Paper Round: Max Allegri puts pressure on Arsenal amid Barcelona interest

Juventus manager Max Allegri has given Arsenal three weeks to decide if they want to offer him the job, according to the Daily Star. Arsenal are waiting for Arsene Wenger to give a clear answer on his plans for the future, but Juventus are pressuring Allegri to make up his mind on a new deal with his current club, as his deal runs out at the end of the season. Arsenal face competition from Barcelona should they decided to approach Allegri, as the Catalan club need to replace Luis Enrique.

Paper Round's view: If there were an outstanding candidate then it would make sense for Arsenal to rush Wenger. Realistically, Allegri has performed well with a side built by Antonio Conte, not him. Enrique, for example, would be just as reasonable appointment either this summer or next. Allegri and Juventus might need Arsenal to rush, but as they consider replacing their manager for the past two decades, it is not the London club who need to make decisions in a panic.

Jess Varnish believes the board of British Cycling needs to resign after she was, 'thrown under the bus'. An internal investigation has suggested the board attempted to cover up accusations against Shane Sutton, their former technical director. Varnish said: “I’m not surprised. I had absolutely no faith in the investigation from the get-go. I had been there for a long time and basically I had no faith in it whatsoever so unfortunately I’m not shocked by that."

At the same time, Sir David Brailsford is struggling to keep hold of his position at Team Sky after talks with Chris Froome, who appeared reluctant to back his boss.

Paper Round's view: The board appears to want to hold out under the storm created by this investigation, and the problems with Shane Sutton's time at the organisation. However, if the investigation has merit in its findings then it is difficult to see how they can continue to be in a position of authority. It isn't just the results of the cycling team that matter now.

For Brailsford, it would also seem tough for him to keep hold of his job if the story gets any murkier, and his best riders won't offer him meaningful support.

Ahead of Manchester City's FA Cup tie with Middlesbrough this weekend, Aitor Karanka has chosen Jose Mourinho as the better manager than Pep Guardiola. Karanka worked as part of Mourinho's team, and said: "He has shown it during his career at Porto, at Inter Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United. He was the best in Spain, and he still is the best. Jose started this season with some criticism, but he has already won a trophy for United. Jose is the best for me.

Paper Round's view: The papers will play this up as needle before the two managers meet one another in the cup, but really this is little more than Karanka had to say. He and Mourinho were colleagues and remain friends, so he was hardly likely to suddenly claim that anyone else - including Guardiola - is superior.

Danny Crowley has said his team have to believe that they can beat Arsenal in their FA Cup quarter-final. Lincoln beat Premier League Burnley in the last round to progress, but this is yet another step up in quality. Crowley backs his Imps to beat the 'Wimps' of Arsenal, as the Sun calls them. He even has his side practising for penalties: "We’ve been taking penalties. Whatever happens I want people to remember this team as honest, hard-working, down- to-earth guys who gave it their best shot.”

Paper Round's view: There is almost no chance for Lincoln to succeed because of the disparity in quality between the two sides, and the pressure on Arsenal to actually win something after another humiliating Champions League exit. But Crowley is right, they will have to play with confidence to stand a chance, and Arsenal are often at their most vulnerable when they feel the pressure.