Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor says the decision to postpone their Women’s Super League match against Manchester United was “not good”.

They were due to face United at home on Sunday but it was postponed with a week’s notice due to a conflict with Chelsea’s European schedule.

Chelsea face Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League group stage on Tuesday, just two days after the United game was set to take place.

“We were disappointed as players and staff. I think everyone has to understand we were supposed to play,” said Bompastor.

“We were in a very good team dynamic and I think not having the opportunity to play changed everything in preparation for the game with Real Madrid.

“When you have the opportunity to play one game a week, with this decision being made to postpone the game, now we have been out of competition for 10 days which is completely different.

“If you look at the situation, the decision is not good. I think it is not good for all the English clubs who are in the Champions League competition.”

Chelsea are joined in the group stages by WSL rivals Arsenal and Manchester City this season.

The WSL has been taken over by a new independent company this season – Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) – and Bompastor says the league “need to know about the rules”.

“For them it’s good to have our feedback and as I always said to the league, I think we should be proud to have three English clubs in the Champions League this year,” added Bompastor.

“All the decisions in the league this year have to be made in order to help the English clubs compete in the Champions League.”

Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah has signed a new long-term contract at the club.

The 21-year-old has been at the Reds since he was five and made 33 appearances in all competitions in his debut season last term.

He has played twice in the current campaign under head coach Arne Slot – the 2-0 win against Ipswich in Liverpool’s Premier League opener and the 5-1 victory over West Ham in the League Cup.

“I couldn’t be happier at this minute,” he told Liverpool’s official website., external

“I think the way the new manager has come in, his coaching style has definitely been a massive part of that.

“I think this is the best club in the world for me to develop at and become a better player.”

Quansah made his first-team debut under previous boss Jurgen Klopp, with an impressive display off the bench against Newcastle in August 2023.

He also played as Liverpool beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final last season.

Manchester United weigh up various options for managerial role, Liverpool and Newcastle interested in Bundesliga players and Bayern Munich set to offer £400,000-a-week contract.

The future of Erik ten Hag, 54, as Manchester United manager will be decided at a club meeting on Tuesday, with his assistant, Ruud van Nistelrooy, 54, favoured to take over as a caretaker if a change is made. (Guardian), external

Manchester United are lining up German Thomas Tuchel, 51, as a potential replacement for Ten Hag. (Manchester Evening News), external

Dutchman Ten Hag believes he retains the faith of Manchester United bosses heading into the international break. (ESPN), external

Liverpool are interested in Eintacht Frankfurt and Egypt striker Omar Marmoush, 25. Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa wanted to sign him last summer. (Sky Germany – in German), external

West Ham will price their Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus, 24, out of a move away from the club next summer despite interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea. (Football Insider), external

Newcastle will push to sign Germany winger Leroy Sane, 28, next summer, when his contract expires at Bayern Munich. (Football Insider), external

Bayern Munich are ready to make Germany playmaker Jamal Musiala their joint best-paid player, along with England striker Harry Kane, on about £400,000 a week. The 21-year-old is not thought to be in talks with Real Madrid or Manchester City. (Sky Germany – in German), external

Wolves are maintaining their full support for head coach Gary O’Neil, 41, after sacking set-piece coach Jack Wilson. (Sky Sports), external

Barcelona are tracking Lille and Canada striker Jonathan David, 24. (Todofichajes – in Spanish), external

Reading have entered into a new period of exclusivity with an unnamed buyer – on the same day the club has been handed a fresh transfer embargo by the English Football League.

The stricken League One club has suffered from fines, points deductions and fan protests during Dai Yongge’s tumultuous reign as owner and had a previous transfer ban lifted in August 2023.

In a statement on the club’s website,, external Reading said the new embargo was due to “the late filing of financial accounts to Companies House, and relates to the 2022-23 accounting period”.

Reading added they believed the embargo would be lifted once the overdue accounts are finalised, which they hoped would happen “at the earliest opportunity”.

The Royals were relegated to League One in 2022-23 and have been deducted 18 points overall during Chinese businessman Dai’s tenure as owner.

A deal for former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig to buy the club fell through last month after an agreement could not be reached.

“The club can confirm it has agreed to a period of exclusivity with a potential purchaser,” the statement added.

“Both parties are working hard to finalise terms with the intention to complete a sale at the earliest opportunity.

“This exclusivity period also includes further provision to fund the club until the transaction’s intended completion.

“The proposed sale will include Mr Dai’s shareholding in Reading Football Club Limited, as well as the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park Training Ground.”

The head of women’s refereeing in England, Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb, is leaving the role to take up a position with Fifa.

The German, who is married to men’s referee boss Howard Webb, joins the world governing body as its new head of women’s refereeing.

The 45-year-old previously enjoyed a stellar career as an official and joined Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in 2021 when the organisation took charge of officiating in the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship.

Under her leadership the select group of officials for the women’s professional game has doubled in size.

In a statement the PGMOL said it wanted to build “on the progressive foundations” set by Steinhaus-Webb and thanked her for her “immense contribution”.

This case is not directly related to the hearing into Manchester City’s 115 charges for alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, which began last month.

City were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.

It is alleged City breached the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018.

“I don’t think this will have too much of a direct impact but this will probably give Manchester City a slight bounce because they’ve been found to be correct in a couple of narrow areas,” said Leaf.

“But equally, I think the Premier League will be relieved, especially after the recent Leicester decision where their rulebook was heavily criticised by an esteemed panel.”

He was referring to Leicester’s successful appeal against an alleged breach of Premier League financial rules – which means they are set to avoid any punishment.

Leicester successfully argued that because their 2022-23 accounting period ended on 30 June, they were not longer bound by Premier League rules – because they had just been relegated to the Championship – and so could not be found in breach.

Leaf added: “The fact that the majority of the Premier League’s rules have been found to be lawful and OK will probably come as a relief to them.”

BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter Simon Stone said: “The fierce manner in which City have responded to the verdict, allied to the knowledge they are currently fighting the substantive issue of 115 financial breaches, suggests they have spotted a weakness in the Premier League’s regulations which they will look to exploit as far as they can.”