Arsenal

Arsenal have taken a trimmed-down squad to the United States for their pre-season tour.

Internationals who figured in the latter stages of Euro 2024, including England's Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, will join up with their team-mates following their return to London.

Here is Arsenal's full pre-season schedule:

25 July: Arsenal v Bournemouth, Dignity Health Sports Park, Los Angeles (03:30)

28 July: Arsenal v Manchester United, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (01:00)

1 August: Arsenal v Liverpool, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (00:30)

7 August: Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen, Emirates Stadium (18:00)

11 August: Arsenal v Lyon, Emirates Stadium (14:00)

• Click here from more Arsenal news, views and analysis.

• For a full list of pre-season friendlies for all Premier League clubs - click here.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta explained his stance on the number of signings he believes the club need to make this summer, as the Gunners boss bids to go one better after finishing runners-up behind Manchester City in the past two seasons.

"We have to," said Arteta, when asked if his side have to improve despite two almost flawless campaigns - finishing on 89 points last season, two behind City, and 84 points in 2022-23, five behind Pep Guardiola's side. "When you are so close you want to grab it."

Arsenal won 28 of their 38 games last season, the same as eventual champions City, and earned four points in the two league games against their title rivals.

They also finished with the same goal difference as City - +62 - but lost five games compared to their three, with the champions clinching a fourth consecutive title courtesy of two more draws than Arsenal.

"Perfection in this league requires different standards when you relate that word to winning the Premier League and that is what we have to do," added Arteta.

"There is still a lot of time left in the window and while that is more a question for the board, obviously we know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources in terms of numbers but the main thing is to focus on falling in love with the players we have."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the club are trying to strengthen "certain positions" as they close in on the signing of Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori.

Speaking in Los Angeles at the start of Arsenal's three-match tour of the United States, Arteta told reporters there was "no update" on a deal for the 22-year-old Bologna man, who is valued at about £34m.

However, sources have said talks are progressing well and are expected to reach a positive conclusion.

Arsenal are also looking to strengthen in central midfield as they try to do better than the past two campaigns, when they have finished second to Manchester City.

Read the full story here.

BBC Sport's chief news reporter Simon Stone has been out in the United States with Arsenal on their pre-season tour.

We will bring you a few updates from their camp in Los Angeles throughout the morning, starting with the latest on links between the Gunners and Bologna's Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori...

The Sun

We finish our round-up of today's national newspapers with the Sun, which features a number of interesting football stories.

It leads with an update on the Football Association's hunt for a new manager of the men's national team, reporting that Newcastle have held "crunch talks" with boss Eddie Howe "in a bid to keep him from England's clutches".

There is also news from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, saying the Spaniard has "demanded" the club make signings as he bids to turn them into Premier League champions.

And, finally, there is a line on new Manchester United defender Leny Yoro, who is reported as saying that he wants to "emulate Rio Ferdinand by becoming a serial winner at Old Trafford".

Image source, The Sun

The I

The i, meanwhile, features an interview with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, in which he insists that the Magpies' England winger Anthony Gordon's "head will not have been turned" by reports of a possible move to Liverpool last month.

Image source, The i

The Daily Star

The Star also features that line from Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth.

"This remains one of the biggest football clubs in the world," wrote Ashworth, in an open letter to fans.

"But that is not our measure of success. The focus is on getting back to being among the best on the pitch."

Those words have been interpreted as a plea to manager Erik ten Hag to "lift us up where we belong", which came with a promise from Ashworth that the club would give their Dutch boss the "tools to rock the world once more".

Image source, Daily Star

The Daily Express

A number of today's national newspapers feature prominent stories on words from Manchester United's new sporting director Dan Ashworth, in particular a statement of intent that there "will be no rest until we're back on top", as reported here in the Express.

Image source, Daily Express

The Daily Mail

The Mail features an image of a bare-chested Jack Grealish on its back page, with the Manchester City winger working up a sweat during training on the team's tour of the United States.

Grealish, 28, is reportedly "pulling out all the stops" to impress manager Pep Guardiola after struggling for starts and game-time last season, which ultimately cost him his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.

Image source, Daily Mail

Metro

The Metro also features an image of Eberechi Eze on its back page, referencing those links with Manchester City.

It will be interesting to see if the assurances from City boss Pep Guardiola that Kevin de Bruyne is "not leaving" the Etihad will quell these rumours of interest in Crystal Palace's England midfielder Eze.

Image source, Metro

The Guardian

The Guardian, too, leads on the line that Manchester City are weighing up an approach for Crystal Palace's England midfielder Eberechi Eze, 26, amid "growing uncertainty over the future of Kevin de Bruyne".

Image source, The Guardian

Daily Mirror

As mentioned in BBC Sport's gossip column, the Mirror's main story on the back page this morning says that Manchester City want Crystal Palace's £68m playmaker Eberechi Eze to replace Kevin de Bruyne.

That was clearly printed before City manager Pep Guardiola said overnight that De Bruyne would not be leaving the Etihad.

Image source, Daily Mirror

Image source, Getty Images

There is plenty more news on Manchester City in today's edition of the BBC Sport gossip column, including that link with England attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze:

Manchester City are looking at making a move for Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze, with the 26-year-old England international having a release clause of £60m plus add-ons. (Mirror), external

Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad want 33-year-old Belgium playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, which has led to Manchester City weighing up a move for Eze. (Guardian), external

Manchester City are interested in Paris St-Germain and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, 25, as they look to replace 30-year-old Brazil international Ederson, who could move to Al-Ittihad. (Sky Sports Italy), external

Ederson will cost at least £40m if Al-Ittihad want to sign him from Manchester City, who are willing to let the keeper leave as long as their valuation is met. (ESPN), external

• Want to read more transfer news? Click here for the latest BBC Sport gossip column.

Manchester City face a busy couple of weeks in the States before heading home for the Community Shield - the season's traditional curtain raiser between the Premier League and FA Cup winners at Wembley - which will see them lock horns with rivals Manchester United, who beat them in last season's FA Cup final.

Here is City's full pre-season schedule:

24 July: Man City v Celtic, Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill (00:30)

27 July: Man City v AC Milan, Yankee Stadium, New York, (23:00)

31 July: Man City v Barcelona, Camping World Stadium, Orlando (00:00)

3 August: Man City v Chelsea, Ohio Stadium, Columbus (22:30)

10 August: Man City v Man Utd, Community Shield, Wembley (15:00)

• Click here from more City news, views and analysis.
• For a full list of pre-season friendlies for all Premier League clubs - click here.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also said that he feels it is likely he will have the same squad as last season, other than new recruit Savinho, who arrived from French side Troyes last week.

Crystal Palace’s England Euro 2024 squad member Ebereche Eze has been linked with a move to City, while Brazil goalkeeper Ederson has also been the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia, prompting reports on Monday that the club was interested in Paris St-Germain's Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

"If someone leaves, we are going to talk about that and, of course, until the last day [of the transfer window] we have chances," he said.

"I don’t rule out new players as an option, but I think there is an 85, 90, 95% chance we will have the same squad."

City begin their Premier League title defence at Chelsea on 18 August.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said influential midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will stay at the club.

De Bruyne has been heavily linked with a summer move to Saudi Arabia.

He has one-year left on his Blues contract and said last month he would have to consider an offer from the Saudi Pro-League because of the "incredible money" available.

However, Guardiola is unconcerned.

"Kevin isn’t leaving," he told reporters before his side's opening pre-season game against Celtic in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday (00:30 BST).

Read the full story here.

There is only one place to start this morning - those quotes that broke overnight from Pep Guardiola, who said that Belgium playmaker Kevin de Bruyne "isn't leaving" Manchester City.

We will bring you more on that story as well as the latest transfer updates and breaking news.

Image source, Getty Images