Simon Stone
BBC Sport

When I spoke to Bournemouth owner Bill Foley in Santa Barbara last month about striker Dominic Solanke he confirmed the striker had a release clause - and it was "roughly" £65m.

He also said that while he didn't think Solanke would leave, Bournemouth had "two or three candidates lined up" if the worst happened.

I wonder if Ivan Toney or Dominic Calvert-Lewin are on the list?

Number nines are in vogue at the moment. Toney and Calvert-Lewin are in that category. The same is true of Chelsea's Armando Broja, Tottenham's Richarlison and Romelu Lukaku, of Chelsea.

The problem is all of them are expensive - and not all of them score that many goals.

Image source, Getty Images

Right, now to another talking point - the potential domino effect should Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke complete a move to Tottenham...

It will be interesting to see how that change in EFL coverage is received by supporters and how it pans out throughout the season. Will it affect match attendances?

What do you think? Thumbs up if you think it is a good idea, thumbs down if you don't.

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We are used to football being shown at all hours these days, but there is one period when this does not apply.

Uefa's Article 48 dictates that no live football can be broadcast between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday afternoon during the regular season.

The idea behind the rule is that supporters of EFL and non-league clubs are not tempted to stay at home and watch live football on the television instead of going to a match.

However, this Saturday the blackout is being lifted for the EFL with the Premier League season not starting until next Friday.

But there are only 11 League Two matches kicking off in the traditional 3pm slot, with the bulk of Championship games being played at lunchtime and all but one League One match at 5.30pm.

The move coincides with the launch of Sky Sports+ service, a new TV channel designed to promote the EFL.

It marks the start of a new five-year broadcasting deal between the EFL and Sky Sports.

There will be four times as many matches broadcast live, with every club in the EFL to be shown live at least 20 times per season.

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Our live text service begins today at 14:30 BST as we start to build-up to the four games taking place in the evening.

There will be prospects and analysis of every club in the Championship, League One and League Two from our team of BBC Local Radio reporters to set the scene for what is to come.

The action will then continue across the rest of the weekend.

Friday, 9 August:

14:30-19:30: Club-by-club live text season preview featuring all 72 EFL clubs

19:30-22:30: EFL live text of four games including Preston v Sheffield United and Blackburn v Derby

Saturday, 10 August:

12:00-20:00: All-day live text – Championship (all 12:30 kick-offs); League Two (all 15:00); League One (all 17:30)

Sunday, 11 August:

15:30-18:30: Live text of Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth (Wayne Rooney's first game as Pilgrims boss)

Monday, 12 August:

19:30-22:30: Live text of Luton v Burnley (a meeting between two sides relegated from the Premier League)

Right, we will return to the transfer gossip in more detail soon, but let's flip back to the start of the EFL season and the new format for coverage...

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

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Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo is due to have a medical with West Ham today amid continuing interest from Juventus.

Manchester United wanted to sign Todibo this summer but were blocked from doing so by Uefa due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s involvement with Nice as it contravened their associated party transaction rules.

The 24-year-old former Barcelona youngster has been coveted by many other European clubs and given Juventus have qualified for the Champions League, it would be a major coup if West Ham could complete the transfer, which is still not completely certain.

The Hammers have been one of the more pro-active clubs this summer, with technical director Tim Steidten keen to reshape the squad following David Moyes’ departure.

Kurt Zouma’s impending departure for the UAE will create space on the wage bill given he is one of the club’s highest earners.

We will return to the EFL shortly, after a bit of transfer news.

The Athletic is reporting, external that Bournemouth have agreed to sell Dominic Solanke to Tottenham for a club-record fee.

The story suggests that the 26-year-old has agreed personal terms but talks are ongoing to finalise a deal for the former Liverpool striker, who is reported to have a £65m release clause in his contract, which runs until 2029.

Image source, Getty Images

The EFL, of course, returns on Friday with the start of the 2024-25 season and BBC Sport will be across it all to share the drama with you.

The action is spread across four days of the opening weekend with four games on today, 30 on Saturday and one apiece on Sunday and Monday.

There will be comprehensive coverage online and on local radio as relegated trio Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United return to the Championship while Bromley enjoy their first taste of EFL football in League Two.

And, for the first time, all 36 opening matches across the three divisions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports with the Saturday 3pm blackout lifted.

Read more here.

Here is a list of the Premier League clubs in action this weekend, with just one week to go before the start of the season:

Friday, 9 August

Newcastle v Girona, St James' Park (19:30)

Brentford v Wolfsburg, Gtech Community Stadium (19:45)

Saturday, 10 August

Ipswich Town v Nice, Portman Road (12:30)

Southampton v Getafe, St Mary's Stadium (14:00)

Brighton v Villareal, Amex Stadium (15:00)

Lens v Leicester, Stade Bollaert-Delelis (15:00)

Manchester City v Manchester United, Community Shield, Wembley (15:00)

West Ham v Celta Vigo, London Stadium (15:00)

Wolves v Rayo Vallecano, Molineux (15:00)

Borussia Dortmund v Aston Villa, Signal Iduna Park (16:00)

Hoffenheim v Fulham, PreZero Arena, Sinsheim (16:00)

Newcastle v Stade Brestois, St James' Park, (16:00)

Everton v Roma, Goodison Park (17:00)

Bournemouth v Girona, Vitality Stadium (17:15)

Tottenham v Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (17:30)

Sunday, 11 August

Liverpool v Sevilla, Anfield (12:30)

Arsenal v Lyon, Emirates Stadium (14:00)

Chelsea v Inter Milan, Stamford Bridge (15:00)

Crystal Palace v Nantes, Selhurst Park (15:00)

• Click here for a full list of pre-season fixtures and results involving Premier League clubs.

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Nottingham Forest secured a thrilling victory in their final pre-season friendly away to Olympiakos on Thursday night.

Goals from Chris Wood, Anthony Elanga and two from Ryan Yates helped Nuno Espírito Santo’s side secure the win in Piraeus, although they were left hanging on after late goals from the home side, which is owned by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Yates headed home the opener from a corner and while Olympiakos equalised through Gelson Martins, Wood put the visitors back ahead just before the break.

Elliot Anderson - a summer signing from Newcastle - struck the post with a free-kick on the hour mark and Yates eventually headed home his second of the game after Wood followed in from the rebound.

Substitute Anthony Elanga then wrapped up the Forest scoring after the picking up the ball on the half-way line and weaving his way into the box before slotting home in the bottom corner.

Olympiakos responded with goals from Kristoffer Velde and another from Martins late on but could not find an equaliser.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Bobby Wales scored his first Kilmarnock goal in added time to set up a winner-takes-all second leg with Tromso in the Conference League third qualifying round.

Kilmarnock had led early on through captain Kyle Vassell, but Tromso turned the match on its head thanks to goals from Jakob Napoleon Romsaas and Lasse Nordas.

Prior to Wales' dramatic leveller, Kilmarnock had been awarded a penalty when Joe Wright was clattered by goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard but referee Menelaos Antoniou overturned his decision following a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention.

It was up to 19-year-old Wales to save the day in the 92nd minute, sweeping home a loose ball from a corner to send Rugby Park into raptures.

Whoever progresses will play Copenhagen or Banik Ostrava in the play-off round, with the Danes leading 1-0 going into next week's second leg in the Czech Republic.

Read the full story here.

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

Toyosi Olusanya's close-range goal secured Scottish Premiership side St Mirren a dramatic late draw in the first leg of their Conference League third qualifying round tie against Brann.

The Norwegian visitors dominated possession throughout and had several clear-cut chances, but an inspired display from Ellery Balcombe in the St Mirren goal kept them at bay during the first half.

Balcombe continued to repel the visitors after the break, but a well-taken volley from Felix Myhre on 75 minutes gave Brann a deserved lead.

It looked certain to be the winning goal, but with time running out, Olusanya got on the end of fellow substitute James Scott's cross to bring Stephen Robinson's side level.

St Mirren travel to Norway for the second leg next Thursday (15 August, 18:00 BST), with a play-off spot on the line.

The winner will play Corvinul Hunedoara or Astana in the play-off round, with Kazakhs Astana winning Thursday's first-leg 2-1 in Romania.

Read the full report here.

Image source, Pacemaker

Northern Ireland Football League Premiership side Larne are well placed to progress from the third qualifying round of the Uefa Conference League after a last-gasp 1-0 win away to Kosovan champions FC Ballkani in the first leg of their tie in Pristina.

Matty Lusty was the goalscoring hero for last season's Irish Premiership champions as he bundled the ball in from five yards after Lee Bonis flicked on Levi Ives' free-kick from the right in the final minute.

Tiernan Lynch's charges defended resolutely throughout, with goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson making some fine saves, but also created chances of their own.

The result was all the more impressive as Larne lost 7-1 on aggregate to Ballkani in the second round of Conference League qualifying 12 months ago, including a 3-0 away defeat.

The second leg will be played at Inver Park on Thursday 15 August, with the winners advancing to the play-off round and an opportunity at earning a berth in the League phase.

Larne had received a bye into the third round after exiting the Champions League qualifiers at the first-round stage with a 7-0 aggregate reverse at the hands of Latvian side RFS.

Read the full report here.

Right, let's have a look at some football action, starting with Thursday night's Conference League qualifiers...

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling says he misses playing for England because it is "one of the best feelings you can ever have".

The 29-year-old has not played for his country since the 2022 World Cup, when he flew home to attend a family emergency during the tournament in Qatar.

Former Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate left the forward out of multiple squads after that, including his party for Euro 2024, but it remains to be seen whether his successor will choose to recall Sterling.

When asked if he misses being around the England camp, Sterling said: "Of course, I love playing for England. It is one of the best feelings you can ever have.

"To see the boys out there brought me joy. To be honest they were the only games I watched - the England ones. I love playing for England.

"I am looking forward to getting back in the England set-up, that is for sure."

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

While all the talk in pre-season is about the latest big-money move, veteran Portugal defender Pepe has announced his retirement from football, ending one of the most highly decorated careers of recent times.

Pepe, 41, became the oldest player to appear at a European Championship finals this summer, and his last match was Portugal's penalty shootout defeat by France in the quarter-finals.

The former Real Madrid centre-back made 141 appearances for his country - only Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho have more Portugal caps - while he also played for Porto, Besiktas and Maritimo.

An emotional Pepe thanked those who have helped him throughout his career in a 33-minute video posted online,, external on Thursday.

He won Euro 2016 with Portugal and also helped to secure three Champions League and three La Liga titles during his 10-year spell in Madrid.

Pepe said: "I can't help but thank all the presidents who bet and believed in me to be able to perform my work.

"To all the employees of all the clubs I've been to, who are the soul and essence of the clubs and the national team. And I want to thank everyone in the background. I want to leave a thank-you and a hug of gratitude for all of you."

Read more on this story here.

The Standard, external reports that Chelsea's England midfielder Conor Gallagher was filmed signing autographs in Madrid on Thursday morning after landing in the Spanish capital to finalise a £33m move to Atletico.

The 24-year-old was due to undergo his medical and, all being well, is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year contract at some point today.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, BBC Sport

Champions League sides Liverpool and Aston Villa are linked with moves to improve their attacking options in today's edition of BBC Sport's gossip column:

Liverpool maintain a strong interest in England and Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon. A deal to buy the 23-year-old collapsed in June and Gordon's price will likely be elevated. (Liverpool Echo), external

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery wants to sign 24-year-old Portugal forward Joao Felix, who is keen to leave Atletico Madrid. (BirminghamLive), external

Want more transfer stories? Click here for the latest BBC Sport gossip column.

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Striker Richarlison says he wants to stay at Tottenham Hotspur after turning down a move to Saudi Arabia.

The Brazil forward, 27, joined Spurs from Everton in 2022 for a club-record fee of £60m.

He has scored 15 goals in 66 appearances for Tottenham and was not always a starter last season under manager Ange Postecoglou.

Richarlison, whose contract runs until 2027, has attracted interest from a number of clubs in Saudi Arabia, with one unnamed team tabling a bid.

However, he says he wants to remain in England in order to improve his chances of continuing his international career with Brazil.

"There has been an offer but my dream of playing for the Brazilian Selecao and in the Premier League speaks louder," Richarlison told ESPN Brazil, external.