Premier League

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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As Nuno Espirito Santo spoke about "dealing with doubts" just two days before the start of a season that sees Forest back in Europe for the first time in 30 years, it quickly became apparent how unhappy he is.

Nuno picks his words carefully and this time he was eager to get his message across loud and clear.

Like all managers, when he has something to say, he will say it and before Forest's opener against Brentford on Sunday, he voiced his concerns.

He spoke about how the club have lost an opportunity to build on last season and how even the players are worried at the lack of new arrivals. It was the speed of the process he was most upset with, feeling the club could have moved more quickly.

Nuno is regarded as being guarded during press conferences and, for the Portuguese, it was explosive.

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He trusts his squad but he feels the squad lacks the required depth and quality to compete on four fronts - with their Europa League campaign on the horizon - and this was as animated as he has ever been.

The club could spend close to £100m on Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee and Arnaud Kalimuendo in the next few days - and there is interest in Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz - but it still has not appeased Nuno.

There is an acceptance the Under-21 European Championship - which Hutchinson and McAtee won with England - and the Club World Cup has delayed many deals. Nuno accepts other clubs will have similar issues, yet his concern is Forest.

He underlined how important it is to bring players in as early as possible and it is impossible to escape how this could be the first public fracture, especially after such a successful season.

This all comes just five weeks after Edu was officially appointed as the club's global sporting director.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Enzo Maresca rarely says anything that could frustrate his bosses at Chelsea but he pulled no punches on Friday in his first news conference to preview the Premier League season.

He went public with his stance that he wants a new signing to replace defender Levi Colwill, who is expected to be out for the majority of the season after surgery on his knee, when he stated: "We need a central defender. We are looking for an internal solution but, as I said, the club know exactly what I think."

The Italian said Colwill's influence at Stamford Bridge is underrated, going into forensic detail about how his unique ability to build up from the back is not matched by alternatives on the club's books.

"When we build, we build with Levi in the middle. It's different to the player in the middle on the left side," Maresca explained.

"Last year, we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin [Adarabioyo]. Now Levi is out, the only one that he can do that job well is Tosin.

"[Jorrel] Hato is a new one. He never played as the guy in the middle last season. So it's not about being a central defender. Yes, [he is a] central defender. Can he do that? It's different, it's not just about that."

That stance not only risks upsetting his bosses, who want him to work with what he has got, but also those alternative options who are wanting the chance to step up, including Hato, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Josh Acheampong.

It also would rip up the club's transfer plans to strengthen in attack, with Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho the primary target, and RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons also under consideration.

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Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

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This did not feel like your typical first news conference of the season at Newcastle United's training ground.

Eddie Howe would usually expect to field questions on new signings, his ambitions for the season and, of course, the trip to Villa Park on the opening day.

But this 33-minute briefing was understandably dominated by a man who has not kicked a ball for the club since May: Alexander Isak.

Isak remains determined to join Liverpool, but Howe struck a delicate balance in his latest dealings with the media.

On one hand, Howe admitted the prospect of Isak still being at St James' Park next month was out of his hands. On the other, the Newcastle head coach did not rule out the prospect of the Swede being reintegrated.

What is clear is that Newcastle need another striker - regardless of what happens with Isak.

The prospect of winger Anthony Gordon having to lead the line against Aston Villa is a timely reminder of that.

For context, once you take Isak out of the equation, Gordon has been Newcastle's top scorer in the Premier League in the past three seasons with 18 goals.

No wonder Howe stressed on Friday that "everyone is going to have to step up and give more."

As well as finding solutions from within, Newcastle remain interested in Brentford striker Yoane Wissa as a replacement for Callum Wilson, who left the club last month.

There could be movement on that front after Brentford agreed a deal for Bournemouth forward Dango Ouattara.

Newcastle could certainly use some more firepower.

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Former Everton and Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney believes Jack Grealish is a great acquisition by the Merseyside club.

Speaking on the BBC's The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England great thinks David Moyes has signed a motivated Grealish, who will be focused to do well at the club during his season.

"It is a great signing for both," Rooney said. "For Everton, I think it was a really clever move getting Moyes back in – he knows the club and the values of the club and I think we are starting to see with the team he is putting together.

"Jack is a player who can be the difference. He has struggled for game time this last year, lost his place in the England squad. Everton have got him at this time where he is almost in a position where he needs to go prove himself again and I think it is a great signing.

"I went for dinner and saw him - we spoke about the number 18 shirt. He said there was eight and 18 available and he said he remembered Paul Gascoigne took it and then I took it.

"He took that and it is great and I spoke about the values of the club. Everton is a club where the fans expect and demand hard work from the players. There is no doubt Jack will do that but then he has the quality on top of that which will make him a fans' favourite."

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Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

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Chelsea endured their worst season in almost two decades in 2022-23, finishing 12th in the Premier League - it was a season of turmoil which saw four different managers come and go, and the volume of injuries played a key part.

The Blues had 48 separate injuries, causing a total loss of 1,836 days – both figures were more than any other top-flight club. N'Golo Kante, Armando Broja, Wesley Fofana and Reece James alone each missed more than 100 days, while the club didn't field an unchanged starting line-up in the league all season.

Things didn't get much better in 2023-24 with 43 separate injuries, a number topped only by Manchester United. Chelsea's tally of 20 different injured players again included James, who was out for 206 days with two separate problems.

However, last season saw a marked improvement, with 24 separate injuries, exactly half as many as the 2022-23 campaign. Chelsea lost 827 days to injury, less than half the amount of both the two previous seasons, with only four clubs losing fewer.

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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BBC Radio Merseyside understands suggestions Beto has been told he is welcome to leave Everton this summer are untrue.

The club's stance is the striker is not for sale.

The 27 year old remains part of David Moyes' plans for the season.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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There is a certain amount of anxiety around Wolves, although it should prove unfounded.

Vitor Pereira proved how adept he is after taking a side rooted in the bottom three to mid-table comfort in a matter of months last season.

While Wolves have failed to win during the summer, it should not be taken as a barometer of any potential success or failure ahead of Saturday's opening day visit of Manchester City.

Yet no Matheus Cunha or Rayan Ait-Nouri has made Wolves fans uneasy after the pair departed for Manchester United and City respectively.

Without Cunha's goals - he scored 15 and made six assists in the Premier League last season - there are legitimate questions where those lost goals will come from. Ait-Nouri also provided four goals in the league and a bunch of assists from full-back.

Wolves scored 63 goals last season in all competitions but they have lost more than half of those goals: 32 in total, including Cunha's 17, while Goncalo Guedes [five], Ait-Nouri [five], Pablo Sarabia [three], Tommy Doyle [one] and Mario Lemina [one].

Of the five players who played the most minutes they have also lost three: Ait-Nouri [3.406] Nelson Semedo [3,077] and Cunha [2,831].

As expected, Jorgen Strand Larsen turned his loan into a permanent move, and his 14 goals were useful in an impressive debut season but he will need support. New additions Fer Lopez and Jhon Arias will provide threat but need time.

David Moller Wolfe has filled the full-back role after arriving from AZ but Wolves do lack quality deputies for Andre and Joao Gomes in midfield, as willing as Marshall Munetsi or Jean-Ricner Bellegarde are.

Another summer saw another loss of a captain with Semedo opting against signing a new deal, following Conor Coady, Ruben Neves and Max Kilman in leaving Molineux - with ex-skipper Lemina also departing in February.

There are still spaces to be filled, which is understood at Molineux. With Pereira having more control - and ally Domenico Teti replacing Matt Hobbs in the newly titled director of professional football role - the Wolves manager should be able to guide his side through any difficulties.

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Former Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has been reflecting on how he managed to get the club promoted in 2009.

Wolves almost went up in the 2006-07 season but agonisingly lost 4-2 on aggregate to fierce rivals West Bromwich Albion in the Championship play-off semi-finals.

They were in the mix for the play-offs the following season too, only to miss out on sixth place by a goal difference of one.

Speaking to BBC Radio WM, McCarthy explained how he managed to rejuvenate the dressing room, but recalled how he had not been supremely confident when he first arrived at the club.

"You may remember my quote at the time," he said. "I said that MM stands for Mick McCarthy - not Merlin the Magician!

"You take the club on but it was Wolves, for goodness sake. Then it was my job to deal with the players."

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In that promotion campaign of 2008-09, McCarthy suggested some of the players he was able to acquire - along with his own positive attitude - made a stirring difference in the dressing room.

"You have to lift yourself up first - you have to come back in ready for it," McCarthy said. "The players have to see that you have come back in energised.

"That third season when we won promotion, we won seven on the bounce.

"The players were young and hungry. Christophe Berra was a huge signing for us as was a wonderful centre-forward from Plymouth, who got all the goals. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was amazing!"

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Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

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Parma's teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni has emerged as one of Serie A's most intriguing defensive prospects - and it is no surprise that Liverpool are closing in on a deal for the 18-year-old.

Last season, Leoni enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, earning plaudits for his composure in possession and ability to read the game. But a closer look at the data from fbref.com via Opta, compared with other defenders in Italy's top flight, paints a fuller picture of where he stands.

A percentile shows how a player compares to others in the same position. For example, being in the 80th percentile for a stat means they perform better than 80% of their peers in that area.

One facet where he ranks very highly is winning aerial duels. Here he ranks in the 93rd percentile, meaning he very rarely loses them, albeit perhaps Serie A is not at the physicality of the Premier League.

The chart below shows he has also performed strongly in metrics such as clearances and passes blocked, perhaps an indication of his alertness and positional awareness.

The centre-back averages 4.73 clearances per 90 minutes. However, these numbers are affected by the fact Parma do not dominate the ball so their defence is required to work harder as a result.

Leoni's pass completion sits at the 61st percentile which suggests he is comfortable retaining possession, but can be inaccurate when distributing from the back. In Arne Slot's system, where centre-backs are often tasked with initiating attacks under pressure, refining that consistency could be a key part of his development.

His figures for challenges lost are also notable. This points to a player still developing his strength and reading of one-on-one situations. It may also reflect the fact that, as a young defender, he is still learning when to commit and when to hold his position.

For now, the statistics tell the story of a player on the rise, and if the move is completed, Anfield could be the stage on which he fulfils his potential.

Have you got a question about your Premier League club or is there a topic you want more information on? Have you spotted a theme or trend involving your team that needs further investigation?

Well, this season we're making it easier for you to get in touch and ask - and we will do our best to use our expertise here at BBC Sport to give you direct answers.

Our team can call upon a network of contacts - including our reporters, pundits and other experts - to find out everything you need to know.

No question is too big or too small, so fire away using the links below and we will answer the best of them throughout the campaign.

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We asked for your thoughts on Cristian Romero being named Tottenham captain - and you were divided in your responses.

Here is a snapshot:

Tony: Brilliant choice, World Cup winner. It will give him responsibility, which in turn will improve his hot-headedness.

Paul: Absolutely spot on! Romero is our most inspirational player (when he's on form). He was also one of the vice-captains last season, so it would have been a bit rude if he'd been overlooked for captain this season.

Peter: Romero is a good captain, but not as notable as Son, Kane and others. He is very aggressive and daring on the pitch, but sometimes I think his disciplinary record is not too good. Players like Vicario and Maddison could maybe be good choices, but I think he is a good captain to lead us out. The comments about our pre-season were not particularly positive, so interesting times are ahead.

Mark: Romero has no self-control and is a loose cannon. I would have given it to Pedro Porro, who has passion but can be a calming influence when required.

Ken: Loses his cool regularly and seemingly was agitating for a move before being priced out. However, there aren't any obvious alternatives, so perhaps he's the only choice.

Paul B: No! Romero is not the right choice for captain. I'm not actually sure who among the current squad is a suitable captain. Romero cannot be trusted to keep his cool and stay on the pitch. This is a sorry state of affairs for the club to be in one week before the start of the season. Sign Marc Guehi and make him captain now, please!

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Styles have always shifted in football.

The fashion was once to find a centre-forward, usually a big one, and build a team around him - and for him. Times moved on and the number 10 became the godlike figure to be worshipped.

Recently, even defensive midfielders have had their day in the sun, but there has never been a better time to be an out-and-out winger than now, specifically one who can dribble and attack defenders.

But despite the likes of Paris St-Germain, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City and many more wanting wily wingers, one club not only does not want them, it is doing everything it can to get rid of them.

Ruben Amorim at Manchester United is so completely spellbound by his system that wingers are consigned to the so-called 'bomb squad', not worthy of even training with the main group.

He certainly is not being affected by the current fashion for flash on the flanks.

Does this mean he is behind the times? It has been a long time since any team that played with a back three and no wingers was truly successful in England. Antonio Conte managed it at Chelsea for a short while but even he evolved away from it.

Then again, Amorim could also be ahead of his time; wing wonders may be little more than a passing fad. I hope not because they are so exciting when at their best - even though they are just as infuriating at their worst.

We will find out about Amorim by Christmas at the latest. If his team is still in the bottom half of the Premier League by then, the owners will lose patience as will the fans.

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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This weekend I was at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea's friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan. This was the entirety of their pre-season, the best prep they could muster to get ready for the toughest league campaign on the planet.

They played well and hit the ground running, though no one will be surprised if they run into a brick wall part way through the season. The medical boffins have never suggested this sort of summer is anything like the right kind of preparation, but that is the madness of the football calendar.

There was a silver lining on these blazing hot sunny days. The Blues have a history of falling for small, talented creative players who the fans take to their hearts - they often reward them with player of the year trophies.

Think of Joe Cole, Eden Hazard and Gianfranco Zola and you could even add Juan Mata and Charlie Cooke to the list.

I mentioned this the other day on the TV commentary and a few folk were kind enough to suggest I should be on the list too. The fans certainly were kind to me, and I did get the Player of the Year a couple of times, but I would not presume to be in that group.

The important point is that there could be a new kid on the block. The 18-year-old Brazilian Estevao Willian fits the bill. Chelsea fans are head over heels already and I feel the same, after only two friendlies.

It is early days and there are dangers along the road, but Estevao has the skill, confidence, vision, personality, game awareness and the pace.

I cannot wait to watch him develop, enjoy the skills and hopefully watch him become a legendary player at the club. I am sure fans of other clubs will enjoy watching him too, he could be that good.

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Rasmus Hojlund is not being forced out of Manchester United but they will help him find a new club if he decides he wants a move.

It is a fortnight since Hojlund sought out journalists in Chicago after scoring in United's pre-season victory over Bournemouth to insist he wanted to stay at Old Trafford.

However, since then, United have signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £73.7m and Hojlund was left on the bench throughout the final pre-season friendly with Fiorentina.

While sources deny Hojlund has specifically been told he will not feature for United this season, given the club has spent over £200m on a new-look strike force and have no European football this season, it is clear opportunities for the Dane will be limited.

Therefore, it is understood he is now considering his situation.

Serie A giants AC Milan head a queue of clubs keen to sign Hojlund and the indications are United would be willing to accept a loan deal for an initial fee this season, with an option to buy next summer in order to give the 22-year-old a chance to find his form.

As yet, there is no agreement on either element as Hojlund has still to make a firm decision about his short-term future.

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We asked for your views on Everton's new loan signing Jack Grealish.

Here are some of your comments:

Danny: This is a great move for Everton, and likewise for Jack. Jack is a superb talent and he wasn't allowed to shine last season for Manchester City. An extremely talented English player with a heart of gold. Give him match time - he will get the confidence and reward the loyalty. The city of Liverpool may just start to turn a shade blue!

Mark: Hmmm, not sure. We now have an unbalanced midfield. Ndiaye as a 10? Alcaraz? Grealish coming in from the left? McNeil? Aznou? What about Iroegbunam? Lots of competition in the centre and on the left. Big hole on the right.

Hodgey: Great to see Everton finally having a good transfer strategy. It has been so long. Some solid and realistic signings for today and with a view to the future. Back to the Everton values and schemes that built the club.

Billy: We had been agonisingly waiting for a few players with clear, proven quality for too long. Grealish, alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a top signing. Is the reported £12m loan fee steep? Not when you consider the combined fees of last season's tragic loan deals (Harrison and Lindstrom), paired with the fact that Grealish can equally attract revenue and other players to follow him. There is not an abundance of better ways for our new number 18 to introduce himself than away at Leeds in five days' time!

Kevin: What a fantastic signing. For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to the 2025-26 season.

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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Ultimately for Marc Guehi, it is Liverpool or nothing this summer.

That is not an ideal scenario for Crystal Palace, who were hoping for an auction. But the alternative is losing him for nothing next summer - when he may end up joining the Reds on a free transfer anyway.

While Palace ideally want £40m for Guehi, it may be that they get a deal worth about £35m plus add-ons.

The south London club have reluctantly engaged in talks to sell their captain and if all goes to plan, an agreement should follow in the coming days.

Palace chairman Steve Parish will sanction Guehi's sale through gritted teeth.

He would like the defender to stay and sign a new deal, but the likelihood of that is virtually non-existent.

Selling to Liverpool - or losing Guehi for nothing - now appear to be Palace's only options.

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Jamie Carragher has warned Liverpool that "spending lots of money" won't guarantee them the Premier League title after the Reds won the trophy with four matches to spare last season.

Arne Slot has so far recruited five senior players this summer in Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Armin Pecsi and it is looking increasingly likely that Newcastle's Alexander Isak could join.

The Reds are also pursuing Crystal Palace central defender Marc Guehi but Liverpool legend Carragher believes any success comes down to balance over spending.

"I don't get this narrative that Liverpool are going to run away with it," Carragher said.

"If you look at history, it could tell you that it's not just about having the best players, it's about having the best team, and sort of making that balance right, and at the weekend [in the Community Shield] it didn't quite look right.

"I think we will have a title race, and I think there's a lot of talk. I think the great thing about football is what we actually saw on Sunday with Liverpool. It didn't look right. It tells me it's not just about spending lots of money and buying the best players, you've still got to manage that team and make it work and have a nice balance to it."

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BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath have been discussing Manchester United's hopes for the upcoming season on the latest episode of the Devils' Advocate podcast.

After the signings of attackers Benjamin Sesko for £73.7m, Bryan Mbeumo for £65m with £6m in add-ons, and Matheus Cunha for £62.5m, optimism for an improved campaign at Old Trafford is high.

"You look at Liverpool, Arsenal who are looking good now they have [Viktor] Gyokeres, and City will always be Man City," said McGrath.

"You then look at the other spot in the top four - it's up for grabs I think this year.

"Chelsea will crumble this year. I think it would be mad us looking at this league and not thinking we can get that fourth spot. I know last season was so bad but there's something about this year - the way we've gone out and bought these three players. We've beaten rivals to them.

"You have to look at fourth spot because that money should get you a couple of places higher in the league.

"Fourth brings what the Manchester United board are investing in - Champions League football. I think it's all about that."

Drinkwater, added: "It's a big if but if United can bring in two more signings then they have to push for top four.

"If they don't and they go into the season as they are now, I still want to see us pushing that top six.

"I think this season is all about Europe, maybe not the Champions League. If United were to get top four I would be absolutely buzzing."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

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After agreeing a deal on Monday, Jack Grealish's loan move from Manchester City to Everton is edging closer.

The 29-year-old's signature is a real coup for David Moyes, but will Grealish be more effective on the left or in a central role for the Toffees?

According to Opta, Moyes commonly employed a 4-2-3-1 formation in the Premier League after returning to Goodison Park last season, doing so 11 times in 19 matches and only really deviating when a back three was used instead.

Grealish has predominantly had a left-sided role during his top-flight career, spending 80% of his 5,698 Premier League playing minutes on the left wing at Manchester City.

In the top flight at Aston Villa, he played on the left 64% of the time, and 20% at number 10.

While Grealish is a statement signing sure to excite supporters, it does create an imbalance in Everton's squad, with the search for a right-winger so far unsuccessful.

Iliman Ndiaye played 2,350 minutes on the left wing last term and finished as the club's top scorer, while Dwight McNeil has also been a key performer in that role.

Should Grealish start on the left it may mean Ndiaye, McNeil and summer signing Carlos Alcaraz competing for the number 10 berth - or one playing out of position until a natural right-winger is recruited.

Moyes typically demands hard work off the ball, so if Grealish plays centrally in a position operated by Abdoulaye Doucoure last season, he may be required to do more defending than perhaps suits his natural game.

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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I am not getting the impression Brighton's stance on midfielder Carlos Baleba is weakening.

Manchester United are prioritising their midfield now they have strengthened their striking ranks, which suggests no immediate move for Paris St-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has been left out of the squad for Wednesday's Super Cup final against Tottenham and seems certain to leave the French club.

Brighton have been keen to stress they have no desire to or interest in selling Baleba, who has made 77 appearances for Albion since arriving from Lille for £23.2m in 2023 and has a contract that runs to 2028. They are sticking to their mantra.

Whether the 21-year-old Cameroon international accepts that fact is another matter.

United believe their signing of striker Benjamin Sesko was done on favourable terms, which felt like an indication they could do more business before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

However, they do need to sell players.

There is still no sense Rasmus Hojlund has changed his mind about being determined to fight for his place, while Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrrell Malacia remain in limbo.

Real Betis president Angel Haro Garcia has confirmed they are still trying to bring Antony back to the club after his successful loan stint last season, but there has been no breakthrough in talks.

"It's the same as it was," said Garcia. "It's a complicated operation. I'm optimistic about Betis and Antony's willingness, but I don't know what Manchester United's final position will be."

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How Benjamin Sesko settles in at Manchester United is one thing I am looking forward to finding out this campaign.

I was disappointed he chose to go there over Newcastle but, at the same time, I saw him live several times last season and he is a player with potential, rather than offering guaranteed goals.

I see what Sesko's strengths are, but £74m is a lot of money for a player with room for improvement. At 22, he is no way the finished article, but there will still be big pressure on him to perform.

With Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United have spent more than £200m on their forward line, but I still don't see them getting in next season's top four.

It is almost impossible for them to go from 15th to the Champions League places, even if fifth place is good enough again.

Instead, I have them finishing anywhere between sixth and 10th, but no higher.

Read the full Shearer column here

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport journalist

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Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is a transfer target for Tottenham, who are in need of another creative player following a serious knee injury to James Maddison.

Eze joined Palace from QPR five years ago for an initial £16m and has improved his goal and assists output in each of the past three seasons. That has been aided by his switch from the left wing to more central areas as one of two attacking midfielders in a 3-4-2-1 formation under Oliver Glasner.

The 27-year-old finished last season with a flourish, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive appearances for Palace since Darren Ambrose in November 2009. His 14 goals in all competitions included the FA Cup final winner as the club earned a first major trophy.

Spurs are also in talks with Manchester City's Savinho.

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Pre-season has changed over the years as more clubs are travelling around the world to play friendlies on international soil in front of large capacity crowds.

But Brighton's approach this summer is a stark contrast as six of their eight friendlies have been behind closed doors.

"I use pre-season to build team chemistry and the social bond between them, which is hard to do if you know you are always being observed by the media and supporters," boss Fabian Hurzeler told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"When you have new players coming in, you need to integrate them in a trusting environment. That is what I want to give to my players.

"There are no secrets behind the things we are doing.

"I just think you can build the team chemistry better behind closed doors as players can behave more in their natural way if they know there is nothing they get picked up on by the media or others."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has no issues with having to change his plans because he has lost so many players.

Defender Illia Zabarnyi is close to completing a £57m move to Paris St-Germain. It would follow on from Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez as a big money exit from the squad that finished a club record equalling ninth in the Premier League last term.

Rather than be irritated by the losses, Iraola treats the demand to find solutions as a challenge, as he outlined when he spoke to BBC Sport in Atlanta just over a week ago.

"I do not want to lose players but when the window is open, you never know what's going to happen," he said.

"Obviously, if the more important players stay with us, it's going to be easier - but if something else happens, we will also adapt.

"We will be like the club. They will be ready for whatever the situation is - and we will do our job.

"Whatever the scenario is, when the market finishes, the club will give us the players to compete."

Iraola is aware of the additional scrutiny on him this season after Bournemouth came so close to securing European qualification for the first time.

However, he is adamant he will not allow past success to be the measure by which he is judged this term.

"It has to be a reset," Iraola added. "We start from zero. Everyone starts from zero.

"Once you play one or two games, nobody will remember what we did last season."

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