Category Sports News

Arsenal monitoring Tino Livramento as a potential summer signing, Aston Villa exploring deal for Conor Gallagher and Dominik Szoboszlai close to agreeing contract extension at Liverpool.

Arsenal are monitoring Newcastle United and England full-back Tino Livramento, 23, as a potential summer signing. (Sun)

Aston Villa are exploring a deal to bring 25-year-old Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher back to the Premier League. (Talksport)

Atletico would reportedly consider offers of around £35m for Gallagher, but much will depend on the financial restrictions Villa are working under. (Mail)

Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, 25, has reached an agreement in principle to extend his contract at Liverpool, rejecting interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. (CaughtOffside)

Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign highly rated Scotland Under-17s midfielder Keir McMeekin, 15, from Hearts. (Fabrizio Romano)

Rangers have made enquiries to Sunderland for English midfielder Dan Neil, 24, and English winger Romaine Mundle, 22. (Sky Sports)

England manager Thomas Tuchel, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti and United States boss Mauricio Pochettino are all on Manchester United‘s shortlist to become their next manager. (Mirror)

Hull City are in talks to sign Manchester United‘s 22-year-old English midfielder Toby Collyer on loan. (Sky Sports)

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has been targeted as a potential replacement for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. (Football Transfers)

Brentford have agreed an £8.7m (10m euros) deal with Club Brugge to sign Belgium Under-21 striker Kaye Furo, 18. (Sky Sports)

Juventus lead the race to sign Manchester City and Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, 31, once his contract expires at the end of the season. (Fichajes – in Spanish)

Great Britain’s Kirsty Muir claimed a third World Cup victory of her career by winning the Freeski Slopestyle event at the US Grand Prix in Aspen on Friday.

The 21-year-old finished first in qualifying before winning gold with a score of 80.62 achieved on her first run of the final in Colorado a little over a month after breaking her thumb.

It is the Scot’s seventh career World Cup podium finish and her second victory of the 2025-26 season, after she took gold at the Big Air World Cup at the Secret Garden in Zhangjiakou, China, in November.

“I’m just very stoked, stoked with how I’m skiing,” said Muir.

“Conditions were slightly tough today, so we just managed to get through it. I’m just really enjoying myself, enjoying how I’m skiing at the moment, so everything’s really good.”

Muir’s winning run featured a right-side double cork 1080, a left-side 720, and a front-side 630 out.

“Kirsty has faced her fair share of adversity this winter,” said GB Snowsport’s Freeski head coach Jamie Matthew.

“From winning her first Big Air to then breaking her thumb the week after, today’s win shows her strength of character to continually show up and give it her best.

“I couldn’t be happier for her, wins are always hard fought, so it’s amazing she’s walked away with something to show for the continued hard work and dedication.”

The International Tennis Federation says it will review its procedures for awarding wildcards after a female player’s “unacceptable” performance went viral on social media.

Egyptian Hajar Abdelkader lost 6-0 6-0 and served 20 double faults in the 37-minute first-round match at an ITF W35 event in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old amateur player struggled with basic tennis skills throughout her debut match against German opponent Lorena Schaedel, ranked 1,026th in the world, and won only three points – two double faults and an unforced error from Schaedel.

“The outcome showed this was clearly not the case and was unacceptable for a World Tennis Tour event, along with being unfortunate for the player,” the spokesperson added.

“We acknowledge proportionate measures must be taken to prevent this happening again. We are exploring ways to ensure that, by assessing the process of awarding wildcards with consideration to a minimum playing standards requirement to compete at a WTT event.”

On Thursday, Tennis Kenya acknowledged Abdelkader should not have been allowed to play, but said she had been given a wildcard spot at the last minute following the withdrawal of another player.

The organisation said she was permitted to enter to maintain a balance of players and nations represented in the tournament, but said that in hindsight she should not have been allowed to play.

Both Abdelkader and Schaedel have been offered support by Tennis Kenya “given the extent and nature of coverage of this match”.

Manchester United’s appointment of a caretaker manager until the end of the season is reaching its conclusion, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer due to have face-to-face talks about a return to the club on Saturday.

It is understood former midfielder and ex-Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, the other frontrunner for the role, has already met United chiefs.

United want an appointment before next weekend’s Manchester derby.

Club sources have said they regard both men as number one managers in their own right rather than as part of a team, even though the pair worked together following Jose Mourinho’s departure in 2018.

Norwegian Solskjaer was appointed in similar circumstances when Mourinho left the club and was given the role permanently in March 2019 after a successful run of results.

The former striker led the club to the Europa League final but was sacked in November 2021 after a poor run of form. He most recently managed Besiktas in Turkey but was sacked in August after losing in the play-offs for both the Europa and Conference League.

Speaking earlier on Friday, Fletcher said he has had no talks about his future and his focus has solely been on the FA Cup third round tie with Brighton.

Fletcher was put in temporary charge for two games following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.

It has not been established whether Fletcher will remain as part of the first-team set-up or if he will return to his previous job as United’s under-18s coach.

The former United and Scotland midfielder confirmed he had not spoken to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe since Amorim’s exit, and there have been no discussions either with chief executive Omar Berrada or director of football Jason Wilcox about what happens after the Brighton game.

“There have been no thoughts or conversations over my future,” he said.

“I speak to Omar and Jason, that’s how the process works.

“They have given me full responsibility to take control of these two games, to make my own decisions, to lead the team, guide the team and prepare the team. That’s what I’ve been doing.

“I’ve been focusing on the job at hand and preparing the team for these two games.”

For the first time, Fletcher addressed Amorim’s criticisms of United’s academy.

Aside from the fact he did not start any academy-produced player in a Premier League game this season, Amorim did not show any sign he had faith in the players it had produced.

In addition, he angered United officials by singling out Harry Amass – whose loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday has now come to an end – and striker Chido Obi for criticism.

Amorim also said he detected a sense of entitlement among United’s young players.

As someone who was himself developed by the club, has previously held the position of technical director and up to this week has been responsible for their under-18s players, Fletcher brought Kobbie Mainoo and Shea Lacey on at Turf Moor.

On only his second senior appearance, 18-year-old Lacey nearly won the game with a curling effort from 20 yards that came back off the crossbar.

“Historically, this club is built around the academy,” said Fletcher. “Our record speaks for itself.

“We’ve got some amazing talent and what I see is a lot of hardworking, humble young players, honest and coachable, who aren’t perfect because they’re young and they’re learning.

“We ask too much of young people in society at times. We have to let them learn – educate them, help them and understand they will make mistakes.