SPORTS AGENDA: Speed of change at Manchester United has been rapid

The speed of change at Manchester United – despite the fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’s 25 per cent stake is still to be ratified by the Premier League – has been rapid.

Earlier this month, in what is being viewed as an INEOS hire, Omar Berrada was announced as new chief executive, joining from rivals Manchester City.

And last week Agenda discovered that a large group of surveyors had descended on Old Trafford and were spotted at various points around the stadium and on the car park, armed with theodolites – tripod-mounted precision instruments used for measuring angles.

Some wondered if this was the latest sign of progress under INEOS, and whether much-needed development of the old ground was finally on the way.

However, it is understood that the club’s stadium drawings needed to be updated to satisfy environmental regulations and that the group’s arrival was, sadly, not the first sign of major refurbishment.

Reds evacuation

The announcement that Jurgen Klopp was to leave Liverpool at the end of the season caught many by surprise – few more so than the Premier League.

Staff at competition HQ in Paddington were outside following a fire alarm when the news broke.

Hammers on song

West Ham United appear to have struck one of the deals of the window by bringing Kalvin Phillips to the London Stadium, fighting off a number of rivals to land the services of the Manchester City man on loan for the rest of the season.

And the Hammers have also been quick to try and cash in. While the England midfielder is only with the club on loan, the West Ham website is already advertising shirts with Phillips’ number (11) and name on the back.

Leeds owners busy

Leeds United's owners, San Francisco 49ers, have penned a 10-year, £134m stadium