News
21 April 2026
Kobbie Mainoo: Man United agree new deal after major breakthrough - Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person
Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo has "verbally agreed" to a contract extension at Old Trafford after a fantastic return to form under Michael Carrick, according to the latest report. Despite having been frozen out by Ruben Amorim in one of the best examples of self-sabotage ever seen in English football, Mainoo was immediately reinstated to the starting eleven once Carrick took the reins in the wake of the Portuguese coach's dismissal. In the 11 games the 21-year-old midfielder has played under the interim boss, United have won eight times, drawn twice, and lost just once. It is the best run of form of any side in the Premier League in this period. The only match Mainoo was absent from, after picking up a minor knock in training, was the abject 2-1 home defeat to Leeds United - comfortably the worst performance of Carrick's tenure. The importance of the Carrington graduate is demonstrated by a startling statistic which shows United have picked up an average of 2.37 points per game with him starting - better than league leaders Arsenal's record - while Manuel Ugarte's inclusion has yielded just 0.75 points per match, worse than relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur. Mainoo was imperious on Saturday night in the crunch clash with Chelsea as United emerged with a 1-0 win, despite an injury crisis having ravaged the defence. In a post-match interview, Carrick said it was the best performance he had seen from the England international. INEOS are intent on building the team around Mainoo, who is seen as a cornerstone of the hierarchy's project moving forward. One of the main priorities this summer is revamping the midfield with two new signings that are complementary to him. Another urgent priority has been locking down the youngster's future in M16 as his contract is set to expire next year, though the club retains the right to trigger an automatic twelve-month extension. The two sides have been locked in negotiations over recent months, having seen talks break down during the first half of the campaign with Amorim at the helm. There was confidence from both parties that a deal would be struck; it was simply a question of numbers. The Sun reports United have tabled an offer worth in the region of £150,000 a week over five years, making Mainoo one of the top earners at the Theatre of Dreams. The midfielder has verbally approved the extension, with official confirmation set to come before the end of the current campaign. "Manchester United are aiming to announce a new contract for Kobbie Mainoo before the end of the season. Mainoo's representatives have made progress in the latest round of discussions over the last week and all parties believe it is a matter of time until there is an announcement. "United have verbally agreed a five-year deal with Mainoo, who...is set for a significant pay rise as his last renewal was in February 2023 when he was only 17. The midfielder's salary is expected to be around £150,000-a-week to reflect his starting status." Even the most ardent defender of Amorim's tumultuous tenure is unable to justify his exclusion of Mainoo at a time when United's midfield was so evidently lacking in quality. Carrick's switch to a 4-2-3-1 shape with the 21-year-old stationed next to the experienced Casemiro was a decision as effective as it was obvious. Foyr months ago, Mainoo was set to leave his boyhood club as his hopes of representing England at the World Cup were non-existent after failing to start a single league match under Amorim. Fast-forward to April, with Carrick at the wheel, the Salford native is a key cog in the best-performing side in England, looks a certainty to be on the plane to North America with the Three Lions squad in June, and is primed to sign a new bumper contract with the Red Devils. The Peoples Person has been one of the world's leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
21 April 2026
Karren Brady steps down as West Ham vice-chair after 16 years | News.az
Baroness Karren Brady has stepped down as vice-chair of Premier League club West Ham after 16 years, News.Az reports, citing BBC Sport. The businesswoman, who was appointed in January 2010 by then joint-chairs David Sullivan and David Gold, left on 15 April. She told The Times, external she made the decision to leave in mid-February, having first started considering it in January. In a statement, Brady said: "It has been a privilege to work alongside the board, management, players, staff and supporters at West Ham United. "Together we have achieved remarkable milestones, but the highlight for me will always be lifting the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy - a moment that will stay with me forever. I am deeply grateful for the relationships, challenges and opportunities that have shaped my time at the club." Brady oversaw West Ham's move from Upton Park to the London Stadium in 2016, beating off competition from Tottenham to secure the tenancy, as well as Declan Rice's £105m transfer to Arsenal. During this period, the club also achieved European success, reaching the Europa League semi-finals in 2021-22 and winning the 2022-23 Europa Conference League - their first major trophy since 1980. West Ham have spent 14 consecutive seasons in the Premier League, but are in danger of relegation to the Championship, sitting just two points clear of 18th-placed Tottenham with five matches to play. Some West Ham supporters have frequently protested against Brady and co-owner Sullivan, including during the 2025-26 season, with on-field performances and dissatisfaction with the stadium among their complaints. West Ham's joint-chair Daniel Kretinsky alluded to the opposition to Brady as he praised her work at the club. "Her contribution to West Ham United's growth, such as the long-term contract for the London Stadium, shareholders transition and the British record transfer of Declan Rice, has been absolutely essential and not always fully appreciated," Kretinsky said. "Karren is also very highly appreciated in the Premier League leadership community and was an excellent representative of our club there." Joint-chair Sullivan, who previously owned Birmingham City and installed Brady as a managing director in 1993 when she was 23, hailed her as an "exceptional leader" and a "key figure in the club's development".
21 April 2026
Guardiola's Man City exit route as national job opens - 'Dreaming costs nothing'
Pep Guardiola has a contract at Man City until 2027 - but could yet leave a year early(Image: Getty Images) Former Italy star Leonardo Bonucci has ambitiously named Pep Guardiola as the man to lead a shake-up of the national team, insisting "dreaming costs nothing" as he eyes the Manchester City boss. Italy are dealing with another World Cup failure after they missed out on qualifying for the major tournament. It means the Azzurri have missed the last three World Cups, last appearing in 2014, after they were beaten by Bosnia in a penalty shootout. The post-mortem has quickly began and coach Gennaro Gattuso stepped down after the disappointment. Mounting pressure has also seen the country's football federation president Gabriele Gravina resign whilst the legendary Gianluigi Buffon stepped down as the team's delegation chief. Napoli coach Antonio Conte and Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri are the current frontrunners for the vacancy, but Bonucci would love to see Italy go after Guardiola with his Manchester City future still unclear. He said: "If we want a radical change in the national team, I'd say the right man for the job is Pep Guardiola. It's very difficult, but dreaming costs nothing." Guardiola's contract in Manchester expires in June 2027 and he has previously been keen to coach a national team at a major tournament before he retires. This summer will mark a decade at the Etihad for the Catalan and he's been coy on his next move. The City boss could yet land another Premier League title whilst the possibility exists that he could deliver a second domestic treble in the space of seven years. He's undergone a rebuild which has left the squad in a strong position should he move on. Equally, success this term may tempt Guardiola to remain with the team still blossoming. Italy have endured a steep demise since they claimed the Euro 2020 title at Wembley, beating England on penalties. Bonucci scored that night but insists his country need to make major changes. He said: "We need to have the courage to face up to what's happening so that we can regain the respect of the whole world and become that great national team that was world champion. The important thing is to rebuild Italian football, starting from the ground up, starting with the defence. "Italy needs time and a partnership between politics and football so that both can move in the same direction. There are young players with a lot of talent; we need to nurture them and let them develop, and start afresh. The only magic formula is time."
21 April 2026
Europa League star stabbed as he undergoes surgery on life-threatening injuries
Danish football club Midtjylland have revealed that their 19-year-old star Alamara Djabi has undergone surgery for life-threatening injuries after being stabbed over the weekend. The incident took place at around 3:30am on Sunday in the Danish city of Herning, and Midtjylland have now given an update on Djabi's condition. A club statement read: "Alamara Djabi was seriously injured in a stabbing and is now in stable condition after two operations. "He has woken up from an induced coma and is doing well under the circumstances. "FC Midtjylland is in close dialogue and collaboration with the authorities and supports him and his family. "Out of respect for the police's ongoing investigation, including witness interviews and investigations, we have no further comments. "We ask for the public's understanding and call for respect for the privacy of Alamara Djabi and his loved ones in this difficult situation. "Alamara Djabi has not been selected for the first team for a long time and was not in the game for the upcoming matches. "Our thoughts are with our teammate, his family and friends, and we wish him continued recovery." Djabi, who is from Guinea-Bissau, has played one game this season for Midtjylland, when he featured in a Europa League qualifying play-off back in August. Midtjylland went on to finish third in the league phase table of the Europa League behind Lyon and Aston Villa. However, they were knocked out of the competition in the round of 16 after losing on penalties to Nottingham Forest. Forest are now through to the semi-finals, and will face fellow Premier League club Aston Villa for a place in the final. Meanwhile, Midtjylland are currently challenging for the Danish league title. They sit in second place in the Superliga Group A table, two points behind leaders AGF, after 27 matches.