Marcus Rashford is close to signing a new five-year contract with Manchester United to keep him at Old Trafford until he is 30. The England international is yet to put pen to paper but a deal has been agreed after months of talks between the forward and United. Rashford, who only has a year left on his current contract, could otherwise have left on a free transfer in 2024 but manager Erik ten Hag has long been confident the Mancunian would commit his future to the club. The 25-year-old won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award after scoring a career-best total of 30 goals last season as he flourished under Ten Hag. He scored in United’s Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle and struck in nine consecutive games at Old Trafford, equalling a club record set by the Busby Babe Dennis Viollet. Rashford, who had scored just five times in a troubled 2021-22, struck twice on his debut as an 18-year-old in 2016 and has gone on to get 123 goals in 359 games for his only club. He is currently the 18th highest scorer in United’s history, three goals behind his former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and his new deal offers him the chance to join the four players who have found the net 200 times for them. Ten Hag is trying to buy a forward this summer to relieve the burden on Rashford, with Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund the likeliest candidate. Midfielder Mason Mount has already joined with goalkeeper Andre Onana set to become their second signing. Read More Manchester United on the brink of Andre Onana signing The stumbling block in Manchester United’s pursuit of Sofyan Amrabat Mason Mount echoes iconic Manchester United No 7 in energetic debut

Today on The Whiteboard — James Harden finally gets his trade and the Mavericks are trying something new with Luka Doncic.

The Olympic doping case involving teenage Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva will resume for two more days in November

Bo Schembechler's son, Shemy, served on Michigan's recruiting staff for three days before resigning after social media activity came to light.Vetting new hires may be standard practice, but college football teams this week are finding out there's a difference between "vetting...

For the first time in their history as Major League Soccer rivals, the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers played to a 0-0 draw in a match where scoring chances were limited and neither goalkeeper was tested

Though we're in the dog days of the NBA offseason, there are still plenty of rumors around the league, including a possible Celtics signing.We're into August, typically the quiet part of the NBA offseason. But with the FIBA World Cup taking place this summer, we do have some news and r...

Colorado State's Henry Blackburn sent Travis Hunter to the hospital last weekend, and now he's paying an unfair price.

After the ESPN layoffs in recent months, College GameDay has added a new member to the crew on Saturday mornings in college football season.In advance of their 37th season, ESPN’s College GameDay has announced a new addition to the on-camera crew at the desk: college football betting analy...

Conor McGregor has taken aim at Justin Gaethje for the second time in a week, after the American played down McGregor’s callout in the wake of UFC 291. Gaethje knocked out Dustin Poirier in the second round on Saturday, avenging a 2018 loss to his compatriot and winning the ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ title. McGregor was apparently unimpressed, however, tweeting after the lightweight fight: “Justin, I’ll slap you around. I KO him one shot. Guarantee it.” Gaethje, 34, dismissed the former dual-weight champion’s callout, referencing the fact that McGregor is currently absent from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) testing pool. Athletes must be in the pool for six months and return two negative results – and zero positives – in order to fight in the UFC. Although McGregor, 35, has never failed a drug test, Gaethje said: “I’m not going to fight someone on steroids [...] I don’t want to fight someone that’s cheating [...] I think he’s turned me down six times. And usually you have to lose to fight him, so don’t know what’s going on.” McGregor has now hit back, tweeting on Tuesday (1 August): “This guy is about as smart as two planks. “He is a one shotter for me. I snipe him dead in one single shot. And easily.” McGregor has not fought in two years, since suffering a broken leg in his second straight loss to Poirier. The Irishman is set to face Michael Chandler next, but no date, location or weight class has been announced for that bout, with McGregor’s absence from the Usada pool proving problematic. Meanwhile, Gaethje has won two fights in a row since suffering a submission loss to Charles Oliveira in May 2022. The American outpointed Rafael Fiziev in March before knocking out Poirier at UFC 291. Gaethje may yet challenge for the UFC lightweight title – for the third time – in his next fight. Champion Islam Makhachev is scheduled to defend the belt against ex-champion Oliveira in October. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Justin Gaethje reacts to Conor McGregor callout after knocking out Dustin Poirier Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier share wholesome backstage moment after UFC 291 KO Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz live stream: How to watch fight online and on TV this weekend

Erling Haaland shrugged off injury to score twice as holders Manchester City reached the Champions League last 16 with a comfortable 3-0 win over 10-man Young Boys. The prolific Norwegian took his tally for the season to 15 with a penalty and a long-range strike as City eased past the Swiss champions at the Etihad Stadium to secure their fourth successive Group G win. Phil Foden also got on the scoresheet as City, securing their place in the knockout stages for an 11th successive season, overran opponents who failed to muster a single shot and had Sandro Lauper sent off in the second half. Typically, it was Haaland who stole the show having overcome the ankle problem that forced him off against Bournemouth on Saturday. Pep Guardiola could have rested his attacking spearhead with Sunday’s trip to Chelsea in mind but resisted and was rewarded with a clinical performance. Six changes were made with Jeremy Doku, Rodri and Bernardo Silva among those dropped to the bench, but the returning Foden and Jack Grealish brought further firepower. City, without getting anywhere top gear, were far too strong for the lacklustre visitors and dictated the game at their will. Young Boys’ only spark came from their lively fans, who after making a colour-coordinated entrance in black or yellow depending on which tier they were seated, let off fireworks in the second half. City should have taken an early lead after Mateo Kovavic played in Grealish with a superb through-ball and his cut-back presented Rico Lewis with a gilt-edged chance. Lewis attempted to sidefoot the ball home but Loris Benito cleared off the line. Kovacic then linked well with Haaland, who was tripped on the edge of the area. Kyle Walker drilled the resulting free-kick at Anthony Racioppi and the keeper got up quickly to deny Foden on the rebound. The inevitable opener came on 23 minutes after Matheus Nunes was tripped just inside the area by Lauper who – having been booked moments earlier – escaped a second yellow card on this occasion. Haaland made no mistake as he sent Racioppi the wrong way from the spot. Haaland threatened to grab his second as he homed in on a Walker cross but a slight deflection off a defender wrong-footed him as he shaped to shoot. City doubled their lead just before the interval as Foden cut inside from a superb Grealish pass and brushed off a challenge from Ulisses Garcia to drill in from a tight angle. Haaland added the third early in the second half after a storming break from Lewis, lashing home powerfully on the turn after taking a touch just outside the area. Young Boys’ woes were compounded moments later when Lauper finally received his second booking following a bad challenge on substitute Nathan Ake. Haaland was withdrawn just after the hour and City professionally saw out the remainder of the game with Kovacic and substitute Kalvin Phillips having further chances. Read More Daizen Maeda sent off as sorry Celtic are hit for six by Atletico Madrid Eddie Howe knows Newcastle need two wins to keep Champions League hopes alive Jacob Neestrup: Parken atmosphere is 100 times more intense than Old Trafford FA asks Mikel Arteta and Arsenal for observations after referee comments Tragedy chanting causes ‘unbearable pain’ and must stop – Margaret Aspinall ‘Just ridiculous’ – A closer look at Glenn Maxwell’s remarkable double century

LeBron James did not take facing elimination lightly, leading the Lakers with a historic first half performance in Game 4 against the Nuggets.LeBron James has spent 20 seasons in the NBA trying to prove that he's the greatest of all time. Now 38 years old and facing elimination at the hands...

We've arrived in Week 12 of the NFL season and there are still a few QBs worthy of benching.