Manchester

Manchester United are planning to stick with manager Erik ten Hag next season because of the lack of a clear alternative, alongside the cost of firing the Dutchman. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo has told his club he will not sign a new deal when his current one expires this summer with Manchester United, AC Milan and Liverpool all interested in his signature. (Mail), external

Barcelona and Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo, 25, is deciding whether to sign a new deal with the Spanish club amid interest from United and Bayern Munich. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Captain Bruno Fernandes says he has not thought of leaving Manchester United, is concentrating fully on the remainder of the season and will not give any consideration about his club future until after this summer's European Championships.

Earlier this week, BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone reported United are willing to listen to offers for virtually all their first-team squad this summer, but Fernandes is not believed to be one of them.

It is understood the Portugal midfielder, who has been with United for more than four years after joining from Sporting Lisbon, would have to be the subject of a major offer for them to let him leave.

Fernandes spoke to DAZN Portugal and, in an interview translated by BBC Sport, said that he "has not in this moment thought about other things [moving]."

He continued: "Obviously this doesn't depend just on me. A player always has to want to be here, but at the same time, they [the club] have to want him to stay here too.

"At the moment, I feel that is the case on both sides.

"I don't think much about the future because obviously this season was not at the level that I wanted, both on individual and collective levels. We can still finish this season by winning the FA Cup.

"Soon after this we have the European Championships and that is really important to us. Because of this, if something happens where I have to think about not continuing in the Premier League, then it will only be after the Euros. Nothing will take away my focus from the FA Cup final, and the Euros, because there is nothing more important than this at this moment."

Image source, Getty Images

Referees' chief Howard Webb says it was a "clear error" to not initially award a penalty for Andre Onana's foul on Zeki Amdouni in Manchester United's draw with Burnley on Saturday.

Onana came out to attempt to punch the ball clear, but caught the Burnley forward instead. Initially no penalty was awarded, before the video assistant referee (VAR) intervened and recommended referee John Brooks review the incident again.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Mic'd Up programme, Webb said: "We acknowledge that, that situation in week number one at Old Trafford [against Wolves] should have led to a VAR intervention and didn't.

"This is very similar - Onana coming out and not making contact with the ball, making heavy contact with his opponent, not seen by the referee on the field.

"It's a clear error not to award the penalty kick [on the field], and therefore [VAR] recommends that the referee looks at it at the screen for himself and sees that heavy contact."

Onana was not given a card at the time and, asked whether he should have been sent off, Webb did not believe so.

"I think there's a recklessness to it," he said. "On the day he wasn't cautioned. I think that would have been the right outcome to show a yellow card as well, for a reckless action.

"I don't think it's serious foul play. I don't think there's excessive force or brutality in that challenge, but there's an element of recklessness. And that would normally lead to a yellow card."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown believes Pep Guardiola's side face a stern test when Wolves visit Etihad Stadium on Saturday (17:30 BST).

A trip to Tottenham looks to be City's hardest game in the title run-in but Gary O'Neil's team beat them earlier in the season at Molineux and have relished facing the Premier League's elite this campaign.

"I think it's more than just the Spurs game," Brown told BBC Radio Manchester's We're Not Really Here podcast. "We have to respect everyone.

"Wolves will be right up for it. It's easy to say it's just one game. This is the Premier League, you have to earn the right to play every single time.

"That's where I think Pep and his players don't underestimate what they are coming up against. I don't think they'll just focus on Spurs and think it's their only problem. I really do believe that and I think it's so important to have that mentality where you understand you can't slip up.

"Gary O'Neil has gone into Wolves with no pre-season, no build-up, and he's got them to play the way he wants.

"Of late they've been a little bit inconsistent and they possibly wanted a little bit of help in the January window but I just think he's done an amazing job.

"The day where they beat City earlier in the season, they just had their game plan right, they just sat in, they waited, they filled the gaps and he's good at that.

"They're going to come again and try to frustrate, wait and delay. I don't think it's routine at all."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Today would have been Marc-Vivien Foe's 49th birthday.

It barely seems credible that it is almost 21 years since his death from a heart condition when he was playing for Cameroon at the Confederations Cup in 2003.

Foe was West Ham's record signing when he joined the club in 1999, on the same day as Paolo di Canio.

The midfielder played 48 games for the Hammers before moving to Lyon and then on loan to Manchester City in the summer of 2002.

He score nine goals in 38 games for City that season and would probably have made a permanent switch to Manchester had he not tragically died in June 2003.

His death at the age of 28 shocked the world, although sadly it took another few years before the issue of potentially fatal heart problems among supposedly super-fit professional athletes started to be properly investigated fully.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's Simon Stone reported earlier this week that Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for virtually all their first-team squad this summer, although club sources are adamant their preference is to keep Marcus Rashford and work with the England forward to restore last season's form.

"I have watched him closely for years and last season, maybe even the one before, I have thought there is something wrong," said former Scotland winger Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "He does not seem himself and his body language is unusually down.

"He is a world class player and he has all the ability, so if the club can get to the bottom of it then I do not think anyone would want him to leave.

"But if he is going to be up and down in performances then let him go."

Manchester-born Rashford came through United's youth ranks before making his first-team debut as an 18-year-old in 2016.

He has gone on to make 270 appearances for the Red Devils in the Premier League, scoring 83 goals.

Rashford finished last season with a career-best tally of 30 goals, but he has been unable to make the same impact this time around as United have struggled to build on their first campaign under manager Erik ten Hag.

"He has had a difficult season," added former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson. "Does he need a change? This has been his club for a long time but does he need to find his spark and love again for football?

"From the outside looking in, I think a fresh start at a different club would do him the world of good."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has been speaking in an exclusive interview with BBC Radio Manchester about the Red Devils' future under the direction of Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Listen to The Devils' Advocate on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola delivered an altogether more cerebral masterclass against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

Under pressure and surrendering chances even if they were 1-0 up at the break, Pep realised his team was not controlling the game's tempo in midfield. The two wingers Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish were removed and control was restored.

By the time Erling Haaland had scored the killer second, City were strangling the life out of the previously lively home side with their dominant possession.

This level of game awareness and game management is what sets Manchester City apart - well, that and a bunch of ultra-adaptable world-class players. Pep's belief in his own special way never falters.

The title is still going to be stunningly close but I have not budged yet on my suggestion from the start of the season that City would prevail, however well Arsenal have stepped up to the challenge.

Pat Nevin was writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter

There was some pretty significant news out of Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Manchester United confirmed new chief executive Omar Berrada would start work on 13 July.

Berrada's appointment was already known but not his start date.

However, accompanying that came the news interim chief executive - and United's long-time legal counsel - Patrick Stewart would leave at the end of the season, along with chief finance officer Cliff Baty.

Baty will be replaced by Roger Bell, former chief finance officer for Ineos.

Ex-Juventus chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc, appointed to the United board by Ineos, will fill the gap.

I have been assured Stewart's exit is amicable and he plans to pursue other projects. His deputy Martin Mosley will step up.

It is a further sign of the changes Ineos are driving through Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford.

Their mission is to ascend United back to the top of the English game.

They are not wasting any time as they go about it.

Image source, Getty Images

Could Thomas Tuchel be on his way to Old Trafford?

The Bayern Munich boss will leave his post this summer and, according to the rumour mill, he could be in line to replace Erik ten Hag if Manchester United part company with the Dutchman.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Tuchel "is a top manager" but questions whether his personality would work at United.

"He would be a great fit for them as he is a top manager," said Robinson on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "He would excite a lot of fans.

"But I am not sure the backroom staff that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has brought in would want someone like him. They will most likely want a coach who will be given his players - and Tuchel is too vocal for that

"A mix of strong personalities could be a disaster, or maybe it is a match made in heaven?"

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds