Key events
We will hear from more managers this afternoon but let’s check in with some stories you may have missed.
Chelsea’s Xabi Alonso has also been chatting to the media before his team take on Brighton on Sunday. Here are some highlights:
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On Enzo Fernandez potentially leaving the club: “We have been talking about speculation, sorry, but I’m not the one who talks too early. We will see what happens. We want to be ready always.”
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On how his squad is shaping up as the transfer window heads for its conclusion: “I think overall the balance of what we have is going to be good. We have to see how the last few days develop. But so far the team is coming together. It is a process that will take time. We are in a good position, with a few more days to see.”
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On balancing a big squad: “It’s important to respect and know that not all the players are in the same stage of their career. Some players are established, some players it is their first year at a club like Chelsea or even in the Premier League. Everything is at a different stage. They understand that and know that, which is all in the creation of the team. I don’t have a number, I have an idea. We will be close to that.”
United will play Ipswich Town this Sunday but they will be without Amad Diallo and latest signing Carlos Baleba.
Manager Michael Carrick said Baleba will be out for a few weeks with an ankle problem.
“But we knew that before, so it’s no major issue,” Carrick added. “It’ll be great to have him back when we can.
“We’re delighted with Carlos. I think he has huge potential. It’s a really exciting signing for us. I think the quality that he has, the attributes that he has, they balance [the rest of] the group. Different strengths, different combinations. With the player that he already is, with that little bit more to come from him, this is exciting for us.”
Now let’s hear from Manchester United’s manager Michael Carrick…
Ward-Prowse returns to Southampton
James Ward-Prowse has signed for his former club Southampton on a two-year deal from West Ham.
The England international initially left in 2023 after 410 appearances for the club, who now compete in the Championship.
Ward-Prowse said: “It feels a bit surreal. The last couple of days have been pretty intense, but I’m delighted to be back, and to be wearing the red and white again is truly special.
“It’s the place I call home, obviously having come through the Academy since I was eight. It was an incredible journey up until the point that I left, but home is a special place and I always had it in the back of my mind that it was somewhere that I wanted to be. I’m here today very excited and looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
Brentford sign Diouf from West Ham
Senegal international El Hadji Malick Diouf has joined Brentford from West Ham for around £40m. The 21-year-old defender has signed a five-year deal at the Gtech Community Stadium with the option of another season. “He’s a player that fits our ideal age profile, with lots of room to still develop,” said Bees boss Keith Andrews.
“He had a really good year at West Ham in his first season in English football, and some of the qualities and attributes he has as a full-back really add to an already impressive part of our team.” PA Media
Conference League pot 6 draw
And we are at the end, phew. Thank you for bearing with me there. Here is pot six:
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Thun: Gent (H), Ajax (A), Hearts (H), Twente (A), Hajduk Split (H), Cska Sofia (A)
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CSKA Sofia: Monaco (H), Panathinaikos (A), Trabzonspor (H), KuPS (A), Thun (H), Nordsjælland (A)
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Kauno Zalgiris: Freiburg (H), Brighton (A), Brann (H), Lugano (A), Riga (H), Egnatia (A)
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Mjallby: Pafos (H), Atalanta (A),Borac (H), Kairat Almaty (A), Inter Escaldes (H), Iberia Tbilisi (A)
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Iberia Tbilisi: Crvena Zvezda (H), Copenhagen (A), Getafe (H), Sint-Truidense (A), Majllby (H), Jablonez (A)
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Egnatia: Midtjylland (H), Braga (A), L Red Imps (H), U Craoiva (A), Kauna Zalgiris (H), Aarhus (A)
Conference League pot 5 draw
We are almost finished, here is pot five:
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Riga: Atalanta (H), Pafos (A), Kairat Almaty (H), Borac (A), Jablonec (H), Kauno Zalgiris (A)
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Hadjuk Split: Ajax (H), Midtjylland (A), Sint-Truidense (H), L Red Imps (A), Nordsjælland (H), Thun (A)
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Jablonec: Brighton (H), Freiburg (A), Lugano (H), Trabzonspor (A), Iberia Tbilisi (H), Riga (A)
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Nordsjælland: Panathinaikos (H), Monaco (A), KuPS (H), Hearts (A), cska Sofia (H), Hajduk Split (A)
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Aarhus: Braga (H), Gent (A), Twente (H), Brann (A), Egnatia (H), Inter Escalses (A)
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Inter Escaldes: Copenhagen (H), Crvena Zvezda (A), U Craiova (H), Getafe (A), Aarhus (H), Mjallby (A)
Conference League pot 4 draw
And here comes pot 4:
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Sint-Truiden: Ajax (H), Midtjylland (A), Brann (H), Lugano (A), Iberia Tbilisi (H), Hajduk Split (A)
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Brann: Braga (H), Gent (A), L Red Imps (H), Sint-Truiden (A), Aarhus (H), Kauno Zalgiris (A)
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Hearts: Monaco (H), Pafos (A), Borac (H), Trabzonspor (A), Nordsjælland (H), Thun (A)
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Kairat Almaty: Panathinaikos (H), Atalanta (A), U. Craoiva (H), Twente (A), Mjallby (H), Riga (A)
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Trabzonspor: Freiburg (H), Crvena Zvezda (A), Hearts (H), KuPS (A), Jablonec (H), Cska Sofia (A)
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U Craiova: Copenhagen (H), Brighton (A), Getafe (H), Kairat Almaty (A), Egnatia (H), Inter Escaldes (A)
Conference League pot 3 draw
If you couldn’t have guessed what was next, here is pot three:
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Lugano: Crvena Zvezda (H), Copenhagen (A), Sint-Truidense (H), Getafe (A), Kauno Zalgiris (H), Jablonec (A)
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Getafe: Brighton (H), Ajax (A), Lugano (H), U Craiova (A), Inter Escaldes (H), Iberia Tbilisi (A)
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KuPS: Gent (H), Braga (A), Trabzonspor (H), Borac (A), Cska Sofia (H), Nordsjælland (A)
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Twente: Pafos (H), Freiburg (A), Kairat Almaty (H), L Red Imps (A), Thun (H), Aarhus (A)
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L Red Imps: Midtjylland (H), Monaco (A), Twente (H), Brann (A), Hajduk Split (H), Egnatia (A)
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Borac: Atalanta (H), Panathinaikos (A), KuPS (H), Hearts (A), Riga (H), Mjallby (A)
Conference League pot 2 draw
Here is pot 2:
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Midtjylland: Ajax (H), Pafos (A), Sint-Truidense (H), L. Red Imps (A), Hajduk Split (H), Egnatia (A)
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Crvena Zvezda: Copenhagen (H), Gent (A), Trabzonspor (H), Lugano (A), Inter Escaldes (H), Iberia Tbilisi (A)
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Gent: Crvena Zvezda (H), Braga (A), Branm (H), KuPS (A), Aarhus (H), Thun (A)
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Panathinaikos: Brighton (H), Greiburg (A), Borac (H), Kairat Almaty (A), Cska Sofia (H), Nordsjælland (A)
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Pafos: Midtjylland (H), Atalanta (A), Hearts (H), Twente (A), Riga (H), Mjallby (A)
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Brighton: Monaco (H), Panathinaikos (A), U. Craiova (H), Getafe (A), Kauna Zalgiris (H), Jablonec (A)
Conference League pot 1 draw
To reiterate, the fixtures are not in order. The dates and times of the matches will be confirmed by Sunday. Here is pot one:
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Atalanta: Ajax (away), Pafos (home), Borac (A), Kairat Almaty (H), Riga (A), Mjallby (H)
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Braga: Copenhagen (A), Gent (H), KuPS (H), Brann (A), Aarhus (A), Egnatia (H)
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Ajax: Atalanta (H), Midt Jylland (A), Getafe (H), Sint-Truidense (A), Hajduk Split (A), Thun (H)
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Freiburg: Monaco (A), Panathinaikos (H), Twente (H), Trabzonspor (A), Jablonec (H), Kauna Zalgiris (A)
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Monaco: Freiburg (H), Brighton (A), L Red Imps (H), Hearts (A), Nordsjælland (H), Cska Sofia (A)
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Copenhagen: Braga (H), Crvena Zvezda (A), U. Craiova (A), Inter Escaldes (A), Iberia Tbilisi (H)
Rangers and Celtic to play in front of no fans
Celtic and Rangers have both been ordered to play their next home Scottish Cup match behind closed doors. The punishment comes following a Scottish FA disciplinary hearing into the trouble that marred Celtic’s quarter-final win at Ibrox in March. Dozens of arrests were made following clashes on the pitch after Rangers fans charged on to confront Celtic supporters who had spilled on to the playing area to celebrate their team’s penalty shoot-out success.
Both clubs will have to pay their opponents £100,000 in compensation for the loss of shared gate receipts at the cup ties. Any repeat of crowd trouble at Scottish Cup ties in the next two seasons would prompt another closed-door punishment. Both clubs admitted charges relating to unacceptable conduct from supporters. An independent review into the scenes previously concluded that “crushing” and “life-threatening violence” were narrowly avoided. PA Media
Before that though, we have a bit of Scottish news…
Thank you Luke and I have to agree, the computer generated draw is much less fun. I have been keeping an eye on the Conference League draw so let’s go through pot-by-pot on who will play who.
That’s the lot from me: may I just register my displeasure with this new computer-generated draw format, which is much less fun than picking balls out of a pot. Over to Sarah Rendell.
Brighton Conference League fixtures
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Monaco (H)
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Panathinaikos (A)
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Getafe (A)
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U. Craiova (H)
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Jablonec (A)
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Kauno Zalgiris (H)
Moyes keen to keep Ndiaye at Everton
Andy Hunter
David Moyes said Everton have yet to receive an approach for Iliman Ndiaye despite Manchester City’s interest in the Senegal international. “We’re certainly not in a hurry to sell our best players, that’s for sure,” the Everton manager said. “I don’t think we need to do anything. It’s nothing I’m concerned about because there’s been no contact as far as I’m aware of. I was told earlier in the summer that Al-Hilal wanted Ili but we heard nothing.”
Chelsea keen on Monaco’s Camara
Jacob Steinberg
As the Enzo Fernández to Man City saga rumbles on I’m told Chelsea are interested in a deal for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara. Meanwhile, Arsenal are understood to have knocked back an enquiry from their London rivals for Martin Zubimendi.
Again, the actual order of these fixtures is TBC, and will be released by Sunday latest, so say Uefa.
League phase dates are as follows:
Matchday 1: 16/17 September 2026
Matchday 2: 15 October 2026
Matchday 3: 22 October 2026
Matchday 4: 5 November 2026
Matchday 5: 26 November 2026
Matchday 6: 10 December 2026
Matchday 7: 21 January 2027
Matchday 8: 28 January 2027
Celtic Europa League fixtures
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Marseille (H)
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Benfica (A)
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Ferencvaros (H)
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Union SG (A)
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Celta (H)
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Omonia (A)
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Besiktas (H)
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Torreense (A)
Sunderland Europa League fixtures
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AZ Alkmaar (H)
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Milan (A)
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Dinamo Zagreb (H)
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Anderlecht (A)
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Jagiellonia (H)
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Lech Poznan (A)
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Levski Sofia (H)
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Torreense (A)
Bournemouth Europa League fixtures
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Milan (H)
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Real Sociedad (A)
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Viktoria Plzen (H)
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Sparta Prague (A)
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Sturm Graz (H)
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Celta Vigo (A)
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H Beer-Sheva (H)
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Lillestrom (A)
Crystal Palace Europa League fixtures
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Real Sociedad (H)
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Lyon (A)
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Sparta Prague (H)
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Red Bull Salzburg (A)
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Lech Poznan (H)
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Jagiellonia (A)
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Hoffenheim (H)
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Besiktas (A).
Europa League: Pot 2 fixtures
Note the order of these fixtures and KO times are TBC. But this who will face who and where:
Ferencvaros v Juventus (H), Milan (A), Plzen (H), Celtic (A), Celje (H), Lech Poznan A), Torreense (H), Hoffenheim (A)
Viktoria Plzen v Benfica (H), Real Sociedad (A), Union SG (H), Ferencvaros (A), Jagiellonia (H), Bournemouth (A), Levski Sofa (H), Lillestrom (A).
Union SG v Real Sociedad (H), Lyon (A), Celtic (H), Viktoria Plzen (A), Lech Poznan (H), Celta (A), H.Beer-Sheva (H), Besiktas (A).
GNK Dinamo v Leverkusen (H), AZ Alkmaar (A), Anderlecht (H), Rennes (A), Sturm Graz (H), Sunderland (A), NEC (H), H. Beer-Sheva (A).
Salzburg v Milan (H), Leverkusen (A), Sparta Prague (H), Anderlecht (A), Crystal Palace (H), Celje (A), Ararat-Armenia (H), Levski Sofia (A).
Celtic v Marseille (H), Benfica (A), Ferencvaros (H), Union SG (A), Celta (H), Omonia (A), Besiktas (H), Torreense (A).
Sparta Prague v AZ Alkmaar (H), Olympiacos (A), Rennes (H), Salzburg (A), Bournemouth (H), Crystal Palace (A), Lillestrom (H), Ararat-Armenia (A).
Rennes v Olympiacos (H), Juventus (A), GNK Dinamo (H), Sparta Prague (A), Omonia (H), Sturm Graz (A), OFI Crete (H), NEC (A).
Anderlecht v Lyon (H), Marseille (A), Salzburg (H), GNK Dinamo (A), Sunderland (H), Jagiellonia (A), Hoffenheim (H), OFI Crete (A).
So, that’s all the matches in pot one, but the new computer-powered draw format has wrong-footed me somewhat, and I’ll bring you the full run-down ASAP.
Marseille fixtures
Olympiacos H
Leverkusen A
Anderlecht H
Celtic A
Celta H
Sturm Graz A
Levski Sofia H
Besiktas A
Real Sociedad fixtures
Lyon H
Juventus A
Viktoria Plzen H
Union SG A
Bournemouth H
Crystal Palace A
Torreense H
Lillestrom A
Olympiacos fixtures
Milan H
Marseille A
Sparta Prague H
Rennes A
Jagiellonia H
Celje A
Hoffenheim H
Torreense A
AZ Alkmaar fixtures
Juventus H
Benfica A
GNK Dinamo H
Sparta Praha A
Sturm Graz H
Sunderland A
H. Beer-Sheva H
Ararat-Armenia A
Lyon fixtures
Leverkusen H
Real Sociedad A
Union SG H
Anderlecht A
Crystal Palace H
Jagiellonia A
Lillestrom H
Hoffenheim A
Matt Smith just mentioned that the full schedule will be confirmed by Sunday.
Milan fixtures
Benfica H
Olympiacos A
Ferencvaros H
Salzburg A
Sunderland H
Bournemouth A
Ararat-Armenia H
Levski Sofia A
Juventus fixtures
Real Sociedad H
AZ Alkmaar A
Rennes H
Ferencvaros A
Omonia H
Celta A
NEC H
H Beer-Sheva A
Benfica fixtures
AZ Alkmaar H
Milan A
Celtic H
Viktoria Plzen A
Lech Poznan H
Omonia A
OFI Crete H
NEC A
Leverkusen fixtures
Marseille H
Lyon A
Salzburg H
GNK Dinamo A
Celje H
Poznan A
Besiktas H
OFI Crete A
Here we go then. There are 144 fixtures to draw, so they say.
Jacob Steinberg
Chelsea finally have a shirt sponsor! They’ve been without a permanent one since 2023 but have today announced a deal with Circle Internet Group, an internet financial platform company.
A club statement says: “Founded in 2013, Circle is a pioneer in digital assets and is helping build the financial system for the internet. At its centre is USDC, the world’s leading regulated stablecoin. USDC is a trusted digital dollar that enables people and businesses to move money globally with internet speed and 24/7 availability.
“In the 2026/27 season, Circle and USDC brands will appear on the front of Chelsea’s Men’s, Women’s and Academy shirts, featuring for the first time at Chelsea FC men’s first Premier League home game of the season this Sunday against Brighton.”
Sebastian Rode, a man who needs no introduction, is the special guest. Or one of them.
Rode led Eintracht Frankfurt to the trophy in 2022. He had spells at Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund before that.
Aston Villa did well to win it, of course, but those goals against Freiburg were some of the softest you will see in a European final.
The futuristic set looks like something off of Star Trek. Which, now I think of it, maybe isn’t futuristic at all.
Becky Ives mentions Aston Villa and Unai Emery and their triumph last season.
Run VT: a montage of LOADS of goals and stuff from last season.
Live band! Strings! Brass! Drums! No expense has been spared. Well, this is Monaco.
And it’s only Matt Smith and Becky Ives presenting!
The opening titles are rolling, and the draw is beginning in Monaco. Strap yourselves in.
Rangers, meanwhile, suffered their own ignominious defeat last night, a 1-1 aggregrate draw with Jabalonec and a 4-3 penalty shootout loss sending them crashing out of the Conference League.
