Premier League

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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There are times as a reporter when being in the room is really important to check the tone of what a manager says.

Hearing Enzo Maresca talk about an injury to star defender Levi Colwill, you could tell there was an air of concern about the situation.

He said: "It was in the first session on Monday, just in the last minutes of the session. He felt something and, as I said, we need to wait and then we see.

"We don't know how long he is going to be out.

"I spoke with him yesterday and I told him that if we achieve what we achieved last year, it is also because of him - and he was a main player for us."

Maresca also hinted that if scans reveal a serious injury then they may need to go back into the transfer market for another option.

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We asked for your views on the departure of Michail Antonio after a decade at West Ham and if you see him returning for a role behind the scenes in the future.

Here are some of your comments:

Barry: It's a shame to see him go but it's not unexpected. He looks to have done a great job to get back on the pitch, which shows the determination he has. When he was at his best, he was at times unplayable. His strength and pace caused many centre-back nightmares. Good luck and thanks for some great memories.

Rebecca: It's just really sad that fans couldn't properly say goodbye to such an important and loved player. So many good memories and no chance to celebrate that!

Colin: He has been a great asset to us and is highly popular, but now is the right time to bid farewell as we need young fresh blood in the team. He knows he will always be welcomed back as a non-player.

Mandy: I'm absolutely gutted that they have let him go. He has been a great player for us and he has played in many different positions when we needed him to. Pleased the club will continue to support him and I hope he comes back behind the scenes one day.

Len: I think it would be great for Antonio to stay at the club as an academy team member and motivate some of the younger players who can look up to him.

Anastasia: Very sad way for him to leave the club after all this time and he deserved a much better send off. We'll always be so grateful for everything he has done for the club.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport

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Burnley announced the signing of Lesley Ugochukwu from Chelsea on Wednesday night for a fee in the region of £20m.

While the sum is officially undisclosed, it does eclipse both the £16m paid for Zeki Amdouni, who was signed from Basel in July 2023, and the £15m fee paid for James Trafford from Manchester City that same month.

The Trafford deal had the potential to rise to £19m, although the goalkeeper has since returned to Etihad Stadium.

So what have the Clarets got for their money?

In short, a gamble on a young player with relatively little top-level experience.

Ugochukwu joined Chelsea from Rennes for £23m two years ago and went on to make just six starts for the Blues before joining Southampton on loan last season.

The 21-year-old central midfielder did not particularly stand out in an abject Saints team, making 18 league starts as they were relegated.

He is highly thought of in France and played regularly in the Europa League for Rennes, but this signing by Burnley that is undoubtedly based on potential rather than concrete evidence, hoping the France Under-21 international will find his way in Premier League football.

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We asked you whether selling Darwin Nunez is a risk on Liverpool's behalf if it ends up leaving them short on attacking numbers for the new season.

Here are some of your comments:

Andy: No risk. He's a liability and we're better off being one player short than having him in the squad.

Paul: I wish Darwin well. I had hoped he would stay and take his chance when opportunity allowed. He seemed more relaxed and sharp in the friendlies. It might come back and bite us if the new faces don't hit the ground running. We just have to trust the process of recruitment.

Gary: Yes, it is a risk as we very sadly lost Diogo Jota and now we're selling Nunez, who has been great in pre-season. I'd have given him a chance. The pressure to sign Alexander Isak is now on.

Harpreet: There is definitely a risk in letting Nunez go without a replacement ready to come in. I assume the club are confident of getting the Isak deal over the line, but FSG has shown it has no issues going into a season with a lack of depth in certain areas. The lack of depth at centre-back this close to the start of the season is another worrying issue.

Thom: Unfortunately, Nunez didn't live up to expectations. However, with the tragic loss of Jota and an influx of new talent, I felt Nunez was needed this term. He provides something different, an explosion of pace, chaos and an understanding of the club and league. Someone like that is needed while others settle in.

Ricky: I don't think selling Nunez is a risk for the club but I don't think it's the best move for the player football-wise. Good luck to him, though. Things just didn't work out as expected.

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Liverpool and Al-Hilal have reached an agreement on a deal for striker Darwin Nunez. The 26-year-old has scored 40 goals in 143 appearances for the Reds since arriving from Benfica in the summer of 2022.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, The Redmen TV's Dan Clubbe said that while there is frustration around a potential deal, a move away from Liverpool would ultimately suit both club and player.

"It's not necessarily disappointment - the overriding feeling is frustration," Clubbe said. "[Nunez] came in for a lot of money and there was a lot of expectation around him.

"The timing of his signing was interesting. He came in at the same time as Erling Haaland. The comparison was made from the get-go and Nunez never lived up to those levels.

"He was a Jurgen Klopp-led signing, which brought danger. Liverpool's recruitment had been so well thought-out, smart and data-driven. To remove from that and allow Klopp to have free rein maybe was too much of a gamble.

"Given the money we spent on him, he probably has come some way short of what we expected, so it probably is best for both parties that he moves on."

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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Thomas Frank has had time to brace himself for Son Heung-min's departure, but the long-term unavailability of Maddison arrives a as bolt out of the blue.

Son's farewell match in South Korea earlier this week was marred by the latest knee injury suffered by Maddison.

The anguished expression on the midfielder's face said it all.

The sympathy belongs to him. Last season was cut short by an injury to the same knee, a blow that robbed him of playing in the Europa League final win over Manchester United.

But spare a thought for Frank, who in his first season in charge, faces losing two key attacking players – one forever and the other for a long period.

You would imagine now that Spurs will give big consideration to entering the market for a new attacking midfielder.

Had their move for Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White ended successfully then the requirement to enter the market for offensive reinforcements would be significantly less pressing.

Such attacking quality is hard to come by. Expensive, too.

Summer signing from West Ham Mohamed Kudus has played centrally before and could provide an option.

But Spurs will have to do something to replace Maddison's contribution.

What should Tottenham do?

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At the fan forum on Wednesday, one supporter kept his question simple: Why do Brighton always sell their best players?

Albion chief executive Paul Barber replied: "The reality is that pretty much every club in the world is a selling club at the right price - anyone that says any different doesn't really understand football.

"Our business model has always been that we will buy young players, hire the best coaching staff to develop them, give them the chance to play in the first team and negotiate the best possible deal when the time is right.

"We will build our club sustainably like that. We can't always rely on Tony [Bloom] to fill in the gaps and usually at a club, the only gaps are financial gaps. We have to build a club on its own two feet, that is less reliant on a single person to pay the bills.

"In order for a club of our size to do this, we need to have a healthy trading strategy and we have got one. The key is to make sure to never leave our coaching staff with a squad incapable of competing. That is what we try and do every year and I think we are getting the balance right.

"There are times where we want to keep a player for longer, but players also have demands and dreams for the future. The job that Tony, I and the technical staff have is to judge the right moment to sell, which is sometimes not that easy."

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Everton remain in negotiations for Southampton winger Tyler Dibling, who is reportedly not taking part in contact training at St Mary's in order to protect himself for any potential move, although the clubs are yet to agree on a fee.

Everton's current record signing is the £45m they paid for Gylfi Sigurdsson in 2017 and they could exceed this figure to secure Dibling's services. Former Saints boss Russell Martin believes he would be worth every penny.

Martin coached James Maddison and Harry Kane in their early careers and he told The Rest is Football podcast, external thatrates Dibling even more highly.

"When I was there I had to play it down a lot and not make things more difficult for him," Martin said, "but he is the most talented player I've ever worked with.

"Seeing him on the training pitch, seeing him live, Tyler has every capability to play for England and at the top level for a very long time.

Martin highlighted Dibling's versatility, noting he can play at eight, 10, as a false nine or on the wing for any new club.

"He's powerful, he's really quick and [uses] both feet. Physically, the stuff I've seen him do at 18 in the Premier League, with people just bouncing him off him and being put on the floor when he dribbles, he has something I've not seen in a British player for some time."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester United are on the lookout for someone who could strengthen their midfield and skipper Bruno Fernandes has called for new signings.

And they like Carlos Baleba.

The problem is Brighton's desire to sell, which is non-existent, and owner Tony Bloom's negotiating tactics. Hard line.

That is not to say United could not get Baleba - it is just that it would cost an enormous amount of money, probably in excess of anything United have spent so far this summer.

It is not obvious where the money would come from, because even if they can sign Benjamin Sesko without selling players first, eventually they will have to.

And it would take more than getting rid of the 'bomb squad' which even the club accepts is likely to be later in the window.

The key point is whether United look for an alternative or keep their powder dry for Baleba, either in case circumstances change dramatically in this window, or, more likely, for next summer.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

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Liverpool are in talks with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal over Darwin Nunez, with the Reds considering selling the striker, who joined from Benfica in 2022 for an initial fee of £64.1m.

The 26-year-old has enjoyed some memorable moments with the Anfield club, such as January's match-winning late double at Brentford, but has struggled to make an impact consistently.

He has scored 25 Premier League goals, underperforming his expected goals (xG) total by 8.6. That is the second-worst record of any player over the past three years, with only Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Everton faring worse.

The league's best finishers typically register shot-conversion rates of over 20%, but Nunez's percentage of 11.1% ranks only 95th. When it comes to shot accuracy, meaning the proportion of efforts directed on target, he also barely scrapes into the top 100.

There is no lack of volume for the striker, who sits inside the top 10 for both shots and shots on target, despite only starting 49 top-flight matches for the Merseysiders.

He has also arguably been unlucky, hitting the woodwork 14 times - the most by any player since 2022-23.

But, ultimately, a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal may have persuaded Liverpool now is the time to cash in on the Uruguayan.

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We asked for your views on a perceived lack of urgency and assertiveness from Newcastle United in this summer's transfer market.

Here are some of your comments:

David: Need to be much more aggressive and proactive with transfers. No disrespect to the players, but without new targets, survival in Europe will be challenging, not to mention the Premier League. It is quite disheartening not to see top-quality players arriving.

Alex: Disheartening? I'm absolutely gutted, with a mix of anger, frustration and dismay! The bottom line is that the senior leadership needs to have a serious look at themselves, since Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi left the club feeling directionless. We have just won our first trophy in a lifetime and have European football again - we should be the strongest we have ever been, on the field and off it. However, the club feels lost, discombobulated. Instead of being proactive, we are reactive.

Wayne: Unfortunately, Newcastle's transfer attempts have been inept, making low-ball offers and tipping off rivals about their intentions. Too slow and too timid. Also, there is no transparency or accountability, so no-one is sure who is responsible for this mess - certainly not Eddie Howe, who is sent out to face the media, apparently with zero knowledge of what is going on.

Tom: Disastrous transfer window so far. Alexander Isak hasn't helped matters with his childish behaviour and the timing of it. Just a reminder, Newcastle United won a cup and qualified for the Champions League last season. The reason players aren't coming is greed - it's as simple as that. Newcastle don't have the income yet to match the 'septic six'.

Rich: This whole saga takes me right back to the 1980s when we were simply a transition club. Great players like Paul Gascoigne, Chris Waddle and Peter Beardsley would raise the hopes and aspirations of us being a great club. Yet we failed to keep them or attract similar players to take us to the next level.

Andy: Howe said so himself that Newcastle had to move quickly in the transfer market. We have been far from it - slow, sluggish, dithering and almost statuesque. Yoane Wissa, Benjamin Sesko, James Trafford, Bryan Mbeumo - I wonder who else will be on the oh-so-close list.

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Brentford boss Keith Andrews has praised Yoane Wissa's professionalism and attitude amid ongoing uncertainty around the forward's future.

The 28-year-old is back with the group after leaving the Bees' pre-season trip to Portugal early last week.

Andrews admitted Wissa is still building up match fitness but underlined the forward's value to the squad, calling him an "outstanding talent" and a player any coach would want to work with.

Despite the speculation, Andrews insists their relationship remains respectful as the transfer window plays out.

"Wissa came back from Portugal - that was the right thing for all parties," Andrews told BBC Radio London.

"He was working very hard in the training ground in the build-up to the QPR game, obviously lacking in fitness. The players had yesterday off, and today was the first day we trained together as a group, and Yoane was there.

"Every coach would want him at the football club and every fan would want him at the football club, because he is an outstanding talent. He has proved to be an amazing football player for this club because of his importance within the group.

"I can't say that it has put me under a lot of stress because I do things one at a time. I am very understanding of the situation, having been in this industry for a long time.

"Transfer windows are always similar. I try to keep a good relationship with Wissa, and that's the way it has to remain.

"It's underpinned with mutual respect."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Will Liverpool be even better this season than last?

They have an army of modern technical advisers but they have heeded the wisdom of one of their greatest historic icons.

Former manager Bill Shankly is remembered for his iconic one-liners, none more than: "Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's more important than that."

For those who now think that trite or even tasteless, it was meant as a joke, an exaggeration, a bit of fun with words - nothing more.

I was always more impressed with his idea that "you must always strengthen when you are at the top, before your power starts to fade". Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu would have been proud of that ideology.

It is easier said than done, however. Bringing an expensive bunch of new players into the group after winning a major trophy can put some of the current squad's noses out of joint. Some might think: "Are they replacing me already, after all I have done for them?"

Liverpool cannot afford to damage the brilliant team spirit they have, so the personalities of the new recruits are as vital as how you sell their arrival to the rest of the players.

They cannot be allowed to upset the on-field balance either. Some players just work perfectly together - there is a synergy that cannot be measured by stats. They understand each other and help each other, sometimes even without knowing they are doing it.

There is also the thought that one day Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will slow down with age or get injured more frequently. While everybody still backs the Reds as favourites, could these problems beset Arne Slot's team this season?

Almost certainly not. They have recruited brilliantly and are still the team to beat, even if some of us are flailing around trying to find a weakness - which probably is not there.

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Opta's Supercomputer has once again predicted the upcoming 2025-26 Premier League season by using a model to simulate every match 10,000 times.

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Last season promised a thrilling title race between Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool - but in the end it was anything but.

Arne Slot was given just a 5.1% chance of winning the Premier League in his debut season, but expectations are far higher now.

Despite major changes - including the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz, and the tragic loss of Diogo Jota - Liverpool have rebuilt with the signings of Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Hugo Ekitike.

The Opta supercomputer now makes them title favourites, winning in 28.5% of simulations.

Arsenal have finished runners-up for three straight seasons. This could be their moment, especially with Viktor Gyokeres finally giving Mikel Arteta a true number nine. Their title odds have nearly doubled to 24.3%, though another second-place finish remains the most likely outcome.

City were aiming for a historic fifth consecutive title but stumbled, largely due to Rodri's long-term injury. With him fit again, Pep Guardiola will demand a return to form. Their supercomputer-backed chances have dropped sharply this season however, - from 82.2% to just 18.8%.

Fresh off a Club World Cup win, Chelsea are aiming for their first league title since 2017. Enzo Maresca's young side has potential, but consistency is the big question.

They win the league in 8.8% of sims, with another fourth-place finish considered the most likely.

Read Opta's full Supercomputer breakdown here, external

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Manchester City's Phil Foden says he wants to continue "getting back" to his "very high level" after an uncharacteristically difficult Premier League campaign in 2024-25.

"I think everyone wants to make up for last season, we all want to come to our best and winning titles," the 25-year-old told BBC Sport.

"We have got a lot of experience in the dressing room. With Bernardo [Silva] being captain, hopefully he can push the lads on. We have got all the experience and we have done it before.

"That's a positive - you know and what it takes so hopefully we can get back there."

After being named the Premier League Player of the Season for the 2023-24 campaign, Foden only registered seven goals and two assists in the league.

However, he looked more comfortable during the summer Club World Cup in the USA - managing three goals and an assist in four games even as City were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Al-Hilal.

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"I thought I was much better at the Club World Cup and my performances definitely got better from the season before," Foden said.

"I want to continue getting back to my level, which is very high. You just have to put the work in training and believe in yourself.

"I am not sure where the manager sees me this year, I can play in different positions but we all know my position is the insides, in the pockets, so let us see what happens.

"I am not here to replicate what Kev (de Bruyne) did because we all know how good he was and what he did for the club.

"It is about trying my best, getting to the level where I won Player of the Year. You can only train and get back to it - that is what I am trying to do."

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Following the news that Manchester United had submitted a bid to RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko, we asked for your views on a possible deal for the striker.

Here are some of your comments:

Charles: Sesko is a player with huge potential and Manchester United should take a risk on him because there are no better, affordable, young and established strikers out there. Rasmus Hojlund should be either sold or sent on loan to ease the deal financially.

Mark: Could be quite a gamble having not played in the Premier League. If he is given a good enough ball supply then he will score, but you could say that about any half-decent striker. I think the money should be spent on trying to improve the defensive unit.

Christine: Sesko is a top striker in the same mould as Alexander Isak - height, strength and skill that would fit with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to interlink for attacks on goal. An exciting player who has age on his side to turn out to be the world-class player he could be.

Paul: If we are to be serious moving forward then we need top-class players like Sesko. If we want them, we've got to pay the going rate. As long as our legendary scouting network have done their jobs properly, then I'm good with it. That's a big if, however, looking back at previous purchases in the recent past.

Danyal: Are we doing another expensive buy like we did with Hojlund? Is Sesko going to be the game-solver? I do think he will bring something different to the attack and compliment Mbeumo and Cunha. But, personally, I think we should target a midfielder before a striker. It's all good to have strikers but when the midfield is empty we wont be scoring much. But still, it will be an exciting signing after a busy transfer window.

Mathias: Sesko is a young player who is over-priced. The Premier League is difficult and he would need to adapt to it. It would be a bit hard for him, especially the first season. I would prefer Ollie Watkins because he is used to the Premier League and mature.

Kevan: Would be a great signing but we don't want to get into a bidding war. £74m is enough.

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Florian Wirtz says he does nt think about his transfer price tag as he settles into life at Liverpool and prepares for Sunday's Community Shield fixture against Crystal Palace.

The German, signed from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100m, featured in Monday's friendly win over Athletic Bilbao and said: "I don't think about it. I just want to play football and how much money the clubs pay between each other, it doesn't matter.

"Of course the big challenge is to win the title again and it is the most difficult thing so (I will) try and just create chances and also work against the ball.

"I can also run a lot so (I will) bring this to the team and then with the ball I can make the team better and bring my team-mates into better situations.

"I came because I thought I could fit in this team and I am enjoying to play with these players and getting every time a little bit better so I am happy with how it is going."

Wirtz, 22, scored 57 times in 197 outings for Leverkusen.

He found the net for Liverpool in their victory over Yokohama F. Marinos last week and hit the bar with a header in Monday's win over Bilbao.

"I am a player who needs freedom on the pitch and the manager gives it to me because I have to respect the position and the players around me," he added.

"I will try to find the right places to be and the right spaces to get the ball and to be dangerous and create chances - I have not played a match in the Premier League but I am looking forward and that is why I came."

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has given a wide-ranging interview to The Overlap and on BBC Radio 5 Live, the Monday Night Club team debated elements of it.

The iPaper's Daniel Storey offered insight into how Levy is viewed while former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock pondered what more trophies may mean for Levy's legacy.

Speaking to The Overlap, Levy said: "I think it's one of those situations (in which) when I'm not here I'm sure I'll get the credit. When you come here and look at this wonderful (stadium), and the fact that other clubs are now trying to copy what we're doing, that should be a sign that maybe we did do something bold, and something right."

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Daniel Farke has been outgoing in stating Leeds lack some quality in attack as they prepare for the Premier League.

BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan and Simon Rix of the Kaiser Chiefs pondered Farke's comments on the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet.

Was he trying to "make a point"? Or was he genuinely concerned?

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

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To add to a deeply frustrating transfer window for Newcastle fans, it now looks like Darwin Nunez could make a move from Liverpool to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Allowing Liverpool to sell Nunez to free up the cash to potentially pursue Alexander Isak again makes so little sense to me. Al Hilal and Newcastle have the same overall owners, and they must know how much we do not want Liverpool to suddenly have a glut of cash available.

It is particularly galling when taken in the context of Eddie Howe's recent comments - that players have to "earn the right" to train with the rest of the squad.

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The team are back from pre-season and back in training this week, which represents a real opportunity to have a serious conversation and hopefully move forward without all this noise and distraction.

It also makes me think about what the priority is for our majority owners PIF. More and more discontent has been felt in the fanbase lately over where Newcastle sit on PIF's list of priorities, and allowing another of their clubs to benefit at the potential expense of us feels even more like we are being overlooked.

Perhaps it is their clever way of getting money into NUFC, but I think most fans would say we would rather an improved contract was given to Isak, the dust of the summer settles, and he stays with us a little while longer.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport

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Chelsea are reportedly ready to sell Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Everton and have accepted an offer from Burnley for fellow midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu.

The Blues have spent approximately £240m on new players this summer but have already recouped over half of that total by moving on eight unwanted players.

Selling the likes of Noni Madueke, Joao Felix and Djordje Petrovic has brought approximately £129m into the club, more than any other Premier League side.

Should Dewsbury-Hall and Ugochukwu also depart, that figure could rise by a further £50m.

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Everton boss David Moyes was happier with the way his team performed against Manchester United in the final match of the Premier League Summer Series in the United States.

The friendly, which took place overnight in Atlanta, finished 2-2 and saw James Tarkowski get some valuable minutes under his belt as he continues his return from his hamstring injury.

"We had a team which was more equipped to have a chance of being more competitive," said Moyes. "We were nowhere near in the first or the second game as we didn't have enough players fit enough, but we're just starting to get one or two back.

"In the first game we were five players out of position trying to find a team. But I thought it was better [against Manchester United], I thought we played much better.

"We've picked up, but not enough, and I would have hoped that we'd be much further down the line than we've been.

"I think there will be deals next week. I think we're getting much closer, but I've got to say that I felt that four or five weeks ago as well. But obviously we're getting near the tickly bits and we've got to get some things done.

"We know that we have to make several additions and more. Even for the numbers, we might even have people in the squad who we'd like to put them out on loan or do other things with them. So we're needing generally to add to the squad and we need to get some of the main players in quickly."

Following the conclusion of the Premier League Summer Series, the Toffees will return home and turn their attention to hosting Roma at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time.

"That'll be a great occasion for us all," added Moyes. "For us all to go down there and see what it looks like, and hopefully a good day of weather and fill the place out.

"I would love to be able to have a couple of players which I could tell the crowd 'this is the start'.

"But if not, the big sign is that we should have Jarrad [Brainthwaite] back in training when we return on Wednesday - with a bit of luck."

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

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Tottenham are closing in on the loan signing of Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha. The destructive number six joined the German giants in a £42.3m deal last summer and called it "the happiest day of my life" – although the move has since soured due to injury and a lack of playing time.

Palhinha has started just 10 games in all competitions for Bayern in the last year, prompting a potential move back to the Premier League where he excelled during his two seasons with Fulham between 2022 and 2024.

The 34-cap Portugal international proved to be a real bargain after swapping Sporting Lisbon for Craven Cottage for around £17m, comfortably topping the Premier League rankings for tackles with a total of 300 during his initial two-season stint – 109 more than any other player. He also ranked sixth for interceptions (92).

His combative style of play, however, does carry risks. The 30-year-old received 27 yellow cards across 2022-23 and 2023-24 – at least five more than anyone else.

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We asked for your views on Aston Villa's pre-season preparations after Sunday's 2-2 draw with Nashville SC.

Here are some of your comments:

Steve: The bare minimum we require by the end of the window is to have last seasons' squad intact. At least we won't have gone backwards. But all the teams above us have spent plenty so will have pulled away. Can't see us making any game-changing signings so we'll be fighting with Forest and Spurs for the minor European places.

Prit: My honest feeling is trepidation. I understand that the club will struggle financially with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City but we do need cover in defence and support for Watkins. I would have liked to have seen Louie Barry given a chance as he is a very special player, but Unai will need to bat very clever in bringing in real value. It just highlights the impact of not turning up for the FA Cup semi-final and the nightmare at Old Trafford last season.

Paul: Not overly concerned about the results. I can see us finishing ninth or 10th next season. Top six have gone to another level. Hope I am wrong and we can manage top five.

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Martin: With very little movement in the transfer window so far, it's hard to predict how our season will go! There is an underlying feeling of disappointment after failing in FA Cup and Champions League qualification in the final few weeks. Hopefully we make a decent start.

Martyn-Paul: These games are nothing more than training sessions and the results are meaningless. But what does seem inevitable (due to FFP) is that Unai is going to have to work with the same squad as last season and that could lead to complacency and mid-table obscurity. Basically we're in a financial mess!

Ian: A little concerned at lack of activity in transfer market. Assuming we don't sell anyone we still need cover at centre back, we need another wide man up front and a back-up striker for Ollie. Now if we sell anyone then it puts a different complexion on things. I just hope Unai has got appropriate plans in place to cover all our options. We need to build and move forward again after a couple of very good years. Keep the faith.