Man United have had injury problems in defence this season, and the partnership that ends the 2026/27 campaign could look very different to the one that starts it.

Manchester United will head into next season with five central defenders, but the pecking order at the end of the year could shift dramatically during a campaign that will offer opportunities to all of them.

United finished this season with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez installed as Michael Carrick’s preferred partnership. They started together when fit and offer a good blend of right-footer and left-footer, of dribbler and passer, strong in the air and combative on the deck.

But it’s easy to envisage that partnership drifting apart at some point next season. Maguire is now 33 and Martinez has had his injury problems, never appearing in more than 27 Premier League games during his four-year spell at Old Trafford.

Click here to find out the latest Manchester United news in our daily newsletter

And it’s easy to forget that Matthijs de Ligt was actually the flavour of the month in the early weeks of this season. He played every minute of the Premier League season until the end of November and was then unable to shake off a back injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.

De Ligt has since undergone surgery to correct that issue and although he won’t be fit for the start of the season, he will have his sights set on a place in the side once he does return to full training at Carrington.

Then there are the two youngsters and their development will be worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses. Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven started three games together last season and United won none of them, but both are considered exciting talents at Carrington.

In fact, so highly-rated are 20-year-old Yoro and 19-year-old Heaven that Maguire, who has been something of a mentor to both of them, has told club staff they could be United’s own version of Arsenal’s title-winning central defensive partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel.

That duo have been the bedrock of Arsenal’s domestic success and are without doubt the best partnership in the league. Maguire’s faith in the long-term potential of Yoro and Heaven is telling.

Maguire signed a new one-year deal, with the option of a further year, in April and as good as he was last season, the end is clearly close at Old Trafford. Martinez’s contract situation is identical, with 12 months remaining and a one-year option. He has fitness concerns to overcome to earn an extension and will turn 29 midway through next season.

De Ligt also has to prove his form and fitness all over again. It feels inevitable that at least one of De Ligt, Martinez and Maguire will leave Old Trafford next summer, so the path for Yoro and Heaven is there.

They also have a right-foot-left-foot balance and should have attributes that indicate they will strike up a good partnership. They have already formed a connection off the pitch.

Heaven overcame a sticky spell to end the season well and was outstanding in the win at Chelsea, but Yoro didn’t kick on as expected last term. United beat Real Madrid to his £52million signature in 2024, and although he is still young for a central defender, he will be targeting a place in the strongest XI by the end of next season.

It certainly feels like there will be places in that defence up for grabs next season. Maguire and Martinez hold those shirts at the moment, but their grip on them will loosen at some point and De Ligt, Yoro and Heaven will all get their own chances to impress.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

A simple but full-flavoured dish to wake up the taste buds, with sweet-sharp citrus and a punchy dressing that’s hot, sour, salty and sweet all at the same time.

Grapefruit can also be used in this salad instead of blood oranges.

Hold on to the recipe for the Thai nam jim dressing here – it’s good for spooning over roast or griddled fish as well.

The US military says that Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait and Bahrain failed or were shot down, and that the US launched strikes on an Iranian facility in response.

US Central Command said the strikes were on an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island, near the Strait of Hormuz, that is home to a desalination plant.

Iran had fired missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain but they failed to hit their targets, the US said. The two fired at Kuwait fell apart en route, while US and Bahrain forces intercepted the missiles aimed at Bahrain.

The escalation comes as president Donald Trump calls suggestions that the US and Iran are no longer holding peace talks “false and erroneous” and insisted the two countries have been speaking “continuously”.

In a post on Truth Social, he added the US and Iran in fact spoke “four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, one day ago, and today”.But he also said he had told Tehran: “It’s time, one way or another, for you to make a Deal. You’ve been doing this for 47 years, and it cannot be allowed to go on any longer!”

Elizabeth Jones was found hiding in a cupboard after the frienzied attack

A woman attacked an old school friend with a knife and choked her after losing her temper “in a quite startling way”, a court has heard. When arrested, having been found hiding in a cupboard, Elizabeth Jones assaulted police and then “made up a fairy tale” about how the victim came by her injuries.

Sending the defendant down, a judge at Swansea Crown Court said while the physical wounds she had caused in the attack would heal, “the psychological impact may take a great deal longer to be resolved”.

Caitlin Brazel, prosecuting, told the court that Jones and the complainant in the case had known each other since their school days, and said that in March this year the defendant was staying with her friend at her home in Swansea. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here

The barrister said that on March 13 the complainant was asleep on her sofa when she was awoken by her houseguest who said she had taken cocaine and wanted diazepam – better known as Valium – to help her sleep. The friend told Jones she didn’t have any diazepam and even if she did, she would not give her the drug.

The court heard Jones responded by arming herself with a kitchen knife, then picked up and threw a glass coffee table – causing it to smash – before throwing drinking glasses at the complainant.

The prosecutor said Jones grabbed the woman by her hair and dragged her over the broken glass on the floor before punching her in the face, “jabbing” the kitchen knife at her stomach, and cutting her legs while shouting “I’m going to f****** kill you! I’m going to f****** stab you!”. The defendant then grabbed her friend around the throat and squeezed to the point where the woman was struggling to breath.

The court heard a neighbour of the victim’s, who had heard the sounds of a disturbance, knocked on the front door to check if everything was okay, thereby giving the complainant the chance to flee the property.

The victim went to Morriston Hospital where medics found lacerations to her ear and leg, grazes, marks on her neck, and soft tissue damage to her face.

Meanwhile police began to search for 26-year-old Jones, and she was found in a property hiding under a pile of clothes in a cupboard. When arrested she was verbally and physically aggressive to officers. In her subsequent interview, Jones denied the allegations and said she had grabbed her friend in a bear hug to stop her self-harming and said her friend had cut herself when falling into a glass coffee table.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said she had been left suffering with panic attacks, nightmares, and had trouble sleeping. She said her flat had been left looking “like a murder scene” with blood and broken glass everywhere, and said she no longer felt safe in her own home and would have to move. The woman said the defendant had been a friend for 12 years and the pair had been due to go on holiday together. She said that following the incident she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Elizabeth Jones, of Park View, Llanelli, had previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, making threats to kill, strangulation, criminal damage, and assaulting a constable when she appeared in the dock for sentencing. She has 16 previous convictions for 22 offences including harassment, three batteries, and three counts of criminal damage. Her last conviction is for theft from July 2025.

Matt Murphy, for Jones, said it was plain from the contents of a pre-sentence report that his client had a “deeply troubled background” which led to drug misuse and offending. He said the defendant’s period on remand in HMP Eastwood Park had been her first experience of custody and was a “salutatory lesson”. The barrister added that his client had a supportive family.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said for reasons which had never been properly explained, the defendant had lost her temper “in a quite startling way”. He said it was impossible to know the level of fear the victim experienced while being strangled, not knowing if her assailant would stop. The judge said while the physical wounds caused by the attack would heal “the psychological impact may take a great deal longer to be resolved”. He noted that Jones had then “made up a fairy tale” about how the victim came by her injuries.

With a one-quarter discount for her guilty pleas, Jones was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison comprising 40 months for the offending against the complainant, and two months for the assault on the PC to run consecutively. The defendant will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice

Manchester United could well have an edge in the race to sign West Ham star Jarrod Bowen this summer

Manchester United may have to act quickly if they want to complete a summer move for Jarrod Bowen.

The West Ham forward is expected to leave east London following the Hammers’ relegation to the Championship. While the club are believed to value Bowen at around £50million, reports suggest an offer closer to £40m could be enough to strike a deal.

Bowen has been one of the brightest sparks in the Premier League this season, notching 11 goals and 12 assists in all competitions. His form has naturally attracted significant interest, with Chelsea now reportedly considering a swoop for the 29-year-old.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

But United can offer Bowen something the Blues can’t: his preferred squad number.

The England international has worn the No. 20 shirt for most of his career, including the last six seasons at the London Stadium. Conveniently for United, the number became available after Diogo Dalot switched to the No. 2 shirt ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Chelsea, meanwhile, currently have Joao Pedro occupying the No. 20 shirt at Stamford Bridge. Although the Brazilian has been linked with a blockbuster switch to Barcelona this summer, Chelsea are said to be not considering a sale after his impressive debut season in west London.

According to Metro, Chelsea have been monitoring Bowen for some time as they look to add greater experience and versatility to their attacking options. New manager Xabi Alonso is also understood to be a long-time admirer of the West Ham man, having spoke glowingly about him during his time in charge of Bayer Leverkusen.

“He’s one of the top players for sure, not just in terms of goals, but energy as well,” Alonso told TNT Sports in 2024. “He’s a real threat in their transitions in the last third – he has a great foot, so that’s why he’s one of the top players in the English squad.”

That said, Bowen’s strong connection with the West Ham fanbase could make a move across London to Chelsea more difficult to sell than a switch to Old Trafford. United can also offer Champions League football next season after Michael Carrick’s side secured a third-place finish in the Premier League – ending the campaign 19 points ahead of Chelsea.

Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!

For now, though, Bowen is keeping his cards close to his chest. Following West Ham’s relegation, he issued an emotional apology to supporters on social media.

“It’s hard to post something like this when all you’re feeling is embarrassment and pain,” Bowen shared on Instagram. “I could write loads trying to explain where it all went wrong this season, but honestly what you deserve from me is an apology.

“Winning that trophy in Prague was the best night of my career. Sunday was the worst. We just weren’t good enough. Simple as that. And that’s why the season ended the way it did.”

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Advertisement

The warning comes from publican Andrew Hields, who runs three Yorkshire Dales venues – including the UK’s highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn near Richmond.

Mr Hields also runs the Green Dragon Inn at Hadraw and the Station Inn at Ribblehead.

Pubs with stunning views, large beer gardens and strong community ties could soon face higher tax bills under new HMRC guidance.

Mr Hields said: “At best they lose money for four months, break even for four months and usually only make money for four months – the latter becoming more difficult due to recent Government decisions.”

He argued the tax fails to consider the seasonal nature of such businesses and places further strain on an already struggling hospitality sector.

He said: “Most ‘nice pubs’ are rural which means they already have higher costs and often have less access to a local workforce, so have to pay more to get staff, more on service and increased marketing costs to create awareness and appeal.”

Mr Hields questioned how HMRC would define what qualifies as a ‘nice pub,’ whether by architecture, the street it’s on, or its history.

He also noted additional costs for rural pubs, such as higher insurance due to remoteness from emergency services and increased overheads like those faced by the off-grid Tan Hill Inn, which relies on generators for electricity.

He said: “We are also a lifeline for other businesses in the area we operate, from tradespeople to local producers.

“Nice in this context seems to defined by what something looks like or its setting – not taking into account the challenges and expenses these particular businesses are facing.

“Also who visits a pub that is not nice? All pubs are arguably nice or people wouldn’t go to them.

“This is an absolutely nonsensical, badly thought out scheme which will ruin lots of businesses and communities.

“The Government need to seriously reconsider before making this move, along with other recent decisions which are having a detrimental effect on the hospitality industry.”

Available for over a year

Today, the Prime minister says he “felt sick” as he watched the body cam footage of a student who was handcuffed as he lay dying.

The 18-year-old Southampton student Henry Nowak was handcuffed after Vickrum Digwa, 23, lied to police at the scene of the 2025 stabbing, claiming he had been the victim of a racist attack. Shabana Mahmood described the murder as an “an act of pure evil” and described bodycam footage of officers handcuffing Nowak as “disturbing and tragic”.

Adam and Joe are joined by BBC News’ special correspondent Lucy Manning to go through the details of this case.

And, Peter Murrell, the estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, had the details of his embezzlement laid out in court. Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period to buy a string of goods including soaps, a motorhome and… mug warmers? Adam and James discuss.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you’re in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Anna Harris and Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Programme WebsiteShow less

Services were disrupted throughout Tuesday until the strike ended just before midnight, with no trains on some lines and delays or part suspensions on others, after Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union members walked out over plans for a 35-hour, four-day week for drivers.

For captive animals, engaging in natural behaviour is a pillar of the animal welfare framework. But when it comes to sex, one important behaviour has
been largely ignored, and sometimes even punished: masturbation.

Solo sex is surprisingly common across the animal kingdom. It is well documented in primates. Tortoises are surprisingly vocal during their solo lovemaking endeavours, if not very graceful. Camels masturbate by rubbing their penises in the sand and porcupines make inventive use of all sorts of objects.

Our new study could change how other scientists view masturbation in birds and improve their welfare.

Masturbation also seems to be common in birds. A quick internet search brings up an abundance of video clips on social media and dedicated posts on bird-keeping forums, largely from worried or bemused hobbyist bird keepers.

It has often been treated as an abnormal problem behaviour in captive birds (particularly parrots). Folklore husbandry has assumed it is the undesirable outcome of stress, bad health or poor environment. Bird keepers often therefore discourage masturbation via punishment or veterinary interventions such as diet or care changes and, sometimes, even drugs and surgery. Despite the welfare implications, masturbation in birds had been largely unexplored by the scientific community.

We set out to change that, by investigating the distribution and evolutionary history of masturbation in birds for the first time. We studied 120 species of bird across 22 major groups, gathering data from the scattered scientific literature, online reports and community forums, and surveys of bird experts.

Our study found that masturbation is widespread across birds with a strong evolutionary history, meaning that it’s an ancient trait probably similar in closely related species. Although we found more records of masturbation in male birds, it occurs in both sexes and across all age groups.

Solo sex also seems to be linked to species that mate with multiple partners, supporting the idea that it might help to increase reproductive success when there is a high degree of competition over fertilisation. For instance, in males it may flush out old sperm to leave newer (better condition) sperm for mating. In females it may increase sexual arousal to help with sneak mating with males other than their partner.

Wild behaviour

Crucially, we discovered that masturbation is actually less common in captivity than the wild, and more common in birds reared by their own parents than by humans.
What this tells us is that masturbation in birds is neither an unnatural
behaviour, nor a consequence of captivity. Given this finding, it is important
that birds are not prevented from masturbation. Of course, as with any behaviour, there may be extreme cases where chronic masturbation could indicate underlying health or husbandry issues.

Avian self-pleasure is usually a rather inelegant affair, in which a bird rubs their cloaca (a shared orifice for both excretion and reproduction) against an object, like a branch, twig or toy. This is often accompanied by a lot of flapping and self-satisfied vocalisation.

One potential reason for the lack of scientific studies exploring avian masturbation may be because the cloaca is thought to have fewer nerve clusters, and therefore lower sensitivity, than our own genitals.

Clearly however, birds are getting some satisfaction from masturbation, so perhaps there is more to a bird’s sensations during sex than has previously been recognised. Further exploration of this could have important implications for both welfare and captive breeding programmes. While sexual pleasure may not be exactly the same experience as for mammals, it is wildly premature to dismiss the idea that birds also feel pleasure.

The Bee Network put a message out on social media stating that due to a police incident all tram service has been cancelled between Bury and Whitefield.

There is, however, bus services operating in the area.

The Bee Network said: “Due to a police incident, there are no services operating between Bury and Whitefield.

“There is ticket acceptance in place on the following bus services: 17, 41, 52, 53, 90, 95, 97, 98, 99, 112, 117, 118, 119, 135, 156, 163 and 524.

“Simply show the driver your Metrolink ticket or pass when boarding.

“To continue your journey by bus, please visit our journey planner

“Please select ‘options’ and check only the bus icon is highlighted. This feature is also available on the Bee Network app where you can also find bus tracking information.”