Man Utd latest, Rashford, transfer news, Premier League updates, WSL deadline day

Leicester City defender Conor Coady discussed his relationship with fellow England international Marcus Rashford on the Monday Night Club.

"It's hard to put my finger on it having known him and spent time in his company, obviously being with England and different things," Coady said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I've seen him in a different light. Sitting down and having a coffee with him, him being a top fella and speaking about Manchester United.

"So, seeing these things in the press, you look at it and you think, 'what is actually going on?' Something is happening, everybody can see it."

Last year Marcus Rashford scored 30 goals in a season for the first time in his career, he also signed a new long-term contract. But this season his form has been the polar opposite. He's scored four goals, but two of those have come in the last three games, so you could argue he's in the best form of the season.

But, he has been poor and he's also been reprimanded by Erik ten Hag for going out after a home defeat by Manchester City - Rashford apologised for that.

It does allude to the fact that not everything is happy with Rashford's relationship with Ten Hag and not everything is happy with Rashford. I suppose what would put all this talk to bed is if Rashford was on the pitch, scoring and creating goals, and Manchester United were winning football matches.

When you get incidents like we've had over the last week, it just fuels speculation for people that don't know what the relationship is like on a day-to-day basis between Rashford and Ten Hag, what his future is at Manchester United and what is going to get him back onto his top form. It just brings a focus that Manchester United and Rashford could do without.

Manchester United say forward Marcus Rashford "has taken responsibility for his actions" after reports he was seen in nightspots in Northern Ireland on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

The England international missed training at United on Friday after reporting ill and did not feature in Sunday's 4-2 FA Cup win over Newport.

A United statement read: "This has been dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now closed."

Boss Erik ten Hag said after Sunday's FA Cup win in Wales: "He reported ill. The rest is an internal matter and I will deal with that."

Rashford trained at Carrington that day and is available for selection against Wolves.

This is not the first time the 26-year-old has been in trouble with the club this season. He was dropped from the starting line-up for their Carabao Cup fourth-round defeat by Newcastle in November as a disciplinary measure.

On that occasion, Ten Hag was unhappy at him being seen out celebrating his birthday in one of Manchester's most exclusive nightspots just hours after being involved in an abject 3-0 defeat by Manchester City.

The frontman has only scored four goals for United this season after hitting a career-best 30 last term.

Erik ten Hag is due to give his pre-match news conference before Manchester United's game at Wolves on Thursday.

Ten Hag made it clear on Sunday he regarded the Marcus Rashford situation as an 'internal matter', which was re-emphasised in United's statement on the issue on Monday, when they said the England forward had 'taken responsibility for his actions'.

I doubt that will stop the United manager being asked about Rashford's behaviour and his relationship with the striker.

Football agent Tony Sharkey recalls the time Pep Guardiola almost signed for Manchester City as a player, but a drab game against West Bromwich Albion may have scuppered the deal.

Watch Pep Guardiola: Chasing Perfection on BBC iPlayer, and delve deeper with the Sporting Giants podcast on BBC Sounds.

It probably explains why he has remained at Manchester City for seven-and-a-half seasons but manager Pep Guardiola says winning keeps you energised.

Guardiola's future has come under renewed scrutiny in the wake of Jurgen Klopp's decision to quit Liverpool at the end of the season, partly because he is exhausted.

It will leave Pep as the longest-serving top-flight boss - and he has a contract that runs for another 18 months.

"Winning helps you to have more energy," he said. "When you are losing games you are more tired.

"We are still there, in three competitions and we won two. I see the team getting better and playingdifficult opponents like Newcastle or Spursaway. Seeing how the team behaved made me feel we are still together, weare on the same path. That gives you energy.

"You cannot switch it on oroff. You have to bring energy every day with what you live in your personallife and many things. That is what I am living now."

As well as more transfer updates, we'll bring you the best lines from today's Premier League news conferences.

There's four to come, beginning with Manchester United and followed by Bournemouth, Wolves and West Ham.

We mentioned earlier that Aberdeen's winless Scottish Premiership run extended to a third game in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Dundee.

Barry Robson's side were booed off yet the Dons boss said afterwards that "there is no panic from me". They would prove to be among his final words as manager.

Aberdeen sack Barry Robson with his side sitting eighth in the Scottish Premiership following Tuesday's 1-1 draw at home to Dundee.

I understand West Ham have had advanced discussions with Sweden midfielder Marika Bergman-Lundin.

She is due for a medical today. West Ham are hopeful of completing that signing before the WSL deadline at 23:00 GMT.

Ivory Coast's caretaker boss Emerse Fae says his side will not dwell on their win over Senegal and can lift the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

The Elephants were underdogs against the defending champions after two defeats in the group phase.

But the hosts, who only advanced to the last 16 because of other results, stunned the Teranga Lions on penalties and will face Mali on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals.

"We're definitely not going to get excited," said Fae. "We are going to savour the win and get back to work."

There's plenty going on behind the scenes at Women's Super League side West Ham, whose absolute priority is to bring in a forward.

It's understood they have a midfielder lined up for a medical today as well so are hopeful of completing at least one signing.

I believe they had been chasing Swedish striker Evelyn Ijeh but reports suggests she is close to joining AC Milan.

There's discussions over a potential loan move for one of their younger players too, with a view to gaining experience, but that's still in the early phases.

West Ham are not the only club looking for a striker, while Manchester United want a defender and Aston Villa are desperate for midfielders.

With Isak picking up an injury last night I think Newcastle desperately need to loan in a striker for the rest of the season, Wilson has injury issues of his own and we can't be without a striker when the next 4 or 5 games could salvage our season

Luke, Newcastle fan

Burnley spent close to £100m in the summer but have so far only added David Datro Fofana on loan from Chelsea in January.

Now French centre-back Maxime Esteve looks like being next through the door at Turf Moor with reports of a medical scheduled to take place today.

When asked about the 21-year-old on Tuesday, manager Vincent Kompany said: “All I can say is that he’s not our player at the moment.

“I think we’re past the point where I can deny there has been interest, right? But the point is he’s not our player."

Meanwhile, BBC Sport understands the Clarets have rejected a loan move from Lille for winger Anass Zaroury.

The Moroccan was one of the stars performers in Burnley's promotion last season but is understood to be frustrated at the lack of game time this season.

One player who looks like staying at the club is Manuel Benson - the Belgian was linked with a move to Championship this month, with Southampton and Hull both interested, but a deal did not materialise.

Friday, 2 February

• Nigeria v Angola (17:00)
• DR Congo v Guinea (20:00)

Saturday, 3 February

• Mali v Ivory Coast (17:00)
• Cape Verde v South Africa (20:00)

Mali booked a quarter-final meeting with hosts Ivory Coast by holding on to beat Burkina Faso at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

An own goal from Edmond Tapsoba gave the Eagles a third-minute lead and Mali had several chances to add to their advantage before half-time.

Lassine Sinayoko did make it 2-0 early in the second half with a finish through the legs of goalkeeper Herve Koffi, but Bertrand Traore pulled a goal back for the Stallions from the penalty spot just before the hour mark.

Issoufou Dayo thought he had equalised for the Burkinabe in the final minute, but his header from a free-kick was ruled out for offside and Mali saw out eight minutes of added time to reach the last eight for the first time since 2013.

Achraf Hakimi missed a late chance to equalise from the penalty spot as South Africa shocked 10-man Morocco to set up a quarter-final against Cape Verde at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Evidence Makgopa produced a neat finish to score the opener in the 57th minute and Hakimi was afforded a golden opportunity to level on 85 minutes.

Mothobi Mvala was adjudged to have handled Ayoub El Kaabi's shot but Hakimi, the Paris St-Germain full-back, could only to fire his spot-kick against the crossbar.

Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat was dismissed in stoppage time before Teboho Mokoena curled a classy free-kick past Bono to confirm the upset in style.

Morocco are Africa's top-ranked side having finished fourth at the 2022 World Cup, but will have to wait until they host the 2025 edition of Afcon to end their long wait for a second continental title, which stretches all the way back to 1976.

Now then, there were two more games in the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, meaning the round of 16 is now complete.

We'll bring you updates now along with highlights and the line-up for the quarter-finals, which will be played on Friday and Saturday after a couple of rest days in the Ivory Coast.