From the Back Pages, March 19: Southampton plot transfer of Real Madrid teen sensation Martin Odegaard on loan next season

Jose Mourinho has the green light to spend big as Chelsea will have access to over £40million in extra Financial Fair Play cash this summer. (The Telegraph)

Alastair Cook threatened yesterday to overshadow the return of Jonathan Trott and the introduction of three new faces to the Test squad for the tour to the West Indies when he criticised the decision to replace him as one-day captain less than two months before the ill-fated World Cup campaign. (The Times)

Much more of this and the chokers will be consigned to history forever. South Africa were exemplary in all that they did yesterday in crushing Sri Lanka in the first quarter-final of the World Cup. (The Independent)

ROY HODGSON is considering resting members of England’s Liverpool contingent over the international break. (The Express)

Andy Murray moved level with Tim Henman’s British career-wins record after beating France’s Adrian Mannarino in straight sets at Indian Wells. He defeated Mannarino 6-3, 6-3 in California to set up a quarter-final with Spain’s Feliciano López, who edged past Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-4, 7-6. The victory means Murray has now equalled Henman’s 496 career wins, an Open era record for a British man. (The Guardian)

Marc-Andre ter Stegen dived to his right, getting both hands to the ball. It was over. Goodnight from them, and goodnight from us. Manchester City would not be appearing in this season’s Champions League quarter-finals, and neither would a representative from England. Last to fall, only by dint of the television schedule, City blew what little chance they had with 13 minutes remaining, when ter Stegen saved Sergio Aguero’s penalty. (Daily Mail)