Relive Daily Mail Sport's live blog for every Premier press conference ahead of this weekend - plus the latest on the biggest transfer stories.

Cherki's first goal saw him poke home after he demonstrated superb skill and quick feet to take the ball past several Palace defenders‚ before his second was a long range strike that took a slight deflection.

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage for the latest updates of Crystal Palace's Premier League clash with Manchester City at Selhurst Park.

Premier League footballers are knocking hundreds of thousands of pounds off the asking prices of their homes in a bid to sell them. The stars in Cheshire's so-called 'Golden Triangle' and its surrounding areas are having to slash the cost of their mansions to secure sales.

James White was banned from every football ground in the country in 2023 after he pleaded guilty to displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment‚ alarm or distress. The 36-year-old had worn a United jersey with the number 97 on the back along with the words 'Not Enough' at the club's FA Cup Final with Manchester City .

KIERAN GILL: Xabi Alonso says he chose a Chelsea squad that had the 'desire to play' and decided he could not select Enzo Fernandez after speaking privately with the Manchester City target. Fernandez was missing from the match-day selection for Thursday's Carabao Cup win over Luton Town. That was despite Alonso insisting the day before that he would use the Argentinian‚ 25. Fernandez's absence immediately sparked speculation that City had opened club-to-club talks surrounding a potential £120million transfer. However‚ Chelsea sources on Thursday night insisted after defeating Luton that they were still awaiting a formal approach.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY CRAIG HOPE: 'Disgraced and hairy‚ that's all your lot ever call me‚' says Richard Keys. Instinctively‚ I look to his hands. Where's the hair gone? A vanity move? 'Yes!' intercepts Andy Gray. 'No‚ no‚ no‚' corrects Keys. 'I'll tell you what it was.'

Former Premier League star Akos Buzsaky has admitted he had been 'overwhelmed' by 'significant changes in his life' as he confirmed he is safe after being reported missing. The 44-year-old‚ who played for QPR in the English top flight‚ had been missing from Budapest since August 18. Police in Hungary had launched a search‚ while his former clubs had expressed their concern over his wellbeing.

Mohamed Salah's new manager has had his resignation blocked by Trabzonspor after the club crashed out of the Europa League. Trabzonspor had been hoping to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in their play-off tie‚ but were thrashed 4-0 by Hungarian side Ferencvaros on Thursday night. An early red card from summer signing Ruslan Malinovskyi had left the Turkish side facing an uphill battle to get back into the tie.

KIERAN GILL AT STAMFORD BRIDGE: We love a transfer update in today's world of club-to-club talks and verbal agreements and sources whispering this and that‚ but there is nothing quite as clear as a surprise absentee on a match day. It smacks of something happening behind the scenes‚ and Manchester City target Enzo Fernandez was nowhere to be seen at Stamford Bridge‚ neither in the team nor on the bench nor in the stands supporting his team-mates in this Carabao Cup second-round victory. That was despite Xabi Alonso telling us a day previous that he intended on using him against League One visitors Luton. Chelsea did not need him. They won by two goals‚ with Danny Welbeck scoring and Hakeem Odoffin sending Estevao Willian's shot into his own net. They arguably should have won by six with the chances that Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers had.

Emi Martinez is poised to join Chelsea from Aston Villa for £7.5million - the fourth deal involving the clubs this summer. The Argentina goalkeeper has been surplus to requirements at Villa Park since the club signed Zion Suzuki from Parma earlier this month. It means Martinez‚ Lucas Digne‚ Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans should all have left by the end of the transfer window - and they were four of Villa's highest earners.

Jude Bellingham‚ Jose Mourinho and Harry Kane all stand in Arsenal's way as they seek to go one better than last season's Champions League final defeat. The Premier League winners have been handed a tricky looking path to the knockout stages - along with rivals Manchester City - following a draw overseen by Gunners legend Thierry Henry in Monaco which could also prompt a return to England for Mason Greenwood. Mikel Arteta's side will be keen to dispel the heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Paris Saint-Germain however‚ there will no be no easy route to the final at the home of Atletico Madrid.

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest news and updates of the 2026/27 Champions League group phase draw‚ with Arsenal‚ Manchester City‚ Manchester United‚ Liverpool‚ and Aston Villa all in the fold.

That's one way to shut people up. Don't score enough goals for £85million? Score one 11 minutes after coming on to the pitch. Don't create enough? Grab an assist three minutes later. As debut cameos go‚ Savio and Roberto De Zerbi could have asked for little more.

The two-time Champions League winner has played for some of the world's biggest clubs in Real Madrid‚ Juventus‚ AC Milan‚ Chelsea‚ and Atletico Madrid‚ but is now poised to join a club nicknamed the Cucumber Growers with a 14‚500-capacity stadium. Como and Leganes are finalising a deal after the player requested to move‚ according to Marca.

Jamie Carragher reportedly faces being declared bankrupt over an unpaid tax bill. HMRC reportedly filed a petition at the High Court in London on WednesdayJamie Carragher faces being declared bankrupt over an unpaid tax bill. HMRC filed a petition at the High Court in London on Wednesday. Daily Mail Sport has contacted Carragher's management for comment.

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola in a package which could reach £120million. Barcola‚ 23‚ has been a long-term target of Liverpool this summer but this week they made checks on Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr and also held discussions for Brighton's Yankuba Minteh. The deal will be the biggest of the summer transfer window so far‚ eclipsing Chelsea's £117m move for Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

The action will then get underway on September 8‚ with eight League Phase matchdays across the next four-and-a-half months - before the knockout rounds take centre stage.

SPURS 5-1 CHARLTON - MATT BARLOW AT THE TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM: Nineteen minutes was all the time required by Savio to deliver the perfect response to anyone who considers £85million too much to pay for an attacking player who neither scores nor creates enough goals. The Brazilian‚ signed from Manchester City on Monday‚ came off the bench to mark his debut with a goal and an assist against the second string of second tier Charlton‚ who were already flagging when he appeared. Savio claimed Tottenham's fourth goal‚ a delightful low finish on the end of a twinkle-toed dribble and was denied a second goal when another solo effort clipped Ben Davies and went in for the fifth.

Jose Mourinho's first game back at the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid manager got off to a winning start after a thumping 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as the Spanish giants won their first home match of the LaLiga season. While Real's star striker collected the match ball‚ it was he and Jude Bellingham who picked up the accolades for their performances.

Guendouzi goaded Lyon supporters as he left the field after the Turkish side had booked their spot in the league phase with a 2-1 victory at the Groupama Stadium. The 27-year-old's antics were met with a furious response from a man dressed in a Lyon tracksuit‚ later identified by French newspaper L'Equipe as the club's goalkeeping coach Antonio Ferreira.

CRAIG HOPE: Newcastle have NOT given up hope of signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo before the transfer deadline despite Lille's £60m aksing price.

The Anfield club have been assessing different opportunities in the market as they look to add two attacking players before Tuesday.

Manchester United have fallen foul of Premier League kit rules after one game of the season. Eagle-eyed observers have pointed out that United did not comply during their opening day defeat at Hull City.

Abdulmalik‚ who scored and assisted in last season's National League play-off final defeat to Rochdale‚ is currently on strike at Boreham Wood as he tries to force an astonishing £1million-plus move to Swedish top-flight club Djurgarden. Daily Mail Sport understands there is no agreement between the two clubs‚ despite Boreham Wood clearly outlining their demands.

Cristiano Ronaldo's relationship with new Al Nassr boss Ange Postecoglou already appears to be under scrutiny just three matches into the season. Al Nassr completed a remarkable comeback from two goals down to beat rivals Al Ettifaq 3-2 on Tuesday‚ but it was no thanks to Ronaldo‚ who earns an astronomical £488‚000 a day‚ that the reigning champions claimed all three points. The visitors appeared to be heading for defeat after enduring a disastrous first half which saw goalkeeper Bento sent off in the 12th minute for a challenge on former Fulham striker Moussa Dembele after rushing out of his box.

Since embarking on their maiden European voyage in the old Inter-City Fairs Cup some 64 years ago‚ Celtic have scaled some dizzying heights and experienced some crushing lows. Perhaps never before has the sense of sheer desolation felt quite as acute as it did when the final whistle signal sounded last night in northern Austria.

Bruno Fernandes has been named the PFA Players' Player of the Year after a landmark 2025-26 campaign in which the Manchester United captain broke the Premier League record for most assists in a single season. Fernandes surpassed the previous mark of 20‚ jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne‚ on the final day of the season when he set up Patrick Dorgu's header against Brighton to register his 21st assist of the campaign. Fernandes has already won the Premier League Player of the Season and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year accolades‚ and completed the hat-trick by collecting the prestigious‚ player-voted award at Manchester's Opera House on Tuesday evening.

MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: The 25-year-old Dutchman made just five starts in all competitions last season and was an unused substitute at the MKM Stadium on Saturday. Zirkzee is eager to get regular first-team minutes‚ and the sense around the player is that a compromise is required on all sides to facilitate a move.

Daily Mail Sport reported last month how Jackson was interested in a potential switch to Villa to work with his former head coach Unai Emery again‚ after their time together at Villarreal. Jackson's name came up during conversations between Chelsea and Villa centred on Morgan Rogers‚ who moved to Stamford Bridge for a club-record £117m. Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on loan from Chelsea this summer also‚ leaving only a permanent move as a possibility for Jackson due to rules.

Manchester United have announced the signing of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba in a £70million deal. Baleba has signed a five-year-contract at Old Trafford with the option to extend it by 12 months after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical. United will pay an initial £65m and up to £5m more in add-ons to Brighton who have included a sell-on clause as part of the deal.

KIERAN GILL: Cole Palmer twisted and turned Antonee Robinson until Fulham's left back resembled a pretzel at times. Palmer brought the mustard even when Alvaro Arbeloa doubled up on him.

Speaking on FC Bullard The Show‚ Terry said: 'We played‚ I think it was like the second round of the FA Cup‚ Walsall away or something.'

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has criticised Bruno Fernandes' post-match comments after United's opening-day loss to Hull at the weekend. United fell to a 2-0 defeat at the MKM Stadium on Saturday‚ conceding both goals from set pieces in the first half of the opening Premier League weekend. Newly promoted Hull have been widely tipped as favourites for relegation. After the match‚ the United captain complained to the media that his side had made the 'same mistakes as we did last season (in away matches)'. The Portugal midfielder added: 'Every away game we give too much of the ball to them. In the first 20 minutes‚ the goalkeeper was the one with the most touches.

The Blues previously set City a deadline of 5pm on August 13 to pay £120m to get the deal done - a deadline City did not meet. But contact has continued with his agent Javier Pastore so City know the 25-year-old is open to coming and now they are set to come back in for the midfielder‚ who played the final half-hour of Chelsea's 3-2 win over Fulham on Monday night.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher's competitive sides came out once more on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football as they made their annual Premier League predictions at the start of the season. The long-time adversaries now pundits and friends revealed their thoughts after their post-match analysis of Chelsea's 3-2 win at Fulham. And as you would expect the pair didn't see eye-to-eye - especially when it came to their own beloved clubs: Manchester United and Liverpool.

Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool's summer signings from last year to do better or face being branded as the worst collection of transfers in Premier League history. The Reds spent £445million ahead of the 2025-26 campaign as they looked to defend their Premier League title won in 2024-25. Liverpool broke the Premier League record twice that summer - signing Florian Wirtz for £116m before then breaking that to sign Alexander Isak for £125m.

Xabi Alonso's Chelsea reign got off to a winning start with a 3-2 victory at west-London rivals Fulham. Chelsea took the lead within seconds when Joao Pedro broke the deadlock before Josh King equalised midway through the first half after a Robert Sanchez error. After half-time Chelsea pulled into a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer‚ before Gonzalo Garcia reduced the deficit for Fulham. However‚ they were unable to find an equaliser. Daily Mail Sport's KIERAN GILL was at Craven Cottage to run the rule over both teams.

FULHAM 2-3 CHELSEA - OLIVER HOLT AT CRAVEN COTTAGE: Chelsea hung on for a 3-2 win but Palmer gave them a scare when he pulled up suddenly‚ clutching his calf. It looked like cramp. The title? Chelsea's defence will have to improve but anything is possible if Palmer can stay fit and play like this.

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage for the latest updates of the west London derby as Fulham take on Chelsea at Craven Cottage in the Premier League.

Influencer Pawgli‚ who has been dating £18million full-back Pep Chavarria since November‚ has moved to the English capital despite severe reservations over the switch. In her previous videos‚ she spoke about the 'scary' prospect of leaving Madrid and the opportunities and family she has there.

OLIVER HOLT: It was‚ Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic said‚ as easy and relaxing for his goalkeeper as drinking a cup of afternoon tea. What a damning assessment of Manchester United.

Villa say they have rejected four offers from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for Watkins‚ the latest of which is thought to be around £34million‚ a price the Premier League side will not sell at.

IAN LADYMAN: Alexander Isak used to take penalties for his old club but when Liverpool won one in the 96th minute yesterday‚ I almost hoped he wouldn't take it. He didn't. But Liverpool need him. They really need him and that already feels like a problem for Andoni Iraola as he tries to navigate the early weeks of his time as Liverpool manager. As Liverpool laboured in the latter stages against Newcastle‚ Isak offered absolutely nothing but he stayed on the field simply because Iraola didn't really have any other option.

It's that time of the year again - the transfer window is now open until September 1 and it's sure to be a busy period as clubs look to make big signings ahead of the new season. Here are today's latest developments from Simon Jones and the Daily Mail Sport team.

Before the action‚ we had that lovely old intro‚ old clips‚ old voices‚ old logos‚ old Kenneth Wolstenholme telling us from August 1964: 'Welcome to Match of the Day.' Ah‚ familiarity‚ our old friend. Despite an addiction to trying to fix what is not broken‚ the BBC begin each and every MOTD by celebrating how long this staple of Saturday nights has been on our screens‚ since a time when Wolstenholme was being beamed to us in black and white.

United's Premier League season got off to a nightmare start as goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy - both stemming from set-pieces - put them to the sword in Yorkshire. Carrick was interviewed afterwards by Viaplay broadcaster Jan Age Fjortoft‚ the Norwegian who played for Swindon‚ Middlesbrough ‚ Sheffield United‚ and Barnsley in the 1990s.

Gary Neville has warned Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak to improve and become more tenacious if they are to succeed as Liverpool players. The pair are the most expensive signings in the club's history with Wirtz's £116million price-tag only bettered by Isak's £125m transfer as a Premier League record signing. The pair endured underwhelming debut seasons at Liverpool last season as the club finished fifth‚ relinquishing their Premier League crown to Arsenal.

Unai Emery hinted heavily that Ollie Watkins had been reluctant to play for Aston Villa as they were hammered by Brighton amid interest in the striker from Al-Hilal. Villa say they have rejected four offers from the Saudi Pro League club for Watkins‚ who was not included in the squad for Villa's 4-0 defeat even though the club's only other forwards‚ Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham‚ are out injured. As far as Villa are concerned‚ it is understood Watkins is neither ill nor injured. However‚ he is not thought to have trained fully last week. Watkins representative has been contacted for comment.

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage for the latest updates of Manchester City's opening game of the 2026-27 Premier League season against Bournemouth‚ plus updates from Brighton vs Aston Villa.

Paul Pogba has significantly lowered the price of his five-bedroom Cheshire mansion‚ as he pushes to sell the property amid his exit from AS Monaco. The former Manchester United midfielder has knocked £450‚000 off the original asking price of £3.95million following struggles to offload the luxurious residence. Pogba‚ 33‚ initially put the mansion on the market back in 2024 after leaving United two years prior - following six years back at the club - and was looking to secure a healthy £1m profit on the home.

He teased the new trim in a short Instagram video on Sunday morning and fans will get to see it in all its glory as City take on Bournemouth in their Premier League opener. Haaland has varied his hairstyle down the years‚ sometimes adopting a ponytail and other times letting his plumage fall freely‚ but this is a new aesthetic for the 26-year-old.

Alan Shearer has taken aim at Manchester United following their 'dreadful' performance at Hull City ‚ with the Match of the Day pundit accusing Michael Carrick's side of lacking fitness. The Red Devils wilted at newly-promoted Hull on Saturday‚ with goals from Semi Ajeyi and Nobel Mendy handing the newcomers a 2-0 victory. The manner of United's defeat has caused alarm among supporters and pundits‚ with Shearer offering a withering verdict on the BBC's flagship football show on Saturday night.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is arguing that the final months of his Crystal Palace contract are invalid and has taken his challenge to FIFA. Palace activated the option year in Mateta's contract in 2024 and his current deal is due to expire at the end of this season. But the 29-year-old is arguing that the contract should be void and that he should have been a free agent this summer.

MATT BARLOW AT THE GTECH COMMUNITY STADIUM: Amid so much change‚ some things remain the same. And there is still nothing quite like a trip to Brentford in the Premier League to bring the lofty expectations of the self-appointed elite crashing back to earth. Tottenham‚ having escaped the ignominy of relegation‚ settled upon a head coach to their liking and spent a couple of hundred million in the transfer market‚ took a hiding at the hands of the Bees and were flattered by the scoreline. Roberto De Zerbi saw his team outplayed in every department. Unable to cope with the intensity and physicality in midfield. Unable to handle Brentford's aerial presence up at the back. Unable to get a hold of the ball and offer any threat in attack

Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in front of Prime Minister Andy Burnham‚ Ipswich upset Sunderland on their return to the Premier League and Leeds earned three points at Nottingham Forest.

NATHAN SALT AT THE MKM STADIUM: Manchester United's new season optimism was extinguished across a bruising 90 minutes in which newly-promoted Hull City ran out deserved 2-0 winners. Hull City have been widely predicted to go straight back down to the Championship‚ but they did a job on Michael Carrick's United side here‚ who never looked at it from the first minute. Goals from centre backs Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy separated the sides but by the final whistle there was no dispute on who the better team was.

Premier League champions Arsenal kicked off the new season in style‚ cruising to a 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Coventry at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta's men were simply too good in every department for the Sky Blues - too quick‚ too strong and far more clinical in front of goal. This wasn't just a victory to start the season - this was a statement of intent.

CHRIS WHEELER AT THE MKM STADIUM: Well‚ Michael Carrick did say it was ridiculous to suggest Manchester United had been given an easy start to the season away at Hull City. Even in his worst nightmares‚ however‚ Carrick couldn't have foreseen this: an opening-day humiliation at the hands of a team that sneaked through the Championship play-offs in May.

The embattled FIFA president was in no mood to face serious scrutiny even though weeks have passed since his clandestine plot to sell off stakes in the World Cup. He scrapped the controversial plan after a huge backlash in the wake of The Times revealing the devious scheme‚ which would have banked him millions.

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage for the latest updates of Manchester United's opening game of the 2026-27 Premier League season away at Hull City.

The winger was left out of Mikel Arteta's squad for their 3-0 victory over Frank Lampard's Coventry City on the opening night of the Premier League season. He is one of three stars alongside Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus whose days with the Gunners look numbered after last season's title success.

Roberto De Zerbi confirmed Tottenham's board had been true to the promises made on recruitment as they closed in on a deal for Savinho from Manchester City worth up to £85million. De Zerbi vowed Spurs were 'not finished yet' in the transfer market. A swoop for Omar Marmoush‚ also from City‚ is developing and they want Cody Gakpo from Liverpool. If it all comes off it would mean a summer outlay close to £400m on nine new players and represents a radical change of policy for a club often criticised for failing to spend freely on players.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT EMIRATES STADIUM: Opening night or an encore? There will be significantly tougher games ahead for Arsenal‚ but all indications from this one would suggest complacency will not be among any shortcomings in their defence of the title. This was vicious and savage and effective in all the right ways. Had the ghost of Micky Quinn been summoned by Coventry City‚ chances are he would have been dumped on his backside along with the rest of Frank Lampard's men by the champions.

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live coverage for the latest updates of the Premier League 2026-27 season curtain-raiser between defending champions Arsenal and promoted side Coventry City.

Argentina were condemned for their thuggish antics throughout the tournament‚ prompting FIFA to investigate their behaviour following the final whistle of last month's showpiece where they were beaten 1-0 by Spain.

Premier League record-breaker Max Dowman has collected his GCSE results and is leaving school on the eve of his first season full-time as a professional footballer. 16-year-old Dowman‚ the Premier League's all-time youngest goalscorer‚ is pictured in his uniform and wearing braces receiving his results at the £30‚000-a-year Brentwood School in Essex yesterday. Dowman juggled school work with football last season as he broke through at Arsenal‚ including scoring against Everton at the Emirates Stadium in March to help the Gunners to the title and collecting his winners' medal in May.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been the victim of Premier League rule-changes - as he has been named a vice-captain but is likely to never wear the armband. Rules that came into play last season stipulate only the team captain is permitted to approach the referee to discuss major decisions or flashpoints in the game. As it would not make sense for Reds shot-stopper Alisson to run the length of the pitch to debate‚ for example‚ a penalty shout‚ he is likely to never wear the armband.

Disasi closes on Palace move

IAN LADYMAN: Pep Guardiola may be gone from the Premier League but his shadow remains. Footage from a new Manchester City documentary has revealed the desperate and unusual lengths the great Catalan went to in a bid to energise and motivate his players over the course of his final two seasons. Watching a genius struggle for new ideas is painful but insightful. Every manager in the game reaches a stage where old methods fail‚ players stop hanging on every word and the stresses and strains of the job simply become too much.

England defender Konsa‚ 28‚ has signed a four year contract with an option for a further year with the Premier League champions.

Tottenham have agreed a deal worth £85million for Manchester City winger Savinho. The fee is £75m plus a further £10m in potential add-ons‚ a record sale for City. Savinho's arrival will push Spurs' spending this summer past £300m‚ although they have recouped about £140m through the sales of Cristian Romero‚ Djed Spence and Luka Vuskovic.

Liverpool are expected to make an improved offer for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh after having a £50m bid rejected. The Gambian is out until October after undergoing surgery on his right leg. Liverpool reverted to the 22-year-old after considering Ibrahim Mbaye of Paris St Germain too expensive. They are continuing discussions for Bradley Barcola.

It's been a long 12 weeks since the final day of the 2025-26 season but football fans can finally rejoice - the Premier League is back. With a bang‚ too. Liverpool‚ Manchester City‚ Chelsea‚ and Newcastle are just a clutch of the boldfaced names with new managers to keep an eye on‚ and anticipation is rising to see the summer rebuilds clubs have ushered in. Now‚ on the eve of the return of top-flight football‚ Daily Mail Sport experts Oliver Holt‚ Ian Herbert‚ Mike Keegan‚ Kieran Gill‚ Lewis Steele and make their final predictions.

Manchester City have identified Roma's Manu Kone as a potential signing in their revamped midfield after selling Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders. The 25-year-old has spent the past two years in Serie A‚ scoring four goals in 63 appearances for Roma‚ but is more renowned for his dynamism and excels off the ball.

BOOK EXTRACT: On the final day of the season‚ Martin Odegaard was one of the last players to make his way off the Selhurst Park turf with the Premier League trophy in his hands. Photographers commissioned by the league had already snapped the rest of the team individually and were waiting for the captain. As Odegaard spoke to photographers about getting his picture taken‚ an Arsenal staff member pulled the trophy off him‚ telling the Norwegian that 'the boss wants it (the trophy)' before quickly carrying it over to Mikel Arteta. Even in success‚ there was one man who superseded it all. The power a manager wields at a football club is complex. It's not linear. It grows over time and shows itself in differing ways. In the Premier League‚ the power Arteta holds at Arsenal is of a rarer kind.

The Premier League gets underway on Friday as champions Arsenal host Frank Lampard's newly promoted Coventry City. It has been another summer of significant change‚ both on the pitch and in the dugout. Nine clubs will begin the campaign with new managers‚ although some familiar faces remain in the division‚ with Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola among those to have switched clubs rather than arrived from outside the league. Newly promoted Hull City‚ Ipswich Town and Coventry will meanwhile be looking to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

CHRIS WHEELER: Michael Carrick says it's 'ridiculous' to suggest Manchester United have been handed an easy start to the season - and admits it's asking a lot for his team to be considered title challengers. United kick off the campaign at Hull City on Saturday lunchtime followed by a first home game against another of the newly-promoted teams‚ Ipswich Town‚ at Old Trafford the following week. But Carrick has rejected claims that United have been given an easy ride‚ saying: 'There are no favourable starts. It's an easy thing to throw out there but pretty ridiculous.

EXCLUSIVE: The former Chelsea and England man has triggered outrage in East Yorkshire thanks to comments he made with former West Ham team-mate Carlton Cole on a podcast.

It's that time of the year again - the transfer window is now open until September 1 and it's sure to be a busy period as clubs look to make big signings ahead of the new season. Here are today's latest developments from Simon Jones and the Daily Mail Sport team...

The return of the Premier League is a matter of days away and there will be plenty of new faces in the dugout and on the field. Here are seven reasons to get excited about the new season...

Marcus Rashford has thanked Jamie Carragher for shutting down talk about his future at Man United after Gary Neville was keen to dig into the subject. The England international returned to Old Trafford after his Barcelona loan expired and his £325‚000-a-week wages have made it tricky to find a new club. Last year‚ it seems incredibly unlikely that Rashford would be able to settle back at Man United again but he featured in their last pre-season friendly and looks set for reintegration.

At the time‚ United insiders insisted that it was the club's intention to complete the transfer in early July after the structure of the deal and personal terms were agreed with Atalanta and the player.

Inter Milan are on the verge of signing Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones after a summer-long back and forth. The six-time England international‚ who joined Liverpool aged nine‚ has had his heart set on a move to Serie A for some time after failing to regularly establish himself as a starter at Anfield. And it now appears he will leave‚ with the two clubs in dialogue. A fee of around £30million will get the deal done‚ with Inter signaling they are ready to pay it.

Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness has revealed neurologists provided written confirmation Jamal Musiala was able to play after admitting he was left 'speechless' by the star collapsing twice on the pitch in four days. Musiala‚ 23‚ revealed on Tuesday that he is receiving treatment for a 'neurological dysfunction'‚ which has led to his on pitch collapses. The Bayern star fell just six minutes after coming off the bench during their 4-2 victory over Heidenheim in a pre-season friendly.

Manchester United are closing on a £65million deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. Talks resumed for the Cameroon international in recent weeks after it became apparent his ankle ligament injury was not as serious as first feared. He is expected to be fit towards the end of September.

Musiala‚ 23‚ fell down just six minutes after coming off the bench during Bayern's 4-2 victory over Heidenheim in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday.

It seemed for a very long time that the fairytale of the summer‚ the one about the king returning to his castle‚ would enter its final chapter within the walls of the Bernabeu Stadium. That has been the narrative everyone has heard for at least the last year‚ if not longer. 'And after Diomande... Rodri ‚' read a headline in Spanish outlet Marca earlier this month. 'At Real Madrid‚ there is great optimism regarding the arrival of the Spanish midfielder‚ the crowning achievement of a spectacular project spearheaded by Jose Mourinho‚' its author wrote.

Watkins‚ 30‚ is open to the move as the Saudi side have made a couple of proposals this summer but Villa want to keep him.

On-field conversations between players and referees will be broadcast during Premier League games this season. Last season‚ the Premier League introduced RefCam - a camera mounted to the referee's ear which showcased their view of proceedings. And in up to two games per week‚ its remit has been expanded to include audio‚ revealing interactions between players and referees.

The 24-year-old is one of a number of options Newcastle are considering to replace Bruno Guimaraes after his £75million move to Arsenal. They are keen to bring in an experienced midfielder to slot straight in before Sunday's Premier League opener at home to Liverpool.

MIKE KEEGAN: Marcus Rashford has left Manchester United officials 'seriously impressed' following his return to the club after his loan spell at Barcelona. Insiders at United's training ground say the 28-year-old‚ who made his first appearance for his boyhood club for 20 months on Saturday‚ has fully embraced what could be viewed as a tricky situation and has been working relentlessly in sessions. There is a growing belief within Old Trafford that Rashford will remain at the club beyond the end of the transfer window and‚ should that be the case‚ there is cautious optimism over what could be a new chapter in a long‚ and not always-smooth United career. The likelihood of Rashford remaining in Manchester increases with each day that passes‚ although more than a fortnight remains to the closure of the transfer window.

The mysteriously named influencer Pawgli‚ who has been dating the footballer since November last year‚ broke down in tears in one video. She says in other videos that she finds the prospect of moving to the English capital 'scary' and that she is 'panicking' over whether to relocate or not.

Wayne Rooney has named the player that Manchester United 'can't rely on' heading into the new season during the first episode of his new Red Devils-centric podcast. Man United were downed by former manager Ruben Amorim's AC Milan 4-2 in their final pre-season friendly ahead of the start of the new Premier League season.

The League One club have shared dressing room footage from their trip to Reading on Saturday‚ which saw the Hatters recover from 3-1 down to win 4-3. Jack Marriott had given Reading their lead with a hat-trick but Luton were level within seven minutes of the restart and Gideon Kodua netted a 97th-minute winner.

JACK GAUGHAN: While presiding over a wretched stretch of nine defeats in 12 games‚ the Catalan dug deep into his soul in an attempt to shock City players into action. After losing 2-0 away at Juventus in the Champions League ‚ a visibly frustrated Guardiola compared the separation to a sharp decline in performances from his team.

JACK GAUGHAN: Even when signing his final new contract in November 2024‚ Pep Guardiola knew that change would soon be necessary at Manchester City. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak could feel their time together coming to a close during a meeting in Abu Dhabi to decide on an extension amid the worst run of results throughout Guardiola's gilded career.

MIKE KEEGAN: Talks are ongoing over a deal that could value the club at £5bn - although whether an agreement can be struck remains to be seen. It is understood that discussions have been taking place on and off for the last two years amid differences in strategy between the two American groups who joined forces to buy the club in a forced sale from Roman Abramovich for £2.5bn with a further commitment of a £1.75bn investment in 2022. While Clearlake owns 61.5 per cent‚ it shares joint control with Boehly‚ who is close to the end of a five-year term as chairman. Next May‚ that role will switch to Clearlake.

The newest edition of the game‚ formerly called FIFA‚ will be fully released on September 25‚ with fans able to play on PC‚ PlayStation‚ Xbox‚ Nintendo Switch‚ and Amazon Luna. To build anticipation for its release‚ EA SPORTS have revealed official ratings‚ with the gradings for the world's top stars revealed. There is no outright leader in terms of the highest rating of men's players - with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland both rated 91 for the launch.

SIMON JONES: Galatasaray‚ Atletico Madrid‚ Juventus and AC Milan are among the clubs who have been weighing up an offer for the United captain. It is understood Galatasaray are ready to put forward £42.7million for the 31-year-old but his intention has been to stay and see if he can realise his ambition of leading United to a Premier League title challenge. Fernandes was hurt by the club's stance last year when Al Hilal were prepared to offer £80m.