Can the Manchester United Women’s team break into the top three?
After an impressive first season in Women's Super League Manchester United Women will be looking to push on and challenge for a Champions League position in just their third year as a newly reformed team.
The United team winning the Women’s Championship and securing promotion in their first season. Flickr / James Boyes
After an impressive first season in Women’s Super League, Manchester United Women will be looking to push on and challenge for a Champions League position in just their third year as a newly reformed team.
Last season, their first season in the WSL and their second season as a newly re-formed club, the Manchester United Women’s team managed to break into the top four, losing just five times in the league and winning half of their games.
There was still a clear gap between themselves and the elusive top three, however, as Casey Stoney’s team finished thirteen points behind Arsenal, with Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of them in second and first, respectively. The London team, who did not lose a game in the league, took the top spot ahead of City after the final league table was decided on a points-per-game basis due to the suspension of the season.
Arsenal, City and Chelsea have dominated the Women’s Super League in recent years, with the teams retaining the top three positions since 2015 and all three having won at least one title in that period.
To have a chance of improving on their fourth place finish, and grabbing one of the two Champions League spots, United will have to improve their results against the top three.
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Manchester United manager Casey Stoney. Wikimedia Commons / James Boyes
United lost all the games they managed to play against the League’s top three before the season was suspended, although they did beat local rivals Manchester City in the Continental Cup back in October.
The opening fixture of the 2020/21 season, however, saw United rescue a draw against reigning Champions Chelsea, with the game finishing 1-1.
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The game also saw an appearance from Pernille Harder, who signed for Chelsea this summer for a reported world record fee for a female player.
While United do not currently find themselves in the position to attract the same calibre of player as Chelsea and other successful teams––Stoney herself says that she and the club are committed to building the team at their own pace––they have made six signings this month in an attempt to push on in their development.
The summer singings include English internationals Lucy Staniforth and Alessia Russo.
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The club will also be joined by the experienced and two-time World Cup winners Tobin Heath and Christen Press, who won managed to get their hands on the trophy with the United States back in 2015 and 2019.
Heath will bring the more experience to the Manchester team, having won 168 caps for her country and two National Women’s Soccer League titles with the Portland Thorns. She was also shortlisted for the Women’s Ballon D’or in 2019.
Press, however, has previously played in Europe and managed to reach the Champions League Final with Swedish team Tyresö FF back in 2014.
The two Americans are not the only additions to the WSL from across the Atlantic, as this summer also saw World Cup winners Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle join Manchester City and, what is likely to be the most high profile deal in the history of the WSL, World Cup Winner and US co-captain Alex Morgan sign for Tottenham on loan.
This summer has shown England to be an attractive location for some of the best and most high-profile talent in women’s football, but it remains to be seen if the fledging Manchester United can keep up with those around them and pose a challenge to the veterans of the league who stand ahead of them.
After a convincing 5-2 win against Birmingham in their second game of the season, next up for United is Brighton on the 4th of October.
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Jadon Sancho looks set to leave Manchester United for good – and he could be heading back ‘home’
Danny Jones
Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho looks all set to leave the club permanently this summer, and as per the latest reports, his next destination could be back at one of his previous ones: Borussia Dortmund.
Having become somewhat of a forgotten man after being loaned out to three different places since being effectively exiled from the first team under Erik ten Hag’s tenure, Jadon Sancho’s career hasn’t exactly progressed as many thought it would.
Enjoying loan spells not only back at Dortmund for the latter half of the 2023/24 season and even playing in a Champions League final, before then being loaned to Chelsea – winning the UEFA Conference League trophy – and then spending this campaign with Aston Villa, he’s been all over, even at 25.
Given his Southern roots prior to eventually coming through Man City’s youth academy, it was thought that he might stay down in London at one point; however, it now seems increasingly possible that he could return to Germany, where his breakthrough began.
Borussia Dortmund are interested in re-signing Jadon Sancho.
Sancho, who is currently on-loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, will be out of contract in June, having moved to Old Trafford from Dortmund for €85million (£73m; $97.9m at current rates) in July 2021.… pic.twitter.com/TKjirKUW2W
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) March 19, 2026
While Man United do technically have the option to extend his stay, and the England international hasn’t experienced life under Michael Carrick, the feeling is that it is unlikely this will be the outcome.
It seems especially improbable given that it still remains to be seen who the permanent manager at the Theatre of Dream will be, as there is no guarantee he would form part of their plans moving forward.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has since corroborated the already ‘tier one’ outlet, clarifying that the decision for Sancho to leave United was made “months ago” and adding that the Bundesliga side is “keen” if all the personal terms can be ironed out.
Despite not having played for the red half of Manchester since 16 August 2023, there are some among the fan base who would like to see a universe where he gets a second chance at Old Trafford – then again, there are also plenty in the Midlands who would like to see him stay in Birmingham, too.
Steadily regaining some form, he also grabbed a key assist in the Villains’ recent 2-0 win over West Ham.
As always with marquee signings, even if things haven’t quite worked out, part of the obstacle will obviously be finding a suitor willing to pay his wages and/or the talent’s willingness to maybe take a pay cut, with Sancho said to be on one of the highest salaries not just at MUFC but in the English top flight.
Either way, he is currently due to leave as a free agent this coming summer transfer window, and the chances are he won’t staying on their books much longer.
Meanwhile, in transfer news in and around Greater Manchester, one fellow Premier League star has not only been heavily linked with a move to swap one United for another, but apparently he’s been ‘personally recommended’ as a potential successor by one current player.
An official and completely FREE Manchester Marathon fan zone is returning for 2026
Danny Jones
Yes, last year’s newest and official Manchester Marathon fan zone is returning for 2026, promising more positive pre- and post-race vibes than the first time around.
Here’s hoping for some lovely sunshine to go along with the atmosphere on 19 April.
Set to host the city centre’s runners and spectators for just the second time, Circle Square’s Symphony Park will be home to the 2026 Manc Marathon fan park, complete with independent pop-ups, big screens to watch all the action on, plus plenty more.
Best of all, it’s completely free to enter all day long for participants and those of you cheering your loved ones along, as well as being an ideal all-ages spot for families to relax and enjoy.
Located just moments from the finish line, just outside the University of Manchester along Oxford Road Corridor, you simply follow it down towards the tall Vita Group and Bruntwood SciTech buildings.
Circle Square itself hosts many events and activities all throughout the year, and they couldn’t resist getting back in on the raceday party once again, as more legends are set to take part than ever.
For context, 2025 saw more than 35,000 sign-ups, but this April is expected to see a whopping sold-out crowd exceeding 42,000 – a record number for the annual event.
With that in mind, finding a place to fit all of them and the countless fans who come along to cheer them on from the sidelines is paramount, so it’s a good job the Symphony Park x MCR Marathon fan zone will be open from 9am on the day.
Here are some more scenes from the last edition:
Credit: Jody Hartley (supplied)
Although more are set to be revealed nearer the time, visitors can expect “a lively schedule of entertainment, food and drink pop-ups, family-friendly activities and special offers from our community of independent businesses and brands.”
Set to close around 5pm as the hordes of runners will doubt either head home for a long bath, leg rub or straight to the pub for their victory pints, we can assure you lots of time will be spent on the square.
Kate Jackson -
14th September 2020 
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