Svoboda | Graniru | BBC Russia | Golosameriki | Facebook

Manchester

Local elections 2024
Local elections 2024

Greater Manchester mayoral election: Who is standing, who can vote and when is it?

The next mayor of Greater Manchester will be elected in spring 2024 by voters across the region.

Watch & Listen

Latest Updates

  1. Back to school for United debutant Wheatleypublished at 08:20

    Simon Stone
    Chief football news reporter

    Ethan WheatleyImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester United history maker Ethan Wheatley celebrated becoming the 250th Academy graduate to make his first-team debut for the Old Trafford club by going to school.

    The 18-year-old striker was an injury-time replacement for Rasmus Hojlund in Wednesday's 4-2 win over Sheffield United.

    It capped a remarkable week for Stockport-born Wheatley, who was on the bench for the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry at the weekend and then played a key role in United Under-18s Premier League Cup final win against Manchester City on Tuesday.

    But it didn’t excuse him his studies as he aims to get an Extended Diploma in Marketing.

    “He has been at school this morning,” said United’s head of academy, Nick Cox.

    “When you are a youth team player, you are still of scholarship age and duty bound to continue with your education. He is in the upper sixth, so he has to stay at the school until the end of the year.

    “He has been pestering us to come into school and get the education finished. He has never told me this but I would suspect one motive is that it would feel pretty good walking into school having just made your Manchester United debut. I don’t blame him for that.”

    An England Under-17 international, Wheatley showed no fear during his brief time on the pitch at Old Trafford and is likely to keep his place in Erik ten Hag’s squad for Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Burnley.

    It is a far cry from a trip to the Czech Republic as an 11-year-old recalled in a conversation between Cox and Neil Gittens, United’s head of player development for youngsters between the ages of nine and 12, in the wake of Wheatley’s senior bow.

    “Neil and I took Ethan on a tour to the Czech Republic,” said Cox. “We were recalling how nervous and tearful he was about being away from home.

    “He was a little bit overawed by the whole experience. We had to encourage him and coax him to play games. We were basically bribing him with chocolate pancakes. That feels like yesterday.”

  2. Man Utd v Burnley: Pick of the statspublished at 08:18

    Here is a selection of the key facts and figures before Manchester United host Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.

    • Manchester United have lost just one of their past 16 Premier League games against Burnley and have scored three goals in all four of their home wins over the Clarets in the competition.

    • The Reds Devils have never lost a Premier League home game against the previous season's second-tier champions - winning 24 and drawing seven of those 31 matches.

    • Burnley have not kept a clean sheet in any of their past 16 league matches, while their 69 goals conceded this term is their second most in a campaign in the competition after 2009-10 (82).

    • United have lost four league games in Saturday 15:00 kick-offs this season, as many as they had in the previous seven campaigns combined. In fact, they have never lost five games in this traditional kick-off slot in a Premier League season.

    • As a player, Burnley boss Vincent Kompany won five of his nine Premier League away games against Manchester United (56%). He could become the third person to beat United at Old Trafford as both a player and a manager in the Premier League, after Steve Clarke and Mark Hughes.

    Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Man Utd v Burnley at 15:00 BST on Saturday

    Listen on BBC Sounds
  3. 'How do you make multi-millionaires run?'published at 08:17

     Pep Guardiola watches onImage source, Getty Images

    Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp discussing Manchester City's 4-0 win at Brighton on Sky Sports: "Why I admire Manchester City so much is what Pep has created with his team, which is one of the hardest things in the world.

    "How do you make multi-millionaires run, and run hard when you haven't got the ball?

    "It's not just all about playing out from the back and that side of the game. That's why I love Man City. It's relentless.

    "Manchester City are so hard to press. Not only do they outnumber you but they also have the goalkeeper who can hit passes like that [to Kyle Walker in the build-up to the fourth goal].

    "Ederson makes you press-resistant. When you have got that asset, when you are under pressure, that is like Kevin de Bruyne."

    Former Manchester City and Arsenal defender Gael Clichy on Sky Sports added: "You work so hard to achieve and they made history last year. But if City can get that fourth trophy in a row, it will take them somewhere else.

    "But also I think Arsenal deserve it, with young players and the goals they score. They would be a perfect champion."

  4. Gossip: Olise keen on summer movepublished at 08:05

    Gossip banner

    Crystal Palace's 22-year-old French winger Michael Olise would be open to a summer transfer to Manchester United. (90min), external

    Manchester United are confident a bid of between £60-70m will be enough to sign 21-year-old English defender Jarrad Branthwaite before 30 June, allowing Everton to include the fee in their 2023-24 accounts and avoid any further points deductions. (Football Insider), external

    Meanwhile, Manchester United could look to sign 22-year-old Spanish left-back Miguel Gutierrez from Girona, but they face competition from Arsenal and West Ham United. (GiveMeSport), external

    Manchester United will also target a new centre-back, central midfielder and striker in the summer transfer window, with 28-year-old forward Anthony Martial among the players no longer part of the club's plans. (Football Insider), external

    Ajax are interested in appointing former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter, who is also on Manchester United's list of potential replacements for Erik ten Hag. (Guardian), external

    Manchester United, Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich are all interested in 25-year-old Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

    Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been contacted by Canada about leading the national team into the 2026 World Cup. (Standard), external

    Meanwhile, Crystal Palace's Dougie Freedman is on Manchester United's shortlist to become their new sporting director. The former Scotland striker is also a target for Newcastle United. (Mail), external

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

  5. 'We were frightening going forward'published at 22:33 25 April

    Manchester City's Phil Foden celebratesImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden speaking to Sky Sports after his two goals against Brighton: "There are a challenging team. They like to go man-to-man. I think with Kev's first goal and a bit lucky with my first one, we grew into the game. I think we were frightened going forward.

    "I have always said that I see myself centrally. This year I have moved inside and it has helped me massively. I enjoy it in the middle. It's where I want to be. At the moment, I am just enjoying my football and playing with freedom."

    On playing with Kevin de Bruyne: "I think when he is at it, he is the best player in the Premier League. It is nice that I am playing inside with him and hopefully we can do it more.

    "We just want to win game-by-game and push for the title. We don't get ahead of ourselves. Now the next game is coming quickly. Try to recover and we go again."

  6. 'We have to win every game'published at 22:29 25 April

    Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, applauds the fansImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to BBC Match of the Day: "I give a lot of credit because I know the opposition we face. Brighton have been struggling with a lot of absences this season. And even so they still play with courage and never give up, they will continue to do it.

    "But it is a good result for us, really good. We scored four goals, that's the key. We spoke as a team that if we did not have the ball we would suffer. The players, they did it very well.

    "I said before, what we have done in the past, it does not mean we will do it in the future. There are five games left, we know the margins are so tight. We have to win every one. Each game we are closer."

    On Kevin de Bruyne's opener: "It was a great header. He's more than welcome if he wants to try it again."

    Is the title now just between Manchester City and Arsenal? "It is not. What happened to Liverpool, two defeats in a row, it can happen to Arsenal, it can happen to us. What is important is that still we are there. There is a lot of games to play."

  7. 'Foden has gone up a level'published at 22:26 25 April

    Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrate with Phil FodenImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City goalscorer Kevin de Bruyne speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a good game. I think we played really good in the first half and every game is a lot of pressure. All we can do is prepare as we did today and win the game that is in front of us."

    On his header: "It doesn't happen too much. Kyle [Walker] gave a good cross and I think the only way I could reach it is by jumping to it. I will take it but it's not something I am good at!"

    On Phil Foden: "I think he will end up centrally. I saw Phil from the beginning and I think it takes a while to get used to a Pep team.

    "I think now he is trusted to play centrally and Phil does what he does for six or seven years already. He has been doing this for years, has helped us win titles and he has gone up another level."

    On the title race: "I trust my team. All respect to Liverpool and Arsenal, they are amazing. Arsenal are doing what they need to do and we are also needing to do it. Work hard and be humble enough to keep pushing."

  8. Brighton 0-4 Manchester City: Key statspublished at 22:09 25 April

    • Manchester City are now unbeaten in 30 games in all competitions (W24 D6), making them the third English top-flight side to go 30+ matches without defeat, after Nottingham Forest (40 in 1978) and Manchester United (twice - 34 in 1993-94 & 33 in 1998-99).

    • Phil Foden scored his 50th (and 51st) Premier League goal, becoming only the third player to score 50 top-flight goals under manager Pep Guardiola while aged 23 or younger - after Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.

    • Brighton have won just six of their last 27 Premier League games (D11 L10) – since the start of this spell in September - only Burnley (5), Nottingham Forest (5), and Sheffield United (3) have won fewer.

    • Brighton have lost back-to-back Premier League home games, as many as their previous 22 at the Amex Stadium beforehand (W12 D8 L2). The Seagulls have lost successive league home games while also failing to score each time for the first time since a run of four from February-March 2022.

    • Kevin De Bruyne's opener for Manchester City was his 68th goal in 255 Premier League appearances – but the very first time he scored a header in the competition.

    • In his 390th Premier League appearance, Manchester City’s Kyle Walker provided two assists in the same game for the first time in the competition.

  9. Full-time: Brighton 0-4 Man Citypublished at 22:00 25 April

    Have your say

    Manchester City moved to within one point of Premier League leaders Arsenal by thrashing Brighton 4-0 at Amex Stadium.

    The visitors took the lead through Kevin de Bruyne's excellent diving header in the 17th minute.

    Phil Foden scored a second from a free-kick before doubling his tally, capitalising on defensive errors to give City a 3-0 half-time lead.

    Julian Alvarez completed City's scoring midway through the second half after fine work from full-back Kyle Walker.

    The result means City leapfrog Liverpool to go second in the league table, having played one game fewer than the Reds and leaders Arsenal.

    Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

    Brighton fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

    How did you rate the side's performance, Manchester City fans?

    Follow all of the reaction here

  10. 'Walker always going to be tough' - Gordonpublished at 17:37 25 April

    Kyle Walker and Anthony Gordon

    In an interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, external, Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon singled out Kyle Walker as one of the toughest defenders he has faced.

    "I do not dread coming up against any defenders, but Kyle Walker is one I know is going to be tough because I know it is going to be a hard game," said Gordon.

    "I look forward to challenges like that as it is normally when I perform to my best."

    Gordon scored against Manchester City at St James' Park in January with Newcastle facing Pep Guardiola's side four times this season.

    He gave an insight into how he tries to raise his game to face such an intimidating opponent.

    "I would look at the mental side to beat someone like Walker psychologically," he said. So, I would cover his runs and let him know he is in for a hard game. You have to just figure out different ways to beat players like him, like catching them in transition because he plays so high.

    "The total distance I cover every game is around 11km, but high speed running will be around 1,600 to 1,700m every game. Against Walker, it was 1,800m! We went man for man against City so we were man-marking each other and me and him were just racing down the line the entire game."