Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new contract until 2031, bringing an end to months of uncertainty over his future.

England international Mainoo, 21, had agreed his previous deal shortly before breaking into the first team in 2023 and it was due to expire in 2027, though there was an option to extend it by a further year.

The Stockport-born academy product was marginalised under former United boss Ruben Amorim, which prompted him to push for a loan move to Italian side Napoli during the January transfer window.

But United rejected that request, making clear to Mainoo that the club valued him and wanted him to stay and fight for his place.

Since Amorim’s departure in January, Mainoo has has started all but one of the 12 league matches under interim boss Michael Carrick – missing a 2-1 defeat by Leeds United through injury.

“Manchester United has always been my home; this special club means everything to my family,” he said.

“I have the privilege of living my dream every single day, with the same relentless desire to succeed here as when I joined my first training session at the age of six.

“We can all feel the momentum building inside the club. I am determined to step up and play my role in helping Manchester United to regularly fight for major trophies in the years ahead.”

As well as increased involvement in the United team since Carrick’s appointment, Mainoo has also regained his place in the England set-up – featuring in friendlies against Uruguay and Japan last month.

It was the first time since Thomas Tuchel’s appointment that Mainoo had earned an international call-up, and his first appearance in an England shirt since September 2024.

“Kobbie is one of the most naturally gifted young footballers in the world,” said United director of football Jason Wilcox.

“His technical ability, dedicated professionalism and humble personality make him the perfect role model for our young players and a true credit to our outstanding Academy system.

“We are delighted that Kobbie has extended his stay here and have full confidence that he will develop into one of the best players in the world, ready to play a pivotal role in a Manchester United team challenging for the biggest honours.”

It is still hard to get your head around the reality that had Mainoo been granted his wish, he would be playing for Napoli now – or that if United had not changed their manager in January, he would have been pushing for an alternative loan move.

One of the most bizarre aspects of Amorim’s tenure was that it robbed United of not only a homegrown player but one of a limited number capable of being part of a team that could deliver enough positive results to get them into the Champions League.

Mainoo did not start a Premier League game under Amorim this season. Apart from one because of injury, he has not failed to start one since he left.

Captain Bruno Fernandes could break the Premier League assist record this season but had Amad Diallo finished as he should have done against Brentford on Monday, Mainoo would have got the assist of the season for his mazy dribble and lay-off in the opening minutes.

At 21, he still has much to learn, with much development to come. That is the key point, though.

Mainoo is nowhere near the finished article but is already one of England’s top midfielders; not a prolific scorer, or a brutal tackler, but someone with the priceless ability to take the ball in tight spaces, find a way out and move it on.

Few with any connection to United will not welcome this news. A local lad, with the world at his feet, committed to Old Trafford for another five years.

Sonny Baker has just started to tell a story about a bike he bought from someone on Facebook Marketplace and a tomahawk steak when the video call goes dead.

And that is a great shame, because watching the energy and enthusiasm Baker puts into his stories is a feature of a conversation with the Hampshire pace bowler. Baker talks like he bowls – fast, and with a smile on his face.

A broken link is also symbolically apt for what Baker has learned in a short England career to date.

In his only one-day international, Baker shipped 0-76 against South Africa – the most expensive figures by an England man on debut.

The 23-year-old is sanguine about that day at Headingley, rightly pointing out he was targeted in a game England were never going to win after they were bowled out for 131. What rankles more is his only international T20 appearance three weeks later, when Ireland plundered 52 from his four overs.

Just as the failed call stopped him in his prime, Baker knows he did not give himself the best chance of succeeding in Dublin.

“My little brother Blaise said to me after the game that I hadn’t been myself,” Baker tells BBC Sport.

“I’m an absolute carry-on merchant. If someone plays and misses, I’m like, ‘woooaaahhh’. I can’t help but to give it a massive carry-on.

“But in Dublin, I was still trying to clutch back my ODI debut. I’d beat the bat, be thankful not to have been hit for a boundary, then walk back to my mark to go again.

“If I get the opportunity again it’s about being myself. If I get someone to play and miss, I have to carry on like I normally do. There’s no point worrying about what everyone will think. Who cares? That’s how I am. I have to be authentic.”

And Baker will get more chances to play for England, quite possibly with a Test debut this summer.

For all the talk of who might come into the batting line-up, it is the pace-bowling department that has most vacancies.

In less than three years, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Chris Woakes and – very probably – Mark Wood have exited the Test arena. England must find replacements for their combined 1,619 wickets.

Brydon Carse is injured, Jofra Archer is at the Indian Premier League and Matthew Potts struggled in the final Ashes Test in Sydney.

Perhaps only Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson are locks for the squad for the first Test against New Zealand on 4 June. Matthew Fisher and Tom Lawes are candidates, but are in a Surrey side struggling to take wickets.

Sam Cook could get the chance to add to his one Test cap, or Ollie Robinson might be brought in from the cold.

Then there is Baker, who has stood out with his extra pace on some docile early season pitches. His hostility in a duel with James Rew in Somerset’s narrow win over Hampshire was a glimpse into England’s future.

“It feels like I’ve put on a bit of pace since last year,” says Baker, who has been clocked at 92mph this season.

“When I run in faster and maintain the momentum through to the release, the ball speed is higher.

“Last year, when I was trying to operate at that cruise control, it didn’t really feel like it had enough zip or energy on the ball. My control wasn’t quite as good because I was always thinking, ‘I need to give it some to create a chance’. This year, in a small sample size, it’s been much better.”

Baker lights up at the opportunity to get nerdy over fast bowling, eulogising about South Africa great Dale Steyn as “the king of going up and down the gears”.

“He’d take the new ball, click into third gear, swing and nip it, put it on a sixpence,” says Baker. “Then, when some guy needed a bouncer, fifth gear and bang!”

Baker’s fire would add some much-needed oomph to an England team that had too many introverts for the heat of an Ashes battle in Australia. His character could possibly build bridges with supporters after a winter of bad PR.

“Bowling fast is just fun,” he says. “It’s got to be. You have to find a way to keep it fun.

“What do people come out of the bar to watch? Guys hitting massive sixes, guys bowling rapid and spinners ragging it.

“Who wasn’t watching Jofra Archer in the 2019 Ashes? Everyone was. We pretended to be Jofra in the back garden. Why wouldn’t you want to be that guy? Steaming in. It’s what is exciting about the game.”

Baker says his outlook on life comes from his family. His dad Ian was a club cricketer in Torquay and semi-professional goalkeeper. His brother Blaise, 19, is also a fast bowler and has played for Somerset’s second XI.

In his desire to leave “no stone unturned”, last year Baker revealed he drinks bone broth to help stave off the stress fractures that dogged his teenage years. His problem was producing enough bone broth to sustain a fast bowler.

“It’s a right pain to make,” he says. “Brown the bones, then brew them for at least 24 hours, then take all the bones out, put it in the bin, but it steams up the bin and creates horrible bin juice. Then ladle it out into bottles, then take it with you everywhere.

“I’d make litres of it, trying to make it last a week. It was a stretch. Sometimes I’d find I’d gone three days without it because I haven’t made it. It’s a stinker – I shouldn’t be doing that.”

Help came from an unknown member of the public.

“There’s a bone broth company, who were at a farm show,” says Baker. “A lady came to them and said: ‘Have you heard about the cricketer who drinks bone broth?’ They found me online and now they sponsor me. I get it delivered to wherever I am. What a lifesaver. Thank you to whichever lady passed on my name.”

The cut in the call was caused by Baker’s phone running out of battery. He scurried around the Utilita Bowl to find a charger and finished the call with the wire plugged into his car.

He has only played 10 first-class matches, of which three were at the start of this season – three back to back for the first time in his career. Hampshire have three more back to back – starting at home to Glamorgan on Friday – before England’s first Test of the summer.

As a centrally contracted player, Baker’s workload will be decided by England, whether he gets a Test call this summer or not.

“You wouldn’t be on a central contract if they didn’t think it was worth investing in you long-term,” he says. “Whether I’m in their immediate plans or not, I don’t know, and it’s not for me to say.

“I’ve added pace and much more control. For red-ball cricket, I can say I am a significantly better bowler than I was last year.”

Saudi Arabia will withdraw its multi-billion dollar backing of LIV Golf at the end of the season, plunging the future of the series into further doubt.

According to sources, the breakaway tour is set to announce on Thursday a “new strategic plan” in a bid to find replacement financial investors.

The breakaway tour will also confirm new independent board members as it tries to move forward with fresh leadership.

It comes amid reports that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) could confirm that its governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan is stepping down from LIV’s board.

Al-Rumayyan co-founded LIV in 2021 and has been the tour’s most powerful figure.

This week LIV postponed its June event in New Orleans, meaning it will not have any tournaments in the US between 10 May until 6 August, when it goes to Trump Bedminster in New Jersey.

However, LIV tournaments are due to take place in South Korea, Spain and Britain during this period.

BBC Sport has been told LIV remains hopeful of remaining an international tour with a team model, and that it is in “constructive” talks with potential investors. The series is said to be “totally up for sale”.

Sources indicated that executives are exploring a number of opportunities to “reposition” the business. They said LIV Golf was on course to earn $100m (£86m) more in 2026 than last season.

But officials accept it is likely the series will have to be significantly scaled back, with far fewer than the current 14 events.

Team captains and staff have been told of LIV’s plan to find new funding.

LIV declined to comment.

This month LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil told players the 2026 season would continue “as planned and uninterrupted” amid rumours the tour was on the verge of collapse, although he did not address what might lie ahead.

It came as PIF – which also owns Premier League club Newcastle United – announced a new strategy, with a focus on more sustainable investments.

Major winners Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Cameron Smith are among the players who compete on the LIV tour.

The project, which pivoted to a more traditional 72-hole format this year, has been bankrolled by an eye-watering amount of money from PIF.

The overall investment surpassed $5bn (£3.8bn) when fresh capital of $267m (£229m) was injected this year.

The tour’s net losses in markets outside the US increased to $462m (£340m) in 2024, meaning it had lost more than $1.1bn (£810m) since it was established in 2021.

But with vast amounts of money pumped into the US arm of the operation, overall losses look likely to run to several billion dollars.

In February, Rahm, Smith and DeChambeau turned down a one-time opportunity to apply for reinstatement to the PGA Tour under its ‘Returning Member Programme’, which was facilitated for those who had won a major – or The Players Championship – since 2022.

Five-time major winner Koepka was the only player to take up the offer and smoothed his return by paying fines said to be worth about £63m.

Amid reports that some LIV golfers have approached the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to explore possible returns, it remains unclear if the series’ potential demise would see such a path reopened, and what terms might be issued.

LIV Golf Virginia at Trump National Golf Club just outside of Washington DC is scheduled to begin on 7 May.

PIF has been approached for comment.

Saudi Arabia hosts and invests in a number of sports, including football, boxing, Formula 1 and tennis.

Fighter Paddy Pimblett believes his ego was part of the reason he lost to Justin Gaethje in their interim UFC lightweight title fight in January.

Gaethje defeated the Liverpudlian on points in a gruelling encounter in Las Vegas in which Pimblett never managed to build any momentum.

It was the first loss of Pimblett’s UFC career and ended a nine-fight winning streak.

“I think it was a little bit of my ego got in the way,” Pimblett said on his YouTube, external channel reflecting on the fight.

“I wanted to knock him out. I wanted to show everyone I can strike. I wanted a war.

“When you’re trying to take him down in the fifth round after he bludgeoned you at the end of the second, it’s quite hard.

“Back to fight IQ. Back to the gameplan and not just swinging recklessly.”

Pimblett threw 170 strikes to Gaethje’s 200, with a majority of the contest being contested on the feet.

Gaethje, 37, knocked Pimblett down twice on the way to securing the interim belt and a shot at Ilia Topuria at UFC White House on 14 June.

Pimblett is back in camp and aiming to return to action at UFC 329 in July.

The 31-year-old is waiting to be assigned an opponent but Frenchman Benoit Saint-Denis, currently on a four-fight winning streak, is rumoured to be the current frontrunner.

Pimblett says he is eager to have a rematch with Gaethje in future.

“I’ve got to show everyone why I deserved to get that title shot, show everyone that I’m going to be getting another one in the near future,” Pimblett said.

“I hope [Justin] beats Ilia so I can fight him again.

“That’s all I’m hoping for. He’s got a big ask, beating Ilia Topuria.”

Chelsea captain Millie Bright has retired from football with immediate effect.

The 32-year-old made 294 appearances for the Blues after joining from Doncaster Belles in 2015 and also won 88 caps for England.

The defender won eight Women’s Super League titles with the Blues – including six in a row between 2020 and 2025 – as well as six FA Cups and four League Cups.

But the former England defender has not featured for the Blues since February because of an ankle injury and has decided now is the time to end her career.

“Representing Chelsea over the last 12 years has been everything to me, but I’m now ready to say goodbye to playing football,” said Bright.

“I’ve given all I can, and I never wanted to fight for any other badge.

“It is now time, and I’m ready to go into a new era. I’m always going to be Chelsea, but just in a different way.”

Bright will be taking on a new role as a club ambassador, and will retain her position as a trustee of the Chelsea foundation.

Bright will go down as one of the most influential figures in English women’s football.

The defender retired from international duty last October, having picked up her 88 caps over a nine-year spell.

She was instrumental in the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory, starting all six matches as they claimed a first major trophy.

She also wore the captain’s armband as England reached the 2023 World Cup final and was a dependable leader throughout her career.

“Millie has played such a big role in the growth of the women’s game, with both England and Chelsea, and she has achieved so much along the way – what she has given to her club and country is incredible,” said Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman.

“It is hard to put into words the impact she has had. She has inspired so many people, pushed standards and shown girls and boys what can be achieved in the sport.”

Bright withdrew from England’s Euro 2025-winning squad on the eve of the tournament, stating she was “not able to give 100% physically and mentally”.

Her position in the side was no longer certain, with younger defenders Maya le Tissier, Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy continuing to progress with England.

As a result, Bright was able to turn her attentions fully to Chelsea this season in the hope of leading them to a seventh successive WSL title.

But it has not gone to plan for Sonia Bompastor’s side with Chelsea sitting six points adrift of leaders Manchester City with two WSL games remaining.

They were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Arsenal but won the League Cup and are in the FA Cup semi-finals.

It has not been the fairytale ending Bright would have hoped for personally as she has been forced to sit out since February with a frustrating ankle injury.

That was no doubt a contributing factor in her decision to retire, with her contract coming to an end in the summer.

A transition period is on the cards at Chelsea with Bompastor set to make her mark in the transfer window as they look to bounce back from a difficult campaign.

The emergence of young defenders like Veerle Buurman has signalled a natural phasing out on Bright’s part, and other senior players – such as striker Sam Kerr – are also expected to exit.

While still club captain, Chelsea’s dependence on Bright has waned – she started all of their WSL games last season as they claimed an unbeaten domestic treble but Bompastor has been forced to look elsewhere this year.

Bright will continue at Chelsea as a club ambassador and as a trustee of Chelsea’s foundation.

But in recent years the 32-year-old has explored opportunities outside playing, most notably starting the “Daly Brightness” podcast with former England team-mate Rachel Daly.

They faced backlash in April for using a promo image of Chelsea team-mate Lauren James’ sending off at the 2023 World Cup, prompting an apology from producers.

Bright also has a presence on social media, first becoming prominent in 2022 when she regularly posted TikTok videos with goalkeeper Mary Earps.

Following England’s Euro 2022 victory, she became a familiar name among casual viewers and carried the weight of responsibility going into the 2023 World Cup in Leah Williamson’s absence, knowing external expectation had grown tenfold.

Off the pitch, she became a fierce advocate for mental health support and was among those who played a key part in the Lionesses’ call for equal access for girls football in schools following their Euro 2022 success.

She was seen as a joker in the dressing room and had a close relationship with former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, as well as key players Erin Cuthbert, Guro Reiten and Kerr.

A towering presence on the pitch, who usually came out on top in a one-on-one duel, Bright was often England manager Wiegman’s go-to person, and she even did a job up front on occasions when it was needed – most notably finishing joint-top scorer at the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup in 2022, sharing the Golden Boot award with then-Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.

In her prime, Bright was widely regarded as one of Europe’s best centre-backs and was named in the FifPro World XI twice.

She was also appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s 2024 New Year Honours for services to football.

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women’s Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women’s Super League and beyond on the Women’s Football Weekly feed