Arsenal’s Declan Rice, Gabriel and David Raya have been nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association men’s player of the year award alongside Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.

Earlier this month, Fernandes, 31, won the Football Writers’ Association’s men’s footballer of the year award.

That award is often an indicator of who is the frontrunner to be named the PFA player of the year.

The Portugal midfielder registered a record 21 Premier League assists to help United finish third.

Midfielder Rice, defender Gabriel and goalkeeper Raya were all key players for Arsenal, who won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.

Striker Haaland bagged 27 goals to win the league’s golden boot, while Cherki enjoyed a successful first season in the Premier League.

Former Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah won the award last year after scoring 29 times to help the Reds win the Premier League.

The winners will be honoured on Tuesday, 25 August at the 53rd annual PFA Awards Ceremony in Manchester.

English football’s independent regulator faces a “defining test” as Saudi Arabian government official Turki Al-Sheikh attempts to invest in Derby County, says Amnesty International.

Al-Sheikh, who has previously owned football clubs in Spain and Egypt and is now among the most powerful figures in world boxing, is looking to buy a stake in the Championship side.

As chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority – and someone who is a prominent figure in the close circle of the country’s de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman – 44-year-old Al-Sheikh has been criticised by human rights groups for his role in alleged ‘sportswashing’ by Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has been accused of using sport and culture to improve its reputation and to distract from the nation’s poor human rights record, treatment of women, use of the death penalty and its anti-LGBT stance.

Al-Sheikh will need approval from the independent football regulator (IFR) – a body that was formed only last year to safeguard the future and integrity of the game.

The IFR has establish a new owners, directors and senior executives test, taking over the responsibility previously held by English Football League when it came to new investment in Championship sides.

Both bodies, as well as Derby County, have declined to comment on Al-Sheikh’s interest in the Championship side when contacted by the BBC, as have Al-Sheikh’s representatives.

“This is a defining test for English football’s new independent regulator,” said Felix Jakens, head of campaigns at human rights group Amnesty International UK.

“Will it allow a senior representative of a government directly implicated in mass human rights violations to take control of one of the country’s oldest football clubs? The regulator must ask these questions and answer them transparently.”

With Premier League side Newcastle United already owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Amnesty International said any stake bought by Al-Sheikh “would mark a significant expansion of Saudi Arabia’s footprint in English football”.

Amnesty say 356 people were executed in Saudi Arabia last year – a new record which has been condemned by human rights groups.

“The serious questions surrounding Saudi involvement in sport anywhere in the world are just as relevant here,” said Jakens.

“Al-Sheikh is not a private businessman. He is the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority., external“

Emergency services were called to the incident, which happened at Bag Lane, Atherton, at roughly 11.25pm on Thursday, June 4.

Two fire engines and an enhanced rescue unit attended the scene, with crews staying there for two hours.

It resulted in two people being treated by ambulances and later being taken to the hospital.

(Image: Alan Cunliffe)

A witness, from Atherton, said: “I got off the 132 bus, as I had been out with friends in Tyldesley.

“The curiosity got the better of me as I walked around the corner and emergency response units, then as I looked down Bag Lane, I saw the car parked in the house.

“All I could see was the fire engines, and I could smell gas. It’s not a well-lit area.”

Emergency services cordoned off Bag Lane, and traffic going through the road had to re-divert around Atherton.

Pictures show that Greater Manchester Police also seem to have attended the scene. They have been approached for comment.

(Image: Alan Cunliffe)

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 11.25 pm on Thursday 4 June, two fire engines from Atherton and Hindley and an enhanced rescue unit from Leigh attended an incident on Bag Lane, Atherton. 

“A vehicle had collided with a property, and firefighters used specialist equipment to make the area safe.

“Two casualties were treated by partners from Northwest Ambulance Service and taken to the hospital.

“Crews were at the scene for two hours.”

No other injuries were reported.

Zak Hughes also admitted a charge of causing the destruction of her unborn child

A 29-year old man was handed a life sentence today after he admitted murdering his pregnant partner Sarah Montgomery in her Donaghadee home.

Zak Hughes also admitted a charge of causing the destruction of her unborn child.

The 27-year old mother-of-two was killed in her Elmfield Walk home on June 27, 2025. As a result of the fatal attack, her unborn son did not survive.

As Ms Montgomery’s loved ones sat in the public gallery of Belfast Crown Court, Hughes appeared in the dock flanked by two prison officers.

His solicitor David Jones addressed Madam Justice McBride and said that whilst this was a case affected by the current withdrawal of services, the arraignment could go ahead.

Mr Jones added: “The accused is aware of the consequences of the action he is about to take and the arraignment can proceed, My Lady.”

From Ardglen Place in Belfast, Hughes was asked to stand by a court clerk who then charged him with the murder of Ms Montgomery.

When asked how he pleaded to the charge, Hughes replied “guilty.”

Hughes was then charged with ‘intent to destroy the life of a child capable of being born alive by a wilful act, caused a child to die before it had an existence independent of its mother’ on the same date.

To his second charge, Hughes again replied “guilty.”

Following this, Hughes was addressed by Madam Justice McBride who told him: “In light of the pleas there is only one sentence of imprisonment that I can impose and that is one of life imprisonment.

“Before I can set a Tariff, you may wish to have some further evidence and reports.”

Crown barrister Geraldine McCullough KC then told Madam Justice McBride she anticipated there will be Victim Impact Statements from Ms Montgomery’s family.

Regarding the defence, Mr Jones said he would be seeking a Pre Sentence Report on Hughes.

Madam Justice McBride then set the date for the Tariff hearing as Friday September 11, 2026.

Following this, Hughes was then handcuffed and led from the dock and back into custody at HMP Maghaberry.

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The proposals for two cops in the city comes in the wake of repeated calls for a return to bobbies on the beat to tackle anti-social behaviour and a surge in shoplifting.

Plans are afoot for Police Scotland to have two dedicated officers patrolling Perth city centre Monday to Friday.

The news comes in the wake of repeated calls for a return to bobbies on the beat to tackle anti-social behaviour and a surge in shoplifting.

At a Perth and Kinross Council committee meeting this week, Chief Inspector Jamie Allen said having a visible police presence was something he feels is “very important”.

According to the latest Police Scotland annual report, shoplifting in Perth and Kinross has more than doubled since 2022/23 and rose by 47 per cent last year alone. Between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026 there were 1193 shoplifting incidents compared to 814 the previous year.

On top of shoplifting, a recent Freedom of Information request by the Scottish Conservatives, found there were 49 incidents of retail workers in Perth city centre being assaulted and 27 incidents of retail staff being threatened or abused in 2024/25.

Calling for action, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser met with the local police chief and said: “Crime in Perth city centre is now out of control.”

Last month, Perth and Kinross Council leader and Perth City Centre ward councillor Eric Drysdale met with police officers to discuss anti-social behaviour in Perth City Centre, following concerns which included drunken misbehaviour, vandalism and graffiti.

At a meeting of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on Wednesday, June 3 Independent councillor – and former SNP leader – Grant Laing called for a police presence in Perth city centre.

Addressing senior police officers at Wednesday’s meeting, Cllr Grant Laing said: “I know you’re constricted with workforce and funding. I understand that.

“We need boots on the ground and, I think, working together, we could do it.”

He added: “We, as a local authority, spend a lot of money on community wardens, who have no power. I speak to them. They can’t enforce a by-law, they can’t take drink off somebody. They can ask them to move on, they can’t do anything about it. They can’t go into a shop and reassure.

“Could we possibly bring something through to address perceived and real issues that they feel are going on in the city centre?”

Chief Inspector Jamie Allen confirmed he would support a funded post and revealed plans were being put in place to have two dedicated police officers patrol Perth City Centre Monday to Friday.

Ch Insp Allen said: “In relation to the visibility side of things in Perth city centre, we’re very conscious of what the feelings are.

“And, for me, visibility is very important. It goes back to that fear of crime and deterrent factor for people as well.

“We are in the process of having a couple of officers dedicated, Monday to Friday, to be in Perth city centre, to be that link in with the shops. But the most important thing for me is to be that visibility to be seen walking around and engaging with people. That’s just the start of something we are trying to do.

“For me, even two officers dedicated to something like that could have quite a big impact on the city centre.

“It’s the community policing aspect of it, they’ll know the people going around and will be able to engage with them. Vulnerable people will begin to recognise them and go to them if they see them every day there. So that is something we are doing.”

Manchester City duo Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Yui Hasegawa have been shortlisted for the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Women’s Player of the Year award.

Shaw, who was named the Football Writers’ Association Women’s Footballer of the Year in May, scored a league-high 21 goals in 22 matches as Manchester City won the WSL title for the second time.

Japan’s Hasegawa was another key figure for City, who also won the FA Cup.

Arsenal’s Alessio Russo, who finished second to Shaw in the Golden Boot competition for leading scorer, is joined on the shortlist by fellow England internationals Lauren James (Chelsea) and Jess Park (Manchester United).

Aston Villa forward Kirsty Hanson is the sixth and final nominee, having scored 12 goals in 22 matches for the Villans.

The winner will be announced on 25 August at the PFA Awards ceremony in Manchester.