Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says the club want to keep skipper Bruno Fernandes after the Portuguese midfielder stated his desire to remain at Old Trafford.

United are known to be willing to listen to offers for all their first-team stars, with the exception of youngsters Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund as they look to raise funds for a squad rebuilding exercise.

Fernandes is on that list and has been linked with moves to Inter Milan and Bayern Munich in recent days, although it is felt it would take a sizeable offer to persuade United to part with their talisman.

In an on-pitch interview on Sky Sports after he had played a starring role in the false nine position in his side’s 3-2 Premier League win over Newcastle, Fernandes stated his commitment to the club.

“I will be here if the club wants me to be a part of the future,” he said. “If for some reason they don’t want me, I will go.”

Fernandes still has two years left on the extension he signed in 2022. That deal includes the potential to extend for a further season beyond that.

Told of his captain’s comments half an hour later, Ten Hag initially replied: “Absolutely the club wants to keep Bruno.”

Asked if the situation was so certain why Fernandes would cast doubt on his future, the Dutchman added: “I have to see the interview.”

Ten Hag continued: “Everything I know from him, he loves Manchester United, the fans of Manchester United and to play for Manchester United.”

Fernandes has scored 10 Premier League goals this season and claimed his eighth assist of the campaign when he set up Rasmus Hojlund for the home side’s third against Newcastle.

“He always gives his best and is an example to everyone, even with his injuries,” said Ten Hag.

“He loves football and he wants to win. That is how I would describe his character.

“It is not easy when so many players around him are injured and he has to carry the team. But he keeps to a good level and, especially in the spring, he grows to a brilliant level.”

World number one Scheffler also comes into this tournament on the back of two victories in his previous two tournaments – the Masters and RBC Heritage in April.

The American, 27, and McIlroy have rightly been touted as favourites to make it a hat-trick of wins.

But while Scheffler has had the welcome distraction of becoming a father for the first time to contend with, the news from McIlroy’s camp has been his impending divorce.

Scheffler was happy to field numerous questions from the media on his new role, but McIlroy requested not to be asked about his personal life in his news conference on Wednesday.

His wishes were respected aside from one general question asking how he was doing, with McIlroy simply replying: “I’m ready to play this week.”

In 2014, McIlroy won the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour just four days after calling off his engagement to Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.

In the following three months, he went on to win The Open, the WGC-Bridgestone Championship at Firestone and then the US PGA at Valhalla – his fourth and final major to date.

“Today was the first time I was on the golf course since 10 years ago, so it was good to refamiliarise myself with the place,” said McIlroy of his return to the Louisville course.

“It’s a little longer, a couple of minor changes but, for the most part, pretty much the same that I can remember.”

McIlroy is hoping the “confidence and momentum” he is bringing into this week will stand him in good stead.

“The game feels good coming off a fun [win] in New Orleans with Shane [Lowry], and then a really good performance last week [at Quail Hollow],” added McIlroy, who will start his opening round at 13:15 BST on Thursday.

“It’s all about confidence and momentum, and I have a lot of confidence and quite a bit of momentum coming into this week. It’s just about trying to keep that momentum going.”

His confidence is well placed after a scintillating final round to clinch last week’s Wells Fargo tournament for his fourth success at Quail Hollow.

McIlroy picked up eight shots in eight holes in a six-under-par 65 that saw him race clear of the field on the back nine and win by five strokes from Xander Schauffele.

“Some of the three-quarter shots, some of the wedge shots starting on the right line, some of the iron shots, combined with how good I feel with the driver, that gives me a lot of confidence,” he said.

Arsenal’s decision not to renew Vivianne Miedema’s contract is “absolutely shocking”, according to former Gunners forward Ellen White.

The club announced on Monday that the Netherlands international will leave at the end of the season after seven years.

The 27-year-old is the all-time top-scorer in the Women’s Super League with 79 goals and has scored 125 in total and provided 50 assists in 172 appearances for Arsenal.

“I think it’s an absolutely shocking decision by the club to be honest,” White told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Women’s Football Weekly.

“To not offer her a new contract, to not show her love and desire to keep her at the club, to not build a team around Vivianne Miedema.”

Miedema won the Women’s Super League title in 2018-19 and three Women’s League Cups during her time in north London.

She has also lifted the Golden Boot – the award for the most goals scored in a single season – twice.

“I just think it’s shocking that they haven’t shown her the love to want to keep her at the club,” added White.

“If she does want to go to someone else in the WSL, I hope she goes to that team and sticks two fingers up at Arsenal and scores a few goals and celebrates hard.

“She is 27. If she wants to continue to play she could play for a number of years and she still has records to break. It’s just outrageous.

“She is not going to be short of offers. I hope she has got loads of offers. Her being on a free you would hope she would then get the contract that she deserves.”