ManU is "prepared" to give DAVID DE GEA the "largest basic pay package in English football history" and is "increasingly confident" he will sign a long-term contract extension with the club. Despite also leading processes to appoint a new permanent manager and director of football, ManU Exec Chair ED WOODWARD regards "tying De Gea down as a priority and is pressing ahead with attempts to conclude a deal" (SUNDAY TIMES, 2/17). ... Chelsea Owner ROMAN ABRAMOVICH reportedly held "positive talks" with ZINEDINE ZIDANE about replacing MAURIZIO SARRI as the Blues' manager. Sarri is "under increasing pressure" at Stamford Bridge following "hefty defeats" to Bournemouth and Man City recently (TEAM TALK, 2/17). ... Golfer MATT KUCHAR issued an apology and said that he will “pay a temporary caddie in full following his victory in the Mayakoba Golf Classic last November.” Kuchar collected a winner’s cheque for $1.3M. Caddies “can usually expect to receive up to 10% depending on their arrangement with the player.” Ortiz “had asked for $50,000, rather than 10% of the first prize, it is understood” (PA, 2/15). ... Japanese Olympic Committee President TSUNEKAZU TAKEDA, who is being investigated by French authorities for “alleged bribery related to Tokyo’s bid for the 2020 Olympics,” will soon face “mounting calls to resign, multiple official sources said.” The JOC will hold elections for its board of councilors and board of directors in June and July (KYODO, 2/16).
