Summary

  1. Centre-back - Joel Matippublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 4 September

    Who are the best free agents still looking for a club?

    Joel Matip, 33, bid farewell to Liverpool in the summer after eight seasons.

    He helped the club win the Premier League and the Champions League under Jurgen Klopp after joining from Schalke on a free transfer.

    Matip has since been linked with several clubs, including West Ham.

    Thumbs up if you want Matip at your club, thumbs down if not.

    Joel Matip playing for LiverpoolImage source, Getty Images
  2. Postpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 4 September

    Right, back to those free agents...

  3. Euros debrief 'brought more negatives than positives'published at 14:24 British Summer Time 4 September

    Scotland v Poland (Thur, 19:45 BST)

    Scotland

    Scotland captain Andy Robertson on playing for his country and the reaction in camp after the Euros: "As long as I'm fit and healthy and can play at the level I will do so."

    On the discussions after the Euros: "It wasn’t anything bad, it was what mistakes we made, collectively and as individuals. We have these discussions in every camp. The Euros one perhaps brought more disappointment - more negatives to speak about than positives."

  4. Scotland have to 'find a formation that will break the glass ceiling'published at 14:21 British Summer Time 4 September

    Scotland v Poland (Thu, 19:45 BST)

    Scotland

    Scotland manager Steve Clarke on the importance of Thursday's Nations League match against Poland: "All the games are important, the summer was important. This is the start [of a new season], the players have a freshness to them. For me it's been a long summer."

    On performing at a high level: "The fact that you qualify, then you didn’t do what you wanted to do. Probably [need] a bit more quality when we play the opponents we played in the summer and who we will play in the Nations League. We've got to slowly, slowly find a formation that will break the glass ceiling."

  5. 'We knew there would need to be a freshness in the squad'published at 14:15 British Summer Time 4 September

    Scotland v Poland (Thu, 19:45 BST)

    Scotland

    More from Scotland manager Steve Clarke on the freshness of his squad and new faces: "We knew there would need to be a freshness in the squad, but I didn’t envisage this many injuries.

    "It's still nice and for the young boys they’ve brought enthusiasm, it gives the senior boys a bit more life. We want to be better."

  6. 'I want to play for Scotland for as long as I can'published at 14:13 British Summer Time 4 September

    Scotland v Poland (Thu, 19:45 BST)

    Scotland

    Andy RobertsonImage source, Getty Images

    Scotland captain Andy Robertson has also been talking.

    The 30-year-old Liverpool defender reiterated his commitment to the team and assured fans he is not about to retire from international football any time soon.

    "The manager wants to get to the next World Cup [United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026]," said Robertson.

    "He has made that clear and I want to play for Scotland for as long as I can - I will never shy away from that."

    More to follow.

  7. 'This is a chance to evolve the group'published at 14:08 British Summer Time 4 September

    Scotland v Poland (Thu, 19:45 BST)

    Scotland

    Scotland manager Steve Clarke on what can be expected of his side: "[It is] evolution, not revolution. This time we have a significant number of injuries, I've had to dip down to the under-21s squad, they also have important fixtures coming up but that brings freshness.

    "Respect to the core group, but within that core group you have to add a little bit more and hopefully that makes us better.

    "It won't happen overnight. This is a chance to evolve the group so that we’re in shape for the World Cup qualifiers."

    Steve Clarke during Scotland trainingImage source, Getty Images
  8. Replacements 'like a breath of fresh air'published at 14:00 British Summer Time 4 September

    Scotland v Poland (Thu, 19:45 BST)

    Scotland

    Scotland manager Steve Clarke has been speaking before Thursday's Nations League tie at home to Poland.

    He said this week's young replacements - following four withdrawals from senior players, such as Che Adams - have been like a "breath of fresh air" for the squad.

    This week's Nations League double-header - with a trip to Portugal on Sunday to follow the Poland game at Hampden - are the first competitive games for the Scotland squad since Euro 2024 in Germany, where they failed to make it past the group stages.

    Stick with us for more top lines from Clarke's news conference.

  9. get involved

    Get Involved - Your club's best free signingpublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 4 September

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    Doesn’t get much better than Liverpool, under Brendan Rodgers, getting James Milner for free from Man City in 2015. What a player…he still is

    Pat

    James MilnerImage source, Getty Images

    There is only one correct answer for the best free transfer, The great James Milner! The quiet, understated hero of the Klopp team that won everything. Can’t wait for him to come back to Anfield as a coach when he finally hangs up his boots, so in about another 10 years?

    Dan, Scarborough

  10. Left-back - Brandon Williamspublished at 13:56 British Summer Time 4 September

    Who are the best free agents still looking for a club?

    Brandon Williams playing for Manchester United during a pre-season friendlyImage source, Getty Images

    Brandon Williams, 24, was 19 when he scored for Manchester United in a 3-3 Premier League draw with Sheffield United in 2019.

    Williams, who had been at United since the age of nine, was released in the summer after 51 first-team appearances.

    He remains without a new club.

    Thumbs up if you'd like to see Williams at your club

  11. Fans criticise 'dynamic pricing' at Valenciapublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 4 September

    Spanish top-flight club Valencia's fansImage source, Getty Images

    After spending hours in an online queue last week, Oasis fans were faced with a big price hike when buying tickets for the band's reunion tour - and the practice is coming to elite-level European football.

    This week Spanish top-flight club Valencia announced they would use the controversial system of 'dynamic pricing' for home matches.

    "Following the global trend in shows, sporting events and entertainment, Valencia will join this practice, which has the support and technology of La Liga," the club said.

    "Tickets will therefore go on sale at a base price, which could increase as the days go by. Buying your tickets early will ensure you get the best price."

    A spokesperson for Valencia supporters’ group Libertad VCF told BBC Sport: "We are radically against it.

    Click here to read the full story.

  12. 'This would have been the right time for me to do that'published at 13:40 British Summer Time 4 September

    Cesc Fabregas
    Former Spain midfielder on Planet Premier League

    Cesc Fabregas, manager of Serie A side Como, talks about how the international break makes it difficult as a manager: "In Serie B we had two players, but now we have five. For example there is a player that came the day before the last game. He had one training session and then played the whole second half of the game and now he's gone.

    "I'd love to work with him and integrate him into the team. This would have been the right time for me to do that."

  13. Right-back - Serge Aurierpublished at 13:34 British Summer Time 4 September

    Who are the best free agents still looking for a club?

    Serge Aurier playing for Tottenham HotspurImage source, Getty Images

    Former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest full-back Serge Aurier, 31, played alongside former Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha at Galatasaray towards the end of last season before leaving in the summer.

    The highly experienced Ivory Coast defender is a two-time Ligue 1 winner with Paris St-Germain.

    Thumbs up if you would like Aurier at your club

  14. 'I can focus on what I love the most'published at 13:29 British Summer Time 4 September

    Cesc Fabregas
    Former Spain midfielder on Planet Premier League

    I'm very much relieved now that the transfer window is done. I can focus on what I love the most, which is being a football coach and it's been three months full of hard work and analysing player's profiles.

    Fabregas is boss of Italian Serie A side Como.

  15. 'I think it’s better now, it's much better'published at 13:25 British Summer Time 4 September

    Cesc Fabregas
    Former Spain midfielder on Planet Premier League

    Cesc Fabregas, boss of Serie A side Como, on whether players find it hard to hit form again after the international break: “I think it’s better now, it's much better. I remember when I was starting playing you used to play let's say on a Saturday night or Sunday morning. Straight away you were meeting up. Now they have two or three days off. They go and play and we used to come back Thursday night.

    "I remember we used to have one training session and travel straight away, let's say to Liverpool or Manchester, and then play early kick off. So I still think before it was much harder because the international breaks were longer.

    "They were about 10 days. Now they last about seven days so you have more time to get back to your club and at least have a couple of sessions before. I remember Arsene Wenger used to create the game plan just Friday."

    Listen to the Planet Premier League podcast on BBC Sounds

  16. Planet Premier League on BBC Soundspublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 4 September

    BBC Sounds

    Planet Premier League

    Listen to the Planet Premier League as Mark Chapman hosts Cesc Fabregas and Nedum Onuoha on BBC Sounds.

    They talk about how an international break affects players, Salah’s contract and Haaland’s relentlessness.

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

  17. Goalkeeper - Keylor Navaspublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 4 September

    Who are the best free agents still looking for a club?

    Keylor Navas lifts the trophy after Real Madrid won the Champions League final in 2017Image source, Getty Images

    Keylor Navas, 37, announced his departure from Paris St-Germain in May and was reportedly set to join Italian side Monza on a free transfer when the deal collapsed.

    The former Costa Rica goalkeeper spent five years at Real Madrid and a further five at PSG. He also made 17 Premier League appearances during a loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 2022-23.

    Thumbs up if you would like to have Navas at your club, thumbs down if not.

  18. get involved

    Get Involved - your club's best free signing?published at 13:02 British Summer Time 4 September

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

    Following on from our look at the most high-profile players currently searching for a club, we would like to know who was the best free signing your club ever made.

    Whether as a free agent or as a free transfer from another club - which free player had the biggest impact for your team?

    Send your messages via X, WhatsApp or text using the contact details above. And remember to include your name and the club you support.

  19. Who are the best free agents still looking for a club?published at 12:52 British Summer Time 4 September

    A split picture featuring former Manchester United forward Anthony Martial, ex-Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot and former Atletico Madrid forward Memphis DepayImage source, Getty Images

    The summer transfer window has closed and Premier League clubs have spent hundreds of millions of pounds strengthening their squads.

    But teams who missed out on targets can still bring in free agents, players who are not under contract and are available to sign.

    There are hundreds out there looking to find a club.

    Click here to find out more about the players still on the market - or stick with us and we will assess some of the more standout names.

  20. get involved

    Get Involved - 'Keep key players and build around them'published at 12:46 British Summer Time 4 September

    #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    Jim, London: @Guy 11:50, saying Kane shouldn't start is WILD. England captain and top scorer dropped for the sake of.. who exactly? No-one is a recognised 9, save him! Give the youth some game time, of course, but keep the key players in there and build around them.