Manchester United may be in the middle of an extended break from football, but that hasn’t stopped the steady flow of headlines. Due to the fixture schedule, Michael Carrick’s team won’t play again until April 13, a full 24 days after their previous match at Bournemouth.
A 2-2 draw on the south coast, coupled with outcomes elsewhere, ensures United maintain their third-place position in the Premier League table. They hold a slender one-point lead over fourth-placed Aston Villa but have a six-point buffer over Liverpool in fifth and a seven-point advantage over Chelsea.
Leeds will make the trip to Old Trafford following the international break, while United’s next match will see them travel to Stamford Bridge, with an opportunity to significantly bolster their top-four aspirations. However, they’ll be hoping their players emerge from the international break unharmed.
During the current pause in club football, several off-pitch issues – from transfer speculation to other news – have made the headlines. Here are Express Sport’s most recent updates.
Rooney’s season comes to an end
“Disappointed to be out for the rest of the season. Back stronger next pre-season,” he posted on Instagram Stories.
Rooney, son of former United legend Wayne, made his Old Trafford debut earlier this campaign in the FA Youth Cup. The youngster has featured six times in the league for the Under-18s, netting twice and providing one assist.
Lewis-Skelly earned his senior England cap last campaign after excelling at left-back, despite predominantly operating in midfield during his academy career. He registered 23 league appearances for Arsenal’s senior squad last season, many of them in the starting XI, but has accumulated just 312 minutes in the competition this campaign.
“Every season is different,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said about the youngster earlier this month. “He had very good moments in this season. He had other moments when he hasn’t played in that much.”
United are seeking a new left-back in the summer, while Lewis-Skelly’s youth and adaptability will undoubtedly be viewed as advantages. They recruited teenage full-back Diego Leon from Cerro Porteno in 2025 but the Paraguayan has rarely been involved with the Under-21 squad this year.