Marcus Rashford looks set to return to Manchester United this summer after spending the season on loan with Barcelona

Marcus Rashford has been told by Manchester United legend Paul Scholes that signing for Arsenal would be a ‘great’ move. The forward has spent the past season on loan at Barcelona.

The Catalan club hold an option to sign him permanently for £26 million this summer, though this appears unlikely to materialise. Barcelona completed the signing of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle last week.

This leaves Rashford and United exploring other possibilities. Arsenal have been mentioned as a potential destination, as Mikel Arteta’s side look to defend their Premier League title next season. Former United midfielder Scholes believes it would be a positive move for all involved.

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Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football, he said: “Barcelona have a deal in place to buy him but I think they’re trying to get him cheaper.

“That [Arsenal] would be a great move, a great move for both parties. I think Arsenal would be a great move for him and the club.”

On the prospect of Rashford returning to Old Trafford, Scholes is doubtful that either party would welcome such an outcome.

“No, it very rarely happens, a big player like that going to a big club and then coming back,” he said.

“They very rarely come back and I don’t think United will really want him back.”

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Rashford is with the England squad as they gear up for this summer’s World Cup in North America. He’s set to rejoin United before the new campaign begins, but the club are keen to offload him during the transfer window.

Arsenal are anticipated to be in the market for a new left-sided player this summer. Mikel Arteta currently has Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard as his options on the left flank.

This season, Rashford netted 14 goals and registered 14 assists in 49 matches across all competitions for Barcelona.

He spent the latter half of last season on loan at Aston Villa, where he found the net four times and contributed six assists in 17 outings.

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

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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.

Jofra Archer (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

Former England batter Mark Butcher has questioned Jofra Archer‘s unavailability for England’s first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, saying he cannot understand why one of the country’s premier fast bowlers is not involved despite a successful IPL campaign and a limited home Test schedule.While much of the discussion surrounding England’s team selection has focused on Ben Stokes‘ decision to bat at number seven, Butcher reserved some of his strongest comments for Archer’s absence from the squad.Archer arrives on the back of an outstanding IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals, where he played a major role in the franchise’s run to Qualifier 2. The fast bowler finished third in the Purple Cap standings after claiming 25 wickets in 16 matches and was widely regarded as one of the standout bowlers of the tournament.Despite those performances, Archer will not feature in the opening Test at Lord’s, a decision that left Butcher perplexed.“I do not understand why you would have an asset that you pay an enormous amount of money to, and you’re not expecting them to show up and be a 12th man. I just don’t get it.”The former England batter said he struggled to find any justification for Archer not being available, particularly given the limited number of Tests England will play this summer.“I’m baffled, and I also wish I were playing now. I can’t understand it. I can’t understand how there is a justification for it.”Butcher clarified that his frustration was not directed at Archer himself, but rather at the broader situation surrounding the fast bowler’s availability.“My point is I’m not slagging off Jofra Archer, I’m just in disbelief. There are only six Test matches in the summer; if you don’t play the first two, then there are four left.”England begin their three-match series against New Zealand at Lord’s on Thursday before travelling to The Oval for the second Test on June 17 and Trent Bridge for the final match on June 25.The debate over Archer’s absence comes at a time when England are seeking to carefully manage their fast-bowling resources. However, Butcher believes a player of Archer’s quality should be involved whenever possible, particularly after demonstrating excellent rhythm and fitness throughout the IPL season.Archer’s absence from the Lord’s Test did not come as a complete surprise given that he played the entirety of Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 campaign, which stretched all the way to Qualifier 2. Nevertheless, Butcher believes England should have found a way to involve one of their premier fast bowlers, especially with only six home Tests scheduled this summer.Alongside his comments on Archer, Butcher also questioned England captain Ben Stokes’ decision to move down to number seven in the batting order.“Why does he need to drop down to seven? I don’t understand it. I wonder whether that’s a move because Stokes has decided, I’m our best bowler, I’m going to take the new ball, which would not be the maddest thing in the world at all. That to me is a viable and valid option as far as the guys we’ve got.”Butcher suggested Stokes could instead follow a role similar to that performed by Ian Botham during his playing days.“I’m thinking a very long way back to the eighties when Beefy (Ian Botham) bestrode the earth, and quite often he would bat five and open the bowling in the Test team. He was in the thick of everything. Always. I would rather see Ben at six and get back to his very best with the bat.”For now, though, it is Archer’s absence that continues to puzzle Butcher, who believes England are leaving out one of their most valuable assets despite his excellent form and the relatively short Test programme ahead.

Despite the inclusion of uncapped teenagers Braiden Graham and Ceadach O’Neill making headlines, O’Neill added that he is “not putting any expectation” on either player.

Graham has been included after scoring 22 goals in 31 appearances for Everton’s under-21 side, while O’Neill impressed in Arsenal’s academy.

However, neither have made a senior appearance at their clubs despite featuring on the bench.

“We’re not putting any expectation on these lads that are here,” O’Neill continued.

“They’ve been in our underage system. They’re still yet to play first team football with their respective clubs, but they’re obviously both at big clubs.

“The next phase for them, the next two or three years is very important. That 18 to 21 period in their career will determine a lot of whether they come through at their respective clubs or whether they go through the loan period.

“A lot of variables in there, but we’re here to let them know that they’re very much in our plans.”

NI face Guinea in Spain on 4 June before travelling to take on France four days later in their final match before the World Cup.

Guinea are ranked 10 places below Northern Ireland in the Fifa rankings with the sides set to meet for the first time in their history.

O’Neill added that they have “done the same level of work that we would try to do in a competitive game” despite footage being hard to access.

“The footage is not as readily accessible, but we know that they’re a team that most of their players are obviously connected to European clubs and they play at different levels throughout Europe,” he added.

“We know that a lot of their players will have come through the French system as well.

“So, we know it will be a tough game against an athletic team [with] a relatively new coach as well, a Portuguese coach, so we know that it will be a tough test.”

Miami’s Mario Cristobal had the Hurricanes on the brink of a national championship last year.

Has he shaken off the label of being a poor in-game manager as a head coach?

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin and ‘Locked On The Portal’ host Brian Smith discuss the best recruiting coaches in the country.

Curt Cignetti not being on the list is very telling.

Cal has made recruiting splashes in the ACC as Tosh Lupoi has hit the ground running.

Thomas Dunn, an expert on all things Cal Golden Bears, joins to break down the latest news.

00:00 Brian’s top 10 college football coaches
03:35 Evaluating Mario’s coaching performance
16:25 Following a coaching legend
20:11 Tosh Lupoi’s recruiting impact
21:28 California recruiting and changes
26:13 Cal’s recruiting potential
27:13 Ron Rivera’s commitment to the Bears

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

Last year’s Vikings season went up in smoke primarily due to the subpar quarterback play the trio of passers provided throughout the year. Unsurprisingly, the most important task this offseason was to add some oomph to the quarterback room. Kyler Murray arrived in March to shake up the depth chart and either replace or push young signal-caller J.J. McCarthy.

Just two years after his draft day and just one year after his rise to the QB1 spot, McCarthy is caught in a battle for his place in the starting lineup, and perhaps even for a future within the organization.

While most expected the more experienced Murray to come out victorious and lead the squad onto the field in Week 1, McCarthy might be looking for an exit. A report from NFL insider Jason LaCanfora, as well as comments from Mike Florio, have raised some eyebrows.

LaCanfora chatted with an unspecified GM, who remarked, “I think he wants out of there. I think he’s wanted out of there since they signed Murray. Those personalities are not going to be a good fit.”

The reason for those speculations is McCarthy’s awkward comments at OTAs, where he compared his situation with Murray to that of two students in the classroom.

McCarthy said last week, “It’s just like two guys in a classroom. He sits on one side, I sit on the other side, and it’s the coach’s responsibility to teach us and coach us. Awkwardness? It’s just like the same feeling when you’re in high school, and there’s another person on the other side of the room. That’s just kind of how it is. I wouldn’t say there’s any awkwardness. It’s a true competition.”

The tenth overall draft choice from 2024 missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury and took over from Sam Darnold in 2025. His first campaign on the field didn’t go according to plan, as his play was overshadowed by injuries and inconsistency.

Of course, it’s too early to write a 23-year-old off after just ten games, but the Vikings had to bolster the quarterback room this offseason to avoid another lost season because of a struggling aerial attack.

McCarthy, however, might not be a big fan of Murray’s arrival.

Mike Florio said on his podcast, Pro Football Talk, “There’s a question of whether and to what extent McCarthy will be able to handle being the backup. Will he be resentful? Will he cause division within the locker room? Will he be quick to point out any mistake Kyler Murray makes? He has to fully embrace his status on the depth chart. That may be impossible for him to do.”

There’s a reason why backup quarterbacks like ex-Viking Nick Mullens have long careers in the NFL. They know their place as the backup that’s only playing in case of injury to the starter. A younger player with a first-round draft pedigree like McCarthy wants to be the guy under center rather than a supporting act.

Florio thinks a reunion with an old friend could help McCarthy.

“Trade him to the Chargers. I know they’ve got Trey Lance back to be an understudy to Justin Herbert. But Jim Harbaugh is the one who went on and on about J.J. McCarthy.”

His former college coach, Harbaugh, acted like a cheerleader when McCarthy entered the draft, but he couldn’t keep his passer after taking over the Chargers with Justin Herbert.

Florio added, “I think back to March of 2025. Nobody knew who was in charge. Those were all things I was hearing from reliable sources … no one knew who was calling the shots. No one knew what they were going to do at quarterback. But I did pick up the idea that, if they brought back Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones last year, they were going to have a major problem with JJ McCarthy. I think that may be one of the reasons why they decided, ‘You know what, fine, fine. You’re the guy, go be the guy.’”

At the end of the day, the Vikings need McCarthy to work on his craft, whether he’s the starter or not. He might still end up being the franchise quarterback down the road. Murray’s injury history isn’t the shortest either and McCarthy might be asked to step in sooner rather than later, even if he’s the QB2 to start the season.

The Vikings don’t have much to lose at this point. They could trade McCarthy for pennies on the dollar, or they could keep him around to see if he can live up to the draft capital they invested in him.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote last month, “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to trade him. The Vikings have already paid 70% of McCarthy’s rookie contract. There’s no way they could get anything in return that remotely approaches what they spent in terms of draft capital to acquire him in the first place. They’re less than a year removed from believing he could be their starter, not just now but for years to come. And it’s not like Murray is some automatic fix, either. He has had one fully healthy season in the past five, and the Cardinals are paying him almost $36 million this year to play for another team.”

The reality is that the Vikings don’t need to make a decision on McCarthy anytime soon. They can let the quarterback competition play out, keep developing the former first-round pick, and see where things stand after the season.

If McCarthy truly views Murray’s arrival as a threat, the best response isn’t frustration but improvement. At 23 years old, he still has plenty of time to prove he can be Minnesota’s long-term answer. For now, the Vikings would be wise to ignore the trade speculation and focus on getting the most out of both quarterbacks. After all, having two viable options under center is a far better problem than the one they faced a year ago.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

Roy Keane’s family has had plenty to celebrate after two of his children married within the space of a year, while daughter Caragh continues to battle lupus

Manchester United legend Roy Keane witnessed a second child walk down the aisle this week as daughter Leah tied the knot. The second-youngest of Keane’s offspring exchanged vows with Southampton and England defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis in a rural ceremony on Tuesday.

This marks the second occasion within just a few months that the Irish footballing icon has watched one of his children get married. It has not all been cause for celebration among his five children, however, as one of his daughters, Caragh, has faced a battle with a debilitating condition.

Meanwhile, Keane’s other two daughters, Shannon and Alanna, have taken considerable steps to keep their personal lives firmly out of the spotlight. MEN Sport takes a closer look at the expanding Keane family following a whirlwind period of highs and lows.

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Caragh’s autoimmune disease

Keane’s second-eldest daughter, Caragh, has spoken openly about her battle with lupus following her diagnosis in 2021. The autoimmune condition left her confined to bed for weeks at a time and compelled her to abandon her dream career as a primary school teacher.

It was only last year that Caragh fully shared her story, which has since taken a positive turn. She established her own wellness brand, Superkeen, and even joined her father on the Stick To Football podcast to help promote the venture.

“Life was over,” she told PA Real Life in 2025. “[There was] no way out. I wouldn’t be here without them [parents Roy and Theresa]. When I was diagnosed, I mourned the person I had been and the person I felt I should have been.

“The fatigue was unbearable but you just power on. I was essentially bed-bound for a month-and-a-half. I had been experiencing fatigue and memory loss for about six months. Since your immune system is essentially attacking itself, you feel like you only have yourself to blame.”

The initial warning signs for Caragh included hair loss, blistered skin and aching joints. She has since become a prominent advocate raising awareness of the condition and supporting others through her brand, while also recently getting engaged to her long-term partner.

Leah’s marriage to England star

The latest member of the Keane family to tie the knot is Leah, who wed Saints star Harwood-Bellis this week. The couple exchanged vows at Kin House in Wiltshire, where Keane proudly walked the 24-year-old down the aisle.

The newlyweds got engaged following a trip to the Amalfi Coast in 2024. Leah shared a collection of photographs from their special day looking stunning, captioned: “In every life time.”

Harwood-Bellis opted for a classic black tuxedo for the ceremony, while Leah looked breathtaking in her white dress and veil. The couple are already parents, having welcomed daughter Iris into the world back in December.

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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Speaking about the pressure of having Keane Sr as his father-in-law, Harwood-Bellis has praised the United icon, saying earlier this year: “He’s one of the people, barring my immediate family, who I know for a fact has only my interests in mind. The advice he gives me, I know he’s got my full interests at heart, so he has helped me with decisions.”

Keane, in turn, has spoken light-heartedly about having an England international for a son-in-law. When Harwood-Bellis scored against the Republic of Ireland in his sole England appearance to date, Keane joked the wedding to his daughter was not “done and dusted” just yet.

Lookalike son’s wedding

Leah is understood to have become the second Keane child to wed after his only son, Aidan, took the plunge himself last year. Keane marked the occasion with an Instagram post alongside his wife and the happy couple, captioned: “Beautiful day celebrating my son and his wife.”

Republic of Ireland legend and Roy’s former team-mate Paul McGrath sent his congratulations, commenting: “Congrats Aidan and the new Mrs Keane. Best wishes for the future.”

Jamie Carragher offered his own congratulations via two heart-eye emojis. Meanwhile, supporters expressed their affection by sarcastically quoting some of Keane’s most notorious lines back to him in the comments section.

Like Shannon and Alanna, Aidan prefers to maintain privacy around his personal affairs. Nevertheless, it is understood the sole male among Keane’s children has gone against his father by backing Arsenal, who recently claimed the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.

Lams Lamina is the first overall pick by Galeries Tower in 2026 PVL Rookie Draft.–PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Lams Lamina emerged as the top overall pick of Galeries Tower in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft on Wednesday night at Novotel.

As expected, the HighRisers picked Lamina to solidify their offense and run the plays for last year’s No.2 pick Jean Asis, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Gayle Pascual, Roselle Baliton, and Erika Deloria.

The incoming rookie will work with Julia Coronel, who was a third overall pick of Galeries in 2024.

READ: Lams Lamina poised to become top overall pick with Pepito close behind

Galeries Tower selects Lams Lamina as the top overall pick!#PVLDraft #PVL2026 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/3E6meXakxA

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) June 3, 2026

Lamina brings her experience as a two-time UAAP Best Setter, a three-time champion out of five finals appearances, and an Alas Pilipinas prospect.

Galeries, which landed the top pick in the Draft Lottery last year despite the 30% chance, reached the second phase of the Play-in last All-Filipino Conference before losing to Nxled.

The 2026 Draft Class was hit by two big withdrawals of Alyssa Solomon and Niña Ytang, who opted out to focus on playing for Alas.

At the end of IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru towered over other teams yet again. For the second straight year, the Rajat Patidar-led side won the league. Gujarat Titans finished a close second, maintaining a terrific level of consistency that has continued since 2022. Rajasthan Royals, who went out in Qualifier 2, showed great promise, relying on the young shoulders of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The fourth-best team, Sunrisers Hyderabad, too had their moments, armed with a solid batting unit. But when IPL 2026 started, the first half of the league belonged to one team – Punjab Kings. The Shreyas Iyer-led side stayed unbeaten in seven straight games to reach 13 points. Then came the downfall. They lost the next six matches. Even though they won their last game, it was not enough for the Ricky Ponting-coached side.

Sachin Tendulkar has now analysed what went wrong for the side.

“Punjab Kings brought wonderful energy to the tournament. Their cricket was positive, brave and often game-changing. Momentum plays a crucial role in lengthy tournaments. Eventually, in such a fast-moving tournament, it boils down to process and not getting attached to results. Punjab focused more on process in the first half and more on results in the second,” he wrote in a Reddit post.

On the other hand, Tendulkar was all praise for GT. “What stands out about the Gujarat Titans is their ability to operate within a remarkably consistent performance band across an entire season. The IPL is inherently volatile, but GT rarely stray too far from their method, even when results fluctuate. They minimize both peaks and troughs, staying close to their brand of cricket more consistently than most teams. Over a long tournament, that ability to control uncertainty often proves more valuable than occasional bursts of brilliance or isolated match-winning performances,” he wrote.

“Looking back at IPL 2026, I was reminded that tournaments are rarely defined by how they begin. More than once this season, the table told a very different story at the halfway mark than it did at the end. Teams adjusted, players improved, and new solutions emerged as the competition progressed. The game demands constant evolution, and that is part of what makes it so fascinating to watch.”

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