Summary
Transfers: Man City agree £81.5m fee to sell Alvarez to Atletico Madrid
Transfers: Hammers also complete Dortmund striker Fullkrug deal for £27m
Gossip: Newcastle close in on Palace centre-back Guehi
Olympics: France & Spain through to men's final; build-up to women's semi-finals
Reaction to Fulham's 2-1 friendly defeat to Sevilla
Maresca & Caicedo interviews as Chelsea prepare to take on European champions Real Madrid
Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Live Reporting
Craig Nelson, Sarah Rendell & Holly Bacon
Join us again soonpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 6 August
14:35 BST 6 August
Thank you for joining us today and for all your contributions. Here is a recap of the day's main headlines:
- Atletico Madrid and Manchester City agree fee for Julian Alvarez
- Change needed to 'protect' academy players - Maresca
- West Ham sign Rodriguez
There is some football tonight with Rangers in Champions League action, both women's Olympic semi-finals and Chelsea play Real Madrid in a pre-season friendly (from 00:00 BST on Wednesday).
We will reflect on that and more when we return tomorrow morning, see you then.
Can Brazil overcome world champions Spain?published at 14:32 British Summer Time 6 August
14:32 BST 6 August
Brazil v Spain (20:00 BST)
Brazil have a difficult task in the day's second Olympic semi-final as they come up against world champions Spain (20:00 BST).
Brazil have grown in this tournament, while Spain have been one of the best throughout the competition.
They were dealt a blow though with legend Marta being handed a suspension after receiving a red card when Brazil lost 2-0 to Spain in the group stage.
The Olympics is set to be Marta's last international tournament and while she is suspended for tonight's last-four encounter she could make one last appearance in either the bronze or gold-medal match.
Hayes looks to take United States back to the toppublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 6 August
14:28 BST 6 August
United States v Germany (17:00 BST)
Image source, Getty Images
The United States Women's National Team (USWNT) have not been in the Olympic final since winning a fourth gold in 2012 and new head coach Emma Hayes is looking to improve their record.
This is Hayes' first competition in charge of the USWNT after leaving Chelsea at the end of the season after winning five WSL titles in a row.
Hayes proved she is capable of leading the team to a win over Germany as the two sides played one another in the group stage, the US winning 3-0.
“Even if you play the same opponent a week apart, they’re always two very, very different games,” Hayes said. “Our shot conversion was high in the first game. This is a tight match-up, but one we’ll prepare for a little bit today. We’ve been doing stuff yesterday, too, so we’ll be ready.”
And she added on Germany: “Very direct, are unbelievable in the transition, but also a team that knows how to stay in a game."
Paris 2024: Germany's Popp and Schuller out injuredpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 6 August
14:25 BST 6 August
United States v Germany (17:00 BST)
Image source, Getty Images
You won't have long to wait for some live football today, with the semi-finals of the Olympic women's competition due to start at 17:00 BST, when United States take on Germany.
Germany's Alexandra Popp and Lea Schuller have both been ruled out with injury.
In comparison, all of the United States Women's National Team have trained in the run up to the match, with Emily Fox returning from injury.
Liverpool to play three WSL games at Anfieldpublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 6 August
14:20 BST 6 August
Image source, Getty Images
In the Women's Super League, Liverpool have announced they will play three games at Anfield in the upcoming season.
The WSL fixtures are:
See AlsoFootball live: Transfer news latest & pre-season updatesFootball live: WSL fixtures released and transfer updatesPremier League pre-season: Which club flew the most this summer?Scores & Fixtures - Football - BBC Sport- Liverpool v Manchester City, 13 October
- Liverpool v Manchester United,16 March
- Liverpool v Everton, 4 May
Scottish clubs discover potential European opponentspublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 6 August
14:18 BST 6 August
Rangers are not the only Scottish club faced with European qualifiers.
A number of sides were involved in Monday's draw for the qualification rounds in all three of Uefa's cup competitions.
Hearts will take on Ukrainian side Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih or Czech team Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League play-off.
In the Conference League play-off, Kilmarnock will face Denmark's FC Copenhagen or Banik Ostrava from the Czech top flight. That will be if they beat Tromso.
If St Mirren get past Norwegian side Brann they mill meet either Romania's Corvinul Hunedoara or Astana from the Kazakhstan Premier League.
Rangers team newspublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 6 August
14:15 BST 6 August
Dynamo Kyiv v Rangers (19:00 BST)
Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland in LublinNew Rangers signing Robin Propper is fit to play against Dynamo Kyiv following his move from Twente, but manager Philippe Clement said he is undecided whether the Dutch defender will start.
It's a similar situation for Vaclav Cerny, who made his debut from the bench against Hearts in their Scottish Premiership opener on Saturday, but Oscar Cortes is out for up to five weeks with a twisted knee.
Dujon Sterling has travelled with the squad having missed the 0-0 draw in Tynecastle through injury.
CL spot would make a 'world of difference' - Clementpublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 6 August
14:13 BST 6 August
Dynamo Kyiv v Rangers (19:00 BST)
Rangers
Image source, Getty Images
Rangers boss Philippe Clement said it would make a "big world of difference" for Rangers to qualify for the new league phase of the Champions League.
"Of course everybody wants to be in the Champions League," he said.
"For the club it would be a big world of difference, for the players also because they get better paid in the Champions League, so they like that more.
"It's the biggest stage in the world, so you can play against the best players in the world but I think all the European competitions have evolved that much.
"Also in the Europa League you have really big games. Even in the Conference League, at the end stage you can have really big games."
Rangers in UCL qualifierpublished at 14:11 British Summer Time 6 August
14:11 BST 6 August
Dynamo Kyiv v Rangers (19:00 BST)
Rangers
Image source, Getty Images
Rangers begin their Champions League qualification quest against Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday night (19:00 BST).
The third qualifying round tie will be played at Arena Lublin in Poland.
Hampden Park will host the second leg on Tuesday, 12 August.
The winners will face Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg or FC Twente, from the Dutch Erdevisie, in a play-off for qualification to the new, bigger league phase.
All eyes on Scotlandpublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 6 August
14:08 BST 6 August
The Scottish Premiership kicked off at the weekend and Aberdeen brought the opening round of fixtures to a close on Monday night with a 2-1 win against St Johnstone in what was Dons boss Jimmy Thelin's first league match in charge.
Celtic began their title defence with a 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock.
Meanwhile, Rangers played out a 0-0 draw against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Some Scottish clubs will now quickly turn their attention from domestic matters to Europe...
This week's pre-season fixturespublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 6 August
14:04 BST 6 August
All times in BST
With preparations ramping up for the start of the new Premier League season, here's a schedule of pre-season fixtures for this week involving top-flight teams:
Wednesday, 7 August
Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen, Emirates Stadium (18:00)
Aston Villa v Athletic Bilbao, Bescot Stadium (19:30)
Chelsea v Real Madrid, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte (00:00)
Thursday, 8 August
Olympiakos v Nottingham Forest, Karaiskakis Stadium (19:00)
Friday, 9 August
Newcastle v Girona, St James' Park (19:30)
Brentford v Wolfsburg, Gtech Community Stadium (19:45)
Smith Rowe 'really happy' at Fulhampublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 6 August
14:02 BST 6 August
Fulham 1-2 Sevilla
Image source, Getty Images
Emile Smith Rowe says Fulham is "like a family" and he is "really happy" at his new club.
The 24-year-old English midfielder joined Fulham from Arsenal for £27m on Friday.
"Personally, it was really good," Smith Rowe told the club website following his Fulham debut.
"Disappointed with the result, you always want to win in pre-season. But step-by-step, we have got to take each game [at a time] and personally I am happy with my first minutes today."
On being welcomed by the club, he added: "I've only trained twice so it has been new and challenging to make connections with my new team-mates. Today it showed we are gelling really well already so I can't wait for the next one.
"It's like a family here. Everyone is so close and it's just amazing. I feel really happy to be here to be honest."
Smith Rowe scores on Fulham debutpublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 6 August
13:54 BST 6 August
Fulham 1-2 Sevilla
Image source, Getty Images
Emile Smith Rowe scored on his debut for new club Fulham in their pre-season friendly loss against Sevilla.
Sevilla's Isaac Romero scored two goals in the first half to put the Spanish club 2-0 up at half-time.
Smith Rowe was a half-time replacement and needed just seven minutes to head home to ignite hope for Fulham. The former Arsenal man almost equalised but Orjan Nyland made a good save.
Bremer blow but Chiesa hope for Liverpool - reportspublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 6 August
13:51 BST 6 August
Tuesday's gossip column
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Juventus defender Gleison Bremer after the 27-year-old Brazilian agreed a new contract with the Italian giants, as per Fabrizio Romano, external.
But according to the Mirror, external, Liverpool's hopes of landing Federico Chiesa, 26, have been boosted with Juventus boss Thiago Motta revealing the Italian winger could move on.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 13:46 British Summer Time 6 August
13:46 BST 6 August
#bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)
Incredible window from West Ham. The first time we’ve had real depth in many years. A team is being assembled of top international players and I think Fullkrug will be signing of the season. Rodriguez is exceptional cover for Alvarez. I worried I wouldn’t see a European adventure again for a long time, but I’m backing us to finish top six this season.
Anon
Another incoming for Chelsea?published at 13:42 British Summer Time 6 August
13:42 BST 6 August
Tuesday's gossip column
Image source, Getty Images
Sky Sports , externalare reporting that Chelsea are in discussions with Atletico Madrid over a deal worth around £35m for 20-year-old Spanish forward Samu Omorodion.
get involved Get Involved - is sale of academy players a Premier League problem?published at 13:39 British Summer Time 6 August
13:39 BST 6 August
#bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)
I get what Maresca's saying and perhaps a lot of people agree, but in another sense the current rules benefit academy players. Take Chelsea, for years they hoarded young players, such as Callum Hudson-Odoi et al, when arguably it would've made more sense for them to be sold to get minutes elsewhere. The current rules are positive in that way because academy players are better able to make that leap into the first team, which also benefits England.
Jagon, Bristol
Has potential sale of academy graduate Gallagher hit a nerve?published at 13:37 British Summer Time 6 August
13:37 BST 6 August
Katie Stafford
BBC SportImage source, BBC Sport
If Conor Gallagher should leave Chelsea this summer for Atletico Madrid then he will be the eighth academy player to be sold in the Clearlake era.
Chelsea have had a profitable academy for some time and in the years from 2014 to 2023 they made £295.5m from 28 player sales. That is the highest of any club in England.
Defender Fikayo Tomori was sold to AC Milan in 2021 when he was barely featuring for the Blues and they made £25m from that move alone. The recent sales of Ian Maatsen and Omari Hutchinson also highlight Chelsea's use of the loan market to boost a player's value before selling.
And should Gallagher sign for Atletico for £33m, he will be the fourth-most profitable academy departure in the last 10 years, with only Mason Mount, Maatsen and Tammy Abraham having a higher price tag.
Chelsea have spent more than £1bn on players in the Todd Boehly era and with that has come the pinch of profit and sustainability regulations (PSR).
Rules state that a club is not allowed to make a loss of more than £105m over a three-year period or they are to face charges.
Since the the 2022 takeover Chelsea have made more than £180.5m from selling academy players alone, which has helped to balance the books and keep them within regulations.
But academy players who left before the Clearlake takeover were not regular starters. So does the reaction of Chelsea fans to the potential sale of a well-liked captain in Gallagher show it has hit a nerve?
get involved Get Involved - is sale of academy players a Premier League problem?published at 13:24 British Summer Time 6 August
13:24 BST 6 August
#bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)
Chelsea fan here, we wouldn’t have to sell our academy players if we hadn’t spent obscene amounts of money on bog-standard players like Mudryk, Kepa, Disasi etc. Don’t blame the system blame the scouting.
Rich in Oxford
West Ham's Wan-Bissaka hopes suffer blowpublished at 13:22 British Summer Time 6 August
13:22 BST 6 August
Tuesday's gossip column
Image source, Getty Images
West Ham may have made six signings so far this summer, but their hopes of tempting Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United have been dealt a blow, according to the Sun, external.
The 26-year-old full-back is reported to be pushing for a multi-million pound pay-off from the club.
The English defender arrived at Old Trafford in June 2019 from Crystal Palace.