West Ham star Mateus Fernandes is on Manchester United’s radar this summer as they look to bolster their midfielder but their hopes of signing him have been dealt a blow

Manchester United’s plans for a third midfield signing this summer have been dealt a blow after Manuel Ugarte’s serious injury on Saturday. The 25-year-old was stretchered off during Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat to Spain, which ended the South American nation’s hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stages.

Ugarte’s injury was inadvertently caused by his own team-mate as he and Mathias Olivera both challenged for possession late in the first-half. Olivera reached the ball first and, in the aftermath, fell onto the United player’s extended leg.

It comes amid the Reds’ search for midfield reinforcements with Casemiro to leave as a free agent this summer. West Ham star Mateus Fernandes is one player United are keen to sign, although Tottenham Hotspur are said to be prepared to offer more money.

It is understood that talks have accelerated in the final week of June, given the Hammer’s financial situation, and there are suggestions that Spurs are willing to meet West Ham’s £80million demands.

However, Spanish publication Marca claim on Saturday that there has been fresh contact from Old Trafford with the Reds said to be willing to improve their contract offer for the Portuguese player. They add that United also plans to hold direct talks with West Ham.

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The significance of Manchester City’s £116m move for England and Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson underlines just how inflated the midfielder market has become. Top-quality midfielders are at a premium, and clubs fortunate enough to possess such players will hold firm for the highest possible fee.

United were priced out of a move for former Newcastle star Anderson and may yet face a similar scenario with Fernandes if they do not stump up more cash.

The Reds have planned to sign three midfielders during the summer transfer window; however, that was contingent on United finding a buyer for Ugarte.

FIFA’s Club Protection Programme will cover Ugarte’s salary if he is out for at least 28 consecutive days. The scheme pays the salary of an injured player up to a maximum of €7.5m (£6.6m) until they are declared fit to return for their club.

But that will not solve the issue of selling Ugarte with a serious injury, meaning he would likely stay at United until at least the January transfer window.

The Reds are at least close to signing one new midfielder, having already agreed a deal with Atalanta for Ederson. The Brazilian will join after a £35m initial fee, plus £3.8m in add-ons, was finalised between both clubs.

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The item has been taken away for forensic examination

A controlled explosion has been carried out on suspected historic munition found in a Co Down park.

Police received a report of a suspicious device found near the pitches in the Ward Park area of Bangor at around 5.15pm on Friday, June 26.

At around 8.40pm, Ammunition Technical Officers (ATO) carried out a controlled explosion on the suspected historic munition. The item has been taken away for forensic examination.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “A security alert in the Ward Park area of Bangor has now ended. Police received a report of a suspicious device in the area at approximately 5.15pm on Friday, 26th June.

“Officers attended the scene together with Ammunition Technical Officers (ATO) who, at approximately 8.40pm, carried out a controlled explosion on what is believed to have been historic munition. The item has been taken away for forensic examination.

“Cordons have been lifted and we appreciate the patience and co-operation shown by those affected while officers worked to ensure this public safety operation was carried out.

“Enquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone with any information which might assist us to contact 101, quoting reference number 1428 of 26/06/26.

“You can also submit a report or information online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport

“Or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/“

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Flights at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been delayed for up to 11 hours as the heatwave turns to thunderstorms.

More than 800 flights have been delayed in and out of the two travel hubs so far on Saturday and dozens cancelled, many due to the stormy weather. The UK’s air traffic control service said delays were expected to continue for the rest of the day.

Some passengers have taken to social media to express their frustration, with one saying her daughter was stuck on an Easyjet plane at Gatwick for four hours before it was cancelled.

Gatwick told BBC News that temporary air traffic control restrictions had been put in place, while Easyjet apologised for the disruption.

More than 400 flights arriving at or departing from Heathrow have been delayed so far on Saturday, according to tracker FlightAware, and another 400 in and out of Gatwick.

Delays to affected flights vary, but Heathrow’s live arrival board shows a British Airways flight from Santiago, Chile that was due to land at 10:00 BST but is now not expected to arrive until 21:00 this evening.

Europe-wide aviation agency Eurocontrol mapping shows the most severe air traffic control delays in airspace between south-east England and north-western Europe, where the storm clouds are currently located.

However, other UK airports remain largely unaffected.

NATS, the UK’s air traffic control service, said “weather disruption was expected to continue through the rest of the day” after “forecasted severe weather across the south east of England”.

The thunderstorms developed overnight – bringing rain and lightning to parts of the UK – following a record-breaking heatwave, with the hottest ever June high of 37.3C recorded in Suffolk on Friday.

An amber warning for extreme heat is in place until Sunday morning for parts of eastern and south-east England – while the thunderstorm to the south of the UK is forecast to worsen throughout Saturday afternoon.

Eurocontrol said a “broad area of hot, unstable air” stretching from northern Spain to southern Sweden was likely to see further storm-cloud development overnight, adding that there was “a large degree of uncertainty” over when and where they would develop.

Flights are having to avoid the area with turbulent conditions, having a knock-on effect on schedules.

Johnsons of Old Hurst announced the full site, including the crocodile attraction, opened again this weekend.

The zoo where a three-year-old was allegedly thrown into the crocodile enclosure and attacked has announced they have opened again.

Johnsons of Old Hurst said its whole site will be open “as of this weekend” following the horror incident which left the young boy in a critical condition in hospital. He was attacked by at least one of the reptiles.

In the post dated June 27, it said: “Public announcement. As of this weekend, our whole site will be fully open, thank you.” A spokesperson for the zoo confirmed this included the crocodile attraction, reports the Mirror.

Fans of the zoo posted on Instagram saying that they were pleased it had now fully reopened after the Tropical House, containing the crocodile enclosure, was closed following the incident on June 18.

The boy, from Cambridgeshire, was rushed to hospital where he was initially described as being in a critical condition.

A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was later bailed after he was “assessed as not being fit for interview”, Cambridgeshire Police said. The suspect reportedly has learning difficulties and had been on a trip to the zoo with carers.

The boy was said to have sustained “serious injuries” in the enclosure but was saved by Tracey Johnson, the zoo owner’s wife, who jumped into the crocodile pit to rescue him.

Meanwhile, a probe has been launched after the medical records of the boy were accessed by around 40 members of hospital staff.

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and is investigating whether all the workers had a legitimate reason for looking at his personal information.

Cops have since said the youngster is no longer in a critical condition.

Members of the Johnson family who run the zoo were involved in the rescue, Chris Newman, the director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, told the BBC.

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“Tracey was the first on the scene, but she was then joined by her husband Andy and their youngest son Edward. All three were involved in the rescue,” he added. “All three were heroes… they’re a close-knit family and they’re still quite shaken by it.”

He added that the family are “all very distraught” following the shocking incident. The zoo at Johnsons of Old Hurst is home to more than 100 animals including lions and tigers. The crocodile house was built in 2009.

None of the crocodiles had been seized or killed, police said.

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Radio 4 was the UK’s last remaining broadcaster on long wave before it was permanently switched off at 1am on Saturday (June 27).

The service, which began in 1934, was used to transmit messages during the Second World War and became home to Radio 4 in 1978.

The BBC said it was “coming to the end of its life” and maintaining the aging technology would require “significant investment” for a platform used by a small proportion of listeners.

A BBC spokesperson said: “We also work closely with organisations that support vulnerable audiences around platform closures, to ensure listeners are helped in a timely and sensitive way.”

The end of an era – After almost a century we said goodbye this morning to our great companion of the airwaves Radio 4 198 LW. I shall miss her warmth and crackle. Here’s the final sign off at the end of #theshippingforecast before she fell silent… ❤️ pic.twitter.com/REDuiNtpji

— Al Ryan (@alryanradio) June 27, 2026

BBC presenter Al Ryan described the long wave radio switch-off as “the end of an era”.

Ryan gave the final sign-off on BBC Radio 4 early Saturday morning, saying: “Although the long wave signal is fading into history this morning, the memories and connections it created will endure forever.

“We shall miss your warmth and crackle.”

How to listen to BBC Radio 4

Radio 4 will continue to be broadcast on FM, DAB, digital TV, and online.

The broadcaster confirmed all programmes would remain available, including long-running favourites like The Archers and Desert Island Discs.

The closure is part of the BBC’s wider strategy to invest in modern platforms and strengthen digital resilience in broadcasting.

Long wave radio has been relied on by listeners in remote areas, as well as by mariners and fishermen.

Before the shutdown, campaigners argued that the long wave provided an essential, non-digital national communication network.

Do you listen to BBC Radio 4? Let us know your favourite show in the comments below.

One affected passenger Adam Joseph, 29, told BBC News that he had been stranded at Venice airport in Italy without air conditioning because his flight to Gatwick had been delayed by over four hours .He was due to depart Venice at 12.30pm local time but said the plane had not yet left London on its outbound leg.

England will face Panama at the World Cup on Saturday with the aim of topping Group L, but the Three Lions are set to be without Reece James, who’s picked up a hamstring injury

John Stones has been touted as an option to replace Reece James for England’s clash with Panama on Saturday. Chelsea captain James has suffered a hamstring injury and there are concerns that he’ll also miss the Three Lions’ first knockout match next week.

More immediately, however, Thomas Tuchel must select another right-back in his XI to face Panama in New Jersey. James, 26, played every minute of England’s first two games, with Djed Spence and Nico O’Reilly sharing the left-back role.

Being right-footed, Spence is the leading candidate to replace James, while Jarell Quansah can also play at full-back. But former England defender Danny Mills has put Stones’ name forward.

The 32-year-old has plenty of experience on the right-hand side of defence, despite predominately being a centre-back. Stones started there as England beat Croatia before dropping to the bench against Ghana.

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“I’d be tempted to play John Stones there if he’s fit,” Mills told Sky Sports. “John Stones has played there before but when I look at all the options – going forward, defensively, who’s good on the ball – he’s probably your best option, as a footballer, playing at right-back.

“And that’s a bit of a fish out of water, it’s not his natural position; [he’s] not blessed with pace, he’s done it for (Manchester) City on occasions. But that’s where we’re looking at. I think he’s a better option defensively than Djed Spence would be.”

Mills, however, can’t fathom why Tuchel didn’t call up a right-back when Tino Livramento suffered an injury during England’s pre-tournament camp, instead selecting Trevoh Chalobah. “I don’t understand the defensive selection especially once Livramento was out of the squad. I don’t get calling up Chalobah in the slightest,” Mills admitted.

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“John Stones could play right-back and fill in. Kyle Walker could fill in as a deputy. He played 36 games in the Premier League last season. We now don’t have a recognised right-back in the squad.

“You’re putting square pegs into round holes going into the biggest tournament that you could potentially win after what England have done previously. It just looks unbalanced.

“When you’re up against the likes of (Kylian) Mbappe, (Lamine) Yamal, whoever else might be in those positions. You’re going to be facing the very best. If you don’t have natural players in those positions, it makes it very difficult.”

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The nation was marking Armed Forces Day on Saturday

The Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis MP, has spoken out to back Andy Burnham, saying the new Makerfield MP would make an ‘excellent’ Prime Minister.

Mr Jarvis, as a row over the publication of the Government’s defence spending plan continues, said Mr Burnham ‘understands the importance of national security and making sure that we’ve got the right amount of resource to invest in our armed forces’.

He said he was ‘very supportive’ of the former mayor of Greater Manchester, but decisions on Cabinet posts would be a matter for him.

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Asked whether he backed Mr Burnham and would serve in a potential Burnham government, the Defence Secretary told the Press Association: “I’m very supportive of Andy Burnham, who I’ve known for many years and who I supported previously.

“I think he’ll be an excellent Prime Minister, but ultimately it’ll be for him to appoint his cabinet.”

Former Sheffield City mayor Mr Jarvis, speaking on Armed Forces Day on Saturday, said there was a ‘balance’ that needed to be struck over the defence investment plan (Dip).

Asked how much more was needed, he said: “There will always be a strong case, not least given the circumstances that we’re operating in, to spend more on defence, but people will understand that there has to be a balance that is struck, and I have to work very closely with colleagues in the Treasury.

“It’s my job to secure the best deal for defence.”

He added defence should be the UK’s ‘number one spending priority’.

On defence resources, Mr Jarvis said: “That is a process that is absolutely under way, but it is on the back of a commitment already to historic levels of defence funding.

“Yes, we want to do more, and the Dip will deliver that, and, yes, we want to go further, the other side of the Dip.

“That is well understood by Andy Burnham. It’s well understood by the current Prime Minister. It’s my job to deliver for defence and that’s what I’m working hard to do.”

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Mr Jarvis said “real progress” had been made on the defence investment plan in the last week, but indicated he still needed to “satisfy myself that I’ve got the right level of resource”.

“I’ve been working very hard since I was appointed to satisfy myself that we’ve got the right resource and the right mix of capabilities,” he said, asked whether it was ready.

“The Prime Minister has been clear that we will publish the defence investment plan before the Nato summit. That’s what we’re going to do. I have a responsibility to make sure I get it right and that is what I’m working to achieve.”

“I pay tribute to my predecessor, he did a great job for defence, but the responsibility is now mine to deliver that plan, and what I need to do is satisfy myself that I’ve got the right level of resource and the right mix of capabilities. That is a process across Government. We’ve made real progress with it over the last week or so. I’m determined to get that right and I’m determined to do it before the Nato summit.”

The incident has led to Guisborough Road, between Marton Moor Road and The Crescent in Nunthorpe, to become completely blocked off, and trains, which are scheduled to come through, are at a standstill.

Road maps, run by AA, have reported that there is “queueing traffic due to a railroad crossing failure on Guisborough Road, both ways between Marton Moor Road and The Crescent.”

It’s understood that trains towards Middlesbrough are also impacted at this time.

This incident comes amid train services between Middlesbrough and Redcar Central/Saltburn are currently unable to run after a burst water main caused flooding on the railway.

All lines between Middlesbrough and Redcar Central are blocked, meaning trains are either being cancelled or revised so they do not operate through the affected section.

Disruption is expected to continue until at least 7pm tonight (June 27).

Buses from Middlesbrough to Saltburn are scheduled at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 10pm.

Services from Saltburn to Middlesbrough are scheduled at 10.05am, 11.05am, 12.05pm, 4.05pm, 5.05pm, 6.05pm and 10.05pm.

This article will be updated.