midfielders Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley, winger Ashley Young,

Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks have agreed on what could be the final contract for the big German. A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday that Nowitzki would get a three-year contract worth roughly $30 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. New contracts cant be signed until next Thursday. The 36-year-old Nowitzki is taking a big pay cut with a contract similar in value and structure to the one Tim Duncan signed with San Antonio two years ago. Duncan, who also took a much lower salary, is exercising a player option to return for the final season of his deal after helping the Spurs win their fifth title since 1999. Nowitzki just completed a four-year deal worth $80 million, and he left money on the table in that deal hoping the Mavericks could get some pieces around him. The pursuit of other stars is even more urgent with Nowitzki getting close to the end of what figures to be a Hall-of-Fame career. The 2011 NBA Finals MVP put off finalizing the deal until after the Mavericks met with free agent Carmelo Anthony, which happened Wednesday night. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban recently acknowledged that he couldnt offer Anthony a max contract, so Dallas figures to be stressing the 2011 title led by coach Rick Carlisle, Nowitzki and centre Tyson Chandler, who recently rejoined the team in a trade with the New York Knicks. If the Mavericks miss out on Anthony, there are a number of other small forwards on their wish list, topped by Houstons Chandler Parsons. He is a restricted free agent, and the Rockets can match any offer. Dallas also wants to re-sign point guard Devin Harris, and will target several others at that position if Harris goes elsewhere. LONDON -- Manchester Uniteds slump has jeopardized some players chances of making Englands World Cup squad, coach Roy Hodgson has warned. United won the Premier League by 11 points before Alex Ferguson retired last year, but the players have mounted a feeble title defence under David Moyes, who was fired last month. Sunderland inflicted the seventh-place teams 12th loss of the league season on Saturday as the instant feel-good factor following Ryan Giggs appointment as interim manager evaporated. Hodgson wants to take players high on confidence to Brazil rather than those who have been underperforming domestically, with the coach highlighting Uniteds miserable campaign. "Theyre one of the few teams that have had a lot of English players, but football players have to accept unfortunately their England careers are tied up with their club careers," Hodgson said. "If its not going well in their clubs and its not going well for them in their clubs, and other players are doing extremely well in their clubs, it does put your position as a national team player under some sort of threat. "Im pretty certain that the Man United players will understand that, that theres no God-given right that because theyve played in a few games up to now, theyll play all the games in the future." While Wayne Rooney can be certain of a place at the World Cup if he is fit, the strikers United teammates could face an anxious wait before Hodgson announces his 23-man squad on May 12.dddddddddddd. Among Uniteds England contingent are defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, midfielders Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley, winger Ashley Young, and striker Danny Welbeck. "Its up to me to pick who the best players for the job are at any given moment," Hodgson said. "Now that doesnt mean to say youll choose a player for the national team every time he scores a goal, but it does mean you are judging over a relatively short period of time." England opens its World Cup campaign against Italy in Manaus on June 14, following a week-long trip to Miami to play friendlies against Ecuador and Honduras. Hodgson has told his players not to complain about boredom while away on World Cup duty. "I dont think its our job to keep them occupied," Hodgson said. "Once you sign up for (the World Cup), you shouldnt then be saying, Oh, Im missing my family, oh, Im bored. Or what can you do to help me? because theres nothing we can do to help you. "Its like a soldier saying, Ill sign up for the army but I dont want to see any action. Im a bit bored here sitting around these barracks, every day with nothing to do," Hodgson added. "They must have plenty of boredom in their lives." ' ' '