Image source, Reuters

Conor Gallagher could still seal a move to Atletico Madrid, but if the deal continues to stall, the Spanish side has not ruled out a move for Valencia's 21-year-old Spanish midfielder Javi Guerra. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, Carney Chukwuemeka could also leave Chelsea, with Crystal Palace leading the race to sign the England Under-20 midfielder. (Sun), external

They're two of the stories in today's gossip column, which you can catch up on here.

Image source, EPA

So, who is in danger of missing out on being registered for Chelsea's Premier League squad?

Four of the players in Sunday's 20-man squad are Under-21s so that means nine of the players who missed on Sunday can be included in the 25-man Premier League squad.

Eight of those left out are also Under-21s so they don't need to worry as they don't count towards the 25-man squad.

The club have made it clear they are willing to let at least four players leave, namely Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher and Romelu Lukaku.

That leaves nine spots for 10 players, although three of those are goalkeepers, so the likes of Armando Broja, Trevoh Chalobah, Axel Disasi, Reece James and Raheem Sterling should not come under threat.

However, that is assuming that deals are done for the players named above. If not, then Kepa, Chilwell, Gallagher and Lukaku could be left in limbo - at least until the January transfer window.

Image source, PA Media

So this is the 20-man matchday squad that Enzo Maresca named for Sunday's game against Manchester City:

Starting XI: Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson.

Substitutes: Filip Jorgensen, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Renato Veiga, Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu.

On Chelsea's website,, external their first-team squad features 42 players, so these are the ones who missed out on Sunday:

Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Lucas Bergstrom, Marcus Bettinelli, Djordje Petrovic.

Defenders: Josh Acheampong, Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Bashir Humphreys, Reece James.

Midfielders: Tino Anjorin, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Conor Gallagher, Omari Kellyman.

Forwards: Armando Broja, David Fofana, Angelo Gabriel, Tyrique George, Romelu Lukaku, Raheem Sterling, Deivid Washington.

Image source, Reuters

Raheem Sterling was not the only big name to miss out for Chelsea on Sunday, and it means new boss Enzo Maresca has some big decisions to make when he submits his Premier League squad for the 2024-25 season.

Premier League teams can register a maximum of 25 players, although an unlimited number of under-21 players can be registered too. The 25-man squad must also include eight 'homegrown players'.

The squads must be named after the closure of the summer transfer window and can be updated after the January transfer window.

What is a homegrown player?

According to the Premier League website,, external a "homegrown player" means a player who, irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).

Who qualifies as under-21 players?

For the 2024-25 season, under-21 players will have been born on or after 1 January 2003.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This will be the third successive summer transfer window since the 2022 takeover by co-controlling owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly when Chelsea have outspent rivals, signed the most players and looked to offload those from the former regime.

Chelsea signed Wolves forward Neto for £54m on Sunday, taking them to 11 summer signings with an average age of under 21, spending £185m since June 14 and bulking up their squad further.

Although a £35m deal to add Atletico Madrid's Samu Omorodion has fallen through, Chelsea are expected to bring in at least one more player, with interest in Joao Felix returning to Stamford Bridge.

Some of those who have joined will go straight back out on loan and more will be sold before the 30 August transfer window deadline.

But many fans are wondering if this is one of the biggest Premier League squads ever assembled.

Guy from Nottingham

Tom

Michael

Fourth-tier The Spartans will play Aberdeen in the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup - the Premier Sports Cup - after knocking out Ross County in the last-16.

Spartans stunned top-flight County 1-0 on Saturday to became the first fourth-tier side to make the last eight since Rangers in 2012.

Holders Rangers host Dundee, while Celtic welcome Championship side Falkirk, who shocked Hearts 1-0.

Motherwell and Dundee United face off in an all-Premiership affair.

The ties will be played on the weekend of 21-22 September.

Last-eight draw:

Motherwell v Dundee Utd

Aberdeen v Spartans

Rangers v Dundee

Celtic v Falkirk

• Find all the latest Scottish League Cup information here

Image source, Getty Images

It's our weekly football quiz - a new feature every Monday during this season. How closely have you been paying attention over the past seven days?

Click here to try your luck

Image source, Getty Images

Barcelona began life under new boss Hansi Flick with a win at Valencia to kick off their La Liga campaign.

Former Germany boss Flick's side were made to come from behind after Valencia's Hugo Duro tapped a Diego Lopez cross past Marc-Andre ter Stegen to open the scoring in the 44th minute.

Duro then had an effort cleared off the line before Robert Lewandowski connected with Lamine Yamal's drilled pass to level in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time.

While Valencia put up a strong showing before the break, Barcelona showed their superiority in the second half.

Veteran striker Lewandowski converted from the penalty spot in the 49th minute after Raphinha had been tripped inside the box and Flick's men managed the rest of the game well to collect all three points.

Elsewhere in La Liga over the weekend, Real Sociedad lost 2-1 against Rayo Vallecano.

Image source, Getty Images

Inter Milan became the first Serie A champions to fail to win on the opening day of the next season since 2015 after conceding an injury-time equaliser to draw 2-2 with Genoa.

Alessandro Vogliacco put Genoa ahead but Marcus Thuram's double - a header and a close-range dink over the goalkeeper - looked set to give Simeone Inzaghi's side a winning start.

But, in injury time, Genoa were awarded a penalty for a Yann Bisseck handball and while former AC Milan player Junior Messias saw his kick saved, he slammed home the rebound.

Elsewhere in Serie A, AC Milan came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Torino, scoring the equaliser with a minute of normal time remaining.

Parma, on their return to Serie A after three years away, drew 1-1 with Fiorentina.

Image source, Getty Images

Luka Modric has been named in the Croatia squad for their upcoming Nations League games.

The Real Madrid and Croatia captain will turn 39 the day after their game against Poland on 9 September.

They open their campaign against Portugal on 5 September.

Modric, who made his senior international debut in March 2006, has scored 26 goals in 178 appearances for his country.

Image source, Getty Images

Bayer Leverkusen won the German Super Cup on penalties against Stuttgart after needing a late equaliser to avoid defeat.

Xabi Alonso's side went 51 games unbeaten last season, losing for the first time in what was their last game of the campaign, going down in the Europa League final against Atalanta after winning the German league and cup double.

But they were two minutes away from a surprise defeat in their first game of the 2024-25 season at their home ground by last season's Bundesliga runners-up.

Victor Boniface tapped the league champions' opener into an empty net from Edmond Tapsoba's header.

But Enzo Millot levelled in the 15th minute with a first-time drive from 16 yards out.

Leverkusen then had debutant Martin Terrier sent off for a dangerous foul on Ermedin Demirovic.

Deniz Undav, a permanent summer signing from Brighton after a loan spell at Stuttgart last season, put the visitors ahead with his first touch after coming off the bench.

However, Patrik Schick scored from Alex Grimaldo's through ball with two minutes remaining to make it 2-2 and send the match to penalties.

Stuttgart's Frans Kratzig and Silas were the only two to miss their spot-kicks as Leverkusen won the shootout 4-3.

Image source, Getty Images

Napoli manager Antonio Conte apologised to fans after their 3-0 defeat at Verona in his first game in charge.

Dailon Livramento gave Verona the lead and fellow Serie A debutant Daniel Mosquera netted twice in a comfortable win.

Napoli won the 2022-23 title but then finished 10th last season with three different managers in charge.

Ex-Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss Conte replaced Francesco Calzona in the summer.

"We melted like snow in the sun," the Italian told Sky Sports Italia.

"What I feel like saying is that we should apologise to the Neapolitan supporters, who follow us with such passion.

"I am the coach and it is right that I take full responsibility."

Conte said he hopes to make more signings.

"One, two, three, four could arrive, as many as the club want to sign. The problems must be faced head-on, and they are not necessarily easy issues to fix," he said.

Right then, we told you earlier about Kylian Mbappe's league debut for Real Madrid, when the France forward failed to get on the score sheet in a 1-1 draw at Mallorca.

Let's have a quick tour around the other key games as the new seasons kicked off in the majority of the top leagues across Europe.

Manchester City

Image source, getty

Manchester City have announced the signing of defender Naomi Layzell.

The 20-year-old has joined the club on a four-year deal, which will keep her at the Joie Stadium until the summer of 2028.

Layzell has moved from Bristol City, where she was an integral part of promotion to the Women’s Super League in the 2022-2023 season, playing 20 of their 22 Championship matches and conceding just 12 goals throughout the campaign.

Layzell said: “It’s quite surreal to be honest. You always want to play for the top teams as a young player and I think joining City is an exciting opportunity for me.

“Playing alongside and against top elite professionals in the world is just a brilliant opportunity and a really hard one to turn down. I grew so much as a person at Bristol City, but I felt it was time for me to find a new challenge. I’m really excited to get involved.”

She will wear the number three shirt for the upcoming Women’s Super League campaign.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said by admitting "he made a mistake" referee Sam Barrott "showed he is a great man".

"Of course we are disappointed but it is what it is, there is no point in complaining about it," the Austrian coach told BBC Match of the Day.

And he added: "Many tight decisions, almost every single one against us, but we don't look for excuses, we don't complain, it is what it is.

"We had many opportunities to play a better last ball to create better opportunities and score more goals.

"Of course, we can be very self-critical. If you concede two goals at home it is difficult to win. We didn't give them a lot but we gave them too much and they scored out of it."

Image source, Getty Images

Another major talking point from Crystal Palace's defeat at Brentford was an admission by referee Sam Barrott that he made a mistake after blowing his whistle for a foul before the ball crossed the line following Eberechi Eze's stunning first-half free-kick.

Eze caught Brentford keeper Mark Flekken dozing to find the net with a quickly-taken set-piece, but referee Barrott had spotted a foul by Will Hughes on Collins as the ball was struck.

With the whistle blown before the ball had entered the goal, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was unable to intervene and check Hughes' challenge to potentially overrule the onfield decision.

Eze said: "I was told (by the referee) that he blew too early and made the mistake. It could have changed the game but we have to deal with it. It wasn't our only chance.

"If we perform like that then we'll do well. It's a game, you're going to make mistakes as a referee and unfortunately, it happened to us today. You'd hope it'd even out throughout the season."

Click here to read more.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League goalkeeper Asmir Begovic says "it all becomes a bit of a mess" when transfer deals are not completed before the start of the Premier League season.

Reflecting on the performance of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi against Brentford on Sunday, Begovic believes the pressure of the ongoing talks with Newcastle United are playing on his mind.

"It plays a massive part," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "For someone like Guehi it is a massive move and there are so many personal things riding on it. It could be the best move of his career, so at that level it plays even more on your mind.

"It is such a difficult position for players and the manager. It is almost impossible for them to deal with. I feel sympathy for him [Guehi] as I am sure he would have wanted it sorted by now."

Former goalkeeper Stephen Kelly added: "I am sure he wants to play, and he is happy to play for Palace, but if he is potentially making a life-changing move then of course that is playing on his mind.

"He will be thinking 'what if I get injured?'

"These things should not creep into your mind but they do because you are human."

• Follow our Crystal Palace page for fan views, opinion, expert analysis, stats and more

Damo, Kent: I’m loving Tom’s suggestion for musical chairs (10:13 BST). However, the music needs to be the Benny Hill theme tune to truly capture the mood at Chelsea right now.

Luke Edwards
Daily Telegraph writer on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

Marc Guehi played on Sunday [for Crystal Palace]. I don’t think he played particularly well and he’s the subject of interest from Newcastle United, very public interest.

I thought he was at fault for the first Brentford goal and the question is, should [Oliver] Glasner have played Guehi? I don’t think his head was right to play.

Brentford took the decision to leave out Ivan Toney, but we all know how important Ivan Toney is for Brentford.

This doubt about his future has been going on for a long, long time. Brentford end up winning the game by not playing their best player.

Crystal Palace lose the game by playing their captain and one of their best players. So there are no easy decisions these managers have to make.