Football and transfers latest: De Ligt and Mazraoui close in on Man Utd move (2024)

Live Reporting

Ben Collins, Craig Nelson, Jonty Colman and Tyrese King

1. That's all from uspublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 13 August

   15:33 BST 13 August

   That's it from us here on this live text, but there's plenty more football to come this evening.

   We will have live updates from the first round of the EFL Cup in our live text page here.

   You can also follow live updates from the second leg of Rangers' Champions League third-round qualifying tie against Dynamo Kyiv here, external.

   As we bid you farewell, here is a reminder of today's top stories:

   • West Ham sign Man Utd defender Wan-Bissaka for £15m
   • Haaland and James nominated for PFA player of year awards
   • Ten new players to watch in the Premier League
   • The rise and fall of North Korea - the sleeping giant of women's football

2. EFL Cup returnspublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 13 August

   15:31 BST 13 August

   The first round of the EFL Cup starts tonight with a bumper 32 ties to be played.

   Sheffield United, who return to this stage of the competition after dropping down from the Premier League, face League One side Wrexham, while Portsmouth host fellow Championship side Millwall.

   Bristol City play Coventry, and Stockport County take on Blackburn Rovers.

   Sunderland will play away to Preston North-End and Oxford take on Peterborough at home.

   Click here to read the full list of tonight's EFL Cup ties.

   Image source, Getty Images

3. Palmer extends Chelsea contract until 2033published at 15:27 British Summer Time 13 August

   15:27 BST 13 AugustBreaking

   Nizaar Kinsella
   BBC Sport football news reporter

   Image source, Getty Images

   Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer has signed a two-year contract extension at Stamford Bridge.

   Palmer, 22, already had seven years remaining on his existing contract and his new extension keeps him with the Blues until 2033, having previously been tied down until 2031.

   The nine-year deal is yet to be officially announced.

   Palmer's incredible debut season for the Blues following a £42.5m arrival from Manchester City saw him score 22 goals and provide 11 assists in 33 Premier League appearances.

4. Kyiv boss eager to sample Hampden energypublished at 15:22 British Summer Time 13 August

   15:22 BST 13 August

   Rangers v Dynamo Kyiv (agg 1-1)

   Image source, Getty Images

   Dynamo Kyiv head coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi says his team are looking forward to sampling the "energy and positive emotions from a full Hampden Park",

   They face Rangers at Scotland's national stadium tonight in their Champions League third qualifying-round match.

   Rangers have started the season playing their home games at Hampden while construction work at Ibrox is finished.

   The former Ukraine goalkeeper sampled the stadium in 2007 when his side lost 3-1 to Scotland in a Euro 2008 qualifier.

   "Glasgow is a very special place for me," he said. "Apart from the fact I played here, I was part of the national team which played Sweden in the previous Euro play-off and won 2-1 in extra time, so a lot of positive emotions.

   "Ukraine played Scotland at Hampden for the play-offs for the World Cup in Qatar and they won decisively too."

5. 'Finish off the game'published at 15:18 British Summer Time 13 August

   15:18 BST 13 August

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   Rangers v Dynamo Kyiv (agg 1-1)

   Rangers

   Image source, Getty Images

   Rangers manager Philippe Clement has challenged his players to "finish off the game" as they prepare to host Dynamo Kyiv in the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying-round tie.

   Cyriel Dessers scored a late equaliser for Rangers in the first leg last week as Dynamo Kyiv were held 1-1 in their home leg, in Poland.

   "To have a draw away, it's good," Clement told BBC Scotland. "Now we need to finish off the game in front of our fans.

   "You have the experience against them now. You know it's a really good team, but we could hurt them with the things we were doing. So it will be very interesting."

   Rangers will play either Twente or Salzburg in a play-off, should they make it past Kyiv.

   On the prospect of reaching the new-look Champions League, Clement added: "It would be massive. There are several teams trying to qualify with a much bigger budget than ours. So let's focus on Kyiv first and take that step and then we can speak about the rest."

6. Rangers & Kyiv level going into Champions League second legpublished at 15:13 British Summer Time 13 August

   15:13 BST 13 August

   Rangers v Dynamo Kyiv (agg 1-1)

   Image source, Getty Images

   Rangers aim to build on Cyriel Dessers' dramatic late equaliser away to Dynamo Kyiv last week to book a place in the Champions League play-off round for the third year running.

   The striker levelled with the last kick of the game in Lublin, Poland, with manager Philippe Clement calling it "a deserved goal" ahead of tonight's second leg at Hampden.

   The winners will meet either Twente or Salzburg, with the Austrians taking a 2-1 lead into the return leg in the Netherlands.

   The losers will drop into the Europa League.

   Kyiv progressed to the third qualifying round with a 9-2 aggregate victory over Partizan Belgrade.

   Having had their opening game of the Ukrainian Premier League postponed so they could prepare for the 1-1 draw with Rangers, they began their domestic campaign on Friday with a 2-1 win away to Veres Rivne.

   Rangers started their league season at Hampden - their temporary home while improvement works are finished at Ibrox - with a 2-1 victory against Motherwell on Saturday when Dessers was also on target.

   • Click here to read the full match preview.

7. 'Reds receive third bid for Clark'published at 15:05 British Summer Time 13 August

   15:05 BST 13 August

   The Times

   According to the Times,, external Liverpool have received a third bid from Red Bull Salzburg for 19-year-old midfielder Bobby Clark.

   The Austrian side had an £8m offer for the Englishman rejected on Sunday but the new offer is expected to be closer to the £10m asking price.

   That's one of the stories in today's gossip column.

8. Atletico also hoping to sign Lenglet once transfer limbo liftedpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 13 August

   15:01 BST 13 August

   Nick Mash*ter
   BBC Sport football news reporter

   Image source, Getty Images

   Conor Gallagher is not the only player waiting on Atletico Madrid to resolve their transfer limbo.

   Atletico are close to agreeing a loan deal to take Clement Lenglet from Barcelona but it cannot go through until they move players out.

   Centre-back Lenglet, 29, was also wanted by Villarreal but he is due to head to the Spanish capital once their issues are worked out.

   Lenglet, capped 15 times by France, has been at Barca since 2018 and has made 160 appearances but spent the last two seasons in the Premier League.

   In 2022-23 he made 35 appearances on loan at Tottenham before playing 25 times for Aston Villa last term.
9. get involved

   Get Involvedpublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 13 August

   14:57 BST 13 August

   #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

   If Arne Slot manages to get a top 6 finish this year i will be astounded. A few injuries combined with the ageing Salah and VVD could mean this will be a long season for Liverpool

   Mike

10. Williamson opens pitch in hometownpublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 13 August

    14:53 BST 13 August

    England

    England captain Leah Williamson has spoken to BBC Sport after opening a new pitch in her honour in her hometown Newport Pagnell.

    The project was financed by the Lionesses' Future Fund Grants, which is a £30m fund for grassroots women's football in England.

    See Also

    Football latest: Premier League build-up, latest transfers and weekend reaction
11. get involved

    Get Involved - can Liverpool compete without a summer signing?published at 14:46 British Summer Time 13 August

    14:46 BST 13 August

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Saying Arne Slot has only had two weeks to look at his players is not how recruitment is done these days. He's had ever since his interview to decide how he can improve on last season. They came up short last year against Manchester City and Arsenal without an international class no. 6. It seems odd that they don't have a list of targets. Would Kalvin Phillips not be an upgrade on Endo? Probably...

    Andy, Notts

12. 'Man United have players needing to prove themselves'published at 14:41 British Summer Time 13 August

    14:41 BST 13 August

    BBC Sounds

    Image source, Getty Images

    Former Arsenal and England winger Theo Walcott spoke about Manchester United's hopes for the new season on the Monday Night Club.

    Walcott has said that he wants to see United get back to the level they used to be at, adding that they have a number of players who want and need to prove themselves, as well as manager Erik ten Hag.

    "There is alot of pressure on him week in, week out, in his job. He's hadthe backing from everyone behind him but he has to get results, I understand that," said Walcott.

    "People like [Marcus] Rashford, like [Jadon] Sancho, they have not been in the England squad so are going to want to play well. They have got a point to prove,Antony as well. A lot of players that [Ten Hag's] stuck behind are going to have dowell for him because otherwise, he’s going to get the chop. Last year, when heneeded to win the FA Cup to keep his job, he did that, so I’m expectinga slight change.

    "I saw them in pre-season, they started offincredibly well against Arsenal. What was good about watching the structure, [Rasmus] Hojlund looked different. I know he’s going to be massively missed, I reallydo, because I always feel like players that come in, the second season’s alwaysa little bit better. It's started off by putting the backfour of Arsenal under some pressure. Mason Mount is another player that has got a point to prove, not just to himself, but toEngland.

    "There’s so many players that you are expecting them to perform thisyear. They’ve had the bedding-in season so now is the time to deliver. They willknow that as well, they will understand that. I hope thatManchester United are like theywere because it is better for the league."

    Listen back to the full episode of the Monday Night Club here.
13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 13 August

    14:30 BST 13 August

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    To answer the question can Liverpool compete, yes they can. But can they win the title with no additions, I really don’t think so. I have seen some fellow reds saying look at Man U and Chelsea with all their signings and how it doesn’t improve them. They are not who we should be looking at, it’s Arsenal and Man City. They keep making additions, the right ones here and there every season. Hopefully the hierarchy at LFC can still manage to do that before the season gets going otherwise we need an injury free lead up to Xmas with addition of Champions League football this year.

    Neil

14. Transfer round-uppublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 13 August

    14:25 BST 13 August

    Image source, Getty Images

    In case you are just joining us, here is a recap of today's top transfer stories so far:

    • West Ham United have signed defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United for £15m
    • Bayern Munich defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui both set for medicals at Manchester United
    • Conor Gallagher is due to return to London as he awaits the completion of a move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid. Talks for Samu Omorodion to go the other way have fallen through so Chelsea are now discussing the possibility of re-signing Joao Felix
    • Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi has been the subject of a third bid from Newcastle United. Reports are yet to emerge of a decision on that bid
    • Chelsea teenager Caleb Wiley has joined Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan. The 19-year-old only joined the Blues from MLS side Atlanta United last week

15. Chelsea mass signings 'don't make any sense'published at 14:17 British Summer Time 13 August

    14:17 BST 13 August

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Theo Walcott discussed Chelsea's transfer strategy on the Monday Night Club, as Pedro Neto became the club's 35th signing in two years under owner Todd Boehly.

    • Listen to the best bits of the Monday Night Club in the Football Daily podcast
16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 13 August

    14:13 BST 13 August

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Does anyone actually know what chelsea owners are trying to achieve with their bizarre transfer strategy? Someone needs to tell boehly this is football. You cant build a good team by trading players around like a pack of baseball cards and flogging the ones you don't like.

    Dean

17. 'Why is Ten Hag doing it again?'published at 14:06 British Summer Time 13 August

    14:06 BST 13 August

    BBC Sounds

    Image source, Getty Images

    Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has been speaking on the Monday Night Club about Manchester United's recruitment under Erik ten Hag.

    Sutton makes the point that knowing the risk to his reputation by just re-signing his former players, why is Ten Hag looking to repeat the tactic with his expected double move for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich?

    "TenHag and whoever has made this decision, they must be in alignment," said Sutton.

    "Ten Hag must realise the damage which it will do to his reputation, and Ineos and DanAshworth, if they get these signings horribly wrong, so they have to have everyfaith that these two signings - if they go through - are going to work.

    "So he has to be sure because everyone is thinkingthe same thing. Everybody is cynical. Why is he doing it again?"

    • Listen back to the full episode of the Monday Night Club here

18. Joshua Zirkzeepublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 13 August

    14:02 BST 13 August

    Top five newcomers to watch in the Premier League

    Manchester United

    Image source, Reuters

    Another new arrival to the Premier League via Bologna, Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee joined Manchester United this summer in a deal worth £36.54m.

    The former Bayern Munich player scored 12 goals in 37 appearances in Italy last season and has been handed the number 11 shirt with the Red Devils for the coming campaign.

    • Click here to read our full top 10 of newcomers to watch in the Premier League

19. Savinhopublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 13 August

    13:58 BST 13 August

    Top five newcomers to watch in the Premier League

    Manchester City

    Image source, PA Media

    Manchester City paid £30m to sign Brazil winger Savinho from Troyes in July.

    The 20-year-old starred while on loan at Spanish side Girona last season as they finished third in La Liga. He made his Brazil debut against England in March and has since picked up a further six international caps.

    City director of football Txiki Begiristain said: "He has a big role to play for Manchester City this season and beyond. We are totally confident in his ability."

20. Nikola Milenkovicpublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 13 August

    13:54 BST 13 August

    Top five newcomers to watch in the Premier League

    Nottingham Forest

    Image source, Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest are hoping to kick on this season after fighting for survival at the bottom of the table last term, and they have strengthened their defence with the signing of Serbia international Nikola Milenkovic.

    The 26-year-old joined from Italian side Fiorentina, where he made 264 appearances, scoring 17 goals.

    Milenkovic has 56 caps for Serbia and played in all of their Group C games at Euro 2024, including the 1-0 defeat by England.