Manchester United could look to complete new additions in the summer as the club continues to reshape the squad under its long‑term rebuild

Manchester United’s attention will soon shift to the summer transfer window as they look for opportunities to strengthen the squad. The Reds made four signings last summer but opted against entering the market for reinforcements in January.

With United well‑placed to secure European football next season, that will work in their favour when it comes to attracting new players. After Friday’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, United sit third on 55 points, while Aston Villa, who face West Ham on Sunday, are four points behind.

There is also ongoing discussion around Michael Carrick, who was appointed interim head coach until the end of the season. Having impressed so far and overseen United’s rise up the table, the board must now decide whether to appoint him as permanent manager.

Here, the Manchester Evening News has taken a look at the latest headlines from in and around Old Trafford.

Casemiro ‘new contract’ claim

According to reports in Brazil, RTI Esporte say that Casemiro has recently been viewed as an important part of the squad again, which has ‘opened the door for discussions’ over a possible contract renewal. The 34‑year‑old, who is out of contract in the summer and had already announced he would be leaving at the end of the season, could now see United ‘considering’ extending his stay at Old Trafford.

However, it’s claimed that for any new deal to progress, United would demand a significant wage reduction as part of their financial restructuring and to ensure his salary aligns with their plans for next season.

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The report also notes that Inter Miami and Al‑Nassr have both expressed interest in the midfielder and are monitoring his situation, while a return to Brazil is not believed to be in Casemiro’s plans at this stage.

MEN Sport says: Even with Casemiro’s latest resurgence, the question remains whether it’s enough to justify a renewal on anything close to his current terms.

At 34, and with United pushing for a younger, more sustainable squad profile, any extension would have to make sense both financially and strategically. His recent performances strengthen his case, but the club’s long‑term planning may still point in a different direction.

Sandro Tonali ‘push’

German outlet Absolutfussball.de (via Four Four Two) claim that United are ‘seriously working on a move’ for Tonali. The Newcastle midfielder has impressed since joining the Magpies in 2023, but recent comments from his agent about his future on Tyneside have sparked links with several clubs – including United, Manchester City and Arsenal.

Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, has fuelled the speculation. When asked about the possibility of a summer move, Riso said: “I don’t know, but it’s very likely. Everyone is waiting for the summer; then a thousand scenarios will unfold.”

However, reports claim that Newcastle will demand in excess of £100million.

MEN Sport says: Tonali’s Premier League experience would help him settle quickly at Old Trafford if a move were to materialise. However, the reported fee of more than £100million would be a major test of whether United are willing to meet such a valuation.

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The Minnesota Vikings probably won’t trade quite as often with former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah not attached to the franchise — he traded like a fiend — but the possibility of an upcoming deal cannot be ruled out during April’s draft. The following is a list of the Vikings players most likely to be dealt.

Minnesota has a few names worth watching once the board starts moving in Pittsburgh.

The group is mainly comprised of big names, and they’re ranked in ascending order of likelihood (No. 1 = players most likely to be moved via trade).

Four Vikings Whose Names Could Surface during Draft Weekend for Trades

The Vikings’ 2026 trade candidate board.

Theo Jackson (S)

Is a Jackson trade overly likely? No — mainly because the market for him may be slim. He’s rather anonymous in broad NFL terms.

However, assume momentarily that all the mock drafts in the digital stratosphere right now are correct, and Minnesota drafts safety Dillon Thieneman of Oregon in Round 1. The club would have Thieneman, Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, possibly Harrison Smith, and Jackson in its roster orbit. Jackson could become expendable, and sending him to a new team for a 6th- or 7th-Round pick would make sense.

Jackson is decently productive, and his contract is affordable.

Jordan Addison (WR)

Addison is quasi-tradeable for two reasons: a) He’ll request a giant contract extension within the next year b) His list of off-the-field antics is too long.

Since the Vikings drafted him in 2023, these incidents have followed the 24-year-old:

1. Arrested in 2023 for driving 140 MPH in a 55 MPH zone; later classified as a misdemeanor.
2. Arrested for intoxication while asleep on a Los Angeles freeway in 2024; later pled guilty to a “wet reckless” charge and served a three-game suspension
3. Benched by the Vikings for a quarter because of skipping a team walkthrough in London in 2025
4. Arrested in 2026 for trespassing at a casino; charger later dropped

It never ends. There’s a world where Minnesota cuts bait before the extension bill is due, trading Addison to a WR-needy team in the draft for a 2nd- or 3rd-Round pick.

J.J. McCarthy (QB)

So far this offseason, Minnesota has fired the guy who drafted McCarthy, signed his direct QB1 replacement in Kyler Murray, and re-upped with Carson Wentz, who figures to vie for the Vikings’ QB2 job. The offseason has been horrible for McCarthy. Truly horrible.

Some have suggested that McCarthy was an “Adofo-Mensah draft pick,” insinuating that Kevin O’Connell merely settled for McCarthy and preferred a quarterback like Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Aaron Rodgers, or Drake Maye. If those theories are true, Minnesota could prematurely end the McCarthy era, dangling him in front of the team like the Arizona Cardinals or Pittsburgh Steelers for the equivalent of a 4th-Round pick.

The Vikings don’t have to trade McCarthy; he’s still only 23. But the signs suggest they’re no longer high on his future. If they loved him, Murray would not be a thing as the prospective QB1.

Jonathan Greenard (OLB)

This one is for all the marbles — because it sadly feels realistic.

Micah Parsons earns $47 million per season in Green Bay. Aidan Hutchinson brings home $45 million annually in Detroit. Greenard? $19 million in Minnesota. He wants a raise. If the Vikings are unable to afford a huge raise — probably in the neighborhood of $35 million each year — for the guy who logged 3 sacks in 12 games last year, well, he’ll have to be traded.

SI.com‘s Jonathan Harrison downplayed the possibility of a Greenard trade this week, explaining, “Another reason why the Vikings are likely to be a little harder to negotiate with on trading Greenard is the addition of Kyler Murray. By landing Murray, the Vikings see themselves as a contender in the NFC. Why would they then go and trade away one of their best defensive talents?”

“For a team looking to compete at the top of the conference, dealing a star pass rusher wouldn’t make a lot of sense. So, the Vikings would certainly need to be blown away by an offer for Greenard, now more than ever, after signing Murray.”

The Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts have bubbled to the surface as the most logical trade partners. Curiously, no deal has been reached, even as the smoke of a trade has billowed for two weeks.

If Greenard is traded in the end, it may be during the draft — at which point Minnesota might have to draft another EDGE rusher.

Most believe the Vikings are asking for a 2nd-Rounder to pry Greenard loose.

The pride of Akwa Ibom’s sporting excellence echoed once again as the state’s world-class facilities received national recognition, but for Elder Paul Bassey, the moment was more than celebration, it was a call to action.

Reacting to the nomination of Akwa Ibom’s sports facilities for an award by Sportsville, the Akwa Ibom State Sports Commissioner did not hold back in telling a deeper story, one that reflects both progress and a lingering national challenge.

“First, let me thank Sportsville for this honour, we feel elated as a state that our stadium is the only one recognized and approved for CAF and FIFA tournaments.

“That a big footballing country like Nigeria can only boast of one approved stadium by CAF and FIFA where a couple of North African countries and South Africa have at least seven, calls for concern.”

His words carried both pride and concern, pride in what Akwa Ibom has achieved, and concern over the wider state of sports infrastructure across the country.

Elder Bassey traced the success of the state’s flagship facility, the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, to a legacy of leadership and continuity.

“However, credit must go to the quality of governors that Akwa Ibom has had from Governor Godwill Akpabio who built it, to Governor Udom Emmanuel who christened it and now Governor Umo Eno who is maintaining it.

“The key word is maintenance. Governor Akpabio, in awarding the contract to Julius Berger in 2012, went for the best. Governor Udom made sure Julius Berger signed a ten-year maintenance contract, while Governor Umo Eno has kept faith with the maintenance culture.”

Behind the beauty of the stadium, he explained, lies a deliberate and costly commitment to upkeep.

“Maintaining a stadium of that magnitude does not come cheap, therefore it takes sports loving government like we have had to keep the stadium in that shape 12 years on,” Elder Bassey, one of the most respected voices in Africa Sports explained.

For him, the bigger issue goes beyond Akwa Ibom. It is about a national mindset that must change.

“Here in Akwa Ibom State, we take maintenance of our facilities seriously and that is exactly what I am recommending to other sates. Let facilities managers come here to see what we are doing and replicate same in their states. We must imbibe maintenance culture in this country if we must make progress in that direction,” he added.

While the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium remains the crown jewel, the state’s ambition stretches further. From standard stadiums in Uyo, Eket and Ikot Ikpene, to the ongoing Ibom Sports Academy project with modern facilities, Akwa Ibom continues to position itself as a leading destination for sports development in Nigeria.

The vision also includes the fully equipped Ibom Arise Resort and the newly opened Ibom Sports Gym, both reflecting a deliberate push to expand sports infrastructure and athlete development.

This progress aligns with the broader objective of Sportsville, which introduced the Best Facilities Award category two years ago to encourage both government and private sector investment in sports infrastructure.

For this year, the spotlight shines on the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo in the government category, alongside Eagle Wings Sports Facilities in Utangba, Edo State.

The award ceremony is scheduled to hold on March 28 under the chairmanship of Dr Larry Izamoje, Chairman of Brila Media Group.

Baraqiel might not relish the William Reid Stakes relocating to Caulfield, but trainers Leon and Troy Corstens plus Will Larkin have locked in the Group 1 for their speedy charge.

The William Reid Stakes (1200m) has long been a Moonee Valley fixture, capping off Melbourne’s Group 1 schedule annually.

Reconstruction at Moonee Valley sidelines it until the 2027 Cox Plate, prompting Caulfield to take over hosting duties for this year’s top sprint contest.

Baraqiel’s Moonee Valley ledger shines bright with a Group 1 Moir Stakes triumph and second in the Manikato Stakes last spring, complemented by a Caulfield success at 1200m in June 2024.

He lines up for Saturday on the back of a fourth placing to Tentyris in Flemington’s Lightning Stakes (1000m) from February 14.

Intended for the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) March 7, he was scratched late after poor blood indicators surfaced.

“He literally had a 24-hour virus,” co-trainer Troy Corstens said.

“He left a little bit of feed, which is very unlike him, so we knew straight away something wasn’t right.

“So, you check all extremities.

“Was there a bird in his feed? – No. Was there anything else wrong? No. Did he have water? Yes, but then his temperature was just on the edge.

“So, we took a blood, and it showed it wasn’t right. His markers were up a little bit which told us he wasn’t spot on.

“He was a tiny bit dull in the eye, which one of the staff picked up on straight away, and in the end, we couldn’t run him.

“We don’t take chances, especially going into a Group 1 like that, you need to be spot on.

“If they’re not, you can run them and then flatten them and then it’s preparation over.”

Lately, the Corstens and Larkin operation has fired with a duo of Caulfield winners last Saturday, extending their run from three at the track on February 21.

Baraqiel’s season remains very much alive for the stable.

He bounced back emphatically, capturing a Flemington jump-out victory last Friday.

“He trialled last week and we were really pleased with it. He seems great,” Corstens said.

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Leeds missed the chance to climb six points clear of the Premier League’s bottom three after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Brentford at Elland Road.

With relegation rivals Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham all in action on Sunday, the Whites failed to score for the fourth successive league game as their winless top-flight run extended to six matches.

Daniel Farke’s side lacked the quality to seriously trouble a well-drilled and resolute Brentford side, who were superbly marshalled by skipper Nathan Collins.

Keith Andrews’ Bees, who could have climbed level on points with sixth-placed Chelsea with victory, came under sustained pressure only in the closing stages and were worthy of their point.

There was a minute’s applause for former Leeds fans Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight before kick-off to mark the 26th anniversary of their deaths in Istanbul in April 2000 when they were stabbed and killed before their side’s UEFA Cup semi-final against Galatasaray.

Respective captains Ethan Ampadu and Nathan Collins had earlier laid wreaths pitchside in front of members of both the Loftus and Speight families, while there was more applause for a tribute on the big screen in the 26th minute.

Neither side had created any meaningful chances before then. The home side had plenty of possession, but struggled to breakdown Brentford’s disciplined 3-5-2 line-up.

Apart from Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s looping back header, visiting goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was first pressed into action when diving low to gather Lukas Nmecha’s shot in the 35th minute.

After a forgettable first half, former Leeds great Mick Jones, who won two league titles and the FA Cup under Don Revie in the 1970s, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the interval, becoming the club’s first ex-player to receive a Heritage Cap.

Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen could only find the side-netting when he sprang clear in the penalty area at the start of the second period and Ampadu fired straight at Kelleher.

Home fans were furious when referee Jarred Gillett waved away appeals for a penalty after the ball hit Brentford skipper Collins on the arm and further incensed when Kelleher went down for lengthy treatment.

Leeds substitute Ao Tanaka’s shot was deflected and after successive corners proved unfruitful, it was difficult to see where a home goal would come from as Whites fans became increasingly frustrated.

Late pressure amounted to nothing as Leeds huffed and puffed with little effect and they will be looking over their shoulders on Sunday when Tottenham play Forest at home and West Ham play at Aston Villa.

Manchester City take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and are in a much better position than they were a year ago

When Newcastle beat Liverpool to win last year’s Carabao Cup final, Manchester City were in a mess. They had drawn at home to Brighton the previous day, having lost limply away to Nottingham Forest the previous week.

With just two wins from six Premier League games that included a surrender at Anfield and a mauling at the Emirates, the Blues were outside of the Champions League places and Pep Guardiola was publicly questioning whether his players realised the improvement that was needed if they were going to secure a top-four target that was their minimum requirement.

With Arne Slot showing Liverpool there could be trophies after Jurgen Klopp, the City ship looked to be sinking fast despite a new contract signed by Guardiola when their troubles began. So it is to the credit of many that the Blues arrive at Wembley for their first Carabao Cup final in five years looking back on course.

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Even if the shaky results of the last few weeks do not make it feel that way, City are in a much better place now. They are 13 points better off in the Premier League and fighting for a title, and despite more disappointment against Real Madrid they had been one of the top eight teams in the first Champions League phase.

Much will be made of the £440m that the club have spent since January 2025 to rescue their position, but some of the most importance changes have come from the players that were already at the Etihad. Bernardo Silva as captain with Ruben Dias as his second in command have reset standards in a dressing room that slipped after so much success, from celebrating moments together in matches to making sure everyone turns up on time for training and meetings.

“We talked about it and it was something we did and I feel like it’s taken a very much better route now and it was needed,” Dias said. “Lots of things changed after that period, we need to set the standard for a new season. It was needed and I felt like we did it at the right time.

“I feel like sometimes, while winning, you get into certain patterns that are working in the moment but then there’s always – and this goes in behaviours day to day, it goes in tactics, it goes everywhere in football, as it goes in life – an update, sometimes doing something different again.

“By doing so you commit everyone to it, you put everyone on the same boat, same mentality, same standards and same responsibilities and I feel like it was more than anything about that. On the pitch, body language, it’s so important.

“Discipline in the everyday – every day be on time, that kind of stuff. It’s part of being in this club, the way we deal with all the things that are happening while performing obviously on the pitch but mostly off the pitch, on the day to day, when the news is on and these kind of things where we try and isolate ourselves and focus on what we have to do because that’s the only thing we should be focused on.”

Ever since the Club World Cup, Guardiola has spoken positively about the atmosphere in the squad. Whatever happens this season, it is a team that he loves again and respects for the effort they have shown both individually and collectively.

But as well as fighting Arsenal this season – a tough enough battle on its own – they are also battling against the weight of City’s extraordinary record in the last 10 years. This season has rightly been seen as a reset, yet there is little time allowed for transition with a club and a growing fanbase that expects trophies and glory.

The Carabao Cup was Guardiola’s first trophy in English football and helped set the standard for a team that would go hard at every competition and challenge others to do the same. It is important in its own right, but also for what else it can lead to.

Given Sunday’s opponents are also leading the way in the Premier League and have to visit the Etihad next month, it feels like there is a lot riding on this final in terms of what it could do for the rest of City’s season but also as a marker of how successful their rebirth has been.

As the players look around in the Wembley dressing room, Dias will be there to tell them to forget about all of that and just focus on the 90 minutes that are in front of them.

“Obviously arriving to that game there’s still a lot to play but then but arriving to that game we’ll know that it’s another trophy,” he said. “Obviously it’s a special final because it’s against one of our main rivals. The message is clear. We go there, we want to win it and we know what we have to do.

“When that game arrives, and that game will obviously be a massive final for us, that will be the only thing that matters then. In terms of everything else, if we do it right then we’re not even thinking about it. The goal is to isolate it, know that there’s a trophy there to grab and do everything we can to do it.”