Manchester United are reportedly prepared to allow five players to leave when the summer transfer window opens

Manchester United are reportedly willing to let five players depart the club when the summer transfer window opens. The Reds are currently pursuing Champions League qualification following a season without European competition.

Michael Carrick was appointed as interim head coach by United in January and has since guided the team to six victories in his eight matches at the helm, a spell of results which has propelled the club to third position in the Premier League table.

United are now well-placed to secure Champions League qualification, especially if England are granted five qualification spots based on their UEFA coefficient this term.

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Irrespective of where United finish in the Premier League table this season, new information has surfaced regarding the Old Trafford hierarchy’s strategy for the summer transfer window. According to The Sun, five players could depart United during the summer as the club seeks to generate funds to cover the £422million they still owe in transfer fees.

They claim Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Manuel Ugarte could all leave United permanently this summer, all of whom signed during Erik ten Hag’s Old Trafford tenure.

Hojlund and Onana are currently on loan away from United for the campaign, and are increasingly expected to leave Old Trafford on a permanent basis in the summer.

United loaned Hojlund to Napoli with the deal also including an obligation to buy, and the club’s sporting director Giovanni Manna has confirmed that the striker will be signed on a permanent basis.

Manna stated: “There are no doubts. Rasmus Hojlund will stay here. We have an obligation to buy from Man Utd, if Napoli qualify for Champions League, but he is in our plans despite this condition.”

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Onana is currently on loan at Trabzonspor, but there is uncertainty over whether the Turkish club will sign the goalkeeper on a permanent basis.

Trabzonspor vice-president Zeyyat Kafkas provided an update on Onana’s future earlier this month. He told Gunebakis: “As the figure from Manchester United for the purchase of Andre Onana is in the range of €45-50m, our president has sincerely informed the community in line with Trabzonspor’s realities.

“I don’t think this information affected Onana at all. Because Onana’s thinking is that if it’s not England, he wants to continue at a club in Europe. His family thinks the same way. The president also wanted to explain Trabzonspor’s reality. However, if the conditions change, the situation changes.”

Zirkzee has found regular playing time hard to come by at United after Ruben Amorim took over as head coach in November 2024, and this has continued since Carrick was appointed as the club’s interim head coach.

Mount has featured regularly for United at various points this season, but has been absent from the last six Premier League fixtures due to injury.

Ugarte, on the other hand, has made only seven top-flight starts for United this campaign and his future remains unclear.

Gervonta Davis is reportedly targeting a ring return this summer, with a rematch against a former world champion at 140lbs looking like a genuine possibility.

The 31-year-old has not fought since his controversial draw with Lamont Roach, who felt aggrieved to not come away with a shock victory in March 2025.

Later that year, ‘Tank’ was reportedly in talks to enter an immediate rematch with Roach, only to instead pursue an exhibition bout with Jake Paul.

That opportunity, however, fell by the wayside after Davis was hit with a civil lawsuit, causing Paul to instead face Anthony Joshua in December.

It was then revealed at the beginning of this year that Davis had been issued an arrest warrant on account of charges relating to battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping.

As a result, the hard-hitting southpaw was stripped of his WBA world lightweight title but became the sanctioning body’s ‘champion in recess’, meaning he could potentially be reinstated as the full champion at 135lbs.

However, the Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger has reported that Davis is exploring a rematch with Isaac Cruz, who he unanimously outpointed in 2021, at 140lbs.

“I am told that [Gervonta Davis] is in advanced talks right now to fight a rematch against Pitbull Cruz that would be at 140, rather than 135 like the first fight, this summer. I expect it to happen.”

Despite Davis claiming a unanimous decision victory, many believe that Cruz gave the Baltimore man one of his toughest tests as a professional, with Roach representing the only other man to take him the full 12-round distance.

As for him reportedly moving up to super-lightweight, where he scored an 11th-round finish over Mario Barrios in 2021, it opens up fights against the likes of Keyshawn Davis.

Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal has urged the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to exercise caution regarding proposed scoring changes, maintaining that the current 21-point system preserves the sport’s essential intensity and endurance.

The game’s governing body (BWF) has proposed switching to a 3×15 scoring format from the current 3×21 system, with a membership vote on the change scheduled at the BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark on April 25.

“Badminton has a rich tradition, and tournaments like the All England Open Badminton Championships and the BWF World Championships have always been special because of their intensity and endurance factor,” Saina, who joined the advisory board of India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N.), told PTI in an interview.

“Any change in scoring or format should be carefully considered. The current 21-point system has worked well and players have adapted to it over many years.

“If changes are introduced, they should ensure that the quality of rallies and the competitive balance of the sport are not affected. At the end of the day, the focus should remain on fair competition and the spirit of the game.” 
According to the revamped BWF World Tour, the five Super 1000 tournaments, to be staged across Asia and Europe, will introduce a new format in singles, with 48 players competing in a group stage followed by knockouts.

Doubles events will feature 32-pair knockout draws, and each Super 1000 tournament will run for 11 days across two weekends.

Saina feels the BWF needs to prioritise player welfare, saying the packed international calendar leaves little room for recovery and can lead to injuries and burnout among elite shuttlers.

“Badminton is always a very tough sport both physically and mentally. The rallies are longer, the speed of the game is higher, and players are competing in tournaments almost every week.

“The Badminton World Federation has tried to structure the calendar, but from a player’s perspective, recovery time is extremely important. Injuries and fatigue can affect performance and also shorten careers.

“I feel the schedule should allow better recovery periods between major tournaments, and teams should have more support for sports science and rehabilitation.” 

 
Lakshya has ability and mindset, All England title is not far away 
Last week, Lakshya Sen finished runner-up at the All England Open after going down to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi in the men’s singles final, repeating his near-miss at the tournament after finishing second in 2022.

Praising Lakshya for his consistency on the big stage, Saina said: “First of all, reaching the final of All England Open Badminton Championships twice is a big achievement. It’s one of the most prestigious tournaments in badminton and the level there is always extremely high.

“Consistency at that stage shows that Lakshya is doing many things right. Sometimes in sport, the difference between winning and finishing runner-up is just a few points or moments of composure. If a player keeps reaching those stages, it usually means the title is not far away.

“So I would say it’s a very positive sign. It shows he has the ability and the mindset to compete with the best in the world,” added the 2015 All England runner-up.

The 35-year-old from Hyderabad is also impressed with the performance of young Indian shuttlers but said physical strength, match temperament and tactical awareness remains key to consistency.

“Consistency at the top level comes from fitness, discipline and mental toughness over many years. Players need to maintain their level across the entire season, not just in a few tournaments,” said the former world No. 1.

“When PV Sindhu and I were competing regularly, the focus was always on preparation, recovery and staying hungry to improve.

“For the current generation, the key is to keep improving their physical strength, match temperament and tactical awareness so they can perform consistently in the biggest tournaments.” 
Explaining her decision to associate with I.I.M.U.N, Saina, a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, said: “I’ve always believed that sports teaches values like discipline, leadership and resilience, which are also important in life.

“Being part of India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N.) is special because it gives young people a platform to think globally, develop leadership skills and express their ideas confidently.

“If my journey can inspire young students to believe in themselves and work hard toward their goals, I feel that would be a meaningful contribution.

Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have debunked a fake report circulating on social media claiming that captain Hardik Pandya is unhappy with the form of franchise great Rohit Sharma. The report further alleged that Hardik issued an ultimatum to Rohit ahead of IPL 2026, stating there would be “zero tolerance” if the former captain fails to deliver this season. Additionally, the viral post claimed the MI management itself is frustrated with Rohit’s IPL strike-rate and consistency over recent years.

‘Hardik Pandya has informed the management that there will be no tolerance this time if Rohit fails to deliver. The MI management is very frustrated with Rohit’s performances over the last 10-12 years, as he has often scored only around 200-300 runs per season and that too at a strike rate close to 120, despite being one of the highest-paid players in the squad,’ a social media user wrote on X.

However, MI quickly rubbished the claims with a savage response. ‘Kuch bhi (Anything),’ wrote MI, who last won the IPL in 2020, with a GIF of Hardik.

Kuch bhi! https://t.co/lEiFBgaEoh pic.twitter.com/SYw1im5Mfi

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 13, 2026

Hardik had replaced Rohit as captain of MI ahead of IPL 2024, a move which led to heavy criticism from fans.

MI will be aiming to overcome their five-season title drought this year. Last year, they made it to the playoffs, losing to the Punjab Kings by five wickets in the Qualifier two at Ahmedabad. They will open their campaign at home against the Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29.

Mumbai Indians (MI) full squad for IPL 2026: AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Markande (traded), Mitchell Santner, Naman Dhir, Raghu Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa, Robin Minz, Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Shardul Thakur (traded), Sherfane Rutherford (traded), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Trent Boult, Will Jacks, Danish Malewar (Rs 30 lakh), Quinton de Kock (INR 1 Cr), Atharva Ankolekar (Rs 30 lakh), Mayank Rawat (Rs 30 lakh), Mohammad Izhar (Rs 30 lakh).

(With IANS Inputs)

Having claimed the Pierro Plate, Ciaron’s Star was retrieved from the paddock and now eyes a last-minute Golden Slipper attempt contingent on success in the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

Her most recent run saw her finish sixth behind yardmate Spicy Miss in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), after which plans shifted to wrapping up her campaign for a spell.

Yet the filly flourished in her brief downtime, encouraging trainer Ciaron Maher to reinstate her and target a place in a particularly unpredictable edition of the Golden Slipper.

Failing that, the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) during The Championships remains a solid backup plan.

“The original plan was to give her a break after last start, but she had a couple of days in the paddock, and she was feeling very well,” Maher’s assistant Johann Gerard-Dubord said.

“We thought, it’s (Golden Slipper) very open this year, so she will run this week.

“If she happened to win, we could consider the Slipper, but she is second favourite for the Percy Sykes Stakes, so it’s hard to bypass that, especially because she is so well.”

Spicy Miss is already confirmed for Ciaron Maher in the Golden Slipper (1200m), while Tornado Valley’s Magic Millions placing makes him a doubtful starter, with preferences leaning towards extending his trip.

“Tornado Valley, he probably goes to a Sires’ Produce Stakes,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“He showed us the other day that 1200 metres is a bit sharp.”

Debutant Hellenic Belle, owned by Annabel and Rob Archibald, will tackle the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) after bypassing a softer option at Warwick Farm midweek.

With a strong barrier trial under her belt, the filly by Hellbent shows promise warranting an immediate black-type test.

“We were in (Wednesday), but we have opted to wait and have a throw of the dice at black type first-up,” Rob Archibald said.

“We think she has got ability, whether she’s ready to do it first-up, I’m not sure. But we can’t fault her, and it’s a nice lead in to a race like the Percy Sykes Stakes if she shows she is up to that level.

“We like her, she looks talented, and we will learn a bit more about her on Saturday.”

The winner of the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) and Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill both earn ballot exemptions for the Golden Slipper (1200m) seven days later.

For the best racing odds on the Magic Night Stakes, check out these betting sites.

Head Coach Andy Farrell’s Ireland side play Scotland this afternoon in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations at a sold-out Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 2.10pm).

The game is live on Virgin Media One television, with live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio One.

Captain Caelan Doris leads Ireland into their final game of this season’s Guinness Six Nations Championship.

Jamie Osborne, Rob Baloucoune and Tommy O’Brien are the Ireland back three.

Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose are again named in midfield, with Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley linking up in the half-backs.

In the front row, Tom O’Toole, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are chosen. Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne will start in the engine room.

Jack Conan is the choice for the role of blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier will start at openside, while Caelan Doris completes Ireland’s starting team at number eight.

Ireland Bench

Andy Farrell has strong options on the bench.

Rónan Kelleher, Michael Milne, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray – who is in line for his Six Nations debut – and Nick Timoney make up the forward replacements.

The backline replacements are Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley and Bundee Aki.

Trophy up for grabs

Speaking during the week as he looked forward to this afternoon’s game, Andy Farrell stated:

“It is an incredible privilege for the squad to play at home in front of a packed Aviva Stadium with a trophy up for grabs. We know about the challenge facing us on Saturday and Scotland will travel with confidence. You’ll see two teams who like to attack and we’ll look to implement our game plan to get the performance that we want. When you factor in a loud home support, and with the game taking place on St Patrick’s weekend, it really has all the ingredients for a cracking contest.”

Ireland Team

15. Jamie Osborne, 14. Rob Baloucoune, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Tommy O’Brien, 10. Jack Crowley, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park.

1. Tom O’Toole, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Jack Conan, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris (captain).

Ireland Replacements:

16. Rónan Kelleher, 17. Michael Milne, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Darragh Murray, 20. Nick Timoney, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Ciaran Frawley, 23. Bundee Aki.

When he first stepped into a boxing gym, Colm Murphy was immediately teased for having a ‘Posh Boy’ accent.

Since then, he has taken ownership of the label – originally intended to be an insult – and used it to his advantage, often fighting with a degree of ferocity that contradicts his intriguing moniker.

It is perhaps because of this that the 26-year-old has always fought with a chip on his shoulder, hoping to show the world exactly what he is made of, which equally explains why he is taking on a sizable challenge against former world title challenger Jono Carroll tonight.

Ahead of his assignment in Dublin, Murphy recalls being underestimated by those who, in the nicest sense, could not even dream of lacing his boots.

“Growing up, I went to a grammar school where the boys played rugby, so it was unheard of for someone to box.

“But I went to my local boxing club [aged 14] in West Belfast – I’m originally from South Belfast – and I stood out with my voice and stuff like that, so they kind of took the piss out of me and called me the ‘Posh Boy’.

“None of those people box anymore, so with me turning professional and reaching a level they couldn’t reach, I now own that [‘Posh Boy’] label.”

While those at Murphy’s gym overlooked his true potential, the kids at his school seemingly gave him no chance of even entering a competitive bout, let alone having considerable amateur success and crafting a 16-0 (6 KOs) professional record.

“People at my school laughed at me for trying out boxing – they all said I’d quit after a few months. Now they get to watch me on TV.

“It’s funny, but I’m also grateful for it. I went to a school that was a wee bit stuck-up, but everyone was really challenging.

“As a kid with learning difficulties, it ended up actually bringing out the best of me, because I was so competitive [with them].”

Having only just claimed the Commonwealth super-featherweight title – scoring a sixth-round finish over Saleh Kassim at the end of January – Murphy will now face Carroll, who fell short on points against then-IBF champion Tevin Farmer in 2019.

But while acknowledging that the 33-year-old is his toughest opponent thus far, by some distance, Murphy equally believes that he is ready for an opportunity of this magnitude.

“When opportunities like this come up, you have to roll the dice a wee bit and take them. I know it’s a huge step-up, and it’s going to be a big challenge, but I believe I rise to these moments.

“I’ve been in with really good operators my whole life, even as an amateur, and me and Jono don’t fall far from the same tree.

“He entered the same competitions as me as an amateur boxer himself, so I think a warrior like him is going to bring out the best out of me.”

The pair will square off for the vacant IBO title, featuring on the undercard of Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace tonight, with Murphy looking to continue proving his detractors wrong.