Papers: Sir Jim Ratcliffe hesitant to give Carrick permanent Man Utd job
Friday's top stories include: Man Utd are to be patient on deciding whether Michael Carrick should be handed the permanent role at Old Trafford despite closing in on Champions League football. Aston Villa monitor Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford.
'It's a pleasure to be in this project' | Le Bris eyeing long stay at Sunderland
Le Bris: Rumours about my Sunderland future are not a problem
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris says rumours around his job security at the Stadium of Light are "not a problem".
Reports on Wednesday suggested the Frenchman's role at the club was under threat if the Black Cats didn't secure a European finish.
Le Bris has steered the newly promoted side to Premier League safety with games to spare and after a stellar return to the top flight, Sunderland are four points behind seventh-placed Bournemouth.
Your Site News understand Le Bris' job is safe regardless of where they finish in the Premier League this season.
Asked about the rumours during his press conference on Thursday, Le Bris said:
My position is always on the table, whether it's positive or negative and it's not a problem for me.
"Here we are in a really good position and really well aligned. We wanted to be in the Premier League at the end of the season, which is done. We wanted to create consistency and a top 10 position and we are on the way.
"I hope we have the ability to do it together. Everyone can give an opinion about my job or your job. I'm not against rumours or gossip and I'm just focused on my job, it's not a problem.
"My focus is absolutely on taking Sunderland forward, this season and next. It's clear."
Carrick: I don't know when I'll get clarity about the Man Utd job
Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick asked if he knows when he'll get clarity on the job at Old Trafford:
"I'm not sure, to be honest, and it's not something in terms of deadlines that I'm really chasing.
"I think it'll become clear when it's going to become clear, and I'm here at the moment to help the team and help the club get results.
"And at the moment, we're doing all right. We can still keep pushing and getting better. So really, that's genuinely all I'm focused on"
'Man City considering Enzo as a summer target'
Man City are considering Enzo Fernandez as a summer target, according to The Athletic.
The interest is said to be at a very early stage, with the club also considering other midfield targets, including Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson.
Bernardo Silva is leaving Man City this summer, while Rodri is yet to sign a new deal that expires at the end of June 2027 with midfield options set to shift.
Fernandez was recently given a club suspension of two games by now-departed Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior after he cast doubt on his future in an interview with ESPN.
In another interview while on recent international duty with Argentina, he said he would "like to live in Spain" amid links with Real Madrid, saying the capital reminded him of Buenos Aires.
King reassures fans: Lampard not returning to Chelsea
Coventry's chairman Doug King has reassured fans that they should not worry about Frank Lampard returning to his former club.
Lampard has guided Coventry back to the Premier League and sealed the title with a 5-1 win over Portsmouth on Tuesday night.
King told BBC CWR: "He's done a fantastic job, it's been an incredible 18 months for us and for him. I am sure he's in reflective mode. I said to him 'do not underestimate how difficult what you've just achieved is to do'.
"He's done huge things in his playing career but to get out of this league as champions without a parachute payment, from where we've come from, is a huge achievement nobody can take away from him.
"Everybody is going to get linked with everything, it's a merry-go-round. It's a bit disappointing clubs are appointing three or four managers a season.
"We don't want to be in those positions, that means something has gone a little bit astray. You can see how emotionally connected [Lampard] is with the city, you can see what it meant to him to get promotion and then the title and I think he's found a happy place at the moment.
"It doesn't mean there's not going to be some staggering bid for him in the summer and he'll have to make his choices, because he's shown his credentials as a high quality head coach, but I'm not going to comment on that, I can't control it.
"I just think he's happy, I'm happy, everybody's happy, we've just got smiles on our faces and we don't worry about what may or may not happen for the head coach."
On Wednesday, Chelsea sacked Liam Rosenior.
Your Site Championship Predictions
Simeon Gholam and Gary Weaver take a look ahead at Gameweek 45 of the Sky Bet Championship season on the Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast.
Arsenal increasingly confident of major summer signings
Latest from Your Site News' Anton Toloui:
Arsenal are increasingly confident of making major signings to bolster their squad this summer.
The clubs been in discussions with Ona Batlle and Georgia Stanway for some time as both head towards their end of their contracts.
The pair are expected to join on free transfers as part of some major changes to the team. Batlle spent three seasons at Manchester United and was part of the Spain squad that won the World Cup in 2023.
She also played a key role as Spain reached the Euro 2025 final - where they lost to England on penalties - and helped Barca claim the Women's Champions League in 2024.
Stanway's contract at Bayern Munich expires at the end of the season after four years in Germany.
Earlier this week, Arsenal announced a two-year contract extension for striker Stina Blackstenius.
Man Utd monitoring Tchouameni's Real Madrid situation
Latest from Your Site News' Dan Khan:
Manchester United are monitoring Aurelien Tchouamenis situation at Real Madrid as they weigh-up which central midfielders to sign this summer.
The 26-year-old is one of several players the club are looking at in this position, which is their number-one priority to strengthen ahead of next season.
Your Site News has already reported that the likes of Nottingham Forests Elliot Anderson and Brightons Carlos Baleba are two targets high on Uniteds shortlist.
And Tchouameni has emerged as another player with admirers at Old Trafford, as they continue to work on a replacement for Casemiro to partner Kobbie Mainoo.
Any potential move for France international Tchouameni would depend on what Real Madrid do themselves in the upcoming window, however.
Real may look to make a new addition in midfield, with president Florentino Perez a big-admirer of several players including Manchester Citys Rodri.
As Your Site News reported in March, City do not want to sell their Spanish midfielder this summer as he approaches the final year of his contract, and they are talking to him about fresh terms.
United will continue to monitor different midfield options in the Premier League and beyond and Your Site News revealed in January that they may look to sign two new midfielders, with Manuel Ugartes future at the club also uncertain.
Your Site News then reported that Wolves Andre Gomes, Crystal Palaces Adam Wharton and Lilles Ayoub Bouaddi were also among the names on Uniteds list.
Mainoo is close to agreeing a new contract at United, meanwhile.
