Premier League

How will your club fare? Phil McNulty's Premier League predictions

Can Arsenal retain the Premier League title they won for the first time in 22 years last season?

Time to dust off the crystal ball once more and have a crack at predicting where the 20 Premier League teams will finish this season.

Having confidently announced the Premier League title was Liverpool’s to lose last season, they then lost it quite spectacularly, resulting in manager Arne Slot’s dismissal.

This season there are nine new managers in the top flight, making this season arguably the toughest set of predictions I’ve made.

Last season: Champions.

Having finally crossed the line to their first Premier League title in 22 years, Arsenal are in perfect shape to retain the crown - and I believe they will.

Mikel Arteta’s side have quality everywhere and will have the confidence of being champions. Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis showed they are additions of the highest quality as Arsenal dismantled Manchester City in the Community Shield.

The easiest prediction of them all.

It is the start of a new era, with Enzo Maresca following arguably the greatest manager of the modern era, Pep Guardiola.

Huge players and personalities have gone in the shape of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones, so there is a real sense of transition at Etihad Stadium.

The Community Shield loss to Arsenal may have spooked some, but great players still remain - with the probability of more high-class signings before the season starts. £116m Elliot Anderson has already arrived and Morocco’s brilliant teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi is expected to join from Lille.

Most significantly of all, any side with the phenomenal Erling Haaland as its striker can never be ruled out of anything. There will be silverware.

Andoni Iraola has arrived from Bournemouth to restore some order after a dismal title defence last season.

The start of the post-Mohamed Salah era will not be easy and Iraola’s all-out, intense style may take time to bed in, but there is still lots of quality in Liverpool’s squad and players such as Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak now know what life at Anfield is all about.

If Bradley Barcola arrives from Paris St-Germain and Rio Ngumoha’s rapid progress continues, Liverpool can have a good season.

Young central defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are also potential stars. Spain winger Victor Munoz will provide thrust and pace.

Definitely a top-four place and in contention for trophies.

I can see the raised eyebrows from here, but Xabi Alonso is smart - and enjoyed Bundesliga title success at Bayer Leverkusen. He is not alone in having then been chewed up and spat out at Real Madrid.

He must shape a squad that resembles a small commune and deal with a disaffected Enzo Fernandez - if indeed he remains at Chelsea - but there is real quality if he can fashion it into shape.

Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix are outstanding additions while the surprise signings of veterans Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck are clearly designed to police the dressing room and set the tone.

It’s a bit of a punt but, without any distractions in Europe, Chelsea could do very well in the Premier League.

This is the first full season under Michael Carrick, who did so well to guide Manchester United back into the Champions League last season following the sacking of Ruben Amorim.

A Champions League place and a trophy must be the aim for this season and I fully expect United to meet that challenge.

Youri Tielemans is a smart, streetwise signing from Aston Villa while Andrey Santos is a player of promise from Chelsea - but United and Carrick still need more if their ultimate ambitions are to be fulfilled.

There is no chance of a title challenge, but I expect United to be in the upper reaches of the Premier League.

Unai Emery’s outstanding work at Aston Villa continued when they won the Europa League and he took them back into the Champions League.

This brilliant strategist can never be under-estimated, but Villa’s financial balancing act has led to the departures of key players Tielemans and Rogers.

Heavy responsibility will lie with loan signing Alejandro Garnacho, whose career has stagnated, while hopes are high for Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes, who was signed from Wolves for £38m.

Villa pulled off a real coup when they pipped Newcastle to Freiburg’s 20-year-old midfielder Johan Manzambi, who was a stand-out performer for Switzerland at the World Cup.

Villa look set to bring in Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma as a long-term first-choice, with Emiliano Martinez’s future in doubt.

So, it is a time of churn at Villa Park, but there is no reason to believe Emery cannot work more of his magic - while teenage striker Brian Madjo could be a breakout star.

New-ish manager. New ambition. The purse strings have been loosened at Spurs this summer, so there are no excuses for a repeat of last season’s shambles, when Roberto de Zerbi - their third manager of the season after Thomas Frank and, briefly, Igor Tudor - kept them up on the final day.

De Zerbi’s fierce ambition has been backed big time, so optimism is running high.

Andrew Robertson is a smart signing on and off the pitch, while Marcos Senesi is another good deal on a free transfer from Bournemouth.

The big money has been spent in midfield, with Sandro Tonali in for £100m from Newcastle United and Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United for £85m.

Jan Paul van Hecke cost £52m from Brighton to offset the loss of captain Cristian Romero - will he really be missed? - from central defence. Djed Spence has also left for Inter Milan.

Micky van de Ven has committed his future, so it all looks good for Spurs.

At least it does right now.

How did a squad with Nottingham Forest’s obvious quality end up fighting relegation last season?

Easy - have four managers.

After Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Vitor Pereira comes the ambitious appointment of Oliver Glasner.

Glasner is demanding and will have an even more demanding owner in Evangelos Marinakis, but Forest will surely use the £116m from the sale of Anderson to back their new manager.

Expect plenty of activity before the deadline, with Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande already in for £34m from Sporting.

Morgan Gibbs-White has stayed and will be a key figure again.

The Glasner era - like all other managerial eras at Forest - will not be dull.

There is European football back at Brighton this season in the Conference League, and that will put added workload on Fabian Hurzeler’s squad - but it will be relished at this well-run club.

Welbeck’s goals and experience will be a loss, along with the retired James Milner and Tottenham recruit Van Hecke, but Brighton feel they have pulled off a special deal by signing young defender Luka Vuskovic from Spurs for £46m.

Pascal Struijk’s arrival from Leeds adds defensive experience, and with plenty of quality elsewhere, Amex Stadium will again be an entertaining place to be this season.

Keith Andrews did a superb job in succession to Frank last season, with Brentford only just missing out on a place in Europe.

Bees fans will expect more of the same this season and an indication of their continued ambition was demonstrated with the club-record signing of Mali midfielder Mamadou Sangare from Lens.

Callum Wilson, if fit, will provide proven Premier League experience up front, while Jaidon Anthony has shown what he can do at Burnley.

Igor Thiago is an outstanding spearhead, so it is easy to see why Andrews expects improvement this season.

Lacroix is a big loss in central defence, while the manager who inspired their FA Cup and Conference League wins, Glasner, has also gone.

In his place comes the highly regarded Pierre Sage, whose performance at Lens - where he became Ligue 1’s manager of the year - was good enough to attract attention from Liverpool.

Palace may be without Lacroix, but this is still a squad with class in all areas, from goalkeeper Dean Henderson through to Adam Wharton in midfield and Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr in attack.

If they can fight off any late advances for their top players, a good season lies in store - and, perhaps, another cup challenge.

There has been trauma on Tyneside this summer. Some of their best players - sold. The manager who brought the first domestic trophy for 70 years - gone.

So, a challenging job awaits for new man Matthias Jaissle.

The momentum has gone out of the Saudi Arabian project with the departures of Eddie Howe, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes from St James’ Park. Uncertainty and instability reign.

Newcastle failed to land many of their top transfer targets, although Lukas Hornicek has arrived from Braga to address the goalkeeping problem, while midfielder Aladji Bamba is rich in promise after arriving from Monaco.

The same applies to Dutch midfielder Sean Steur, the 18-year-old signed from Ajax, and 20-year-old Bazoumana Toure, the Ivory Coast winger who has joined from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

Defender Amar Dedic has arrived from Benfica, having worked with Jaissle when winning the Austrian title with Red Bull Salzburg in 2023.

An experienced midfielder is key, with Tonali and Guimaraes gone, and Joao Palhinha has been mentioned after a deal for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg failed to materialise.

Jaissle needs a good start - and more players - to settle the Toon Army’s nerves.

David Moyes has been silent for most of pre-season - but when he did speak he was hardly talking up Everton’s chances when he said “we’re far off from where we want to be” and that he would like to do “a lot more business”.

Everton have actually done a couple of pieces of smart business in signing last season’s Championship player of the year Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough and experienced Denmark midfielder Christian Norgaard from Arsenal.

And they still have the rare talent of Iliman Ndiaye, while Tyler Dibling has had a good pre-season after struggling following his £40m move from Southampton last summer.

However, doubts remain over the right-back position and also whether Beto and Thierno Barry are good enough to be Premier League spearheads.

The early weeks of the season are crucial for Moyes and Everton to appease discontent supporters who felt last season’s late collapse wasted an opportunity for European football.

How will Bournemouth cope without Iraola? How will his successor Marco Rose settle? And how will they handle the extra burden of Europa League football?

These are the reasons I am predicting a Premier League drop-off for the Cherries - but would not be surprised to see this one defied.

The foot injury that rules Eli Junior Kroupi out for up to four months is a real blow, but there is plenty of talent elsewhere as Bournemouth stand firm against any advances for the outstanding Alex Scott.

New faces follow a familiar pattern with 22-year-old Portugal defender Antonio Silva arriving from Benfica, along with young forward Alvaro Rodriguez from Elche.

Juanlu Sanchez, a £11m signing from Sevilla, has Champions League experience and could prove yet another clever Cherries purchase.

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke wanted a show of ambition from the club. He has got it - so now it is up to him.

James Trafford will hope to press his claims to succeed Jordan Pickford as England’s next goalkeeper after a club-record £45m move from Manchester City, while the capture of Harry Wilson from Fulham was a real coup.

Tarik Muharemovic, the 23-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina centre-back signed from Serie A side Sassuolo for £34m, will add defensive solidity.

As last season, I expect the hothouse Elland Road atmosphere to be a crucial factor.

Fulham are another club under new management after the departure of Marco Silva to Benfica, with Alvaro Arbeloa now in charge after a spell at Real Madrid.

The appointment, as with so many, is a gamble - but Fulham have established themselves in the Premier League, so will want another season of stability.

Shea Charles showed real touches of class with Southampton so plenty will be expected of him, while Arbeloa has gone with what he knows by signing Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid.

Stability will be satisfactory.

What Sunderland and Regis le Bris achieved last season was close to miraculous, as they went from pretty much unanimous relegation tips to Europa League qualification.

Can they produce a repeat performance?

I’m not so sure, although keeping Granit Xhaka from the clutches of Chelsea was huge, in what has been a quiet summer so far in terms of incoming transfers.

Brian Brobbey showed what a threat he is with the Netherlands at the World Cup but this campaign may just be a reality check for the Black Cats after the dreamland of last term.

It’s going to be very tough for the three promoted teams this season, but Coventry City’s renaissance under the vibrant leadership of Doug King is a real feel-good story - mirroring Frank Lampard’s own renaissance as a manager.

The Sky Blues have shown real ambition in the summer and will, along with other newcomers Ipswich Town and Hull City, relish making a nonsense of naysayer predictions such as this one.

Taiwo Awoniyi will provide a spearhead, while Gus Hamer has returned from Sheffield United and goalkeeper Carl Rushworth has signed permanently following his successful loan from Brighton last season.

Winger Loum Tchaouna has joined from Burnley, defender Aurele Amenda arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt and Ghana midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi signed from Nordsjaelland.

No-one can say King and Coventry are not having a go.

Kieran McKenna’s decision to step down as manager was a shock after taking back into the top flight, so now it is up to Gary O’Neil to pick up the reins.

The Tractor Boys went down with a whimper last time they were in the Premier League, so they will be hoping it is different this time - and they have also shown ambition in the transfer market.

Since securing promotion, Ipswich have spent £150m with the acquisitions of Abdoul Ouattara and Julio Enciso, who worked with O’Neil at Strasbourg, taking them up to 12 major signings.

Daizen Maeda will be hoping to transfer the form which helped Celtic win the Scottish title last season to the Premier League, while the exciting Abdul Fatawu from Leicester City will also hope to make an impact.

If Ipswich Town do not survive, it will not be through lack of trying or lack of ambition.

The Tigers are back in the top tier after nine years away and have embarked on some hefty squad renewal to help manager Sergej Jakirovic.

Will it be enough? It will certainly defy the odds and expectations, but I feel it might be just a very entertaining ride as Hull City try.

They have completed 11 new signings so far and have broken their own transfer record twice in the process by bringing in Greece goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis from Olympiacos and Senegal defender Nobel Mendy from Rayo Vallecano.

Once again, no-one can accuse Hull City of accepting what many regard as inevitable.

Villa sign goalkeeper Suzuki and left-back Ruggeri

Zion Suzuki has 28 caps for Japan while Matteo Ruggeri has played for Italy at all levels apart from senior

Aston Villa have confirmed the signings of goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and left-back Matteo Ruggeri.

Japan international Suzuki makes the move to Villa Park from Italian side Parma for a fee in the region of £30m.

Italian full-back Ruggeri joins Villa in a deal worth £17m from La Liga side Atletico Madrid.

Suzuki, 23, joins despite Emi Martinez’s move to Juventus collapsing over the weekend, with the two clubs unable to agree a fee.

Martinez, who helped Villa win the Europa League in May and was victorious in the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, faces an uncertain future after his failed move to Juve.

Villa view 23-year-old Suzuki as their long-term number one, potentially for the next decade.

He had been at Parma for two years, making 59 appearances for the Serie A side and helping them finish 13th last season.

Ruggeri, 24, who is yet to be capped at senior level for Italy, comes in to replace Lucas Digne - who signed for European champions Paris St-Germain on 9 August.

A Europa League winner with Atalanta in 2024, Ruggeri made over 100 appearances for the Serie A side before completing a transfer to Atletico last summer.

Both could make their debuts in Sunday’s Premier League opener at Brighton.

Suzuki’s former coach at Sint-Truiden in Belgium, Dennis Rudel, conjures up an intriguing image of Villa’s new goalkeeper.

“We played in Anderlecht and after the game we went out to the bus and there was a fight with hooligans,” he tells BBC Sport.

“The head coach called for Zion: ‘Come here, get out of the bus and clear the situation.’

“It was a joke but you have a picture of Asterix and Obelix and everything is flying away. You have never seen a goalkeeper or a player like that.”

The comparison with Asterix, the cartoon character who gains immense strength after taking a magic potion, is telling, and Rudel believes Villa have signed a unique player.

“I saw his power immediately. To show your strength in the game you have to let the tiger out on the pitch, let the beast out. He is so powerful, I have never seen a goalkeeper like it,” said Rudel, who worked with Suzuki when he was on loan at Sint-Truiden in 2023-24.

“He has such big hands and is powerful - when he can reach the ball it will be 90-95% a save, maybe other keepers touch the ball but it goes in. With him it is something really special.

“After the first two weeks of working with him I said to him you don’t need your apartment, you live in the gym.”

Rudel also praised Suzuki’s distribution, with both his arms and feet, and believes his former player can become one of the world’s best.

“It’s possible because if he stays healthy and with his physical strength there is no one better in the world, in terms of dynamic, jumping power, throws, kicking the ball,” said the former Union Berlin coach.

“When I watched him at the World Cup, his biggest strength is he is mentally clear - the focus on the game or the training sessions is so good. He is always prepared, really disciplined.

“When I see how he always adapts so quickly over the last four years, I’m convinced he can play at that [Premier League] level.

“There are big footsteps from Martinez [to follow], you get measured and compared to Martinez. It would be the same at Bayern Munich with the new Manuel Neuer - Jonas Urbig who is starting to replace him - you get compared to the former player.

“He’s aiming to show he can be one of the best. He was immediately one of the top four or five goalkeepers in Serie A.

“As a person and a player, he is a role model and how you should behave. I don’t see any weakness in him.”

Rudel was key in bringing Suzuki to Europe having travelled to Japan in 2020 for coaching clinics and met Suzuki’s coach at Urawa Red Diamonds, with the goalkeeper being flagged to him.

Sint-Truiden, who have also had Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Crystal Palace duo Takehiro Tomiyasu and Daichi Kamada on their books, are owned by Japanese electronics and internet company DMM.com.

That helped pave Suzuki’s route to Belgium, and a year later he joined Parma for £8m.

“[In 2023] we were looking for a new goalkeeper and had a couple of on the list but all of a sudden the club said we had an option to get Zion. I said to the sporting director ‘forget the list - if we can get him, get him’,” added Rudel.

“His level went up really quickly, he is very ambitious, he wanted to learn a lot, he asked a lot. We did a lot of video analysis and I can remember how nice it was to work with him. It was a shame it was only one season.”

Man City in advanced talks for £85m Bouaddi, 18

Ayyoub Bouaddi started five of Morocco’s six games at the World Cup

Manchester City are in advanced talks with Lille over a move for Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

The Premier League side want to conclude the transfer this week after agreeing to sell Rodri to Barcelona.

It is understood Lille value the 18-year-old at 100 million euros (£85.6m).

Bouaddi impressed at this summer’s World Cup - starting five of Morocco’s six matches in their run to the quarter-finals - after a starring role in Lille’s Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024 announced him on the big stage.

He functions as a deep-lying conductor and would complement summer signing Elliot Anderson, who is comfortable as a box-to-box midfielder as well as the number six role he plays for England.

Bouaddi has played 88 times for Lille since making his debut in October 2023, three days after his 16th birthday, and helped them finish third in Ligue 1 last season.

Spain captain Rodri is set to complete a £65m move to Barcelona in the coming days on a four-year contract.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has made 298 appearances across seven trophy-laden seasons at City after joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club record £62.8m.

The 30-year-old missed much of the 2024-25 campaign with a serious knee injury, and parts of last season were disrupted by a hamstring issue.

However, he was back to his best at the World Cup in the summer, leading Spain to their second global title and being named player of the tournament.

It remains to be seen if a successful move for Bouaddi would impact City’s interest in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, but well-placed sources maintain that manager Enzo Maresca retains a strong interest in the Argentina midfielder.

Signings impress but squad issues remain - learnings from Man Utd's summer

Michael Carrick was confirmed as Manchester United’s permanent head coach on 22 May

Calm is the word most used about Michael Carrick by people at Manchester United.

Outwardly at least, nothing knocks him out of his stride.

Take Thursday for instance. During extended chats with the UK media, one journalist asked, pointedly and with persistence, about realistic targets for the season ahead and questioned the club’s willingness to spend enough to achieve them.

What Carrick privately thought about the questions, or the manner they were asked, is unclear. But seeing him navigate them was fascinating.

There was no sign of discomfort or irritation as he sat and spoke. Carrick remained relaxed and polite but, without hesitation, answers reduced from their previously expanded form to single sentences, questions were asked in response to questions. Points already outlined were restated.

Then, as the chat switched to other topics, unflustered, Carrick switched back to the in-depth answers from before.

It was almost like Carrick as a player. Take the ball in tight spaces, be aware of the danger, keep composed and move out of trouble.

New signing Andrey Santos impressed across Manchester United’s pre-season campaign

There are a lot of positives for Carrick to take from a pre-season of five weeks and six games.

Two wins, two draws and two defeats might look average, but the benefits are clear.

There is huge potential in midfielder Andrey Santos for a start. One of three players - Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven were the others - to start every game, the 22-year-old, £48m summer arrival from Chelsea impressed with his ability to rotate the ball, his positional discipline and communication.

Like Carrick himself, there is an assurance about Manchester United’s other major signing, Youri Tielemans, that should spread through the team. There are already signs his link-up with skipper Bruno Fernandes could prove productive.

It was the energised and impactful version of Bryan Mbeumo from the first half of last season that has been on view, rather than the tired one that returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Heaven impressed in defence, Leny Yoro also, particularly at right-back. Amad Diallo did well in flashes when he returned from World Cup duty. The same is true of Shea Lacey, the 19-year-old academy star who clearly needs to be eased in gradually, but of whom so much is expected.

But there are issues.

Neither striker Benjamin Sesko, nor new goalkeeper Karl Darlow featured. Mason Mount, arguably the best player across the first three matches, was not involved again after being taken off as a ‘precaution’ following a blow to his foot early in the game against Paris St-Germain on 8 August.

Some players in Carrick’s squad in Poland this weekend are surplus to requirements.

Midfielder Toby Collyer filled in for Mount, but his future lies elsewhere. Club officials feel interest in him should be high.

Full-back Harry Amass was back-up to Luke Shaw, but the intention for him is also to leave, with sources feeling a loan is more likely than a permanent exit.

Of the more experienced members of Carrick’s squad, Joshua Zirkzee is hugely popular and has ability. However, he lacks consistency, or an obvious position in the squad, and Lacey was used ahead of him in the number 10 role at times.

If interest from Italy stacks up financially, it would seem to make sense for the former Bologna man to return to Serie A.

The Marcus Rashford situation needs clarity.

Sources have said the expectation is Rashford will stay at Old Trafford.

However, there remains a chance he will not, which is why Carrick and team-mates who have been asked about the England forward avoid offering a definitive judgement.

Manchester United full-back Luke Shaw started all 38 Premier League games last season

The lack of sales affects United’s next move in the transfer market.

At the beginning of the month, as supporters began to get edgy at the lack of further deals following Tielemans’ arrival on 14 July, a senior club source said their business should be judged at the end of the window.

Carrick’s “we want more, we need more” assessment of the situation last week was an accurate reflection of the situation.

Competition for the left-back position is required as a matter of urgency. Shaw has a year left on his contract and his ability to repeatedly play three games in a week is unclear. In three weeks, Carrick will have a trip to Everton and a home game with Manchester City to prepare for; in between them is a Champions League game. He must have an alternative option he would feel confident of starting in those games.

Admiration for Newcastle’s Lewis Hall is well known. But the club prides itself on its data team coming up with other choices. Surely they are getting to the point where they need to act?

Central midfield is also an area of debate. Can Mount really be the ‘third’ midfielder spoken about so often in the summer, with the potential signing of Leicester teenager Louis Page as back-up?

Then there are qualified risks. Senne Lammens was excellent in his debut campaign but has just two seasons as a first-choice senior goalkeeper behind him and his unhappy World Cup experience proved he can make major mistakes.

“We’ve got to be realistic, not get carried away and think everything is going to be rosy,” said Carrick last week. “It never is, never was, never will be.”

Hull and Ipswich offer a kind start to his first full season in charge, but also the kind of banana skin United have found it so difficult to navigate at points in the past when they had seemed well placed to kick on.

In conversation a year ago with former team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who he welcomed to United’s training camp in Dublin last week, Carrick said he sometimes felt he was above the match he was playing in, which gave him a clear picture of what was happening.

That clarity of vision may be valuable in the weeks and months that lie ahead.

Premier League clubs looking to EFL for next Semenyo & Eze

The rises of Antoine Semenyo and Eberechi Eze shows the value of EFL development

When Manchester City paid £12.5m to sign Jeremy Monga from Leicester City last month, they were not alone in wanting one of English football’s most highly rated teenagers.

Arsenal also coveted the 17-year-old winger, but City won the battle for a player who joined Leicester aged eight and has already broken records in senior football.

Monga became Leicester’s second-youngest Premier League player in April 2025, aged 15 years and 271 days, before becoming their youngest league starter and surpassing Jude Bellingham as the Championship’s youngest goalscorer.

He represents the more established end of a wider battle for young domestic talent.

Premier League clubs are increasingly looking to EFL and Scottish academies for players who can be brought into their development structures, sometimes before they have established themselves in senior football.

The appeal is easy to understand.

Antoine Semenyo was rejected by several academies before Bristol City spotted him playing college football. After loans at Newport County and Sunderland, he established himself in the Championship before joining Bournemouth for about £10m, then Manchester City in a £64m move.

Ollie Watkins came through at Exeter City, Adam Wharton at Blackburn Rovers and Eberechi Eze - after being released by Arsenal - rebuilt his career at Millwall and QPR.

For recruitment departments, finding the next player capable of following a similar route can be enormously valuable.

BBC Sport research has identified 14 players recruited from EFL or Scottish Premiership academies for Premier League development squads so far this summer.

That matches the 14 such transfers made across the whole of 2025-26. There were eight in 2024-25, 18 in 2023-24 and seven in 2022-23.

More striking is the profile of this summer’s recruits. Of the 14 identified, 11 are 18 years old. Last season only five of the 14 players in the equivalent sample were 18.

League One has also become fertile ground, providing seven of this summer’s 14 recruits, compared with just two last season.

Among the youngsters to have moved so far this summer are Blade Earley from Cambridge United to Aston Villa, Valentin Joseph from Blackburn Rovers to Brighton, George Munday from Cambridge United to Brighton, Harrison Bettoni from Wigan Athletic to Chelsea and Maxwell Adedeji from Leicester City to Tottenham.

Monga is not part of BBC Sport’s 14-player sample because he had already broken into Leicester’s first team. His fee, however, illustrates how quickly the equation can change once a teenager proves himself at senior level.

At 18, players have already received years of professional coaching but remain young enough to spend time in an under-21 or B-team environment before decisions are made over loans or first-team opportunities.

The financial outlay can also be relatively small. Nine of the 14 moves identified this summer are listed as free transfers, with the other five for undisclosed fees. Eight of last season’s 14 were also listed as free transfers.

For clubs accustomed to paying tens of millions for established first-team players, spreading comparatively modest sums across several promising teenagers offers obvious appeal. Only one needs to develop into a Premier League regular for the strategy to potentially generate significant value.

The economics of academy recruitment have also become a wider issue. The Premier League has approached the EFL over potentially capping compensation paid when young players move between academies.

Clubs losing youngsters can receive training compensation alongside future appearance-related payments and sell-on entitlements, while unresolved cases can be referred to the Professional Football Compensation Committee.

Another factor is Brexit.

Before freedom of movement ended, English clubs could scout a vast European market without having to consider whether EU players were eligible to work in the UK.

Analytics FC estimated in a 2022 report with immigration specialists Fragomen that about 60,000 professional players in Europe had potentially been available to British clubs before Brexit.

Under the Governing Body Endorsement system it estimated only about 5,000 would be likely to qualify for a permit - a reduction of roughly 92%.

The restrictions are especially relevant to younger players.

Liverpool’s Ifeanyi Ndukwe is a good example. The 18-year-old centre-back joined from Austria Vienna and impressed during pre-season but cannot play competitive matches for the Reds because he does not qualify for a work permit. A loan abroad is expected to help him build the experience required to become eligible.

A teenager already progressing through an English academy presents no equivalent immigration obstacle.

Brexit has also affected players moving the other way. Analytics FC found Premier League 2 produced more British transfers to EU clubs than any other English division before Brexit, but those moves had halved by 2021-22.

That does not prove Brexit directly caused Premier League clubs to target EFL academies, but it changed the environment in which young players are recruited and developed.

There is no uniform approach to youth development among Premier League clubs.

International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) figures for 2025-26 show club-trained players accounted for 16.2% of Manchester City’s Premier League minutes, followed by Chelsea on 15.5% and Brighton on 12.5%.

CIES defines a club-trained player as someone registered with their current club for at least three full seasons, or 36 months, between the ages of 15 and 21. That means an 18-year-old recruited from an EFL academy can still go on to qualify as club-trained if he spends the next three seasons with his new Premier League club.

At the other end of the scale, Tottenham’s club-trained players accounted for just 0.1% of league minutes, while Bournemouth, Brentford and Burnley were all at zero.

Recruiting from EFL and Scottish academies therefore offers another way of building that development pipeline.

Rather than relying solely on players who have been with a club since childhood, a Premier League side can identify somebody developed elsewhere, bring them into their under-21 structure at 17, 18 or 19 and take responsibility for the final stages of their development.

The numbers do not yet show a relentless increase. There were 18 such moves in 2023-24, meaning this summer’s 14 cannot be described as unprecedented.

But the concentration of 18-year-olds and League One players suggests clubs are becoming increasingly precise about the market they are targeting.

For EFL clubs, that raises questions over how long their best youngsters can realistically be retained.

For Premier League clubs, the calculation is different. The next Watkins, Eze, Wharton or Semenyo may already be somewhere further down the pyramid. The challenge is finding them before everybody else does.

Romero reflects on Spurs stay as Atletico move confirmed

Cristian Romero says he “wasn’t perfect” during his five years with Tottenham Hotspur, with his move to Atletico Madrid confirmed.

The La Liga side have paid £34.2m for the 28-year-old Argentina centre-back, who has joined on a five-year deal.

Romero’s last game for Tottenham was against Sunderland in April, when he left the field in tears with a knee injury that would rule him out of Spurs’ last six Premier League games of the season.

The team were in a relegation battle and Romero upset fans by planning to be in Argentina for their final game, to watch his first club Belgrano play in the Primera Division Apertura final.

He ultimately returned to England to attend Spurs’ 1-0 win over Everton, which meant they stayed up and finished 17th for a second consecutive season.

“I know I wasn’t perfect,” Romero posted on X. “But one thing gives me peace: I always gave everything. I defended this shirt with pride and with all my heart.”

Romero joined Tottenham from Atalanta in 2021 and became a mainstay in their defence, making 156 appearances.

His best moment with Spurs was helping the club win their first trophy in 17 years as they beat Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final.

“When I arrived, I had a clear dream: to leave my name in this club’s history,” Romero added.

“I knew the only way was through hard work, sacrifice and achieving something that had seemed so difficult for so long: lifting a trophy again. And we did it.

“I’m leaving the club, but a part of my heart will always remain here. Once I was one of you. Today, I leave as one of you forever.

“With all my love and respect. Thank you for everything.”

Can Sunderland defy the Premier League doubters again?

Sunderland finished seventh in their first season back in the Premier League.

Sunderland were one of the stories of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

Promoted from the Championship through the play-offs in May 2025, the Black Cats marked their return to the top flight after an eight-year absence with a remarkable campaign.

Tipped for relegation by many, Sunderland ended the campaign in seventh to qualify for Europe for the first time since 1973.

So why - outside newly promoted teams Hull City, Coventry and Ipswich - are Sunderland once again among the bookmakers’ favourites for the drop?

There are three main reasons their doubters can point to: their poor underlying numbers last season, the ‘second-season syndrome’ for promoted sides and a European campaign to contend with.

But are those reasons justified?

While results and where you finish in the table are ultimately all that matter, Sunderland’s underlying statistics from last season suggest repeating their success might not be so simple.

Expected goals (xG) tells us how well teams do the basics of creating lots of good chances and limiting their opponents to few low-quality ones, based on how hundreds of teams before them have scored or conceded from those opportunities.

Only relegated Burnley and Wolves had a lower xG difference than Regis le Bris’ side last season, while West Ham - with the fourth-worst overall xG - were also relegated.

While Aston Villa and Sunderland made a mockery of xG by finishing much higher in the table, the majority of sides finished mostly in line with their underlying numbers, showing those two overachievers were more the exception that proves the rule.

Indeed, the three sides with the best xG difference finished in the top three in the same order, while - excluding Sunderland - the five sides with the worst made up the bottom five.

Only Man City and Aston Villa overperformed their xG numbers by more than the Black Cats, who scored three more goals and conceded six fewer than expected given the number and quality of shots taken.

So taking the season as a whole, it seems that Sunderland’s performances weren’t as impressive as their results. But one event significantly affected part of the Black Cats’ season: the Africa Cup of Nations.

They were without six players - twice as many as any other side - during the tournament in December and January. While the club’s performances had already declined after a strong start, they suffered even more when their squad was stretched.

But once all those players returned, Sunderland’s underlying numbers improved throughout the rest of the season and they ended the campaign playing like a mid-table side.

With no Afcon this season, the Black Cats may not suffer such a drop in performance. If they continue the 2026-27 season as they finished the last then relegation should be only a remote possibility.

The belief that promoted sides that stayed up in their first season are often relegated in their second is a popular one, with the phrase ‘second-season syndrome’ regularly thrown about. But is it as common as people think?

Last season Sunderland and Leeds became the 53rd and 54th promoted sides to survive in the Premier League.

Of the previous 52, only 11 were relegated the following season (21%). The vast majority of promoted teams that stay up do not suffer from second-season syndrome.

However, there is precedent for a promoted side that had a first season as good as Sunderland’s to be relegated in their second. In fact, the best promoted side in the 38-game era of the Premier League did just that.

George Burley’s Ipswich ended the 2000-01 campaign fifth with 66 points - the highest finish and most points any promoted side has achieved in a 38-game season.

But with European football to contend with, they dropped 13 places and took 30 fewer points the next season as they were relegated in 18th place, with Sunderland the beneficiaries as they finished just one place above them.

Overall, four of the previous 20 promoted sides (20%) that finished in the top half in their first season suffered relegation in their second, with the most recent example being Sheffield United five years ago.

The Black Cats were one of the sides that did not as they finished seventh under Peter Reid in 1999-2000 and followed up with another seventh-placed finish a year later (although that position did not bring European football back then).

Sunderland will be playing in Europe this season for the first time in 53 years, with at least eight games in the Europa League on top of their usual domestic commitments.

They are the 10th promoted side in Premier League history to qualify for Europe and just the fifth to do so through their league position, with the others qualifying via cup competitions or fair play.

Despite their squads arguably being the least-prepared to handle the extra fixtures, five of the previous nine teams achieved another top-half finish and just two were relegated - Ipswich in the early 2000s and Hull in the mid-2010s.

Hull were an unusual case as they only finished 16th with 37 points in 2013-14 but qualified for Europe by reaching the FA Cup final.

Their European campaign lasted just four games as they were knocked out in the Europa League qualifying rounds in August and were relegated with 35 points the following May.

But then there is that Ipswich side again.

When Inter Milan knocked them out in the Uefa Cup third round on 6 December 2001, Burley’s side had won just one of their first 15 games in the Premier League.

While they did find some form after that - they were 12th with 30 points after 25 games - just one win in their final 13 matches led to relegation.

Sunderland will be hoping to follow the example of the most recent promoted side to qualify for Europe - Wolves in 2019.

Despite playing 17 games as they reached the Europa League quarter-finals in 2019-20, they still had enough in the tank to finish seventh in the league again.

There are definitely the ingredients for Sunderland to have a difficult second season, but given how well-run they have been in their recent rise from League One to Europe, many fans will have faith they will continue to thrive.

Chelsea set Friday deadline over £120m Fernandez

Chelsea have set a Friday deadline for offers of £120m or more from clubs interested in midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

The Argentina international, 25, has faced uncertainty over his future at Stamford Bridge since March, when he first raised the possibility of a move to Real Madrid.

Around that time, his agent Javier Pastore publicly stated his client was underpaid and wanted to leave following a difficult season in which Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League and ended the campaign without a trophy after losing the FA Cup final to Manchester City.

Real Madrid have since said they have “no intention” of signing Fernandez, leaving the only known potential suitors as Manchester City, whose new boss Enzo Maresca left Chelsea midway through last season.

It remains unclear whether City would be willing to meet the player’s valuation, with the Etihad outfit also known to be targeting Lille’s Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi.

Chelsea have set a deadline of 17:00 BST on Friday for any offers and are expected to stand firm on their £120m price tag, even though they signed him for £107m from Benfica in 2023.

The deadline is intended to bring an end to uncertainty before the start of the season, having given Fernandez and any interested clubs around 60 days to complete a deal at what Chelsea consider a fair price.

New manager Xabi Alonso has spoken to Fernandez about his future, but has declined to disclose details of their conversation.

It is understood Chelsea have made it clear they are willing to fully reintegrate Fernandez into the squad and allow him to continue as a key player.

He scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in 54 appearances for the club last season. He then helped Argentina reach the World Cup final, where he was sent off as they lost to Spain 1-0.

Fernandez returned to training with Chelsea this week for the first time under Alonso.

Following Guardiola and captaincy dilemma - Maresca on life at Man City

Enzo Maresca sat down with UK-based media in South Korea

How do you replace Pep Guardiola?

Enzo Maresca is just starting to find out this summer, having been chosen as the Spaniard’s successor at Manchester City - returning after being Guardiola’s assistant during the club’s Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign.

Guardiola, one of the greatest managers of his generation, stepped down at the end of last season after leading City to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.

Now, with his first pre-season as manager at the club nearing its end, Maresca sat down with the five travelling UK-based media in Seoul to discuss the challenges ahead.

“After 10 games, if we have got 10 points, 20 points, 30 points. People will be comparing it to Pep after 10 games, it doesn’t put pressure on me,” said Maresca.

“I have said many times while I was at Leicester or Chelsea, he is the best manager in the world over the last 15 or 20 years.

“When he started in Spain, everyone wanted to play like Barcelona, he moved to Germany everyone wanted to play like Bayern [Munich], he comes to England and everyone wants to play like City.

“Someone asked me if it’s the impossible job to follow him - maybe, but at the same time it’s a privilege.”

The ex-Chelsea boss says he met Guardiola in Barcelona a day before he officially signed as his replacement, as it was “useful” to pick his brains - having been at the club for a decade.

“We spent some hours together,” he said. “We had planned before the season finished here to spend some time in the summer holidays together.

“I like to go in empty sometimes to see things for myself - but he was here so long, he has his opinions. But also you have to arrive and see things for yourself, see all the picture.”

To signal a change for the players, Maresca has moved into the office of former assistant Pep Lijnders at City’s headquarters, next door to Guardiola’s old office - which has now been converted into a meeting room.

Shortly after his appointment as the City boss at the end of June, Maresca apologised to former club Chelsea for the “disruption” caused by his mid-season departure.

So what did he do during the intervening six months?

“I tried to enjoy a little bit more [time] with the family,” he says about his wife and four children.

“And everyone is talking about AI, so I want to understand how it works. So I did two masterclasses to understand it a little bit more and have more knowledge.”

Such has been the rise of artificial intelligence in everyday life, even Premier League managers are now beginning to dabble in it for those marginal gains.

But Maresca is going to need more than AI to make a success of his City career, having taken over from one of the greatest managers of his generation.

Maresca says the biggest difference in the Premier League from three years ago, when he was assistant to Guardiola, is the rise in set-pieces and teams defending man-to-man.

Last season, Arsenal claimed their first top-flight crown in more than two decades and scored 25 goals from set-pieces in the process - including 19 from corners alone - which is one aspect City are looking to “try to improve”.

But rules for next season have been brought in, in an attempt to speed up the game - such as players having five seconds for goal-kicks and throw-ins, with possession handed over to the opposition if those limits are exceeded.

Despite the look of crowded penalty areas and jostling at corners seemingly taking away from the division stylistically, Maresca still feels it is the “best league” with the “best players”.

He says: “It is because of the quality of the players, the quality of the managers, the organisation of the Premier League. It is completely different compared to other countries.

“Which league can compete with the Premier League? Spain? Barcelona, Real Madrid, yes, but then the rest is not the same. You have six teams here who are more or less there.”

Maresca said he has not done an initiation song in front of the squad as “the manager doesn’t sing”.

He described goalkeeping coach Michele de Bernardin’s performance as being “very good”, while analyst Javi Molina’s rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way was “the worst”.

In fact, “it was a disaster”.

The make-up of the backroom staff - with Argentine Willy Caballero, two Italians, three Spaniards and Maresca being able to speak French - means they have plenty of languages covered.

And then there is “the Englishman” - first-team coach Danny Walker, who was Maresca’s assistant in City’s elite development squad (EDS) and followed him to Leicester and Chelsea.

The manager is beaming when he discusses Walker. He says: “We go for breakfast it is beans on toast, we go for dinner it is a beer.

“When I joined the EDS, Danny was there, he was previously with the under-16s and they moved him to become my assistant. Since then we are always together, he knows Nico O’Reilly, Rico Lewis, he had them from under-six to under-12. He knows all of them.

“He is very good. He is good on extra work at the end, when we keep players doing something extra.

“It is demanding. If we don’t win games, we are all going home.”

Speaking of Englishmen, Maresca will choose the next City captain himself after Bernardo Silva’s departure, and wants a homegrown player in the committee.

The leadership group currently consists of frontrunner Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland and Rodri, who has been the subject of a failed bid from Barcelona.

So is the Norway star a leading candidate to take the armband?

“Erling was one of the first to send a message when I joined the club,” said Maresca.

“At Leicester and Chelsea I had a rule that when we scored the captain had to come to the bench, not to celebrate, but for instructions. But if he scores, then he can celebrate.

“If Erling is the captain, we have a problem, can you imagine? If you saw the game [against K-League XI] on Wednesday, when we scored the first goal, Ruben came over to the bench.

“I think even if it is two or three minutes, there is always something to adjust. At the moment, we have three or four [in the leadership group] and we are missing one. In the case of Rodri, see what happens.”

The next captain, Rodri’s future, City’s starting XI for Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal - the big decisions are stacking up as Maresca begins to settle into one of the biggest jobs on the planet.

Meet Liverpool's rising star who can only play friendlies

Liverpool agreed a deal in principle to sign Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna in January

Liverpool’s first pre-season under new boss Andoni Iraola has not been without its challenges - but one reason for optimism is the emergence of 18-year-old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe.

The Reds have won two and lost two of their four friendlies so far - beating Sunderland and Wrexham, but throwing away two-goal leads in defeats by Leeds and Monaco.

Iraola’s side are short of numbers in central defence, so Austrian teenager Ndukwe has been handed more minutes than even he might have expected.

Joe Gomez picked up an injury in Liverpool’s first pre-season game, while £60m signing Jeremy Jacquet has been absent with a niggling knee issue and Giovanni Leoni is recovering from a serious knee injury - and Ndukwe has grasped his chance to impress.

With two lots of 90 minutes and an 80-minute display already under his belt, Ndukwe was handed a start alongside captain Virgil van Dijk against Monaco at Anfield on Sunday.

And it didn’t take long for the imposing 6ft 6in (1.98m) youngster to draw gasps from the crowd after a neat backheel to wrong-foot Monaco’s Mika Biereth, before winning important defensive duels.

After the departure of France international Ibrahima Konate, it remains unclear who will partner Van Dijk in Liverpool’s opening Premier League game against Newcastle.

But it won’t be Ndukwe.

Post-Brexit rules mean he is not allowed to play for Liverpool in a competitive game in 2026 because he didn’t reach the points target required to qualify for a UK work permit - meaning he can only play in friendly matches.

Since Brexit, and with the UK no longer part of the European Union, clubs now have to navigate a more complex work permit system to ensure players - especially those who are yet to establish themselves at the top level - are able to move to England.

Austria youth international Ndukwe doesn’t currently have enough points to obtain a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) to obtain a work visa.

There is another route into the squad, through taking up an Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) slot, which is awarded to foreign players who do not qualify for the standard GBE.

Premier League and Championship clubs have up to four ESC places available, based on the percentage of minutes clubs gave to their England Qualified Players (EQP) in the previous campaign.

But clubs are not entitled to all four spots automatically.

The magic number is 35% of minutes, which means clubs can use four ESC players. Dropping below that begins to reduce the number of ESC slots available.

Liverpool’s percentage last season means they only get one ESC place, which has already been taken by Senegalese 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye.

Last season, Freddie Woodman, Gomez, Rhys Williams, Curtis Jones, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha were the only English players in Liverpool’s squad, playing a collective 83 times in the Premier League.

This comes after Liverpool lost the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton and loaned out Harvey Elliott.

Developed in the Austria Vienna academy before establishing himself in the club’s reserve side, Ndukwe was included in the senior squad on several occasions - making one appearance.

An impressive Under-17 World Cup with Austria in November last year led Liverpool to add the talented youngster to their ranks.

The Reds agreed a deal in principle in January, but the £2.6m transfer became official this summer, once Ndukwe turned 18.

After excelling in pre-season and leaving fans desperate to see more of the teenager, Ndukwe will still be able to play against Como in Liverpool’s final friendly on 16 August.

Van Dijk labelled Ndukwe a “big talent” after playing alongside him in the first half against Monaco.

“Obviously, I saw the games in pre-season in America,” Van Dijk added.

“Big talent, big guy and he wants to learn. I had a brief conversation with him, especially in the last couple of days. For him, it is just progressing. I know he has to go on loan I think so let’s see where he ends up. The matter of fact is that he has to go on loan and wherever he goes, he needs to learn, get better and be ready when he comes back to hopefully stay there.”

A decision on Ndukwe’s next steps is expected within the next fortnight.

Talking in July, Ndukwe’s agent Georg Lederer told Sky Sports Austria: “A loan club will now be found where Ifeanyi can gain playing experience at a very high level. Despite this change, we see the situation as a great opportunity for Ifeanyi. Several top international clubs have already expressed concrete interest.”

Lederer told BBC Sport on Monday that they are still in the process of deciding where Ndukwe goes in Europe.

Ndukwe must accumulate 15 points across a number of categories while out on loan to qualify automatically for a visa.

Simply put, the better the league Ndukwe plays in, the more points towards a work permit he will earn.

It is understood that, with the right move, the necessary points tally could be achieved by January.

This means Ndukwe could potentially still feature for Liverpool this season, after the turn of the year if he was recalled, but that is a potential drawback for clubs interested in a loan.

Scott and Antony sent off in pre-season friendly

Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Real Betis’ Antony were sent off after a confrontation during a friendly match in Seville, which ended 2-2.

The flashpoint came just before half-time after Betis’ Nelson Deossa kicked the ball at Bafode Diakite after being fouled by the Cherries’ defender.

It sparked a brawl between players from both sides with former Manchester United winger Antony and midfielder Scott pushing each other before they were both shown a red card by the referee.

Marcus Tavernier had given Bournemouth the lead in the 41st minute with Cucho Hernandez equalising for Betis in the 57th minute.

Evanilson put Bournemouth back in front, before Pablo Fornals levelled again for the La Liga side late on.

The Cherries’ final pre-season friendly is against German side Mainz on 15 August (14:30 BST) before they begin their Premier League campaign against Manchester City on 23 August.

Tielemans cameo against PSG hints at Man Utd future

Youri Tielemans joined Manchester United on a deal running until June 2031

The sample size was only 26 minutes.

Yet the little combinations between Youri Tielemans and Bruno Fernandes after both were introduced in the second half of Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Paris St-Germain in Gothenburg drew an appreciative response from senior figures at the club.

With much made of United’s activity - or lack of - in the transfer market this summer, it was good timing that Tielemans could make his debut when Mason Mount, arguably the club’s player of pre-season, needed to be replaced after just 20 minutes.

Head coach Michael Carrick told Norwegian broadcaster VG post-match that Mount had come off as a precaution after taking a hefty blow to his foot. The former Chelsea midfielder walked freely past reporters to the team bus an hour after the final whistle.

Nevertheless, Tielemans was a surprise signing when Manchester United triggered a previously unknown £35m clause in the Belgian’s contract at Aston Villa to agree a five-year deal.

There was a lot of debate in the immediate aftermath about how much football the 29-year-old, who made his professional debut for Anderlecht when he was just 16, had played.

It obscured his talent.

Against PSG he did not do anything particularly special.

There were a couple of 45-yard cross-field passes that found their intended targets. There were some simple first-time lay-offs to team-mates within 10 yards.

There was also a short sprint just outside the United area to close down dangerman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia when Tielemans recognised the PSG star could be about to take possession within shooting distance.

He got there, won the ball and played a simple pass, taking the ball out of harm’s way.

This isn’t really what got the United contingent purring.

They were reacting to the little passes between Tielemans and Fernandes, which allowed United to ease their way out of trouble or move up the pitch.

Fernandes was the key man last season as United finished third. Nine goals and 21 assists was a decisive contribution in returning the club to the Champions League after a two-year absence.

Tielemans showed in his brief cameo he can take some of the pressure off the Portuguese.

“Youri has consistently been one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League throughout the past seven years,” said director of football Jason Wilcox on Tielemans’ signing.

“He will add further composure, creativity and leadership to our squad.”

“He has all of the technical qualities, as well as the ambition and mentality, to thrive at Manchester United.”

If Wilcox reflects on those words as United head off to the Republic of Ireland for their week-long training camp in Maynooth, he can be quite pleased with himself.

It was only 26 minutes, but on that evidence, he has got it spot on.

Carrick has confirmed Marcus Rashford will rejoin the Manchester United squad for their trip to the Republic of Ireland.

Rashford, England team-mate Kobbie Mainoo and Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez are the final three players to return for United after the World Cup.

Although it was not expected Rashford would return to the club when he joined Barcelona on loan in July 2025, the La Liga champions failed to trigger a £26m option to buy the 28-year-old at the end of the season.

Despite interest elsewhere, there has been no deal, meaning Rashford will return to United for the first time since January 2025, when he moved to Aston Villa after falling out with former manager Ruben Amorim.

United are training at the plush Carton House hotel in Maynooth and have a friendly with Leeds United at Croke Park on 12 August.

They complete their pre-season programme against Amorim’s new club AC Milan in Wroclaw on 15 August, when Rashford could make his first United appearance since December 2024 if Carrick decides Wednesday is too soon.

A former team-mate, coach and manager of Rashford, it has been felt if anyone can patch up the relationship between club and player - which includes his number 10 shirt being given to Matheus Cunha who is also due to be on the trip after a minor injury ruled him out of the Gothenburg encounter - it is Carrick.

“I’ve played with him. I played in the game he made his debut, so we have a history,” Carrick said.

“We have got a full squad this week in Dublin. We fly straight there and have a few days where we have the whole group back together. Marcus is part of that, and Kobbie [Mainoo] and Lisandro [Martinez]. We look forward to seeing them.”

Who will exit Chelsea? How Blues could cut 41-man squad

Chelsea are in the familiar position of having a large number of players on their books, with 41 senior players and only 25 days remaining in the transfer window to resolve the situation.

With no European football this campaign, new boss Xabi Alonso is keen to significantly reduce his squad - with a number of players either available for sale or on loan.

While the Blues can effectively register as many players as they want, despite the Premier League’s 25-man squad rule - with under-21 and homegrown regulations covering the vast majority of players on their books - the Spaniard knows having players not involved cannot be good for squad harmony.

But, even to get the squad down to a more manageable 25 senior players, Chelsea will need to offload 16 players by the start of September.

The Blues have had players stranded in a ‘bomb squad’ in the past, like Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi last season. That practice has since been outlawed by Fifa, increasing the importance of drastically reducing the squad.

Had Chelsea qualified for Europe they would have been at risk of being unable to register certain players, as was the case during their 2024-25 Conference League-winning campaign.

They are also bound by a Uefa settlement agreement for three more seasons, but European football’s governing body has acknowledged they have made efforts to improve their finances.

The Blues are accustomed to this level of player trading and are boosted by the fact they have largely built Alonso’s squad through the signings of Morgan Rogers, Marco Palestra, Danny Welbeck, Jordan Henderson and Maxence Lacroix, with full-back Pep Chavarria close to joining from Rayo Vallecano.

The size of the squad is an issue that needs addressing though. On Wednesday, they had 21 substitutes for their 1-0 defeat by Juventus in Hong Kong. Just five were academy players.

Chelsea were keen to carry a large squad into the final few days of their Asian tour. They face AC Milan in Indonesia on Saturday before taking on Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim on Sunday and will likely field two different XIs.

But, it remains a remarkable number given both Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill were absent from the midweek match because of knocks sustained in the previous friendly, and striker Emmanuel Emegha is continuing his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury at the training ground.

There are also five players not even training with the first team: Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, Marc Guiu, David Datro Fofana and Caleb Wiley. They are all available either for permanent or loan moves.

Seven players remain on holiday until next week having featured in the latter stages of the World Cup: Enzo Fernandez, Reece James, Rogers, Henderson, Lacroix, Valentin Barco and Malo Gusto.

Defender Trevoh Chalobah is close to joining Como for £31m, including add-ons, while goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is joining sister club Strasbourg on loan.

Chelsea are out of European football next season after finishing 10th in a campaign where Enzo Maresca left the club and Liam Rosenior was dismissed.

Alonso has some difficult decisions ahead.

His goalkeeping options appear set, with Robert Sanchez joined by exciting Belgian prospect Mike Penders, 21, following his impressive loan spell at French club Strasbourg, with Teddy Sharman-Lowe likely to serve as the third-choice understudy.

At full-back, club captain Reece James, also capable of playing in midfield, is joined on the right by Gusto and Palestra.

Chelsea have put a £75m price tag on Gusto after Manchester City emerged as potential suitors.

On the left, Chelsea have Jorrel Hato and are close to completing the £16.3m signing of Chavarria.

At centre-back, Chelsea have nine players and Alonso has said the group needs reducing to “four or five”.

Disasi and Badiashile are available for sale, while Mamadou Sarr is expected to depart on loan. That would leave new signing Lacroix competing with Levi Colwill, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo.

It remains unclear what will happen with Argentina Under-20 international Aaron Anselmino, although another loan move appears likely having spent last term with Borussia Dortmund and Strasbourg.

In midfield Chelsea have put a £120m price tag on Fernandez, who is exploring his options, although the club would also be happy to keep him.

He is joined by fellow key central midfielder Moises Caicedo, fit-again Romeo Lavia, new signing Barco, who can play a number of positions in that area, Henderson and Dario Essugo.

Essugo, 21, was previously told he would be staying but is open to a loan move because of his need for regular football after an injury-hit campaign.

In attack, the shock return of Mykhailo Mudryk is another situation Chelsea must manage.

The club insist all options remain open and are assessing his fitness following his return after 20 months out, because of a suspension relating to a positive test for the banned substance meldonium.

Jamie Gittens is another option on the left wing, while Pedro Neto and new arrival Geovany Quenda are primarily right-sided players. Cole Palmer and Rogers are the two number 10s, with Estevao Willian able to play across the frontline.

Chelsea would also like to have three strikers going into next season. Alongside Joao Pedro and summer signing Welbeck, one further forward is likely to remain in the squad.

That looks likely to be Emegha, although there remains uncertainty given Chelsea also have Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap on their books.

There is some overlap but, from information gathered by BBC Sport to date, this is the best projection of what Chelsea’s squad could look like.

Projected Chelsea squad: Sanchez, Penders, Sharman-Lowe, James, Palestra, Tosin, Fofana, Lacroix, Acheampong, Colwill, Hato, Chavarria, Caicedo, Fernandez, Barco, Lavia, Henderson, Quenda, Neto, Palmer, Estevao, Rogers, Gittens, Emegha, Joao Pedro, Welbeck.

Available for loan: Guiu, Wiley, Kellyman, Mheuka, Walsh, Kavuma-McQueen, Kendry Paez.

Available for sale/uncertain futures, with desired fees for some players in brackets: Badiashile (£30m), Disasi (£25m), Guiu (£25m), Datro Fofana, Delap, Jackson (£65m), Slonina, Gusto (£75m), Fernandez (£120m), Emegha, Neto, Essugo.

Chelsea have been stockpiling players for more than a decade, dating back to former owner Roman Abramovich’s reign.

Under Abramovich, they had as many as 42 players out on loan before Fifa introduced limits designed to curb the practice.

However, since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took charge in 2022 Chelsea have acquired Strasbourg, adding to the growing number of multi-club ownership models across Europe.

They also embarked on a strategy of signing younger players on lower wages, who can be moved in and out as required.

Among those signings was midfielder Andrey Santos, who arrived for £12m after a season in Brazil’s second division before being sold to Manchester United for £50m.

Chelsea have spent £1.8bn on acquiring talent since BlueCo took over the club four years ago, comfortably more than any other club in Europe.

However, they have also raised nearly £1bn through player sales, including a Premier League record £300m, again the highest figure in Europe during that period.

Chelsea are expected to make a similar number of sales this summer, with Chalobah’s move to Como taking their total beyond £150m and Alejandro Garnacho’s loan move to Aston Villa including an obligation to buy set to be worth about £40m next summer.

They have the lowest revenues among the traditional ‘big six’ clubs.

That is largely because of the size of Stamford Bridge, commercial underperformance, a kit deal with Adidas that has not kept pace with rivals, the absence of a front-of-shirt sponsor and missing out on Champions League football in three of the past four seasons.

It is player trading that makes up much of that shortfall, in much the same way as it does for Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth, albeit with loftier ambitions of winning trophies and qualifying for the Champions League.

Van de Ven close to agreeing new Spurs contract

Micky van de Ven is close to agreeing a new five-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur.

The Netherlands international defender joined from Wolfsburg in 2023 on a six-year agreement that runs until 2029.

BBC Sport understands Van de Ven was considering his future in north London before the appointment of Roberto de Zerbi in March.

The arrival of the Italian manager, who helped keep Spurs in the Premier League, has been crucial in the 25-year-old’s decision to seek new terms.

“It’s really good that you can see the club has made some changes,” Van de Ven told BBC Sport in July.

“You can see the club has a new ambition. It’s something that’s really important for players who have been here for a long time.

“Last season was a stressful season, unacceptable from our side, so to leave all of that behind and go into the new season fresh means a lot.”

Tottenham have finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons and their battle to stay in the top flight ran to the final day of the 2025-2026 campaign.

After a turbulent nine months featuring three managers, Van de Ven said he is looking forward to a brighter future under De Zerbi.

“It’s going to be different compared to the manager we had last season,” Van de Ven said.

“It’s also going to be more enjoyable for people to watch because we’ll be playing offensive football.

“It is something we needed because everybody was a little bit down.”

Arsenal set to sign Newcastle captain Guimaraes

Bruno Guimaraes has appeared 48 times for Brazil

Arsenal are set to complete their protracted move for Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes.

BBC Sport reported on 30 July that Guimaraes was expected to move to the Premier League champions following a breakthrough in talks.

And a full agreement is now almost done, with Guimaraes waiting for permission to leave Newcastle’s training base in La Manga, in Spain, to finalise the formalities of his move to Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are now making preparations for the Brazil midfielder’s medical this week. There is no confirmation of a fee but sources are indicating it could reach £80m.

Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle from Lyon in 2022, has made clear his intention to join Arsenal as the 28-year-old has emerged as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice central midfield target.

Newcastle and Arsenal have been discussing the finer terms of the deal this week with a final agreement now considered a formality.

Why Liverpool are ready to make Barcola third £100m signing

Liverpool have twice paid more than £100m for players - midfielder Florian Wirtz and striker Alexander Isak - and could be about to do so again.

Paris St-Germain and France winger Bradley Barcola has become a main target for Liverpool, with the Reds prepared to pay about £100m, while PSG are holding out for somewhere near £145m.

Liverpool, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season, 25 points behind champions Arsenal, could eventually end up paying Bayer Leverkusen £116m for Wirtz, while they shelled out a club record £125m to sign Isak from Newcastle.

And they could be about to break the bank for 23-year-old Barcola, who was part of France’s squad at the World Cup.

He came on as a second-half substitute in both the past two Champions League finals, when PSG beat Inter Milan 5-0 in 2024-25 and then in May when they edged past Arsenal on penalties to retain their title.

Barcola moved to PSG from Lyon in 2023 for a reported £38.5m and has since also won three Ligue 1 titles, the French Cup twice, as well as the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Intercontinental Cup.

He is right footed, although he prefers to play on the left wing, but can also play on the right or through the middle.

However, with PSG also having Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and France’s Desire Doue as wide options, Barcola does not play 90 minutes every match so a move to Anfield would give him more playing time.

With Mohamed Salah leaving on a free transfer at the end of last season having scored 257 goals in a hugely successful nine-year spell with the Reds, Liverpool clearly need to strengthen their attack.

France forward Hugo Ekitike ruptured his Achilles tendon in April and is not expected to play again in 2026, while Cody Gakpo, another who can play on the left and in the middle, has been linked with a move to Tottenham, although Liverpool say they do not want to sell.

The Reds’ other current attacking options include 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, Italy forward Federico Chiesa and new signing Victor Munoz.

Barcola has played 28 times for France and scored three goals in this summer’s World Cup, including in the 6-4 loss to England in the third-place play-off.

However, like at club level, his game time was limited because of the skills of his 21-year-old PSG team-mate Doue.

Boss Didier Deschamps stuck with Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele on the right and rotated Barcola and Doue, with both men starting four of France’s eight World Cup matches, but never in the same game.

At first glance, Barcola looks like the natural successor to Luis Diaz.

Liverpool chose not to sign a direct replacement after the Colombian’s departure last summer, but the underlying data suggests the PSG forward could fill that void.

Opta’s player similarity model rates the Frenchman as the winger whose output most closely resembled Diaz’s across Europe’s top five leagues in 2025-26 (78%), with Mohamed Salah (65%), Lamine Yamal (61%) and Vinicius Junior (61%) the next closest matches.

A closer look, however, suggests Liverpool would not simply be replacing one winger with another.

Barcola is a left winger by trade, having played almost all of his Champions League minutes for PSG on that flank, but his game is shaped by a centre-forward’s instincts. He played as a striker until the age of 17, something reflected in his movement and shot selection.

Last season, he averaged 3.5 shots per 90 minutes in Ligue 1, placing him among the division’s most active shooters despite operating from wide areas.

His 9.83 expected goals (xG) ranked in the 95th percentile among wingers across Europe’s top five leagues, meaning only around 5% of wide players consistently found themselves in better goalscoring positions.

Barcola converted those chances into 11 league goals, outperforming his xG, while no PSG player or Ligue 1 winger recorded a higher xG total during the 2025-26 campaign.

Those instincts are reflected in how he attacks defenders. Barcola was the only player across Europe’s top five leagues to average more than two shot-ending carries per 90 minutes (2.06), illustrating his ability to drive at opponents before creating shooting opportunities for himself.

He also averaged 8.69 touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 minutes - the seventh-highest figure among more than 1,500 eligible players - reinforcing the profile of a winger who consistently occupies goalscoring positions.

His shot map highlights a player who attacks dangerous central areas rather than settling for speculative efforts from distance. Only Ousmane Dembele had a better combined shot volume with chance creation in Ligue 1, underlining Barcola’s rare ability to both finish attacks and create opportunities for team-mates.

The comparison with Salah is equally revealing. While both pose a significant goal threat, Barcola is a more direct ball carrier.

He attempted more take-ons per 90 than the Egypt forward last season (4.26 to 3.38), but created fewer chances (2.16 to 2.33), attempted far fewer crosses (1.15 to 4.89) and through balls (0.25 to 0.59).

The numbers point towards a player who looks to eliminate defenders himself rather than orchestrate attacks from wide areas.

There are also signs that his game continues to evolve under Luis Enrique.

Barcola’s passing profile across his three Champions League campaigns at PSG has become increasingly focused on progressing play in the final third, reflecting greater tactical maturity.

Rather than dribbling at every opportunity, he now shows a better understanding of when to accelerate attacks and when to recycle possession.

His work without the ball is another reason Liverpool’s recruitment team are understood to admire him. Barcola ranked ninth across Europe’s top five leagues for possessions won in the final third last season, a metric that reflects the aggressive pressing and intensity likely to be demanded under Andoni Iraola.

That profile may suit Liverpool’s evolving attack. With Wirtz excelling at releasing runners between the lines, and Ekitike and Isak expected to occupy central defenders, Liverpool arguably need another player capable of attacking space rather than demanding the ball to feet.

Barcola’s willingness to make penetrative runs and arrive in goalscoring positions could provide exactly that.

Perhaps most encouragingly for any prospective buyer, there is reason to believe Barcola has not yet reached his ceiling.

A late physical developer, he has already transformed from a promising Lyon academy graduate into a two-time Champions League winner with PSG.

At just 23, his blend of pace, intelligent movement, elite shot volume, relentless pressing and growing creative output suggests one of Europe’s most complete young wide forwards is still improving.

Newcastle sign Braga keeper Hornicek for £25.7m

Lukas Hornicek has made one senior appearance for the Czech Republic

Newcastle United have signed goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Braga for £25.7m.

Although Newcastle had already brought in 20-year-old Ewen Jaouen from Reims this summer, the club had also been in the market for a more established number one.

Hornicek, 24, flew out to Newcastle’s training camp in Spain at the weekend to finalise his move and sign a five-year contract after the club activated his release clause.

“The last few days have been an emotional rollercoaster from when I first heard about the move and now I’m so happy to be here,” the Czech Republic international said.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity in a new league, which I’m very excited about. From the very first moment I arrived here, I received a fantastic welcome and really felt the warmth of the club. Everyone has been brilliant in helping me settle in.

“I know Newcastle is a huge football city, with 52,000 fans at St James’ Park creating an incredible atmosphere and pushing the team every game. I can’t wait to play in front of them.”

Newcastle had tracked Hornicek’s progress as he kept seven clean sheets during Braga’s run to the Europa League semi-finals last season, which was the most of any goalkeeper in the competition.

As well as attempting to keep the ball out of the net, Opta data revealed Hornicek ranked second for successful passes (846) and fourth for passing accuracy (75%) of goalkeepers in Portugal’s top-flight last season.

Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson said the 24-year-old’s “progress in recent years has been remarkable”.

“He has firmly established himself as one of Europe’s top young goalkeepers,” Wilson said.

“We knew there would be no shortage of clubs interested in acquiring Lukas this summer after everything he achieved last season, but it quickly became evident how keen he was to be a part of what we are building here.”

A rebuild was always on the cards on Tyneside this summer, not least in the goalkeeping department.

Leaky Newcastle kept just eight clean sheets in the Premier League last season and conceded 55 goals, 15th overall with only relegated Burnley, West Ham and Wolves plus Leeds and Tottenham below them.

Newcastle’s outfield players clearly did not offer enough protection, but goalkeeper Nick Pope made a handful of significant errors leading to goals while Aaron Ramsdale never fully convinced during his loan spell and has since returned to Southampton.

A new number one was therefore a priority and Newcastle have once again looked to the continent.

The club have mainly targeted players aged 20 and under from abroad, having already recruited Jaouen, Sean Steur, Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba, so Hornicek will feel like something of an elder statesman in comparison.

But the Czech only made his breakthrough as a regular starter at Braga 18 months ago and will not have much time to prepare for the physicality of the Premier League.

Hornicek’s stature will certainly help - he’s 6ft 6in tall - and his ability to play out from the back will give this side something different as a new cycle begins under head coach Mattias Jaissle, whose appointment will soon be formally announced.

Liverpool ship four second-half goals to leave Iraola with much to ponder

Liverpool leave their USA pre-season tour with two wins and one defeat

On the flight home from Chicago, as he reflects on the 4-2 loss to Leeds that ended Liverpool’s United States tour, manager Andoni Iraola will have plenty to think about.

The first-half display was arguably the best since he took charge of Liverpool, but the second was categorically their worst as they conceded four times without reply inside 25 minutes.

Iraola did make a raft of changes at the break and in the second half but that is no excuse for the way they capitulated against Daniel Farke’s side.

Their lack of squad depth and physicality was alarmingly exposed and Iraola will be concerned with the ease with which Leeds scored, albeit against an inexperienced backline that finished with Calvin Ramsay, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Mor Talla Ndiaye and Kostas Tsimikas.

With Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz making their return, Liverpool were excellent in the first half and it is important not to be too critical but perhaps Iraola will be glad in the long-run that he saw this second-half display, where Liverpool’s set-piece deficiencies were highlighted too.

The intensity Iraola demands on the training pitch was evident in the first half but seemed non-existent after the break. Senior figures like Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa did not cover themselves in glory.

“I particularly hate this month of August because you start the competitions and you still don’t know if some of the players are going to leave and who’s going to come - there is a lot of uncertainty,” said Iraola, earlier in the week.

Iraola will meet Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Alisson Becker and new signing Victor Munoz over the coming days at the AXA Training Centre.

By then, the only first-team player he will have yet to meet will be Alexis Mac Allister, who has been granted extra time off following Argentina’s run to the World Cup final. Munoz, who did not play a minute in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign, will return earlier to aid his integration into the squad.

However, over the course of a fortnight in America, Liverpool have had no incomings. That was in part because Iraola wanted to see the squad at his disposal before making decisions. What he saw in this defeat will play into those decisions.

“I think we learn a lot of things. Obviously it’s not the result you want but I think (it was) probably the most useful friendly we played – in a positive way in the first half and in a negative way in the second half,” said Iraola. “I think we’ve learned a lot and I think we can take good conclusions and solve some things.”

Wirtz scored seven goals for Liverpool last season

Even before the second-half troubles, Iraola would have known that there was no time to waste as he plans for the start of the season, his starting 11 reflecting this with Isak and Wirtz in against Leeds - even if the state of the pitch suggested that could be a risk.

The inclusion of a pair who cost a combined £225m last summer also gave the teamsheet the star quality befitting the host city of Chicago, home to both the Lollapalooza Festival and Major League Baseball series between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs over the weekend.

And in what was Liverpool’s best half of the tour, Isak looked sharp and Wirtz scored as they suffocated Leeds with their press and moved the ball around with confidence.

Their early breakthrough came from an unlikely source. Luke Chambers spent the second half of last season on loan at Charlton Athletic but, given Liverpool’s centre-half crisis, the left-back moved inside against Wrexham in Liverpool’s previous friendly and kept his place.

Fresh from impressing Iraola in New York, Chambers hammered home from inside the box in the seventh minute after Milos Kerkez got a touch on Szoboszlai’s corner.

Rio Ngumoha caused havoc down his preferred left flank while 19-year-old Trey Nyoni continued his excellent pre-season with another solid showing. In the 40th minute, he floated a ball across to Jeremie Frimpong, who cut it back to Wirtz and the German did the rest. It was a wonderful team goal that involved Isak too.

Nyoni has been linked with a loan move this summer but on these showings, the midfielder will surely stay and get more minutes for Liverpool this season.

He only played 229 minutes in 2025-26 but Iraola has spoken glowingly about his attributes, not least his confidence on the ball and his desire to go direct.

Foden aims to repay Man City faith in fresh start

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is aiming to “repay” the faith shown in him by the club as he aims for a “fresh start” under new manager Enzo Maresca.

The 26-year-old scored 19 goals as City won the Premier League in 2023-24 and was named the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year and the league’s player of the season.

However, he has not managed to hit those heights in the past two seasons - scoring 10 times last term, but failing to net in his past 31 appearances for club and country.

Despite his struggles, Foden was offered a new contract by City and signed a four-year deal last month to keep him at Etihad Stadium until 2030.

“It has made me feel relaxed and I can just concentrate on being the best version of me and give back to the football club for them trusting in me,” Foden said.

“It is nice to see the support from the club and obviously it means a lot.

“It’s about time I try and repay them and give back to the club.”

Foden was given his first-team debut as a 17-year-old by former manager Pep Guardiola and has gone on to make 369 appearances for City, winning six Premier League titles, one Champions League and two FA Cups.

Guardiola left at the end of last season and Italian Maresca was named as his replacement, returning to the club where he previously worked in the academy and as first-team assistant.

Asked how he was feeling this summer, academy product Foden said: “Very good - a fresh start, a new manager and up to now, really enjoying it.

“It is very strange but I know Enzo from before, so that also helps. I know him quite well and what [he] is about.

“That has definitely helped, to have that relationship with him.”

Foden started for England in their 2024 European Championship final defeat by Spain but missed out on a place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.

The Three Lions reached the semi-finals of the tournament before losing 2-1 to Argentina, and Foden said it was hard watching them walk out for the national anthem before games.

Foden said Maresca had checked in with him after he was left out of Tuchel’s squad.

Foden said: “He [Maresca] reached out just after to see if it was OK, which was very nice of him, to show us this character and the person he is.

“He cares about everyone and wants to have a good relationship with the team.”

Foden struggled last season with a combination of off-field issues and an ankle injury, but says he is now “fully fit”.

Asked about Foden’s role in the team, Maresca said: “Phil is very important, like the rest. Knowing Phil from years ago, I know how good he is.

“It is my duty to help him be the Phil we all want.

“First of all, to be happy and enjoy football is most important. If he feels good, he can help us win titles.”

Maresca will take charge of City for the first time in Saturday’s friendly against Inter Milan in Hong Kong.

Despite losing the experience and knowhow of Guardiola, captain Bernardo Silva and England defender John Stones, Foden feels City can achieve “amazing things” next season.

Speaking at the club’s new Puma away kit launch in Hong Kong, Foden said: “I think we can win everything, but it’s obviously hard. We have still got an unbelievable team.”

Intensity, smiles & Lewandowski - inside Liverpool training under Iraola

Liverpool finish their pre-season tour of the USA against Leeds on Sunday

As Liverpool’s first open training session under Andoni Iraola began, Robert Lewandowski was taking penalties in the background.

The session took place at the performance centre of Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire, where the 37-year-old Pole now plays.

Under gloomy skies, Lewandowski blazed a spot-kick over the bar as Fire’s training session came to an end and Iraola’s got under way.

Here is what we learned from Liverpool’s session.

Earlier this week, a video was posted on social media of Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones - who has been linked with a move to Inter Milan - having a heated argument at the end of Liverpool’s win over Wrexham on Wednesday.

Asked about the situation on Thursday, Szoboszlai played it down, insisting all the players “were in the same boat” in terms of wanting the best for the club and each other.

Regardless, Szoboszlai, Jones and Kostas Tsimikas, who was also in the clip, walked out together in good spirits, doing keepy-uppies and joking with each other right in front of the cameras.

All smiles, to say the least.

The argument was understood to be related to the fact that Szoboszlai had given Tsimikas the captain’s armband instead of Jones but, by Friday, it seemed to have settled.

A little bit of passion is never a bad thing in an elite sporting environment but, with the way footage can be captured from anyone inside a stadium, sometimes it is better to keep things behind closed doors.

It was far from ideal - and it served as a reminder for Iraola that he must appoint a vice-captain soon, with the vacancy open after Andy Robertson’s departure.

Record signing Alexander Isak also returned to Liverpool training this week.

He, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch all missed the trip to New York, where Liverpool beat Wrexham 1-0 in their second pre-season fixture, but are expected to feature on Sunday against Leeds.

Jeremy Jacquet missed training but was in the gym as the club carefully manage his recovery from the shoulder injury he sustained in February.

The centre-back is a doubt for the weekend, despite Iraola suggesting earlier in the week that he would feature.

Joe Gomez, who has been ruled out for the start of the Premier League season, was also in the gym.

Once the warm-ups were done, the intensity in Iraola’s drills was clear to see. He likes to get heavily involved and was particularly animated, using phrases like “play in possession” and “quicker, quicker” repeatedly.

There were celebrations between players whenever they scored in the mini-drills and the atmosphere was generally positive, with Iraola unafraid to step in and point out something, or discuss a player’s position.

The squad then separated, with one group moving on to a smaller pitch for a nine-a-side match while another group worked on set-pieces with Iraola’s assistants, Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper.

Wirtz was on corner duty, while Elphick even put on a bib to get involved.

Watching on was Mike Gordon, the Fenway Sports Group president, who is now overseeing Liverpool operations again. He is expected to be at the game on Sunday at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Liverpool had a team dinner on Thursday evening, with Iraola sharing a beer with the likes of Phil Thompson and Robbie Fowler after.

Thompson told BBC Sport they spoke about a number of things, from the season ahead to their families.

Iraola was not even born when former defender Thompson won the third of his three European Cups for Liverpool. But this was a sign of the new head coach recognising the legends of the club and the weight they still carry.

Iraola still has three weeks before his first Premier League game as Liverpool manager - but the seeds of his tenure are getting planted here in the Windy City.

Four pointers to most open Premier League title race in years

Is the Premier League due a wide open title race?

Three of the traditional “big six” have new managers, the defending champions have a key injury and Tottenham and Chelsea are breaking transfer records.

After years of Manchester City dominance followed by Liverpool and Arsenal winning titles by at least seven points, the Premier League is due a wide open, unpredictable, multi-club title race.

Here are four reasons why 2026-27 could be that season.

How do you replace the irreplaceable?

Manchester City are often title favourites having won six of the past nine Premier League trophies, but they start this new season without their greatest ever manager, Pep Guardiola.

The 55-year-old led City to 17 major trophies in 10 years, but left at the end of last season and has since been replaced by his former assistant Enzo Maresca.

Maresca has been out of work since stepping down as Chelsea boss in January.

The Blues also have a new gaffer. They replaced Maresca with Liam Rosenior in January but he was let go before the end of the season and now former Liverpool player Xabi Alonso is at the helm.

Alonso won the Bundesliga with an invincible Bayer Leverkusen team two years ago but last term had a difficult spell in charge of Real Madrid.

Many thought he would replace 2024-25 title-winner Arne Slot at Liverpool but the Reds instead have appointed Andoni Iraola, who finished sixth with Bournemouth last season.

That’s three huge clubs with three new managers.

What’s more, Manchester United’s Michael Carrick and Tottenham’s Roberto de Zerbi only took charge part way through last season.

So five of the traditional big six will start to the new campaign with a different manager to the one they had at the start of last season.

Only Mikel Arteta of Arsenal, appointed in 2019, remains.

As defending champions and with an experienced manager, Arsenal are favourites for the Premier League title.

But a lengthy injury to a key starter could affect their title chances.

The club have said defender William Saliba is set to miss an “extended period” after suffering a back injury while at the World Cup with France.

Saliba, 25, made 50 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal last season and his formidable partnership with team-mate Gabriel was a big factor in them conceding fewer goals than anyone else in the division.

Arsenal have a tricky start to the season, facing Aston Villa and Chelsea in two of their first three matches.

Since Saliba’s debut in 2022, Arsenal have won 68.7% of their Premier League matches when he has been in the team (131 games).

When he has been sidelined, that win percentage drops to 47.6% (21 games).

Last season, Manchester United played just 40 matches in all competitions, their fewest in a single campaign since 1914-15, and finished third.

Chelsea played 59 matches in all competitions and finished 10th.

Tottenham played 52 matches in all competitions and avoided relegation on the final day, finishing 17th.

Playing more matches does not always correlate with a lower league finish. Arsenal, for instance, won the Premier League title last season while reaching both the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals.

But fewer matches in other competitions does mean a team can rotate less, often have a full week of preparation between games and be less susceptible to injuries.

Spurs had a staggering 27 different players sidelined at some point last season.

Next season Chelsea and Tottenham are not playing European football whereas Manchester United and eight other Premier League clubs are.

United have responded by targeting midfielders in the transfer market, having bought Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectfully.

But will those two additions be enough to cover the club’s increased workload?

Chelsea and Tottenham both underperformed last season, but the pair could pick up this term after going big in the transfer window.

Chelsea made England midfielder Morgan Rogers the most expensive British player in history this month by signing him from Aston Villa for a fee of £117m.

They’ve also spent £47m on full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta and are close to deals for Danny Welbeck, Jordan Henderson and Maxence Lacroix.

Tottenham have almost matched Chelsea’s spending, parting with a club record £237m this summer.

In July, Spurs broke their transfer record twice in two days, first signing midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85m before bringing in Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100m.

They’ve also picked up Jan Paul van Hecke, for £52m from Brighton, Marcos Senesi, Andrew Robertson and Martin Dubravka.

With so many new signings and different managers, who knows what to expect?

Manager Howe to leave Newcastle with immediate effect

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is set to leave the club with immediate effect, sources have told BBC Sport.

Howe came under pressure last season as Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League after losing 17 of their 38 games.

The 48-year-old’s final match in charge was a 4-1 defeat by Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.

Matthias Jaissle, manager of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, is expected to be appointed as Howe’s successor.

Howe joined Newcastle in November 2021, a month after the Saudi Public Investment Fund bought the club.

Well-placed sources have indicated a measure of surprise from Howe at the club’s transfer business so far this summer, though he was aware of the necessity for the club to sell players.

Earlier this year, Howe decided to remain at St James’ Park regardless of the inevitably of sales, but his perspective changed over the summer.

In March, Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson said the club were “not having those conversations” about a change of manager “at the moment”.

Newcastle spent in the region of £240m on new players 12 months ago, but Howe was left frustrated by the departure of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool.

In January, he described losing Isak as “ever-challenging”, and in several media conferences stressed the need for reinforcements.

Howe has lost two key players this summer - Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, while Arsenal are chasing captain Bruno Guimaraes.

Howe replaced Steve Bruce as manager and ended Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the 2025 Carabao Cup.

He led the Magpies to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025.

Last season, Newcastle reached the last-16 of the Champions League before losing 8-3 on aggregate to Barcelona.

Their EFL Cup defence ended in the semi-finals, but their league performance was severely underwhelming after finishing fifth in 2024-25.

Newcastle won 84 of their 179 Premier League games under Howe, drawing 38 and losing 57.

He oversaw more Premier League wins than any other Newcastle manager. His Premier League win percentage of 46.9% at the club is bettered only by Kevin Keegan.

Charlotte Robson, True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast: The timing, for me, is the thing that is difficult to understand. We could have done this in May, at the end of the season, when a lot of high-calibre managers were looking for new clubs. It was clear, at that point, that Eddie Howe needed a break. One of the things we have loved about him as a manager is how much he clearly cares about the team and the club and the city. Our poor performances in the latter part of the season were taking a visible toll on him. Perhaps it would have been a better idea for this amicable separation to have happened at that point?

Ben: Eddie Howe gave Newcastle its spark back - hauling the club out of the relegation scrap, delivering that unforgettable Champions League return, rebuilding players who looked finished, and serving up some of the most fearless football St James’ Park has seen in years. His time was full of graft, pride and proper memories, and whatever comes next, he’s earned every bit of respect in Newcastle. Local hero.

Roger: This is a total disaster. For years, Eddie Howe has been the cool headed master tactician and inspiration of the club’s success. He will be difficult to replace. Right now Newcastle look like a serious relegation prospect.

Hazel: Heartbroken season-ticket holder! Eddie Howe performed nothing short of miracles turning the team around and going on to win the cup. Despite the mess at the end of last season, management changes, PSR rules and injuries, he did a reasonable job to hold things together. I thought the new recruits were positive given his ability to develop players. Positive anticipation of coming season has just evaporated. Same old Newcastle.

Tom: If there was ever a worst possible time to lose a manager, it’s now: middle of pre-season. This I think will set us back years. Eddie got Newcastle and the city. He had an awful season last year but I think he earned the benefit of the doubt. He’s lost two, maybe about to be three, of his best players. And although we recruited with young talent, we have not recruited anyone with any proven Premier League experience. I hope I am wrong but this could be our downfall. Thank you Eddie for giving us some of the best memories.

Simon: I understand Newcastle fans’ frustrations with last season, but the ‘Eddie Howe out’ crew need to be careful what they’ve wished for. Only time will now tell and I hope for the sake of the club that we move forward positively. Eddie has to leave with everyone’s best wishes for what he has brought to the club.

Why Chelsea want to sign older players

Chelsea are targeting deals for Maxence Lacroix, Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson - and the ages of the experienced trio seem to signal a major change in transfer tactics from the Blues.

At 26, it could be said that Crystal Palace and France defender Lacroix is in his prime, but the £52m target is still notably older than other recent Blues signings.

It has been two years since Chelsea signed a player older than Lacroix, and Tosin Adarabioyo was only marginally older when he arrived three months before turning 27.

Meanwhile, Brighton striker Welbeck is 35 and keen to move to Stamford Bridge, and Brentford and England midfielder Henderson is 36.

Welbeck’s potential arrival could mean he replaces 23-year-old Liam Delap in the first-team picture.

That is despite Delap having been considered one of the Premier League’s most exciting young strikers when Chelsea signed him from Ipswich Town last year.

So does this signal a deliberate change in recruitment strategy - prioritising experience over youth? And what might Chelsea have learned from recent seasons?

In the months that followed the club’s takeover four years ago, then manager Thomas Tuchel went on a spending spree.

His first major signing was Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling - aged 27 at the time - for up to £50m including add-ons. After winning four Premier League titles at City and helping England reach the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, there was much excitement.

Sterling at Chelsea didn’t work out though. Despite moments of brilliance, Sterling struggled for form and fitness as the team went on to finish 12th in the 2022-23 season.

For a player reportedly earning over £300,000 a week, his performances fell well short of expectations. Sterling eventually left on a free transfer in January 2026.

Kalidou Koulibaly’s arrival from Napoli for £33m also didn’t end well. Rated at the time as one of European club football’s top centre-backs, the Senegalese player - then 31 - was out of the door after just one season, joining Al-Hilal.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is another experienced player whose time at Stamford Bridge was short-lived. The former AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal striker signed from Barcelona for £10.3m on the final day of the summer transfer window - just days before Tuchel’s sacking.

Aubameyang - 33 when he joined - struggled to find form or game time under subsequent bosses Graham Potter and Frank Lampard and, like Sterling, ended up leaving the club on a free transfer.

After such a poor return from their investment, it is perhaps no surprise that there was a shift in recruitment policy, as Chelsea switched their focus to signing younger players.

Chelsea made a major investment in a World Cup winner in January 2023 when they signed Argentina star Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for a then-British record fee of £107m. The move came just two weeks after his 22nd birthday.

Across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, Fernandez registered an impressive 24 assists in all competitions - including the Club World Cup - trailing only Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah among Premier League players.

Chelsea made another nine-figure move just seven months later to sign Moises Caicedo - then 21 - from Brighton.

His £100m price tag - rising to a potential £115m - seemed hard to justify at first as the Ecuadorian had a slow start at Stamford Bridge.

Since then, Caicedo has established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading midfielders.

Caicedo was the joint leader for interceptions in the Premier League last season (59, the same number as James Garner of Everton).

The initial £40m the club paid Manchester City for Cole Palmer - also 21 at the time in September 2023 - has also looked like money well spent.

Palmer was the club’s top scorer in his first season.

Only Erling Haaland (76), Salah (54) and Ollie Watkins (51) have scored more goals than Palmer, with 47, in the Premier League since he joined.

Then there are the signings that haven’t worked out.

Mykhailo Mudryk was 22 when he joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk for an initial fee of £62m, potentially rising to £89m including add-ons. The Ukraine winger, now 25, has been sidelined for over 18 months after an “adverse finding in a routine urine test” led to a provisional suspension in December 2024.

The winger has since been served with a four-year ban by the Football Association and has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Joao Felix struggled to make an impact during two stints at Chelsea. His first loan spell in 2023 at the age of 23 started with a red card in his first game.

A permanent move followed a year later but he struggled to justify the fee - somewhere in the region of £45m - and scored just once in 12 Premier League games before being sold to Al-Nassr.

After joining from Leicester for about £70m at the age of 21, Wesley Fofana’s time at Chelsea has been plagued by injury.

The France international, who was not selected for his country’s World Cup squad, could be under scrutiny as the club look to reduce the size of their squad.

For a club to have spent as much as Chelsea, it is no surprise fans might be frustrated with the returns - or lack of them.

The 12th-placed Premier League finish in 2022-23 - the first season since the takeover by the BlueCo consortium - was clearly a big disappointment.

Improvements followed, with sixth and fourth in the next two campaigns signalling strides in the right direction, but finishing 10th last season was another big blow.

Since 2022, Chelsea have won two trophies: the Conference League and the Club World Cup.

But for owners with such big ambitions, they will surely feel like their expectations haven’t yet been met.

If his previous managerial approach is anything to go by, Xabi Alonso favours a blend of youth and experience.

The Spaniard signed four players over the age of 27 for the 2023-24 season at Bayer Leverkusen. They included Granit Xhaka and Alejandro Grimaldo - two key players in their Bundesliga title-winning side.

Another four players over the age of 27 came the following season.

It could be a similar story now at Chelsea.

Owner Behdad Eghbali said Chelsea would “tweak” their model and add experience to what he still believes is a strong core of young players, including Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill.

Welbeck joining Chelsea would be another sign of a shift in strategy.

Their move for him follows attempts to sign 33-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka from Sunderland, with the Black Cats refusing to sell the Switzerland captain.

Although the arrival of Rogers, 23, fits the club’s preferred policy of signing younger players, he brings significant Premier League experience.

The Blues are also expected to complete a £52m move for Lacroix, 26 - further Premier League-ready experience.

It is clear that Welbeck’s arrival would leave Chelsea with an abundance of attacking options for a season when they are not involved in European competition so do not necessarily need such resources.

At his age, Welbeck may be content to provide cover for Joao Pedro, but the move would represent bad news for several other forwards.

Nicolas Jackson is open to leaving, while Delap and Emmanuel Emegha had hoped to establish themselves under Alonso.

Nevertheless, the Chelsea manager is getting what he wants: experience and strong personalities to address shortcomings that contributed to the team’s 10th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Liverpool's centre-back situation and why Iraola must act

Joe Gomez was forced off injured in Liverpool’s first game under Andoni Iraola

Two centre-backs caught the eye of Liverpool’s scouting department at the U17 World Cup in Qatar last November.

Within weeks, the club spent a combined £3.5m on the pair: Senegal’s Mor Talla Ndiaye and Austria’s Ifeanyi Ndukwe.

Under Matt Newberry, Liverpool’s director of global talent, this was evidence of future planning in full flow.

Yet surely no-one inside the club would have expected the teenage duo to be the centre-back pairing for most of Liverpool’s opening pre-season fixture.

With Joe Gomez forced off by injury in the eighth minute against Sunderland, and neither Jeremy Jacquet or Giovanni Leoni fit to play still, Liverpool have a problem at the heart of their defence.

Looking at the long term is one thing, but they need reinforcements in the here and now.

Even before the injury, new head coach Andoni Iraola said his squad was “very thin” defensively.

Gomez was absent from Liverpool’s training session in Chicago on Sunday and an update on the severity of his injury is expected this week.

He is Liverpool’s longest-serving current player but has now missed 225 games because of injury, according to Transfermarkt, since signing from Charlton in 2015.

Virgil van Dijk is the club’s only fit senior centre-back. The Liverpool captain is 35 and played every minute in the Premier League last season, but he is not the force that he used to be.

The Dutchman, like Gomez, is also into the last year of his contract at Anfield. There is a possibility both players will move on next summer.

One of the reasons why Liverpool allowed Ibrahima Konate to leave on a free transfer and join Real Madrid was because they felt Jacquet, 21, and Leoni, 19, whose transfers weighed in at £60m and £26m respectively, were the best young centre-backs in France and Italy.

Perhaps they will prove inspired signings, with Jacquet in line to make his debut against Leeds on Sunday.

Liverpool will give them every opportunity to fulfil their potential, but right now, just like Ndiaye and Ndukwe, both are far from the finished product.

“We need players. It’s fairly obvious,” former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler told BBC Sport in New York, where the Reds take on Wrexham on Wednesday.

“I’m very sad for Joe Gomez, who has been so unfortunate with injuries. This could have been a real chance to cement his place and for him to show that we don’t need another centre-half.

“We’ve spent money on Jacquet and Leoni and the guidance that Joe and Virgil can give from their experience to the young lads is telling.

“We won’t see the best version of the young lads yet, but you do need that experience in the squad. And yes, the manager’s been on record saying that we need players and I would not be surprised if another centre-half is in that conversation.”

From the outside, Liverpool’s failure to seal a move for Marc Guehi last summer looks even more interesting now.

They have a buyback clause with Jarell Quansah, who left for Bayer Leverkusen for £35m last July, but there are no current plans for Quansah to return.

Sources stress that if Liverpool bring in Bradley Barcola, who Paris St-Germain value in excess of £100m, then there will be limitations to what more they can do in the market.

Deals for Jacquet and Victor Munoz have cost a combined £94.5m.

Without any major outgoings from Iraola’s squad, there is an understanding that this summer will not be like last summer when a club record £450m was spent.

Fowler, who scored 183 times for the Reds, said: “When you look at Liverpool across the last decade, one of the problems that we’ve had is that the first 11 is more than capable but the argument that people have is the squad depth.

“I’m a big believer in getting the squad right because it gives everyone a lift and keeps people on their toes, knowing that if you’re not performing, someone else could do the job.

“Go back to the days of Phil Neal and he’ll tell you stories about how players would never want to get injured because they knew that if someone else came, they wouldn’t get their place back.

“You need that mentality and I think that has a real knock-on effect on standards.”

In six months from last summer through to January 2026, Liverpool agreed deals for five centre-backs who were aged 20 or under at the time - Leoni, Ndiaye, Ndukwe, Noah Adekoya and Jacquet.

It is worth noting that Ndukwe, who was impressive against Sunderland, must go out on loan this year as he does not yet meet the criteria for a UK work permit.

The long-term potential of centre-backs is not a concern at Anfield.

But experience is in short supply - a glaring gap in this Liverpool squad and one that needs to be addressed.

Gomez injury overshadows winning start for Iraola

Liverpool started life under Andoni Iraola with a 4-2 win over Sunderland thanks to goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas.

But the Iraola era had initially got off to the worst possible start when Joe Gomez, who started the game as centre-back and captain, went down injured and was taken off in the eighth minute.

“Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe. We were happy because we were going through training without losing any players and unluckily for us we’ve lost Joe straight away,” said Iraola, who was also without new signing Jeremy Jacquet - who plays centre-half - for the opening friendly of Liverpool’s tour of the USA.

“With Jeremy we decided to take it easy with him. He’s had a lot of months without playing and he’s been training very well but we’re going to take it easy with him,” Iraola added. “He will play probably in the last game of this tour and he will have time to have minutes.”

With Virgil van Dijk given extra time off following the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign, it meant that two teenage centre-backs held the line until the 68th minute.

Mor Talla N’diaye, 18, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 18, made their debuts and both performed admirably given the situation but neither can be expected to feature regularly yet. Meanwhile, Giovanni Leoni, 19, is still undergoing individual training as he works his way back from a severe ACL tear.

Iraola said earlier in the week that his squad was “very thin” defensively. Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, was in Nashville for the game and if he wasn’t aware already, seeing Gomez trudge off must have underlined how they are desperately short when it comes to experience in the centre-back department.

Szoboszlai, who was among that group, certainly took some inspiration. Wearing the armband after coming on at half-time and picking up from exactly where he left off last season, the Hungarian scored a belter from outside the box to level the game at 2-2 after Sunderland had gone ahead through Timur Tutierov, having initially levelled through Enzo le Fee.

Seeing Harvey Elliott make a surging run on his first game back at the club, after his spell at Aston Villa, to assist Morrison for Liverpool’s opener was another positive. Morrison, 19, showed his quality with a lovely left-footed finish after cutting in from the right.

The 19-year-old Northern Ireland international was brilliant all evening and asked plenty of questions of the Sunderland backline. Liverpool still need a quality winger after losing Mohamed Salah but Morrison showed why he could be an option off the bench if he doesn’t go out on loan this summer.

Iraola was constantly out of his seat in the dugout and his side pressed well in phases but the manner in which they conceded both goals shows there is still plenty to be done. Le Fee was given the freedom of Nashville to fire his strike past Giorgi Mamardashvili and Liverpool were opened up far too easy for Tutierov’s goal.

For the 24,897 fans inside, who were primarily following Liverpool, it provided great joy to see fan favourite Chiesa make it 3-2, with a brilliant finish after a good ball from Calvin Ramsay, before Koumas capped off an impressive display with a goal to wrap up the game.

Earlier on in that move, Josh Abe played an important role carrying the ball up the pitch down the right flank. Abe only turned 16 last week and came on for his Liverpool debut in the second half. The England youth international is a highly rated prospect and there were glimpses here of why.

Iraola and co head back to their base in Chicago with a win under their belt but well aware that this is just the start. Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch have already arrived in the Windy City and start training on Sunday.

“It doesn’t matter the result but keep pushing, don’t relax, get used to not playing too comfortable. We still have a lot of things to improve,” the Liverpool head coach said.

His side are next in action against Wrexham in New York on Thursday (00.30 BST). Sunderland face Leeds at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey at the same time.

Howe unsure over Guimaraes amid Arsenal interest

Bruno Guimaraes became Eddie Howe’s third signing at Newcastle United in 2022

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe says he has had positive discussions with Bruno Guimaraes but is unable to offer any guarantees on his captain’s future.

BBC Sport reported this week that Arsenal are set to make a £70m offer for the Brazil midfielder, but Newcastle do not want to lose their talisman.

“I’ve had some really good conversations with him before the World Cup, during the World Cup and after the World Cup,” Howe said after Newcastle’s 1-1 draw against Gateshead in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

“What we speak about has to remain private, but he’s just a great player, a great person.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen with Bruno’s future. That’s for other people to speculate about. They are conversations that I’m not part of.”

Guimaraes has been on holiday with his family following Brazil’s last-16 exit from the World Cup at the hands of Norway this month.

He is due to return to Newcastle on Friday and fly out with the squad for a pre-season training camp in Spain.

Comparisons have been made with Liverpool’s pursuit of Alexander Isak last summer - the striker ultimately pushed to leave Newcastle - but Howe said there is “nothing to say Bruno won’t be back training with us”.

“You’ve got to look at it in its own right,” he said.

“Bruno is the captain of our football club. He’s been an unbelievable player and person all through the time we have worked together.

“I speak on behalf of everyone at the football club. We absolutely love him and, of course, everyone will want him to stay.”

Newcastle’s midfield has been weakened by the departure of Sandro Tonali, who joined Tottenham this month in a deal worth up to £100m.

Young midfielders Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba have since arrived from Ajax and Monaco respectively.

Although Saturday’s game came too soon for Bamba, whose move was announced on Friday, Steur played 90 minutes.

“He played really well today,” Howe said. “He can be really pleased with his performance and first showing in Newcastle colours.”

It is rare for an academy graduate to leave Ajax at 18, and for a fee worth up to £23m.

However, Newcastle have to take calculated risks before potential signings like Steur potentially explode in value and are out of reach.

Dutchman Steur clearly has promise.

Willem Weijs, who managed Steur at Jong Ajax - the club’s reserve side - has described him as “one of the highest-rated” players in their academy.

There were glimpses of Steur’s technical ability, composure and vision against National League side Gateshead.

But he will need time to adapt to the physicality and intensity of the Premier League.

“He’s outstanding in his first touches and creating options when playing a possession game,” Weijs said.

“He’s good at scanning; really comfortable on the ball; really good in tight spaces.

“He’s a typical Dutch-type midfield player, but he should focus on his points to develop as well, which is for sure the defensive part.

“He should compete better in the duels, spending much more time in the gym. I know he’s working on that, but he can improve and he has to improve.”

Newcastle have shifted strategy this summer, targeting players aged 20 and under and based on the continent.

Steur, Bamba and fellow newcomers Ewen Jaouen and Bazoumana Toure will need patience.

It is one of the many reasons why Howe will desperately want to keep hold of Guimaraes, having lost Isak, Tonali and Anthony Gordon in the past year.

“We all need to be very supportive to the players that have come in,” Howe said.

“I don’t think we can put too much pressure on them. It’s part of my job to try and take the pressure off them and allow them to develop and to enjoy their time here.”

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.

Why Rogers and Palmer will thrive together in Alonso's Chelsea

Morgan Rogers was quick to mention one of his closest friends, Cole Palmer, when he signed for Chelsea from Aston Villa.

“We’ve been speaking about this for a while - that we would always love to play together,” said the £117m attacking midfielder.

“He’s been non-stop ringing my phone, texting me, and I can’t wait. That’s probably the most special thing, playing with one of your best friends and being around him every day. It’s something I’m really excited about.”

Both men might be keen to play together… but can new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso find the system to accommodate two such similar profiles?

We take a closer look at Rogers’ skillset and assess how Alonso might set up his side this season.

It is difficult to clearly define Rogers by a fixed position.

As with all players, getting the best from them means appreciating the wider role they are capable of. A player’s ideal role can also change depending on the players around them and the opposition’s set-up.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery gave Rogers a major role in the side’s recent successes, something that contributed to his hefty transfer fee.

Emery’s system is built upon defensive solidity, often in a 4-4-2 shape off the ball. Villa often spent long periods without the ball before attacking into large areas of space at pace.

This is a style of play that suits Rogers, who combines impressive ball-striking with standout athleticism.

Last season, he generally played on the left of a 4-2-3-1, narrowing in from the wing and leaving the left-back to provide the width.

From here he often opted to curl the ball into the far post with his stronger right foot, but could just as easily drag his shot inside the near post at the last moment.

Out of possession, Rogers usually defended as a left midfielder in Emery’s 4-4-2 but is capable of pressing in the front two alongside a traditional number nine.

His positional versatility allows him to play as a narrow winger on both the left and right side of attack, before making runs akin to a centre-forward.

He consistently injects pace into his team’s attack with his direct nature both with and without the ball.

Alonso’s system has overarching principles, with the Spaniard seeking to dominate the ball and set up attacks in the opponent’s half for long periods.

This is different to the approach that got the best out of Rogers for Villa.

Although this might raise some alarm bells, last season there was a rise in man-to-man pressure high up the pitch - making playing out from the back tougher.

The best teams in the league, in response, have prioritised players who are capable of holding the ball up, carrying the ball over big distances, and able to beat their marker one against one.

With opposition sides matching up man-for-man, the game then becomes a series of one-against-one duels, so strong players who can beat their defender are exceptionally valuable.

All of these descriptions line up with Rogers’ strengths.

Against intense pressure, teams have opted to play longer passes into their forwards, skipping build-up altogether. Rogers is more than capable of receiving such direct passes.

Although a possession-based coach, Alonso has shown the flexibility and intelligence to look for solutions against man-to-man pressure.

The Chelsea manager is associated with a short passing game, but after Leverkusen lost the 2024 Europa League final to Atalanta - who man-mark intensely across the pitch - he showed pragmatism in his analysis.

“We probably tried to play too many passes in the first phase, when we should have tried to attract the first player and then go long a bit more,” he said.

Rogers gives him a solution to the problems of a tactical landscape that has an emphasis on man-to-man pressing.

Understanding Alonso’s set-up can help to explain how Rogers and Palmer could thrive together.

Irrespective of whether the Spaniard sets Chelsea up in a back four or a five, his team will move in the same shape in attacking possession, namely 3-2-2-3 or 3-2-5.

Many of Rogers’ best moments at Villa were in the inside-left channel. Alonso is likely to try to position him there when Chelsea have the ball.

This means width on the left would have to come from another player - either a wing-back if Chelsea defend with a back five or a winger if it is a back four. In the latter formation, Rogers would be positioned more centrally from the start.

One of the reasons Alonso will have championed the Rogers signing is his ability to play across the attack - most recently demonstrated as a right winger for England against Argentina.

Palmer similarly thrives in-field - but on the right half of the pitch. Both players in possession could be positioned alongside each other in the middle of the pitch in a 3-2-2-3 behind a striker such as Joao Pedro.

Rogers can take advantage of big spaces, but his combination play, central passing, and ball-striking from the edge of the box also mean that when he is surrounded by players on a similar wavelength - such as Palmer - it is a potent strategy for playing through structured defences.

A key part of Alonso’s game model is prioritising short passes to ensure his players are well placed to counter-press if the ball is lost.

Rogers’ combination play plus his physicality make him a good fit for this plan and his ability to repeatedly make runs in behind is something Palmer will seek to exploit.

In Alonso’s preferred 3-2-2-3 when in possession, Rogers in the left number 10 position and Palmer in the right number 10 position is likely to work best.

To get them in these areas in attack, Alonso can start with them in those positions, ahead of a back five using wing-backs either side of them. This was his usual formation during his success at Leverkusen.

When starting from a 4-2-3-1, this can be achieved with one of the two starting as a number 10 with the other inverting centrally from the wing, with a full-back pushing up on that flank. Width on the other side would be held in this situation by a winger.

Whether leaning into the longstanding chemistry of the duo, who won the FA Youth Cup together at Manchester City in 2020, will bear fruit remains to be seen.

What is certain is that Rogers is a versatile, Premier League-proven player whose skillset has synergy with many of the aspects required in what Alonso will try to do at Chelsea.

Why Chelsea have signed so many Man City academy graduates

Chelsea not only lost to Manchester City in the 2020 FA Youth Cup final, they also had a glimpse of their own future within the opposition ranks.

So much so that Chelsea’s first-team squad in the new season could contain twice as many players who graduated from City’s academy as have come through their own system.

The latest addition is club record £117m signing Morgan Rogers, who scored against the Blues’ Under-18s that night six years ago.

Fellow City academy graduate Cole Palmer was also on target in City’s 3-2 victory at St George’s Park, while Liam Delap led the line.

In addition, new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso’s squad features Romeo Lavia, Jamie Gittens and Tosin Adarabioyo, all of whom also came through City’s youth system.

Together with Rogers, Palmer and Delap, the six players account for almost £300m in transfer fees paid by Chelsea since 2023.

By contrast, Alonso is only likely to have three permanent members of his senior squad who came through Chelsea’s Cobham academy: Levi Colwill, who played in that defeat, captain Reece James and defender Josh Acheampong.

Trevoh Chalobah also remains a Chelsea player but is in advanced talks over a move to Serie A side Como.

There are several reasons for Chelsea’s interest in players developed from City, but one is the success of Palmer, who moved between the clubs in 2023 for £40m plus £2.5m in add-ons and has become one of the Premier League’s standout performers.

One former insider told BBC Sport that anyone who comes from City “knows what good looks like”. Another factor is Joe Shields, who worked in City’s academy recruitment department and is now involved in both youth and senior recruitment at Stamford Bridge. Other clubs also have ex-Manchester City employees, including Manchester United with senior leaders Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox.

Clubs, meanwhile, are incentivised to sell academy-developed players because the fees can be recorded as pure profit for accounting purposes under Premier League and Uefa spending rules. Chelsea’s sale of Tyrique George to Everton this summer is one example.

Former City manager Pep Guardiola previously acknowledged the difficulty of giving academy graduates opportunities in a team that consistently compete for major honours.

While players like Rogers were deemed not ready for first-team football, others, including Palmer and Jadon Sancho, were offered contracts and squad roles but chose to continue their development elsewhere.

At Chelsea, they have needed to sell academy players under both the Roman Abramovich ownership and now Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital since 2022 to balance the substantial spending on new signings.

Chelsea have instinctively looked to City’s ranks to see how they might offer a suitable home for young talent. They employ a number of former City staff members, including first-team coach Calum McFarlane and recently promoted academy director Glenn van der Kraan.

There was also a brief spell for former City executive Tom Glick as Chelsea’s president of business, while former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca and several members of his coaching staff previously worked at the Etihad. Maresca has since returned to City.

There are further links between City’s academy and Chelsea. James McAtee and CJ Egan-Riley, both of whom played in the 2020 FA Youth Cup final, were previously targeted by Strasbourg, the French club owned by Chelsea’s parent company, BlueCo.

Chelsea also held an interest in former City academy player Michael Olise before his move to Bayern Munich and previously explored a deal for defender Nico O’Reilly.

Chelsea ended last season without a trophy and finished 10th in the Premier League, but their academy teams won league and cup titles.

It highlights the quality of the talent coming through under the leadership of Shields and Van der Kraan, with pathways director Jack Francis providing continuity as he enters his 16th year at the club.

The Cobham academy was previously led by Neil Bath and Jim Fraser, who built a system capable of winning five consecutive FA Youth Cups, including three wins in a row against City, to match the long-standing record set by Manchester United’s ‘Busby Babes’ in the 1950s.

Chelsea also won the Uefa Youth League in 2015 and 2016 and remain the only English club to have won the competition.

However, Chelsea were handed a transfer ban in 2019 over breaches relating to youth recruitment and are currently serving restrictions on registering academy players following historical offences dating back to the Abramovich era.

That first transfer ban helped create opportunities for Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Andreas Christensen and Reece James to establish themselves in the first team under Frank Lampard.

Those were heady days for Chelsea’s academy, but City were rapidly expanding under their Abu Dhabi ownership and investing heavily in youth development, an area exempt from financial spending restrictions.

Such was the dominance of the two academies that they had an informal agreement not to sign players from one another, helping to avoid inflated wages and transfer fees at youth level. That arrangement has since ended.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal also began a new wave of investment in their academies after Brexit made it impossible to sign overseas players under the age of 18.

Notably, Liverpool signed now-England youth international Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea in 2024, prompting restrictions on youth scouts from a number of rival clubs attending matches.

While Chelsea were under new ownership, Bath was developing a fresh strategy. However, after Fraser left the club following a disagreement with senior figures, Bath also departed and former City staff moved into senior academy positions.

That transformation has surprised many within academy football, where stories persist of fierce rivalries between the two clubs, heated confrontations behind the scenes and intense celebrations after victories at lower age-group levels. A genuine rivalry developed between the dominant academy systems of the north and south over the past decade.

Asked about the rivalry in 2025, Delap said: “We hated each other in games.”

He added: “But everyone’s man enough now that, off the pitch, we can be friends. I used to play against Levi [Colwill] every year. It was a great battle. There are too many matches to remember, but we [City] beat them in the Youth Cup final [in 2020].”

There have since been substantial changes in coaching methodology at Chelsea. Scores of new staff have arrived and those who have remained at the club have had to adapt.

Liverpool women’s manager Gareth Taylor spent nine years in City’s academy and recalls how former Barcelona coach Rodolfo Borrell helped to establish a Johan Cruyff and Guardiola-inspired coaching philosophy.

He described Delap as playing with a “real edge”, Rogers as “really good and really humble”, and Palmer as a player who “used to run rings around opponents” and would “never get nervous”.

Taylor said: “We designed a really clear playing style. From under-11s and under-12s all the way up to the under-23s, you could see really clear alignment in the way we played, our identity and our style.”

The City-modelled revolution has made an impact on both the senior and youth teams at Stamford Bridge.

Now Chelsea, with Alonso coming in, will hope the approach brings more rewards.

Bournemouth reject £64m bid from Chelsea for Scott

Bournemouth have rejected a £64m bid from Chelsea for midfielder Alex Scott.

The Cherries made it clear to the Blues that any further approaches would not be welcomed and that they intend to keep hold of one of their star players.

However, it remains a difficult situation for the club as the England Under-21 international has rejected a new contract that has been on the table for at least two months.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham and Manchester City also expressed an interest in Scott earlier in the window.

BBC Sport reported in June that Arsenal had an approach for Scott turned down by Bournemouth.

The 22-year-old, who joined Bournemouth from Bristol City in 2023 for £25m, has two years left on his current deal.

Bournemouth have insisted publicly, directly to the player and to interested clubs that he will remain on the south coast, even on that current contract.

The south coast club are under no pressure to sell after qualifying for the Europa League and generating significant income through the sales last summer of Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Dango Outtara.

They have taken a similar stance with highly rated forward Junior Kroupi, who is attracting interest from Arsenal and Tottenham.

Brazil international Rayan is also not expected to leave and has given no indication that he wants to, having only joined the club in January.

Scott and Kroupi are with the squad for new manager Marco Rose’s pre-season training camp in Austria, with Rayan due back at a later date having played for Brazil at the World Cup.

Scott was selected in his first England squad last November and was then called into Thomas Tuchel’s extended pre-World Cup training camp in Florida but is yet make an appearance at senior international level.

In a busy Premier League midfielder market this summer, Morgan Rogers has completed a £117m move from Aston Villa to Chelsea, while Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is set to join Manchester City for £116m.

Tottenham have spent £100m on Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and £85m on West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes.

Scott joined Bristol City from Guernsey FC in 2020, going on to make 91 appearances for the Championship side in all competitions.

Having been named the division’s young player of the season in 2022-23, he joined Bournemouth, where he has made 89 appearances and scored six goals.

Stay or go - at 28, Rashford faces big Man Utd call

Marcus Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona

Marcus Rashford’s World Cup ended with a considered and thoughtful social media post, issued in the aftermath of England’s amazing 6-4 third-place play-off victory over France in Miami.

Disappointments are guaranteed in football, he said, before opening out in a more positive vein and stating firmly: “Keep believing in us. Our time will come.”

He added: “Now it’s time for me to rest, reflect, spend some quality time with family and friends, and come back a better version of myself.”

‘Reflect’ is the big word in that overview.

At 28, Rashford is moving into what should be the prime years of his career.

He has just won his first league title, La Liga with Barcelona, has 77 England caps and featured in six out of eight games as Thomas Tuchel’s side delivered the country’s best World Cup performance since 1966.

But in reality, a large part of what Rashford will be reflecting on with his family - some of whom are also key figures in terms of guiding his career - is whether his club future lies at Manchester United.

Marcus Rashford scored 14 goals in 49 appearances for Barcelona in the 2025-26 campaign

Rashford is contracted to Manchester United until 2028. His salary of £325,000 a week makes him the club’s top earner at a time when minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is trying to stay on top of salary costs, which are, by some distance, the club’s highest expenditure.

Barcelona had an option, in the loan deal they agreed for Rashford last season, to turn it into a permanent transfer for £26m.

As expected, that deadline passed in the middle of June without it being activated.

There was another clause in Rashford’s contract that allowed other clubs - Liverpool and Manchester City excepted - to buy him for £40m, which expired earlier in July. As expected, no-one triggered that either.

Sources close to the player felt it was illogical to think a club would come in and offer more than Barcelona would have had to pay.

With England’s World Cup campaign at an end, Rashford is now entitled to a three-week break.

Unless the timings are altered, or his situation changes, he will return to Manchester United just as they begin a six-day training camp in the Republic of Ireland, scheduled around an historic meeting with old rivals Leeds at Croke Park on 12 August.

Suggestions around Rashford have been that he is relaxed about the prospect of returning to training at United.

For a start, there is not the same confrontational relationship between the player and his coach.

Ruben Amorim fell out with the forward within weeks of his arrival from Sporting Lisbon. Amorim eventually exiled him, which triggered a loan move to Aston Villa.

Then the head coach put Rashford in his ‘bomb squad’, along with Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho, when pre-season training began last summer.

The other four players have all now left the club.

Amorim’s replacement, Michael Carrick, is a former team-mate of Rashford’s. He has also been his coach and was, briefly, his manager, following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021. The pair are said to get on well.

Carrick’s only public statement around Rashford, towards the end of last season, was conciliatory in nature, which is in keeping with his general personality.

He is so far yet to be asked what his stance is around the player returning to the fold.

For their part, United are sticking to their refusal to renegotiate a deal with Barcelona on reduced terms or consider a second loan to the Catalan giants.

It is not clear what interest there is in Rashford at the Nou Camp given Barca have already signed England wide-man Anthony Gordon and are about to bring in Germany forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund.

The consistency of United’s messaging is being articulated in a summer where they are keen to prove they will not be bullied into overpaying to get deals over the line.

That financial discipline may have consequences - while the feeling was Elliot Anderson would have joined Manchester City anyway, United did not countenance paying the £116m Nottingham Forest eventually sold him for.

The same is true of Mateus Fernandes and his £85m switch from West Ham to Tottenham.

Nevertheless, Manchester United’s enhanced use of data through director Michael Sansoni and his dedicated team means the club feel bullish about their chances of landing alternative targets who offer better value.

Marcus Rashford set up one of Bukayo Saka’s three goals as England beat France 6-4 on Saturday

Clearly just as United need active sellers to buy from, they need buyers so they can offload those players they do not want.

In Rashford’s case, there are a limited number of clubs globally who could match his current salary. And where a club are interested, the player has to want to join them.

Judging by his recent social media post, he would not do anything to jeopardise his England place.

BBC Sport has also been told of some Premier League clubs he would not be keen to move to.

So where will Rashford be when the transfer window closes on 1 September? Currently, the likeliest answer, by some distance, is Manchester United.

After that: Any Spanish club, any Turkish club, any German club. The vagueness there underlines the current lack of market for the 15th highest scorer in United’s history, with 138 goals - someone who is only 17 short of a place in the top 10.

There are plenty, including former captain Gary Neville, who feel Rashford’s time at Old Trafford is over and there should be no reconciliation.

In the end though, it may have to happen - and not everyone would be disappointed.

“A fit and focused Marcus Rashford has the ability to be one of the best players,” said Rashford’s friend Sam Smith - the Wrexham forward who scored the winner in their pre-season victory over Carrick’s team in Helsinki on Saturday - when speaking to the United We Stand podcast.

“He has everything.”

“He has had a difficult time at United and getting away from it all was a good thing.”

“I don’t know what is going to happen but as his friend, I hope he comes back and proves how good a player he was, how good he can be and starts scoring goals again.”

World Cup error will make Lammens stronger - Heaton

Tom Heaton is backing Manchester United team-mate Senne Lammens to emerge as a stronger character from his World Cup disappointment.

Lammens had been back-up to Thibaut Courtois throughout the tournament until the veteran Belgium goalkeeper was injured 19 minutes from the end of the quarter-final against Spain.

The 24-year-old had barely touched the ball before he spilled Pau Cubarsi’s shot late in the game, which allowed Arsenal’s Mikel Merino to steer home and give Spain a 2-1 victory.

Lammens was distraught at the final whistle and Heaton has spoken to the youngster, who was outstanding at United last season after arriving as a relative unknown from Royal Antwerp in preference to Argentina’s Emi Martinez, for £18.1m.

“Yes, I spoke to him,” said Heaton after Manchester United’s opening pre-season defeat by Wrexham in Helsinki.

“It was obviously a challenging moment for him, but that’s the life of a goalkeeper.

“As soon as you put the gloves on and go between the sticks, you have to be ready to deal with that.

“He’ll be stronger for it. I think his personality is fantastic for a goalkeeper, so no issues there. As I say, I honestly think it can help him in the long run.”

Lammens is now on a three-week break before returning to pre-season training.

It means he should return in the first week of August and, in theory, be available for the Gothenburg encounter with Paris St-Germain on 8 August.

Despite the criticism Lammens received in Belgium for his error, at United, confidence in the youngster remains strong.

Karl Darlow, 35, was signed as back-up to Lammens on 14 July and while Heaton, 40, still views himself as a player after signing a one-year deal in the summer, his last competitive senior appearance was in February 2023.

“I highly doubt Senne will be going into it with fear or worrying about what may happen,” said Heaton.

“That can happen at any point. Literally every time you cross the foot over the earth. If that was your mindset, I’d be inclined to say it’s more likely to happen.

“Goalkeeper is a position where if something goes wrong, it’s going to end in a goal. Goals can change games and cause you to lose. You have to be realistic about that.

“It is tough, but Senne is very strong mentally. I saw that from him as a young goalkeeper coming into Manchester United and dealing with it unbelievably well.”

How Villa's record signing Manzambi can spearhead new era

Johan Manzambi has scored six goals in 16 games for Switzerland - including three at the World Cup

It is a new era for Aston Villa - and Johan Manzambi will be one of the poster boys.

After ending a 30-year wait for a trophy with May’s Europa League triumph, Villa have broken their transfer record to sign the Switzerland midfielder in a deal worth more than £50m from Freiburg.

Newcastle were close to signing Manzambi last week only for Villa to step in and snatch him.

With Youri Tielemans joining Manchester United for £35m and Amadou Onana out with a knee injury until next year, Villa needed to bolster their midfield options.

They are also due to seal a £38m move for Wolves’ Joao Gomes - but it is 20-year-old Manzambi who represents the start of something different at Villa Park.

While Newcastle were hopeful of landing one of their top targets, their interest was always laced with caution.

Those close to the Magpies were surprised at why the confidence was not absolute - but after losing out to Liverpool for Víctor Munoz, having also seen Hugo Ekitike go to Anfield last year, Newcastle were nervous.

Their fears proved well founded as Manzambi wavered and Villa pounced.

He was being coveted by more than half of the Premier League and represents the start of a Villa refresh.

Manzambi had been on Villa’s watchlist since the start of last season, and there was always an expectation he would move this summer.

It is believed that Manzambi’s knee injury, which ruled him out of Switzerland’s last-16 win over Colombia and quarter-final defeat by Argentina at the World Cup, gave him time to decide his future amid Newcastle’s interest.

There is also an acceptance it was now or never for Villa as he could have been out of their price range if he moved elsewhere and succeeded, especially given the sharp rise at international level - playing just twice for Switzerland Under-21s before his senior elevation.

Having excelled in the Bundesliga and helped Freiburg to the Europa League final where they lost to Villa, the calculated risk to make him the club’s record signing is seen as one which is worth it.

His versatility - especially with Onana’s serious knee injury - makes him even more important.

Last term Manzambi - who won Europa League young player of the season - ranked first for 10-plus metre progressive carries (116) in the Bundesliga, shot-ending carries (13) and fouls won (78) as opponents tried to stop him.

He was the most fouled player in the Bundesliga and only Yan Diomande, Bazoumana Toure and Can Uzun were younger with more goals and assists in the division.

He was second for total take-ons (71), opposition half take-ons (52) and total carry progress (2,476 metres).

Last term Tielemans averaged 10 metres for his progressive carries with a total of 109, with Onana making just 75, while just three of Tielemans’ carries ended with a shot.

This was always going to be a vital summer for Villa.

After winning the Europa League and finishing fourth in the Premier League - securing Champions League football for the second time in three years - they should be in a position of strength.

Instead, Villa must trade to ensure they are compliant with the financial rules they feel have held them back.

In May they were fined 22.5m euros (£19.4m) by Uefa for a “significant breach” of its squad-cost rules for 2025 - although £12.9m is suspended.

Villa also face a restriction on the registration of new players on their squad list for the Champions League next season.

Their financial burden could be further eased by the sale of England’s Morgan Rogers, who is valued at more than £100m amid interest from champions Arsenal.

Villa will be able to sell but the financial rules make replacing their first-team stars harder.

They had the second-oldest squad in the Premier League last season and wanted to lower the overall age. It was one of the key objectives for president of football operations Roberto Olabe when he replaced Monchi last September.

Tielemans is 29 and moves to Old Trafford for pure profit after his free transfer from Leicester in 2023 while Lucas Digne, who turns 33 next week, is expected to return to Paris St-Germain.

The pair were two of Villa’s higher earners - and wages for loanees Douglas Luiz, Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho are also off the books.

Youri Tielemans scored Aston Villa’s opener in their Europa League final win over Freiburg

Evann Guessand and Leon Bailey are expected to leave and Lewis Dobbin has joined Southampton for £9m without making an appearance for the club.

That makes it easier to spend the money on Manzambi and Gomes but Villa must still walk a financial tightrope.

Emery has relied on trusted lieutenants but needs to refresh the squad, with at least one winger, two defenders and a striker wanted.

Of those at the club who started the Europa League final in May only Pau Torres, Rogers and Victor Lindelof were signed by Emery in his transformative three and a half years in charge.

There was the expectation the squad would evolve this summer - and players were braced for change - but while an extra midfield body would have been useful, Villa were not actively seeking big upheaval in the area.

Onana’s ACL injury while playing for Belgium against the USA this month shifted the plans and Tielemans’ departure accelerated them.

Villa wanted more physicality at left-back so the interest in AC Milan’s Pervis Estupinan is obvious especially when he knows Emery’s methods having played under him at Villarreal.

Emery cannot afford to wait for new recruits to get up to speed.

With a first trophy for three decades in the cabinet Villa have made the breakthrough - but they must still tread lightly.

'Similar to Courtois' - could Penders become Chelsea number one?

Mike Penders was part of Chelsea’s Club World Cup-winning squad, but didn’t play in the United States

Chelsea’s newest goalkeeping prospect, Mike Penders, comes from the same production line that produced the legendary Thibaut Courtois.

Like Courtois, Chelsea signed Penders from Belgian top-flight club Genk as a teenager.

A deal for the then-19-year-old was agreed in 2024 and he officially joined the following summer, before spending a season on loan with Strasbourg.

Genk’s goalkeeper coach at the time, Gilbert Roex, told BBC Sport “we thought it was crazy” that Chelsea paid £17m for Penders, who had not yet played for their first team.

However, Roex also praised Chelsea for scouting his youth appearances, influenced by head of goalkeeping Ben Roberts, adding: “He was still playing for Jong Genk in the second division when Chelsea’s scouts became convinced.

“It was similar to Courtois. He had only spent one season in the first team when he won the title and was still only 18. Maybe Chelsea’s video scouts have identified a player who could be worth much more in the future.”

Indeed, this summer Penders trained with the long-time Belgium number one at the World Cup and those close to Courtois told BBC Sport that the 115-cap goalkeeper was very impressed with his understudy as both a player and a person.

For now, Chelsea’s plan is to keep Robert Sanchez as their number one option while under serious competition from Penders.

It’s a similar dynamic that played out when Filip Jorgensen challenged the Spain international, but he has not been able to unseat him as a regular starter despite spells in the first team and is now seeking his exit.

Penders is effectively drafted in to replace Jorgensen with a third option also being sought either internally or in the transfer market, as one-time United States international Gabriel Slonina trials with partner club Strasbourg.

It’s Strasbourg where Penders made a name for himself on loan and leaves a gap for the French club - under the same American ownership as Chelsea - to fill.

At Genk, Penders made 26 appearances in his final season knowing he would join Chelsea, where he featured as an unused substitute at the Club World Cup, before joining Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

There he played almost every game during a demanding 52-match season that included runs to the semi-finals of both the Coupe de France and the Conference League.

It was there that Penders stood out under former Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, who employed an extreme tactical approach before later joining Chelsea.

Among goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues, no one had a higher average position from goal, underlining Penders’ importance in Strasbourg’s build-up play and how frequently he operated outside his penalty area.

The approach produced some impressive football but also, on occasion, some high-profile mistakes.

It’s remarkable that Penders has become a specialist with his feet given it used to be his weakness.

When Genk first scouted Penders from Sint-Jan Berchmans College, alongside his games for grassroots club Bregel Sport, his ability on the ball was his Achilles’ heel.

“One of the teachers recommended him to me,” Roex, who recently left Genk, added. “When I saw him, he had a great profile, he played well and he had a great mentality. But technically, he needed a lot of work.

“At that time, his feet were terrible because he was so tall. But he passed the trial for our under-14s when he was 13.”

Roex says he has “never seen a player improve so quickly between the ages of 13 and 18” because of Penders’ “unbelievable mentality” and his “inability to feel pressure” - qualities he insists remain evident today.

He added: “In the beginning he struggled a lot, but he worked very hard. We did footwork for at least 20 minutes in every session with our goalkeepers.

“He reads the game very well, which is essential because playing out from the back is not just about technique, but decision-making - understanding space, pressure and timing.”

Nearly 20 years after helping develop the 6ft 7in Courtois along with fellow Genk goalkeeping coach Guy Martens, Roex said that Penders - who is the same height as Courtois - bears similarities to the former Chelsea goalkeeper, now a Real Madrid and Belgium great.

“Guy and I shared the same vision,” Roex explained. “We believed football was changing and that goalkeepers needed to be comfortable with their feet. We implemented that philosophy throughout the academy, although there was initially some resistance from coaches.

“Part of our vision came from Ajax and Johan Cruyff’s goalkeeping coach, Frans Hoek. He was a visionary who later worked with Barcelona and the Dutch national team.

“We were also early adopters of filming goalkeeping sessions, using tapes and simple editing software. We wanted to expose goalkeepers as young as 16 to the first-team environment.

“We produced Courtois and Penders, but also Koen Casteels, Martin van der Voordt at RB Leipzig, Kiaba Brughmans and Nordin Jackers, who is now at Club Brugge.”

Roex believes Penders’ calm demeanour comes from his close, stable family unit and having grown up in the small village of Maasmechelen just outside of Genk.

“We have produced a lot of great goalkeepers, but Mike is the one with the potential to reach the same level as Thibaut, his sense of calmness is gold in goalkeeping.”

Midfielder Gomes close to £38m Villa move

Joao Gomes scored his only goal for Wolves last season against Aston Villa

Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes is poised to join Aston Villa in a deal worth £38m.

The Brazil international has left Wolves’ training camp in Portugal and will have a medical on Thursday.

The deal is worth an initial £34m with another £4m in add ons.

Villa need midfield reinforcements after selling Youri Tielemans to Manchester United for £35m and seeing Amadou Onana ruled out until next year with a serious knee injury he suffered with Belgium at the World Cup.

They are also close to completing the signing of Switzerland international Johan Manzambi for a club record fee of over £50m from Freiburg.

Atletico Madrid had been keen on Gomes but did not finalise a deal.

Gomes made 41 appearances for Wolves last season as they finished bottom of the Premier League.

He played 130 times for the club, scoring seven goals, after joining from Flamengo in 2023.

Arsenal forward Trossard joins Besiktas for £15.3m

Belgium forward Leandro Trossard has joined Turkish side Besiktas from Arsenal on a three-year contract.

The 31-year-old has been signed for 18m euros (£15.3m) - paid in six equal instalments over three years - and his deal also includes a further one-year option.

On Tuesday, he was given permission to travel to Istanbul to undergo a medical after a transfer fee was agreed.

Trossard was under contract until 2027 with Arsenal, having joined from Brighton for £21m plus add-ons in January 2023.

He scored 36 goals and registered 34 assists in 174 appearances for the Gunners, helping Mikel Arteta’s side win last season’s Premier League title.

Trossard was a key player, starting in the Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain and 21 times in the league.

He also started all six games at this summer’s World Cup, scoring twice, as Belgium reached the quarter-finals before losing to Spain.

The Gunners are set to accelerate their pursuit of Club Brugge attacker Christos Tzolis following the departure of Trossard.

BBC Sport reported the Gunners’ interest in the Greece international in June and the club are now poised to move for the forward.

Club Brugge are anticipating an offer from Arsenal for Tzolis.

Sporting director Andrea Berta is working on the deal after his assistant Maurizio Micheli watched the 24-year-old play for Greece against Sweden last month.

Tzolis could be available for about £30m (35m euros).

Any move for him would be separate to Arsenal’s interest in signing more high-profile attackers this summer.

They retain a long-term interest in Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who is the club’s priority target, but it remains to be seen if a deal for the Argentina international is possible this summer with Barcelona and Real Madrid also interested.

Morgan Rogers is Arsenal’s preferred option in their search for a versatile forward, with the club’s efforts to sign the Aston Villa attacker set to accelerate once his participation at the World Cup with England is over.

Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is viewed as the alternative in the event of failing to reach an agreement with Aston Villa, who reportedly value Rogers at £130m.

Meanwhile, Arsenal recruitment specialist Micheli watched Georgia Under-21 international Andria Bartishvili play for Iberia 1999 against Flora in their Champions League qualifier last Wednesday, with sources indicating the Gunners are stepping up their efforts to land the teenage attacker.

Alonso wants to keep Fernandez at Chelsea

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso was unveiled at Stamford Bridge on Monday and said he wants to keep Enzo Fernandez at the club.

The 25-year-old Argentina midfielder, who is preparing to face England in the World Cup semi-finals, is open to leaving and was recently linked with Real Madrid.

However, the Spanish club denied pursuing a move for Fernandez last week, leaving him with no known alternative destination and a sizeable £120m asking price.

Alonso replied “yes” when asked whether he wanted to keep Fernandez, adding: “We have spoken. But, as you can understand, what we said will remain private.”

It was part of his first wide-ranging news conference since taking charge of Chelsea following his departure from Real Madrid in January. He also said striker Nicolas Jackson will return to the squad for at least the club’s pre-season tour of Australia and Asia after Bayern Munich decided against making his loan move permanent.

“Nico Jackson is joining the tour in Asia and we are looking forward to him working with us,” said Alonso.

In addition, winger Alejandro Garnacho has not returned to training under Alonso, who began his role last Thursday.

Alonso said there is an agreement for Garnacho to stay away from the first-team squad while he seeks a move, with Italian club Roma among those interested.

When Alonso was appointed, Chelsea were still in contention to qualify for Europe but fell short with a final-day defeat by Sunderland.

Midfielder Andrey Santos joined Manchester United an hour before the media conference, and Alonso was asked whether a lack of European football meant the squad needed trimming.

“[It changed] the small details for sure but the main focus about how we want to start the competition in August, it doesn’t change much,” Alonso said.

“We are aligned with the sporting directors on what we want to reach. The team is good and where we want to reinforce in terms of positions is clear. There are some weeks to go but we are working in a very aligned way - and this is the right way.”

Alonso entered the Drake Suite, which celebrates Chelsea’s league title-winning managers, and said it was a “privilege and honour” to lead a club with such a successful history.

He has been training a large squad, including Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Levi Colwill, at Cobham, with only eight Chelsea players away at the World Cup.

The 44-year-old explained his reasons for joining Chelsea after Enzo Maresca left in January, and his successor Liam Rosenior was sacked after less than four months in charge.

“The excitement is the club, the squad and the opportunity, through this ownership, to be at this great club, create a bond with the supporters, win games and be successful,” he said.

“I want to enjoy it, be part of this group and work together with the sporting directors, the players and the staff here.”

“We need to make important decisions - the right decisions - but I think the foundations have already been built.”

“We need to keep building a mentality to be competitive on the pitch, win games and enjoy doing it.”

Chelsea typically target Champions League qualification as a minimum requirement each season and, when asked whether he needed to secure European football, Alonso said: “For sure, that’s a goal. But to reach that goal you have to do many things right.”

“I will be part of that process. How we play, how we see ourselves and how we approach each game is my job, and that is why I am looking forward to having the whole squad available.”

“We have only just started and these have been happy early days so far, but for sure we want to be there [in Europe].”

“Time will tell, but we are ambitious, and at Chelsea you need to share that energy and hunger to succeed.”

Having seen Alonso as a player and known him from his Liverpool days, you expect him to come across well.

He spoke confidently, appeared friendly and gave the impression there is still a lot left unsaid.

The Spaniard was asked difficult questions about the futures of Fernandez, Garnacho and Jackson, but provided clear answers. He offered full clarity on the situations involving the latter two and, while he could not reveal how his conversation with Fernandez went, he made it clear he wanted him to stay at Chelsea.

It is also worth mentioning that Alonso is still finding his feet back in England. He has spoken about being excited to live in London, but he has been away from the country since his Liverpool days. Since then, he has spent more than a decade in San Sebastian, Germany and Madrid, only arriving on Wednesday with little time on the training pitch.

That is why it feels as though there is more to come from Alonso before we fully understand his vision, which players he favours and whether he can stabilise what has been a helter-skelter ride for Chelsea under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

It is impossible to say how it will unfold, but the likeable Alonso passed his first grilling without any hiccups.

Gruda loaned back to RB Leipzig

Brighton winger Brajan Gruda has returned to RB Leipzig on loan for the 2026-27 season after an impressive six-month spell at the club.

The 22-year-old, who joined the Seagulls from Mainz 05 in August 2024, spent the second half of last season on loan at the Bundesliga side - making 14 appearances, scoring three goals and registering three assists.

Gruda, who is a Germany Under-21 international, has featured 45 times in Fabian Hurzeler’s first team.

Brighton’s sporting director Mike Cave said: “Brajan had a good second half of the season with Leipzig and he was keen to explore the opportunity of remaining there for the coming year.

“This is a move that allows Brajan to continue to secure regular playing time at a good level, in an environment he knows well.”

Man Utd sign £48m Santos and close in on Tielemans

Manchester United have completed the £48m signing of Brazil international Andrey Santos from Chelsea and are in advanced talks to sign Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans as they try to revamp their midfield.

It has also been confirmed United’s plan to sign Ederson from Atalanta for £35m has been scrapped for now after a medical highlighted an injury-related issue.

United agreed a fee with Chelsea for Santos last week, and the 22-year-old has now completed his medical and signed a deal to June 2031, with the option to extend for a further year.

“Andrey is an outstanding midfielder with excellent technical qualities and the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch,” said director of football Jason Wilcox.

“He was a key target for us in an important position.”

“Despite already having extensive experience, leadership abilities and proving his talent at the highest level, Andrey still has enormous potential to develop further, and we cannot wait to see him flourish at Manchester United.”

Santos was part of the Chelsea squad that won the Club World Cup in 2025 and made 43 appearances for them last season.

At Old Trafford he will play under United boss Michael Carrick - a former England midfielder.

“Everything about Manchester United is special,” he said. “It is an incredible feeling to join a club that some of my biggest idols have represented.”

“As a midfielder, I am really excited to have the opportunity to learn from Michael Carrick. He is the perfect coach to help me take the next step in my career and push to achieve my dreams.”

“Everybody told me about how ambitious the club is and the amazing environment that has been created here. I know just how strong the squad is and I cannot wait to fight together to compete for the biggest trophies.”

Santos, who was not selected for the World Cup, has already started training with United.

That means he could be involved early in their pre-season campaign, which begins against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July.

The announcement comes as confidence is growing a deal can also be done for Tielemans.

The 29-year-old has been on United’s radar for a considerable time. BBC Sport has been told Tielemans’ Villa contract contains a release clause, which makes negotiations easier, and that a deal is close.

Tielemans was a key figure in Belgium’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals but was forced to pull out of the 2-1 defeat by Spain after suffering an injury in the warm-up.

If United can get that deal over the line, it would restore a sense of calm to a fanbase that was starting to get agitated as the club experienced difficulties trying to address what was known to be their priority position this summer.

Following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s knee injury, England’s Kobbie Mainoo had been their only experienced orthodox central midfielder.

They lost out to Manchester City in their attempts to sign first-choice Elliot Anderson, while Mateus Fernandes - another target - opted to move to Tottenham Hotspur from West Ham.

Speculation around the Ederson transfer collapsing has been swirling over the weekend after initial reports last week claimed it had stalled because of knee injury.

The 27-year-old had a full medical after initial tests in the United States had flagged an area of concern.

Ederson flew to England for the required tests, which took place in the wake of Brazil’s last-16 defeat by Norway. Specialists were involved and the outcome has led to United backing out.

However, sources say the transfer could be resurrected later in the summer depending how the window develops for United, although the club would not be prepared to sanction any move at the previously agreed terms.

While club officials say they are sympathetic to the player, they feel they have to act in the best interests of United.

It is being stressed the move for Santos was not triggered by the issues with Ederson.

Garnacho absent from Chelsea pre-season training

Garnacho scored eight goals in 43 matches for Chelsea last season, with six coming in domestic cup competitions

Alejandro Garnacho has not joined up with the Chelsea squad for pre-season as the Premier League club actively look to sell the winger.

Chelsea began pre-season training on Thursday for those members of the first-team squad not at the World Cup, but Garnacho was absent from the sessions at Cobham.

The situation is reflective of the 21-year-old’s uncertain future at Stamford Bridge following an underwhelming season after his £40m move from Manchester United on a seven-year contract.

Chelsea value Garnacho in the £43m (50m Euros) region but will only entertain permanent offers, despite reports of loan interest from Serie A club Roma.

Premier League, European and clubs in Saudi Arabia are also believed to have shown an interest, with talks open and advancing with several parties. Manchester United are due 10% of any sale.

Garnacho scored just one Premier League goal in 24 matches, albeit with 10 appearances as a substitute, having struggled to start regularly under Enzo Maresca and then Liam Rosenior.

Any exit is part of a reshaping of Chelsea’s squad this summer for new manager Xabi Alonso.

Chelsea have completed the signings of full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta for £47m and winger Geovany Quenda from Sporting for £40m.

The club have also made two significant sales, with left-back Marc Cucurella joining Real Madrid for £52m and winger Tyrique George moving to Everton for a fee that could rise to £24m.

The Blues are targeting moves for a centre-back, with Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix among their targets, while Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria is in talks to move to west London.

There are also a substantial number of outgoings expected, with Trevoh Chalobah’s entourage exploring moves to Italian clubs Inter Milan and Como.

Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season and are preparing for a pre-season tour of Australia and Asia in the next fortnight.

Ken Bates: Colourful, controversial - and significant

Ken Bates famously bought Chelsea for just £1

Ken Bates, who has died aged 94, was one of the most colourful, controversial - and highly significant - figures in the modern football era.

Bates was best known for his ownership of Chelsea over more than two decades of turbulence and success, buying the club for £1 in 1982 before selling to Roman Abramovich in a £140m deal in July 2003.

He started his time in football as chairman of Oldham Athletic in the 1960s, becoming owner and vice-chairman of Wigan Athletic in the early ’80s before purchasing Chelsea.

After selling the Blues to Abramovich, Bates became principal owner of Leeds United in January 2005, another stormy reign before leaving the club in July 2013.

Bates, a self-made millionaire from haulage and ready-mix concrete who was never shy of confrontation or an explosive quote, was also a member of the Football Association (FA) executive committee, emerging as a highly influential figure in the rebuilding of Wembley Stadium.

He was appointed chairman of Wembley National Stadium Limited in 1997 but resigned four years later, claiming he had not been supported and that progress was too slow.

It was at Chelsea and Stamford Bridge where Bates came to nationwide prominence, as he took on a fallen giant in danger of extinction, inheriting debts of £1.5m but intent on turning their fortunes around.

Chelsea faced bankruptcy when Bates walked in, but by the time he ceded control to Abramovich they had become a powerful force at home and abroad, winning the FA Cup twice, the League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998, and the Uefa Super Cup.

The winning goal in that Cup Winners’ Cup final against Stuttgart was scored by Gianfranco Zola, one of many European superstars to arrive at Chelsea during Bates’ transformation of the club.

From counting the pennies in his early years, Chelsea developed enough stardust to attract the likes of Ruud Gullit, Marcel Desailly and Gianluca Vialli - player-manager that night - to Stamford Bridge.

It was all a far cry from when Bates took over, but even then his acumen enabled him to provide funds for Chelsea to buy players of the calibre of Pat Nevin, Kerry Dixon and David Speedie to propel them towards being a top-flight force once more.

In 1985, Bates erected perimeter fencing at Stamford Bridge featuring an electrified section at the top in a bid to combat hooliganism - though it was never turned on for safety reasons

Bates was never far from controversy, especially in the mid-’80s when he erected a 12ft 12-volt electric fence around Stamford Bridge to prevent pitch invasions - but was then refused permission by Greater London Council to switch it on, citing safety grounds.

In 1991, Chelsea were fined £105,000 for alleged illegal payments to players. Bates resigned from the Football League management committee.

He regarded one of his most significant achievements at Chelsea as securing Stamford Bridge as the club’s home before developing it into a luxury all-seater stadium with a 40,000-plus capacity.

It came after a long-running legal battle with property developers Marler Estates, which owned a substantial part of the stadium’s freehold. He then started the Chelsea Pitch Owners scheme, sharing out ownership of the land with fans, ensuring Stamford Bridge would not be in similar peril again.

This, in many respects, was as important as the success Chelsea eventually enjoyed during his tenure.

Bates was helped in his quest to bring the best players to Chelsea by the investment of Matthew Harding, who became a director in 1993 and eventually vice-chairman.

Glenn Hoddle was appointed player-manager in June 1993 as the club became increasingly fashionable, doing well enough to be appointed England manager two years later.

Harding was a lifelong Chelsea fan who yearned for a return of the club’s glory days, initially providing £5m for Stamford Bridge’s renovation, then more money for players, but often clashed with Bates over the direction and power base of the club, eventually being banned from the Chelsea boardroom in 1995.

Amid bitterness, the pair never reconciled before Harding’s death in a helicopter crash returning from a League Cup tie at Bolton Wanderers.

Bates sacked Gullit, who had won the FA Cup the previous season, in February 1998 after their relationship suffered a fracture - with claims that the manager learned of his sacking via Teletext.

Vialli replaced Gullit, bringing that European Cup Winners’ Cup success to Chelsea, as well as an FA Cup final victory against Aston Villa in 2000.

Bates wielded the axe ruthlessly after Chelsea won only one of their first five league games the following season, although the decision brought heavy criticism from Pierluigi Casiraghi, the Italian striker bought by Vialli whose career was ended by injury.

He said: “Ken Bates does not know the meaning of gratitude. He is arrogant and has made a mistake.”

Even Bates’ programme notes were required reading as he settled scores in print and used them to mount a fierce defence of either personal criticism or criticism of the club.

Claudio Ranieri was Bates’ final managerial appointment before selling to Abramovich, saying the deal would “take Chelsea to the next level” - which it duly did.

It turned out to be one of defining moments in Premier League history, as a succession of rich foreign owners bought in.

Bates (right) replaced outgoing chairman Gerald Krasner when he took control of Leeds in 2005

Bates insisted he was ready for “one last challenge”, which he found at another 1970s football powerhouse in reduced circumstances - Leeds United.

His former club quickly found themselves in his sights in August 2006 when Bates complained to the Football League that Chelsea were making illegal approaches to young Leeds players.

Chelsea then reported Bates to the FA for comments he had made about the directors, the issue eventually being settled privately.

In keeping with the rest of his career, Bates’ time at Leeds was a headline-grabber, going through five managers. A 3-0 defeat by Watford in the 2006 Championship play-off final under Kevin Blackwell proved pivotal.

With no Premier League riches, Leeds went into voluntary administration the following year and were relegated to English football’s third tier for the first time.

At this point, Leeds had debts of £30m, including about £7m owed to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Leeds were handed a 10-point deduction which confirmed their relegation to League One, where they were hit with a further 15-point penalty.

Bates was part of a consortium that bought the club back from the administrators. Leeds returned to the Championship in 2010, with Bates selling the club in 2012.

In later years Bates lived in Monaco, but still played host to journalists and was willing to share his outspoken views that made him such a compelling, controversial figure.

How good is Monga and what role could he play at Man City?

Jeremy Monga is the third-youngest player to feature in the Premier League

Manchester City appear to have struck an early blow on Arsenal by agreeing a £12.5m deal to sign 17-year-old Jeremy Monga from Leicester City.

Not content with battling for the top trophies in England, the two sides are now tussling for the country’s best young players and City look to have come out on top this time, although the deal is yet to be completed.

Premier League champions Arsenal were leading the race and in a strong position to bring in Monga, but BBC Sport revealed strong interest from City last week and the Gunners have been gazumped at the finish line by their rivals.

Brentford were also in the frame but City have clinched the deal with the Foxes, who will lose one of their star players following relegation to League One.

Monga had agreed to a one-year scholarship contract at King Power Stadium, which turns into a professional contract on his 17th birthday on Friday, meaning interested parties would be required to pay a transfer fee for the teenager.

Although the £12.5m fee is a substantial amount for a 17-year-old, it is not unprecedented.

Tottenham spent £30m to sign 18-year-old Archie Gray from Leeds in 2024, while it took Manchester United £27m to buy 18-year-old Luke Shaw from Southampton 12 years ago and Arsenal shelled out up to £12.5m on 16-year-old Theo Walcott from Southampton back in 2006.

It is understood City have long held an interest in Monga but the move has accelerated under new manager Enzo Maresca, who worked with the teenager during his season in-charge of Leicester.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, though, will be bitterly disappointed and left wondering how his side have been outmanoeuvred by City, as a deal to sign Monga was seemingly close to being completed.

Monga became Leicester’s youngest starter aged 16 years and 34 days old last August when he featured in the Carabao Cup first round defeat on penalties by Huddersfield.

The England youth international tends to play from the left wing but can operate from the opposite flank too and is equally adept with both feet - he made a total of 37 appearances for the Foxes, including seven as a substitute in the Premier League.

Monga was handed his top-flight debut by ex-Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy against Newcastle in April 2025, playing the final 16 minutes in the 3-0 defeat at St James’ Park.

He currently stands as the third-youngest player to feature in the competition behind Arsenal duo Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri.

Reflecting on his first top-flight appearance, Monga said: “It was a crazy experience. At first I was obviously nervous but when I got onto the pitch all the nerves went away as I had to switch on.”

“I feel like I did all right, I could have done better. There is always room for improvement.”

Monga can now take his undoubted talent to the next level by joining one of the biggest clubs in the world as a teenager, but what role could he play at City?

It is not yet known if Monga will be immediately integrated into the first-team or whether he will start off in the academy.

It would make sense for Monga to join the club on their pre-season tour of Hong Kong and Seoul where other youngsters including Vitor Reis, Sverre Nypan and Divine Mukasa could also make the trip.

City’s forward line is stacked with established international figures so Monga may initially find it difficult to break into the first-team, but those who have worked closely with him feel he is a star in the making.

Jeremy Monga has been capped by England from under-15 through to under-19 level

While at Coventry City at the age of 11, Monga undertook specialist one-to-one coaching sessions in a programme that has hosted players from numerous academies around the country all the way up to the Premier League.

“Initially, Jeremy was quite a reserved character, but he goes about himself in the correct way,” Callum Powell of CP Coaching Academy tells BBC Sport.

“He conducts himself well and he is very polite and well mannered. He brought a good energy but not one that was loud, boisterous or in your face.”

“He gets his head down and works hard. When he is on the ball, he is not shy to showcase himself.”

“His ability to manipulate the ball and his dribbling ability are his main traits but the most exciting thing about Jeremy when you are watching him is the ability to react and beat opposition players,” Powell added.

“His footwork, agility and technical ability is superior from most players of his age. This is why he has attracted the interest he has. The way he shifts while at high speed is quite a rare trait to possess.”

Alongside his coaching, Powell plays in the lower leagues of the English pyramid and says Monga’s attitude resembles similarities to an England striker who is currently at the World Cup.

“I grew up and played with Ivan Toney while at Northampton, coming through the academy and into the scholars,” said Powell.

“You look at him and see he has great technical ability but you would never have forecasted what he has gone on to achieve.”

“Jeremy is similar to Ivan, the mentality is just different to others. He is not fazed, he doesn’t feel the pressure, in fact he is motivated by the pressure. That is the biggest things.”

“Working with professionals and the most talented youngsters, the main thing that sets them apart is their mentality and mindset and you can see Jeremy has that in abundance.”

“It is down to Jeremy to put in the performances and work to get to where he needs to but I have no doubt that he will go on to achieve great things there and it is an unbelievable move for him.”

Palace sign Spain defender Mingueza on free transfer

Oscar Mingueza won the Copa del Rey while playing for Barcelona in 2021

Crystal Palace have signed Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza on a free transfer, subject to international clearance.

The 27-year-old Spaniard joins Palace on a four-year contract and is new head coach Pierre Sage’s first summer signing.

Mingueza is a product of Barcelona’s La Masia academy and made 66 appearances for the club following his senior debut in 2020.

The versatile defender then joined Celta Vigo in 2022, where he scored seven goals and provided 15 assists in 147 appearances.

Mingueza said “it is an honour” to be joining Palace and added he is “really excited” to be at Selhurst Park.

He has been capped four times by Spain, however he was not included in manager Luis de la Fuente’s 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup.

Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “We are delighted to welcome a player of Oscar’s quality and character to the club.

“His track record speaks for itself, with experience at the highest level for both club and country.

“We believe he will be a fantastic fit for Crystal Palace.”

Palace travel to Everton for their opening game of the new Premier League season on Saturday, 22 August at 15:00 BST.

Premier League pre-season - who are your club playing?

While the World Cup is still going on, many Premier League clubs are already returning to pre-season training and friendly matches.

The Premier League officially returns on 21 August but some clubs are in pre-season match action before the World Cup final.

The games are spread across the globe, from Hong Kong and New York to York and Bristol.

Who is your club playing, and when and where are the matches?

All kick-off times BST

24 July: St. Pauli v Bournemouth (Saalfelden Arena, Austria, 15:00)

30 July: Augsburg v Bournemouth (Saalfelden Arena, Austria, 15:00)

4 August: Bournemouth v Genoa (behind closed doors)

8 August: Real Betis v Bournemouth (Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, 19:30)

1 August: Girona v Arsenal (Estadi Montilivi, Girona, 19:00)

5 August: Arsenal v Real Betis (Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 19:30)

9 August: Arsenal v Borussia Dortmund (Emirates Stadium, London, 14:00)

16 August: Community Shield - Arsenal v Manchester City (Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 15:00)

21 July: Walsall v Aston Villa (Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, 19:30)

28 July: Aston Villa v Real Sociedad (Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, 19:30)

1 August: Indonesia All-Stars v Aston Villa (Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, 19:00)

4 August: BG Pathum United v Aston Villa (True BG Stadium, Pathum Thani, 19:30)

7 August: Aston Villa v Bayern Munich (Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong, TBC)

15 August: Borussia Monchengladbach v Aston Villa (Borussia-Park, Monchengladbach, 14:30)

8 August: Stade Rennais v Brentford (Roazhon Park, Rennes, 17:00)

15 August: Brentford v Eintracht Frankfurt (Gtech Community Stadium, London)

25 July: Brighton v Annecy (behind closed doors)

1 August: Brighton v Strasbourg (behind closed doors)

8 August: Brighton v Roma (Amex Stadium, Brighton, 15:00)

15 August: Brighton v Bologna (Amex Stadium, Brighton, 15:00)

28 July: Western Sydney Wanderers v Chelsea (Accor Stadium, Sydney, 10:45)

1 August: Chelsea v Tottenham (Accor Stadium, Sydney, 10:45)

5 August: Chelsea v Juventus (Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong, 12:30)

8 August: Chelsea v AC Milan (Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, 13:00)

11 August: Johor Darul Ta’zim v Chelsea (Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor, 13:00)

18 July: Northampton v Coventry (Sixfields Stadium, Northampton, 14:00)

8 August: Coventry v Espanyol (CBS Arena, Coventry, 17:30)

28 July: Crystal Palace v Lens (Lake Como, Italy, 18:00)

28 July: Crystal Palace v FC Famalicao (Lake Como, Italy, 19:30)

18 July: Dundee v Everton (Dens Park, Dundee, 14:00)

25 July: Bolton v Everton (Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton, 15:00)

28 July: Stoke City v Everton (bet365 Stadium, Stoke, 19:45)

1 August: Hamburg v Everton (MHP Arena, Stuttgart, 16:00)

8 August: Stuttgart v Everton (MHP Arena, Stuttgart, 16:00)

12 August: Everton v Newcastle (Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 17:15)

29 July: Ipswich v Osasuna (JobServe Community Stadium, Colchester, 19:45)

1 August: Oxford Utd v Ipswich (Kassam Stadium, Oxford, 12:00)

1 August: Wycombe v Ipswich (Adams Park, Wycombe, 16:00)

4 August: Ipswich v Le Havre (Portman Road, Ipswich, 19:45)

8 August: Ipswich v Rayo Vallecano (Portman Road, Ipswich, 15:00)

15 August: Union Berlin v Ipswich (Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, 14:30)

25 July: Leeds v Wrexham (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, 00:30)

30 July: Leeds v Sunderland (Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey, 00:30)

2 August: Leeds United v Liverpool (Soldier Field, Chicago, 21:00)

8 August: Leeds United v RB Leipzig (Elland Road, Leeds, 14:00)

12 August: Leeds United v Manchester United (Croke Park, Dublin, 19:30)

25 July: Liverpool v Sunderland (Geodis Park, Nashville, 23:00)

29 July: Liverpool v Wrexham (Yankee Stadium, New York, 00:30)

2 August: Liverpool v Leeds (Soldier Field, Chicago, 21:00)

9 August: Liverpool v Monaco (Anfield, Liverpool, 14:30)

16 August: Liverpool v Como (Anfield, Liverpool, 18:00)

1 August: Manchester City v Inter Milan (Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong, 12:30)

5 August: Manchester City v K-League All-Stars (Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul)

9 August: Manchester City v Atletico Madrid (Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul)

16 August: FA Community Shield - Manchester City v Arsenal (Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 15:00)

18 July: Manchester United v Wrexham (Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, 17:00)

24 July: Manchester United v Rosenborg (Lerkendal Stadium, Trondheim, 17:00)

1 August: Manchester United v Atletico Madrid (Stockholm, 14:00)

8 August: Manchester United v Paris St-Germain (Gothenburg, 16:00)

12 August: Manchester United v Leeds United (Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 15:00)

15 August: Manchester United v AC Milan (Tarczynski Arena, Wroclaw, 15:45)

18 July: Newcastle v Darlington (behind closed doors)

25 July: Gateshead v Newcastle (Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead, 12:30)

29 July: Bristol City v Newcastle (Ashton Gate, Bristol, 19:30)

8 August: Valencia v Newcastle (Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, 20:00)

12 August: Everton v Newcastle (Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 17:15)

15 August: Newcastle v Bayer Leverkusen (St James’ Park, Newcastle, 15:00)

16 August: Newcastle v Strasbourg (St James’ Park, Newcastle, 16:00)

18 July: Notts County v Nottingham Forest (Meadow Lane, Nottingham, 15:00)

22 July: Nottingham Forest v Blackburn Rovers (Estadio de Nora, Albufeira, 11:00)

26 July: Nottingham Forest v Vitoria (behind closed doors)

31 July: Nottingham Forest v Sporting (Estadio Algarve, Faro, TBC)

12 August: Nottingham Forest v Bayer Leverkusen (City Ground, Nottingham, 19:45)

16 August: Nottingham Forest v Brest (City Ground, Nottingham, 14:00)

18 July: York City v Sunderland (LNER Community Stadium, York, 15:00)

25 July: Sunderland v Liverpool (Geodis Park, Nashville, 23:00)

30 July: Sunderland v Leeds (Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey, 00:30)

2 August: Sunderland v Wrexham (Subaru Park, Pennsylvania, 17:00)

8 August: Lens v Sunderland (Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, 16:00)

15 August: Sunderland v Rennes (Stadium of Light, Sunderland, 15:00)

22 July: Tottenham v MK Dons (behind closed doors)

26 July: Auckland FC v Tottenham (Eden Park, Auckland, 04:30)

29 July: Sydney FC v Tottenham (Accor Stadium, Sydney, 10:45)

1 August: Tottenham v Chelsea (Accor Stadium, Sydney, 10:45)

8 August: Tottenham v Getafe (behind closed doors)

15 August: Tottenham v Hoffenheim (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, 15:00)

16 August: Tottenham v Hoffenheim (behind closed doors)

Ipswich land 'proud' striker Emersonn

Ipswich Town have completed the signing of Brazilian striker Emersonn, who says he has “picked the perfect club” to join.

The 21-year-old joins from French Ligue 1 side Toulouse on a five-year contract and chairman Mark Ashton said the deal “is an exciting moment for the club”.

Ashton said: “As we prepare for our return to the Premier League we know recruitment will be crucial, with the club investing significantly in this area in recent years in order to bring the best possible talent from across the globe to the club.

“In making Emersonn our first signing of the summer we know we have acquired a young, hungry player with a high ceiling, with more signings to follow as we continue to invest to give ourselves the best possible chance of achieving our goal in the Premier League.”

Manager Gary O’Neil said there had been “plenty of interest” in Emersonn.

The striker, who has played for Brazil at youth level, joined Toulouse in September 2025 and scored three times in 18 league appearances across the remainder of the campaign.

Emersonn explained: “I am very proud to sign for Ipswich Town.

“Playing in the Premier League is something I have always dreamed of and I know I have picked the perfect club to do that with.

“I will give everything for the team every time I play and I can’t wait to get started and meet my new teammates as well as the supporters.”

Why Newcastle target Manzambi is in demand

Johan Manzambi has won 16 caps for Switzerland

Johan Manzambi mapped it all out.

The determined midfielder had his sights set on the 2026 World Cup before he even made his debut for Freiburg or won his first senior cap for Switzerland.

Manzambi was therefore never going to just settle for a place in the squad once he got there.

The 20-year-old instead relished this grand stage as one of the tournament’s breakout stars.

In truth, manager Murat Yakin had little choice but to start him after he came off the bench and scored a double against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Switzerland’s second group game.

Manzambi went on to repay Yakin’s faith with a goal and an assist on his full World Cup debut versus Canada and by setting up his side’s opener in the round of 32 victory over Algeria.

Manzambi missed Switzerland’s subsequent last 16 win against Colombia due to a knee injury and it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to feature versus holders Argentina in the quarter-finals.

But he has already made history after becoming the youngest player to chalk up five goal involvements at a single World Cup since records began.

It feels like this is just the start for the Newcastle United target as close friend Yann Sturm suggested.

“I’m sure we will be hearing a lot more from him over the coming years,” he said.

It has been quite a rise.

But Manzambi’s thirst to get better quickly caught the eye at Freiburg as he rose through the ranks following his move from Swiss side Servette in 2023.

After one particularly draining training session with the reserves went on far longer than planned, Manzambi even asked the then Freiburg II manager Benedetto Muzzicato if he could go over the game plan again because it “didn’t feel right”.

“He wants to improve every single day,” Muzzicato said. “If anything, you have to slow him down rather than motivate him.”

This mentality has been a constant throughout his burgeoning career and helps explain why Manzambi was on the radar of clubs long before the World Cup started.

He was a key cog in the Freiburg side who reached the Europa League final for the first time ever last season and followed in the footsteps of Rayan Cherki and Florian Wirtz by being named the competition’s young player of the season.

It was Manzambi’s first full campaign as a starter yet he racked up 13 goal involvements, including stunning long-range efforts against Bayern Munich and Braga in the Bundesliga and Europa League respectively.

Manzambi’s ball-carrying, close control and ability to make things happen all stood out, as did his versatility.

The Swiss has played in a variety of roles for club and country in the middle of the park, but he has the attributes to potentially excel as a box-to-box midfielder.

The data certainly suggests so.

Among players in the Bundesliga in his position, in 2025-26, Manzambi ranked first for 10-plus metre progressive carries (116), shot ending carries (13) and fouls won (78) as opponents tried to stop him.

He was second for total take-ons (71), opposition half take-ons (52) and total carry progress (2,476 metres).

Manzambi is far from the finished article but, fuelled by a “very healthy and positive drive”, in the words of Muzzicato, he will want to build on an impressive campaign.

“I remember knowing right after Johan’s first touch that he was something special,” he added.

“His natural talent and understanding of the game were obvious from the start. You could see it immediately.

“But, as a person, he is exactly the kind of player every coach wants in their team. He always wants to improve, asks the right questions and is eager to learn.”

Newcastle have targeted hungry players of a similar age this summer as part of their rebuild.

The club have signed winger Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim for £43m and goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Reims for around £18.5m.

They are also closing in on Ajax midfielder Sean Steur in a deal worth up to £23m.

The trio are all aged 20 and under and, following a series of knock backs in the transfer market in the last year, it felt significant they were keen on making the move to St James’ Park.

Could Manzambi follow suit?

Freiburg are in a strong negotiating position following his performances at the World Cup, but Newcastle have the headroom to reinvest within the financial rules after selling Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee potentially rising to £100m.

The club would also be able to offer Manzambi the platform to develop further with regular first-team football.

The next couple of weeks feel significant.

Manzambi, who changed representatives in the build up to the window, has made it clear in interviews he will address his future after the World Cup.

He has certainly not let the growing interest distract him, which won’t come as a surprise to Luigi Pisino, who coached him at Servette’s academy.

“He’s someone with his feet on the floor,” he said. “He remains humble and has a lot of values, even outside of the pitch.

“He’s really close to his biggest brother, who was always with him, and his father as well. I think they shared a lot of values.

“They support him and they don’t put pressure on him. This is for me a big point because we see that Johan is free when he’s on the pitch and he can just show his skills.”

Newcastle are not the only interested party, of course, and the club have been here before.

They thought a deal had been finalised for Victor Munoz when Liverpool emerged out of nowhere to sign the forward from Osasuna earlier this summer.

Hope remains, but there is still a degree of caution surrounding this pursuit as a result.

“A lot of clubs have already shown interest in him,” said Sturm, who also came through at Freiburg.

“I’m convinced he will make a great next move.”

Additional reporting by Mani Djazmi

Former Chelsea boss Rosenior named Paris FC manager

Liam Rosenior has returned to football management with Paris FC after being sacked by Chelsea in April.

The 41-year-old lasted less than four months at Stamford Bridge but has moved back to France on a two-year contract, which is understood to include an option for a further season.

Rosenior, who was with Strasbourg before taking the Chelsea job, replaces Antoine Kombouare after Paris finished 11th in Ligue 1 last season.

The club, which is owned by the Arnault family with Red Bull as a minority shareholder, is ambitious to achieve more.

Paris FC said Rosenior was appointed because of his “wealth of experience at the highest level”, his ability to nurture young talent and his commitment to “attractive and attacking football”.

Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge in January following the now-Manchester City manager’s disagreement with members of the club hierarchy.

After an encouraging start, form soon tailed off and Rosenior lost each of his final five Premier League matches in charge, with Chelsea failing to score a goal.

However, he remains highly regarded for his work at Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg, who finished seventh in 2024-25 and qualified for the Uefa Conference League with the youngest squad across Europe’s top five leagues.

Rosenior began his coaching career with Brighton Under-23s before moving to Derby County, first as Wayne Rooney’s assistant before taking over as interim boss.

He was named Hull City head coach in 2022 and led them to 15th in the Championship in his first season and then seventh in his second, but was sacked having missed out on the play-offs.

Chelsea have replaced Rosenior with former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, with the ex-Spain midfielder the sixth permanent manager at Stamford Bridge in four years under BlueCo ownership.

Fulham appoint Arbeloa as Silva's successor

Arbeloa played for Liverpool and West Ham in the Premier League

Fulham have appointed Alvaro Arbeloa as their new manager on a three-year contract.

The former Real Madrid boss, 43, succeeds Marco Silva after he agreed to join Benfica.

“It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London,” he said. “I feel a great sense of responsibility and I’m deeply grateful to [chairman] Mr [Shahid] Khan and [vice-chairman] Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.”

Chairman Shahid Khan said: “Alvaro is, by his own admission, very ambitious. He has spent quality time around the best players, clubs and methods in the game, experiences which will serve him well here at Fulham.

“Alvaro also has great interest in our academy set-up and believes in giving young players a chance. I loved hearing that from Alvaro, as well as his intent on playing attacking football.”

Arbeloa’s candidacy was supported by excellent references from recently re-elected Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and the Spanish club’s new manager Jose Mourinho, who he played for at Santiago Bernabeu.

The former full-back left Real Madrid at the end of last season and was replaced by Mourinho, who left Benfica. Silva then opted to move to the Portuguese side as Mourinho’s replacement despite contract offers from Fulham.

In an interview last month, Fulham’s vice-chairman said Silva had previously “indicated he wanted to stay” but that “Marco changed his mind” and surprised the board by leaving Craven Cottage after five successful years.

Former Tottenham and Brentford boss Thomas Frank was linked to the Fulham job, while ex-Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was deemed too expensive at £8m before factoring in his salary and staff costs.

Arbeloa was a youth coach in Madrid before taking over as interim manager following the departure of Xabi Alonso in January.

He led Real Madrid for the last 28 games of the season as they finished second in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Bayern Munich.

Arbeloa is keen to bring players with him, including attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono, full-back Fran Garcia and forward Gonzalo Garcia.

Glasner becomes Forest's fifth head coach in a year

Oliver Glasner won three trophies in just over two years with Crystal Palace

Nottingham Forest have appointed former Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner as their fifth head coach in less than a year.

The Austrian arrives at the City Ground as a replacement for Vitor Pereira, who was sacked on Tuesday - two minutes before an exit clause in his contract was due to expire.

“Oliver is a winner,” said Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

“It was clear that we share the same vision, the same ambition and the same relentless desire to succeed.”

Contact with 51-year-old Glasner, who left Palace at the end of last season, was initiated earlier this summer.

Nuno Espirito Santo began last season as Forest manager, while Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Pereira have had a spell in charge since September.

Glasner became Palace boss in 2024 and led them to their first major honour in his first season - the FA Cup - before winning the Europa Conference League last season.

They won the Community Shield in August, beating Liverpool on penalties.

Glasner said in January he would leave Palace because he wanted a new challenge, despite being offered a new contract.

On joining Forest, Glasner said: “From my very first conversations with the owner and the leadership team, it was evident to me that they have a clear vision for this football club and complete trust and belief in me and my staff to build a strong future together over the long term.

“That trust and shared commitment, together with the potential that I see within the squad, were key factors for me and I am excited about what we can achieve together.”

Glasner is one of only three coaches to win the Europa League and Conference League, having led Eintracht Frankfurt to victory in the former in 2021-22.

Marinakis said: “He has consistently demonstrated throughout his career that he can build outstanding teams and deliver success against the strongest competition.

“He has earned success through his leadership, his personality and the style of football his teams play.

“It has always been our goal to establish Nottingham Forest once again among the leading clubs in England and Europe.

“Our ambition is not simply to compete - our ambition is to win, to challenge for major honours and to create a football club that our supporters can be proud of for many years to come.”

Pereira, who replaced Dyche in February, guided Forest to 16th in the Premier League - five points above the relegation zone - and the Europa League semi-finals, where they lost to eventual winners Aston Villa.

Glasner arrives at Forest with a winning pedigree, but is he putting his reputation on the line?

His decision to walk into the managerial graveyard that is the City Ground can be viewed as risky.

Having won two major trophies with Palace, Glasner’s stock is high, but, given the changes in the last year, how long will that give him if results and performances do not meet Marinakis’ expectations?

There is no European football at Forest next season so fewer distractions will enable Glasner to settle and mould the squad, but it does not mean there is no pressure.

Pereira lasted 133 days, Dyche was in charge for 114 and Postecoglou only 39.

Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed only three games into last season after falling out with the club’s hierarchy following a successful 21-month reign.

Nuno criticised the speed of their transfer business last summer, fell out with global sporting director Edu and revealed his relationship with Marinakis had deteriorated.

Glasner himself is no stranger to disagreements with ownership, saying he felt him and his squad were “abandoned completely” by Palace’s hierarchy in January, which came after he revealed he would leave Selhurst Park.

So this new relationship could also be combustible.

Marinakis will demand Glasner repeat his Palace success at Forest, but he also has to bring the stability which the club desperately need.

Santos latest midfielder considered by Man Utd

Chelsea’s Andrey Santos is the latest player Manchester United have taken an interest in as they look to address their problem midfield position.

With Casemiro leaving after his contract expired on 30 June and Manuel Ugarte expected to be sold, United went into the summer with England’s Kobbie Mainoo as their only recognised central midfielder and with the stated aim of addressing the situation as a matter of priority.

Since then, events have taken a turn.

Ugarte sustained what the 25-year-old described as “the most serious injury a footballer can face” on World Cup duty for Uruguay against Spain.

United are yet to confirm the extent of Ugarte’s knee ligament damage. However, it is thought Ugarte suffered cruciate damage that would sideline him for the rest of 2026 at least and rule out any chance of him being sold.

In the transfer market, United have encountered more issues.

On 25 June, Manchester City agreed a club record £116m deal with Nottingham Forest for England international Elliot Anderson. He had been United’s number one midfield target.

Then, on 2 July, Tottenham paid a club record £85m for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes. United had pushed hard to sign the Portuguese and genuinely thought he was a player they could attain.

However, once Spurs made their interest in Fernandes known, West Ham, under new direction through co-chair Daniel Kretinsky, were able to stick to a valuation in excess of £80m.

United would have been willing to pay £85m - albeit including add-ons - but ultimately felt if they had offered that sum, Spurs would have immediately gone to £90m. It is this kind of situation they are keen to avoid.

United have agreed a £35m deal with Serie A outfit Atalanta for Ederson but his late call-up to the Brazil squad means his medical will not happen until Carlo Ancelotti’s side are out of the competition. As with all United’s World Cup players, he will then get a minimum of three weeks off.

It means, unless the position changes, the only midfielder among boss Michael Carrick’s senior group when they return for testing and the pre-season training on 9 July will be Mason Mount, who is viewed as more of an offensive player.

On 18 July, the day before the World Cup final, United play their first friendly fixture, against Wrexham in Helsinki.

Of the eight first-team midfielders listed on United’s website, in addition to Mount, Carrick’s options will be Toby Collyer - who is wanted by Hull - Dan Gore, who spent last season on loan at Rotherham, who were relegated from League One, and twins Jack and Tyler Fletcher. The rest are all still on World Cup duty. Tyler Fletcher was a surprise call-up to Scotland’s squad after impressing in the build-up, but did not play.

United’s Premier League 2 skipper Jacob Devaney impressed in a central midfield role for Scottish Premiership outfit St Mirren in the second half of last season. Jack Moorhouse, who made 14 appearances on loan for Leyton Orient in the first half of the campaign, Jayce Fitzgerald, Sekou Kone and Jim Thwaites are other central midfielders in United’s academy.

With a match against Norwegian side Rosenborg to follow on 24 July, United’s younger players have a chance to impress Carrick.

But it is fair to assume once United hit a run of high-profile pre-season matches, starting with Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on 1 August, Carrick will expect to have had the midfield situation addressed.

Alex Scott (Bournemouth): The 22-year-old appears to be the current main target. However, Arsenal are also keen on an industrious young player who overcame a difficult first 18 months at the Vitality Stadium injury wise to play a leading role in England’s 2025 European Under-21 Championship triumph. He made 37 league appearances last term as the Cherries finished sixth, their highest ever league position, to claim a Europa League place. The issue is twofold. Premier League champions Arsenal will be formidable competition. And, more importantly, Bournemouth have made it clear Scott, who has two years left on his current contract, is not for sale and they want to tie him down to a long-term contract.

Tyler Adams (Bournemouth): Adams is one of those players who rarely grabs attention but is a key member of whichever team he plays for. Adams did miss games last season with knee and hamstring problems and, prior to the 2024-25 campaign he needed back surgery. However, he was an integral part of Andoni Iraola’s side last term and has featured for every minute of USA’s World Cup campaign, other than the defeat to Turkey, which was a dead rubber. Like Scott, his Bournemouth contract runs to 2028. Unlike Scott, Bournemouth might be willing to sell Adams for £40-50m.

Andrey Santos (Chelsea): Had Liam Rosenior remained as Chelsea manager, Santos might not have been for sale. The 22-year-old featured for Rosenior at Strasbourg and made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season. He fits the same kind of profile as Casemiro, albeit with vastly less experience. BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella reported on 3 July “a number of sides are understood to be interested in Santos” and that “those close to Santos seem open to the possibility of a move”. He too could be available for around £50m.

Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund): Nmecha’s is another name being floated around. A former academy player at Manchester City, who was part of the Germany team stunned by Paraguay at the World Cup, Nmecha is well known to United’s director of football Jason Wilcox, who was formerly head of City’s academy. Nmecha did sign a new contract at Borussia Dortmund in March and United sources say there is nothing proactive happening in terms of trying to sign him at this moment.

Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid): A key part of the France side many predict will win the World Cup this summer. In some senses, Tchouameni would be the most attractive potential signing. He would almost certainly be the most expensive wage-wise at a time when minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to stop paying huge salaries. New boss Jose Mourinho will clearly have a major say in whether Tchouameni stays at the Bernabeu. The current feeling at United is that he will.

Carlos Baleba (Brighton): The present indication is that there has been a cooling of Manchester United interest in Cameroon international Baleba. However, given he was the subject of concrete interest, which was rebuffed, last summer, presumably all the background work has been done, meaning he could emerge as a genuine target again at relatively short notice. The drawback is Brighton are not weak when it comes to negotiation and there has been no suggestion that despite a dip in form, the transfer fee needed has dropped below £100m.

Man City's Ake in talks over £7m Fenerbahce move

Nathan Ake made six Premier League starts for Manchester City last season

Fenerbahce are in talks with Manchester City over a £7m deal for Netherlands defender Nathan Ake.

The Turkish club say personal terms have been agreed with the 31-year-old but sources have told BBC Sport that details for the transfer are still being finalised.

Negotiations are expected to conclude shortly however, with the Dutchman set to move in a deal that could be worth up to £8.5m with add-ons.

He made three appearances for the Netherlands in the 2026 World Cup before their elimination by Morocco in the last 32.

Fenerbahce presidential candidate Aziz Yildirim is keen to sign Ake, who joined City from Bournemouth in 2020 for £40m and has made 177 appearances for the club.

He was expected to be sold by City this summer, with one year remaining on his contract, having had limited game time in Pep Guardiola’s final season in charge.

He made just 17 starts across all competitions last season with six of them coming in the Premier League.

“The player, who wore the jersey in the 2026 Fifa World Cup, will join our team in the Austria camp following the permission process,” Fenerbahce said.

Ake has won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, two League Cups and the Champions League during his time at Etihad Stadium.

Xhaka set to stay at Sunderland despite Chelsea interest

Granit Xhaka scored one goal in 34 Premier League appearances last season

Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka is set to stay at the club this summer, despite interest from Chelsea.

The Switzerland midfielder, whose contract ends in 2028, was attracted by the prospect of reuniting with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, after playing under him at Bayer Leverkusen.

Chelsea had an £8m bid for Xhaka rejected by Sunderland last week and the Blues were expected to return with an improved offer.

However, sources at Sunderland have told BBC Sport that the 33-year-old is not for sale and, following discussions, Xhaka has reaffirmed his commitment to the Black Cats.

Chelsea have not given up hope of landing Xhaka, with sources at the club maintaining that the former Arsenal midfielder is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.

It remains to be seen, though, whether the Blues will submit a further bid for the player.

Xhaka helped Sunderland qualify for Europe for the first time in 53 years last season following his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.

He made 34 Premier League appearances as the Black Cats finished seventh to qualify for the Conference League.

The Switzerland captain spent seven years at Arsenal, making 297 appearances, before joining Leverkusen in 2023 where he helped the German club win their first Bundesliga title under Alonso.

Xhaka is currently at the World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada with Switzerland, where he has played every game in his country’s run to the last 16.

Spurs sign Fernandes for club record £85m

Mateus Fernandes has made 72 Premier League starts over the past two seasons

Tottenham have completed the signing of midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for a club-record fee of £85m.

Spurs have not confirmed the length of contract for the 21-year-old, who has played once for Portugal but is not part of their World Cup squad.

Fernandes has spent the past two seasons in the Premier League with Southampton and West Ham, although each club were relegated to the Championship.

“I’ve admired Mateus for a long time because he combines quality on the ball with the intensity and intelligence that are so important in the way we want to play,” said Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi.

“Despite his age, he already has good experience in the Premier League and has shown quality and consistency at this level.

“Mateus is comfortable under pressure, can progress the ball, works hard for the team and has the courage to make things happen in difficult moments.

“I believe this is the ideal environment for him to continue his development.”

Tottenham saw off competition from Manchester United, who were unwilling to match the fee agreed by Spurs - which is a guaranteed £85m without add-ons.

Fernandes was viewed as a primary target for the north London club after they had a bid for Sandro Tonali rejected by Newcastle.

However, Spurs have now agreed a £100m fee for the Italy midfielder.

They have made a fast start to the summer transfer window, with Fernandes their fifth signing already.

His arrival follows that of goalkeeper Martin Dubravka plus defenders Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke.

“I’m very excited for this next step,” Fernandes said. “Spurs is a massive club and the head coach was a key part of why I have decided to join.

“When we spoke, it was very special. We look at football in the same way - going onto the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try to win every game.”

Spurs agree deal worth up to £100m for Newcastle's Tonali

Sandro Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in 2023.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to break their transfer record for a second time this week after agreeing a deal worth up to £100m with Newcastle United for midfielder Sandro Tonali.

Spurs previously had a bid of about £80m rejected by Newcastle, but are now set to pay an initial £92.5m plus a further £7.5m in add-ons.

BBC Sport previously reported that manager Roberto de Zerbi is a long-time admirer of the Italian international.

De Zerbi identified his countryman as a target during his time in charge of Sassuolo several years ago when Tonali was playing in Serie A.

And Spurs will now top the £85m agreement struck with West Ham this week for midfielder Mateus Fernandes in order to bring Tonali to North London.

Manchester City and Arsenal also showed an interest in Tonali, as BBC Sport previously reported, but neither club made a formal approach.

The 26-year-old joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m in July 2023.

He was banned for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules shortly after his arrival.

But the midfielder went on to help Newcastle win their first major domestic trophy in 70 years - the 2025 Carabao Cup - following his return.

Tonali also played an influential role in the club qualifying for the Champions League later that same season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are understood to have made positive progress in their bid to sign Hoffenheim’s 20-year-old Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure.

The club have been searching for a replacement for Anthony Gordon, who joined Barcelona for £69.3m.

De Zerbi could not have been clearer.

The Spurs manager had just kept his side up on the final day, following a 1-0 win against Everton, but this was not a time for celebration.

He was already looking ahead to the summer to ensure the club were never in this situation again.

“My target is to start the pre-season with the team I have in my dream,” he said in his final news conference last season.

That dream is quickly becoming a reality for the Italian following an aggressive start to the window from Spurs.

Defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have arrived on free transfers and the club could end up spending a combined £237m on centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke and midfielders Fernandes and Tonali.

Spurs may have finished in 17th in back-to-back seasons, but the club are feeling the benefit of strong off-the-field revenues as they look to bounce back.

Newcastle, by contrast, have effectively needed to trade to reinvest.

The sight of Alexander Isak, Gordon and Tonali all leaving the club in the space of less than a year is sobering.

So the spotlight will very much now be on incomings.

After missing out on forward Victor Munoz, who joined Liverpool, Newcastle need reinforcements as they look to finalise a deal for Toure.

The club have so far only signed 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen this summer, who will likely start the season as a deputy, having never played top-flight football before.

There is little margin for error with pre-season right around the corner.

Chelsea's George close to permanent Everton move

Everton are close to agreeing a deal with Chelsea to sign winger Tyrique George following his loan spell.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan on Merseyside, with an option to buy for £25m, but Everton have renegotiated an upfront fee to one with add-ons.

George made 11 appearances for Everton, starting once, but impressed manager David Moyes during his four-month spell at the club.

In May Moyes described him as “an excellent boy” with an “excellent work-rate” when asked about the possibility of a permanent move before the final match of the season.

With the deal for George close, Everton are finalising a £16m deal for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.

Attacking midfielder Merlin Rohl is also set to make his loan move permanent following a successful spell from SC Freiburg last season, while Idrissa Gana Gueye and Seamus Coleman have departed after their contracts expired.

George, who came through Chelsea’s academy, has been available for transfer for the past 12 months.

He held talks with RB Leipzig last summer, while a £22m move to Fulham collapsed on transfer deadline day in September 2025.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are continuing their squad rebuild under new manager Xabi Alonso.

They have signed Marco Palestra from Atalanta and retain interest in Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix, Como’s Jacobo Ramon and Rayo Vallecano full-back Pep Chavarria.

However, the club are also looking to reduce the size of their squad after finishing 10th in the Premier League and failing to qualify for European competition.

That means fewer matches and reduced revenue from broadcasting and matchdays, while Chelsea remain under a Uefa settlement agreement for the next three seasons after breaching financial regulations last summer.

Player sales are therefore likely, with Real Madrid interested in Enzo Fernandez, while Como and Inter Milan are among the clubs keen on Trevoh Chalobah.

The futures of Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana also remain uncertain, along with forwards Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap.

Rosenior nears management return at Paris FC

Former Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior is nearing a move to Paris FC, having been offered a two-year contract with the option of a further season.

The 41-year-old is expected to make a swift return to management after lasting less than four months at Stamford Bridge, having been appointed as Enzo Maresca’s successor in January and sacked in April.

Paris FC, owned by the Arnault family with a minority stake held by energy drinks company Red Bull, have opted to delay pre-season by a week as they finalise the appointment of a successor to Antoine Kombouare, who led the club to an 11th-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.

Rosenior previously enjoyed success in French football in an 18-month spell with Strasbourg - Chelsea’s sister club under BlueCo ownership - while also developing his French language skills.

He previously began his senior coaching career at Derby County and Hull City.

Chelsea, meanwhile, replaced Rosenior with former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, who is set to begin work on Wednesday, 1 July.

Alonso is the sixth permanent manager at Stamford Bridge in four years under BlueCo ownership.

They finished 10th in the Premier League last season with now-Manchester City manager Maresca having walked out of the club on New Year’s Day.

Ex-Everton defender Godfrey joins Rangers on loan from Atalanta

Ben Godfrey has played five times for Atalanta since joining from Everton two years ago

Former Everton defender Ben Godfrey is determined to help Rangers “achieve what it deserves” after signing on loan from Atalanta.

The Ibrox club will have the option to make the deal permanent for the 28-year-old next summer.

Godfrey has struggled for game time in recent seasons, spending the second half of last term making 12 appearances on loan to Brondby as they finished fourth in the Danish top flight.

However, he is driven to make the most of a new challenge in Scotland, saying it is a “massive honour” to join Rangers.

“I am buzzing, I am really happy to be here,” the former Norwich City player said. “I know the size of the club.

“I am looking forward to meeting the boys and hopefully helping this club achieve what it deserves, which is silverware and exciting times.”

Impressive form earlier in Godfrey’s career took him from Norwich to Everton in a deal worth a reported £20m in 2020.

Capable of playing centre-back and full-back, he has two England caps but has had limited minutes since moving to Atalanta in 2024.

He has played just five times for the Serie A club, and his move to Ibrox is his fourth loan in the past two years after stints at Ipswich Town, Sheffield United and Brondby.

However Rangers manager Derek McInnes is pleased to be signing a player who has “competed at a very high level throughout his career”.

He added: “He’s played in the Premier League, been involved with England, and brings a lot of experience with him.

“He’s a strong, athletic defender with good qualities both on and off the ball, and we believe he can add a lot to the squad.”

Why Maresca? What Man City fans can expect from Guardiola's successor

Enzo Maresca has signed a three-year deal as Manchester City boss

After three years away, Enzo Maresca has returned to Manchester City.

The Italian, who was Pep Guardiola’s assistant during City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign, has succeeded the Spaniard as City’s new head coach on a three-year deal.

The former Chelsea manager’s appointment underlines the 46-year-old’s rapid rise in management, having only taken his first head coach’s role in 2021.

He now faces the unenviable task of following Guardiola - who won 20 trophies in his 10 years at City.

Maresca has called the job a “huge challenge”.

“Probably the reason why I am here is also because the idea from the club is to maintain the same style of football, the same idea,” he said. “And we are going to try to do the most important thing in football which is try to win, to achieve important things. Then the day-by-day is also going to dictate the way I will work.”

Guardiola had previously described Maresca as “one of the best managers in the world” but what has convinced the club’s hierarchy?

Maresca is part Italian, part Spanish in his approach to coaching and life.

His Spanish influence stems from his family, and his exposure to Guardiola’s Barcelona while he was at Sevilla and Malaga during the peak years of his playing career.

Facing a Barcelona side regarded by some as the greatest club team of all time opened Maresca’s eyes to a new way of playing, and helped spark the trend for technical, possession-based teams dominating at the highest level.

In Spain, Maresca also met his trusted assistant, Willy Caballero, and his children were born there. Spanish is now the main language spoken at home within his large family.

It was also his “football father”, former Manchester City and West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini, who identified during Maresca’s playing days that he had the qualities to become a coach.

This grounding helps explain the similarities between Maresca and Guardiola.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has been open in his assessment of Enzo Maresca, with the Italian returning to the club following two previous stints - first with the academy and then alongside Guardiola as his assistant coach.

Khaldoon said: “He is one of Pep’s assistants at one point in his career so definitely - he will tell you - he is going to have taken a lot of inspiration in the philosophy of Pep, and you see that in his football. But he has also evolved his own philosophy. I think Enzo brings a lot to this club.”

The pair are known to be in regular contact and Maresca would not have been chosen without Guardiola’s knowledge, according to those close to them.

It is also understood that outgoing sporting director Txiki Begiristain recommended him as Guardiola’s heir when handing over his responsibilities to Hugo Viana upon leaving the club last summer.

Khaldoon added: “I think the fans will appreciate him as a manager, his football philosophy, his football and how the team is going to perform and go from strength to strength with Maresca’s leadership. I think it will be a great addition to the team. This is a big challenge - this scares off many people. The beauty with Enzo is he actually wants that challenge, he loves that challenge.”

Maresca was an influential figure during his single season under Guardiola, with the Spaniard often leaning on the former Chelsea boss for tactical innovations.

It was during that campaign that Guardiola rebranded England defender John Stones as a central midfielder, with him playing a starring role in the Treble-clinching Champions League final win against Inter Milan.

Maresca, who was head coach of City’s Elite Development Squad in the 2020-21 season, left a lasting impression on the academy.

Gareth Taylor, who now leads Liverpool’s women’s team and spent time with Maresca at City, told BBC Sport: “Enzo brought something a little bit different. He certainly had more freedom in the way he set up his teams, because previously most coaches in that environment were strictly told to follow a specific game model. It was as if no-one had that conversation with Enzo, but it was positive because you have to evolve - you cannot stand still tactically. At City, as long as you could back up your rationale, it would be listened to and potentially adopted.”

Of course, Maresca is still Italian and was also influenced by playing under legendary coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Marcelo Lippi.

However, after a poor first spell in management at Parma, his time in Manchester earned him a managerial role at Leicester City and then Chelsea.

City insiders have spoken glowingly about Maresca and he will now be expected to continue the philosophy of Guardiola.

The legendary Spaniard won 20 trophies during his decade-long tenure and Maresca now has the unenviable task of continuing that winning culture that has been engrained in the club.

City players are scheduled to report for pre-season on 20 July, with those taking part in the World Cup given extra time off, but what is on Maresca’s immediate to-do list once he gets started?

The club record £116m arrival of England midfielder Elliot Anderson should be confirmed sometime this week and City will turn their attention towards signing a new right-back.

There has been talk of Chelsea’s Malo Gusto making a reunion with his old manager while City have also been linked with a move for Lille’s 18-year-old Moroccan midfield sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi.

With midfielder Rodri entering the final 12 months of his contract at Etihad Stadium, one of Maresca’s priorities will be to try and tie the Spain captain down to a new deal.

The Italian also has a decision to make for his number one as he likes his goalkeeper to be good with his feet - will compatriot Gianluigi Donnarumma keep hold of the shirt or will James Trafford be given a chance to establish himself as a first-team regular?

Maresca sees himself as a master tactician but also someone who wants control.

Almost always lining up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, Maresca wants his teams to hoard possession, stop counter-attacks and be dominant.

It’s eerily similar to how Guardiola’s teams play, with physicality needed from those in attack to press when out of possession and win the ball high up the pitch.

At both Chelsea and Leicester, Maresca had bad runs of form despite being an overall success and had faced criticism for being too slow with his build-up play.

However, Maresca typically looks to avoid stagnated attacks through fluid positional rotations. At the end of last season, this approach saw Marc Cucurella arrive in the box to good effect after drifting into an advanced midfield role.

There was also a tactical masterstroke in the Club World Cup final, when an asymmetric overlapping full-back was introduced in Malo Gusto on the right. This pinned back Paris St-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes and created space for Cole Palmer in the 3-0 win in New Jersey.

It harks back to the beginning of his career where he both studied the famous Catalan coach, who also worked at Bayern Munich, and his footballing education in his native Italy.

Famously, Maresca wrote a 7,000-word thesis on the similarities between football and chess at Italy’s Coverciano institute. He compared football to grandmaster strategy by citing a famous 1991 World Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi.

Maresca, and his assistants Caballero and Danny Walker, who are expected to re-join City with him, have used this pause in their careers for rest and knowledge gathering.

Like Guardiola, Maresca talks to Julio Velasco, an Argentine-Italian volleyball coach, and basketball coach Ettore Messina, as he searches for ideas outside of football.

He is also known to be studying artificial intelligence and is only known to have attended one live match, appearing at Leicester City’s home game against Norwich two months ago.

Maresca has been reading French philosopher Rene Descartes and, fittingly, the book Football and Chess by Adam Wells, while on his family holidays.

He has given few interviews while locked in legal discussions with Chelsea about compensation, with his staff having been placed on gardening leave.

Maresca can often come across as distant and terse when dealing with the media.

He is different with his players, when he can be extremely direct. When asked why he dropped winger Noni Madueke during his time at Chelsea, Maresca famously replied it was a “technical decision”.

Despite his style, Maresca was a largely popular figure with the players at Stamford Bridge and there was widespread frustration when a breakdown in his relationship with the hierarchy led to his exit.

His former employers at Chelsea accept his departure undermined the club’s season, having finished 10th after losing at Sunderland on the final day of the season.

Chelsea will, however, feel vindicated in their belief that he engineered his exit, after receiving compensation of £17m from City.

Maresca may well be worth it having won the Club World Cup and Conference League in his debut season. He is also the only Chelsea coach to qualify for the Champions League since BlueCo bought the club in 2002, finishing fourth in the Premier League table last season.

After his acrimonious exit, it will be interesting to see how he is received when he returns to Stamford Bridge next season as an opposing manager, both in official club communications and by supporters in the stands, where opinion remains divided on his style of play and his tenure.

Chelsea in talks to sign Sunderland's Xhaka

Xhaka played 34 times as Sunderland finished seventh in the Premier League last season

Sunderland say experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka is not for sale after it emerged Chelsea have entered talks with the player’s camp over a potential move.

The Switzerland international, 33, who is under contract until 2028, played a key role in helping the Black Cats qualify for Europe last season.

His representatives are understood to have had contact from Stamford Bridge - though sources inside the club have yet to confirm it.

But he is known to be open to a reunion with former manager Xabi Alonso at Chelsea, having won the Bundesliga together with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024.

Personal terms have not been agreed with Chelsea, however.

Sunderland qualified for the Europa League at Chelsea’s expense on the final day of last season and are known to have no financial pressure to sell key players. Sources at the club say they have no intention of letting Xhaka go.

The ex-Arsenal man - who is with Switzerland at the World Cup - missed just four league games for the Wearside club and won plenty of plaudits as he captained Regis Le Bris’ side to a seventh-place finish.

For Chelsea, any successful move would see a radical shift in transfer policy, signing a player who will turn 34 in September, having fielded the youngest team in the Premier League for the past two seasons. They have not selected a player aged 30 or over during that period.

Members of the club’s leadership, including co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, acknowledge that adjustments are needed to improve their recruitment.

Some of the criticism has centred on a perceived lack of leadership and concerns over dressing-room culture, which is something the former Arsenal captain received widespread praise for helping to build at newly-promoted Sunderland last season.

A move for a midfielder has long been part of Chelsea’s plans this summer, and comes amid growing expectations that Enzo Fernandez could join Real Madrid.

Chelsea have not received a formal approach for the Argentina international and value him at around £120m. However, sources in Spain suggest there is internal support at Real Madrid for a move, including from club president Florentino Perez and new manager Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea are also set to sign Atalanta right-back Marco Palestra, while a number of players - including Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo - face uncertain futures.

Defender Marc Cucurella has already joined Real Madrid.

Arsenal poised to make Guimaraes offer after talks

Newcastle United signed Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon in 2022 and Sandro Tonali from AC Milan in 2023

Arsenal are set to make a move for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes after holding exploratory talks.

The Gunners have looked into approaches for either Guimaraes or his club team-mate Sandro Tonali as they attempt to bolster their midfield.

During discussions aimed at checking the financial conditions of a deal for Guimaraes, it is understood a fee of around £60m was initially intimated with the 28-year-old’s representatives.

Arsenal are now poised to make a fresh offer as they remain in talks over a deal for the Brazil international, but it is understood Newcastle have not yet had an official approach.

Discussions have also taken place with Tonali’s representatives as the Gunners assess numerous options in their desire to add a new central midfielder to their squad this summer.

As things stand, it is understood they only want one leading central midfielder, while Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi are other players being considered.

Newcastle have already turned down a bid of around £80m from Tottenham Hotspur for Tonali and do not want to lose Guimaraes, the team’s captain and talisman.

Guimaraes, who has two years left on his contract, has been focused on his efforts with Brazil at the World Cup, where his side will face Japan in the last 32.

As BBC Sport previously reported, Newcastle are in a strong position to command a greater fee closer to £100m for Tonali as Manchester City also monitor developments.

The Italy international is effectively contracted until 2030 after he signed a new contract during his 10-month betting ban to repay the faith the club showed in him.

The current transfer market might also work in Newcastle’s favour, if a bidding war ensues, given the valuations of midfielders elsewhere.

Manchester City have agreed a deal with Nottingham Forest to sign England’s Elliot Anderson for a club record £116m, while West Ham want up to £80m for Mateus Fernandes, 21.

With Guimaraes turning 29 in November and Tonali having turned 26 in May, the age of both players is likely to emerge as a key factor in how much Arsenal would be willing to pay.

But sources have indicated the Gunners have also expressed firm interest in 22-year-old Scott, who has interest from Manchester United and Chelsea as well.

The merits of Morocco international Bouaddi and West Ham’s Fernandes, who is also a key target for Tottenham, have also been assessed internally.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is renowned for working on numerous deals simultaneously before making a final decision on which one to execute.

The arrival of another central midfielder will lead to the sale of a current player in the same position, with Denmark’s Christian Norgaard, 32, someone the club will listen to offers for.

It could also bring into question Martin Zubimendi’s role as a regular starter in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI next season.

The window has not long been open, but some of the Premier League’s highest-earning clubs have their eyes on Newcastle’s best players.

Tottenham Hotspur have already made an unsuccessful opening offer for Tonali, while Arsenal hold an interest in the Italian as well as fellow midfielder Guimaraes.

Tonali is a key player at Newcastle, but it is hard to overstate Guimaraes’ importance - the Brazilian really is this team’s heartbeat.

Last season was a bruising domestic campaign, one in which Newcastle finished a disappointing 12th in the Premier League, but Guimaraes tellingly still emerged with some credit as the club’s player of the year.

The midfielder repeatedly popped up with openers, equalisers and winners in his best ever goalscoring season (9).

Newcastle, understandably, don’t want to lose him.

They had to become better sellers but simply cannot afford for Guimaraes, Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak to depart in the space of just a year.

What sort of message would that send?

After missing out on Spain forward Victor Munoz, who opted to join Liverpool, Newcastle need a breakthrough of their own in the transfer market.

They have to signal some form of ambition again - not least to the players they currently have.

Man City agree record fee with Forest for Anderson

Elliot Anderson scored for Forest in a 2-2 draw at Manchester City in March

Manchester City have agreed a deal with Nottingham Forest to sign Elliot Anderson for a club record £116m.

The England midfielder, 23, is set to have a medical before completing his move to Etihad Stadium.

City sources insist the fee for Anderson is £116m, which would be a club record, with no bonuses attached.

Other sources claim the deal is worth up to £130m, which would represent a British record fee, eclipsing the £125m Liverpool paid Newcastle for striker Alexander Isak last summer.

Forest had been holding out for a higher fee for Anderson, rejecting two previous offers from City.

Personal terms are not expected to be an issue and there was always a degree of confidence the deal would get done eventually, once City made a third bid.

Forest are interested in Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall, along with Davide Frattesi of Inter Milan, and are now expected to sign two midfielders this summer.

Anderson is preparing for England’s final Group L game against Panama at the World Cup on Saturday (22:00 BST) and told BBC Sport this week how he has pushed his club future to one side.

“It’s pretty easy really, I’m just focusing on the present, I’m blocking it all out,” he said.

“I’ve got a plan and it’s to perform for England. I’m putting myself in the best position to cross the line and do that.”

Anderson joined Forest for £35m from Newcastle in 2024 and has made 88 appearances for the club, scoring four goals.

He helped Forest finish seventh in the Premier League in 2024-25 and then 16th last season, when they also reached the Europa League semi-finals.

Anderson joined his boyhood club Newcastle at the age of eight and made his first-team debut in 2021.

He went on to make 55 appearances before being sold to Forest, a deal effectively forced on the Magpies because they feared they were going to break profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and incur a points deduction.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe called the sale of Anderson “the most reluctant in my career”.

He was immediately a regular starter at Forest and helped them qualify for Europe in 2024-25 and, after being a Scotland youth international, he switched to England’s under-21s in August 2024, before making his senior debut in September 2025.

Anderson’s influence at Forest grew during the 2025-26 season. He had the most touches in the Premier League (3,300), won possession the most times (306), won the most duels (297) and drew the most fouls (80).

He also doubled his goal tally for the season from two to four, although his Premier League assists dropped from six to four.

Spurs' Tonali hunt shows chasm Newcastle must bridge

Newcastle United signed Sandro Tonali from AC Milan for £55m in 2023

Aston Villa’s 2024-25 end-of-season awards dinner was in full swing when Damian Vidagany took to the stage.

Villa’s director of football operations had a message for Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

“There is no big six anymore,” he declared to loud cheers 12 months ago.

Such a sentiment will have plenty of support on Tyneside.

Just as Aston Villa disrupted the established order to qualify for the Champions League in 2024 and 2026, so too did Newcastle United in 2023 and 2025.

Yet the league’s highest-earning clubs have hardly withered in the face of the challenge from outside the six, and Spurs’ pursuit of Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is a reminder of that.

Just weeks after Roberto de Zerbi’s side narrowly avoided relegation on the final day, they are trying to lure one of Newcastle’s best players to North London.

Newcastle hardly had a stellar season themselves - finishing a disappointing 12th place - but the difference is Spurs have greater revenues to fall back on as they try to bounce back come August.

Spurs’ most recent financial accounts showed they generated £230m more in income than Newcastle in 2024-25.

As a result, Spurs could offer far superior wages to Tonali and make a meaty bid of about £80m for the Italy midfielder - yet stay within the game’s financial rules.

That bid was unsuccessful and although Manchester City and Arsenal have yet to come to the table, Newcastle will be in a strong position to command a bigger fee if several teams make offers.

However, if Tonali does go, Newcastle will have lost three of their four best players in the space of a year after Alexander Isak was sold to Liverpool for £125m and Anthony Gordon moved to Barcelona for £69m.

Newcastle have had to become better sellers following years of imbalanced trading, but it still feels a world away from the feeling around the club going into last summer.

Eddie Howe and his players had not long ended a 70-year wait to win a major domestic trophy by defeating Liverpool in the EFL Cup final.

Newcastle had secured Champions League football for the second time in three seasons.

They had a degree of financial headroom again following several windows of relative parsimony.

Yet it was still a struggle for Newcastle to land their top targets - let alone keep hold of Isak.

“It was very difficult to attract the players that we wanted, that we felt could really make a difference to the team,” Howe said last month.

“I certainly don’t think that challenge is going to be easier. It’s going to be harder.”

Those words proved rather prophetic.

Newcastle managed to sign highly rated goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Stade de Reims for £18.5m before the window even officially opened.

However, just when it appeared they were in pole position to land top target Victor Munoz, the Spain winger joined Liverpool from Osasuna.

It felt like Groundhog Day for supporters after Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike, James Trafford and Benjamin Sesko opted to move to Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United respectively last summer.

Newcastle, as a result, moved further down their list of targets this time last year and, aside from defender Malick Thiaw, they have not yet seen enough of a return from a £100m-plus net spend.

The club cannot afford for history to repeat itself, but it is easy to forget the window only opened on 15 June.

It is also worth remembering that Newcastle have previously managed to attract a number of promising players.

Rather than making any guarantees about the team’s success, Howe’s pitches have instead centred on development, how his staff work and how they can help take a player’s game to another level.

Not every signing has gone on to thrive under Howe, but it was telling that Gordon repeatedly pointed to this “culture” of improvement at Newcastle as he sealed a dream move to Barcelona.

Another international, who followed Gordon to Newcastle, has also gone on to flourish.

“He wanted to come to Newcastle,” a source said.

“He had a couple of other opportunities but he had a good chat with the manager and believed in the project, the squad, the club and the league. That’s where he wanted to belong.

“His ambition is quite high. He wants to measure himself with the top elite players. It was just a match between Newcastle and him. There’s no doubt.”

The project is now entering a delicate phase, though.

There has been much talk about Newcastle somehow competing as one of the biggest clubs in the world by 2030 - but it feels like actions rather than words are needed in the coming months.

As the fifth anniversary of the Saudi-led takeover approaches in October, an announcement has still to be made on plans for a new state-of-the-art training ground following the identification of a site in Woolsington near Newcastle Airport.

Then there is the not-so-insignificant matter of the stadium, which feels pivotal in attempting to bridge a huge revenue gap in the years to come.

Newcastle once brought in £2.8m more in match-day income than Spurs when the latter played at White Hart Lane in 2007.

Although Spurs still generated more revenue overall, the gap stood at just £16m at the time.

However, in the respective clubs’ most recent accounts, that gap had widened to a chasm - with Spurs bringing in 14 times their previous surplus.

That is in part because of a huge difference in match-day revenue between the clubs, with Newcastle’s standing at £51.6m in 2024-25 compared to Spurs’ £126.5m.

Events and concerts as well as associated partnerships like the NFL and F1 Drive is another significant factor, helping the London club amass £277.1m in commercial revenue for that period compared to Newcastle’s £120.2m.

Spurs’ ability to offset challenging domestic seasons with strong off-pitch revenue streams is one of the reasons football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes Newcastle will ultimately have to follow suit and build a new stadium - despite the emotional wrench of leaving St James’ Park.

“If the Newcastle owners want a football club which is regularly competing for one of the Champions League places, they have to move,” he said.

“If they want Newcastle to be a regular top-10 club competing in the Europa League and Europa Conference League, tweak St James’ Park.

“That’s how significant the decision is.”

Anderson's journey to England star and potential record signing

Elliot Anderson has become an integral figure in England head coach Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans

Elliot Anderson was the schoolboy footballer so good his teachers discussed placing a bet on him playing for England.

The bet was never made - but Thomas Tuchel is backing him to be a winner at the World Cup and Manchester City are doing the same after agreeing a club record £116m to sign him from Nottingham Forest.

Anderson’s journey from the playing fields of Tyneside to the World Cup stage will continue at Etihad Stadium after transfer talks were finally successfully concluded between Forest and City.

The midfielder is the one that painfully got away from Newcastle United but is still revered and respected in his home city as the “quiet and self-effacing” local boy made good.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe called Anderson’s £30m sale to Nottingham Forest in July 2024 “the most reluctant in my career”, a deal effectively forced on the Magpies because they feared they were going to break profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and incur a points deduction following years of imbalanced trading.

The sense of loss has become more acute as the 23-year-old emerged as a central component in England’s World Cup plans - head coach Tuchel calls him “the full package”. He is on course to assume the same role at Manchester City once the transfer’s formalities are completed.

It is also felt by Scotland, who hoped Anderson would play for the country as he has a Scottish grandmother. He was called up for the Euro 2024 qualifier in Cyprus and a friendly with England in September 2023, having represented the Scots at under-21 and junior level, only to pull out through injury before pledging allegiance to England.

It is all a far cry from the young Geordie who used to kick a ball around with his elder brothers before emerging as an outstanding young player at Valley Gardens Middle School, then at the famous Wallsend Boys’ Club, where Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley and Michael Carrick honed their trade.

Anderson’s first steps in football came playing with his two elder brothers Louie and Wil, the latter gaining prominence as a contestant on reality TV show Love Island.

Jonathan Roys, Anderson’s former English and PE teacher at Valley Gardens, who was also his head of year, told BBC Sport: “His brothers had been through the school and I played against his dad. His brothers were decent, but I think being the youngest of three he was used to getting bossed about a little bit, but he took no quarter off anybody. He’d get stuck right in.”

Anderson put down a marker for future success when he was captain and scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win when Valley Gardens won the English leg of Danone Nations Cup in 2014, a prestigious worldwide youth tournament.

His parents, Iain and Helen, ensured studying was never sidelined, with lessons organised around time at Newcastle United’s academy, his beloved club he was always destined to join.

“Elliot was a quiet, self-effacing lad at school,” says Roys. “He came from a great family. They made sure we organised his lessons around time he spent at Newcastle’s academy. As head of year you can sometimes deal with kids who might be causing problems but he was never any trouble. He just got on with it. Reports were usually glowing, both from school and Newcastle’s academy.”

It was sport in which Anderson excelled - any sport.

Roys says: “You could see he had something special as a footballer. He had something different when he played other sports as well. He could play with the ball. He was standard size, not a massive lad for his age, but he more than held his own. He was the standout player despite not being the biggest. When we had him, he was so good we were saying ‘shall we put a bet him to play for England?’ We didn’t in the end and of course he got into the Scotland set-up first.”

When he won that England call-up before making his debut against Andorra in September 2025, mum Helen said: “It would be a day we would never forget or take for granted. To think our son has walked out there to represent his country would be nothing short of incredible. It will be so emotional.”

Roys was not surprised by his progress, saying: “Elliot was a very hard-working and determined lad. He was very good at athletics, cross country, indoor events - represented the school in cricket. It was football, for him, though. We just put him in midfield as he was our best player, although he actually also even played in goal for us once when we played Wallsend Boys Club.”

And he never forgets his roots or an old face, Roys saying: “I saw him down the local shop a couple of years ago and he said: ‘All right sir’. I just thought ‘thanks mate’. He’s a real inspiration to the new generation and everyone is proud of him.”

Anderson, who played 55 times in all competitions for Newcastle United, made his debut in an FA Cup defeat by Arsenal in January 2021 before joining Bristol Rovers on loan a year later.

It was here that he completed a vital part of his education - while also figuring in what might still be the most remarkable match of his career.

Former Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan was player-coach at Bristol Rovers, and vividly remembering the impact the confident “but never arrogant” Anderson made in the West Country.

He told BBC Sport: “He just came into the building and showed his potential straight away. Nothing seemed to faze him. You could see straight away this boy was different. As the coach, there were certain scenarios in training when I tried to put him under a little pressure. Some kids would be a little bit more reserved and fall back. Elliot was right on the front foot. He took the bull by the horns.”

And the date 5 February 2022 was one of significance in Anderson’s development, as recalled by Whelan: “We were away to Sutton United. They were doing well and were a proper men’s team with a lot of grit. Some of the coaching team were a little wary of throwing him in against them. We were losing at half-time and I basically said ‘we need to get this lad on because he’s a game-changer’. He came on and made an impact. He won a penalty and we drew. I think he played pretty much every minute after that.”

Anderson’s attitude and determination stood out as he excelled at Bristol Rovers - ending in a dramatic climax to the season.

“He just had a confidence about him to show everyone how good he was,” says Whelan. “It was not arrogance. He’d obviously had a great upbringing from his family and he had that Geordie in him. He played off the left wing, but if the ball wasn’t coming to him he would go and look for it. He didn’t care who was marking him. He could take the ball under pressure and make things happen. Elliot loved training. He wanted to learn, do the extras. He had the attitude to stay behind and get better. We could tell straight away he was going to be a top player.”

And Anderson left Bristol Rovers after one of the greatest days in their history, when they clinched promotion to League One on the final day of the season. The Pirates started the day needing to better the result of third-placed Northampton or win by five goals more than their rivals - they won 7-0, Anderson getting the final goal with five minutes remaining to help Rovers move into the top three for the first time all season.

Anderson’s progress has been so impressive that he was fully focused on the World Cup, even as discussions continued around that move to Manchester City.

City have agreed a package worth £116m - though some sources have suggested the figure is £130m, which would eclipse the £125m that took Alexander Isak from Newcastle United to Liverpool last summer.

And it is not just Anderson’s England status shaping those discussions, his numbers last season add great value. Anderson had the most touches in the Premier League (3,300), won possession the most times (306), won the most duels (297) and drew the most fouls (80).

He will now start next season at Manchester City under the leadership of expected new coach Enzo Maresca.

Whelan has no doubts he will flourish. “The sky’s the limit,” he said. “I don’t think it will faze him at all. He just loves playing football. I think if he wasn’t playing for Nottingham Forest or England at the World Cup, he’d be playing grassroots with his mates. He’s going to be around for a very long time. We see what he’s doing at the World Cup but I think in time the top teams in the Champions League and all over the world will be sitting up to watch this boy play.”

Chelsea close in on Palestra as Alonso's first signing

Palestra played 37 times for Cagliari last season, scoring once and delivering four assists

Chelsea are set to make Atalanta defender Marco Palestra the first signing for new boss Xabi Alonso for a fee in excess of £43m.

Palestra had been expected to join Italian champions Inter Milan following a successful loan spell at Cagliari last season, where he was named Serie A’s best defender.

However, after 24 hours of talks, the Premier League club have emerged as the 21-year-old’s preferred destination as sources in Italy claim Inter could not match Chelsea’s offer on personal terms.

Palestra, who made his international debut for Italy this year, is viewed at Stamford Bridge as an exciting option capable of playing on either flank, both as a wing-back and more conventional full-back.

It is also an early sign of new manager Alonso’s influence.

Having been appointed as manager rather than head coach, he is understood to have approved the move - the first major signing made by the club since the former Spain midfielder was named Liam Rosenior’s replacement in May.

Alonso is set to formally join Chelsea on 1 July, but has been in regular contact with the club hierarchy regarding incoming and outgoing transfers.

Chelsea are also targeting at least one central defender, as well as a midfielder - likely to be Strasbourg’s Valentin Barco - with multiple sources suggesting that deal is close. A further versatile attacker is also on the list.

A number of players are also scheduled to move to west London this summer in deals completed last year, including £40m winger Geovany Quenda from Sporting and Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha.

There are expected to be further departures following Marc Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid, as Chelsea look to trim their squad after a turbulent season in which they finished 10th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for Europe.

Liverpool reject £21.7m Inter Milan offer for Curtis Jones

Liverpool have rejected a verbal offer of 25m euros (£21.7m) from Inter Milan for Curtis Jones.

The offer is well short of the £35m which Liverpool value Jones at and they are unwilling to sanction a cut-price exit for the midfielder.

Jones, 25, only has one year left on his current deal at Anfield and this is the second time Inter have come in for him this year.

The Italian club were interested in his availability in January and proposed a loan with a view to a transfer but that was also turned down by Liverpool.

This month, Piero Ausilio, Inter’s sporting director, said: “Curtis Jones - we are paying attention to him. We didn’t hide. We understand what the developments will be.”

Federico Chiesa went as far as telling Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that Jones asked him what it is like to live in Italy.

Homegrown talent Jones joined Liverpool’s academy aged nine before signing his first professional contract with the Reds in 2018.

Spurs' Bergvall exploring options away from club

Sweden’s Lucas Bergvall is facing an uncertain future at Tottenham with the midfielder keen for a new challenge.

The 20-year-old is exploring his options after playing limited minutes at the end of last season under Roberto de Zerbi, often not in his preferred position as a ‘number six’.

Spurs are also understood to be targeting an additional midfielder and have made an offer of about £80m for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, which was rejected.

Bergvall’s representatives are believed to have held talks with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.

However, Chelsea are no longer interested after briefly exploring a move in January.

Bergvall is at the World Cup and featured in Sweden’s 5-1 defeat by the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday.

He played 33 games for Spurs last season but missed two months after having ankle surgery.

Coventry play champions Arsenal in Premier League opener

Newly promoted Coventry City will travel to champions Arsenal in the first match of the 2026-27 Premier League season.

The season’s curtain raiser on Friday, 21 August sees the Sky Blues play their first top-flight match in 25 years against the Gunners, who were led to their first Premier League title since 2004 by Mikel Arteta.

Hull City, who went up via the play-offs, host Manchester United on Saturday, 22 August while fellow promoted side Ipswich are at home to Sunderland on the same day.

Manchester City begin life without Pep Guardiola at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, 23 August, who also start the campaign with a new manager in Marco Rose.

Liverpool’s first match under Andoni Iraola, who replaced the sacked Arne Slot after leaving the Cherries, is away at Newcastle on the same day.

Chelsea start life under Xabi Alonso away at Fulham on Monday, 24 August, with the Cottagers also still to appoint a new manager after Marco Silva’s departure.

Arsenal v Coventry (20:00) Hull City v Manchester United (12:30) Everton v Crystal Palace (15:00) Ipswich v Sunderland (15:00) Nottingham Forest v Leeds (15:00) Brentford v Tottenham (17:30) Brighton v Aston Villa (14:00) Manchester City v Bournemouth (14:00) Newcastle v Liverpool (16:30) Fulham v Chelsea (20:00)

The new campaign will start on Friday, 21 August - 34 days after the World Cup final in the United States.

The Premier League season will end on Sunday, 30 May 2027, with the Champions League final six days later.

Both the start and end dates of the 2026-27 season are later than usual as a result of the World Cup.

There will be 33 rounds of weekend fixtures next term, with the remaining five taking place midweek.

The Premier League has said the schedule will be designed to “avoid domestic competition clashes with Uefa competition dates, wherever possible”.

A joint-record nine Premier League teams have qualified for European competition next season.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool will play in the Champions League.

Bournemouth, Sunderland and Crystal Palace will feature in the Europa League, with Brighton qualifying for the Conference League.

During the Christmas and New Year period, no two rounds of matches will take place within 60 hours of each other in keeping with commitments made to clubs to address congested schedules.

Last season, Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Newcastle was the only Premier League game to take place on Boxing Day but a full round of fixtures will return on Saturday, 26 December.

Rather than the traditional three two-week international breaks during the opening months of the season, there will now be two.

September and October’s international breaks will merge into a new three-week break beginning after the weekend of September 19/20, while November’s two-week international break will remain.

There will be a change in the way Premier League referees judge hair-pulling next season after three players were sent off for the offence in 2025-26.

All three red cards for hair-pulling came through a video assistant referee review, but from next season, not every time a player is seen to pull an opponent’s hair will they be dismissed.

Instead, greater emphasis will be placed on both the level of force and the intention.

Referees will be told to look for a “clear and deliberate action” which has “excessive force and/or brutality”.

The change is intended to give more latitude to players who may accidentally hold on to an opponent’s hair.

In addition, officials will be asked to place a greater emphasis on grappling and holding inside the area after it became commonplace on corners and set-pieces.

Referees will be told to pay much more attention to “holding actions that have clear material impact”.

This includes players who are “clearly only focused on opponents and making a holding action”.

A solution to stop goalkeeper “tactical timeouts” is also set to be introduced.

The tactic is used by managers to get new instructions to their players or to impact the momentum of the opposition.

The goalkeeper sits on the turf and signals for the physio and the other players rush to the technical area for a team talk.

The Premier League is discussing a solution before the new season while a new law to tackle general time-wasting by goalkeepers will be introduced.

If keepers delay a restart on a goal-kick, a referee can start a five-second countdown. If time runs out, the opposition will be given a corner.

The measures were agreed at the Premier League AGM earlier this month.

Premier League fixtures - find out your club's schedule

The Premier League fixtures are out. Use the links below to find out your club’s schedule for the new season…

Brighton & Hove Albion fixtures

Coventry City fixtures

Crystal Palace fixtures

Ipswich Town fixtures

Leeds United fixtures

Manchester City fixtures

Manchester United fixtures

Newcastle United fixtures

Nottingham Forest fixtures

Tottenham Hotspur fixtures

Liverpool trigger winger Munoz's £34.5m release clause

Liverpool are set to sign winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna after triggering his 40m euro (£34.5m) release clause.

The 22-year-old is part of Spain’s World Cup squad and his medical took place on Wednesday, with Liverpool sending staff to the United States.

Munoz, who made his international debut in March, can play on both wings and is expected to sign a six-year deal at Anfield. Liverpool will pay the fee in two instalments.

Newcastle were in advanced talks to sign the forward, after they sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, but Liverpool have won the race for Munoz, who scored seven goals and had five assists in 36 appearances last season.

He will become Liverpool’s first signing since Andoni Iraola replaced Arne Slot as head coach earlier this month.

When he was linked with Newcastle, La Liga expert Phil Minshull described Munoz as “one of the pearls of Spanish football” who has an excellent work-rate in attack and defence.

Munoz is a graduate of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy and went on to join Real Madrid, where he made two brief substitute appearances, before moving to Osasuna in July 2025 for 5m euros.

Madrid retained a 50% sell-on clause and had a matching rights option for Munoz.

They looked at taking him back but concerns over regular playing time under Jose Mourinho made it a non-starter for Munoz.

Barcelona also showed interest before they signed Gordon in a deal worth more than £69m.

Last summer, it was Hugo Ekitike who chose Liverpool over Newcastle before Alexander Isak forced a move from Newcastle to Liverpool.

The tale of Victor Munoz follows a similar pattern, with Liverpool hijacking Newcastle’s move by triggering his release clause with Osasuna.

Interest also came from Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen but ultimately, Munoz chose Anfield, with the deal accelerating following the appointment of Iraola, who has extensive knowledge of La Liga.

Munoz’s pace, his role in breaking down low blocks, as well as his ability to deal with the ball in the final third, all played a part in Iraola’s push to make him the first signing of his tenure at Anfield.

There is a belief that Munoz’s overall output must improve but Liverpool believe that will come over time, with a six-year-deal proof of that, and are encouraged by the fact that they have secured a player who can get himself into dangerous positions.

The fact that he previously spent time at Barcelona and Real Madrid is indication of his potential.

The right-footed Spaniard mainly plays off the left and with Mohamed Salah leaving, the need for attacking reinforcements is clear.

Liverpool are confident that having Munoz, alongside Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo, will add to the versatility they have and believe that his arrival will not affect playing time for 17-year-old Ngumoha, who made his England debut earlier this month.

The understanding is that Munoz will not be the only attacking signing Liverpool make this summer. There remains a strong interest in Yan Diomande, who plays for RB Leipzig and is at the World Cup with Ivory Coast. Diomande, 19, is also admired by Paris St-Germain.

Meanwhile, there is interest from Italy for Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa, who wants to play regular football, having made just one Premier League start last season.

The club missed out on a number of first-choice targets last summer, including Ekitike, as already mentioned, who also opted to join Liverpool.

There had been a degree of caution inside Newcastle last week at a time when even sources at Osasuna stressed a formal bid had not been received.

Subsequently, it is understood Osasuna only received offers from two clubs - Newcastle and Liverpool - which were both accepted.

To then miss out on Munoz is a hammer blow for the club, who have set out to strike early and learn lessons from last year’s turbulent window.

Although Newcastle will move on to other targets, Munoz had been identified as the man they believed could be Gordon’s long-term replacement.

In the right hands, and with time, he is blessed with all the raw ingredients to one day flourish in the Premier League – not least his lightning pace.

However, as was the case with Ekitike, Newcastle will now have to watch on from afar as he pitches up at Anfield.

Spurs join clubs interested in Tonali

Newcastle United signed Sandro Tonali from AC Milan for £55m in 2023

Tottenham Hotspur have joined the list of clubs interested in Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.

Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi is a long-time admirer of the Italian and even identified him as a target during his time in charge of Sassuolo, while Tonali was playing in Serie A.

Now, several years on, it is understood Spurs have explored the financials of a deal for the 26-year-old.

Manchester City and Arsenal have also shown an interest, as BBC Sport previously reported, but no club has yet made a formal approach.

Newcastle have already sold forward Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3m, but chief executive David Hopkinson has previously made it clear they will only trade players on “our terms”.

They are in a strong position as Tonali is effectively contracted until 2030 after the Italian signed a new deal during his 10-month betting ban to repay the faith the club showed in him.

The current market could also work in Newcastle’s favour, if a bidding war ensues, given the valuations of midfielders elsewhere.

Nottingham Forest rejected a second offer worth around £120m from Manchester City for Elliot Anderson, while relegated West Ham want up to £80m for Mateus Fernandes.

Newcastle may have finished above Tottenham in the Premier League in three of the last four seasons.

However, Spurs are still a long way clear of Newcastle in the revenue table thanks to substantial off-field income streams, which have offset difficult league campaigns.

In the respective clubs’ most recent financial accounts, the Londoners generated £230m more in revenue than Newcastle.

Spurs are now looking to make the most of such headroom by raising their salary ceiling.

In an interview with BBC Sport, in May, the club’s chief executive Vinai Venkatesham confirmed the change in approach and said they needed “experience, leadership and also that kind of physical robustness”.

Tonali fits this description on his day.

His technical qualities are well-known, but in 2024-25 - his best league campaign for Newcastle - he also tirelessly won possession back in midfield on 109 occasions, made 34 interceptions and applied 1,308 high pressure movements.

No wonder even his usually measured head coach Eddie Howe once said he “fell in love” with this all-rounder when he first watched him play.

Howe would ideally not want to lose players like Tonali, Gordon or Alexander Isak for that matter, who joined Liverpool for a British record £125m last summer.

But Newcastle are having to become better sellers and plan accordingly as part of the club’s rebuild.

If a huge offer of up to £100m is eventually made by one of Tonali’s suitors, it may be tempting to cash in on a player whose form has noticeably dipped.

However, at this early stage of the window, that remains a big if.

What does the future hold for Rashford?

Marcus Rashford didn’t give the impression of being consumed by concerns about his future as he trained in heat that climbed above 30C in Kansas City.

In fairness, now is not the time to have attention diverted by club matters. For the next month or so, Rashford’s concentration is on England.

On Sunday, at least for the 15 minutes when cameras were allowed in to film training, that meant linking up with Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney, Djed Spence, Eberechi Eze and Anthony Gordon in a passing drill before Wednesday’s World Cup Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas.

The onus is on keeping the focus there. It was not as if Monday would bring any news Rashford was unaware of anyway.

The deadline Barcelona agreed with Manchester United to trigger a £26m clause to turn Rashford’s loan into a permanent deal passed without it being activated.

No-one expected any different.

On 1 July, when Rashford will hope to be preparing for a last-32 encounter in Atlanta, he will officially return to being a Manchester United player, with a £325,000-a-week contract that still has two years to run.

So, what happens now?

In theory, Rashford could return to his boyhood club and resume his career there.

Head coach Michael Carrick knows him well. Carrick has been a team-mate, coach and - for three games following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021 - hands-on manager of one of the recent star graduates of United’s academy.

When Carrick was asked about Rashford in April, he said no decision had been made about the attacker’s future.

He added: “Whoever’s here, I want to work with them and help them to improve.”

It is not quite as simple as that.

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to bring wage costs down and that is not simple when the highest earner is on such a huge sum.

In addition, United gave Rashford’s number 10 shirt to Matheus Cunha last season and are hardly likely to take it off the Brazilian.

The summer squad rebuilding plans are being pieced together in the belief Rashford will not be part of them.

Yet it is tricky. Twelve months ago, Ruben Amorim placed Rashford in his ‘bomb squad’ and told him to train at different times to the main group. He did the same with Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia.

Last week, world governing body Fifa announced a memorandum of understanding with global players’ union Fifpro. Within the detail, it was confirmed any player exiled from the main group can demand to be released – and to have their contracts paid up.

It is fair to assume ostracising Rashford this season is off the agenda.

Manchester United will probably hope Rashford has a good World Cup.

That would increase the number of clubs who are interested in him and widen the options of a deal.

Yet, as with any contractual situation of this nature, United cannot sell Rashford to a club he does not want to play for.

He has just won the Spanish title with Barcelona and reached the last eight of the Champions League.

Rashford clearly believes he can have a significant impact at the highest level of the game.

Bayern Munich were suggested as having an interest. And what about Aston Villa, where he spent the second half of the 2024-25 campaign? They have also qualified for the Champions League.

After staying at Manchester United, this is the option favoured by bookmakers.

Rashford scored 14 goals and claimed 14 assists during his season at Barcelona. He might not have started every week but he did make a significant contribution.

It is England team-mate Gordon’s arrival at the Nou Camp for £69.3m from Newcastle United that seems to have eased Rashford out. Yet, if Thomas Tuchel can find a space for both players in his national team squad, why can the same not be true of Hansi Flick?

Clearly, Barcelona are unwilling to pay £26m for him.

As it stands, United have no interest in negotiating a different deal.

But there is no time pressure just now.

That will only come in the three-week gap between England’s World Cup campaign reaching its conclusion and Rashford’s return to pre-season training. By then, goalkeeper Andre Onana, another player on a big contract United do not want, will have returned for pre-season and a template will potentially have been created that Rashford might follow.

Beyond that, the transfer window closes on 1 September.

At that point there will have to be a resolution for Rashford’s future.

For now, he can continue focusing on England.

Man Utd to appear in Amazon's All or Nothing documentary

Manchester United’s 2026-27 campaign will be documented by Amazon Prime as part of their fly-on-the-wall All or Nothing series.

United are the fourth English top-flight side to sign a deal with Amazon, following Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester City.

The club have brokered a record access fee for any comparable documentary.

Filming will begin in pre-season, with the show offering viewers “unprecedented access” to the men’s, women’s, and academy players and staff in the Old Trafford dressing room, at their Carrington training ground, and beyond.

“Now is the right time to open our doors, so that for the first time our fans around the world can see behind the scenes of a club which means so much to so many people,” said United’s chief communications officer Toby Craig.

Amazon launched the documentary series in 2016, following NFL side the Arizona Cardinals and have since expanded the franchise to football, ice hockey, and rugby union.

Pep Guardiola’s final two seasons in charge of Manchester City will be documented in a four-part Amazon series expected to launch in the UK and Ireland this summer.

Palace appoint Sage as head coach on three-year deal

Crystal Palace have appointed Lens manager Pierre Sage as their head coach on a three-year contract.

The 47-year-old Frenchman replaces Oliver Glasner, who left the Eagles at the end of the 2025-26 season after two and a half years in charge.

Sage joined Lens 12 months ago and became Ligue 1’s manager of the year, leading Lens to a second-placed finish and the first Coupe de France triumph in the club’s 120-year history.

He previously spent 14 months as head coach of Lyon, initially on an interim basis, and guided them to Europa League qualification in 2024-25.

Palace had been interested in former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, now at Liverpool, with Frank Lampard, Kieran McKenna, and Sean Dyche also reportedly in the mix.

Sage has big shoes to fill after Glasner, who said in January he would leave Palace this summer, won three trophies during his time in south London.

The Austrian led the Eagles to the first major trophy in their history - the FA Cup in 2025 - and followed up by winning the Community Shield and Conference League last season.

Their European triumph means Palace will play Europa League football in Sage’s debut campaign.

He will be joined at the club by Jamal Alioui, his assistant coach at Lens.

“Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same,” said Sage.

“That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition. The dynamic here is really positive, and we are in this mindset too.

“We won last year - and we want to continue in this way, in a new club, a new project, but with a lot of winning habits.”

Sage’s Lens side were built on aggressive pressing and a willingness to attack quickly once they won the ball back.

The Opta numbers show a team intent on regaining possession high up the pitch. Lens made 426 high turnovers during the 2025-26 season, frequently turning those moments into chances - producing 69 shots and seven goals.

The focus was not just on winning the ball, but on doing it in areas where they could immediately threaten. That approach shapes how they attacked.

Lens produced 65 direct attacks and 55 fast breaks last season, highlighting a clear preference for moving forward at speed rather than recycling possession.

Their overall profile reflects that trade-off.

Lens averaged 51.9% possession in 2025-26 - but their game was less about long spells on the ball and more about what happened the moment they won it back.

It speaks to a deliberate strategy, rather than a lack of control.

The result was the clear identity of a side less concerned about dominating the ball and more focused on controlling games through pressure, regains and rapid transitions.

Fulham in advanced talks to appoint Arbeloa as Silva's replacement

Fulham are in advanced talks to appoint Alvaro Arbeloa as a replacement for outgoing manager Marco Silva.

Silva spent five years in charge at Craven Cottage but has opted to leave for Portuguese giants Benfica after they lost Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid.

Arbeloa, 43, was in charge at Madrid at the end of last season on an interim basis, having replaced incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso midway through the campaign.

He is now the lead contender for the role in west London.

Talks are ongoing and, while a full agreement has not been reached, the club are working towards the expectation that Arbeloa will be their next boss.

Arbeloa spent his entire coaching career at Madrid, working his way up from the youth teams to the interim position last season.

As a player, he had two spells at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and also played in the Premier League for both Liverpool and West Ham.

The Cottagers are also known to have held talks with Kieran McKenna, but it would have cost £8m to release him from his contract at Ipswich Town. He has since departed the club, saying he wanted a break to spend time with his family.

Fulham finished 11th in the Premier League last season.

Crystal Palace close to appointing Sage as manager

Pierre Sage won the Coupe de France with Lens last season.

Crystal Palace are close to finalising a deal for Lens manager Pierre Sage to become their new head coach.

BBC Sport previously reported that Palace were in talks with the 47-year-old Frenchman as they look to replace Oliver Glasner, who left the Premier League club at the end of last season.

Palace are now putting the finishing touches on a financial package that will accelerate his departure from the French club to take the reins in south London.

Sage joined Lens 12 months ago and led them to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and the club’s first Coupe de France triumph in their 120-year history.

Palace had been keen on a move for former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola but he signed a two-year deal with Liverpool earlier this month.

The Eagles also discussed Coventry manager Frank Lampard, former Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna and ex-Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Everton head coach Sean Dyche as alternative options.

However, Sage’s style of football is likely to appeal to supporters and the Frenchman’s English is also understood to be at a good level which will not hinder him once he arrives at Selhurst Park.

Palace’s Uefa Conference League triumph means they will play Europa League football next season, but they face a tricky summer ahead.

The future of France forward Jean-Philippe Mateta yet to be resolved as he enters the final year of his contract and England midfielder Adam Wharton has linked with several other Premier League clubs.

Palace have also offered a new deal to midfielder Daichi Kamada with the Japan international’s deal expiring at the end of the last campaign.

Man City second offer worth £120m for Anderson rejected

Elliot Anderson helped Nottingham Forest to the Europa League semi-finals last season

Manchester City’s second offer worth £120m for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson has been rejected.

City have intensified their pursuit of the 23-year-old England international, with an offer of an initial £106m plus add-ons.

Should they sign Anderson, it would eclipse the £105m Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice in 2023 as the record transfer for an English player.

City had an opening bid rejected by Forest earlier this month and Anderson’s preference is a move to Etihad Stadium over Manchester United, while personal terms are not an issue.

United are effectively out of the running, having not wanted to get into a bidding war and only wanting players eager to join them.

City have long been admirers of Newcastle academy graduate Anderson. The player is currently preparing for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but club-to-club talks can continue to take place.

He started England’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica on Wednesday - the final friendly for the Three Lions before their opening World Cup game against Croatia on 17 June.

Anderson was one of Forest’s star performers last season as they reached the Europa League semi-finals and avoided relegation from the Premier League, despite having four managers.

He arrived from Newcastle in 2024 for £35m and has made 92 appearances, scoring six goals.

Bernardo Silva’s exit from City at the end of his contract means they are looking to bolster their midfield and Anderson tops the list of potential targets.

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is another player understood to be highly rated by City, with reports suggesting the Italy international has also been monitored as a long-term target.

Newcastle in talks to sign Spain winger Munoz

Victor Munoz scored on his Spain debut against Serbia in March

Newcastle United are in talks with Osasuna to sign Spain winger Victor Munoz.

The club are in a market for a replacement for Anthony Gordon, who joined Barcelona for £69.3m, and Munoz is a top target.

However, it is understood a deal has not been agreed yet for the rapid forward, who has a 40m Euros (£34.5m) release clause.

Newcastle are attempting to strike early this summer, having already landed promising goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Stade de Reims for £18.5m.

“You will find the best players that are available on the market won’t hang around for too long,” head coach Eddie Howe said in May.

“The speed at which the transfer market moves now is very quick. Teams are very efficient and we have to be there as one of those teams.”

Munoz, who was previously on the books of Real Madrid and Barcelona, is currently preparing for Spain’s opening game of the World Cup.

Luis de la Fuente’s side face Cape Verde in Atlanta on 15 June.

This already feels like a very different summer for Newcastle.

Whereas the Alexander Isak saga dragged on until Newcastle buckled and sold the Swede to Liverpool for £125m on deadline day, this time around, the club agreed to let Gordon go to Barcelona before the window even officially opened.

Similarly, whereas Newcastle spent £55m to make Anthony Elanga their first signing of last summer, this time around, the club have pivoted away from the Premier League proven market with their opening moves of the window.

Newcastle have always targeted players from the continent, as well as those with top-flight experience, but Jaouen’s arrival and the pursuit of Munoz have still signalled a shift in approach as the club look to learn lessons from last year’s bruising summer.

Newcastle have since widened their recruitment network.

They are attempting to sign younger players with the potential to grow with the club like Jaouen, who is 20, and Munoz, who is 22.

As BBC Sport previously reported, Newcastle are also bidding to make smarter use of data after sporting director Ross Wilson walked into a club whose operation was way behind what he left at Nottingham Forest in October 2025.

Yet, most noticeably, they are moving quickly.

After already signing Jaouen, Newcastle are looking to recruit Munoz, potentially even before he has the chance to catch the eye of other suitors with a cameo from the bench at the World Cup.

Keane and Fernandes clear air after row over 'lie'

Roy Keane has cleared the air with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, with the pair having a “lovely chat” after he misquoted the Portuguese - which led to Fernandes accusing him of lying.

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Keane also implied Fernandes was prioritising individual accolades over the team’s success.

Fernandes broke the record for the most assists in a single Premier League season on the final day of the 2025-26 campaign, setting up his 21st goal against Brighton.

Speaking on The Overlap podcast after the penultimate round of fixtures in May, Keane questioned Fernandes’ mindset and described him as being at the centre of a “circus act”.

He claimed the Portugal midfielder had said “I probably should have shot but I made them passes” in an interview following the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest.

Fernandes subsequently accused Keane of telling a “lie”, pointing out that his actual post-match comments were: “There were probably moments today when I should have passed instead of shot. I’m very happy for the assist, but more than that, I’m happy for the win and to finish the season on a high.”

Fernandes said he was keen to meet the former Manchester United captain to discuss the issue, with Keane revealing on Wednesday’s Stick to Football podcast that a “nice, mature conversation” had taken place.

“There was a reaction after what we said on the podcast a few weeks ago and he reached out to me and wanted a chat - I called him and we had a lovely chat,” Keane said.

“It was nice because when we do podcasts or games, sometimes you think you say something afterwards and you communicate something and it doesn’t come across properly, so people get upset and he said he wanted to talk to me. We had a nice, mature conversation.”

“I like having boundaries with players. I don’t want to be speaking to players every few weeks or their agents, I don’t want to go down that road, but every now and then a player might reach out, so I think it was important I spoke to him.”

“There has been lots going on and lots reported. He’s obviously a big player for United, I’m an ex-United player and I think the idea of this communicating and having a proper conversation, I really enjoyed it. Hopefully I think he did as well. Nice chat about a bit of everything and I felt better afterwards.”

Man City and Chelsea remain in talks over Maresca

Enzo Maresca was an assistant to Pep Guardiola during Manchester City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign

Manchester City and Chelsea remain locked in negotiations about Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola announced on 22 May he would step down as City boss after a trophy laden decade in charge, and Maresca was quickly identified as the leading contender to be his replacement.

Talks are at an advanced stage, with senior figures at both clubs discussing a compensation package for Maresca.

The 46-year-old won the Club World Cup and Conference League during his time at Stamford Bridge but left in January and is keen to take the City job.

Chelsea feel they are due compensation under the terms of Maresca’s departure as he was contracted to the club until 2029 and left just six months ago.

The London club have been exploring their legal options and expect a compensation package to be paid, though it remains unclear both how much that might be, or when it will be resolved.

Maresca was an assistant to Guardiola during City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign and played a key role in the club’s academy prior to joining the first team.

The former West Brom and Juventus midfielder left City in 2023 to manage Leicester, whom he guided to promotion to the Premier League in his only season.

Maresca’s final six months at Chelsea were marked by a fractured relationship with the club’s ownership.

Compensation negotiations have been made more complex as Chelsea became aware of City’s potential interest early in October and December.

Chelsea sources also claim they were aware of complaints from Maresca about the transfer policy at Stamford Bridge.

It is not known whether this played any role in Maresca’s departure, but the relationship continued to further deteriorate over a number of issues, including medical staff and team selections.

Despite the tension, Chelsea sources say the hierarchy still respected much of Maresca’s work with the players and he remained popular with the majority of the dressing room.

The club feel the upheaval played a major role in the club’s drop in form after his exit, with them not ending up qualifying for Europe.

Maresca had been open to renewing his contract early in the season amid interest from Serie A side Juventus.

City last week had an opening bid for midfielder Elliot Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest.

The 23-year-old England international tops the club’s list of midfield targets following the departure of captain Bernardo Silva, and sources say they are expected to make another bid.

City have long admired Anderson, and they will not be swayed from paying a significant fee which could become a record fee for a British player.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is known to be a tough negotiator and is understood to want more than the £105m Arsenal paid to sign midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham in 2023.

Anderson is currently at the World Cup, but England boss Thomas Tuchel has said squad members will have permission to finalise transfers provided it does not significantly affect the team’s preparations.

BBC Sport has previously reported Anderson is leaning towards a move to City over rivals Manchester United.

Brighton agree £21.5m deal for winger Yohanna

Brighton have agreed to sign winger Zadok Yohanna from AIK Stockholm in a deal worth £21.5m.

The 18-year-old Nigerian is set to join the Seagulls on a five-year contract in a move which will be finalised when the summer transfer window opens on Monday, 15 June.

“I’m looking forward to working with Zadok,” said Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler. “Having seen his games and his attributes, he is a player that can impact games in the final third.

“He’s still young, and will need time to adapt to the club and Premier League, but he’s an exciting player to watch and he brings the kind of creativity we know our fans will enjoy.”

Yohanna joined AIK Stockholm from the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria and has five goals and four assists in 18 appearances for the Swedish club since his debut in August 2025.

Lightning halts pre-World Cup friendly in Texas

Saudi Arabia’s World Cup warm-up game against Puerto Rico in Texas was halted for nearly two hours because of extreme weather.

The match at the Q2 Stadium in Austin was stopped in the 21st minute as thunderstorms and lightning forced players off the pitch, with messages telling fans to seek shelter.

There were a number of lightning strikes before the match eventually resumed, with Saudi Arabia winning 3-0.

The 2026 World Cup, which is being held across Canada, Mexico and the United States, starts on 11 June.

It is taking place at the peak of the thunderstorm season in several host cities, and if a lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium the game will be stopped.

A mandatory 30-minute countdown then begins and, each time there is a lightning strike inside the distance, the countdown clock resets to 30 minutes again.

While the Q2 stadium will not host any matches during the World Cup, two stadiums in Texas will be used during the tournament.

There will be seven matches at the Houston Stadium, while the Dallas Stadium will host nine matches, including England’s group game against Croatia, although both venues have retractable roofs which can reduce the impact of the weather.

Last year, the Club World Cup took place in the US and Chelsea’s last-16 tie against Benfica in Charlotte lasted for four hours and 39 minutes as it was one of a number of games halted because of seasonal summer thunderstorms.

Heat is also expected to be an issue at the World Cup, with researchers warning temperatures at 14 of the 16 stadiums being used could exceed dangerous levels.

Saudi Arabia play their final warm-up game against Senegal on Tuesday (Wednesday 00:00 BST) before they start their World Cup campaign against Uruguay at the Miami Stadium on 15 June (23:00 BST).

They have further Group H games against Spain in Atlanta on 21 June (17:00 BST) and Cape Verde in Houston on 26 June (27 June, 01:00 BST).

Mr Irreplaceable and Ballon d'Or contender - is this Kane's time?

Harry Kane will carry England’s hopes into the World Cup as their record goalscorer

Harry Kane’s final task of the finest season of a magnificent career is to attend to unfinished business as England’s World Cup captain.

Kane is England’s ‘Mr Irreplaceable’ - as proved when Thomas Tuchel’s side were ominously toothless when drawing with Uruguay then losing to Japan in March friendlies at Wembley.

The 32-year-old’s fitness will be Tuchel’s biggest concern as they prepare to start their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June, not simply because of his status as England’s all-time record scorer with 78 goals in 112 games, but also because they have no-one remotely in Kane’s class.

If Kane stays fit, and in the remarkable form that brought him 66 goals in 56 games for Bayern Munich this season, England’s hopes will soar.

If not, the reverse applies.

As former England striker Chris Sutton told BBC Sport: “Harry Kane is so important that if he announced his international retirement this afternoon, everyone would instantly view England’s World Cup chances in a different, more pessimistic light.”

Silverware has come late in Kane’s career after barren years at Tottenham Hotspur, when even his stunning goalscoring numbers could not bring glory.

He is now making up for lost time by winning a second successive Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, then scoring a hat-trick as they beat Stuttgart 3-0 in the German Cup final.

And Kane now has his sights set on delivering the biggest prize of all as he leads England on their latest quest to end the search for men’s success stretching back to the 1966 World Cup win.

England’s countdown to their opening World Cup game continues when they play New Zealand in a friendly at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday (21:00 BST).

Kane has suffered the disappointment of losing successive European Championship finals with England to Italy and Spain, as well as a World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia in 2018 and a quarter-final loss to France in Qatar.

Now Kane’s stellar form and fitness suggest the time might be right for England and their talisman to overcome the barrier that has brought 60 years of pain.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who will be at their World Cup games in his role as a BBC Radio 5 Live match analyst, says: “Kane is one player England can’t do without. Irreplaceable.”

“I do like the fact Tuchel has brought Ivan Toney in. I cover the Saudi Pro League and his club, Al-Ahli, have just won the Asian Champions League for the second season running. He scored 32 goals and was only overtaken as leading scorer by Julian Quinones of Al Qadsiah on the final day.”

“I really like that pick, and both he and Ollie Watkins offer something different, but no-one can replace Kane for England.”

“If England do well, it means Harry Kane’s done well. This is the level of importance that he carries for England. He looks fit, healthy and ready to go. You can use all the phrases. Captain. Talisman. Leader. He’s all of those.”

Major tournaments have not always been kind to Kane, starting with Euro 2016 in France where he took more corners than he scored goals - seven against none - with the campaign ending in humiliation against Iceland in the last 16.

Two years later in Russia, as England captain, Kane won the Golden Boot at the World Cup, scoring six goals in six games as Gareth Southgate’s side reached the semi-finals.

He was England’s top scorer when they reached the final of the delayed Euro 2020 tournament with four goals in seven games, although the 2022 World Cup ended in disappointment as Kane missed a penalty in the 2-1 defeat by France in the quarter-final in Qatar.

Kane, by his own standards, had a disappointing Euro 2024, looking so out of sorts there was a clamour for him to be replaced by Aston Villa’s Watkins.

He was substituted in all of England’s knockout matches, including after only 61 minutes of the final loss to Spain in Berlin. Kane, however, still finished as the tournament’s joint top scorer with three goals from seven games.

“I think this could be a really big tournament for him,” said Robinson. “Tuchel takes big decisions, changes personnel and systems, but one thing he never changes is using Harry Kane as his single striker.”

“He is not just the player you want that last-second chance that might win a game to fall to. He is someone who has the class and quality to create that chance for someone else. He is pivotal to everything England do.”

Sutton is in agreement with Robinson.

“England are in a better place going into this World Cup with regards to Harry Kane than when they went into Euro 2024,” says Sutton.

“He didn’t seem quite right, maybe carrying an injury. Some people were talking about leaving him out, but if you take him out of the England team at this time, they are not the same force.”

Kane’s numbers are truly remarkable - not just this season with those 66 goals, but throughout his career for club and country.

After his real breakthrough season at Spurs in 2014-15, when he scored 31 goals in 51 games, he has never dipped below 24 goals in 11 campaigns. Kane’s career is a monument to consistency.

And at this World Cup, he will have the opportunity to become England’s highest scorer in the tournament. He currently has eight goals from 11 World Cup appearances, while Gary Lineker has 10 in 12.

Robinson said: “He has to be in the conversation as the world’s best simply because of his record and the numbers he posts season in, season out.”

“Remember when Pep Guardiola wanted him at Manchester City? Can you imagine the goals he would have got in that side with the opportunities they create?”

“You look at the numbers he and Erling Haaland post, and I think Kane is a better finisher than Haaland. I also think he’s a better all-round footballer than Haaland - and as he gets older his game is developing.”

Kane scored a remarkable 64 goals in 56 games as Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga and German Cup double.

Sutton added: “He has to be in that bracket when you talk about the world’s best. Haaland is pace and power, but Kane is different. He plays a more rounded game and possesses that aura all great players have. His team-mates feel it and, just as importantly, opponents can feel it. They fear Harry Kane.”

“There is sometimes a debate that he’s coming too deep, but that is football intelligence.”

“I get the arguments that you want your best striker in and around the box, but he’s intelligent enough and hungry enough to make it work. He always seems to find a way to be in the right place at the right time.”

“Harry Kane has instincts that are simply uncoachable. This is what makes him such a great player.”

Kane is at the forefront of contenders for the coveted Ballon d’Or awarded to Europe’s player of the year.

He has already claimed the Golden Shoe award for Europe’s leading goalscorer.

Bayern may have gone out against Paris St-Germain in a classic two-leg Champions League semi-final, but this cannot take the sheen off Kane’s stunning season.

Robinson has no doubts: “He wins it [the Ballon d’Or] this year. Who else wins it? Look at the achievements, and those numbers he’s had at club level.”

“He’s won trophies and there is the potential success he could have at the World Cup, which always plays a big factor in the Ballon d’Or winner.”

“There is absolutely no reason he should not win it - for me there is nobody else that wins it.”

England and Tuchel will hope Kane can set the seal on that accolade by leading them to long-awaited World Cup glory.

Patient, precise, clinical - are Scotland ready to make World Cup mark?

Fifteen minutes before Scotland began taking Bolivia to the cleaners at the Sports Illustrated Stadium, a weather warning was issued by New Jersey’s department of environmental protection. Code Orange, apparently.

Code Orange? Air quality alert. Pollution central.

The temperature had just hit 32.7 degrees, a potential problem for those with respiratory conditions, for elderly folk, and - we feared - for Scottish footballers and for those sweaty foot soldiers following them.

Bolivia, we knew, were no great shakes. Their weak attempt to qualify for the World Cup was enough evidence of that.

But suffocating conditions should be an advantage to a side that play home games in Tarija, 6,000 feet above sea level, and in the city in the sky that is El Alto at 13,600 feet. They beat Chile last June and Brazil last September in the latter.

The problem for Bolivia was not the heat that mother nature was inflicting on them - it was the heat they were getting from Scotland, who were patient, precise and clinical.

As an opponent, the South Americans were a perfect match, a useful punchbag in boxing parlance, but this was a pleasing victory and another four goals to whet the appetite before the truly big stuff starts to happen next Saturday night.

It might be argued that Scotland did not learn much about themselves against such moderate opponents, but Scotland don’t need to learn any more about themselves that they do not already know.

Save for the odd position, they are settled and vastly experienced.

This was not intended as a journey of discovery; it was a game to get their spirits up ahead of the main work ahead and that is exactly what it became. Unlike last weekend there were no injuries. Another plus.

Scotland picked their moments to strike and were pretty ruthless when they did.

Bolivia posed no threat. No World Cup to give them an edge, no players with much about them, no real answer to Scotland’s focus.

You can caveat the hell out of this if you wish - and restraint is no bad thing - but scoring the number of goals Steve Clarke’s side did, creating the number of the chances they did, and adapting to the temperatures with relative ease was impressive and heartening before Haiti (Sunday, 14 June - 02:00 BST, live on the BBC).

Haiti will be more physical, more athletic, more pacy and more threatening, but Scotland will have gained a lot of belief.

On a sweltering day, they could not play at a breakneck speed, could not bring that physical intensity to bear, and the quieter tempo almost suited them. It allowed them to think their way through rather than triumph through fitness and desire.

Scott McTominay was at the heart of an intelligent first-half performance before the 4-0 lead and the cavalry coming off the bench made it a bit ragged.

In building their lead, Scotland did not rush their passes, didn’t force the issue with their aggression. They were more technical, waiting for space to open up before striking.

Ryan Christie and Andy Robertson teed up Lawrence Shankland for a headed opener that set them on their way. Since September, he has not gone more than two consecutive games without scoring.

Making Shankland a starter against Haiti is the greatest no-brainer in the history of footballing no-brainers.

He is the striker Scotland has been crying out for for an awfully long time, an instinctive and clever finisher, a guy who can score different types of goals. He has scored 24 in 38 games this season and 10 in 12 since the turn of the year.

At precisely the right time, Shankland is playing the football of his life.

He had Che Adams as a partner - a two up front that the manager has been talking about for a little while now. It worked.

Clarke said later that he has “fantastic problems” in deciding who starts against Haiti. He probably already knows, but seeing so many of his players making a case is not a bad place to be.

McTominay got the second and Adams the third and fourth following fine work from Ben Gannon-Doak, who was another positive for Clarke.

His run downfield was a big part of Adams’ fourth. The Bournemouth youngster is still raw, still searching for consistency with his final ball, but he looked sharper here.

The head coach said Gannon-Doak got so excited before the Curacao game that it ran away from him. He looks a real contender again.

Adams is a curious sort, a player Clarke cherishes but who has never evoked major support among the Tartan Army. He is a willing and hard-working striker, a selfless sort, but not a natural goalscorer.

Here, though, his partnership with Shankland looked convincing. They looked to have a burgeoning understanding. The smart money has to be on both of them to start next Saturday.

Eight goals in two games is a handsome way to enter the tournament. This preparation was never about Curacao and Bolivia, but it was about getting enough positivity to propel Scotland into Haiti week. They have that.

Clarke was reluctant to big things up in the aftermath, but he was pleased, you could tell. Four years ago he led his team into the Euros on the back of demoralising form.

It feels different now. Dangerous talk, of course, but they’re in decent fettle one week out from the biggest game of their international lives.

Sullivan steps down at West Ham in wake of allegations

West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has stepped down from his position as joint chairman of the club with immediate effect following a joint investigation by BBC Panorama and the Times newspaper into his behaviour.

The BBC said Panorama’s story is due to be broadcast and published on Monday.

The Hammers said they had “been made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations” concerning Sullivan.

In a statement of his own, the 77-year-old said a “small number of improper conduct claims” have been made against him, adding: “I categorically deny these claims.”

He said the “decades-old allegations concerning my personal life” are “factually incorrect and entirely false”.

Sullivan, who had held the role for 16 years, said he stepped down “to apply my full energy and attention on fighting these false allegations”.

Sullivan also said he plans to sue the BBC for libel “along with any other media outlet that repeats any libellous allegations”.

The Hammers were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2025-26 season after finishing 18th.

“At what is already a challenging and important time for the club, I refuse to allow personal matters concerning me to become an unnecessary distraction or a source of instability,” added Sullivan, who has also resigned as a director.

“Therefore, after very careful consideration and with a heavy heart, I have decided to resign.”

In a club statement, West Ham said Sullivan has denied any “illegal conduct” and is leaving “in order to avoid disruption to the club while he addresses the matter privately”.

Sullivan has been the club’s largest single shareholder since the death of his business partner David Gold in January 2023, which left him with a 38.8% stake.

Sullivan and Gold became joint chairmen of West Ham when they completed their takeover of the club in January 2010.

“It is understood none of the allegations relate to West Ham United or any of its operations,” said West Ham.

“Interim chief executive officer Karim Virani, reporting into the current board of directors, will continue to be responsible for leading the club’s day-to-day operations.”

“The club will provide an update on the future structure of the board of directors in due course, but will make no further comment at this time.”

Sullivan and Gold had previously been co-owners of Birmingham City from 1993 to 2009.

They oversaw West Ham’s move from Upton Park to London Stadium in 2016 and their Conference League win in 2023 - the Hammers’ first major trophy since the 1980 FA Cup.

The club’s best Premier League finish during their tenure was sixth in 2021, but the Hammers have finished in the bottom half in three of the past four seasons and their 14-year spell in the top flight came to an end last month.

West Ham fans have held protests on numerous occasions during the 2025-26 season, calling for Sullivan and Baroness Brady to step down.

Brady left her role as vice-chair on 15 April.

This was a training game - England and Tuchel now need to get serious

England head coach Thomas Tuchel’s pre-World Cup experimentation must surely end here and now.

Tuchel’s long examination of the options open to him continued on Saturday with the sight of two separate teams, one for each half, tackling a low-key friendly against New Zealand in Tampa’s searing heat.

The clock is ticking down to England’s opening tournament game against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday, 17 June.

With the Tampa game out of the way, Tuchel should be ready to reveal more of what he hopes will be his winning hand.

It was perfectly understandable that Tuchel wanted to give England’s squad time to get minutes in the bank in testing, strength-sapping conditions.

What it meant was that the 1-0 win - Harry Kane the goalscorer again - came from effectively a glorified training session carried out under the guise of international football.

This was the first time since June 2004, when England played Iceland before leaving for the European Championship in Portugal, that they have played 22 different players in a match.

England play their final friendly before the World Cup starts when they face Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday – and that is when Tuchel has the chance to wheel out the big guns.

Tuchel’s recent selections have not been anywhere near what could be considered a World Cup starting line-up. In Tampa he was without key Arsenal figures and certain starters Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, afforded a rest after their Premier League title-winning exertions and the Champions League final loss to Paris St-Germain.

“To put it in context, a lot of our players last played together in November,” said Tuchel. “That’s half a year ago. We had four training sessions together, then mixed the team up completely.”

Tuchel has to take his own share of responsibility for this situation, having made some experimental selections leading up to these final preparations, including in the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley in March.

Manchester City’s Phil Foden played up front against Japan. In the Uruguay game, Tuchel fielded Foden, Everton’s James Garner and Spurs striker Dominic Solanke. None of those made his World Cup squad.

Ivan Toney came on for the second half in Tampa after spending a year in the England wilderness, following a three-minute appearance in the friendly defeat against Senegal at the City Ground, Nottingham.

This, in effect, makes it even more important that Tuchel puts a line-up on the pitch against Costa Rica that is as close as possible to the one that will face Croatia. It will be an opportunity to find rhythm and momentum and build combinations before that tournament opener.

Tuchel did, at least, report no injuries from this first warm-up game, while he added: “The better the opponent gets, the better we will get.”

Kane’s goal came just before half-time, which heralded the mass changes, but Tuchel said: “I was happier with the second half. I thought we had more hunger and more desire. We played better but did not score.”

“We didn’t play according to our plan in the first half. It slowed the game down, but it was better in the second half.”

“We will acclimatise to the humidity and the sun while we are here. Tomorrow will be recovery day, then we have two days to prepare for Costa Rica. Then a chunk of players will get more minutes. The Arsenal players are in now, which is good because it gives us energy and quality, and then we have another one and a half days off.”

“Then we go to Kansas and prepare for Croatia.”

For all the permutations Tuchel went through against New Zealand, one indisputable truth remains for England: Kane is the key to all their World Cup aspirations.

He headed the winner seconds before the break, his 79th international goal in 113 appearances.

Once again, the captain made the decisive contribution and England are simply not the same side without him.

In the Costa Rica friendly, Tuchel has the opportunity to shape partnerships in central defence, where John Stones was given 45 minutes alongside Marc Guehi against New Zealand. That followed an injury-troubled final season at Manchester City for Stones.

Perhaps Tuchel will also give the clearest hint on who will take the much-debated number 10 role.

It is a straight fight between Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham. Rogers was first pick in this friendly, but nothing can be read into this as Bellingham took the captain’s armband when he came out for the second half.

Regarding the line-ups, Tuchel said after the game there were “no hidden messages”.

Ollie Watkins and Toney, who played a half each, did nothing to suggest they will be anything other than understudies to Kane, as expected, while Tuchel will have been pleased Chelsea’s Reece James got through 45 minutes at right-back, where he is almost certain to be a World Cup starter.

Not too much of true significance could be gleaned, but Tuchel would have hoped for something a little more convincing against a side ranked 85th in the world, with England creating little, although there was a very lively second-half appearance from Liverpool’s 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha.

He is with England in the United States but not as part of the World Cup squad. In becoming the fifth youngest player to represent the Three Lions, he certainly gave Tuchel some interesting food for thought should there be injuries before the tournament starts.

Former England defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It’s not the performance that many would have wanted.”

“Once the players start to adapt to this climate and this weather, we will start to see improved performances from them. We will start to see the players getting sharper.”

Warnock added: “You can read into it what you want, but this is just an exercise for Thomas Tuchel to work on a few partnerships and test a few bits out.”

“England have been here six days. That’s no time to acclimatise. Roughly it takes about two weeks to acclimatise and that is when England play Croatia - and that is when you want to see them looking sharp.”

“The most important thing is how they start the tournament. If they win the game against Croatia, nobody will care about these two warm-up games.”

“These players are probably playing at around 60% of their maximum capacity at the moment. They are just feeling their way into this climate and these games.”

England’s squad will be at full strength by the time they face Croatia. And that is when Tuchel can deliver the clearest indication of the route he will take to try to win the World Cup.

This was a training game - England & Tuchel now need to get serious

Thomas Tuchel’s England have scored just twice in their past three matches

England head coach Thomas Tuchel’s pre-World Cup experimentation must surely end here and now.

Tuchel’s long examination of the options open to him continued on Saturday with the sight of two separate teams, one for each half, tackling a low-key friendly against New Zealand in Tampa’s searing heat.

The clock is ticking down to England’s opening tournament game against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday, 17 June.

With the Tampa game out of the way, Tuchel should be ready to reveal more of what he hopes will be his winning hand.

It was perfectly understandable that Tuchel wanted to give England’s squad time to get minutes in the bank in testing, strength-sapping conditions.

What it meant was that the 1-0 win - Harry Kane the goalscorer again - came from effectively a glorified training session carried out under the guise of international football.

This was the first time since June 2004, when England played Iceland before leaving for the European Championship in Portugal, that they have played 22 different players in a match.

England play their final friendly before the World Cup starts when they face Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday – and that is when Tuchel has the chance to wheel out the big guns.

Tuchel’s recent selections have not been anywhere near what could be considered a World Cup starting line-up. In Tampa he was without key Arsenal figures and certain starters Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, afforded a rest after their Premier League title-winning exertions and the Champions League final loss to Paris St-Germain.

“To put it in context, a lot of our players last played together in November,” said Tuchel. “That’s half a year ago. We had four training sessions together, then mixed the team up completely.”

Tuchel has to take his own share of responsibility for this situation, having made some experimental selections leading up to these final preparations, including in the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley in March.

Manchester City’s Phil Foden played up front against Japan. In the Uruguay game, Tuchel fielded Foden, Everton’s James Garner and Spurs striker Dominic Solanke. None of those made his World Cup squad.

Ivan Toney came on for the second half in Tampa after spending a year in the England wilderness, following a three-minute appearance in the friendly defeat against Senegal at the City Ground, Nottingham.

This, in effect, makes it even more important that Tuchel puts a line-up on the pitch against Costa Rica that is as close as possible to the one that will face Croatia. It will be an opportunity to find rhythm and momentum and build combinations before that tournament opener.

Tuchel did, at least, report no injuries from this first warm-up game, while he added: “The better the opponent gets, the better we will get.”

Kane’s goal came just before half-time, which heralded the mass changes, but Tuchel said: “I was happier with the second half. I thought we had more hunger and more desire. We played better but did not score.

“We didn’t play according to our plan in the first half. It slowed the game down, but it was better in the second half.

“We will acclimatise to the humidity and the sun while we are here. Tomorrow will be recovery day, then we have two days to prepare for Costa Rica. Then a chunk of players will get more minutes. The Arsenal players are in now, which is good because it gives us energy and quality, and then we have another one and a half days off.

“Then we go to Kansas and prepare for Croatia.”

England’s first-half line-up scraped an interval lead thanks to the ever-clinical Kane

For all the permutations Tuchel went through against New Zealand, one indisputable truth remains for England: Kane is the key to all their World Cup aspirations.

He headed the winner seconds before the break, his 79th international goal in 113 appearances.

Once again, the captain made the decisive contribution and England are simply not the same side without him.

In the Costa Rica friendly, Tuchel has the opportunity to shape partnerships in central defence, where John Stones was given 45 minutes alongside Marc Guehi against New Zealand. That followed an injury-troubled final season at Manchester City for Stones.

Perhaps Tuchel will also give the clearest hint on who will take the much-debated number 10 role.

It is a straight fight between Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham. Rogers was first pick in this friendly, but nothing can be read into this as Bellingham took the captain’s armband when he came out for the second half.

Regarding the line-ups, Tuchel said after the game there were “no hidden messages”.

Ollie Watkins and Toney, who played a half each, did nothing to suggest they will be anything other than understudies to Kane, as expected, while Tuchel will have been pleased Chelsea’s Reece James got through 45 minutes at right-back, where he is almost certain to be a World Cup starter.

Not too much of true significance could be gleaned, but Tuchel would have hoped for something a little more convincing against a side ranked 85th in the world, with England creating little, although there was a very lively second-half appearance from Liverpool’s 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha.

He is with England in the United States but not as part of the World Cup squad. In becoming the fifth youngest player to represent the Three Lions, he certainly gave Tuchel some interesting food for thought should there be injuries before the tournament starts.

Former England defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It’s not the performance that many would have wanted.

“Once the players start to adapt to this climate and this weather, we will start to see improved performances from them. We will start to see the players getting sharper.”

Warnock added: “You can read into it what you want, but this is just an exercise for Thomas Tuchel to work on a few partnerships and test a few bits out.

“England have been here six days. That’s no time to acclimatise. Roughly it takes about two weeks to acclimatise and that is when England play Croatia - and that is when you want to see them looking sharp.

“The most important thing is how they start the tournament. If they win the game against Croatia, nobody will care about these two warm-up games.

“These players are probably playing at around 60% of their maximum capacity at the moment. They are just feeling their way into this climate and these games.”

England’s squad will be at full strength by the time they face Croatia. And that is when Tuchel can deliver the clearest indication of the route he will take to try to win the World Cup.

Arsenal trio among six on player of the year shortlist

Arsenal’s Declan Rice, Gabriel and David Raya have been nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association men’s player of the year award alongside Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.

Earlier this month, Fernandes, 31, won the Football Writers’ Association’s men’s footballer of the year award.

That award is often an indicator of who is the frontrunner to be named the PFA player of the year.

The Portugal midfielder registered a record 21 Premier League assists to help United finish third.

Midfielder Rice, defender Gabriel and goalkeeper Raya were all key players for Arsenal, who won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.

Striker Haaland bagged 27 goals to win the league’s golden boot, while Cherki enjoyed a successful first season in the Premier League.

Former Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah won the award last year after scoring 29 times to help the Reds win the Premier League.

The winners will be honoured on Tuesday, 25 August at the 53rd annual PFA Awards Ceremony in Manchester.

Cherki has also been nominated for the PFA young player of the year, alongside City team-mate and England international Nico O’Reilly, who was named as the Premier League’s young player of the season last week.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, another England international, is also among the nominees after playing a key role in Michael Carrick’s side.

Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi is another on the shortlist after he scored 13 goals in 33 matches in his debut Premier League campaign.

Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha, who have represented England at under-19 level, complete the list of nominees thanks to their performances for Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.

O'Neill set to stay on as Celtic manager

Martin O’Neill guided Celtic to a league and cup double last season

Martin O’Neill is set to continue as Celtic manager after two interim spells last season culminated in a Premiership and Scottish Cup double.

The 74-year-old has now agreed to stay at Parkhead on a one-year deal - with the option for a further year - after holding talks with the club’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond earlier this week.

Celtic have yet to officially confirm the appointment.

Twenty years on from ending a five-year tenure as Celtic manager, O’Neill returned in late October on a temporary basis after Brendan Rodgers’ departure, overseeing eight games.

He made way for Wilfried Nancy but the Frenchman left after six defeats and only two wins from eight matches. O’Neill was back as Celtic boss in early January, appointed for the rest of the season.

The league title race went to the final day of the campaign, with Celtic beating long-time leaders Hearts 3-1 to finish top. Then, at Hampden two weeks ago, O’Neill won his ninth trophy as Celtic manager with a 3-1 win over Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup final.

Across his two spells in the 2025-26 season, O’Neill managed 35 games in all competitions, winning 27 and drawing four. His points average of 2.56 points per game in the league matched his corresponding figure from 2000-05.

Robbie Keane, a one-time Celtic player, had been linked with the Celtic manager’s job and has reportedly left Ferencvaros. Danish coach Jens Berthel Askou was also mentioned in connection with the Scottish champions before leaving Motherwell for Toulouse.

As Premiership winners, Celtic will enter the Champions League in the play-off round, the stage they lost at last term.

That resulted in a Europa League berth in the league phase, with O’Neill managing four of those games and the knockout defeat by Stuttgart.

Former Leicester, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland boss O’Neill had also managed Celtic in their November League Cup semi-final win against Rangers at Hampden, with Nancy in charge at the national stadium for the 3-1 final defeat by St Mirren the following month.

Rangers were also knocked out of the Scottish Cup by O’Neill’s Celtic at the quarter-final stage in March.

Brighton expect second Spurs bid for Van Hecke

No outfield player in the Brighton squad played more Premier League minutes last season than Jan Paul van Hecke’s 3,211

Brighton are expecting Tottenham to return with another bid for defender Jan Paul van Hecke after rejecting their initial offer.

Van Hecke, who is part of the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, has a year left on his contract and new Spurs boss Roberto de Zerbi is keen to be reunited with the 25-year-old after working with him at Brighton.

Brighton signed Van Hecke from Eredivisie outfit NAC Breda in 2020 for a relatively modest sum.

He is reported to be valued now by Brighton at £70m.

After loan spells at Heerenveen and Blackburn Rovers, the centre-back has gone on to make 131 appearances for Brighton, including 36 starts in the Premier League last term.

Chief executive Paul Barber was placed in charge of outgoing transfers by Brighton in the wake of the unexpected exit of sporting director Jason Ayto, which was confirmed on Wednesday.

Brighton are known for their hard-line bargaining stance having received fees in excess of £50m for Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro in recent years, and also their forward planning.

Given Van Hecke’s contract situation, it is likely Barber and owner Tony Bloom have a contingency in mind if a deal is eventually agreed.

Man City consider legal action after Haaland claim

Manchester City are contemplating taking legal action after a Real Madrid presidential candidate promised to sign their striker Erling Haaland.

Enrique Riquelme - a renewable energy magnate who is challenging current president Florentino Perez for the position - unveiled a Real Madrid shirt bearing Haaland’s name while on television on Wednesday, saying: “He has a release clause and would like to join Real Madrid. If I become president, he will play for Real Madrid.”

A swift denial was issued in a joint statement by Haaland’s father and agent, before City rubbished the suggestion.

“The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue,” the statement read. “There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it.

“We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context.”

Enrique also pledged to sign City midfielder Rodri, adding: “He is a great player, in a position where Madrid need to strengthen.

“We have spoken to his agent. We have to respect his club, but if I’m president he will play for Madrid. I will do everything possible.”

Haaland’s father Alfe Inge and agent Rafaela Pimenta said in their joint statement: “All very entertaining but not true.

“We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections.”

Riquelme has challenged Perez in the election – the first time in 20 years Perez has not stood unopposed – following two seasons in which the club has won no major trophies.

The 37-year-old has run on a campaign of vast giveaways, including a promise to build a members’ city for fans of the club in the area surrounding the training base featuring swimming pools, padel courts and a basketball arena.

He has also suggested reducing the annual membership fee by up to 50% if the team does not win the Champions League next season.

Riquelme also opposes Perez’s decision to hire Jose Mourinho as the club’s manager. That appointment can only be formally confirmed if Perez wins the election.

The team behind Riquelme’s campaign has hinted that former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is their main target for the position.

“My coach is the one Real Madrid fans wants,” he said on Wednesday, without revealing a name.

When asked about Klopp in an interview with The Athletic last month, Riquelme said: “Naturally, I would love for profiles of that calibre, and others like them, to coach this club.”

The Perez campaign has sought to dismiss Riquelme’s strategy of immediately bringing in superstar names as unrealistic.

Rodri, 29, recently said he will resolve his future after the upcoming World Cup.

“When a player is approaching the final stage of his contract, it’s normal for names to be mentioned,” he added.

“I’m very calm, I know exactly where I stand, and I’ll tell you that perhaps if there hadn’t been a World Cup, things might be different now.”

Perez, meanwhile, has pledged to reinvigorate the squad with new signings of his own and to reduce the inter-team disputes which marred the second half of the season after Alvaro Arbeloa replaced the sacked Xabi Alonso as manager.

If he is confirmed as the election winner, the club will confirm the signings of former Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate and Inter full-back Denzel Dumfries, in deals which have already been agreed.

“I always say that in football you don’t always win,” Perez said on Wednesday.

“We haven’t achieved the expected results, but we’ve identified the problems. The team couldn’t have a pre-season due to the Club World Cup, and that hampered us all year.

“We had almost 30 injuries in the first half of the season and that was a decisive factor.

“We’re already working to face the challenges of the new season.”

The campaign has been characterised by repeated attempts from both sides to ridicule the opposition.

The team backing 79-year-old Perez purchased advertising space during Riquelme’s appearance on El Hormiguero - a long-running chat show featuring puppets and novelty variety acts - in which they announced Mourinho as the team’s new manager and called on members to back their candidate.

Real Madrid has been owned by its members throughout its history. The process of electing a president is seen as the most democratic way for its members to have a say in how the club is governed and how its strategy for the future should work.

Just under 100,000 members are eligible to vote in the election, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 7 June.

Each member pays an annual fee of around £130, generating around £10m in income for the club.

The vote was called early by Perez himself, in an attempt secure a renewed mandate following a period of on-field unrest and disapproval in the stands at the Santiago Bernabeu. He is considered the overwhelming favourite to win.

Club legends have come out to support both candidates. Though the majority - including Karim Benzema, Casemiro, and Roberto Carlos - are backing Perez, former captains Iker Casillas and Fernando Hierro have pledged their support for Riquelme.

Perez first became president in 2000, having himself promised to usher in a new era of success by building a team of ‘Galacticos’ comprising new superstar signings.

His pledge to sign Barcelona’s Luis Figo played a crucial role in his victory over incumbent Lorenzo Sanz, who had twice overseen Champions League wins during his tenure, and was followed up by the signings of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham, and Michael Owen in each of the following summers.

Perez resigned in 2006, amid diminishing results for the team, but returned in 2009 when he stood unopposed for the presidency.

What is happening with World Cup ticket prices?

Fifa promised a sold-out World Cup but there are still tickets available for over half the games

Falling prices, fluctuating availability and a lack of clarity. With one week to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, many questions remain unanswered about match tickets.

Fifa promised the event would be sold out, but there are thousands of tickets available for sale across several platforms.

BBC Sport has found tickets for matches involving the smaller nations are now available well below face value - across Fifa’s own resale site and secondary marketplaces.

World football’s governing body has itself been accused of dumping inventory it now cannot sell on SeatGeek.

So just how ‘sold out’ are the matches? Will we see a repeat of last summer’s Club World Cup when tickets were sold off at knock-down prices to fill stadiums?

Could the biggest World Cup ever see swathes of empty seats?

When it comes to Fifa and World Cup tickets it might be easier to frame this as what we don’t know.

There has been so much secrecy that it seems impossible to be certain what a fair and reasonable price for a World Cup ticket truly is.

Only last week, the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey officially launched an investigation into Fifa’s ticket practices.

Football’s governing body was subpoenaed to answer allegations of “artificially inflating prices” and “misleading fans”.

The ticket buying process has been like a game of pin the tail on the donkey, one where you do not know how much it costs to play.

According to the subpoena, some fans who were successful and paid for tickets in one price category were ultimately issued tickets of a lower value further away from the pitch.

Even those who won in the ballot did so with the blindfold on - at no stage was a pricing structure published. The astronomical price of tickets only became clear when fans were asked to pay.

Fifa deployed variable pricing, rather than dynamic pricing, which sees prices changed at each sales point based on previous demand.

Fifa’s final, open sales window began in April. At the time it said that more tickets could be released right up to kick off.

But for which matches? When? And at what prices?

Stadium maps were altered and more expensive categories added, of which supporters were unaware.

These were usually in the first few rows and priced about 50% higher than the seats behind them.

They were not made available to fans in the ballot period.

The attorneys general claimed it was all part of a deliberate attempt to withhold information and leave fans guessing about how they could buy tickets.

“Every match is already sold out,” Fifa president Gianni Infantino said in February. “We keep some tickets back for some last-minute sales, of course, but every match is sold out.”

Like most things about this World Cup, the reality appears to be different.

Fifa should not have a problem selling out the games featuring the marquee teams - Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany and Spain, to name a few.

We should be able to say the same about the host nations, but Fifa has priced these games so highly that only two of the nine matches featuring Canada, Mexico or the United States are officially sold out.

Even the opening match between Mexico and South Africa still has over 500 seats left on Fifa’s face value site - though they will cost you $2,273 (£1,725) each.

Fifa’s issue is the games featuring countries which do not have wider appeal - matches like Bosnia-Herzegovina v Qatar, Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia and Congo DR v Uzbekistan.

So how many games are truly sold out?

TicketData, an independent site which tracks major sporting events in the United States, has painted an intriguing picture.

It suggests that on Saturday there were close to 74,000 tickets available across 86 of the 104 matches.

This will be only part of the story. There are thousands more on Fifa’s own resale site, genuine availability but at an even higher price - many likely bought to make a profit with no intention of attending the game.

Then something strange seemed to happen.

Within a few hours, TicketData reported that the number of tickets on Fifa’s face value site dropped by more than half to about 32,000. By Tuesday, this had fallen to 22,000 with 66 games on sale.

Had there really been a late flurry of demand for these games?

Fifa has been eager to push fans to its own resale site. And you can imagine why, considering they take 15% from both the buyer and the seller.

On its FAQ page, world football’s governing body says it “strongly encourages you to purchase all types of tickets” through its official platforms.

Fifa also warns that tickets bought via other routes “may be invalid and may be subject to cancellation without notice”.

But on Tuesday, shortly after the inventory on Fifa’s own site fell, the availability on SeatGeek appeared to increase markedly.

Not just random, single seats but batches of seats in rows of specific blocks.

This was highlighted on social media, and within 24 hours the availability on SeatGeek seemed to decrease again.

TicketData says that on Wednesday the number of tickets on Fifa’s own site jumped back up to 37,000.

It is impossible to verify who listed the tickets, and why. Or why the numbers changed on the Fifa site.

As well as SeatGeek, there are thousands of listings on sites such as StubHub and VividSeats.

Anyone can make listings on these external sites, and the tickets themselves might not even exist.

SeatGeek has denied any direct role but this does not mean Fifa, or one of its partners, could not be operating and listing independently.

A statement read: “SeatGeek is a trusted marketplace that gives fans secure access to tickets across tens of thousands of live events, including the World Cup. We do not have a partnership or distribution agreement with Fifa.”

Fifa has been approached for comment but, as has been the case throughout the ticket sales process, no response has been received.

There are other indicators on SeatGeek, too.

Rather than the cost of seats being random, they seem to be set at regular, incremental prices row by row - getting more expensive the closer you get to the front.

Looking at two blocks behind the goal for Uzbekistan v Congo DR, there are 60 listings of multiple tickets priced between $250 (£190) and $296 (£225) across blocks 102 and 103.

When Fifa released its more expensive ‘front’ tickets in April, it sent a clear message that it felt the closer you were to the pitch, the more valuable the ticket was.

The price increases by a few dollars, row by row. All priced well below the face value of $380 (£289).

So either a lot of people are losing a lot of money, or it is a plan to shift inventory.

Regular, incremental pricing row by row on a secondary marketplace could indicate deliberate, structured policy listed by the same company or individual.

So why would Fifa allegedly be trying to sell on these sites?

Fifa is just like any other promoter. The last thing it wants is loads of unoccupied seats - not just for the optics but also because any empty seat means a value of $0.

The figures show that fans are not prepared to pay the high prices for tickets for the less desirable games.

BBC Sport picked out five matches which would expected to see a lower level of demand, and found that tickets in the more desirable lower bowl seats are now well below face value.

Jordan v Algeria in Santa Clara showed the greatest fall.

Two tickets comparable in block 121 with a face value of $620 (£471) could be bought for £171 on Fifa’s own resale site - 64% cheaper.

On SeatGeek, the tickets were listed for £192, and £172 on StubHub.

For the Czech Republic v South Africa, tickets for block 122 with a face value of £342 were below £190 on SeatGeek and StubHub.

This suggests Fifa cannot get the high face value on its own site, leading to the speculation it is trying to sell the tickets elsewhere - without reducing the prices itself.

And, after tickets for Chelsea’s Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras dropped to just £8.17 ($11.15), the prices may still be some way from bottoming out.

Iraola will make Liverpool fans excited again - Murphy

Andoni Iraola is set to be announced as the Liverpool head coach this week - but what is the feeling around the city to his impending arrival?

Liverpool took the decision to part ways with Arne Slot on Saturday and have moved quickly to secure his replacement - reaching a verbal agreement with the Spaniard on Tuesday.

Iraola is set to move to Anfield after an impressive season in which he led Bournemouth to sixth in the Premier League, securing European football for the first time in the club’s history.

But there are some reservations about his lack of ‘big club’ and European experience.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy feels the Reds will be in a much better position next season than they were under Slot.

“I’m quite excited because after watching Bournemouth play, there’s no reason to think he’s not going to try and play the same way - in terms of being courageous and on the front foot and trying to press teams with high energy and play attacking football,” Murphy said.

“When a fanbase becomes disillusioned with a manager and his style of play - and then start turning on him - you’re delaying the inevitable. I do believe Liverpool are better placed now and that’s not all down to Slot.

“Bringing in Iraola was the best option because the fans go into a new campaign with hope and excitement, rather than fear. You do not want to start the season where the players are feeling the anxiety from the outset, and this was the best way for Liverpool to do it.”

Managers have often struggled to make the step up in the Premier League in the past, the most recent example when Thomas Frank joined Tottenham from Brentford.

But will Iraola - who moved to Bournemouth from Spanish side Rayo Vallecano - succeed where others have not?

“I do have a couple of reservations because he’s never managed a club of this size before and he will be a little bit surprised at how intrusive it will be on his life, when you manage Liverpool,” added Murphy, who is a Match of the Day pundit and BBC Sport columnist.

“Even as a player, that changes overnight because it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world and everything you do will be scrutinised and talked about, locally and globally.

“The only other reservation is whether he will be able to play high-intensity football every few days because that will require a certain level of fitness - which we saw with Jurgen Klopp’s teams with the flying full-backs, the midfield dynamism and the work-rate of the attackers.

“It’s difficult to see how to create that with what he’s got at the moment so the summer transfer window is huge for Liverpool in that respect. The current squad lacks legs and dynamism and isn’t filled with brilliant players off the ball.”

So is Murphy right? Will Iraola’s appointment bring hope and excitement rather than the fear of another underwhelming campaign?

Slot’s side cantered to a record-equalling 20th league title in his first season in charge, but finished fifth (25 points behind champions Arsenal) in his second.

Peter Bolster - from the Spion Kop podcast - told BBC Radio Merseyside: “I’m very excited and I’m a little bit surprised with how excited I am.

“Large parts of last season I wasn’t excited to watch Liverpool. I wasn’t excited to go to Anfield and I certainly wasn’t excited for pre-season or the start of next season. And whatever happens from this point onwards, I am excited.

“Iraola might be the perfect replacement. We might be sitting in this situation in two years, saying it didn’t really work, but I’m excited with the project and that’s what all fans want to be.”

Following Slot’s departure, Liverpool were keen to make an appointment at the earliest possible opportunity and wanted a manager who fits their preferred playing style, which is to deliver front-foot, aggressive football.

A style more aligned to how they played under former boss Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool fan Ian Walker said: “I have mixed feelings. That awful style of play [under Slot last season] had to be turned around as soon as possible, but the role has proved to be too much for some, both in terms of consistently securing results or in coping with the expectations and pressures of the media and the fanbase.

“I can still see Roy Hodgson tearing at his face on the bench when things weren’t going well. Even Jurgen Klopp - adored by the fans, the players and the club - had to stop after great success and an exciting style of football. Good luck to Iraola.”

The Redmen TV’s Ste Plunkett told BBC Radio Merseyside: “Of the talent pool that was out there and the managers that were available, it seems an obvious fit in terms of what he does with his team and what we really want a Liverpool manager to do with our team.

“I think the construction of the squad last summer - and potentially with the additions we do this year - we have to find a manager for the squad and I very much think we didn’t have that last season.

“You would have liked to have seen [Iraola] have some experience in Europe, but then he’s never really worried about reputation or who he’s playing against.

“That doesn’t seem to bother him, so I think the fact that he’s fresh to all of that, he’ll go into it invigorated and there won’t be a hangover over previous campaigns where things have gone wrong.”

Scott poised to make England debut in World Cup friendlies

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott is poised to make his England debut in the forthcoming World Cup warm-up games in the United States.

Scott, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King, Jason Steele and Ethan Nwaneri have travelled as supplementary members of the England squad for their preparation camp in Florida.

This comes as they await the arrivals of Arsenal quartet Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke and Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson following their involvement in European finals.

Henderson is due to arrive in the next 24 hours, with the remaining four expected to report for duty over the weekend.

It is understood that all five additional squad selections, despite not being picked in Thomas Tuchel’s full squad for the World Cup, are eligible to play in the friendlies versus New Zealand and Costa Rica.

The quintet will also stay in Florida for the duration of the camp and not head back when the remaining five players report for duty.

Scott was named in Tuchel’s provisional 55-man squad for the tournament, which means that from the five supplementary players, only he stands a chance of breaking into the full World Cup squad at this stage should any injuries occur.

With that in mind, the 22-year-old has a strong chance to make his international debut in one of the upcoming friendlies before heading off for his summer break.

Scott earned his senior first call-up for the November matches against Serbia and Albania but didn’t make an appearance.

Tuchel then left Scott out of the squad to face Japan and Uruguay in March before omitting him from his final 26-man World Cup party.

But in explaining why he decided to bring five extra players to the US for their pre-tournament camp, the England head coach said: “I’m really happy these guys are with us, especially Alex, who was with us in the list of 55 and had a kind of disappointing phone call as well, that he didn’t make the first cut. But the reaction of him was outstanding, the commitment, the wish to be in pre-camp and to just be a step closer to the team was not even a question for him.

“He showed me his character and his spirit so I’m delighted that he’s with us because it was a close call.”

Liverpool agree deal with Iraola to succeed Slot

Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Andoni Iraola to take over as head coach following the sacking of Arne Slot.

Iraola left Bournemouth at the end of the season and is the clear favourite for the role at Anfield.

According to a report in The Athletic, Iraola is set to sign a two-year deal.

Iraola has favoured short-term deals throughout his coaching career at Cypriot side AEK Larnaca, Spanish teams Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano, and Bournemouth.

A formal announcement confirming Iraola’s appointment is expected this week.

The 43-year-old Spaniard is keen to bring Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, his assistants at Bournemouth, to Anfield as part of his coaching staff.

BBC Sport understands Bournemouth are yet to have any formal contact from either Elphick or Cooper regarding their futures.

Liverpool are keen to make an appointment at the earliest possible opportunity and want a manager who fits their preferred playing style, which is to deliver front-foot, aggressive football.

BBC Sport understands Elphick, a lifelong Liverpool fan, has had no contact yet from the Reds but would be interested in the opportunity.

The former Bournemouth centre-back, 38, turned down the opportunity to become the Bristol City manager last week in order to assess his other options.

The hiring process at Anfield is being led by Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director, who previously worked with Iraola at the Cherries.

The Reds sacked Slot on Saturday, just a year after the Dutchman guided them to the Premier League title.

Liverpool in advanced talks with Iraola

Liverpool are in advanced talks with Andoni Iraola as they look to appoint a new head coach following the sacking of Arne Slot.

Iraola left Bournemouth at the end of the season and is the clear favourite for the role at Anfield.

Liverpool are keen to make an appointment at the earliest possible opportunity and want a manager who fits their preferred playing style, which is to deliver front-foot, aggressive football.

No approaches have yet been made with regard to Iraola’s potential coaching staff, but the 43-year-old Spaniard is keen on bringing his assistant at Bournemouth, Tommy Elphick, a lifelong Liverpool fan, with him.

BBC Sport understands that Elphick has had no contact yet from the Reds but would be interested in the opportunity.

The former Bournemouth centre-back, 38, turned down the opportunity to become the Bristol City manager last week in order to assess his other options.

The hiring process at Anfield is being led by Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director, who previously worked with Iraola at the Cherries.

The Reds sacked Slot on Saturday, just a year after the Dutchman guided them to the Premier League title.

Silva to leave Fulham as he closes in on Benfica move

Fulham manager Marco Silva has confirmed he will leave the Cottagers after five years in charge, with the 48-year-old close to agreeing a deal to take over at Benfica.

Silva’s contract expires at the end of June and uncertainty surrounded his future during the final months of the season.

The Portuguese had been offered a new three-year deal with the club keen to keep him.

Silva, who had previously managed Hull City, Watford and Everton in England, was appointed in 2021 when Fulham were in the Championship.

He steered the London club to promotion in his first season and has since established them as a Premier League side.

Victory over Newcastle on the final day sealed an 11th-placed finish in this year’s top flight.

Fulham finished 10th, 13th and 11th in his other Premier League seasons in charge.

“After five years, our journey together comes to an end,” said Silva in an open letter to fans.

“To our fans - I asked you, from day one, to always be with us. And that’s what you did these past five years. We achieved a lot together.

“My staff and I always felt your support. It will never be forgotten. Fulham will always be in my heart, and sooner or later I will be back at Craven Cottage.”

Fulham owner Shahid Khan said the Cottagers and Silva “were an excellent fit” but that “change is inevitable in this game, and we’ve accordingly prepared for this moment”.

He added: “The talent in our squad, our historic home ground of Craven Cottage, our faithful supporters, and my commitment to backing the club, all make Fulham an extraordinarily attractive destination for an incoming head coach.

“We will soon appoint a new leader in a timely but deliberate manner, who will meet the standards of our club and expectations of our fans throughout the world.”

It is understood that discussions between Silva and Benfica have progressed significantly in recent days, with an agreement within reach.

Benfica are looking to appoint a successor to Jose Mourinho, who has left the club and signed a three-year deal to become Real Madrid’s new head coach.

Sir Kenny Dalglish undergoing treatment for cancer

Scotland, Liverpool and Celtic great Sir Kenny Dalglish is undergoing treatment for cancer.

The legendary forward and former manager wanted to keep the news private but confirmed the diagnosis after accidentally sharing the news initially in an “inadvertent social media post”.

“I am currently undergoing treatment for cancer,” Dalglish, 75, wrote on social media. “Unlike my mobile phone use, the treatment is going well.

“Ideally, this would have remained private because that’s the way it should be, but my useless technology skills have forced my hand.

“Obviously I did not mean to make this matter public so I would appreciate it if the privacy of my family and myself are respected.

“As ever, thank you to the wonderful medical staff who have shown incredible care and discretion, not just for me but for many, many others. They are a credit to themselves.”

The former forward scored 30 goals - a joint national record alongside Denis Law - in 102 appearances for Scotland and is the country’s most capped player.

He scored 167 goals in 320 appearances for Celtic between 1969 and 1977, winning four league titles and four Scottish Cups.

Dalglish signed for Liverpool for a British record fee of £440,000 and spearheaded a golden era for the club, winning three European Cups and eight First Division titles across his 515 appearances.

He was appointed player-manager with the Reds in 1985, a spell in which he also guided Liverpool to two FA Cups, as well as leading the club through the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

He later went on to manage Blackburn - where he won the Premier League in 1995 - Newcastle, Celtic and Liverpool again in 2011-2012.

In a statement, Liverpool said: “The support, best wishes and love of everyone at Liverpool FC are, and will be, with Sir Kenny and his family. The club would also like to underscore his request for privacy moving forward.”

Ian Rush, who played alongside Dalglish at Liverpool, posted: “The King is one of the strongest and most positive people I’ve ever known. If anyone can face this battle with courage and determination, it’s King Kenny. We’re all behind you.”

The news emerged a day after another Liverpool great, Kevin Keegan, revealed he has stage four cancer.

I leave Liverpool exactly where it belongs - Slot

Arne Slot says he is leaving Liverpool “exactly where it belongs: among Europe’s elite” after he was sacked as head coach on Saturday.

The Dutchman, 47, won the Premier League title in his first campaign but was dismissed by the club’s hierarchy after the Reds finished fifth in the league this season, 25 points behind champions Arsenal.

Liverpool will open formal talks with former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola this week over becoming their new head coach.

In an emotional open letter published in the Liverpool Echo, Slot said fans made him feel welcome from the start and helped him on his path. “That is something I cherish,” he added.

“I leave with complete confidence in what lies ahead.”

“The players who have given so much to this club, who have upheld its values and helped create so many unforgettable moments, have built foundations that will endure.”

Despite suffering 20 defeats in all competitions, Slot secured Liverpool’s place in next season’s Champions League.

“Securing Champions League football was an important responsibility and one that ensures Liverpool can continue competing at the highest level next season and beyond,” he added.

“Change is part of football, but I know that this club will continue to make its people proud.”

“When I first stood beneath that sign in the Anfield tunnel, I knew what this club demanded. I leave knowing we never stopped striving for it.”

Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss in 2024 after the German stepped down after nine years as manager.

He made a dream start to his tenure as coach when he delivered the club’s 20th league title in front of the home supporters at Anfield with four games to spare.

“It was made even more meaningful because you got to enjoy it with us,” said Slot. “Singing our songs, cheering the goals. And on the day we lifted the trophy, you were there - lining the streets outside the stadium, filling Anfield in anticipation.”

“Having had much of that taken from you in 2020, it was never lost on me how much it mattered that you were part of it all.”

“Seeing you come together in your hundreds of thousands on the streets of Liverpool for the title celebrations only reinforced that idea.”

“Liverpool’s 20th league title belongs to all of us and it will remain an important chapter in its history. For that we should all be proud.”

“This club will always judge itself by the biggest honours. That is how it should be.”

In his letter, Slot paid tribute to the late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash alongside his brother Andre Silva as the players were preparing to return for pre-season training last summer.

The Dutchman said Jota’s passing was “indescribable”, but added “the love, compassion and support shown by the Liverpool family was extraordinary”.

Slot said: “As I leave this club, it would be remiss of me not to say that the way you honoured Diogo and stood together in his memory will stay with me forever.”

“The connection we share goes beyond football, beyond European nights under the Anfield lights or the sound of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ being sung from The Kop.”

Slot also told fans he was “privileged to witness first-hand your spirit of compassion and unity” during the club’s trophy parade in May 2025, when Paul Doyle drove his car through the crowds on Water Street in the city centre.

Doyle was jailed for 21 years and six months in December for charges including dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.

“It is a spirit that has carried this city through difficult moments before, and one that I hope will help bring the justice and accountability so many have campaigned for over many years,” he added.

Keegan reveals stage four cancer diagnosis

Former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan has revealed he has stage four cancer.

Stage four is the most advanced stage of cancer, and means the disease has spread to other parts of the body.

Keegan’s family originally disclosed he was battling cancer in January, after the 75-year-old had “further evaluation of ongoing abdominal symptoms” in hospital.

The football world has since rallied around the two-time European footballer of the year, who has been undergoing treatment in recent months.

In one of his first public appearances since the news, Keegan was handed an emotional standing ovation as he returned to Newcastle for a live event.

“I was in a car accident and, through that, I had to have an operation,” the ex-Newcastle United forward and manager said on stage at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House.

“Whilst having the scan for the operation, they found out I had cancer. They said they had an absolute top doctor for fighting what you have got, which is stage four cancer.

“So I went to meet him. He’s a Liverpool supporter so I knew I wouldn’t walk alone.

“He said, ‘Kevin, this new treatment, I’ve got a tremendous strike rate’. I said, ‘What’s your strike rate?’ He said, ‘33%’. I thought it would be 80%, 90%. 33%!

“I’m still here at the moment.”

Keegan enjoyed spells at Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle as a player during an illustrious career.

He later went on to have stints in charge of Newcastle, Fulham, England and Manchester City as a manager.

Keegan is one of the most transformational figures in Newcastle’s history, the mastermind behind the Entertainers, who challenged for the Premier League title in 1996.

Such is his status, current head coach Eddie Howe even reached out to Keegan when he got the Newcastle job in 2021 to try and get the inside track on the club and the mindset he needed to succeed.

Howe has just endured a bruising league season after the Magpies slipped to 12th place in the Premier League table.

But Keegan is firmly behind the “first manager to win anything since most of us have been alive” after he lifted the League Cup last season.

An open invitation remains for Keegan to return to St James’ Park and, though he was conscious of “intruding”, the club legend reiterated he “wants to say goodbye”.

Keegan felt he “never got the chance to” after winning his case for constructive dismissal when former owner Mike Ashley was in charge in 2009.

However, he has no thirst for a statue to be placed outside the ground.

“You will have to wait until I die, I’m afraid,” he added.

“I’m not against the statues that are outside at all, but it’s not something that really means that much to me.

“My statue is the way you receive me.”

In a statement, Newcastle sent their “heartfelt support” and “warmest wishes” to Keegan and his family following his diagnosis.

“Kevin holds a unique and cherished place in the history of Newcastle United, and in the hearts of our supporters,” it read.

“His passion, leadership and connection to the club and city have shaped some of our most memorable moments.

“Everyone at the club is behind Kevin and sends strength and best wishes to him and his family for the journey ahead.

“Kevin will always be warmly welcomed at St James’ Park and we hope to see him again soon.”

Record-holder Milner retires after 24-year career

Former England international James Milner has announced his retirement after a 24-year Premier League career.

The versatile 40-year-old was out of contract after spending the past three seasons with Brighton.

Milner played for six teams in England’s top flight and broke the record for most Premier League appearances in February.

He started his career with Leeds and went on to win three Premier League titles - two with Manchester City and one with Liverpool - and also helped the Reds win the Champions League in 2019.

Milner made his England debut while with Aston Villa in 2009 and ended his international career with 61 caps.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some unforgettable moments, from fighting for survival to winning trophies, playing in Europe, and representing my country at two European Championships and two World Cups,” read a statement by Milner on social media.

“But more than anything, it’s the people and friendships I’ve made throughout the game that I’ll cherish forever.”

Milner made his Leeds debut at 16 in November 2002 and at the time was the second-youngest player to play in the Premier League.

The following month he became the youngest player to score in the Premier League and is now third on that list, behind Max Dowman and James Vaughan.

Milner missed most of the 2024–25 season through injury but played 22 games in all competitions in 2025-26, making his 658th and final Premier League appearance during Brighton’s last game of the season.

“From making my debut for Leeds United, who I supported growing up, at the age of 16 and becoming the Premier League’s youngest scorer, I could never have dreamed of the journey I’ve been on, right through to not being able to lift my foot last year and then coming back to be part of Brighton qualifying for Europe for the second time in their history at the age of 40,” he added.

After spending two years in the first team at Leeds, Milner was sold to Newcastle after his boyhood club were relegated to the Championship in 2004.

He then joined Villa in 2008 and Manchester City in 2010, helping them to their first two Premier League titles in 2012 and 2014.

Milner left for Liverpool in 2015 and spent eight seasons at Anfield, scoring 26 goals from 332 appearances.

In 2020, he helped the Reds win their first league title since 1990 and lifted the FA Cup and League Cup with both Liverpool and City.

“I leave the game with immense pride, gratitude and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” Milner said.

“Football has given me far more than I could ever have imagined, and I will always be thankful for the opportunities it provided.”

“Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey.”

Southampton owner will not sack head coach Eckert

Southampton owner Dragan Solak says he will not sack Tonda Eckert, despite the “mistake” the head coach - who has apologised - made when authorising a spying campaign against rival Championship clubs.

“I think he deserves a second chance and I would give it to him,” the Serb businessman told BBC Sport in an exclusive interview.

“My full support would be behind him actually, because I think he’s a super-talented manager.”

Eckert addressed Southampton supporters on Tuesday morning in an eight-minute video published on the club’s social media channels.

“For everything that has happened I want to apologise. I hold my hands up because as a head coach I am responsible,” Eckert said.

“I am devastated that after six months of building that relationship [with supporters] back up, the season has come to an end, an end that couldn’t have left us in a worse place than we are in right now.”

“I am a young coach, I have made a mistake, and I take full responsibility.”

After a short spell as caretaker boss, Eckert was appointed on a permanent basis in December to lead a Southampton side who were involved in a relegation fight. He guided them not only to safety but to the Championship promotion play-offs after a fourth-place finish.

However, Saints were expelled from the play-offs after admitting observing opponents’ training sessions, and they have been deducted four points for the 2026-27 season.

An independent disciplinary commission said that Eckert, the club’s 33-year-old German boss, accepted he had orchestrated what it called a “contrived and determined plan from the top down”.

On Monday, it was revealed that a junior member of staff claimed that Eckert’s proposals had placed them “under extreme pressure” to carry out a task they were uncomfortable with and felt was morally wrong.

Details emerged after the publication of the written reasons of an arbitration panel appointed to hear Southampton’s appeal against their punishment. Eckert was said to be “surprised” to learn that EFL regulations prohibited the practice.

“I believe Tonda that he didn’t know that it was the rule that he was breaking,” said Solak, whose media company acquired a majority stake of the club in 2022.

“My personal opinion, and the opinion of the board, is that he is a manager who deserves to be backed by us and to be supported by us. I will obviously seek advice from the team. I will seek advice from the players, from the fans. But yes, if it’s ultimately my decision, he stays.”

Speaking from Slovenia, Solak added: “In Italy or in Germany, where Tonda was working, this is basically common practice that nobody cares about.”

However, Solak said he also issued Eckert with a warning. “I told him: ‘You almost broke my heart. You do it again, you’ll kill me. The next time I see you in July, if you don’t know the EFL book of rules by heart, you can’t work for me. Because, we can’t have another mistake.’”

“I truly hope that he will learn from this experience and he will achieve an incredible career.”

Southampton admitted to charges of spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town in the regular season, and then Middlesbrough before the play-off semi-final.

Eckert explained why he sent a staff member to observe training sessions involving those clubs, adding that the “bitter irony” is that “none of what happened had any affect on the sporting performance”.

“When I worked in Italy for over four years, every starting line-up that was chosen for games was always out in the media,” said the former Genoa assistant.

“The reason is that our training sessions have always been observed from media and opponent teams.”

“[Pep] Guardiola has spoken about this at his time at Bayern Munich, that it’s common practice in Germany to observe training sessions knowing opponents will do the same.”

“I don’t want to say this to excuse anything we have done, I just want to give you context in the way I grew up in the football world. There are different rules in England and the EFL and I should have known them.”

Eckert added that he spoke “from the heart” without a script, and that he hopes with time supporters can “understand and forgive”.

The Football Association is investigating the scandal and could yet decide to charge Eckert.

When asked what he would do if Eckert was eventually banned by the governing body, Solak said: “I can support him even if he’s banned, but I can’t make him manage if he’s banned. My support comes from a very simple legal situation where there is no double jeopardy.”

“Whatever crime you did, you can be sentenced only once. I think we were ‘over-sentenced’. The punishment that the club received was severe and completely disproportionate to the mistake that we made. We lost our chance to win £200m.”

“But if they’re going to go again and then double that with [a] ban, we might appeal. But he will have my support through the process. But if he’s banned, he’s banned. I mean, I can’t put somebody to manage the club if he is not allowed.”

“I’m looking at him as a young, extremely talented manager - the guy who took our club when we were 21st in the table and brought us almost to direct promotion. I am amazed that Tonda is willing to come back in this hostile environment after the witch hunt he had in the media.”

“I’m pretty sure if the FA decides to ban him, he will get a triple better-paid job in Italy or Germany.”

When asked if it was fair to call it just “a mistake” when, under Eckert, Southampton had spied on three rivals, Solak said, “It was three times out of 46 games. If he would do it on an industrial level, he would do it on every game. Right?”

In a wide-ranging interview, Solak insisted he had been unaware of the spying plot, revealing he only found out about it when the news broke last month on social media.

“I actually learned from X. I sent a message: ‘What the hell is this?’”

“Even people I talked to at the highest level of the club didn’t have a clue what was going on. They really thought it was a joke.”

Describing the punishment Southampton received as “ridiculous”, Solak tried to downplay the seriousness of the club’s cheating.

“Yes, we tried to obtain an information that was not legally allowed,” he said. “OK, what you do with this information and how you use it on the pitch, is a different thing. And what is the direct influence of this information on the pitch?”

“On the other side, we can see on almost every game, players diving, trying to basically get a penalty or get a red card. That is not fair. And it’s very simple to call this cheating because they know what they’re doing, it’s much, much more direct influence on the game and the result than whatever we did.”

“I’m not saying that what we did is right. I agree with the league that they want to stop it once for all. I just think that they are not treating every offence equally.”

Asked how he felt about the club staff, other than Eckert, who were aware of the spying, Solak said: “This whole thing was happening within the environment of our analysts.”

“I think we have a couple of guys that are foreign analysts, so for them you could say probably that they didn’t have a clue that this was against the rules.”

“And then we have probably five or six British analysts. How come they either didn’t know or they didn’t tell? I don’t know. But this is something that will be additional soul-searching for us… I am definitely very focused that we come to the understanding of this because this is the only way it will never happen again.”

The EFL’s commission said it was “deplorable” of the club to have used junior staff members to “conduct the clandestine observations”.

Solak admitted that such a culture was “unacceptable”, but he blamed “a huge amount of misunderstanding, ignorance and arrogance, we have dysfunctions in the club, but we will actually make an effort for people to understand that whoever orders them to do something, that is putting them out of their comfort zone, they have every right to refuse”.

When asked about the analyst intern who had been sent to spy on opposition training sessions, and who had been caught doing so at Middlesbrough, Solak said: “I don’t see really this culture when somebody is really making junior staff do something they don’t want.”

“I believe that our junior intern felt personally it’s wrong, and he didn’t feel right for doing this, and I think he should have expressed that stronger. I’m pretty sure that if [he had] come to us, the top management, actually it would be the seniors who would be punished, not him.”

“I have a lot of pity. I’m sorry for what he had to go through. And we obviously would like him to stay in the club and we offered him a prolonged job with the club.”

Solak also said that had the intern spied on Middlesbrough when Eckert had wanted, EFL rules banning the practice up to 72 hours before a match would not have been breached.

“Tonda, not directly, through somebody, told them to go to Middlesbrough on Monday, just to check whether one player is fit or not,” Solak said.

“If they [went] when they were told, actually, it wouldn’t be an offence. It would be outside of 72 hours. They decided not to go… so they left three days later, [and] went straight into the forbidden time.”

“But one thing is striking me when I’m reading this. They couldn’t really fear Tonda that much if they are so easily able to just not obey to the orders.”

It has been reported that some of Southampton’s players want to leave and may even consider taking legal action against the club over lost promotion bonuses. The team beat Middlesbrough over two legs to reach the play-off final, before they were ejected from the competition.

Solak said: “Honestly, it’s on them to decide. I had a very open conversation with them, and they were actually very nice. And you could see that they are hurting. But through that, they still behaved as gentlemen. You go through things, but life is fair.”

“If you are a player of Southampton that really has quality to play in Premier League, I’m pretty sure you’ll play in Premier League this season or the next.”

The EFL Arbitration Panel condemned the “mystery” of Southampton initially providing misleading information about the spying mission to Middlesbrough.

At first the club denied that any video was captured or analysed, before acknowledging that was not the case.

When asked why the club had failed to give an accurate version of events, Solak said: “We were requested by the EFL to respond in 12 hours, ahead of a huge game where everybody’s travelling.”

“So the people who made the response had a limited time to try to get the truth. And that’s why I think their response was imperfect. During the process later, we absolutely delivered everything we know.”

Solak also pointed to the legal advice the club had sought, saying: “When we were preparing for this whole process with the EFL, we hired football expert lawyers, they hired a criminal prosecution expert lawyer. So I would say we have been a bit naive in the whole thing. But since we made a mistake, I’m not going to justify anything.”

He added: “I’m completely devastated. As a club, we need to apologise to our fans. They gave everything to us. And I’m sure we gave them a lot of great moments, but at the end we gave them this huge disappointment. So I really feel sorry for them. I feel sorry for the whole club, you know, because few people made a mistake, but the whole club suffers.”

“But all I can tell them is that my dedication to the club is not wavering at all. I think that out of all of this, we will become stronger.”

'You legend. Manager loved it' - Southampton's Spygate WhatsApps revealed

Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs and deducted four points for the 2026-27 season.

New WhatsApp messages have revealed how Southampton orchestrated a spying campaign against their Championship rivals.

Junior members of staff told the independent disciplinary commission how head coach Tonda Eckert had placed them “under extreme pressure” to carry out a task they were clearly uncomfortable with and felt was morally wrong.

The exchanges are detailed in the written reasons of the League Arbitration Panel, which was appointed to hear Southampton’s appeal against being expelled from the Championship play-offs and deducted four points from next season.

Saints had pleaded guilty to charges of spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town in the regular season, and then Middlesbrough before the play-off semi-final.

In the written reasons of the punishment, Southampton’s conduct was described as a “contrived and determined plan from the top down”, which head coach Eckert had approved.

Now WhatsApp messages revealed in the League Arbitration Panel’s report show how the plan was orchestrated.

A junior analyst sent to observe Oxford United train before their December fixture with Southampton sent a message to colleagues saying: “I didn’t really have an option and wasn’t provided an opportunity to say no. I was an intern and was doing what I was told.”

When he sent details from that session back to his boss, he received a WhatsApp reading: “You legend. Manager loved it.”

Upon being asked to carry out a second spying mission on Ipswich he expressed concern but was told that “the boss is adamant that someone needs to go”.

Upon being caught, another analyst at the club sent a message to his colleague saying: “I said all along I was never happy about it all & it wasn’t right but no one listened to me!”

The document goes on to explain how the intern was caught by staff at Middlesbrough as he spied on their training session in the build-up to their play-off semi-final in May.

It reveals how he discovered Southampton had been accused of spying while he was still on a train coming back from Middlesbrough.

And it details how Southampton then attempted to delete images of the intern from the internet.

A junior analyst intern was sent to Oxford’s training ground for two days before the teams met on 26 December. Their opponents had changed manager, sacking Gary Rowett, and Eckert wanted to know what formation they would play under caretaker Craig Short.

In his evidence, the junior analyst intern said: “I didn’t really have an option and wasn’t provided an opportunity to say no. I was an intern and was doing what I was told.”

It was added that another analyst had lost their job earlier in the season, and this added pressure to perform tasks they might be uncomfortable with.

The intern sent updates, photographs and videos to the Southampton coaching staff.

From his observation, he knew Oxford were going to play with a back four, not a back five. A predicted Oxford line-up was prepared on the basis of the observations made by the junior analyst intern.

The same predicted team sheet was sent to Eckert, which included a section entitled “key messages”, which appear to be gleaned from the junior analyst intern’s observations.

The junior analyst intern then had a telephone conversation with Eckert to discuss what he had seen.

During his evidence, Eckert denied viewing the footage and insisted the information had no impact on the match preparation.

But a WhatsApp message sent from an analyst to the junior analyst intern read: “Try and make out as much as you can please. You legend. Manager loved it.”

Southampton met Ipswich in the penultimate game of the season, with both teams going for second place.

In preparation, Ipswich trained at Eastleigh Football Club.

One of the first-team coaches told another analyst that Eckert said at an earlier match preparation meeting that “someone should go to Eastleigh to look at Ipswich”.

The assistant coach approached the junior analyst intern about travelling to Eastleigh “as the boss is adamant that someone needs to go”.

The junior analyst intern felt uncomfortable doing this and said “no” to the suggestion.

Another analyst said in his evidence that he grouped himself with the younger members of the analysis team who were being pressurised into carrying out the spying, and he felt pressurised himself.

This other analyst asked to be provided with an Eastleigh kit and a legend - an explanation of his supposed role at the National League club - and made the trip to observe the training sessions.

Someone present at Eastleigh that day video-recorded the whole session and it was sent to Southampton. From that footage, Southampton were able to predict the exact Ipswich team for the fixture.

Eckert claimed that he understood that someone from Eastleigh had sent CCTV footage of the Ipswich training session to someone at Southampton, the existence of which Eckert knew only a couple of hours before kick-off.

Southampton were faced with a trip to Middlesbrough for the first leg of the play-off semi-final on 9 May.

Eckert was particularly interested in finding out if Middlesbrough’s star player, and Championship player of the year, Hayden Hackney, was training or not. There were differing reports as to his fitness. It was agreed that someone would be identified to go to Middlesbrough’s training ground.

Despite saying he did not want to carry out the Ipswich mission, the junior analyst intern was again identified as the person who should make the trip.

The junior analyst intern said that he felt under extreme pressure because of the context of the importance of the game for the club. He feared that he might be dismissed by the club or it might otherwise adversely affect his career if he did not do what was asked of him.

He felt he had been criticised for the information he provided about Oxford, with Southampton having lost that match 2-1.

The junior analyst is quoted as telling the commission: “With them all telling me they want more out of it than what I got at Oxford as got it wrong etc they clearly don’t think my word is good enough so wallop there’s your footage.”

Southampton’s operations manager booked flights and two nights’ accommodation.

The junior analyst intern was shown drone footage of the Middlesbrough training facilities so that he could get an idea of where to stand.

He flew up to Middlesbrough on Wednesday, 6 May, but was told that Eckert was unhappy he did not fly up on the Tuesday so that he could see the Wednesday training session.

Three videos of Middlesbrough’s training were recorded on his phone from behind a tree.

Four people at the training ground began walking towards the junior analyst intern, and he sent the videos he had gathered to another analyst who subsequently passed the information to Eckert - including the projected Middlesbrough line-up.

When one of the four men caught up with him, the junior analyst intern said he was “just watching” and he was asked to delete the videos, which he did.

He then walked on to a nearby golf clubhouse where he changed and deleted his LinkedIn profile because he was worried that Middlesbrough would recognise him from that.

The junior analyst intern went back to his hotel and awaited permission from Eckert to return home. When this didn’t come, he left of his own accord and caught a train. It was while he was on the train that he learned from news on the internet that Southampton had been caught “spying” on Middlesbrough.

An analyst suggested the Southampton media team should be asked to take down or hide the manager of the month pictures online, because the junior analyst intern featured in the background. The analyst said: “The only way they can put his face from CCTV with [Southampton] as he’s deleted his LinkedIn picture. Just got to hope they won’t put the 2 together.”

Eckert was asked whether he wished to see the videos, and he said he did.

Eckert claimed the videos were of poor quality, taken from a far distance and it was difficult to work out who was who – and, so, they were of no benefit to him.

The League Arbitration Panel was damning about Southampton’s conduct not only through the spying, but also because the club initially provided misleading information.

On 8 May, the club admitted that a member of staff was in Middlesbrough, but they claimed it was “a very junior member of the analysis department” and he “was not instructed by any members of senior club staff”.

Southampton added that “no footage was captured, transmitted, shared or analysed” and that “senior executives and first team manager have not endorsed this”.

This proved to be untrue when the English Football League requested all relevant emails, messages and telephone calls between members of the analysis team, plus relevant bank/credit card statements for the junior analyst intern and the club.

On 12 May, the club apologised for inaccuracies and admitted that the trip was, as the panel’s report describes, “carried out at the request of Mr Eckert”, that three videos had been sent and there had been discussions with the head coach on WhatsApp about the content.

On 17 May, the club were charged with spying on Oxford and Ipswich and unsuccessfully tried to prevent those being consolidated in the same hearing.

The League Arbitration Panel found that it was “clear beyond any doubt that Southampton intended to obtain a sporting advantage over their league rivals by cheating”.

Southampton lost to Oxford and drew with Ipswich and Middlesbrough.

Lord Pannick, representing Southampton, proposed that if no sporting advantage had been obtained - because Saints did not win - then it would be inappropriate and disproportionate to impose any sporting sanction.

This was rejected because “information from the observations had been passed to the senior coaching team at the club, and it had been used in preparation for those matches”.

While the commission accepted the club’s remorse, that mitigation was tempered by the initial misleading response to the Middlesbrough allegations.

It was also “unimpressed” by some of the club’s witnesses, including Eckert, who said they were unaware spying was against the regulations when it was clear the opposite was true.

At one stage, another analyst messaged the junior analyst intern and said: “I said all along I was never happy about it all & it wasn’t right but no one listened to me!”

Southampton placed particular reliance on a £200,000 fine given to Leeds United for spying on Derby in 2019, but the commission suggested that sanction was excessively lenient.

The commission, with the play-offs in mind, was “sensitive to the importance, prestige and potential financial value of that knock-out competition” and that meant a non-sporting sanction “would be at best ineffective, if not positively perverse”.

It added: “Public confidence in the integrity of sport… is paramount. Cheating undermines that confidence. Here, the Middlesbrough incident seriously violated the integrity of the play-off knock out competition.”

In a statement released on Monday, Southampton said they would “reflect carefully on the published reasons, review its internal processes and ensure that governance, oversight and decision-making procedures are strengthened as a result”.

Southampton added: “We accept that the club breached the relevant regulations, and we recognise that the disciplinary bodies were entitled to conclude that proof of sporting advantage was not necessary in order to establish a serious offence.”

But the club also criticised the composition of the independent disciplinary commission, saying: “What is harder to accept is that similar scrutiny does not appear to have been applied to the composition of the disciplinary panel itself, given the apparent historic and indirect connections of two panel members to Middlesbrough.”

David Winnie, head of sport at Gilson Gray LLP, played one game on loan at Middlesbrough in 1994. Winnie had denied any questions about his impartiality.

Another panellist, Lydia Banerjee, works for Littleton Chambers, which in 2018 was contracted for legal work by Middlesbrough.

Ice, Ice Baby and 'start of a new era' - best of Arsenal parade

For the first time in 22 years, Arsenal are the Premier League champions - and the players, staff and fans got to celebrate on Sunday with an incredible bus parade through the streets of north London.

With hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets, Arsenal’s men’s and women’s sides took in the adoration of their supporters during a two-and-a-half-hour five-mile loop, which started and finished at the club’s Emirates Stadium.

Fans were not allowed immediately next to the ground but the supporters, some of whom had been there since the early hours of Sunday, finally got to see their heroes after the four buses went over a bridge, which had the words ‘This belongs to all of us’ painted on the ground.

The first bus had the Arsenal men’s team on board, with Arsenal’s women’s side, who became world champions when they won the Women’s Champions Cup in February, on the third bus.

The other two buses were full of club staff as well as family members.

One of the most impressive sights was when a huge tifo - which had been unveiled before November’s north London derby against Tottenham and had the words ‘The Arsenal - These streets are our own’ on it - was again displayed along the bus route.

Mikel Arteta’s side had finished second in the Premier League in each of the previous three seasons, before ending up as champions in 2025-26.

At one stage on Sunday, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice mocked the critics that have said the club have been too reliant on set-pieces to score goals by grabbing the microphone and chanting ‘set-piece again, ole, ole’.

Ben White spotted the opportunity to get Rice involved in a singalong and played ‘Ice, Ice Baby’ on the speaker, but Rice said “I’m not singing!”.

He didn’t take much convincing and belted out the lyrics of the Vanilla Ice hit - to the delight of the Gunners fans.

He told Sky Sports: “I love this team, I love the manager. To see the joy we can give people, it’s crazy. But next year we’re coming back for more.”

Rice was not the only Arsenal player to get the crowd going. Defender Riccardo Calafiori started a loud ‘Arsenal, Arsenal’ chant, while co-chairman Josh Kroenke was also seen chanting and urging more noise from the Gunners fans.

“This is crazy,” said captain Martin Odegaard before singing along and waving a scarf as red smoke from flares filled the streets of north London.

One of the largest cheers came when Odegaard, the first Arsenal captain to lead the club to Premier League glory since Patrick Vieira in 2004, paraded the trophy at the front of the bus.

Arsenal finished seven points clear of Manchester City to become English champions for the 14th time, but for the first occasion since 2003-04 when Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ won the Premier League without losing a game.

The parade took place on Sunday, one day after the Gunners had narrowly missed out on creating club history when they lost 4-3 on penalties to Paris St-Germain in the final of the Champions League.

After it had finished 1-1 at the end of extra-time, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both missed penalties in the shootout as PSG retained their European title, with the Gunners failing to win what would have been a first Champions League title.

On Sunday, before the parade, Gabriel wrote on Instagram: “It’s painful, but I’m proud of this team and everything we achieved together this season. Thank you to our incredible fans for your support every step of the way. You deserve to celebrate this journey with us and enjoy the parade today.”

While the players were devastated at the loss in the final in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, that did not dampen the celebrations on Sunday.

Nineteen-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who came through the Gunners academy, spoke to Sky Sports News before boarding the bus.

On the Champions League defeat, he said: “It’s disappointing because, you know, when you’re so close to a dream, a goal, and you feel slightly short, but, just as Mikel said, adds fuel to the fire, so we’ll use that for us.”

But Lewis-Skelly felt this Premier League triumph could be the beginning of a period of success for the Gunners.

“I feel like it’s a start of a new era and we’re ready to go out and achieve our dreams,” he added. “This means everything just to share this moment with our people. It’s going to be emotional. The last couple of weeks have been incredible.”

When asked for a message to fans, he replied: “Thank you and we’re not done.”

Liverpool to open formal talks with Iraola

Liverpool will open formal talks with Andoni Iraola this week over becoming their new head coach.

The Reds sacked Arne Slot on Saturday, just a year after the Dutchman guided them to the Premier League title.

The club hope to have a successor in place as soon as possible, with departing Bournemouth manager Iraola the leading contender.

The 43-year-old delivered the Cherries’ finest season to date with a sixth-placed finish - only one spot and three points behind Liverpool in the table - to qualify for next season’s Europa League.

Spaniard Iraola announced in April that he would leave the club this summer and has also been linked with Crystal Palace and AC Milan.

The decision to sack Slot was made by Michael Edwards, Fenway Sports Group chief executive, and Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director, who believe the club needs a more front-foot, aggressive and urgent style of football.

Iraola was appointed at Bournemouth when Hughes was technical director at the Cherries, a role he left in 2024 to join the Reds.

Liverpool have qualified for next season’s Champions League despite finishing the Premier League season with 60 points - their lowest tally since the 2015-16 campaign and 25 points behind champions Arsenal.

The Anfield club spent £415m last summer on six players - the highest outlay in a window by a British club - in a bid to retain their title.

They broke the British transfer record to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a fee of £125m having previously bought Bayer Leverkusen and Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz for a then-club record £116m.

Iraola, a former Spain right-back who spent the majority of his playing career at Athletic Bilbao, started out in management in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca.

Spells with Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano in his homeland followed before joining Bournemouth in 2023.

Liverpool sack head coach Slot and approach Iraola

Head coach Arne Slot has been sacked by Liverpool after two seasons in charge.

The Dutchman, 47, guided the Reds to their 20th league title in his debut season but they have struggled during his second year, finishing fifth in the Premier League.

Recently departed Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is the leading contender to replace Slot.

The club have approached the Spaniard to discuss the role.

Despite still qualifying for next season’s Champions League, Liverpool finished with 60 points - their lowest tally since the 2015-16 campaign and 25 points behind champions Arsenal.

“That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and - most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves - successful,” Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) said in a statement.

“As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.

“From the moment that we first encountered Arne, it was immediately clear that he is an individual who does not merely accept responsibility, he embraces it.”

Liverpool had insisted that a change of head coach was not on the agenda, but after assessing the situation following the end of the season last weekend, the club’s hierarchy believe the next phase requires a more front-foot, aggressive and urgent style of football.

The decision to sack Slot was made by Michael Edwards, FSG’s chief executive, and Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director.

Iraola, 43, is one of the most highly-rated coaches in Europe and is known for his attacking style of play.

He was appointed at Bournemouth when Hughes was technical director at the Cherries, a role he left in 2024 to join the Reds.

Bournemouth finished only one place and three points behind Liverpool to qualify for next season’s Europa League.

Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss in 2024 after the German stepped down at Anfield after nine years as manager.

Earlier this month, forward Mohamed Salah said the club must return to being a “heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear” after “crumbling” to a defeat at Aston Villa.

Much of Liverpool’s success under Klopp - where they won every major trophy - came through this style of play.

“The conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team’s trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him. Nor is it a reflection of his talents. Rather, it is indicative of the need for a different approach,” the statement added.

“Arne leaves with our gratitude, with a Premier League title to his name, and with the knowledge that he and his family will always be welcomed back at Anfield.”

Slot’s backroom staff are also widely expected to leave, although there has been no announcement from the club on their positions yet.

Liverpool spent £415m last summer on six players - the highest outlay in a single window by a British club - in a bid to retain their title.

They broke the British transfer record to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a fee of £125m and also bought Bayer Leverkusen and Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz for a club record £116m.

In July, forward Diogo Jota died in a car crash - a player who featured regularly under Slot.

“We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool’s 20th league title,” the statement added.

“That accomplishment - made all the more remarkable as it arrived in his very first season in charge - was built on outstanding coaching and leadership every single day.

“He also helped guide the club through one of the most difficult periods imaginable following the loss of Diogo. The compassion and humanity he showed throughout that time said a great deal about him as a person.

“As such, we can only wish Arne well in the next stage of his coaching career, with our expectation being that he will continue to be successful. We do so in the knowledge that his Liverpool legacy is intact and will become yet more meaningful in the years and decades to come.”

Slot sacking completes a remarkable fall from grace

Arne Slot was hailed as the perfect successor to charismatic Jurgen Klopp after winning the Premier League in his first season.

Arne Slot’s sacking at Liverpool completes one of the most remarkable falls from grace of any Premier League title-winning manager.

Chelsea sacked three managers swiftly after the same success as Slot – but then owner Roman Abramovich’s unique demands made them a special case.

This is Liverpool, the supposed bastion of stability.

Carlo Ancelotti was sacked by Chelsea at the end of his second season in 2011 after winning the league and FA Cup double in his first. Jose Mourinho’s second spell at Stamford Bridge ended when he was axed in December 2015, seven months after winning the title, as they lay one point above the relegation zone.

Antonio Conte went the same way in July 2018 after winning the title in his first season then FA Cup in his second, while Leicester City dismissed Claudio Ranieri in February 2017 as they were only one point off the relegation places nine months after their remarkable Premier League triumph.

But none, arguably, have been shown the door from an earlier position of such strength as Slot – sacked a year after winning the title with ease in his first season in succession to Jurgen Klopp, then having his squad bolstered by a staggering £450m spending spree.

So why did it unravel for the Dutch head coach who many Liverpool fans initially regarded as the calm, transitional Bob Paisley figure to predecessor Klopp’s firebrand, charismatic Bill Shankly?

Slot’s seamless transition from the iconic Klopp saw the German’s squad – with only the addition of £10m Juventus forward Federico Chiesa – win the title by 10 points with four games to spare, losing only twice until the job was done with victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

So was Slot purely the beneficiary of taking over ready-made title winners then simply steering them to glory?

This would be incredibly harsh on Slot and his achievements.

Slot calmed understandable post-Klopp anxiety with his measured approach, but made key alterations that took away some of the thrilling chaos that preceded him to turn the title race into a procession.

Liverpool’s main transfer target on Slot’s appointment was Real Sociedad’s Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, now at Arsenal.

With the deal almost done, Zubimendi decided to stay in La Liga, to the widespread angst of those Liverpool fans demanding big signings.

Slot blocked out the noise, turning to his countryman Ryan Gravenberch, something of an under-achiever under Klopp, to take the “number 6” role designated for Zubimendi.

It was a masterstroke, with Gravenberch outstanding as he provided the platform for a more organised Liverpool, not as exciting as under Klopp but cohesive, organised winners.

Slot also produced another key tactical move by using Luis Diaz, a gifted but occasionally erratic winger, as a striker. It was not the Colombian’s natural position but it suited him perfectly as he made many match-winning contributions.

He also won over Liverpool’s biggest names who had under-pinned the Klopp glories of winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and two League Cups.

Mohamed Salah had arguably his finest season as Liverpool’s squad bought into Slot’s methods as one - although this relationship turned to open hostility, at least on the Egyptian’s side, surfacing in two public outbursts, one in an interview and another on social media, that undermined the head coach.

Salah’s form fell off a cliff in previously unimaginable fashion before he announced this would be his final season at Liverpool after a magnificent career.

Yes, Slot inherited what Klopp described as Liverpool 2.0, but it was also a squad that had finished nine points off the title when the German left. The Dutchman changed that.

Slot was bequeathed quality, but he put his own stamp on it to make Liverpool title winners. To suggest otherwise is to downgrade his work unfairly.

Liverpool’s 20th title, equalling Manchester United, was a cause of rejoicing from their global fanbase. The summer was meant to be a time of celebration basking in that success.

Instead, it was a summer of tragedy.

The title parade around the city was predictably joyous, with red plumes of smoke engulfing the famous Liver Birds at the Pier Head.

Joy turned to horror as 54-year-old Paul Doyle crashed his car into supporters on nearby Water Street during the celebrations, injuring more than 130 people.

Doyle was jailed for 21 years and six months after pleading guilty to 31 charges, admitted dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent and three counts of wounding with intent.

And then, on 3 July, much-loved striker Diogo Jota, 28 was killed in a car crash, along with his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva, while driving in the Spanish province of Zamora.

Liverpool, as a club, city and fanbase, were heartbroken. Jota was hugely-popular as a team-mate and player, leaving those at Liverpool grief-stricken.

Jota’s song is sung in the 20th minute of every game – he wore number 20 – while Andrew Robertson referenced his close friend after Scotland qualified for the World Cup.

Only those at Liverpool know how much of an emotional toll this has taken as their grief has been mostly private, but it was a devastating occurrence and is still raw.

Most observers – including this one – believed Liverpool’s title was theirs to lose after one of the most spectacular summers of spending in Premier League history.

After keeping their powder dry following Slot’s arrival, a strategy rewarded with the title, Liverpool embarked on a remarkable spree.

This included £125m British record signing Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, £116m Germany golden boy Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, another £70m striker in Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as another £70m on full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong from Bournemouth and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.

Liverpool raked in more than £250m from sales of players such as striker Darwin Nunez to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, Diaz to Bayern Munich and Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.

Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid at the end of his contract while, of course, the whole club and its support was devastated by Jota’s death.

Alexander-Arnold and Diaz, outstanding at Bayern, have been sorely missed.

Liverpool’s outlay, however, did not strengthen their squad. It made it worse, which takes some doing.

It left the squad mediocre and unbalanced as expensive new acquisitions spluttered or suffered injuries, while their recruitment team failed to deliver one of their most significant targets.

There are many questions around Slot’s transfer dealings, although owners Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes must also take responsibility.

Liverpool’s key pair of power brokers were showered with bouquets in the summer. Now they must take the brickbats.

How did such a splurge leave an unbalanced team?

Why did Liverpool not sign competition for Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo on the flanks?

Was enough thought given to how Wirtz would be utilised as Liverpool revelled in beating Manchester City to his signature?

Did they really need to spend £125m on Isak having spent £70m on Ekitike?

Were they too complacent in assuming Crystal Palace would just give up on Marc Guehi?

Liverpool appeared so committed to the Isak deal, the player so exiled at Newcastle after his one-man strike to get a move, that it felt like they could not turn away, even after signing Ekitike.

Did they really need Isak? The more you watched Liverpool before he broke a leg while scoring a goal in a victory at Tottenham Hotspur in December, the more he resembled the most expensive vanity purchase in Liverpool history.

Isak arrived unfit then got a groin injury. When he did play, at the expense of the one signing who was playing well at that point, Ekitike, he looked listless and off the pace, poor value for money at such an exorbitant fee.

The broken leg was another serious disruption for a player meant to provide Liverpool with a lethal spearhead. Even his return was interrupted by “minor” fitness issues.

Wirtz, whose deployment behind the strikers disrupted Liverpool’s midfield bedrock to leave them horribly vulnerable all season, has been shifted around from his central role to the flanks as Slot has sought answers. He has shown glimpses of real class but, like Liverpool, nowhere near enough.

And having collected new signings at such a rate, did it mean Slot and Liverpool pushed a key capture down their list of priorities then failed to get it done?

Crystal Palace captain and England defender Guehi was a top target, not merely as partner to Virgil van Dijk but as cover to Ibrahima Konate, whose contract is coming to an end.

Cue the perfect storm.

Palace refused to sell. Konate’s form went into sharp decline. Van Dijk suddenly looked fallible. A solution was lost as Quansah had been sold.

When January came, Manchester City needed defensive reinforcements and paid a bargain £20m for Guehi, £15m less than Liverpool belatedly agreed.

It was intriguing to hear Slot describe Guehi as a “great signing” after he was outstanding in Manchester City’s win at Anfield.

And through it all, Slot lost the golden touch that was so assured in his first season.

He changed formations and personnel without success. The substitutions that worked so well last season now whiffed off desperation – such as defender Konate for striker Ekitike after 55 minutes of the 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest – accompanied by some questionable post-match verdicts and talk of “positives” when there were none.

The season started with Liverpool looking gung-ho and wide open. Wins were secured through the high-wire act of last-gasp winners, but once Crystal Palace turned the tables with an injury time goal at Selhurst Park in September to inflict their first defeat, it all fell apart.

The precious gift of “20/20” hindsight is a wonderful thing.

It is easy to say now that Liverpool bowed to sentimentality by giving lucrative new two-year deals to captain Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, when to not do so at the time would have sparked fury among supporters.

Van Dijk had captained Liverpool to the title in imperious fashion, cementing his status among the Premier League’s finest defenders.

Salah, meanwhile, looked on a personal mission to return the title to Anfield, which he duly did, scoring 34 goals in 50 starts in all competitions.

The news of the deals, after much speculation, was greeted rapturously by Liverpool’s fans. The sight of Salah - “The Egyptian King” - marking the new deal by being photographed sitting on a throne at Anfield should have been an iconic image.

This season 34-year-old Van Dijk’s game has become error-strewn, the air of invincibility he carried gone as he has been regularly exposed, as proved by moments of panic-stricken defending previously out of character. He has started to look his age.

Salah, 33, lacked the pace and spark of previous years – although he will always have legendary status as a Liverpool great having scored 257 goals in 441 games since arriving from AS Roma in summer 2017.

He did, however, temporarily tarnish his standing with his infamous “thrown under the bus” outburst at Elland Road after he was left on the bench at Leeds United in December.

And Salah’s outpouring of angst after a 4-2 loss at Aston Villa did Slot no favours at all. It increased the noise around the Dutchman at a time when he needed it least.

It also carried all the hallmarks of a fading superstar shaking his fist at the skies after such a poor season for Liverpool and, we must not forget, Salah.

The new contracts for two ageing stars suddenly look very dubious – but this is easy to say now. Very little criticism came Slot or Liverpool’s way when they were paraded as a coup in the summer.

All this combined to produce a desperate situation Slot could not control as the damaging defeats piled up, leading to an inevitable conclusion.

Now, a year after being hailed a hero, Arne Slot is out of Anfield.

Konate set to leave Liverpool on a free transfer

Konate has won a Premier League, an FA Cup, and two League Cups during his time at Anfield

Ibrahima Konate is set to leave Liverpool for free when his current contract expires in June.

The French defender and Liverpool are likely to part ways due to a gap between Liverpool and Konate’s position, in terms of value and wages.

Konate, 27, signed for Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £35m on a five-year deal.

Both parties were initially keen to agree a contract renewal, with Konate telling reporters in April after the Merseyside derby that he was “close to an agreement” and there was a “big chance” that he would remain at Anfield next season. Negotiations began in November 2023, though an agreement has proved elusive.

BBC Sport understands that negotiations have stopped and Konate will become the latest player to leave the club on a free this summer after Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah.

Last year, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid a month before his contract expired after the Spanish club paid a fee to release him early to play in the Club World Cup.

Captain Virgil van Dijk’s current deal expires next summer, while the club failed to sign Marc Guehi on deadline day last September, with the England player joining Manchester City in January.

Liverpool are confident they have sufficient depth at centre-half after recruiting Giovanni Leoni last summer and the arrival of £60m Jeremy Jacquet, 20, this summer.

But it does leave Van Dijk, 34, as their only experienced central defender.

Frenchman Jacquet, who turns 21 in July, played 21 games for Rennes last season but missed the last four months with a shoulder injury.

Leoni, 19, was ruled out for a year after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in September, a month after joining the Reds from Parma for a fee of £26m plus add-ons.

The belief within Liverpool is that other areas - like replacing Mohamed Salah and filling the gap after Hugo Ekitike’s injury - are priorities, rather than agreeing to an expensive renewal for Konate.

Covid era gave Arteta space to revive Arsenal, says Kroenke

Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke says behind-closed-doors football during the Covid-19 pandemic allowed manager Mikel Arteta “space” to help revive the “sleeping giant”.

The Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) group took full control of Arsenal in 2018 but it has not always been easy, with fan protests at how the club was being run taking place during their tenure.

The Kroenkes hired Arteta in 2019, giving the former Arsenal player his first senior managerial role after a period of uncertainty at the club.

It took time for that vision to take hold with two eighth-placed finishes, despite a 2020 FA Cup win, leading to some questioning whether Arteta was the right man for the job.

But now the Spaniard has transformed the club after six-and-a-half years in charge and has led the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Giving a manager their first senior job in football is always a risk, but Kroenke says Arteta’s character made it clear that he was the right candidate to succeed Unai Emery in December 2019.

“Anybody that gets a chance to be around Mikel, you can buy into what he’s selling pretty easily,” Kroenke said.

“So I don’t want to give myself or my father [Stan Kroenke, founder and chairman of KSE and co-chair of Arsenal] any credit. I think Mikel and his staff and our players are the ones that earned those rights to have the patience in those moments by the amount of work and energy they were putting in behind the scenes.”

Arteta won the 2020 FA Cup but finished eighth in a league affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant games were played behind closed doors.

“I don’t know if I would ever acknowledge it, or Mikel or anybody - there was something about Mikel having a little bit of what I would say ‘space’ during Covid when there weren’t fans around,” Kroenke said.

“There were some growing pains that went on during matches, different moments, and obviously we won the FA Cup, but to not have that extra pressure of fans being on top of you at different points in time when we were going through different growth phases was probably something I don’t think any of us would acknowledge in the moment. But, looking back I think we can say ‘maybe that was a little bit of a benefit’.”

It has not always been an easy transition for the Kroenkes, who took full ownership of the club in 2018 after being shareholders since 2007. There was a “We Care, Do You?” movement from supporters who called into question the owners’ commitment to the club.

“There was a lot of heavy lifting going on behind the scenes at the club at that point in time,” Kroenke said. “We went through a big transition from Arsene [Wenger], obviously a legendary person and manager. Transitioning to a new era after 22 years was going to be difficult.”

“One: it was taking the club private that summer. Two: You had a legendary manager moving along, us trying to reinvent ourselves. Third: An underestimated thing for me on the back end was [chief executive] Ivan Gazidis’ departure. For a club of our stature, change is going to be healthy but that was way too much change in way too short of a period of time.”

In the early period of running the club, Arsenal found themselves - in Kroenke’s own words - “straddling strategies” as they chased Champions League qualification and trophies.

Kroenke flew to Baku and saw Arsenal lose 4-0 to Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League final which was the moment when he says he and his father had to “accept” where the club was after watching the “worst 45 minutes of the season”.

“Seeing that happen was the first time where I came back from that trip and I told my dad that I think we need to really embrace where we are,” Kroenke said. “Now that we have 100% of the club, we might need to take a step back to go forward at some point.”

But, in that low moment, one of the bright lights of Arsenal’s next generation emerged in a conversation with soon to be departing academy manager, and former player, Per Mertesacker.

“After the final in Baku, I made a comment about Virgil van Dijk, who had arrived at Liverpool a year or two before,” Kroenke said. “I said ‘how do we get one of these guys into our system’. [Mertesacker replied] ‘Well unless you’ve got 100 million quid, you better not be thinking about him’. I said ‘who’s the best young defender in Europe?’. He turned without hesitation and said ‘William Saliba’.”

Saliba joined Arsenal aged 18 in July 2019 for £27m from Saint-Etienne, going on to become a key member of their title-winning side.

Kroenke spends a lot of time flying to and from the United States, which can mean some early rises to watch the Gunners play. “If there’s any way they could do away with the 12.30, 12.45 kick-off… the 4am wake-up is not fun in the United States,” Kroenke joked.

Another big moment Kroenke experienced in the US was the season-defining video assistant referee (VAR) decision that saw West Ham’s late goal ruled out, three games from the end of the season, as Arsenal moved closer to the title.

“I was on my hands and knees in my living room. It was a moment where I think every Arsenal supporter worldwide held their breath,” said Kroenke.

After Arsenal’s first league title for more than two decades was confirmed, tens of thousands of supporters rushed to Emirates Stadium to celebrate.

“I knew we were a sleeping giant that we needed to awaken in some way,” Kroenke said. “We haven’t had a team, a squad like this in the social media age. Social media evolved and the Twittersphere and everything else around it. The instantaneous information, the ‘Banter Era’ - I’m aware of all this. I turned 46 last week. I’ve grown up around this and I’ve seen it all from my own perspective. I think that’s what I’m so proud to see. There was almost a time when you were a closeted Arsenal fan.”

But this success does not mean the end of the journey for Kroenke and his vision for the club, with the Gunners playing Paris-St Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday.

“I think I can think back and say that our stated goal was winning the Premier League, because if you can put yourself in contention for the Premier League, you’re in contention for everything else,” Kroenke said.

“Should we get a great result on Saturday, it’s not going to change or affect who we are. When you win something, the sun’s still going to come up the next day. You’ve got to get back to work and there are many teams trying to gain on you, including some historically great ones around the Premier League. So, we’re going to look to strengthen because we know that teams around us are going to get better. If you’re not trying to continually evolve and improve, you’re standing still.”

Palace wait on Iraola with Lampard among plan Bs

For Crystal Palace, all eyes are now on Andoni Iraola. Will he, or won’t he?

The glory of Wednesday night’s euphoric Conference League win in Leipzig won’t fade for some time for supporters.

But for those at the heart of the club, the planning for next season will accelerate with almost immediate effect.

The first task at hand is to appoint a new head coach.

As BBC Sport revealed earlier this month, Iraola is the man Palace want to replace the outgoing Oliver Glasner, who insisted after the triumph in Germany he has no plans to reverse his decision.

They have made the Spaniard a proposal and are awaiting his answer, within that are assurances he will be permitted significant influence over the recruitment operation.

It is understood Palace want an answer by the end of the weekend.

The move is ambitious. Iraola has emerged as one of the brightest managers in European football - Bournemouth’s qualification for next season’s Europa League illustrative of his impressive body of work.

“We have got a taste for it now, we want to keep it going,” said owner Steve Parish following the win over Rayo Vallecano.

“We have gone up a level and we have got to try and stay there. We will have a week to celebrate and then work hard in the summer.”

Palace believe they have done all they can to convince Iraola they can provide the platform for him to continue building his reputation.

All that is left is Iraola’s approval.

If the 43-year-old declines then Palace will move on to plan B.

Among the alternatives is understood to be Frank Lampard, who has key admirers in the Palace boardroom.

Releasing Lampard from his contract with Coventry provides an obvious stumbling block should Palace pivot to the former Chelsea midfielder.

But there is some optimism at Palace that Lampard, who is aware of the Eagles’ interest in him, would be open to joining before next season.

Kieran McKenna, Pierre Sage, Sean Dyche and Thomas Frank have also been discussed as options.

Luring Iraola to Selhurst Park would represent a coup, but the fact he has taken so long to decide has led to a degree of scepticism inside Palace over whether the now-departed Bournemouth head coach is prepared to accept.

Much will become clearer in the coming days.

As ever, player retention will emerge as a key narrative in Palace’s summer.

Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi have all left the club in the past two years, but Palace are determined to avoid any further significant exits.

That will be easier said than done.

While Wednesday night’s victory over Rayo may help keep players satisfied with Europa League football now secured for next season, their triumph will inevitably attract more admiring glances at their players.

Adam Wharton’s man-of-the-match performance in the final will only serve to heighten the feeling the midfielder is destined to join an elite club.

Liverpool and Manchester United are known to be among his admirers. But Palace are in a strong position to keep the wolves from their door for at least one more season given Wharton’s contract still has three years left to run.

Palace are open to offering Wharton an improved deal, though it is unclear whether the midfielder is keen to engage given the interest from elsewhere.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who has two years on his current contract, is attracting interest from several Premier League sides and can expect an approach over a potential new deal in the coming weeks.

Central defender Jaydee Canvot, who has impressed since Marc Guehi’s exit in January, is understood to be on Paris St-Germain’s radar.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future will also need resolving after his protracted move to AC Milan in January broke down because of a failed medical.

Mateta made clear at the time that he saw his long-term future away from Selhurst Park and the club signed Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves in a deal worth £48m to countenance his anticipated exit.

There have been reports that Maxence Lacroix is stalling on a new contract, though it is understood Ismaila Sarr is keen to discuss a possible renewal.

There’s plenty to unpack at Selhurst Park this summer.

Spurs closing in on Bournemouth's Senesi

Marcos Senesi got five assists in 37 league appearances for Bournemouth this season

Tottenham are close to signing Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi on a free transfer.

Personal terms are yet to be finalised but the deal for the 29-year-old is advancing towards completion, as is Spurs’ move for Scotland full-back Andy Robertson, who is out of contract after leaving Liverpool.

Bournemouth abandoned efforts to retain Senesi after he turned down a third new contract offer in December and began talks with major overseas clubs.

However, the three-cap Argentina international now looks set to remain in the Premier League, barring any last-minute change of heart.

Senesi played all but one of Bournemouth’s league games this season as they finished sixth and qualified for Europe for the first time in their history.

In four years on the south coast, Senesi made 128 appearances for Bournemouth having joined from Dutch side Feyenoord in 2022.

Spurs, meanwhile, finished 17th in the Premier League and improved after appointing Roberto de Zerbi as head coach in March, narrowly avoiding relegation to the Championship.

Speaking to BBC Sport this week, Spurs chief executive Vinai Venkatesham said: “The squad needs work and the squad hasn’t got the right balance.

“We need experience and leadership and also that kind of physical robustness to play in the most demanding league that exists.

“We need to strengthen the club over multiple transfer windows but this transfer window, in particular, is going to be critical.”

Nuno to stay as West Ham boss after relegation

Nuno Espirito Santo’s previous experience of the Championship saw him lead Wolves to the title

Nuno Espirito Santo will stay on as West Ham manager to lead their fight to get back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

The Portuguese met with the club’s senior management on Monday in the wake of their relegation from the top flight.

Although both parties could have severed ties without compensation, they decided to stick together in the hope Nuno will repeat his promotion campaign with Wolves in 2018.

“We are pleased to confirm he has expressed his continued commitment to the club – as we have to him,” wrote the club in an open letter to supporters.

“Nuno made it very clear that he is highly motivated for the challenge of guiding West Ham United back to the top flight at the first time of asking. That must be the unquestionable goal for next season.

“Nuno has spent one previous year in the Championship and it was an outstanding success as he secured 99 points to win the title with Wolverhampton Wanderers.”

West Ham’s statement accepts the club “cannot shy away from the fact our season has not been good enough”.

The Hammers have been relegated to the Championship for the first time since 2012.

Club sources estimate it will cost them £200m in lost revenue, which means, after a hefty loss of more than £100m in their latest accounts and more losses expected this season, player sales from a squad including much coveted stars like skipper Jarrod Bowen and Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes are inevitable.

Nuno’s promotion drive at Wolves was led by Ruben Neves and loan signings including Diogo Jota. It remains to be seen whether he will have the same calibre of players this time around.

However, after a slow start following Graham Potter’s dismissal in September, West Ham feel they have seen enough in Nuno to believe he can repeat his promotion feat.

“While the ultimate outcome on Sunday was a painful one, the board of directors believe that there have been broader signs of improvement and progress in recent months, and we want Nuno to continue developing that progress,” the club said.

“A total of 25 points taken from our final 17 Premier League matches equated to 1.47 points per game – a ratio that would have resulted in a 7th place finish across the total season. Furthermore, we feel the clear improvement in squad mentality and togetherness since January, leading to that upturn in performances and results, makes him the right man to lead us forward.”

In addition to getting straight back out of the Championship, the club have resolved to repair the fractured relationship with their fans.

Many supporters have never forgiven the club for its decision to move out of Upton Park and into the London Stadium in 2016.

Although it was the second biggest stadium in the Premier League and its 62,500 capacity is almost double the next largest grounds in the Championship, many feel it is soulless.

More importantly, they also feel promises made around the move about West Ham’s ability to compete at the top end of the Premier League and consistently in Europe have not been met.

Of the architects of the relocation, only chairman David Sullivan remains. His business partner David Gold died in January 2023, while vice-chair Karren Brady quit the club last month with continued supporter abuse cited as one of the reasons.

“For every single person who is passionate about the club, it (relegation) hurts deeply and that feeling will sustain for some time,” said West Ham.

“The board must now review every aspect of the club’s operation to ensure that when we return to the Premier League – hopefully in August 2027 - we are a better West Ham United in every way, on and off the pitch.

“We know we must also take steps to repair the club’s relationship with its fanbase. We want West Ham United to be a club that listens to all of our supporters and communicates with them in a clear and transparent way.

“We are committed to taking supporter feedback on board, and backing that up with real, significant actions - starting with reductions of up to 30% across all season ticket prices for next season.”

Schmeichel retires because of serious shoulder injury

Schmeichel won the Scottish Premiership with Celtic in each of his two seasons at the club

Kasper Schmeichel has retired at the age of 39, with the Celtic and Denmark goalkeeper unable to recover sufficiently from a serious shoulder injury.

Schmeichel, who was soon out of contract at Celtic, had been out of action since February and after consulting with surgeons has decided to end his playing career.

“I believe that now is the right time,” the son of Manchester United great Peter told TV2 in his homeland.

He suffered the injury during a Nations League quarter-final defeat to Portugal in March 2025 but played on with Denmark having used all of their substitutes.

Schmeichel then aggravated the issue in Celtic’s Europa League defeat against Stuttgart 11 months later.

He had vowed to do everything to prolong his career, including facing the prospect of up to a year of rehabilitation, but said “this is a decision that has been made for me”.

“I didn’t realise how bad it was in March. It’s been a long process. When I landed on it in February, I could tell straight away that something was seriously wrong.

“I have consulted with various surgeons and experts regarding my shoulder, and they have told me that I should not expect to return to playing top-flight football.”

Schmeichel, who began his career at Manchester City, bows out with 120 caps for Denmark, including playing at the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 and reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2020.

He featured 39 times for Celtic this season, picking up a second Premiership winners’ medal from his two years in Glasgow.

After 10 seasons at Leicester City, winning the Premier League in 2015-16 and FA Cup in 2021, Schmeichel had spells with Nice and Anderlecht before moving to Scotland.

“I think everyone dreams of saying goodbye on the field, but you don’t always get what you want,” added Schmeichel.

“I’ve had so much else along the way, so football doesn’t owe me anything. I’ve had so many opportunities, so many experiences.

“What stands out most are the friendships and connections I’ve made. The moments I’ve shared with them - for better or worse.”

Spurs needed 'complete reset', says under fire CEO

Vinai Venkatesham was upbeat when he began his new job as Tottenham Hotspur chief executive last summer.

His outlook quickly changed. To say his first season in charge did not go to plan would be an understatement.

And in a wide-ranging exclusive 50-minute interview with BBC Sport, Venkatesham has spoken about: Why the club needed a “reset”; Why they kept Thomas Frank for as long as they did; The wrong call in appointing Igor Tudor; The personal abuse he has faced from supporters; Roberto de Zerbi’s “extraordinary” impact; The club’s recruitment plans.

Speaking after a final-day victory over Everton clinched Tottenham’s Premier League survival, Venkatesham discussed the emotional strains of a relegation battle that went to the season’s closing minutes.

“I think it was just a huge outpouring of relief,” said Venkatesham, who said that the club would not have made anyone redundant in the event of relegation.

“But obviously feeling relief at the end of the season is nowhere near the standard of the football club.”

Venkatesham’s first words were praise for the supporters who he says got the team “over the line” in their relegation battle.

But he knows he will need more than words to appease supporters who have turned on him this season.

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s owners the Lewis family published a statement on Wednesday in which they promised to “rebuild” and “recapture the spirit” of the club, while acknowledging that a repeat of this season “must never happen again”.

“This will require investment - in our teams, the academy, our backroom functions and more - and we are fully committed to this,” the statement read.

“We are not selling the club. We are all in. We are investing in it. You will see more of this in the coming months.”

“We care deeply about Spurs. The rebuild the club needs, and you deserve, has begun. The change required is deep. It will take time and commitment, but change is happening.”

When Venkatesham started work on 1 June last year, he had high hopes.

“On my very first day, what I thought would be a realistic target for the men’s first team would be competing for European places,” he said.

Even though Tottenham had just finished 17th under Ange Postecoglou, they had won the Europa League, their first trophy since 2008, while the squad was packed with seasoned internationals.

But reality quickly struck.

“If you’d have asked me a few months after I joined, when I was no longer an outsider, I would have told you the club was in a significantly worse state in some places than I thought,” said Venkatesham.

“That is absolutely not meant to be a criticism of anyone or anything. It was just what I found. It was very clear that this wasn’t some form of turnaround that was required of the club in quite a few areas. It was really a complete reset.”

Asked to expand on that, Venkatesham said: “If I had to generalise, I would say on the non-football side of the club, in particular around stadium operations and commercial, that the club was and is really strong.”

“I think if you look at the football side of the club, over a timeframe of five years or so, there has just been an explosion in progress across the Premier League.”

“I’m not saying that Tottenham didn’t improve in that period. But what I can tell you is that when you look at where Tottenham were in many of those areas, compared to where I believe other Premier League clubs are, there was a significant gap. In some areas really quite worryingly so.”

“I don’t think that there was what I would call a relentless obsession with football success.”

“Our training centre is amazing, one of the best, if not the best in the world. But when you look around, it looks more like a five-star hotel than it does a performance environment. That will change over the summer.”

“I think there are many areas where the club hasn’t got the right level of expertise.”

It means nothing now, but Frank’s ill-fated reign started quite well following his appointment last June. Tottenham lost just one of their opening 10 matches of the season in all competitions.

But when Tottenham finally sacked Frank in February, the only surprise was that it didn’t happen sooner.

Indeed, Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange faced heavy criticism from fans for prolonging Frank’s tenure for as long as they did.

“There’s been plenty of coverage that the club was passive during this period. And that’s absolutely not true,” insisted Venkatesham.

In weighing up Frank’s future, Venkatesham says the club considered results, the probability of the Dane turning their failing season around, concerns changing managers may create in the January transfer window, the fixture calendar and concerns over entering the interim head coach market.

Venkatesham confirmed to BBC Sport that Tottenham tried to entice De Zerbi, who was leaving Marseille, to become the club’s full-time head coach after Frank was dismissed.

The Italian, however, was originally unwilling to take the job mid-season, which led Spurs towards making the left-field appointment of Tudor – who left Spurs by mutual consent after just seven games.

“Obviously, we were very disappointed when it became clear that we wouldn’t be appointing Roberto on a permanent basis [in February],” said Venkatesham.

“We were then, in the interim market, which is generally not the broadest. There were a number of reasons why Igor was selected: he had managed in very high-profile and high-pressure environments - we didn’t want somebody that was going to wilt under that pressure.”

“He has a history of making an immediate impact. He has managed in big clubs. He has quite a different personality to Thomas and we felt like something different was needed.”

“But of course we were really aware he had no Premier League experience. Was it a risk in appointing him? Absolutely.”

Asked if he would accept the Tudor appointment was a mistake, Venkatesham responded: “It didn’t work out. I think it’s very clear it didn’t work out. And I don’t think that is in question. I don’t think anybody would argue anything else.”

Former executive chairman Daniel Levy, who left Tottenham in September after 25 years, was generally the target of supporters ire during his long reign.

But since Levy’s exit, Venkatesham has attracted increasing anger from irate sections of the fanbase.

Asked if the abuse from supporters has forced him to consider his own role at the club, Venkatesham said: “I understand the frustration around supporters. I think Tottenham supporters have been frustrated for some time. This is two 17th-place finishes in a row.”

“It’s clearly not good enough. I think that is rational, normal, sensible, and, is what we would expect from supporters.”

“The club had some serious challenges that it needs to address on the football side. We know what those are. We are addressing them. We are fixing them. Those challenges have not disappeared overnight.”

“They built up over many years. I wish I could wave my magic wand and fix them overnight, but that is not possible. It takes some time to fix those issues.”

“So I have complete confidence in what we’re doing, how we’re doing it. But supporters are rightly impatient. So I have to weather that storm.”

On dealing with intense criticism from fans, Venkatesham - who previously worked for Arsenal - added: “It’s not easy. You have to develop a thick skin.”

“I’m helped by the fact that I’ve been in football for a while, for the last 15 years, so it’s not new to me.”

“It’s a game of opinions, and I have absolutely no problem with being criticised. I’ve got no problem what anyone in the game being criticised, it’s just part of the job.”

“The challenge in football is that that criticism frequently goes way past the line for players, referees, executives.”

Speak to those behind the scenes at Tottenham, they will tell you that De Zerbi’s impact has been profound.

Not only in picking up 11 points from seven games to preserve the club’s top-flight status, but his growing influence is instilling belief in the squad.

“I think he has made an extraordinary impact so far,” Venkatesham said.

“We have to recognize that it’s early days, and we also need to recognize that he’s come into a very specific situation.”

“It is hard to underestimate the scale of the challenge he walked into. And it’s hard to describe what a significant impact he has had in the dressing room with all the players.”

“I think he’s an excellent coach, and we think that he plays the style of football that our supporters and the broader football public want to see.”

De Zerbi is expected to have full involvement in the club’s recruitment this summer.

Tottenham have held talks with Borussia Dortmund’s departed sporting director Sebastian Kehl, while Venkatesham confirmed the club have raised their wage ceiling in the hope of attracting top-quality players.

“The squad needs work and the squad hasn’t got the right balance,” he said.

“We need experience and leadership and also that kind of physical robustness to play in the most demanding league that exists.”

“We need to strengthen the club over multiple transfer windows but this transfer window, in particular, is going to be critical.”

The footballer setting record straight after 46 years

Warning: This article contains details of racially offensive language and behaviour

“I waited 46 years to break my silence, because I didn’t think anyone would listen. I thought I’d take these stories to my maker.”

Rumour had it Roly Gregoire had become a bus driver, a milkman or even a DJ. But what really happened to Sunderland’s first black player was too painful for him to talk about until now.

His first-team debut for the club on 2 January 1978 should have been the proudest day of his life, but hours after the 19-year-old’s assist in a 2-0 win over Hull City, the racist abuse started.

By the time injury cut short his career two years later, he had faced so much racism that he could not bear to watch football for many years. He moved away, changed his name and until now has not felt able to share his story.

“Sometimes I wish I’d never played football, to tell you the truth, because some of the pain, I can still feel it,” Gregoire, now 67, tells BBC Look North in an emotional interview.

“Talking to you, I can feel myself welling up at times but I’m trying to contain myself because I want to get this across so the supporters can understand where I’m coming from.”

Signed from Fourth Division Halifax Town on Bonfire Night 1977, for a fee of £5,000, Roland Gregoire – a quick, direct and confident striker known to everyone as Roly - had caught the eye with a hat-trick against the Wearsiders’ reserves, earlier that season.

Gregoire settled into digs on the sea front in Seaburn, delighted and surprised that it was the very Sunderland suburb much loved by him and his family because of their annual Sunday School outings there from Bradford.

Sunderland manager Jimmy Adamson opened the new year by handing him the number seven shirt for the Second Division game against Hull City at Roker Park, and the teenager responded by setting up a goal for club legend Gary Rowell in a 2-0 win.

It was a landmark moment for Gregoire which was ruined, forever, by what happened next.

He remembers: “After the game I was having a drink with some supporters, and one of them asked: ‘Were your brothers at the game today?’ I said: ‘Yes, five of them.’ And he said: ‘They’re fast!’ But someone interrupted, and I didn’t get the chance to ask what he meant.

“Later, I rang one of my brothers to make sure they’d got home OK. He said they’d been coming to find me at the club hostel where I was staying, but on the way someone threw half a brick at them and shouted … they used the N-word, I’ll put it like that.

“It was a group of men - a lynch mob - who chased them through the park near the ground.

“They were just teenagers. They were so scared – but somehow they managed to escape. It was despicable. Seaburn had meant so much to us, but from that day on my mother, ‘til the day she died, never, ever spoke of Sunderland again.”

For Gregoire, this was just the start.

Still a town at the time - it wasn’t granted city status until 1992 - Sunderland was a different world to the one in which Gregoire had grown up. Born in 1958 in the Toxteth area of Liverpool to Windrush Generation parents from the Caribbean island of Dominica, he was raised in Bradford, another multi-cultural city.

By contrast, according to the Census figures, barely 1% of a Sunderland population approaching 300,000 in 1981 was of African-Caribbean origin.

A fifth of the League’s 92 clubs had yet to sign a black player by 1978, the year Nottingham Forest’s Viv Anderson became the first to claim a senior England cap.

“I knew only one other black fellow in Sunderland, he was at the polytechnic,” remembers Gregoire. “Wayne Entwistle [a white striker, who signed the same day in a £30,000 deal from Bury] shared digs with me for a while and was a good guy, but it was quite a lonely time.”

Gregoire cites the club’s 1973 FA Cup-winning captain Bobby Kerr and experienced midfielder Mick Docherty as two colleagues who made him feel welcome, in a debut season where he made eight first-team appearances.

But he felt the dressing room attitude towards him change in the summer of 1978, with a couple of notable incidents on a pre-season tour of Kenya.

“After one game, all these children ran on to the pitch and went up to one of our players and gathered round him,” he says. “But when they’d gone he came to me and wiped his hands on my shirt. I thought that was disgusting.

“It was like he thought those children had disease, and wanted to wipe it on me! Why me? Because I’m black, is that why?”

Later, at a post-match reception at the home of a wealthy local white family, the team lined up to meet the hostess.

“She shook the hand of the players on my right, bypassed me, then shook the hand of everyone else,” he says.

“I didn’t waste a second. I just calmly and coolly walked out of the house and on to the team bus. I would rather be out there, with lions and hyenas, than be inside, being insulted like that.

“Not one person came to see how I was, or to offer some comfort. It was only when they’d finished eating and drinking, laughing and joking, that they came filing back on to the coach.

“I thought that was a disgrace. That woman insulted me, and by insulting me she insulted the club. There was no loyalty, no integrity – I felt abandoned.”

The fact Gregoire did not feature in Sunderland’s first-team photo for the 1978-79 season hinted at the problems to come, and one post-match visit to the Roker Park dressing room during that campaign sticks vividly in his mind.

He explains that he was going round the changing room shaking everyone’s hands – as was the tradition for anyone who hadn’t played to do – when he came to one player who addressed him with a racial slur.

“I just held him by his throat, up against the locker, then put him down and walked out,” he says.

“The changing room was packed, but no-one came to ask: ‘Roly, what happened there?’

“I started to feel it more and more, as each incident happened, with people putting me down all the time. It was as if nobody at Sunderland cared for me.”

In an injury-hit second season, Roly made just one substitute appearance for the senior side before a shock call-up for his only start of the campaign on Easter Monday 1979 when Sunderland, joint leaders of the Second Division, hosted bottom-of-the-table Blackburn Rovers.

It was a match which has come to define his time at the club.

A crowd of more than 35,000 turned up, expecting a comfortable home win. Instead, a first-half penalty from Derek Fazackerley – Rovers’ only shot on target – sent the Black Cats to a 1-0 defeat. They were to miss promotion to Division One (now the Premier League) by a single point.

Surprisingly asked by caretaker manager Billy Elliott to lead the attack that day, Gregoire had missed an early chance and endured a traumatic 90 minutes, not helped by a section of his own fans turning on him.

In his match report for the Sunderland Echo, veteran reporter Billy Butterfield, writing under the pen name of Argus, called it “a nightmare experience” for Gregoire, adding: “He must have been absolutely shattered by the abuse and ridicule showered upon him by the crowd.”

Gregoire was never given a chance to win over his critics. Early the following season he suffered a serious knee injury in a reserve game at Murton CW.

He never kicked a ball again. He was 20.

“I spent my 21st birthday in hospital, and I knew it was over,” he says.

His football might have been over but the fallout was not.

Gregoire says he was given assurances the club would “look after him” if he agreed to the cancellation of the final 12 months of his £6,000-a-year contract. He received an insurance payout of only £1,500.

Desperate for work he moved to London, but aggravated his knee injury lifting mail bags.

For the best part of 40 years, he has lived on disability and industrial injury benefits.

“I challenged the club over my compensation in 1986, but they said they’d paid what they had to,” he says. “I was conned. I was duped. I felt like my head was going to explode.”

The BBC approached Sunderland about Gregoire’s experiences and his claim for compensation and the club responded in a statement that they were “unable to comment on historical matters relating to this period” but that “Sunderland AFC stands firmly against racism and discrimination in all forms and remains committed to equality, inclusion and respect throughout the Club and wider community”.

After his unsuccessful challenge regarding his compensation, Gregoire said he went to Dominica to live with his grandfather in his wooden house for six months.

“It was also where I became a Rastafarian, which has given me some measure of peace,” he adds.

Taking the Rasta name Jabari Muata Ta Seti, he returned to Bradford and worked as a voluntary counsellor, also setting up the anti-drugs charity Black Against Crack in the city in the mid-1990s.

And he fell out of love with football for a long time.

“For about 10 years I couldn’t even watch Match of the Day because it brought back too many bad memories”, he says.

Over the years, the name Roly Gregoire has regularly featured in supporters’ polls naming the worst Sunderland team of all-time.

Despite the fact he scored two reserve team hat-tricks in his short time at Sunderland, and that a return of six wins and one goal from his 10 first team league and Cup outings is more than acceptable, many fans only remember that last, disastrous game against Blackburn.

After nearly half a century, he just wants to set the record straight.

“I don’t hate Sunderland, but I hate what they did to me and I hate the fact my legacy is mud,” he says.

“I’m a joke. I’m a laughing stock. What terrible thing did I do? I was just a young man. It’s easy, because I’m the black fellow, you see.”

Sunderland fan Bill Hern, co-author of Football’s Black Pioneers, which chronicles the first black player at each of the 92 League clubs, is hoping Gregoire’s reputation can be restored.

“I remember seeing him play, and he had great potential. You can only imagine how isolated he must have been in Sunderland at that time,” says Hern.

“He went through so much, but he paved the way for the likes of Gary Bennett, Darren Bent, Jermain Defoe and many others. For that reason his name will be forever cemented into the history of Sunderland AFC.”

Bennett, a former club captain who was made an MBE for his anti-racism work, acknowledges the debt he owes Gregoire.

“He was a trailblazer,” says the man who became the club’s second black player, signing from Cardiff City in 1984.

“Roly went through so much, and didn’t have the organisations we have now like Show Racism the Red Card or Kick It Out, which can help.”

Despite the Premier League recently updating its No Room for Racism action plan, Sunderland players Romaine Mundle and Habib Diarra have been among those subjected to hateful online attacks this season, while team-mate Lutsharel Geertruida alleged he was racially abused by a Newcastle fan during the Tyne-Wear derby in March.

All three received instant support and guidance from the club.

A few weeks ago, Gregoire was invited back to Wearside with some of his family to meet the current squad. He chatted to players in the gym and admired the “beautiful” facilities, while also sharing memories of his time, including how windy it always was and the £1-a-minute fines for being late to training.

He made an emotional return to Seaburn to show his daughter and grandson where he had lived, looking out to sea with tears in his eyes and a “thank you, God” before adding: “Mum, dad, look where I am after all these years.”

Gregoire was also a guest of Sunderland at their home game with Manchester United earlier this month, where he posed for photos with fans and signed autographs, later joking to his daughter that they had been “treated like celebrities”.

“I’m so happy to be back,” he told his former captain Kerr, whom he met at the Fans’ Museum, where photos of Gregoire hang on the wall.

Gregoire, who says he still follows Sunderland’s results and now “doesn’t miss” an episode of Match of the Day, said that even though he had shed a lot of “eye water” remembering his experiences, he was glad to have now spoken publicly about what happened.

“We recognise the important role that Roly Gregoire played in Sunderland AFC’s history as the Club’s first Black player, and we look forward to continuing to work with him during the 2026-27 season to appropriately acknowledge and celebrate his contribution as part of the club’s history,” Sunderland said in its statement.

Does Gregoire think times have changed for black players?

“The problems they face are much the same,” he says. “People maybe don’t chant the racist things they used to, but instead they write it online. At least now black players have a voice and can make themselves heard.

“Going back to Sunderland after all this time was a wonderful experience. I feel purged… I feel purged. I’m happy.”

U-turns, tension and trophies - inside 12 glorious months of Glasner

When Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish first met Oliver Glasner in late 2023, he had no idea it would be a meeting that would change the course of the club’s history.

It was then sporting director, Dougie Freedman, who had set up the get-together in south London. Freedman had tracked Glasner’s career trajectory in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt and was impressed with what he saw.

Roy Hodgson was in charge at Selhurst Park at the time but there was pressure on the club to make a change. Parish would have usually preferred to appoint a manager with some Premier League history, but there was something about Glasner that impressed the businessman.

By the time Hodgson departed the following February, the wheels were already in motion towards the Austrian’s appointment.

Wind forward two and a half years, and Glasner has just led Crystal Palace to Conference League glory with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.

It will be his final game in charge - but it comes at the end of a scarcely-believable 12-month period of unprecedented success.

“He has got to be one of the best managers Crystal Palace have ever had,” said Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.

“He has made a massive difference for how the club looks at competitions. We are not just looking to stay in the Premier League and be in Europe, we are looking to win and be as high as possible.”

So how did Glasner lead Palace - without a major trophy in their history at the start of last season - to the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League all within the space of 375 unforgettable days?

Palace had barely stopped celebrating beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley when they were hit with a devastating sucker-punch.

It was early July and south London was eagerly anticipating the prospect of Selhurst Park hosting Europa League football for the first time.

But after Uefa deemed Palace to have breached its multi-club ownership rules - with American businessman John Textor holding stakes in both the Eagles and French side Lyon, who had also qualified for the Europa League - Glasner’s team were demoted to the Conference League.

The shock verdict threatened to suck the life out of Palace’s success before the new season had even began, with Parish describing it as “probably one of the greatest injustices that has ever happened in European football” before an ultimately unsuccessful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

After a 120-year wait for a first major trophy, however, it was going to take more than that to dampen Palace’s spirits.

The Eagles showed no signs of feeling sorry for themselves when starting the new season by defeating Premier League champions Liverpool in the Community Shield in the now-familiar surroundings of Wembley.

But the turbulence resumed with the departure of talisman Eberechi Eze, who left for a record fee to join Arsenal after five years, and they nearly also have had to cope with the loss of star defender and captain Marc Guehi had Glasner not intervened.

The England international was all set to rubber-stamp a move to Liverpool until Palace pulled the plug late on deadline day after a move for his intended replacement - Brighton’s Igor Julio - failed to materialise.

After Guehi’s move fell through - which would have brought Palace a fee in excess of £35m for a player in the final 12 months of his contract - the lines between Glasner and Parish appeared to blur.

It was reported that the Austrian manager, also in the final year of his own deal, had threatened to quit if Parish had sanctioned Guehi’s move to Merseyside.

Glasner was left frustrated that Palace, preparing for their debut European campaign - which would include at least six additional games in the league phase of the competition - seemed willing to sanction departures rather than retain and strengthen the squad they already had.

It was clear tensions were rising behind the scenes at Selhurst Park.

By the time the season reached the midway point, Palace were in crisis. Only this time, the finger could not be pointed at anyone else but those within the club.

During a wretched run between December and January, Palace’s season threatened to unravel, both on and off the pitch.

Palace were in the midst of a 12-game winless run across all competitions, which had seen them slip out of the Premier League’s top five and plummet towards the relegation zone.

And their hopes of winning the Conference League were left in the balance as they entered the play-offs after failing to finish inside the top eight.

But the lowest moment of a woeful month came in early January when they were involved in the biggest shock in FA Cup history when they were knocked out by non-league Macclesfield.

Less than two weeks later, Glasner appeared intent on adding more drama to Palace’s season by unexpectedly announcing he would leave the club at the end of the campaign.

The Austrian’s decision came after Palace agreed to sell Guehi to Manchester City, with Glasner later hitting out at Parish and the club’s other decision-makers for “completely” abandoning his side.

“The way in which his departure was announced - and his attitude in those weeks - put a slight grey cloud over my feelings towards him,” says Ellie Killick from Crystal Palace fanzine Eagle Eye View.

“In January, it was a tough time to support Palace.”

At that point, it seemed improbable that Glasner would even see out the season, having effectively sparked a civil war at Selhurst Park.

But Parish accepted Glasner for who he was - a manager capable of letting his emotions get the better of him at times, but also the most successful the club has ever had.

It is understood that the idea of sacking the former Wolfsburg and Frankfurt manager rarely entered Parish’s mind.

It has proved to be a call that has changed the trajectory of Palace’s history.

When Glasner bid farewell to Selhurst Park on Sunday following the final Premier League game of the season, the Austrian made sure he had time to poke fun at his past disagreements with Parish.

“Now I’m leaving, I don’t have to agree with the chairman,” he said with a smile. “He said the best day was the FA Cup final, but I don’t agree. The best day is still to come in Leipzig.”

It was a light-hearted exchange that underlined Palace’s confidence as they prepared for a first European final - a far cry from where they found themselves at the start of the year.

The Conference League final victory - which guarantees Palace a spot in next season’s Europa League - is the final chapter of Glasner’s career with the Eagles.

“Right now I can’t even believe it is the last game,” said Glasner after full-time on Wednesday. “It is a good chapter to read in the Crystal Palace book but other good chapters will follow.”

“I said to the players after the FA Cup, go and get what you deserve - the Europa League.”

“Now with a one year delay, the club, fans, players, sometimes you have to take a road around and now Crystal Palace is where it should be.”

Killick added: “Glasner has completely changed the trajectory of Crystal Palace Football Club.”

“Before he came, we were content with finishing mid-table and having half decent cup runs but never going all the way.”

“Now in the past 12 months, we’ve won three cups and been on a European tour, something that was a distant dream 18 months ago.”

“We’ve had plenty of managers over the past decade, but none has reached the heights Glasner has taken us to.”

“The next person to manage Crystal Palace will have big shoes to fill, and I just hope the ambition doesn’t depart with him.”

Crystal Palace supporters have never had it so good.

Who is your team playing in the Premier Sports Cup?

Premier Sports Cup holders St Mirren will meet Scottish Cup runners-up Dunfermline Athletic, Cove Rangers, League 2 champions East Kilbride and Dumbarton in the group phase of next season’s competition.

Falkirk, who finished sixth on their return to the Premiership, face Ayr United, local rivals Alloa Athletic, Stranraer and Edinburgh City after the draw for the group stage, which begins on 11/12 July and finishes on 25/26 July.

Championship winners St Johnstone are in the same section as Greenock Morton, League 1 champions Inverness Caledonian Thistle, East Fife and Lowland League champions Linlithgow Rose.

Highland League champions Brora Rangers are in the same group as Aberdeen, Queen’s Park, Queen of the South and Kelty Hearts.

Brechin City, who were runners-up behind Brora, are in a group with three Championship clubs - relegated Livingston, Partick Thistle and promoted Stenhousemuir - along with local rivals Forfar Athletic.

There will be three derbies in Group B, in which Dundee United are joined by Arbroath and Montrose, along with The Spartans and Stirling Albion.

Top-flight Dundee are joined in their group by two sides relegated from the Championship - Airdrieonians and Ross County - along with Clyde and Annan Athletic.

Finally, Premiership side Kilmarnock are paired with Raith Rovers, Peterhead, Hamilton Academical and Elgin City.

The eight group winners and three best runners-up will join European participants – Celtic, who lost to St Mirren in last season’s final, Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian – in the last 16 on the weekend of 15/16 August.

The quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of 12/13 September, with the semi-finals scheduled for the weekend of 31 October and 1 November and the final on 13 December.

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