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Manchester United 2025/26 squad review – keep, sell, loan, release

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Manchester United will qualify for the Champions League next season if they beat Liverpool on Sunday

Manchester United’s season started terribly but will end in optimism thanks to another rollercoaster year at Old Trafford. From the Grimsby disaster to sublime back-to-back wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, the Reds have put their fanbase truly through the ringer this campaign.

Now with four games remaining, United are on the cusp of qualifying for the Champions League. Of course considering the stature of the club, simply qualifying for Europe’s elite competition is not enough. The Reds will be expected to compete and at least make it to the knockout stages of the tournament.

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To do that, the Reds must assess their current squad and see who is worth keeping, selling or loaning this summer. Below, MEN Sport has taken a closer look at the entire first-team squad, and some of the club’s promising youngsters, to see what next season should hold for them.

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Goalkeepers

Senne Lammens has been a revelation since joining in the summer. He has slotted in magnificently and strengthened an area of the pitch that looked so weak at the start of the season. The Belgian will be United’s No.1 for a long time to come. Keep

Altay Bayindir was preferred to Andre Onana at the start of the season but could not keep Lammens out for long. At 28, he is not quite good enough to be second choice and probably would prefer regular football next season. Sell

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Andre Onana had a disastrous game against Grimsby to seal his fate. A loan to Trabzonspor was his only option and he has done little there to justify keeping him next season. Sell

Tom Heaton is a valuable third choice goalkeeper but is out of contract at the end of the season. At 40, he may wish to transition into coaching and there would be no harm keeping him around for that. Keep

Radek Vitek has had a solid loan spell at Bristol City and should Bayindir leave, he could be second choice. However, once you get a taste of regular football, it is tough to give that up. Keep

Defenders

Leny Yoro went through a tough spell at the start of the campaign and found himself out of the starting line up. However, he has improved as the season has gone on and should be a key player for years to come. Keep

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Matthijs de Ligt has been missing since December with a back injury. He has plenty of time left on his contract but will need to hit the ground running next season. Keep

Lisandro Martinez looked to be back in the plans but his suspension could not have happened at a worse moment. The Argentine has one season left to prove he deserves a new contract. At the moment, it is 50:50 which way that goes. Keep

Ayden Heaven shone in the victory at Chelsea and earned his start against Brentford. He is still learning but Heaven offers too much to the first team to be loaned out. Keep

Harry Maguire earned his new contract earlier this month and has been dependable this season. However, United will hope they are preparing for the future this time next year. Keep

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Patrick Dorgu could easily be among the midfielders given his impact since Christmas. Injury has left him in the same boat as De Ligt but with left wing an area that needs strengthening, the Dane has a route into the first team again. Keep

Luke Shaw has done exceptionally to defy his previous injury issues to play every Premier League game this season. He has locked down the left-back position. Keep

Tyrell Malacia should have been allowed to leave in January. United pulled the plug but won’t offer him a new deal. Release

Diogo Dalot has been steady for United and does little wrong. Whether the Reds choose to upgrade on him in the future will be interesting. Keep

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Noussair Mazraoui played the role of utility man well in the win at Chelsea. A good squad player for the Reds. Keep

Harry Amass did well at Sheffield Wednesday but injury has scuppered his Norwich loan. A move back to the Championship could be good next season. Loan

Midfielders

Manuel Ugarte has not impressed when Casemiro has been unavailable. Ahead of a midfield rebuild, the Uruguay international has to leave. Sell

Casemiro has done well this season and will leave United on a high. ‘One more year’ chants are a testament to his performances but that decision will not be reversed. Leaving

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Kobbie Mainoo endured a difficult start to the season but has partnered Casemiro exceptionally. Thoroughly deserves the new contract being lined up. Keep

Bruno Fernandes should be kept at all costs. He has been the chief creator for United this season and he will be vital for the Reds in next season’s Champions League. Keep

Mason Mount will struggle to justify his spot at the end of this season. Competing with Fernandes is difficult but injuries continue to scupper him. United may need to make a tough decision on him. Sell

Tyler and Jack Fletcher could do with some more first team football to position themselves for the first team in the future. Loan

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Toby Collyer has suffered similar injury problems to Amass. He needs a proper season on loan in the Championship without injuries stop-starting his momentum. Loan

Forwards

Bryan Mbeumo has gone off the boil recently but when he is on his game, he has been an excellent addition. He will remain a first choice player next season. Keep

Amad has had a mixed campaign and perhaps played better as a wing-back. He should be kept around for the new campaign though. Keep

Matheus Cunha would be better down the middle but has still done well on the left. His versatility will be key with a Champions League campaign to come. Keep

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Benjamin Sesko could have easily been left behind like Rasmus Hojlund had Amorim stayed. Since his exit, the forward has hit some brilliant form and his confidence is flowing. Keep

Joshua Zirkzee has been a good team player but United need a better striker to compete with Sesko. The Reds cannot offer the Dutchman the minutes he needs. Sell

Marcus Rashford may be open to a return now Amorim has left but too much water has gone under the bridge now. A sale to Barcelona would be best for everyone. Sell

Jadon Sancho has had his time at United. Where he goes at the end of the season will not be of concern to the Reds. Release

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Rasmus Hojlund has all but left United thanks to his and Napoli’s performances this season. His time at United did not quite work. Sell

Chido Obi has enjoyed a good year outside of the first team glare. He could come in handy as a third choice striker next season. Keep

Shea Lacey continues to live up to his hype. He was unfortunately sent off against Brighton in the FA Cup but that was a learning curve and he should get more chances next season. Keep

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Rockets avoid elimination again, beat Lakers in Game 5

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LOS ANGELES — Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points, Tari Eason added 18 and the Houston Rockets avoided playoff elimination for the second straight game with a 99-93 victory over the Lakers in Game 5 on Wednesday night, trimming Los Angeles’ lead in the first-round series to 3-2.

Alperen Sengun had 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the fifth-seeded Rockets, who sent the series back to Houston for Game 6 on Friday night with a gritty performance to overcome Austin Reaves’ return to the Lakers.

Houston has won two straight even without top scorer Kevin Durant, who has missed four of the series’ five games with injuries.

No team has ever recovered from an 0-3 deficit to win an NBA playoff series, but the Rockets are halfway. Only four of the 159 teams to start a series down 0-3 have ever even forced a Game 7.

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LeBron James scored 17 of his 25 points in the second half and added seven assists, but Los Angeles lost its second straight after stealing Game 3 with an improbable rally in the final seconds of regulation.

James’ teams have never blown a 2-0 series lead in his entire 23-year NBA career.

Reaves had 22 points and six assists in his return from a nine-game injury absence for the Lakers, but they committed 15 mostly atrocious turnovers in their worst performance of the series and only their second loss in 16 home games since February.

Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 17 rebounds for Los Angeles, which is still without Luka Doncic. The NBA scoring champion doesn’t appear to be close to a return from a strained hamstring.

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Strained oblique muscles had sidelined Reaves since April 2, but he had 11 points and six assists in the first half of Game 5. Yet the Rockets coolly carried an advantage into the second half and led 87-74 with 5:55 to play.

Los Angeles awoke for a late 11-1 run and trimmed Houston’s lead to 88-85 on a driving layup by James, but Reed Sheppard hit a jumper before ripping the ball away from James for a dunk with 2:20 to play.

Ayton’s putback dunk made it 96-93 after James and Reaves both missed open 3-pointers. Thompson hit one of two free throws, and James badly missed another 3-point attempt that allowed Houston to ice it.

The Rockets shot particularly poorly while losing the series’ first two games in Los Angeles, but they’ve rediscovered their collective touch while running a balanced offence in Durant’s absence. Houston has played with the confidence exemplified Tuesday by Smith, who claimed the Rockets were “obviously the better team” despite their 3-1 series deficit.

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The Rockets’ resilience is also good news for the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who are resting and awaiting the series winner after sweeping Phoenix.

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Wrexham: When the first Hollywood season ended in final-game tears

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For Rutherford a spell in the Welsh leagues followed but time is now spent split between some coaching, taxi-ing two of his boys to football training and working in a showroom of a hardware store.

All a world away from the millions on the line for the internationals in Parkinson’s squad aiming for the Premier League, one that has been rebuilt season on season with £30m-plus spent last summer alone.

“But even though it’s very different, it’s also the same club,” he says, his middle son part of the club’s academy.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to go back now and then and you see some of the same faces, good people, people who gave up their time for free to keep the club afloat.

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“It’s a global brand but the football club is still at the heart of it. It’s kept its soul.”

Rutherford is well-qualified to judge. Although the co-owners never reached out after his release, he was invited to sample the US adulation for his old club as part of an invitational Wrexham side in a tournament in North Carolina alongside the likes of Mark Howard, Lee Trundle and Andy Morrell.

“Honestly, it’s hard to put it into words how big it’s become unless you see it,” he says of Wrexham’s new fanbase. “It was just after the club got into League Two, and I actually said when I was out there that they would be in the Premier League in 11 years.

“I don’t know why I didn’t say 10, but I thought they would land in League One for a few years and then take five or six years to get out of the Championship.

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“To think they could do it in four is just phenomenal. I don’t want to say it would be a Hollywood story, it’ll be more like something out of Football Manager.”

Either way, there is a final day to script, with Rutherford a reminder that not every ending is a happy one.

“It’s bittersweet that we couldn’t get that promotion to the league and what happened, but I can look back now and say I was one of those who played a small part in the story and be proud of that,” he says.

“It was difficult at the time but hindsight gives you that context and I hope people keep that context if it doesn’t happen this time.

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“It would only be a tiny applying of the brakes on an unbelievable journey – they’re still on their way.”

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Mumbai Indians’ Big Admission On Jasprit Bumrah’s Poor IPL 2026, After Leaking 54 In 4 Overs vs SRH

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Eight matches, 180 balls, 2 wickets, strike rate 90 – that’s Jasprit Bumrah‘s numbers in IPL 2026 so far. By the lofty standards that Bumrah has set for himself over the years, this season has been a big struggle. Mumbai Indians’ consistent performances have almost always aligned with Bumrah’s precision bowling. This time, however, both have had to endure difficulties. This is the first time since 2015 that Bumrah’s economy rate has gone above eight runs per over. It currently stands at 8.80. While many bowlers would happily take that number, for a bowling great like Bumrah, the slide may not be to his liking. More importantly, Bumrah’s lack of wickets is hurting MI.

Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard admitted that Bumrah “hasn’t been up to the mark” in the post-match press conference after MI’s latest loss against SRH.

“When a cricketer is not doing well, we look at every single aspect as to why he’s not doing well. And there’s no difference when it comes to Jasprit Bumrah. He has done this for years. And as a human being, he is entitled as well to make mistakes, not have a good day, not have a good season, or not have a good couple of months. And I just feel that we need to sometimes remember the good things that he has done. Yes, we try to live in the present, and he hasn’t been up to the mark, but he’s still been a number one bowler for Mumbai Indians and India over a period of time,” Pollard said in the press conference after the loss to SRH.

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Pollard was also extremely candid about his side’s inability to put together a “complete game of cricket” so far. But the MI batting coach pointed out that the dressing room is willing to put up a fight and has not yet accepted defeat, despite losing six of their eight games. With six more games to go, MI still have the opportunity to reach a maximum of 16 points if they go on a winning streak from their next game.

“It has not been as consistent as we would have hoped. The results are showing. It is something you cannot shy away from. Collectively, we have not been good enough. We just need to be collectively better as a unit. That is as much as you can ask. You can ask them to execute better in different areas of the game,” he said.

“But we need to play that complete game of cricket to win a match. It is getting difficult with the way cricket is going, but what I can safely say is that in the dressing room, the guys are wanting to fight.

“We have lost games, but we have not accepted defeat. When I said defeat, I didn’t want the headlines to suggest that Mumbai Indians have been eliminated, because mathematically and from a points perspective, we are still very much in the tournament. Yes, we have accepted losses because we lost the last couple of games, but we have not accepted defeat because we are not out of the tournament. We are still looking to go back and see what we can do and how far we can go in this tournament,” he concluded

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Shubham Dubey: IPL 2026: From bench to finishing line, Shubham Dubey makes the wait worthwhile | Cricket News

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IPL 2026: From bench to finishing line, Shubham Dubey makes the wait worthwhile
Shubham Dubey (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

NEW CHANDIGARH: Shubham Dubey has spent most of his cricketing life waiting. Waiting for recognition, for opportunity, for a moment that would demand everything he has quietly built over the years. On Tuesday night, as Rajasthan Royals were drifting towards defeat against an unbeaten Punjab Kings side here, that moment finally arrived. Dubey seized it with both hands.Walking in as an ‘impact substitute’ at No. 6, ahead of established names like Ravindra Jadeja and Dasun Shanaka, the 31-year-old Dubey was handed a situation that could easily have swallowed him.Rajasthan Royals still needed 72 off 36 balls, the chase slipping and the pressure mounting. But Dubey didn’t just hold his nerve. He flipped the game on its head.Dubey finished unbeaten on 31 off just 12 balls, striking at 258.33, and added 77 in just 32 balls with Donovan Ferreira to script a six-wicket win. What had looked like a faltering chase turned into a statement win, ending Punjab’s unbeaten run.

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Kumar Sangakkara on RR’s win over Punjab Kings

Born in Yavatmal in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, Dubey’s beginnings were modest. A decade ago, he didn’t have the means to afford basic cricket gear. His father, Badriprasad Dubey, ran a paan stall in Nagpur and the family scraped through with limited means.The breakthrough came through the faith of his mentor, the late Sudeep Jaiswal, who backed him when few others did. Jaiswal bought him his first proper cricket kit — a new bat, gloves and other essentials that would allow Dubey to compete on equal footing. More importantly, he helped him find a pathway into the Vidarbha team.From there, Dubey carved his reputation in the less-celebrated corners of Indian cricket. Tournaments like the Bapuna Cup in Vidarbha became his proving ground, where he developed into a powerhitter capable of shifting momentum in a matter of overs. The wider recognition came during the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Dubey piled up 221 runs at an average of 73.66, striking at 187.28. These were numbers too compelling to ignore for the IPL scouts.Rajasthan Royals responded by investing Rs 5.8 crore in him ahead of IPL-2024. But the transition wasn’t seamless. He managed just 33 runs in four games, though his strike-rate of 173.68 hinted at his intent. RR released him but bought him back, this time for Rs 80 lakh.“Dubey, coming in as an impact player, it’s one of the hardest things to do, because you don’t know if you’re playing or not. So mentally, he was exceptionally skilful. The way he was able to keep his focus and go in the middle and bring the game in our favour was outstanding,” said Kumar Sangakkara, Rajasthan’s head coach and director of cricket.Sangakkara pointed out that Rajasthan Royals’ strength lies in the depth of their batting, with Dubey firmly part of that core. “The focus is a lot on Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi). But at the same time, when I look at my side and I run through my batters, there’s Dhruv (Jurel), Yash (Yashasvi Jaiswal), Riyan (Parag), Donovan Ferreira and now someone like Dubey,” Sangakkara said.

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Paul Scholes lifts lid on Ronnie O’Sullivan gesture after BBC apology

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Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has had his say after watching Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Crucible

England and Manchester United legend Paul Scholes was left star-struck after he was acknowledged by Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Crucible. The ex-midfielder also insists he has no regrets about witnessing the Rocket in action for just less than an hour, describing his visit to the World Snooker Championship as among the most memorable experiences of his life.

Scholes was left in awe as O’Sullivan gave him a nod at the end of the game, forcing the ex-United star to admit, “he knows who I am!” The former footballer’s revelation follows BBC snooker commentator John Parrot’s on-air apology to Scholes after his opportunity to watch the legend was abruptly curtailed as the Rocket dismantled his opponent in just over half an hour.

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O’Sullivan, who has toyed with retirement in recent times, was eventually knocked out by John Higgins in the quarter-finals of this year’s competition. Nevertheless, Scholes was present to witness the Rocket tear through He Guoqiang in the opening round.

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The seven-time world champion had raced into a 7-2 advantage following the first session and needed just three additional frames to complete a dominant victory.

Scholes was positioned in the front row for the second session of the match. During the encounter, the BBC cameras focused on the Premier League-winning icon, with Parrot saying: “A very interested spectator, one of England’s greatest midfielders, Paul Scholes, is here today to watch Ronnie. I’m sure he’ll be impressed with what he’s seen.”

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As O’Sullivan closed in on the win, the former snooker star added: “Paul Scholes might have enjoyed this but he’s only going to see three frames of it. Sorry Paul, this man is just too good.”

Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football Podcast, hosted by Paddy McGuinness, the United legend opened up about his longstanding desire to watch snooker’s greatest ever player perform on the legendary Crucible stage.

He revealed that the experience was so memorable that he had absolutely no regrets about it being over so quickly. “I wanted to go and do it for years, go and watch Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Crucible” said Scholes. “I live an hour away (from the Crucible) so on my phone, had a look, see if I buy a ticket – there was one ticket left.

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“It’s three seats away from Ronnie – I’ve clicked on it, 450 quid, and I just thought ‘F*** it. I’m doing it’. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. I don’t really get excited about much stuff, do I?

“But this was f*****g unbelievable. One of the best things I’ve ever done. Honestly, peace and quiet, I could have sat in that chair for two weeks. I swear to God, I could have watched every single game.

“He did it in about 45 minutes, got two centuries – absolute genius. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life, honestly. At one point, I got a bit giddy.

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“Do you know what? I was on a high for about three days after it. I’m still talking about it now, it’s one of the best things I’ve done in my life. Watching a genius at work like that, it’s unbelievable.”

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.

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3 Ex-WWE stars quietly form a new stable on AEW Dynamite

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In an interesting sequence of events, three former WWE Superstars have seemingly formed an official stable tonight on AEW Dynamite. They now look to go after championship gold.

FTR is currently feuding with Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, and they are set to compete in a high-stakes contest next month at AEW Double or Nothing. This will be a New York Street Fight, with an additional “I Quit” stipulation. The tag team titles will be on the line, and should Cope and Christian lose, they’ll retire as a duo.

But both Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler have found themselves in a feud with another top faction on the roster in The Conglomeration. Last week, tensions got high between them after running into each other on Collision. They got into it again earlier tonight, with both teams being at ringside for Adam Copeland and Christian Cage’s match against RPG Vice.

Moments later, Stokely Hathaway was backstage and proposed an idea that he and FTR had come up with, which Tony Khan had already approved. This would feature a double jeopardy match next week on AEW Dynamite between Dax Harwood and Orange Cassidy.

If Cassidy wins, he will team up with either Roderick Strong or Kyle O’Reilly to take on FTR for the tag team titles. But if he loses, FTR and a third man will challenge the Conglomeration for the trios belts. They then revealed that the partner they had in mind would be Tommaso Ciampa.

Ciampa and FTR were rivals during their days in NXT, but now in AEW, their goals have aligned, and they look to have formed a partnership of sorts. They could prove to be formidable challengers for the Conglomeration, but this will all depend on Dax Harwood. This would be an interesting situation to watch out for as this will have major implications for several title scenes.

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