Summary

  1. Thanks all!published at 15:00 British Summer Time 2 August

    Thanks for joining us today.

    Be sure to use the links in the summary section to catch up on the day's top posts.

    Or click on the links below to read more on today's main stories:

    And please follow our Leicester Page following the sad news of the death of former Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare.

    That page is full of beautiful tributes.

    Cheers all!

  2. 'The best coach I have ever worked with'published at 14:58 British Summer Time 2 August

    Former Chelsea captain John Terry, who recently worked with Craig Shakespeare at Leicester City, has posted a touching tribute to him on social media, external:

    "Heartbroken is an understatement," he wrote.

    "Shakey was an incredible coach who had a great way with the players and everyone loved him.

    "The best coach I have ever worked with and the funniest man in football, he was constantly playing pranks on everyone and putting things in your bag or your locker or winding everyone up.

    "Everyone loved Shakey because he was honest and hardworking and wanted to improve every player and would constantly watch back training or games to help every single player.

    "It was a pleasure to have witnessed what being a top coach was all about.

    "RIP Shakey. Love you mate!

    "My love and thoughts are with Karen and the family at this very difficult time."

    Craig ShakespeareImage source, Getty Images
  3. Ex-Leicester boss Shakespeare dies aged 60published at 14:56 British Summer Time 2 August

    Craig ShakespeareImage source, Getty Images

    We started the day with the sad news of the death of former Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare, aged 60.

    Shakespeare was undergoing treatment for cancer back in October 2023.

    As well as managing Leicester, he also worked for West Brom, Hull, Everton, Watford, Aston Villa and Norwich and had a spell as England assistant boss in 2016.

    A statement released on behalf of his family via the League Managers' Association said Shakespeare "passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family".

  4. Milan make contract pledge to pregnant playerspublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 2 August

    AC Milan say they have become the first club in Europe to guarantee contract renewals for players who become pregnant in the final year of their deals.

    Players at the Italian club will also receive help with childcare and expenses for their children and a companion.

    The move comes amid a push for improved rights for players across the game, with Fifa launching new standards to protect pregnant female footballers in May.

    The Italian top flight became professional in 2022-23 and will expand from 10 teams to 13 in the 2025-26 campaign.

    AC Milan's head of women's football, Elisabet Spina, said: "The club has always shown great attention to the wellbeing of its female players and staff members, both professionally and personally.

    "We are now about to start a new season in which we will work to achieve important goals, both on and off the field. We are excited to approach it by introducing our innovative policy."

    Read more here.

    AC Milan women's teamImage source, Getty Images
  5. Fulham close in on Villarreal's Cuencapublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 2 August

    Friday's gossip column

    Fulham

    Back at Fulham and the Standard, external is reporting that Marco Silva's side is in advanced talks to sign Villarreal's Spanish centre-back Jorge Cuenca, 24, for £6.7m.

    See Fulham fan views, analysis and more on our club page

    Jorge CuencaImage source, Getty Images
  6. Santos returns to France on loanpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 2 August

    Chelsea

    Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos has joined French club Strasbourg on a season-long loan.

    The 20-year-old spent the second half of the last campaign with the Ligue 1 side, making 11 appearances and scoring one goal.

    Santos is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Blues since signing in January 2023 from Vasco de Gama, who he returned to on loan during the same season, and then spent the first half of 2023-24 with Nottingham Forest before being recalled.

    Strasbourg is the sister club of Chelsea, being owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital's parent company BlueCo.

    The Brazil international had featured in Chelsea's pre-season tour of the United States, but will now leave the squad to continue his development in France.

    Andrey SantosImage source, Getty Images
  7. Conte to make Gilmour bid - reportspublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 2 August

    Friday's gossip column

    Reports from Sky Sports Italy, external suggest Napoli have an offer of £10.2m ready for 23-year-old Brighton and Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour, but are waiting for players to leave the club before making it.

    Napoli boss Antonio Conte was in charge of Chelsea when Billy Gilmour was in their youth team.

    Billy GilmourImage source, Getty Images
  8. Lukaku set for shock Villa move?published at 14:49 British Summer Time 2 August

    Friday's gossip column

    According to Italian website Il Mattino, external, Aston Villa have reached a deal with Chelsea for Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, but the 31-year-old wants to join Antonio Conte's Napoli.

    Ollie Watkins played 53 times last season for Villa, could he do with some support?

    Lukaku has already played in the Premier League for Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton and West Brom.

    Romelu LukakuImage source, Getty Images
  9. Reds were prepared to trade Gomezpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 2 August

    Mandeep Sanghera
    BBC Sport

    The future of Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has taken an interesting turn.

    It’s emerged that the Reds had agreed a deal with Newcastle United which would have involved the England international joining the Magpies for £45m and Anthony Gordon moving the other way for £75m.

    That agreement came after Liverpool had rejected Newcastle's request to include centre-back Jarell Quansah as part of a potential switch which would have seen winger Gordon move to Anfield.

    BBC Sport understands that, with Newcastle needing to do a deal at the end of June to avoid the possibility of breaking Premier League profit and sustainability rules, the Reds were prepared to trade Gomez.

    The 27-year-old didn't end up leaving, with the Magpies instead selling Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and Yankuba Minteh to Brighton.

    However, while Liverpool were prepared to sanction a move for Gomez, it is believed it was because of the circumstances involved and he is not someone who the club are pushing out, especially considering he is one of the main centre-backs available to new manager Arne Slot and can also play in a number of positions.

    Last season he played centre-back, right-back, left-back and as a holding midfielder before being selected as part of England’s squad at Euro 2024.

    Gomez, who has been at Liverpool since signing from Charlton Athletic in 2015, is expected to join up with the Reds squad after their return from a pre-season tour in the United States.

    Anthony Gordon and Joe GomezImage source, Getty Images
  10. Magpies set to open Gordon contract talkspublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 2 August

    Newcastle United

    The Athletic, external are reporting that Newcastle will open contract negotiations with Anthony Gordon.

    This comes after the Magpies reportedly held discussions with Liverpool over potentially selling the England winger to help with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules.

    Anthony GordonImage source, Getty Images
  11. Beitragpublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 2 August

    Right, let's have a quick round-up of some more transfer stories, starting at Newcastle...

  12. When and where are Premier League clubs in action?published at 14:40 British Summer Time 2 August

    All kick-off times BST

    Speaking of pre-season fixtures, here is a list of when and where Premier League clubs will be in action this weekend:

    3 August

    Bayern Munich v Tottenham, Seoul World Cup Stadium (12:00)

    Hoffenheim v Ipswich, Kufstein Arena (12:30)

    Yokohama F. Marinos v Newcastle, National Stadium, Tokyo (13:00)

    Millwall v Southampton, The Den (13:00)

    Augsburg v Leicester, WWK Arena (14:30)

    Watford v Brentford, Vicarage Road (15:00)

    QPR v Brighton, Loftus Road (15:00)

    Preston v Everton, Deepdale (15:00)

    Chelsea v Manchester City, Ohio Stadium, Columbus (22:30)

    Club America v Aston Villa, Soldier Field, Chicago (22:30)

    Manchester City v Chelsea, Ohio Stadium, Columbus (22:30)

    4 August

    Crystal Palace v West Ham, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa (00:00)

    Wolves v RB Leipzig, Chase Stadium, Miami (00:30)

    Manchester United v Liverpool, Brice Stadium, Columbia (00:30)

    Bournemouth v Rayo Vallecano, Vitality Stadium (15:00)

  13. 'We're very excited' - Fulham director Khanpublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 2 August

    All times in BST

    Fulham

    Emile Smith Rowe joined Arsenal as a 10-year-old and made his senior debut for the Gunners at the age of 18.

    He went on to play 80 Premier League games for the club, scoring 12 times, while the last of his three England caps came in March 2022.

    Fulham's capture of Smith Rowe comes after Ryan Sessegnon rejoined the club on a two-year deal when his contract expired at Tottenham.

    The Cottagers are currently on a training base in the Algarve, and director Tony Khan said Smith Rowe would be joining them soon.

    "We're very excited to sign such a talented young player," he said, adding: "We look forward to Emile joining the squad in Portugal as we continue to prepare for the new season ahead! Come on Fulham!”

    Marco Silva's side play Benfica at the Estadio Algarve on Friday (20:00 BST) in the first of three pre-season fixtures before their opening Premier League match at Manchester United on Friday, 16 August (20:00 BST).

    Fulham's pre-season fixtures:

    2 August: Benfica v Fulham, Estadio Algarve (20:00)

    5 August: Sevilla v Fulham, Estadio Algrave (20:00)

    10 August: Hoffenheim v Fulham, PreZero Arena, Sinsheim (16:00)

  14. 'Emile is loved by everyone at the club' - Artetapublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 2 August

    Arsenal

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Emile Smith Rowe's departure: "Emile's commitment, attitude and energy every day was first class, always stepping up when the team needed him.

    "He came into the first team and was instrumental during a difficult moment for us. He created an important impression, with his strong performances making our supporters proud.

    "I'm sad that Emile is leaving us, but excited for him to take this new opportunity at this stage of his career, when he needs to be starting matches and playing regularly.

    "Emile is loved by everyone at the club and leaves us with our gratitude, absolute respect and best wishes. We all wish Emile and his family well at Fulham."

    Mikel Arteta and Emile Smith RoweImage source, Getty Images
  15. 'The perfect step for my career 'published at 14:18 British Summer Time 2 August

    Fulham

    Emile Smith Rowe says joining Fulham is the "perfect" next step in his career.

    The 24-year-old struggled for game time under Mikel Arteta last season after initially breaking into the Arsenal first team in 2021-22.

    "I'm finally here, so I’m really happy for me and my family – it's a good moment," Smith Rowe said

    "I'm really excited, I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible so I could get going with my team-mates.

    "Listening to the project, speaking to the manager, and seeing what players we have here already, I think it's an exciting project for me, and definitely the perfect step for my career going forward."

    Emile Smith RoweImage source, Getty Images
  16. Arsenal & Fulham 'agreed initial £27m fee' that could rise to £34mpublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 2 August

    BBC Sport's Alex Howell reported on Monday that Fulham had reached an agreement with Arsenal to sign Emile Smith Rowe for an initial £27m, with the potential of £7m in add-ons.

    That fee would represent a club record signing for Fulham.

    The report said that add-ons would be based on cup and European success for the Cottagers.

    Smith Rowe, 24, was left out of Arsenal's pre-season matches as the two clubs worked on the deal.

    The England midfielder, who had three caps, was an academy graduate and a popular figure among Gunners supporters but dropped down the pecking order at Arsenal behind Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka.

    Emile Smith Rowe playing for ArsenalImage source, Getty Images
  17. Fulham complete signing of Arsenal's Smith Rowepublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 2 August
    Breaking

    Fulham have signed Arsenal's English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe for an undisclosed fee on a five year contract, with the option to extend for a further year - the west London club have announced, external.

  18. Analysis - Neville taking responsibility for club's EFL statuspublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 2 August

    Bill Rice
    BBC Radio Manchester

    Ten years ago when Manchester United’s 'Class of 92' – including Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt – agreed to take over then non-league Salford City, Peter Lim was a key player, taking a 50% stake in the club.

    Lim oversaw the club’s rapid ascent as they climbed from the Northern Premier League Division One North to a place in the English Football League, and was on the pitch celebrating with the former United players at Wembley when they beat AFC Fylde in the National League play-off final in 2019.

    The past five years have proved much more difficult though, with the club changing their manager five times, only making the play-offs once, and finishing 20th last season.

    With small crowds, the club have been looking to attract outside investment for a while, but with no one yet coming forward, it seems Gary Neville is now taking on responsibility for keeping the club in the Football League.

  19. Neville acquires Lim's Salford City stakepublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 2 August

    Gary Neville with Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes

    A bit of news for you...Gary Neville has bought fellow co-owner Peter Lim's stake in Salford City to "pave the way for a new strategic partner", the League Two club has said.

    Former England full-back Neville - along with Manchester United 'Class of 92' team-mates his brother Phil, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David Beckham - bought the club in 2014 alongside Lim.

    Singapore-based billionaire Lim's shareholding was 50% upon the takeover of the club, who were in the eighth tier of English football at the time.

    "We cannot thank Peter enough for his support, friendship, belief and loyalty to us for over 10 years, not only in Salford City but in other projects that we have worked on together," a joint statement,, external from the Class of 92 said.

    "Peter has been integral in helping to create a legacy at Salford City that we are now determined to build on."

    Read the full story here.