Mary Earps receives her MBE as belated reward for 2023 World Cup heroics - with Lionesses goalkeeper all smiles at Windsor Castle despite swirling speculation over her Man Utd future

Earps was honoured by Prince William at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, as she received an MBE along with England legend Peter Shilton and film director Sir Ridley Scott. Earps played a key role as the Lionesses reached the World Cup final in 2023, having won the European Championships two years prior.

Earps has been with United since 2019, but her contract expires this summer and she has continually been linked with a move away from the club. Arsenal are reported to hold a serious interest in signing the stopper, but it remains to be seen if she will be presented with a contract offer she deems acceptable by either the Red Devils or the Gunners.

Earps has twice been voted the Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper, in 2022 and 2023, and also won the Golden Glove at the Women's World Cup. At club level, she has won trophies with Wolfsburg - the Frauen-Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal - but has never lifted silverware at United, coming closest when she was an FA Cup runner-up last season.

Earps will have the opportunity to win the first trophy of her United spell this Sunday, when they play Tottenham in the FA Cup final.