The Athletic will bring you the latest news from the Premier League and around European football on Sunday.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have been named in Paris Saint-Germain’s 22-man squad ahead of their clash against Reims in Ligue 1 tonight.
Negotiations between PSG and Real Madrid over the signing of Mbappe are still ongoing after the Spanish club put in a second bid for the French star on Thursday.
The transfer market also added some extra spice this week with the news that Cristiano Ronaldo would make a sensational return to Old Trafford.
Join The Athletic news team throughout today for the latest news and updates from across the football industry.
Deeney to Birmingham City?
Troy Deeney has featured as a late substitute for Watford twice this season.
The 33-year-old is in his final year of his contract and The Athletic understands Watford may release him so he can join Birmingham City on a free transfer.
Spurs vs Watford is underway, Sissoko makes first Watford start
Spurs host Watford at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and ex Spurs player Moussa Sissoko makes his debut against his former club.
Harry Kane is back in the starting XI but Watford club captain Troy Deeney is absent from the matchday squad.
Deeney also missed their 1-0 Carabao Cup win against Crystal Palace on Tuesday as he is understood to be considering his options having fallen down the pecking order at Vicarage Road.
As Manchester United head to Molineux to face Wolves this afternoon, they may take inspiration from their predecessors from a decade ago.
‘Humiliation isn’t the word for it’ – Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal, told by those involved a decade on
Upcoming Premier League games
There are some tasty afternoon fixtures coming up today with Burnley hosting Leeds, Watford travelling to Spurs and Wolves taking on Manchester United.
If you’re just catching up with yesterday’s results, Manchester City thumped Arsenal 5-0.
Arsenal’s defensive and tactical frailties were ruthlessly exposed against City and it was all made much harder with Granit Xhaka’s red card.
For a full debrief on how they were torn apart, Michael Cox has provided the goods below.
Arsenal’s defensive trio against Man City simply could not cope with the demands of Arteta’s style
Messi and Mbappe named in PSG’s 22-man squad
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have both been named in Paris Saint-Germain’s 22-man squad for their game against Reims on Sunday night.
It sets up the possibility for Messi to make his debut as a PSG player since announcing his arrival at Parc des Princes on August 10.
Mbappe’s future, meanwhile, is still hanging in the balance with the French side understood to be in ongoing negotiations with Real Madrid.
PSG believe the cost of Messi’s deal will, effectively, pay for itself through additional commercial income. But are they right?
Elsewhere on The Athletic
Rangers face Celtic in the Scottish Premiership at the Ibrox, kick-off at midday today.
Feel free to join in and chew over the line-ups with fellow Athletic subscribers below.
Manchester United in talks with Feyenoord over Amad loan move
It’s not quite Ronaldo level news but Feyenoord are in advanced talks to sign Amad, Manchester United’s 19-year-old winger, on loan for the season.
United signed Amad last year from Atalanta in a deal potentially worth £37 million.
Amad is available on loan, but Manchester United want it to be to the right club with the right way of playing
Burnley confirm signing of Maxwel Cornet
First transfer news of the morning….
Burnley have completed the signing of Maxwel Cornet from Lyon for a fee understood to be around £15 million.
The 24-year-old has a signed a five-year contract and becomes Burnley’s fourth addition of the summer window following the acquisitions of Nathan Collins, Wayne Jennessey and Aaron Lennon.
Good morning!
After a relatively quiet transfer news day on Saturday but a hectic footballing schedule, we are back with the latest updates as deadline day looms.
Signing off for the evening!
That is it for this evening’s live updates on transfers and all the news in football!
We will be back tomorrow morning to keep you updated on all the key football stories. Have a great rest of your Saturday!
What West Ham can expect from Kurt Zouma
With vast experience at 26 years old, Kurt Zouma can offer a lot to David Moyes’s West Ham side who will be looking to secure another season in a European competition.
The Athletic’s Liam Twomey has provide all the insight as to what West Ham can expect from the French centre-back.
Aerial dominance and heroic last-ditch tackles: What West Ham can expect from Kurt Zouma
West Ham confirm the signing of Kurt Zouma
West Ham have confirmed the signing of Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma on a four-year deal.
The Athletic understands the 26-year-old centre-back has joined David Moyes’s side for €30 million (£25.8 million).
It’s an exciting move for Zouma, especially with West Ham sat top of the Premier League table with seven points.
The Premier League top six
After Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Saturday evening, this is what the Premier League top six looks like — probably not what we all expected!
Everton’s Moise Kean to have Juventus medical ahead of loan move
Moise Kean will have a medical this weekend as a move to Juventus from Everton edges closer.
The striker is on the cusp of joining the Italian giants on a two-year loan deal. The Athletic understands the transfer will become permanent providing certain targets are met. Kean is expected in Turin tonight and will have a medical on Sunday.
Liverpool 1 – 1 Chelsea: Half time
It is half-time at Anfield in what was has been a thrilling turn of events in the final stages of the first 45 minutes as Liverpool host Chelsea.
Reece James has been sent off after he denied a clear goal scoring opportunity with his hand. Mo Salah converted from the penalty spot to level out Kai Havertz’s headed goal.
How did the Ronaldo deal come to pass?
Sir Alex Ferguson, Rio Ferdinand and a network of former teammates convinced Cristiano Ronaldo to shun Manchester City and return to Old Trafford.
This was one of the most sensational transfers in living memory and Laurie Whitwell, Adam Crafton et al have all the details about exactly how this went down.
Fulham’s Kevin McDonald on his kidney transplant
The Fulham and Scotland midfielder received a kidney from his brother in late May but the recovery was anything but straightforward:
“But, listen, it is what it is. I needed to get a kidney transplant and I’m lucky enough to be blessed by the baby. It’s one of those things where you do just find a way to get on with it.
“I’ve always been quite laid-back in that sense. I’m exactly the same now. I’m in week four of a pre-season to get back to fitness. So that takes my mind off things. I’m in a good position. So as long as the kidney is working, and as long as the baby and family are fine, that’s the main thing.”
He’s been speaking to Peter Rutzler and it’s an incredibly candid interview. Simply click below to read it all.
Kevin McDonald: ‘I switched straight from “You’ve had a kidney transplant”, to “The baby’s due in a few weeks”…’
What will Ronaldo’s return mean for Manchester United?
The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo stunned the world but what will the return of the Portuguese actually mean for United?
Daniel Taylor believes nothing is beyond the iconic superstar, including the possibility of bringing the domestic title back to Old Trafford for the first time since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Restoring United to English football’s summit is Ronaldo’s mission – and what an end to his career it would be
Restoring United to English football’s summit is Ronaldo’s mission – and what an end to his career it would be
Liverpool vs Chelsea: How do you defend against Romelu Lukaku?
A look ahead to this evening’s Premier League game, as Liverpool face Chelsea in a clash between two of this season’s title favourites.
Both sides have started well – winning their opening two games of the campaign without conceding a goal.
Romelu Lukaku scored his first Chelsea goal and was voted Man of the Match at Arsenal last week after re-signing for the club in a £97.5 million deal from Inter Milan.
The Belgian striker described his own performance on his return to the Premier League as “dominant.”
“In truth, that felt like an understatement. Dismissive might be more accurate,” says The Athletic’s Dominic Fifield.
So how do Van Dijk – and Liverpool – stop him?
Read Dominic’s full piece with Nedum Onuoha and Danny Higginbotham below.
Livramento an example of Southampton’s ‘smarter’ new recruitment
Southampton right-back Valentino Livramento makes his third consecutive Premier League start this afternoon after signing from Chelsea earlier this month.
The 18-year-old did not make a single senior appearance at Stamford Bridge – but has already impressed in his short spell on the south coast so far.
Livramento and fellow youngster Thierry Small’s arrival from Everton were prompted after a shift in recruitment strategy by the club’s board this summer.
“The idea was that if the club could market themselves in a way that the most talented young players didn’t have to move to Germany and there was an option to stay in England and play Premier League football with them, it would work in Southampton’s favour,” says The Athletic’s Southampton writer Dan Sheldon.
Read the full piece below.
