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Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey’s future remains unclear but recently appointed sporting director Andrea Berta may have the key to unlocking the uncertainty surrounding the player’s contractual impasse.

The 31-year-old is approaching the end of what many consider his best season since joining Arsenal, yet it remains to be seen what comes next for the Gunners star.

His importance was demonstrated by the frustration shown at him picking up a booking that rules him out of the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Paris St-Germain. The yellow card came in the 85th minute for a needless exchange with Dani Ceballos with the score 5-1 in Arsenal’s favour.

He has become an integral member of Mikel Arteta’s strongest team, making 45 appearances this season, and his absence against the Parisians will be a clear blow to their hopes of progressing to the final. It therefore seems inconceivable that he finds himself in such limbo but with Partey there is plenty to consider.

Arteta gave a cryptic answer when asked about Partey’s contractual situation last week.

Asked if there had been any progress, Arteta said: “Yes, there is progress with all the players.

“I’ll leave that to [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the club to decide and to talk about.”

Pushed further whether the intention is to keep Partey, Arteta added: “The intention is very clear. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward.”

The fact Partey is yet to sign a new contract with only a month of the season to go might seem to suggest the club are not urgently seeking to retain him.

Conversations are ongoing as to whether Arsenal offer Partey a new contract.

Whether that signals a significant change of approach for the Gunners remains to be seen, but according to well-placed sources Berta’s arrival as sporting director has provided an alternative outlook as to whether Partey could have a future beyond the end of the season.

Berta and Partey have a long-standing relationship having worked together at Atletico Madrid and it was Berta who sanctioned Partey’s move to Arsenal for £45m in 2020.

One factor Arsenal will be considering will be the expected arrival of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in the summer – would Partey still have a regular role in Arteta’s team if the Spain international signed?

With that in mind, it makes little financial sense to offer Partey a contract similar to the £200,000-per-week he is currently earning if he will not be starting most weeks.

It is also key to remember that last season he managed just 15 appearances for the Gunners because of persistent injury concerns, though the groin surgery he underwent at the end of 2023 is understood to have cleared up those ongoing issues.

Nevertheless, his age and his previous injury record over the course of his stay have been considerations – among other factors – regarding any offer of an extension.

If Partey were to leave there is said to be growing interest from abroad.

The final day of the jump racing season will be Saturday in Sandown, where Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins square off against one another for the title of British trainers.

Before the Grand National on April 5, English trainer Skelton had paved the way for the majority of the year-long season and was more than £1 million ahead of the competition in terms of prize money won.

However, Mullins, the first Irish trainer to capture the British saddle in a 70-year career in 2024, saddled five of the first seven, including a one-two-three, to reduce the deficit by £860, 000.

The outcome of the finale meeting at Sandown is likely to depend heavily on the outcome of the race between Skelton and the winner.

After winning on Wednesday, he was 244 289 in front, but Mullins still has the best chance of winning thanks to his strong Saturday hand, particularly in the Bet365 Gold Cup, where £175, 000 is available.

Hoe Joly Smoke and Minella Cocooner, the winner of last year’s Skelton Cup, could make the Mullins squad.

Although Nicky Henderson trained Jonbon, the hot favorite, in the Celebration Chase, both trainers are likely to have several runners in attendance.

Mark Walsh will take Mark Walsh’s place on Jonbon after Jockey Nico De Boinville is injured after falling.

As the women’s domestic season’s revamped top flight began to take shape, Durham, Somerset, and Lancashire all claimed victories in the One-Day Cup.

In addition, after the Bears’ last-ball run out, Warwickshire and Hampshire were tied in a dramatic game at Edgbaston.

Surrey and Somerset had a second match that came down to the final delivery.

Due to the rain, Somerset chased a target of 238 for the win by seven wickets after both innings were reduced to 33 overs.

With 64, Heather Knight, who hasn’t batted in a while since being removed as England’s captain in March, led Somerset in the final over to win.

In Durham’s nine-wicket victory over Essex, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates recorded a 93 not out for the Blaze, while England’s Emma Lamb added a superb 130 not out to beat The Blaze by eight wickets.

The ECB has described it as “the next stage in the evolution of women’s cricket,” and the eight top-tier teams will compete in the One-Day Cup and T20 Blast.

With more than 10,000 runs scored for New Zealand, Bates is unquestionably one of the biggest names in women’s cricket.

And Durham chased down Essex’s 177 all out with ease as the 37-year-old showed off her class on her debut, scoring freely on both sides of the wicket.

With a score of 234 all out at Trent Bridge, Lancashire opener Lamb took the first to take a century in this season’s competition after taking three wickets.

Despite Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce scoring an innings for 70, Lamb’s 3-42 and 3-38 restricted the Blaze’s lead, 146-2, despite a strong innings from Lamb.

With only five overs to go, Lancashire chased down their target with Katie Mack (44) and Seren Smale (38 not out) providing excellent support for Lamb.

Rhianna Southby, the wicketkeeper, top scored with 72 in Birmingham, Hampshire, posted 208 in the state.

When Hampshire defeated Warwickshire to 189-9, still needing 20 to win, England pair Linsey Smith (4-39) and Lauren Bell (4-2-44) looked to have secured victory.

With one ball remaining, last-ball pairing Georgia Davis and Hannah Baker scored, but Davis was unable to hit the required single.

Surrey’s innings at Beckenham was delayed by the rain, but they did manage to post a score of 243-7 after 33 balls. With a 57-run, unbeaten effort, Alice Davidson-Richards was the star.

Although Knight and Emma Corney, age 21, initially had a run-rate of 122, the required run-rate increased after each pair went three overs.