spurs got rid of whose contributions they could have done with this season. That man is winger Ivan Perisic.

The versatile Croatian, who can also be deployed as a full-back, left Spurs in January 2024 on loan to join his hometown club Hajduk Split following an injury-ridden opening few months to the season. However, the homecoming lasted just a matter of months and Persic mutually terminated his contract at the club last August.

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Aged 36, he has since resurrected his career since joining Eredivisie outfit PSV Eindhoven, recently bagging a hat-trick in his side’s 4-1 win over Fortuna Sittard before following up that performance last weekend with a goal and an assist against Feyenoord.

Perisic has scored 15 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions for PSV, trumping the number of direct goal contributions that every Spurs forward has managed this campaign. Brennan Johnson has been Tottenham’s most influential forward in the final third, scoring 17 and assisting seven, but he remains two short of Perisic’s total.

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Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Heung-min Son each have 23 direct goal contributions to their names this season, with Dejan Kulusevski on 21. With injuries continuing to rack up in north London, Postecoglou could be forced to rely on several of his fringe players to step up in the Europa League final and play key roles in the match.

Wilson Odobert, loanee Mathys Tel and Mikey Moore could all have a part to play at San Mames, with Kulusevski an injury doubt, Maddison ruled out for the remainder of the campaign and Son still working towards full fitness.

UEFA has announced the referee line-ups for all major finals set to take place later in the coming weeks, including Manchester United's Europa League showdown against Tottenham Hotspur. United and Spurs will clash in an all-English affair at San Mames Stadium as both clubs eye season-saving silverware and Champions League qualification.

On Monday, UEFA revealed that Germany's Felix Zwayer will be the man in the middle in Bilbao, with compatriots Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz named as his assistants. Italy's Maurizio Mariani and Daniele Bindoni have been appointed the fourth official and reserve assistant referee, respectively.

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Bastian Dankert will serve as the video assistant referee (VAR), with fellow German Benjamin Brand his assistant. Carlos del Cerro Grande of Spain is set to be on VAR support duty.

Zwayer is a seasoned professional and well qualified to take charge of a match of the magnitude of the Europa League final on May 21.

The 43-year-old has been an international referee since 2012 and will be officiating his second UEFA final after the 2023 Nations League meeting between Croatia and Spain.

He has worked seven Champions League matches this season, including the semi-final second leg between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal at the Parc des Princes.

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Zwayer has also been the referee for two Europa League games and one Conference League outing.

His international experience extends further to Euro 2024, where he was man in the middle in four matches, including England's semi-final victory against the Netherlands.

Zwayer was a real estate broker living in Berlin before starting refereeing in 2004. However, a year later, he was involved in a match-fixing scandal that stalled his career.

The German joined several other referees in reporting 2. Bundesliga official Robert Hoyzer for taking bribes to fix matches.

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But Zwayer himself was hit with a six-month ban, having admitted to also accepting a bribe worth £252 (€300) to favour German club Wuppertaler SV.

He left the controversy behind him to enjoy a successful refereeing career in Germany and across the world, but the incident has resurfaced in recent years.

In December 2021, Jude Bellingham referenced Zwayer's past after Borussia Dortmund were denied a penalty and coach Marco Rose saw red in a match against Bayern Munich.

The outburst prompted Zwayer to take a break from football before returning in February 2022 to officiate in 2. Bundesliga.

Manchester United's season has been a tumultuous journey, yet there remains a glimmer of hope for a triumphant finale as they clinched their place in the Europa League final. Ruben Amorim's troops annihilated Athletic Club with a staggering 7-1 aggregate win, paving the way for a face-off with Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao in a mere 10 days.

Spurs also enjoyed a commendable run, trouncing Bodo/Glimt 5-1 over two matches. Despite their domestic woes, Ange Postecoglou's squad have managed to find victory over the Red Devils on three occasions this term. For Spurs, hoisting the trophy would end a 17-year dry spell, while for United, it could offer a silver lining to an otherwise lacklustre season. It's worth bearing in mind that the victors of the Europa League automatically secure a berth in next season's Champions League. However, for United, this might not be a foregone conclusion.

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Under previous UEFA regulations, two clubs under the same ownership cannot participate in different European tournaments. Given Sir Jim Ratcliffe's stakes in both Man United and Ligue 1 outfit Nice, it would have been unfeasible for both teams to compete in Europe.

Despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to Rennes on Saturday, Nice are well-placed to qualify for next season's Champions League as they currently occupy fourth spot in the Ligue 1 standings. Regulations have shifted last year to allow ownership of multiple clubs, assessing each case on an individual basis. This is the case with Manchester City and Girona, both under the City Group umbrella, playing in this season's tournament.

United has run into complications from Ratcliffe's ties with Nice, exemplified by the blockade of Jean-Clair Todibo's potential transition to Old Trafford. Nonetheless, United retains grounds for optimism about the predicament.

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Ratcliffe is rumoured to be mulling over the sale of the French outfit. A sale before a distinct cut-off date, paired with United clinching the Europa League title and a Champions League slot for Nice, would avert issues. Moreover, UEFA has spelled out that the approach isn’t universally applicable. Even if Ratcliffe keeps stakes in both squads, affiliation in European competition could still happen for both, as implied by a UEFA release.

The statement articulated that "no one is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition; and no one has control or decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition."

Hence, all that's truly needed is proof that the two clubs aren't managed simultaneously. Ratcliffe's plan to sell his stake in Nice could undoubtedly bolster their case should the worst occur.

"Everyone got through OK the other night. Half hopeful that we get Sonny some minutes tomorrow so he'll be the only one that sort of can come back in," Postecoglou revealed.

"I think what we do know about Thursday night, playing on an artificial pitch takes a lot out of the players, it's fair to say they were sore.

"I remember when we played Tamworth, we actually got a couple of injuries in the game straight after that, I think, because of the surface. So, we've got to be really careful about tomorrow's game, but next Friday it's a bit different.

"I think we've just got to make decisions we think (are right). Ultimately we want to be in a great condition come the final of Europa, so we'll use that."

Defenders Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie are expected to be rested against Palace, which will be Postecoglou's 98th match in charge of Spurs.

The Australian will bring up a century of fixtures as Tottenham boss in the Europa League final against Manchester United and reflected on their achievements during a roller coaster season.

"I think it is quite a significant achievement, you know, we've got ourselves to a European final and it hasn't been without its challenges for sure," Postecoglou said.

"It hasn't been a smooth run. It's well chronicled but irrespective of all that, just to reach a final of a major tournament, it's hugely satisfying, but also, like I said after the game, really proud of the way this group has found a way.

"It'd be a nice little bow there for that 100 and it's been a really full 100. It's fair to say I've experienced just about every emotion in it and hopefully the one main emotion we're all after will be the joy at the end of it.

"We have had a ridiculous injury-riddled season coupled by the fact we've done really well in two competitions and that is 60 games.

"So, it has felt - and certainly for me personally it has felt - like a really, really long season, but you just get energy and realise what happened the other night and you're so close to achieving something special that it all dissipates into the background, so you get the energy you need."