Albion re-sign Townsend after Ipswich exit

West Bromwich Albion have re-signed defender Conor Townsend on a one-year deal following his exit from Ipswich Town.

The 33-year-old left The Hawthorns to join Ipswich in August 2024 after six years with the Baggies.

But injuries limited him to 10 appearances for the Tractor Boys, with his most recent competitive game a Premier League match at Chelsea in April 2025.

Townsend sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury last summer, leading to him missing the entire 2025-26 campaign.

But after passing a medical with the Championship club, the left-sided player has agreed a deal to return to The Hawthorns.

Townsend made 213 appearances during six years in his first spell with Albion, which included promotion to the Premier League in 2020.

The Baggies are understood to be working on other deals as they remain light in certain positions, particularly in the wide areas following the departures of former skipper Jed Wallace and Karlan Grant, who returned to his former club Charlton earlier this week.

It is a surprise return in many ways, but it is a deal that makes a lot of sense.

Aged 33 and having made just 10 appearances in the two years since he left The Hawthorns, Townsend is not about to displace Callum Styles at left-back.

Despite a disappointing 2025-26 campaign for the team, the Hungary international was undoubtedly Albion’s player of the year and rightly received that award from his team-mates and the fans.

The 26-year-old also featured in all but one of the Baggies’ games in the Championship last season.

Townsend’s spell at Ipswich was marred by unfortunate injuries, but his game time at Portman Road was also limited by his role as back-up to Leif Davis.

Having made more than 200 appearances for Albion during his previous six-year stay, he adds some vital Championship experience to the squad both on and off the field. Having worked with him previously, head coach James Morrison knows he will not rock the boat.

It is a shrewd capture as it does not break the bank and Albion know exactly what type of player and, more importantly, what type of character they are getting.

By all accounts, he is a top professional and was vice-captain to Wallace before he left in 2024. His presence is likely to be felt more off the field than on it in the upcoming campaign, but Albion know he will do a reliable job when called upon.

Chelsea agree deal to sign Palace defender Lacroix

Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix is set to join Chelsea on a long-term contract after the clubs reached agreement on a deal for the player.

BBC Sport reported on Tuesday that both clubs had held positive talks over a move for the France international, with Palace seeking about £60m for the centre-back.

An agreement has now been reached between the two clubs, with personal terms not believed to be an issue.

Lacroix is expected to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours before signing a long-term contract, understood to run until 2032.

The agreement between the two London clubs has been negotiated at ownership level.

The 26-year-old was a regular under Oliver Glasner last season, making 55 appearances in all competitions as Palace won the Uefa Conference League, the club’s first major European trophy.

He also featured in Palace’s Community Shield victory over Liverpool and helped the Eagles secure another strong Premier League campaign.

Lacroix’s performances earned him a place in France’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. He made three appearances during the tournament, including starts against Norway and England in the third-place play-off, as Les Bleus finished fourth.

Palace signed Lacroix from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in August 2024 for an initial fee of £15.5m, with a further £2.6m in potential add-ons.

He has gone on to establish himself as one of the Premier League’s most consistent central defenders.

Chelsea have targeted Lacroix after two impressive seasons in English football.

During the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, he was the only player to record at least 50 tackles (60), 200 duels won (204) and 250 clearances (252).

At 6ft 4in, Lacroix combines aerial strength with exceptional recovery pace. Since arriving from Wolfsburg in 2024, he has ranked among the five fastest centre-backs in the Premier League, recording a top speed of 35.81km/h (22.3mph).

That athleticism is reflected in his defensive numbers. Across the past two Premier League seasons, Lacroix recorded the best success rate in one-on-one defensive situations among players to face at least 50 such duels, winning possession 50.5% of the time.

Lacroix is also tactically versatile. Comfortable in both a back four and a back three, he spent two seasons playing in Oliver Glasner’s three-man defence at Crystal Palace but has also shown he can operate effectively in a more conventional back four.

That adaptability offers Chelsea additional options, with head coach Xabi Alonso having used both systems during his coaching career.

Kane set for talks with Bayern Munich over new deal

Harry Kane is set to open formal talks with Bayern Munich over a new contract with the German champions.

England captain Kane’s current deal expires at the end of the coming season, but Bayern are keen to extend the striker’s stay.

It is understood the 32-year-old is aware of the Bundesliga club’s intention to offer him a new contract, with discussions expected to progress in the coming weeks.

Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham in 2023 in a deal worth a reported £86m.

The striker has enjoyed great success in Munich, helping the club win two Bundesliga titles and the German Cup.

Kane, who scored six goals for England at the recent World Cup, has scored 146 goals in 134 appearances for Bayern since his arrival.

Despite Bayern’s desire to tie him down to a new deal, Kane continues to attract interest from clubs across Europe and beyond.

Barcelona have a long-standing interest in the England captain, while clubs in Saudi Arabia have also been linked with the centre-forward.

Scottish sides in Europe postpone league matches

All five Scottish teams in European competitions have opted to postpone their Premiership matches scheduled for Saturday, 22 August.

The qualifying play-offs for the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League will take place across two legs, either side of the weekend affected.

Celtic and Rangers are both guaranteed to reach that stage in Europe, although the latter do not yet know which competition they will be in.

Previously, postponements had to be agreed by both clubs, but since April 2025, a team playing in Europe has been able to unilaterally delay a game.

Premiership winners Celtic do not yet know their opposition for this year’s Champions League play-offs, at which stage they were beaten by Kazakh side Kairat Almaty last season.

Hearts are 4-0 behind on aggregate in their Champions League second round qualifying tie against Sturm Graz and are likely to drop into the third round of Europa League qualifying, where Rangers have already been drawn against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok.

The only way Hearts will avoid a play-off is if they beat Sturm Graz on aggregate and then lose in the third round of Champions League qualifying. In that case, they would directly enter the Europa League league phase.

Motherwell and Hibernian are in the middle of their Conference League second round qualifying ties and their league matches will only be postponed should they reach the play-offs.

Motherwell are 2-0 up on aggregate against Faroese side HB, while Hibs lost the first leg by the same scoreline against Kosovan outfit Malisheva.

Rearranged games will be played in midweek - on either 8/9 or 15/16 September.

All matches Saturday, 22 August:

Dundee United v Dundee - will take place as scheduled.

Falkirk v Heart of Midlothian - will be postponed if Hearts are involved in a play-off.

Hibernian v Kilmarnock - will be postponed if Hibs are involved in the Conference League play-offs.

Motherwell v Aberdeen - will be postponed if Motherwell are involved in the Conference League play-offs.

Rangers P-P St Mirren - match postponed as Rangers will be involved in the play-offs of the Europa League, or the Conference League.

St Johnstone P-P Celtic - match postponed as Celtic are involved in the Champions League play-offs.

West Ham winger Summerville joins Al-Hilal

West Ham have confirmed the sale of winger Crysencio Summerville to Saudi club Al-Hilal.

Earlier this week, BBC Sport reported the two clubs had agreed a deal worth £60m - an initial £55m plus a further £5m in add-ons - for the Netherlands international.

Former Leeds player Summerville, 24, spent two seasons with the Hammers, scoring eight goals in 56 appearances.

He scored in five successive outings for West Ham in January and February, but he was part of the team that was relegated from the Premier League in May.

Summerville featured in four of the Netherlands’ matches at the recent World Cup, scoring in group games against Japan and Sweden.

The sale of Summerville brings in additional funds following midfielder Mateus Fernandes’ move to Tottenham Hotspur for £85m earlier this summer.