Slaven Bilic is back in the big time with West Brom, and he’s bringing another familiar face back to the Barclays with him. Former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic is joining the Baggies from Zenit, Bilic himself has confirmed.
“He has done everything, his career is magnificent,” Bilic said. “I hope it’s going to be done quite soon - basically in a matter of hours.”
And on that bombshell, time to hand over to Will Unwin ...
Steve Bruce has defended Newcastle’s deeply unpopular owner, Mike Ashley, in his pre-season presser. “To be fair to Mike, he only wants what’s best for the club. He was in quite a unique situation,” Bruce said.
On the takeover, Bruce added: “It doesn’t look as if it’s happened, so for me it’s about getting on with business and usual and trying to do the best we can. If I look where we are now from where we were 12 months ago, the squad is stronger and better.”
Newcastle have brought in Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser and Jamal Lewis this week, and on Friday they announced new contracts for Isaac Hayden and goalkeeper Karl Darlow. Meanwhile, defender Florian Lejeune has been loaned out to La Liga side Alavés.
Mikel Arteta, fresh from being promoted from head coach to first-team manager at Arsenal, says he wants more signings before the transfer window closes.
“We are [still] active in the market with players in and out, at the moment the squad balance is not ideal,” Arteta said. “There is still some work to do, but we have to bear in mind the complications of this market. Numbers-wise, some positions are overbooked. Some others, in terms of the specific qualities we need, are still not there.”
Arteta added that fans “can be pretty relaxed” about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract situation, and dismissed speculation that Alexandre Lacazette could depart. “He is really happy here. He wants to keep improving and contributing to the team ... the way he has been training and conducting himself has been excellent.”
Will José Mourinho get what he wants at Spurs? Here’s what he has had to say so far in his press conference before the season opener against Everton on Sunday.
I want, I need a striker, but I want to make it very, very clear that the club knows that I need a striker and they also want a striker. Are we going to get one? I believe so, I honestly believe so. The team needs it for the balance of the squad.
Karl Gibbons has been in touch on the subject of Liverpool: “Lots of talk of lack of signings from Liverpool but surely that shows Klopp’s plan for the “kids” to be back up. As we have seen from the past couple of years, there seems to be a good crop coming through. And as we have seen from those fellow perchers from Fergie’s time, giving the kids a go can handsomely pay off.”
A bit more Jürgen Klopp, this time on Liverpool’s continuing links with Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara.
If I could invent a word to end speculations I’d be really rich. Did I mention Thiago Alcantara is a very good player a long ago? It’s nice that we are linked with him but that’s all
Big interview: Jeff Stelling spoke to Donald McRae.
Ralf Hassenhüttl has set out Danny Ings’ recipe for more success with Southampton.
It’s important that he stays hard working for the team. He shouldn’t go into the season and think, ‘I must have as quickly as possible a lot of goals and then I feel confident, otherwise I get pressure’. No, no - that’s not the key. He has to work hard for the team, he has to come into the situations where he was last season and then I’m sure he will get a lot of chances to score and when he has a chance then he normally he can finish. We will help him. The whole team is keen to step up and work hard for each other and I think when we have the best 11 on the pitch we are definitely in a good mode and can win games.
On Liverpool’s recovery from last season: “I am recovered on a professional basis. My boys are as well. All together, it was a challenge, the break we had wasn’t one as it was intense mentally. Short break and then came back. We are now in our normal rhythm.”
On Georginio Wijnaldum’s future - he has been linked with Barcelona. “Absolutely fine about the future as far as we are involved in that. All good for the moment. Between me, Gini and the club, it is all completely fine. Apart from anything to announce to [the media].”
On Rhian Brewster, linked with a move: ““We have nothing to say about it. Rhian is our player, a wonderful kid, scored a lot of goals in pre-season. The perspective is on the squad. We are really with him and thoughtful of what is best for his development. There is nothing to say. Who is going on loan and where, there is nothing decided otherwise they would be there already.”
And on Marcelo Bielsa: “I admire him but I was never close enough to really [speak]. His teams are exceptional. I analysed some games and looked at it. Different approach. I like him without knowing him as a proper character. Hardest working of all of us maybe.”
The Manchester United manager has been speaking about the upcoming season - pointing to how players, including new signing Donny van de Beek, will be given a much-needed run-out in Saturday’s friendly with Aston Villa ahead of a “long season”.
Of the trip to Villa Park the manager said: “It’s going to be a game to give players minutes. Some have trained more than others and some will be more ready than others. Some played international games, which actually sometimes you think you don’t really want that - but some of them have got valuable minutes there. We’ll give the others minutes against Villa so they can all start on a decent level because it’s going to be a long season.
“Then again, it’s the world we live in. That’s the reality of it, no point arguing or discussing it or being miserable or moaning about it. This is the reality. We’re going to make the most of it. Of course, the first few games are going to be important to give as many players minutes as well because it’s such a long season. We’re going to need most of them throughout the season.”
Luke Shaw has recovered from the ankle injury that ended his previous campaign in July. “For me, Luke is looking really good in training. He has come back, looking strong, and will play in the friendly against Villa. Then Axel [Tuanzebe] is getting closer as well. In a few weeks’ time, I guess he will be with us training full-time and hopefully we’ll be able to give him games quickly.”
Football authorities’ lack of speed in addressing this issue continue.
Per PA Media
World players’ union FIFPRO says it is “surprised and disappointed” that no concussion trial protocols have been agreed yet.
The union had hoped that a variety of head injury protocols would be tested in various competitions around the world in the 2020-21 season after the game’s law-making body, the International Football Association Board, agreed in principle to trials taking place back in February.
However, IFAB is still in discussion with experts over what the protocol or protocols will look like, and only at that point could competitions such as the Premier League be able to apply to try one out.
FIFPRO has expressed its concern over the delay and said: “FIFPRO is surprised and disappointed by reports that there are no plans to trial improved concussion protocol, including temporary substitutes, during the forthcoming professional football season.
“In order to safeguard professional footballers the existing protocol has to be brought up to date with other sports as soon as possible. We urge stakeholders address this matter urgently and make the health and safety of players a priority in the game.”
Graham Potter, who appears to be both the earliest and only Premier League manager to speak today, had his say on big-spending Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.
I am guessing for a club like Chelsea and for somebody like Frank, who has competed at the top for all of his career, that they are going to push on and try to compete for the title. That’s pretty much what their intention looks like. They have recruited well, they’ve got some really good players, they’ve already got some really good players there so they will be a strong team, no doubt about that.
Good news for Wigan, and with John Sheridan to come in as manager, after a short spell with Waterford in the League of Ireland which he rather unfortunately labelled a “pub league”.
Per PA Media.
Wigan have been granted verbal permission by the English Football League to start their league campaign as planned this weekend despite being in administration.
Latics, who were relegated to League One last season after a 12-point deduction for being placed in administration, are seeking a buyer to secure their long-term future.
An initial deadline for a sale of August 31 was missed, but talks with interested parties are continuing.
Wigan opened their new season with a defeat to Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup last weekend and administrators Begbies Traynor confirmed the club will be able to open their league season at Ipswich on Sunday.
In a statement on the club website, joint administrator Gerald Krasner said: “In a conversation with the EFL on Thursday night I have been verbally informed that we have permission to start the season under the administration.”
As far as interesting signings of the summer go, and notwithstanding Joe Hart’s move to Tottenham, James Rodríguez has to take the cake.
Big news for Leeds Leeds Leeds. Bielsa left it late to confirm he would be their manager for the 2020-21 season but it was never truly in doubt.
Leeds United (@LUFC)
✍️ #LUFC are pleased to confirm Marcelo Bielsa has signed a new one-year deal with the club
September 11, 2020
This could be the last one for a while. Cambridge’s Sky Bet League Two football match against Carlisle on Saturday has been moved behind closed doors. The Us had sold 2,000 tickets for the match but will refund them all over concerns about supporters turning up with invalid tickets.
Per PA Media
This weekend’s Women’s Super League match between West Ham and Arsenal will proceed as planned with up to 1,000 spectators allowed into Dagenham’s Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Saturday’s fixture had been earmarked as a pilot event for the safe return of spectators to sports venues by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). While other pilot events have taken the decision to go ahead behind closed doors after it was announced on Wednesday that spectators would be limited to 1,000 people, the Hammers are preparing to welcome back some fans.
A statement on the club website said: “The Hammers’ first home fixture of the season, after the summer move to Dagenham & Redbridge FC, has been selected as one of the pilot events to test the return of spectators to elite sporting fixtures.
“The club has continued to work in line with the latest Government guidance and has held ongoing discussions with the FA, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Barking and Dagenham Council, Dagenham & Redbridge FC and the Safety Advisory Group, all of whom have given their full backing and support to continue with this match as a pilot event.
“The club has put robust and thorough plans in place as the safety and well-being of our supporters, players and staff remains the club’s absolute priority.”
Barry Glendenning has taken a chortlesome sideways glance at the season ahead.
Giancarlo Sandoval has been in touch: “Will we catch a glimpse of Jürgen Klopp praising Bielsa in a press conference today or has the Liverpool social media team completely given up on Zoom’s functioning properly with Merseyside’s internet connection no doubt congested by James Rodriguez international fanbase?”
That’s the plan, though Klopp has been on Sky saying he has never met Bielsa and hopes they can have a conversation of some sort. He only knows how to order a beer in Spanish.
Barney Ronay’s big Premier League preview is here.
The Premier League’s midsummer endgame was a brilliantly well-executed piece of pragmatism. But with no Covid-19 cure in sight, and a winter in store that could frankly bring anything from staged normality to some kind of toilet-paper-riots version of the Rapture, an entire virus-secured season is a daunting prospect.
Fancy some aural pleasure? Just ignore the Maxonian drone from one of the panel and look ahead to the season with Football Weekly.
Footballers will be given the use of an app to report match-fixing approaches.
Per PA Media
World governing body FIFA has approved an app designed to help professional players report match-fixing approaches.
The Red Button app, which is owned by world players’ union FIFPRO, will be distributed to players globally via national unions such as England’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).
It complements existing reporting tools set up by FIFA, and information received via the app will be investigated by the world governing body’s integrity department.
The Europol agency reported in August that football is the sport which is most heavily targeted by criminals involved in fixing.
FIFPRO’s legal director Roy Vermeer said: “We are confident this will strengthen the hand of football and public authorities in the fight against match fixing. With players facing disciplinary action for failing to report a match-fixing approach, there must be a way for them to do this without fear that they are putting themselves, their families and their careers in danger.
“The Red Button app provides this facility and will help players manage this considerable risk that, through no fault of their own, might confront them at any time.”
Ben Fisher has done sterling work in previewing the lower divisions.
And here’s some red-hot rumours to get your teeth into.
To kick us off, Graham Potter, the Brighton manager has bagged Eddie Howe’s spot as the early bird on the press conferences. He’s been speaking about Ben White, the defender who Leeds wanted to keep after his loan there last season, and who was also linked with Chelsea.
There was no disappointment from Ben [White] at any stage, he came in with us from day one. “There was a lot of noise, but he got on with his job really well. It’s his first season in the Premier League and we want to help him as well as we can.
And we’re back, even if we never actually went away. Since the Premier League’s longest season ended we’ve had the Europa League, Champions League and the Nations League to keep us entertained. OK, maybe the latter didn’t do much to entertain but here we are again. Except we aren’t, since for the foreseeable future - and who can foresee the future right now - top-level football will be played behind closed doors and be an almost exclusively TV event. The show simply has to go on until it can’t.
The football itself: Liverpool v Leeds is one of the most keenly awaited opening-day fixtures in years. Fulham v Arsenal sees the return of Scott Parker to the Premier League, his play-off final post-match interview making him the nation’s sweetheart. Crystal Palace v Southampton is a battle of one team who dropped the ball post-lockdown and another who surged on. West Ham v Newcastle is a battle of crisis clubs, to retain some semblance of normality. West Brom v Leicester sees the welcome return of Slaven ‘Slav’ Bilic against a Leicester team who dropped off the edge of a cliff some time before Covid-19 changed our lives. Tottenham v Everton is a battle of scripted reality star José Mourinho and perhaps a glimpse of James Rodríguez. Sheffield United v Wolves sees Chris Wilder’s Blades shorn of the tag of surprise package against Nuno’s squad, who are entitled to be more than a little knackered after last season’s endeavours. And, last of all, on Monday, Brighton v Frank Lampard’s Chelsea sees London’s Blues restored to their previous role of big spenders.
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