Harry Maguire has been thriving under Michael Carrick but is yet to sign a new Manchester United contract with his current deal set to expire in June

Manchester United defender Leny Yoro hopes Harry Maguire will sign a new contract at the club. The rest of the Old Trafford dressing room shares this view, according to reports.

Since completing his £80million move from Leicester City in 2019, centre-half Maguire has been a mainstay within the United first team, scoring crucial goals and even enjoying a spell as captain.

The 33-year-old has played for seven different managers, both interim and permanent, during his tenure and has thus far flourished under the stewardship of Michael Carrick. However, he has entered the final three months of his contract and there are no concrete updates regarding a renewal.

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Some reports suggest a two-year deal in which Maguire would take a pay cut is in the works and Yoro, who’s partnered him in defence for the last four matches, has spoken out about the Englishman possibly extending his stay at the club.

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After the 3-1 victory against Aston Villa on Sunday, in which Maguire played every minute, Yoro said: “Having Harry in the team is good for us. I hope he’s going to extend his contract and he can stay with us. With all the experiences he has, he spoke to me a lot on the pitch and gave a lot of tips. That is helping me a lot.

“Even before the game, during the week, we speak a lot about the opponent. Sometimes he speaks before the game, or at halftime about positioning as well. Playing with him is really good for me.”

In February reports emerged suggesting that the majority of Yoro’s team-mates would also like to see Maguire remain at the club. A source told The Sun: “The players think it would be madness if he was not offered a new deal.

“Harry has endured plenty of ups and downs at United but has come through all that and is playing really well. He’s very well-respected in the dressing room. He is passing on a lot of knowledge to some of the younger players like Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro. Everyone likes him and respects him and the majority of the players want the club to give him a deal.”

Carrick, who has orchestrated seven wins from his first nine matches in charge this year, was asked about Maguire a few weeks ago and perhaps dropped a hint about a contract renewal.

He said: “Harry’s an impressive character. He’s had a great career so far. Hopefully there’s a lot more to come. The journey and the experiences that he’s had, certainly since he’s been here and with England as well, showed exactly what he is.

“I think we all know the player that he is and what he’s capable of doing. Experience helps. His attributes help, and his character. His willingness to put himself out there. He’s really impressive at his age and he’s been really important for us.”

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Iran‘s football federation is “negotiating” with FIFA to relocate the country’s first-round matches at the World Cup to Mexico from the United States, citing the conflict in the Middle East, Iran’s embassy in Mexico said Monday.

Iran’s participation at this summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been thrown into doubt since the US and Israel launched a massive offensive against the Islamic Republic. Iran responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel and American targets across the Middle East, with Gulf allies hosting US military bases also coming under fire.

“When (US President Donald) Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said in remarks posted on the embassy’s X account.

Watch moreFIFA goes MAGA? The World Cup, Trump and the future of football

“We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”

Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle.

The team’s base camp for the tournament is currently slated to be located in Tucson, Arizona.

Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, on Monday denounced “the US government’s lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and the provision of logistical support” for the Iranian delegation ahead of the World Cup, in a statement published on the embassy’s website.

He added that he had also “suggested to FIFA that Iran’s matches be moved from the United States to Mexico”.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP.

Trump triggered uproar last week after stating that while Iran’s football team would be “welcome” in the United States, they should not travel to the tournament “for their own life and safety”.

Trump’s comments came after FIFA president Gianni Infantino had given assurances that Trump had promised him that the Iranian team would be welcome.

Iran hit back at Trump’s comments saying “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup”.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

A couple of months ago, a showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder seemed imminent. However, Usyk has since moved on from those plans, and his team has now revealed why the fight was abandoned.

Usyk publicly stated his intentions to take on ‘The Bronze Bomber’, keen to add the name of a another long-standing world champion to his impressive résumé, even despite the decline of Wilder – who has won just twice since 2019.

However, Wilder is instead set to take on Derek Chisora next month, whilst the Ukrainian has moved onto an unexpected clash with kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, that being the first fight of a three-bout plan that does not involve Wilder.

Speaking to Casinostugan, Usyk’s manager Sergey Lapin confirmed that plans were in place for his fighter to compete in the United States for the first time since his heavyweight debut, but that ‘longer than expected’ negotiations was the reason Wilder turned his attention to Chisora.

“The negotiations for ‘Wilder vs Usyk’ took too long – they chose Chisora instead. We did discuss the possibility of a fight with Wilder, and initially the plan was that the fight could take place in the United States.

“However, the negotiations took longer than expected, and Wilder eventually reached an agreement to fight Chisora. This sometimes happens in boxing — while negotiations are ongoing, different opportunities appear.”

Wilder-Chisora takes place on Saturday, April 4, at the O2 Arena, whilst Usyk-Verhoeven heads to The Pyramids of Giza on Saturday, May 23, with the WBC heavyweight crown at stake.

AC Milan are looking at Troy Parrott for the summer, with the Irish international understood to be available for around £25m from AZ Alkmaar.

The 24-year-old is looking to make the next step in his career after a sensational season so far, where he has hit 39 goals in 44 games in all competitions, including five in Ireland’s crucial two group qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Parrott offered two dazzling assists in AZ’s win over Heracles at the weekend, and is full of confidence ahead of Ireland’s play-off against Czech Republic in Prague next Thursday.

AZ are open to a move as they naturally see the logic in selling such talents and regenerating, with Parrott already having attracted a lot of suitors.

The Independent has previously reported how Real Betis, Wolfsburg and Fulham showed the keenest interest so far, but it is now understood that Milan are monitoring his accelerating form.

The Italian giants are actively looking for a forward this summer, and Parrott is one of those under consideration.

His tactical versatility is also attractive since he can play across the front line. There is understood to even be the possibility that could attract city rivals Internazionale’s interest.

Parrott told The Independent in an exclusive interview last month that he hasn’t been thinking about his future that much, but his camp have naturally been assessing options to maximise his talent.

A return to the Premier League is only seen as likely if a top-10 club came in, with a current stance that staying abroad – particularly in the Bundesliga – may be the best option.

Iran is pushing to move its 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup matches out of the US.

Iran’s football chief, Mehdi Taj, said the country was in talks with world football’s governing body to relocate its games to Mexico, citing security concerns after remarks by US President Donald Trump.

“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Taj said in comments posted on the Iranian Embassy’s X account.

Trump warns of safety risks for players

The push follows comments by Trump last week on his Truth Social platform. He said that while Iranian players would be allowed to compete, he added it would not be “appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

Iran’s sports minister has also previously suggested Iran could boycott this year’s tournament altogether amid ongoing joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Starting on June, the World Cup will be staged across the US, Mexico and Canada, with Iran currently scheduled to play across US stadiums.

Under current plans, Iran’s base camp would be in Tucson, Arizona, with its opening match against New Zealand set for the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

FIFA relocation unlikely, New Zealand execs say

New Zealand Football chief Andrew Pragnell told local media Tuesday he doubted FIFA would change the fixtures, while national coach Darren Bazeley said preparations remained unchanged.

“Right now, we’re preparing as if we’re playing Iran,” he said. “They qualified. We were drawn against them. And until we’re told otherwise, that’s the match.”

FIFA has not publicly commented on Iran’s request to relocate matches.

Iranian football under the spotlight

The uncertainty adds to headlines surrounding Iranian football in recent weeks. Previously, five of the seven women players granted asylum in Australia during the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup reportedly chose to return to Iran.

The offer followed a pre-match protest in which some players stayed silent during the national anthem — a gesture that prompted Iranian state television to label them “wartime traitors.”

Edited by: Rob Turner

Jalen Nailor left the Minnesota Vikings eight days ago, and the only man on the current roster in line for a replacement is second-year wideout Tai Felton, who barely played in 2025. The team might need WR3 assistance in 2026. Thankfully, there are options, and we have ranked them.

Minnesota still has a few plausible WR options on the board.

Ranked in order of likelihood — No. 1 on the list is most likely to sign in Minnesota — these are the top five WR3 options for the Vikings as of March 17th.

Veteran WR Help Hasn’t Fully Dried Up

The Vikings could also draft a WR, but these are the free agency alternatives. With Kyler Murray in the saddle as QB1, there’s every reason to dream big about the WR3. Murray brings a skill set that ensures the offense can be potent — and not rinky-dink like last year.

5. Stefon Diggs

Will the Vikings sign their one-time Miracle Man? Probably not. Diggs is bogged down in a bizarre strangulation scandal, with his former chef leveling serious allegations. But if one pretends for a moment that those charges vanish — that happens, believe it or not — Diggs on the Vikings’ roster as a WR3 makes sense.

He compiled over 1,000 yards last season with Drake Maye flinging the rock; it’s a little weird that New England doesn’t want him back. Diggs was productive last season, far exceeding 2025 offseason expectations.

Diggs would have a chance to wind down in his NFL career where it started. The Patriots are already eating over $9 million in dead cap for cutting him, so it’s not like Diggs would utterly break the bank.

For the purposes of this analysis, remember that Murray signing with the Vikings changed everything. Minnesota is now an attractive market for big-name playmakers to sign.

4. Keenan Allen

Is Keenan Allen young? No — he’ll turn 34 next month. Is Keenan Allen fast? Absolutely not — and he never really was in the first place. Is Keenan Allen a long-term solution at WR3? Don’t even think about it.

Allen is not a glowing fix for the long haul at WR3, but the fact remains he posted 777 receiving yards last year, which is about 300 more than Nailor ever tabulated. The guy who entered the NFL in the same year as former Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes can still get open, and he can still catch the ball.

As a short-term 2026 fix, perhaps while Felton learns the ropes, Allen could rather easily obtain 600-700 yards in Minnesota’s pass-happy offense.

3. Deebo Samuel

Kyler Murray, through seven seasons and especially as of late, is not known for an extremely vertical offense. If the Vikings cater an offense to their new quarterback’s obvious strengths — they should — signing Samuel makes sense.

Samuel excels with the ball in his hands, often near the line of scrimmage or just ahead of it. The San Francisco 49ers even featured him as a quasi-running back during his heyday. Samuel isn’t young, either, meaning he might look around the landscape of the NFL and find Super Bowl contenders as his next employer. With Murray in the house, the Vikings aren’t terribly far away.

The 30-year-old totaled 727 receiving yards in Washington last year with subpar quarterback performance. Get him to Minnesota.

2. Tyreek Hill

There are three items in favor of Hill becoming a Viking.

1. Hill’s offensive coordinator for the last four years is a man named Frank Smith. After Mike McDaniel lost his job in Miami, the coaching staff dispersed, and Smith landed in Minnesota as an assistant head coach. He knows Hill personally; the communication pipeline in free agency is open.
2. Recovering from a brutal injury in 2025, nobody knows when Hill will be ready. Assuming he returns before too long, he will sign somewhere for cheap, as general managers don’t know what they’re getting in post-injury Hill. Minnesota doesn’t have oodles of cap space, but it can afford Hill.
3. Like Murray, Hill grew up a Vikings fan, and he’s reiterated that fact a few times in the last decade. Murray proved that childhood fandom can influence a player’s decision-making.

The fan base could quickly warm up to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Tyreek Hill on Sundays. How could they not?

1. Hollywood Brown

Oddly, a handful of Murray’s former WR teammates entered free agency last week, including Christian Kirk, Greg Dortch, and DeAndre Hopkins. Well, Kirk signed with the 49ers on Monday, Dortch has never produced at a WR3 level — he’s closer to a WR4 — and Hopkins is over the hill.

That leaves Hollywood Brown, who logged 587 receiving yards in Kansas City last season and served as Murray’s WR3 in Arizona during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Like Murray and Kirk, Murray and Brown are pals.

Once upon a time, Brown ran a 4.27 forty, and while that speed has diminished over the years — Brown will turn 29 in June — he’s still faster than Jefferson and Addison. Because of Brown’s small price tag and familiarity with Murray, he’s the wisest WR3 option remaining on the open market.

He was also a teammate of Murray’s at Oklahoma.

Also in this sports roundup:

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti did not call up Neymar for friendly matches against France and Croatia.

In tennis, Daniil Medvedev has entered the ATP Top 10 for the first time since June 2025.

In basketball, Luka Doncic and Bam Adebayo were named NBA Players of the Week.

The 2026 Valspar Championship begins this week at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course in Florida. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament, including a full Valspar Championship TV schedule, streaming information and complete tee times for the first and second rounds.

How to watch Valspar Championship

The PGA Tour season continues barreling toward the 2026 Masters this week with another long-running Florida event: the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook.

Despite landing directly after the Players Championship on the schedule, plenty of star Tour pros are in the field to take on the fearsome Copperhead Course.

Featured players include two-time major winner Xander Schauffele, fresh off a solo third at TPC Sawgrass. He’ll be competing against the man who finished one spot above him at the Players: Matt Fitzpatrick.

Other big names in the field include Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland and Akshay Bhatia, to name just a few.

They’ll be fighting for the $1.638 million winner’s share out of the $9 million Valspar purse.

NBC and Golf Channel will provide TV coverage of the 2026 Valspar Championship, while PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will offer streaming coverage and featured group coverage all week long. Peacock will air simulcasts of NBC’s Valspar Championship TV coverage.

You can find complete information about streaming or watching the tournament on TV below.

Want to place a wager on the Players Championship? Sign up for Fanatics Sportsbook with code “SUBPAR” to receive a special welcome offer.

Tournament basics

What: 2026 Valspar Championship
Where: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course), Palm Harbor, Fla.
When: Thursday-Sunday, March 19-22
Purse: $9.1 million ($1.638 million winner’s share)

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How to watch on TV

NBC and Golf Channel will air TV coverage of the 2026 Valspar Championship this week. Check out the full TV schedule below.

Thursday, March 19: 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Friday, March 20: 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Saturday, March 21: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3-6 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunday, March 22: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3-6 p.m. ET (NBC)

How to watch online, streaming

You can watch the 2026 Valspar Championship online via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, including exclusive early coverage beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET on Thursday and Friday and 7:45 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will also provide featured group and featured hole coverage throughout the round. You can stream NBC’s coverage on Peacock.

2026 Valspar Championship tee times: Round 1 (ET)

(TBA)

2026 Valspar Championship tee times: Round 2 (ET)

(TBA)

Man Utd midfielder Bruno Fernandes has been in sensational form since Ruben Amorim was sacked in January.

When Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United, some fans and pundits believed it was the wrong decision. It hasn’t taken long for that opinion to be proven wrong by Michael Carrick, who has won seven of nine.

United are third in the Premier League, six points clear of fifth position. The bookmakers have priced Carrick’s side as near-certainties to qualify for the Champions League. It was a long shot when Amorim was in charge.

Carrick and his backroom staff deserve to be lauded for their impact, but the last two months have reflected poorly on Amorim, who was holding the club back with his management.

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Carrick changed formation, relocated Bruno Fernandes to his strongest position and Kobbie Mainoo was reintegrated. The decision to play Fernandes as a deeper midfielder has looked particularly baffling following a string of outstanding performances as an attacking midfielder.

Fernandes has created nine assists in his last 10 matches in the Premier League, an improvement on the seven assists he recorded in the 17 league games with Amorim in charge this season.

Who would have thought that playing one of the world’s best creative midfielders in an advanced role would yield better results? Amorim’s decision-making was compromised due to his 3-4-3 formation.

Fernandes was asked to play so deep that he would often drop between the defenders to orchestrate the build-up. Some observers compared him to an NFL quarterback in the first half of the season.

In September, there was a conversation about Fernandes’ form and whether Amorim had to finally concede that playing him in the pivot was not getting the best out of his most talented player.

Amorim has a strong reputation in Portugal after a hugely successful stint with Sporting Lisbon, but even the Portuguese press questioned why Fernandes was playing in that role for United.

When Fernandes was on international duty with Portugal in October, he was asked about his position in Amorim’s system. “I love playing football, whatever the position,” he diplomatically answered.

Fernandes added: “Everyone has their preferences, but we have to adapt to the coach’s ideas,” which was the closest thing to an admission that he would prefer to play higher up the pitch.

It’s a testament to Fernandes’ quality that he found a way to remain influential in that role – he was superb in November and December – but his performances since playing as a No.10 again prove that he should never have been considered for such a limiting position.

Fernandes notched two assists in the 3-1 win against Aston Villa last weekend to surpass David Beckham’s club record for assists (Beckham contributed 15 assists in 1999/2000). He is now just four shy of equalling the Premier League assist record shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

Fernandes’ numbers are even more impressive when you drill into the data, which was highlighted by a ‘chances created’ graphic on Monday Night Football. The graphic showed players in the Premier League who have created one chance or more this season.

It combined chances from open play and total chances created. “Here is, Bruno Fernandes,” said presenter Dave Jones, pointing to the top right of the graphic, illustrating that he’s in a league of his own.

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“If you can control the speed of your brain, then you will be faster than anyone on the pitch,” Henry said. “He doesn’t play football, he thinks it. That’s a different ball game, for me.”

Fernandes’ remarkable rate of chance creation means that he has double the assists of Rayan Cherki, who has the second most in the Premier League this season, with a tally of eight.

The numbers are not a fluke, either. Fernandes is three goals away from reaching double figures for goals and assists for the ninth successive season. That consistency is why he’s world-class.

Fernandes has recorded 15.7 expected assists (xA) in the Premier League, leading to 16 assists. Rivals fans could take away from his achievement if his xA was much lower, which would suggest he’d benefited from clinical finishing, but the data shows he deserves the tally he has.

xA is a true reflection of a player’s ability to create chances. The metric measures the likelihood that a pass will become an assist. In layman’s terms, xA still rewards players for getting the ball into their teammate, regardless of whether the chance is converted or not.

Fernandes’ chance creation warrants 16 assists in the top-flight this term, but it likely would have been a different story if he’d continued to play in the deeper midfield role. Although Fernandes would have inevitably contributed goals and assists, it’s unlikely he would have reached the level he is currently operating at in his best position.

During Amorim’s United reign, the former head coach admitted he felt “embarrassed” by United’s league position as they threatened to flirt with a relegation battle last season. United’s current league position and the form of Fernandes are arguably even more embarrassing for him.