Manchester United

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter in Maynooth

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have flown to the Republic of Ireland to promote a pre-season game that may not happen.

Organisers have confirmed United will play Leeds at Croke Park on Wednesday 12, August.

It promises to be the first time any English side has played at the 82,000-capacity venue in Dublin, the historic home of the Gaelic Athletic Association, which until 2005 banned 'foreign sports' being played there.

Both Manchester United and Leeds have sizeable followings on the island of Ireland and the game is sure to be popular - if it goes ahead.

United held a training session at the Carton House hotel in Maynooth on Tuesday and forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo were asked about the pre-season match in a press conference afterwards.

However, while Manchester United have no issues as the game forms part of a rare exclusively European-based pre-season campaign, for Leeds there are two potential complications.

The Community Shield takes place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 16 August. In addition, the opening matches of the 2026-27 EFL campaign will be played between 14-16 August.

Leeds have advised supporters on their official website, external if they are relegated or win the FA Cup to secure a place in the Community Shield, the Croke Park encounter will be called off.

When the match was announced last week, the club said: "Please note, this fixture is subject to Leeds United retaining Premier League status. This fixture is also subject to the club not participating in the 2026 FA Community Shield.

"The club will not offer refunds on travel expenses in the event of relegation or participation in the 2026 FA Community Shield. The ticket operator will offer refunds on tickets sold for the match."

Has Harry Maguire's tenure at Manchester United been "an amazing redemption story"?

Listen to the latest Devils' Advocate podcast from BBC Radio Manchester as Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath review Maguire's career so far with the Red Devils, following news of Maguire's new contract at Old Trafford.

Listen by hitting the play button below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Manchester United content on BBC Sounds

The latest news and views on the Red Devils in two minutes, every weekday afternoon.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Image source, PA Media

We asked for your views on Harry Maguire signing a contract extension with Manchester United until June 2027, with the option for a further year.

Here are some of your comments:

Fred: Harry has shown resilience during his tenure at Man Utd, surviving awful treatment by some of the fans, and has gone on to prove his worth. His experience will be valuable for the next season, and for the development of Yoro and Heaven.

Charlie: Until a younger prospect comes along Harry is our best central defender and gets the odd goal too. He's a good professional. Head down and gets on with it.

Conor: I am so happy to see this, woke up and it put a smile on my face. Maguire is instrumental to the team and as a fan you can't help but love him. The resilience and determination he showed to get through that rough patch and all that criticism makes him a legend and a role model.

Norman: Harry being offered and signing a new contract has to be seen as a plus. When the time comes to hang up his boots he should join our backroom team and use his leadership skills to bring on the academy players as United move on to the future.

Pete: Maguire is a solid defender. It is of no coincidence to me that United have been doing a lot better with Big H in the side. Bit disappointing the deal is only one guaranteed year unless that was his own idea. I get his age may come into it but I would have pushed for two years with an additional year extension, but I suppose that's how it all plays out these days.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It has been clear for months now that it suited both Harry Maguire and Manchester United for their partnership to be extended beyond the end of the season, when his contract was set to expire.

Maguire and his family are settled in the north west and United valued the 33-year-old's experience, a factor that has taken on more importance this summer given the impending exit of Casemiro.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was determined to sign Maguire from Leicester in 2019, which is why United ended up paying £80m for him. It was not long before he was installed as captain.

Erik ten Hag had a different view of Maguire's qualities, took the armband away and was willing to let him join West Ham in the summer of 2023.

Even though United accepted a £30m offer from the Hammers, Maguire said no. He has played 91 times for the club since, under four different managers, which underlines how highly rated he is.

With Maguire, critics tend to focus on the aspects of his game he is not so good at. His managers - generally - look at what he can do: calm under pressure, strong in the tackle, good passing range, positional awareness, superb mentally, a leader in the dressing room.

Maguire may not be at quite the same levels as when he arrived at Old Trafford, but most United fans will delight in the news he is staying around for a bit longer at least.

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Maguire says playing for Manchester United is the "ultimate honour" after signing a new contract extension until June 2027, with the option for a further year.

The 33-year-old central defender's current deal was due to expire at the end of this season.

Maguire has made 266 appearances for United since signing for £80m from Leicester in 2019 - then a world-record transfer fee for a defender - and has since won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup with the club, as well as having a spell as captain.

"Representing Manchester United is the ultimate honour," he said on signing his new deal.

"It is a responsibility that makes myself and my family proud every single day.

"I am delighted to extend my journey at this incredible club to at least eight seasons and continue to play in front of our special supporters to create more amazing moments together.

"You can feel the ambition and potential of this exciting squad. The determination throughout the whole club to fight for major trophies is clear for everyone to see and I am confident that our best moments together remain ahead of us."

United director of football Jason Wilcox added: "Harry represents the mentality and resilience required to perform for Manchester United. He is the ultimate professional who brings invaluable experience and leadership to our young, ambitious squad.

"Harry, like everyone at the club, is completely determined to help Manchester United to achieve regular and sustained success."

United fans - are you happy with Maguire's new deal? How important is he to this current side? And how do you view his time at Old Trafford as a whole?

Let us know here

Alex Turk
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's impending busy summer of business has been widely documented. But they might also be about to address an area which they would prefer not to.

The club are expected to back their new permanent head coach - Michael Carrick or not - with at least two midfielders, a left-winger and a left-back.

But while Carrick is currently well-stocked at centre-back, a big problem is looming and there is a sense that United are about to take action.

Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire (new contract pending), Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez and Ayden Heaven make up a sufficient centre-back department for the return of two games a week next season.

Worries about the severity of De Ligt's back problem, which has ruled him out for the past five months, rumble on. Maguire and Yoro provide alternative right-sided options, though.

Martinez's situation is a more pressing matter. There is no doubting that the Argentine is United's best centre-back when fully fit. Elite ball-playing, tenacity, aggression and strong leadership.

However, he is about to finish his fourth season as a Red Devils player and he has not surpassed 30 Premier League games in any of them.

Martinez is about to return from his latest lay-off, forcing him to miss five matches. But there is growing noise of United scouring the left-sided centre-back market and that can only be bad news for the 28-year-old.

Heaven, 19, is already showing signs of top-class potential. He has made 14 league appearances this season, the same total as Martinez.

If United were to go out and sign, say, Jarrad Branthwaite or Nico Schlotterbeck - two names linked with an Old Trafford switch in the past week - they would not be replacing Heaven.

The club's dream of a Premier League title in 2028 to mark its 150th anniversary in style is no secret. In order to achieve that audacious aim, they need players they can rely on.

When he is on the pitch, Martinez ticks that box. But he is not on the pitch enough.

Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC, external

Juventus believe that qualifying for the Champions League will put them in pole position to sign Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who is valued at around £35m by his current club. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian, external)

Meanwhile United and Liverpool have stepped up their interest in Monaco and France winger Maghnes Akliouche, 24. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United's absence from European competition has been well documented this season - but below first-team level, the club are still making an impact on the continent.

Tuesday's Premier League International Cup tie with Real Madrid at Old Trafford is one of the marquee games left for United's under-21 side, offering the opportunity to join Borussia Dortmund, Real Sociedad and the winner of the remaining last-eight tie between Dinamo Zagreb and Valencia in the semi-finals.

It is a chance for United's academy prospects to show they are ready to take the next step on their pathway to becoming a professional player.

"It's an amazing occasion," said under-21s coach Adam Lawrence.

"You try to be humble, but to be involved in this type of fixture and for the players to experience this type of game at Old Trafford, it's fantastic."

Friday's win at Leeds means United are guaranteed a top-two finish in PL2, which means they will be at home until the final, should they get there, in the 16-team play-offs.

However, the chance to extend their run in Europe offers a different type of challenge, even if the first team's four-day trip to Dublin clashes and United also have to look ahead to forthcoming FA Youth Cup semi-final and Premier League under-18 final matches with Crystal Palace later this month.

"People talk a lot about development versus winning," said Lawrence.

"This is one we want to win but we're also trying to do it in a developmental way and looking at individual players in terms of what they will benefit from most in the programme to then perform.

"If we were to just pick the same players, the rest wouldn't get any exposure.

"But there are players in that middle bracket who you're not quite sure what level they're going to end up at. They would miss out on some of those opportunities."

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick will be hoping Lisandro Martinez comes through training unscathed in Dublin this week to avoid a central defensive selection headache for next Monday's Premier League clash with Leeds.

Harry Maguire will definitely miss the Old Trafford encounter following his red card just before the international break at Bournemouth that could yet land him with a two match suspension.

There is no sign of Matthijs De Ligt returning from the back problem that has kept him out for over four months. De Ligt was missing from the 25-man squad United took to Dublin for a four-day camp and it is understood he is still to start meaningful training.

Martinez was in the United travelling party though. The Argentina international has missed five games with a calf problem.

If Martinez is not fit enough to face Leeds, Carrick will likely pair youngsters Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven in central defence against the FA Cup semi-finalists.

Full-back Diogo Dalot and goalkeeper Tom Heaton have both been ruled out of the Dublin trip due to illness but Patrick Dorgu, who has missed eight games with a hamstring problem, did travel.

United have left behind most of their Under-21 players, including Shea Lacey and the Fletcher twins, Jack and Tyler, to allow them to play in the Premier League International Cup quarter-final against Real Madrid at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Fifteen-year-old JJ Gabriel also misses out, although Under-18 pair Jim Thwaites and Yuel Helafu are involved.

United stay in Dublin until Thursday before returning to Manchester to continue their preparations for the Leeds game.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United under-21 coach Adam Lawrence is looking for midfielder Jack Moorhouse to use the final games of the season to show he can perform at an elite level.

The 20-year-old was named on the first-team bench four times last campaign without getting on to make his senior bow.

He then seemed to be impressing on loan at League One Leyton Orient until a series of winter deadline day moves triggered Moorhouse's return to United after 24 appearances for the east London outfit.

Moorhouse has been picked on the bench twice by Michael Carrick since his return and frequently gets called into first-team training.

However, it is in games, including the Premier League International Cup quarter-final with Real Madrid at Old Trafford, where Moorhouse will really have a chance to shine.

"He's not a staple [at training] as a Jack Fletcher or a Shea Lacey, but he's over there often enough," said Lawrence.

"There's always got to be a bit of room to say to the player 'go and perform - and your performances pick teams or get you a loan or get you in the first team'.

"It's the club's part to create the pathway. It's the player's job to force the pathway and make that final part. That's where Jack sits at the moment.

"There's no bigger fan of Jack than me. He's a lovely player. He receives the ball on the back foot, the way that he can travel and glide with the ball.

"What we're looking for him to do between now and the end of the season, in those under-21s games, like against Madrid, 21s play-offs, is show he can perform at the elite level and make the difference. We feel he can."

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United Under-21 coach Adam Lawrence says it is "too early" to know if he will remain at the club beyond the end of the current campaign.

Lawrence, who led United's under-18s to the Premier League national title in 2023-24, left his role at the end of last season to take up a position at Newcastle.

However, he left the club at the beginning of January, which meant he was able to return to United a couple of weeks later to fill the gap left by Travis Binnion's elevation to Michael Carrick's senior coach set-up.

Carrick's future is still to be determined, which means Binnion is yet to discover what job he will be doing.

That clearly has an impact on Lawrence, although he is quite relaxed about the situation before Tuesday's Premier League International Cup quarter-final match with Real Madrid at Old Trafford.

"I've not really thought longer than the end of this current season," he said. "It's too early anyway and I've not put too much time and energy into that, to be honest.

"At the moment, everyone is just really concentrated on what we've got coming up between the first team and the academy programme.

"It's my job to put energy into the players, keep supporting them and work together with the staff to maximise their last two months.

"Things will just happen organically over time."

Manchester United could look to offload midfielder Manuel Ugarte, 24, this summer, with Newcastle, Aston Villa and Juventus among the clubs interested. (Caught Offside), external

United, along with Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, are among the clubs who have been contacted about the potential availability of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, 25. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United are among clubs who are interested in Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana, 24, who could be set for a big money move away from the club. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been awarded the Premier League player of the month award for March.

The midfielder has now equalled former Red Devils team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo with six of the awards and sits just one behind the joint-record of seven shared by Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero and Mohamed Salah.

Fernandes has won the prize after an impressive month in which he produced two goals and four assists in just four matches.

He came out on top across the league for chances created (23), big chances created (six), combined goals and assists (six) and total assists (four).

In taking his overall assists tally for the season to 16, the 31-year-old beat a club record previously held by David Beckham, who provided 15 in 1999-00.

Fernandes also has the opportunity to match - and possibly break - the record for number of assists in one Premier League campaign, which is currently jointly-held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne with 20.

Manchester United are next in action at home to Leeds United on the 13 April.

Morgan Rogers would be open to leaving Aston Villa this summer, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea all in the mix to sign the 23-year-old England midfielder. (Sun), external

RB Leipzig have put a £87m price tag on 18-year-old Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, who is a target for Manchester United and Liverpool. (Sky Sports), external

Atletico Madrid are closing in on a deal for 26-year-old Atalanta and Brazil midfielder Ederson, who is also of interest to Manchester United and Manchester City. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Manchester United will look to add two new central midfielders to their squad this summer, with Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali all under consideration. (Givemesport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Who will win the Premier League player of the season?

That won't be announced until towards the end of May but we already have a pretty good idea of the contenders, based on players' performances so far this campaign.

So, who are BBC reporters' player of the year picks?

Arsenal's Declan Rice is the favourite to be crowned player of the season but pushing him hard for the award is Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.

Fernandes is on course to break the record for the highest number of assists provided across a single Premier League season.

That tally is 20 - a total which has been reached by two players - Thierry Henry for Arsenal in 2002-03 and Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne in 2019-20.

There is no doubt the Manchester United skipper deserves to be named player of the year.

He is by far the most regular scorer or provider of goals in the Premier League.

Of the 11 games he has not done one or the other for United this season his team did not score at all in three. In one of the others, at Aston Villa, he had to go off at half-time, which was a shock in itself because Fernandes hardly ever misses a game.

His 16 assists are twice as many as anyone else. He is joint fifth in the list of midfield goalscorers.

In a season where attacking players have largely not stood out consistently across the entire campaign, he is the exception.

The Manchester United captain deserves recognition not only for his form this season but also for his consistency over several years.

Even as United have fallen short of expectations, Fernandes has delivered in what has often been a dysfunctional environment, which has now stabilised under interim boss Michael Carrick.

For me, Fernandes is something of a Matt le Tissier figure, reminiscent of his Southampton days in the 1990s: a player who could have left to win more trophies but has stayed loyal in a way others perhaps might not have been.

With eight goals and 16 assists in 28 Premier League matches this season, he would be my pick for player of the season.

Read more on the contenders for player of the season

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

On the surface, it seems quite simple.

Michael Carrick followed Darren Fletcher's lead in ditching Ruben Amorim's three at the back formation, pushed skipper Bruno Fernandes into a more forward role, recalled Kobbie Mainoo to play alongside Casemiro and stuck with it.

Across his 10 games in charge, Carrick has made just six changes to his starting line-up.

Two of those were enforced.

United's relative lack of games - they are currently in a stretch of 23 days without one - means rotation is a choice rather than a necessity.

Yet Carrick's impact goes far deeper.

Club sources note the sense of calm that has settled across the club.

The 44-year-old is a relaxed individual - the epitome of someone who does not get carried away by success or overly despondent by failure.

In public, that comes across in his media briefings.

"I'm not going to sit here and get angry with you if that's what you're asking," was Carrick's response when he was asked before the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth if he ever used anger as a management tool.

The attitude is in stark contrast to Amorim, who admitted to getting emotional at the performances of his team. That led him to make ill-advised news conference comments.

Rather than being on edge, United's staff at their Carrington training complex feed off Carrick's attitude and the feeling is they are delivering more.

Meetings between the head coach and Wilcox are fewer now, it is said, because there are not as many day-to-day issues to address.

Sources who know Carrick say his intention has been to strip training back to basics. That has resulted in the shorter sessions critics have argued show the players are not being worked hard enough.

Sources close to the players say the squad are unified, happy and enjoying their work.

Twenty-three points from 10 games since Carrick's appointment is the highest in the Premier League over that period.

During this period, some of the alternatives to Carrick for the permanent role have either suffered reputational damage or become unavailable - Roberto de Zerbi would become the latest if he accepts the Tottenham job.

United's stance remains they do not want to be bounced into an appointment, and will take their time reaching a decision.

The reality is they are yet to speak to anyone else.

There are some elements of Carrick's management that cannot be answered this season - including how he copes with a 60-game campaign, compared to this one with its optimum preparation time, which has allowed Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Casemiro to play every game under him.

There is also the reality that after pushing for Amorim's appointment, Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada risk their own reputations if they get another major call wrong.

Nothing is certain until an appointment is made, but if United maintain their momentum and qualify for the Champions League, it is hard to imagine Carrick not being given the job.

Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City and Chelsea, even with heavy spending in recent years, are leading the way this season when it comes to the use of academy players.

City have used seven academy players in the Premier League in 2025-26 - more than any other side. Chelsea's graduates, meanwhile, have accumulated the most minutes with 5,673.

Manchester United's tradition continues - their ongoing run of naming at least one home-grown player in a matchday squad dates back to 1937. They have used six this season, although their combined minutes (1,264) are well short of Chelsea and City (5,162).

There are some nuances within the numbers.

Across the Premier League, there are players from top-flight academies now at other teams.

Some players moved clubs during the season and others moved from one academy to another before making a senior appearance, the most notable example being Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea to Liverpool.

Read the full article

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United will face Leeds United in a pre-season friendly at Dublin's Croke Park on Wednesday, 12 August.

It will be the first club football fixture ever played at the stadium and the first football match of any kind since 2009.

Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox said, external the friendly gives the club a "fantastic opportunity to connect with our supporters in Ireland".

Leeds have said the fixture is subject to the club retaining their Premier League status and whether they are involved in the Community Shield.

Daniel Farke's side, who are four points above the relegation zone with seven league games remaining, play their FA Cup quarter-final against West Ham on Sunday.

Leeds played AC Milan in a friendly at Dublin's Aviva Stadium prior to the start of this season and chief business officer Morrie Eisenberg said, external the club's "support in Ireland is huge, which was demonstrated last year".