England

England manager Sarina Wiegman ended her press conference on Maya Le Tissier: "I think the competition in the back is high, Maya plays for us on the right or full back position.

"In centre back I choose people I think are ahead of her."

England

Wiegman added on consistency in the group: "We think those are the best players in England. We have seen them in our environment and they have done well. In the group on 28 there are some from the U23s, we want to see them in our environment and see if they can step up.

"It is always about performing at the highest level."

On the reserves like Jessica Naz and Kayla Rendell: "They do well in the U23s and at club too. We also look to see what position we need in the squad. I am not going into details in specific players. Jess Naz has stepped up at Tottenham, she has a lot of speed, I want to see how that slots into our environment."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester United had already decided they were not going to trigger the final year of Raphael Varane's contract, so today's news is not a surprise.

Varane was excellent last season. His partnership with Lisandro Martinez was the basis for United's third-place finish.

But the former France defender has not been able to reproduce that form this term, partly due to the lack of continuity in United's defence and partly due to his own injury issues.

It seems like the best move for all parties, with the wages saved at least offering some scope for bringing in new signings.

England

England manager Sarina Wiegman added on tiredness with fixture demands: "It has been a talking point, I always say we have to keep talking to each other. We have to listen to players first. It is a professional environment so we are competing but it is a balance."

On France: "I think it is a huge test. I think France have always played well. they are in a good place now too. It is a very physical team, lots of qualities and options We haven's played them since I came in. I am excited, it is a different opponent."

On Crystal Palace players, after being promoted into the WSL: "I didn't consider them. We are close to the U23s. I think you have to play in the WSL to step up to an international level. That step is huge, we keep an eye on those players. Some of their players are very talented."

England

England manager Sarina Wiegman on Aggie Beever-Jones' inclusion, her second senior call-up: "Aggie has had a very good improvement, she is doing really well. She is an open person. She wants to develop every single day on the pitch."

On who will be captain: "I have to discuss things with the players first. We were swapping around a bit. Leah is our captain but we will probably keep doing that."

On if players can go on holiday in the rest weeks: "I never tell, they are professional players they know what is right for them. I think it is good to have a proper rest. Yes they can go away, my preference would be to stay in Europe."

England

England manager Sarina Wiegman is facing the press after her squad announcement and was first asked on Millie Bright's return: "I am very happy, she is very happy. She has started paying again after a long period of injury. It is very good, she had two more games and then she will come into camp.

"It's a great boost, this is what she has been competing for. We all hoped she would be back earlier but she needed more time."

On training camps: "It was challenging, just like last year. We had good conversations with clubs, we all know players need rest but we know players need to train for July.

"Players will come in in stages."

On Rachel Daly's retirement: "Rachel and I had many conversations before she made the decision. I already miss her. She is such a nice person, a great personality. it is so much fun to work with her.

"It was very strange not having her in the squad. It is powerful she also said this is where it finishes for me now."

Image source, Getty Images

Raphael Varane will leave Manchester United when his contract expires at the end of the season, the club have confirmed.

The 31-year-old has spent three seasons at Old Trafford since joining from Real Madrid in 2021, making 93 appearance.

Former France international Varane was part of the United side that won the Carabao Cup in 2023.

England

We'll be hearing more from Sarina Wiegman shortly as she discusses the ins and outs of her latest England squad.

Millie Bright is back, Aggie Beever-Jones is called up but Nikita Parris is not. The England boss will be talking us through her decisions any moment now...

England

Image source, Getty Images

England manager Sarina Wiegman explained: "After an intense season, we wanted to give the players clarity and help them to prepare for the Fifa windows in the best possible way, with the balance of performance and welfare as a priority.

"We have had good conversations with the clubs, and we are grateful for their cooperation and support in helping the players to be fresh, fit and ready for two international matches on the highest level.

"Naming a player group of 28 provides us with different options across the four fixtures and is an opportunity for some new faces to impress and build new connections.

"We’re really excited to get going again. The group is finely balanced and we know that every game is going to be tight and we’ll need to be at our best. France are an opposition we haven’t yet faced together so I’m looking forward to that challenge of playing one of the best teams in the world."

England's Euro qualifying group stage concludes with fixtures against the Republic of Ireland in Norwich on Friday, 12 July, and a trip to Gothenburg to face Sweden on Tuesday, 16 July.

The squad for the final two group matches in July will also be formed from the group of 28 players named today.

A three-day training camp is planned at St George’s Park from 19-21 June, with players due to return for a further five-day camp between 24-28 June before a final camp in the Netherlands from 1-5 July.

The Lionesses face France in Newcastle on Friday, 31 May, before travelling to Saint-Etienne for the return fixture with Les Bleus on Tuesday, 4 June.

All 28 players will report to St George’s Park on Monday, 27 May.

England

Millie Bright is in the squad, while Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones is called up ahead of Manchester United's Nikita Parris. Here is the full list for the upcoming double-header against France...

Image source, The FA

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Wembley

Chelsea defender Millie Bright, who captained England to last summer’s World Cup final, has not been in Sarina Wiegman’s squads through injury since October.

But she has now recovered from the knee injury which caused her problems before the World Cup and has taken five months to sort out this season, so will she be back?

The squad is coming up...

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport

Millie Bright went from leading England in a World Cup final to missing over five months of the Women's Super League season with a knee injury.

Bright says it "hurts" she has missed most of manager Emma Hayes' final campaign at Chelsea, while her team-mates have suffered disappointment in the Women's Champions League and domestic cup competitions.

For Mental Health Awareness Week - which runs until 19 May - Bright has discussed how injury setbacks led to her questioning whether her "career was done".

"There's been ups and downs. Most people probably won't ever know about the downs. I should probably be a little bit more open about those," Bright told BBC Sport when asked about her mental health experiences.

"I don't want to accept that I've been injured and I've missed most of the last season under Emma. That's been really hard to take. I've not been able to contribute to the team when I can see they have been struggling.

"This season more than ever has been extremely difficult. I’ve had plenty of moments where I'm like: 'Eurgh, shall I just call the season and have a break and not try any more?'

"I've even thought: 'Is that my career done? Shall I just call it a day?'

"I've not really told anyone that to be honest. It's tough."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Liverpool fan Josh Sexton, from the Anfield Wrap, told BBC Radio 5 Live that it has finally hit home that Jurgen Klopp's time as Reds manager is almost over.

"I think it’s hit me a little bit sooner than I thought I would," he said. "We were actually talking about this in the office the other day about whether we’d find the final game emotional, in advance of it. I said I will do but right now I’m feeling fine, but last night [at Villa Park] seeing the scenes after the final whistle, that’s when it really starts to hit home that this is about to happen and this past nine year rollercoaster of your life is about to come to an end.

“I’m excited [for next season] but it comes with the sadness that Jurgen Klopp won't be the Liverpool manager anymore. You see last night in the lack of control that Liverpool have exhibited this season, you know it’s probably time for something fresh and new but it comes with that huge tinge of sadness.

"If Jurgen Klopp turned around tomorrow and said: ‘actually I want to stay’, I think the majority of Liverpool fans would say ‘yes, please do then’. But there is a bit of a thing of looking towards the future now and welcoming the changes to come.”

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport

We mentioned before about European permutations, here is a full rundown about the possible outcomes after the midweek Premier League programme:

Aston Villa be sure of fourth place if Tottenham fail to win against Manchester City tonight.

If Tottenham win then they will take their fight for Champions League qualification to the final day of the season.

Whatever their situation with Villa, Spurs can ensure a top-five finish (so Europa League at worst) if they avoid defeat against City on Tuesday.

If they lose to City, Spurs could still clinch fifth place before their final game if Newcastle AND Chelsea both fail to win on Wednesday.

Newcastle and Chelsea know that whatever they do on Wednesday, they cannot be absolutely sure of European football until the final round of fixtures. However, goal difference means that should Newcastle beat Manchester United, and Chelsea lose at Brighton, it would take a minimum 12-goal swing on the final day for the Magpies to be deprived of sixth place.

Arsenal women will use Emirates Stadium as their main home ground from the start of next season's Women's Super League.

The north London venue will stage eight WSL matches and three group games in the Women's Champions League if Arsenal reach that stage.

Should Arsenal progress to the knockout stages of the European competition, those matches would also be played at the Emirates, the club announced on Tuesday.

The WSL team's other matches, including domestic cup games, will be played at Meadow Park, which has been their longstanding home.

Read the full story here.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on shuffling his Newcastle squad as players return from injury: "I could change things around. It's nice to have those options. I need to look at those players individually, as all their injuries are different. If I didn’t it would be foolish of me. They are vital players, just their presence is important."

On Newcastle's quest for Europe: "It’s a massive fixture for both teams. It's coming to the end of a long season, we are desperate to do well in games and we are desperate to finish as high up as possible. We know the European competition is there but it can still be a long way away to get the result we want."

On returning to Old Trafford after winning 3-0 in the League Cup earlier in the season: "When you go back to stadium where you have already played, that previous match has no relevance."