Image source, Getty Images

Real Madrid have 48 hours to make a decision on striker Javier Hernandez, 26, as the clock runs down on their first option to buy the Manchester United striker, reports the Daily Mail, external.

Gregory P: 'I wouldn't say I'm the best manager in the world, but I'm in the top 1'- Brian Clough

Phil Culverhouse: 'Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the mouth' - Mike Tyson

Joe Wainman: 'I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my room & was in bed before the room was dark' - Muhammad Ali

The Times report that leading clubs in England have voted in favour of suspending investigations into salary-cap breaches., external

"The Times understands that a majority of clubs have voted for inquiries to be suspended, in part for fear of alienating sponsors and fans, and jeopardising their position in negotiations with the RFU over a new relationship governing the release of England players," the newspaper reports.

The salary cap stands at £5m and clubs can be punished with points deductions if they exceed that barrier.

French clubs are allowed to spend 10m euros (£7.2m) on players wages.

Well that didn't take long.

Judd Trump, 12-4 ahead overnight at the Crucible and needing only one more frame to finish off China's Ding Junhui, has just rattled in a break of 66 to become the first player to book his place in the World Snooker Championship semi-finals.

Image source, Getty Images

Trump, the 2011 finalist, who is looking in ominously good form, will next face the winner of Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stuart Bingham. That game continues a 14:30 BST, with Bingham 5-3 ahead.

Full coverage of the snooker here.

Image source, Getty Images

In Division Two, all eyes will be on Kevin Pietersen as Surrey look to bat all day to avoid defeat by Essex at The Oval.

The former England batsman will resume on 8 not out, with Rory Burns unbeaten on 41, as Surrey begin the final day on 95-2, still 175 runs behind.

Derbyshire will be hopeful of wrapping up victory over Gloucestershire, who closed on 253-6 in their second innings, still 17 runs behind.

Leicestershire face a battle to win their first County Championship game in three seasons after David Willey's 88 handed Northants the initiative at Grace Road.

The home side, 44-1 overnight, require another 332 runs to win.

Finally, Kent begin the final day at Old Trafford needing another 44 runs to avoid an innings defeat against Lancashire having reached 148-3 by the close last night.

It's the final day of the third round of County Championship games and in Division One Durham look well placed to end Sussex's winning start to the new season at Chester-le-Street.

The home side will resume this morning on 115-2, needing 146 more runs to win.

Somerset are also in a powerful position and will be looking to take 10 wickets to beat Middlesex who, after closing on 31-0 last night, require another 372 to claim an unlikely victory.

An early declaration could be on the cards at the Ageas Bowl where Nottinghamshire reached 296-4 in their second innings yesterday thanks to 103 from Brendan Taylor and 94 from Alex Hales, a lead of 391 runs over Hampshire.

But a draw probably looks the most likely result at Headingley, where Warwickshire will resume on 108-2 in their second innings, leading county champions Yorkshire by 240.

Image source, The FA

Liverpool Ladies defender Becky Easton says she is not ready to retire from football, despite recently turning 41.

The right-back insists that as long as she is getting picked, she wants to continue playing for as long as possible.

"I think I might have a year or two left in me hopefully," said Easton, who has played 44 times for England.

"If I spent a year on the bench not being involved, that might make up my mind for me, but as long as I can still mix it with these youngsters, I'll keep going."

Image source, Getty Images

Anonymous on text: "Greg Thomas bowling to Viv Richards. Richards played and missed. Thomas said, 'it's red and round you're supposed to hit it.' Viv hit the next ball for six and said 'you know what it looks like now go and fetch it'."

It's tea at the cricket where Pakistan, replying to Bangladesh's first innings score of 332, are 84 for one on the second day of the first Test in Khulna.

Mohammad Hafeez was unbeaten on 52 and Azhar Ali was on 12 after debutant Sami Aslam was caught behind off Taijul Islam for 20.

Bangladesh, who resumed at their overnight score of 236 for four, were dismissed soon after lunch.

Former world champion Nathan Cleverly says he has "agreed" a deal to fight WBA light-heavyweight belt holder Juergen Braehmer.

The Welshman, 28, hopes to fight the German after his next fight, which could take place on 30 May against an unnamed opponent.

Image source, Getty Images

"Terms have been agreed," Cleverly told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

"It's just a matter of me getting this next fight out of the way and then we are going to make an announcement."

Cleverly considered retiring after losing to cruiserweight Tony Bellew in November but has returned to light-heavyweight for a "fresh assault" on the division.

Your favourite sporting quotes are coming in thick and fast via #bestsportingquotes, external, 81111 on text and the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

Adam Roylance on Twitter:, external Mario Balotelli: "When I score, I don't celebrate because it's my job. When a postman delivers letters, does he celebrate?"

Pvt Parts on Twitter: , externalUnnamed England fan after the 2007 Ashes whitewash: "We shouldn't have beaten them last time. It only made them angry."

Julian Allen on Twitter: , external"If a player is not interfering with play or seeking to gain an advantage, then he should be." Bill Shankly.

The Rio Olympics is - if our Maths is correct - 464 days away (it starts on 5 August next year).

But Paralympic sailing champion Helena Lucas has had the honour of being named as the first member of the Great Britain team.

Image source, Getty Images

The Southampton sailor, who turns 40 on Wednesday, is the first confirmed athlete on either the Olympic or Paralympic team.

It will be a third Games for Lucas, who competes in the one-person 2.4mR keelboat event.

"It's amazing that I'm the first athlete to be selected," she said.

Stan Mortensen is regarded as one of the best centre forwards of all time - and remains the only man to have scored a hat-trick in an FA Cup final (even though, confusingly, the game in question is known as the Matthews Final ... Blackpool's 1953 4-3 win over Bolton when Sir Stanley finally secured a winners medal).

Mortensen is remembered at Blackpool FC by a statue near the main entrance.

Image source, Getty Images

But something odd has happened. The statue has disappeared, external and the club are not saying where it has gone.

It transpires the removal of the statue comes just days before it was supposed to be used as the focal point of a fans protest.

Steve Smith, spokesperson for the protest group Tangerine Knights said: "We were told if we planned to lay any memorabilia around the statue there was a possibility chairman Karl Oyston would take out a civil trespassing injunction."

The club - relegated from the Championship weeks ago after a dismal season marred by poor performances and supporter unrest - are yet to comment.

Steven Gerrard's 17th and final season at Liverpool is does not look like one that the former England captain is going to look back on fondly.

Liverpool's victories have dried up markedly with the LA Galaxy-bound midfielder in the team this season.

OptaJoe, tweeting last night after the Reds' loss to Hull which Gerrard missed: , external "88% - Liverpool have won 7 of their 8 PL games without Steven Gerrard this season (88%), compared to 40% with him (10 of 25). Distraction."

David Ornstein
BBC Sport

"The Football Association is refusing to comment on reports it is set to sign a £30m sponsorship deal that would see the FA Cup renamed the Emirates FA Cup.

"The governing body insists no deal has been signed with anyone, adding: "We remain in discussions with a number of parties regarding FA Cup partner opportunities".

"Whether or not the matter is discussed at Thursday's FA Board meeting, no final decisions will be taken on FA Cup sponsorship at that meeting.

"The FA is, however, hopeful of confirming a new sponsor for the competition by the end of the current season.

"This season, the FA Cup has not had a sponsor after Budweiser opted not to renew its deal."

This is what happens when an over-excited social media manager and a whole load of new emojis mix.

The Houston Rockets knocked the Dallas Mavericks out of the Western Conference last night, but they caused controversy during the second half by tweeting icons of a horse - the Mavericks' logo- and a pistol with the words, "Shhhh. Just close your eyes. It will all be over soon."

Sinister.

It has since been deleted and the following apology posted.

Image source, Twitter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool went down 1-0 to Hull last night to surely put any lingering hopes of Champions League qualification to bed for the season.

The scoreline was not the only depressing stat from the evening for Reds fans.

Their specialist strikers (Daniel Sturridge, Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini) have scored eight Premier League goals between them this season. Everton's back four (Leighton Baines, Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka and John Stones) have scored nine.

Ronnie O'Sullivan and talking points are going together like ice cream and cornets at the Crucible.

The five-time champion took his shoes off in his opening match at the World Snooker Championship, made an offensive gesture in his second game, and now - in his quarter-final with Stuart Bingham - appears to have broken the rules by placing his chalk on the table.

Image source, BBC Sport

The rulebook states a seven-point penalty will be awarded to the opponent if a player uses any object to measure gaps or distances, but the incident was missed by match referee Terry Camilleri and World Snooker is now investigating.

Full video here.

Meanwhile, Ronnie's match with Bingham - with the latter leading 5-3 - resumes today at 14:30 BST.

BBC Sports Editor Dan Roan is out in Las Vegas for the Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao scrap.

He has been tweeting various images which capture all the razzmatazz and glamour of the occasion.

We'll bring you a selection throughout the day, starting with this...

Image source, Twitter

British sprinter Adam Gemili says multiple world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt is beatable - but admitted it will be a few years before he is able to challenge the Jamaican.

The 21-year-old, promoting the Anniversary Games in London in July, said: "I would like to be both a 100m and 200m sprinter. We've not had someone who can double up in Britain.

Image source, Getty Images

"I've got a few more years in me before I can be really competitive, before I can challenge those guys in Jamaica and America.

"The main threat is always Usain Bolt. If he turns up on the day, it's going to be tough to beat him, but he is beatable. Maybe when he's still competing when I'm getting into my prime."