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The Forgotten Dead

BBC Radio Manchester explore the case of a woman whose partially mummified body was found in Bolton in 1982

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  1. 'An achievement I am extremely proud of'published at 11:47

    Phil FodenImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City's Phil Foden has said he is "extremely proud" after winning the Premier League player of the season award for 2023-24.

    The midfielder headed an eight-player shortlist including City team-mate Erling Haaland, Arsenal duo Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins.

    Foden has scored 17 goals and contributed eight assists in the league so far this season, with Pep Guardiola's side looking to wrap up their fourth straight title when they host West Ham on Sunday.

    "The Premier League is acknowledged as the greatest league in the world, and it is a pleasure to have been nominated with so many other great players who have all enjoyed special seasons for their clubs," said 23-year-old Foden.

    "Overall, I've been very happy with the way I have played this season and really pleased that I have been able to contribute with the goals and assists throughout the season.

    "To win this award is an achievement I am extremely proud of."

    City players have now claimed the accolade five years in a row, with Foden joining Ruben Dias, Haaland and two-time winner Kevin de Bruyne in winning the award.

  2. Who will win the title? Planet Premier League podcastpublished at 09:10

    Pep Guardiola and Mikel ArtetaImage source, Getty Images

    Former Manchester City and Arsenal defender Gael Clichy says both sides must "respect" their matches on the final day of the Premier League season, with the title still able to go to either side.

    City are ahead of the Gunners by two points before they play West Ham on Sunday, meaning Mikel Arteta's side must win against Everton to have any chance of being crowned champions.

    Clichy, who was a member of Arsenal's 'Invincibles', also won two Premier League titles with City and believes the Gunners will have a tougher test on the 2023-24 finale.

    "The bar is so high that you can't expect a team of Arsenal and City's calibre to go and drop points," he said, on the latest Planet Premier League podcast.

    "We are talking about the most competitive league in football and City are playing West Ham at home and they haven't got much to play for.

    "But there is history behind that. There is a history that you can fail if you don't perform and don't respect the game.

    "I would like to say it will be a little bit more difficult for Arsenal because Everton, with everything they have faced with the deduction and the performances they have done, what they have achieved is magnificent. They will want to go there and prove a point.

    "Those points are not a given to any of the teams, but the fact they have been playing so well, you cannot think they will be dropping points at this stage of the season."

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

  3. Gossip: United may have to up Fernandes wagespublished at 07:57

    Gossip graphic

    Manchester United may have to give midfielder Bruno Fernandes a pay rise from his current £230,000-a-week contract if they want to keep their captain. (Star), external

    United will turn down any offers that arrive this summer for Fernandes as they see the 29-year-old as untouchable. (Caught Offside), external

    The Old Trafford club are willing to pay £55m for 21-year-old English defender Jarrad Branthwaite, but Everton want £80m. (Givemesport), external

    Meanwhile, United have been offered the opportunity to appoint long-term target Massimiliano Allegri as manager after the Italian was sacked by Juventus. (Express), external

    Want more transfer stories? Read Saturday's full gossip column

  4. Man Utd field interest in striker Greenwoodpublished at 16:33 17 May

    Simon Stone
    Chief football news reporter

    Mason Greenwood in a Getafe shirtImage source, PA Media

    Manchester United have fielded interest from at home and abroad in striker Mason Greenwood, whose loan deal with Getafe expires in the summer.

    Getafe stepped in to sign Greenwood on deadline day last summer.

    It is not completely out of the question Greenwood returns to United next season. That is very much viewed as a third option though, with a sale to a European club thought most favourable. Serie A outfit Napoli are the latest club to be linked with Greenwood, while Getafe have said they would like him to return.

    As a home-grown player, any sale would be beneficial for United in Profit and Sustainability terms, whilst a second successive loan has not been ruled out.

    Greenwood's United contract is due to expire in 2025, although United have the option to extend that by a further season.

  5. Guardiola on critics and consecutive titlespublished at 13:37 17 May

    Simon Stone
    Chief football news reporter

    Pep Guardiola has spoken to the media before Manchester City's final game of the season against West Ham.

    Here are the main lines from his press conference:

    • On if his side will get the credit they deserve for a historic fourth consecutive league title: "I think so. In world football, for sure. Nothing is going to change whether we win four in a row or Arsenal win the Premier League. We know how good we have been."

    • On if people like his team, after an initial swear word he said: "I don't go knocking on doors asking what people think. We are in the best position. We need to win one game to be champions. Everyone would love to be in our position."

    • Comparing West Ham game to the Aston Villa match in 2022 when his side were 2-0 down with 14 minutes left: "I have the feeling it will be an Aston Villa game. We would love to be 3-0 up but it isn't going to happen. My first game (in the Premier League) was against Sunderland and David Moyes was there. Now, to win an important game he will be there. It is always an honour to see him. He will do everything to beat us and I'm ready for a tough, tough game."

    • Looking ahead to a must-win game: "Liverpool and Arsenal gave us that one moment to have the destiny in our hands. I've seen Arsenal all season. They (players) know it's win or Arsenal will be champions. It's not more complicated than that."

    • Speaking about the challenge of winning titles and the final game, he added: "We want to experience it again and we have to perform. You can't think 'we want to win it', you have to do something to [earn] it, you have to be resilient in the bad moments like what happened against Aston Villa [in 2022] and against Spurs in the last game."

    • On how often he thinks about the criticism he received in his first season: "Not now. I remember after 100 points (2017-18) when people said we couldn't win without tackles but not since. It is part of the process. We have to live these kind of situations to say we're going to prove it. It's necessary otherwise you are flat and comfortable and have a lot of compliments. Since then, not one second."

    • On the prospect of winning four consecutive titles: "My analysis of world football is if you arrive in the last stages with the chance to win you have been magnificent. We want to experience it again. I don't want to talk about anything else."

  6. Ten Hag enjoying 'luxury problem'published at 12:32 17 May

    Erik ten Hag applaudsImage source, PA Media

    Erik ten Hag says he is enjoying the "luxury problem" of having competition for places in his Manchester United squad, with the Premier League finale and an FA Cup final appearance looming.

    United have endured an injury-hit season and go into Sunday's final game at Brighton knowing they could register their lowest finishing position in the Premier League era.

    Captain Bruno Fernandes, centre-back Lisandro Martinez and striker Marcus Rashford all returned to action in Wednesday's home win over Newcastle, while midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and winger Amad Diallo have taken opportunities to impress when starting United's past two games.

    "It's internal competition and I think they perform well," said the United boss of Amrabat and Diallo. "I think the way they're progressing across the season is very good for both and now they deserve the chance, they took the chance and that's a luxury problem.

    "Which is good and that is actually what I need, what I was waiting for so long. Actually, I was waiting for a whole season, such a luxury problem and we need a squad to win both games."

    Referring to the 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace earlier this month, Ten Hag added: "There was only one very poor performance (recently), so all the others, there was always very good spirit.

    "I would almost say across the season, across all the problems we had - I don't think I have to sum them up again, but we have had them - but the spirit in the team, the fighting spirit, was always there. The dynamic was always there and I think we had also some good performances, even when the best players were not available.

    "But you know when all the best players are not available, and you have to change so many things, the patterns are not there, the new routines are not there.

    "Now, lately, the last two games, we are returning some players, players who progress very well came in the team and the performances, as you say, were good in the last two games."

  7. Rivals pay for not gaining groundpublished at 11:54 17 May

    Man City playersImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City fan Emily Brobyn spoke on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast about the final day of the Premier League season, highlighting the inability of other teams to make the most of her club's slip ups during the campaign.

    "I do look back to the point where we went on quite a poor run. We were missing Rodri and Arsenal beat us during that run, Wolves beat us and I look at that point when even then Arsenal and Liverpool didn't gain enough ground when we were in a poor run of form," she said.

    "We were fifth at one point so they had the opportunity then. It is during those runs which are really rare for Manchester City where these teams have to gain more of an advantage than they did.

    "Ultimately, should Arsenal have gone for the win when they came to the Etihad instead of playing for the draw? Potentially because that could be the difference overall."

    On the final day against West Ham, she added: "At the moment I feel calm. I don't take anything for granted. They're both kind fixtures for the final day of the season but Manchester City have this habit where it comes to final days in the Premier League where things don't run smoothly so I'm hoping that it will be drama free.

    "The last time we played West Ham on the final day of the season was 2014 and we beat them 2-0 and won the title that day so hoping I'm for more of that rather than the rollercoaster!"