Premier League

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter in Charlotte

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Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong has effectively ruled out a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.

The 19-year-old has been in and around Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign in the United States but has also been linked with moves to Tottenham, Newcastle and Dortmund.

Manager Enzo Maresca has said while other clubs like the player, Chelsea "also like Josh" and "my plan with Josh is quite clear".

When asked for his view, the homegrown star said: "I don't really look at it or think of my future. I just focus on my football.

"Enzo said he thinks I'm a good player. I love the club, so I always want to stay at Chelsea and just show what I can do."

Acheampong is is the latest academy graduate to make it through the ranks at Chelsea having been with the club since Under-8s level.

He renewed his contract at Chelsea in December 2024 and is under contract until 2029.

He has only played 14 times for Chelsea but believes he can compete among the great players in the squad and, when asked whether he gets star-struck being among World Cup winners like Enzo Fernandez or England international Cole Palmer, he said: "No, I'm not star-struck. I don't really look at them as big names. I just look at them as my team-mates. So they're all really nice.

"I'd say all the Cobham boys have been really supportive because they've done their journey recently and Tosin as one of the older ones. So everyone has been supportive."

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

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Wolves formally confirmed that Jorgen Strand Larsen has joined permanently from Celta Vigo for £23m, having triggered performance-related clauses during a successful season on loan at Molineux which yielded 14 Premier League goals.

His contribution was at times overshadowed by the more eye-catching displays of Matheus Cunha, who netted 15 times, including five strikes from outside the penalty area, and earned a £62.5m move to Manchester United.

But when Cunha missed four games through suspension in March and April it was Larsen who stepped up, scoring in crucial wins over Southampton, West Ham and Ipswich to effectively guarantee safety for Wolves. In fact, the Norwegian ended the campaign on a hot streak, netting seven times in his final seven starts.

Larsen is 6ft 4in tall and won 67 aerial duels in 2024-25, the sixth highest total by a forward, though he only scored three headers. But where he particularly excelled was in making the most of his chances.

His shot-conversion figure - the percentage of efforts resulting in a goal – was 25.9%, which was the second highest recorded by any player with at least 20 attempts last term, bettered only by Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood.

Larsen also directed 69.4% of his shots on target, the leading percentage among forwards who start regularly, and overperformed his expected goals total by 3.74.

It remains to be seen whether he can reproduce that clinical form in 2025-26, with the absence of Cunha perhaps meaning opposition defences will afford him less space.

But in a market where centre-forwards come at a premium, the 25-year-old has already proven a shrewd signing for Wolves.

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Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen's initial season-long loan from Celta Vigo has been made permanent after certain clauses in his contract were met to automatically trigger the £23m deal.

The Norway international scored 14 Premier League goals last season and now has a four-year contract to keep him at Molineux until 2029.

Larsen scored eight goals after Vitor Pereira's arrival in December, and his overall total was the most by a Wolves player in their debut Premier League campaign.

"It's been a good first season in the Premier League," the 25-year-old said.

"I'm proud of what I've done. I've been able to take the steps earlier than I've done before. Previously when I moved to a new country, I've needed more time to get into it and score goals.

"As a striker, the team need you to score the goals and be on the end of the crosses, so to score 14 goals – and come back after my injuries and a little dip of form – it was a good season for me in that respect."

Are you happy with four more years of Larsen?

Get in touch here with your thoughts on the signing

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

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I have been a Newcastle fan for too long to get caught up in transfer rumours.

For years we experienced transfer droughts. When we were taken over in October 2021, I briefly flirted with the idea that we might actually make exciting signings year in, year out. But Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules soon put paid to that fanciful thought.

I am not saying we have not made exciting signings, and we were certainly spoiled in the first window post-takeover, but the past three windows have left a lot to be desired.

We are frequently linked with players who ultimately do not come to Newcastle - be it Marc Guehi last summer, who stayed at Crystal Palace, or Joao Pedro this summer, who looks to be going to Chelsea instead. Why not us, Joao? Why not the beautiful North East?

Many people - fans and pundits - try to understand why players are not coming to us.

I am of the opinion it usually comes down to money. It is not that the North East is too far. Too far from what? If London, it is 40 minutes on a plane or less than three hours on a train.

If players want a happy and wholesome home life, this is the city for them. The countryside is beautiful and, if you play well, fans will revere you like nowhere else.

It is difficult as a fan to be whipped back and forth from name to name - only to be disappointed. It is especially difficult in the context of next season when we have Champions League football to prepare for.

Eddie Howe made a pointed statement to the media in May that recruitment has not been good enough in the past few windows and we must make amends for that this summer.

I only hope July bears more fruit or the manager and fans will be very frustrated.

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

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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In England, the clubs not in Club World Cup duty have more time to get their plans together for the new Premier League season.

Like everyone else, I am a little obsessed by the comings and goings, and the transfer speculation - even if I know that a very decent percentage of it is nonsense. Much of it is just stories dreamed up by agents to drum up interest in their clients.

Liverpool got their business done early and Manchester City are also well ahead with their rebuild, so lots of eyes are turning towards Arsenal.

Martin Zubimendi should arrive to steady the midfield and Brentford's Christian Norgaard would be a sensible signing.

If defender Cristhian Mosquera comes in from Valencia and former £78m Kepa Arrizabalaga is grabbed from Chelsea for less than 10% of that original fee, the thinking seems logical.

A bit of balance on the left for Bukayo Saka's danger on the right is why the likes of Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke and even Rodrygo are being touted in the media. Any one of those four would work, so it all looks nearly very good... nearly.

The problem is still the gaping centre-forward-shaped hole that exists in the Arsenal squad. Manchester City have shown in the past that you can win things without an obvious striker, but then Arsenal have shown in recent years that it can also cost you trophies if you do not have one.

Mikel Arteta would get one if he could; Alexander Isak has long been a hope, if a somewhat forlorn one to date.

It is Groundhog Day for Arsenal fans, and they have been stuck in it for years now.

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Former Manchester United defender David May speaking on The Devils' Advocate podcast about summer transfer activity: "I really like the signings we have made so far. [Matheus] Cunha is a fantastic player. He is a Manchester United fan so he is already in love with the club. When Eric Cantona played for Man Utd, he changed the way we played. I'm not saying Cunha will do that, but he will bring that little edge, which Eric had as well. He can do things that other people can't and hopefully Cunha can follow in Eric's footsteps.

"[Bryan] Mbeumo would be a brilliant addition. Rasmus [Hojlund] struggled last year at times playing centre-forward on his own, it took its toll on him. He does need help and Mbeumo is a top player. The fact that he doesn't want to go to any other club is a bonus for Manchester United because you have players that want to play for this club. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world and to say you've played for it is something special."

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On Alejandro Garnacho: "I want all the good players to stay at Manchester United but it comes down to whether they themselves want to play here. If you want to go and play somewhere else, you know where the door is. The manager will make the decision on Garnacho, on Rashford, on Sancho. If you don't want to play for this club, you shouldn't be at the club. These fans will back you 100%, but as soon as you start drifting, well, I wish you well.

"Ruben Amorim will be judged by the way we play. We played really well against Villa and City last season. There were six or seven really good games where we thought, this is it. This club needs European football. It's tradition to play in Europe so we want that, and to get a trophy.

"The main thing for us is to start playing the way Manchester United play, and that's attacking. Goals have been a problem and if you take Bruno [Fernandes] out of the equation, who knows where we would have been. The addition of three or four players and the club will be in the right direction.

"It is a tough start to the season, but bring it on. The Premier League is not easy at all but we don't have to worry about Europe as well, we can concentrate on each game as it comes. It doesn't matter who it is, the main focus for Amorim now is to get as many points on the board as possible and get back into Europe."

Listen to May in full

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We asked for your views on whether Chelsea's reported £60m agreement for Brighton forward Joao Pedro is good business.

Here are some of your comments:

Azzan: While we could use defensive enforcements, the ownership dishes out £60m on another striker. He is a phenomenal player but he is surplus to requirements and for the fee, is not worth it.

Lewis: Completely unnecessary. Especially after Jamie Gittens joins. Our recruitment is starting to resemble Arsenal, where we buy more and more of the positions we don't need and don't recognise our weaknesses. I am surprised he came as he won't play. Brighton have done us again.

Simon: If they can offload the players not in their plans, keep the rest happy being consistently rotated and having enough playing time, keep the manager and stick to the plan, Chelsea may become a decent team in a couple of years time. But this is Chelsea, so disaster is imminent.

Ayoola: Chelsea's project has become chaotic: too many signings and a backlog of unused players. We need to clearly define our goals, maximize the potential of the current squad, and then strategically fill any gaps.

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James: Very pleased with this one. Thirty goals in 70 games is a good return and Pedro can take a penalty too. Very creative player who can only improve and is Premier League ready. Can see it being difficult to move players on. However, considering the long contracts and high wages, presumably the club will be looking for permanent exits rather than paying a portion of a salary for them to play elsewhere.

Ricky: Baffling. We have three forwards already, now a fourth? Even with potential player sales, why is another striker needed?

Stevie: Pedro will certainly help elevate our strike force if the stories about him joining Chelsea are true. Clearly some players will need to be moved on or sent to gain experience on loan. All we need to recruit now is a top goalkeeper and someone to deputise for Marc Cucurella.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Brentford director of football Phil Giles has confirmed captain Christian Norgaard is close to joining Arsenal.

BBC Sport revealed last week that the two Premier League clubs had agreed a fee, believed to be up to £15m inclusive of add-ons, for the Denmark midfielder.

And Giles admits he expects Norgaard to complete his move to the Emirates Stadium.

"We have been in conversations with Arsenal for the last week to 10 days – as it stands it hasn't been completed yet but it is heading in that direction," Giles told BBC Sport.

"If that happens for him then fantastic, he's earned it. He's been a brilliant captain for us. Let's see how that story ends but we are pretty open about that interest there."

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Brentford director of football Phil Giles says the club will only sell Bryan Mbeumo if the "deal is right" and hasn't ruled out the forward staying.

Cameroon international Mbeumo is the subject of serious interest from Manchester United, who have had two offers rejected for the forward - the second of which was worth up to £62.5m.

Mbeumo wants to join United and is understood to have expressed that point of view to the London club.

And speaking to BBC Sport, Giles said: "There's not so much (progress with Mbeumo).

"He had a fantastic season, we expected big interest in him, we have had big interest in him.

"He has his ideas about where he wants to take his career, of course he does – he is well within his rights to do that.

"We are in constant dialogue with him and representatives about that. As it stands at the minute we don't have an agreement in place for him to leave.

"It is not impossible he is still a Brentford player next season if we agree he is going to stay.

"It has to be the right deal for Brentford, any club will tell you that. If it's not right deal why would we do it?

"He is certainly one of our best players, if not our best player, and we need our best players. There's no harm in keeping your best players."

Alex Pewter
Fan writer

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So far, Crystal Palace's first experience of European football has been a lot more bureaucratic and bylaw-focused than 'Porto away' and floodlights. Perhaps that encapsulates the 'Typical Palace' moniker self-imposed by the fans.

Unusually, the Eagles appear to be mere bystanders within the process, at least on this occasion.

Uefa's decision to delay making any decision is frustratingly logical. Why set a precedent and open yourself to appeals, whether Palace are awarded their Europa League spot or not, when John Textor and Lyon may spectacularly remove themselves from the equation with relegation to Ligue 2?

Logical or not, the wider issue for Palace is the impact on planning, on and off the pitch. Europa League football was likely to attract a higher calibre of players, as well as sponsors who could bolster finances and facilitate such moves.

Until Uefa rules otherwise, the concept of missing out remains unthinkable for fans.

Of course, a path still remains where Crystal Palace exit the four-year involvement with John Textor and Eagle Football entirely unscathed and with a place in the Europa League.

If anything, the chaos that surrounds his two European clubs, in contrast to Palace, is in itself a strong argument that Palace is not operating as part of his multi-club ownership.

In France, Lyon fans are protesting because the DGNC - the body which oversees the accounts of French professional football clubs - decided they should be relegated over the poor state of their accounts.

Meanwhile, in Belgium, many RWD Molenbeek supporters are upset about their club changing its name to Daring Brussels to become more marketable to an overseas audience.

Ironically, Eagle Football and John Textor have finally achieved the desired solidarity between the fanbases of their sister clubs, including Palace, but only in each wanting to see them sell up.

Thankfully for Palace fans, that sale is pending. Unfortunately, it did not come soon enough to avoid this current situation.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

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We asked for your views on Dominic Calvert-Lewin leaving Everton this summer and whether you wished he would have stayed.

Here are some of your comments:

Jack: I think it's best for both DCL and Everton that he moves on. He's not the player he was two or three years ago. His persistent injuries have not helped so, thank you for your time here and good luck in the future.

Tony: Although I appreciate his initial hard work and goals, his later years were more about his injuries than his goals and output. A team cannot progress with injury prone players. So with a heavy heart, we wish him all the best for the future.

Andy: Calvert-Lewin has done a job for the last few seasons but if we're going to escape the relegation battles, we need to find a striker who will deliver more and push us up the table. Shake hands and wish him the best.

Chris: It's a shame we couldn't hold on to him for one more season as a squad player with a generous contract until we could get a new striker.

Ian: DCL was offered a contract by Everton as were other players who have now left. You cannot keep offering top dollar salaries and extensive contracts when the player is unproductive, struggling for form and subject to numerous injuries. Good luck to DCL but in reality, it's his loss not Everton's.

Paul: I do like Dominic but it's time to move on, he just can't stay fit and score regular goals. We have to adapt and ask the rest of the squad to contribute to goals, it's how most teams play now and it's makes sense.

Jamie: His decision best suits all parties. Some really memorable headers at the Gwladys Street end but overall, he always struck me as a someone who played within himself. Almost as if he was scared of getting injured - again.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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With news of a £60m deal being agreed with Brighton for Joao Pedro, supporters of other clubs might well be thinking 'not another Chelsea transfer' or 'not another striker'.

The Blues have again moved aggressively and decisively in this transfer window to add two more forwards in Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, having also signed Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m.

It looks like Chelsea are stockpiling more talent, having spent about £170m on young players this summer, including Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo and French defender Mamadou Sarr.

However, the Blues believe there is space for all the attackers to thrive, especially in a season where they will return to the Champions League following this lucrative Club World Cup campaign.

Pedro's arrival is expected to lead to an exit for Christopher Nkunku as they are similar types of versatile forward.

Meanwhile, Gittens will replace Jadon Sancho, who returned to Manchester United for a £5m penalty fee following his recent loan spell, with Mykhailo Mudryk still provisionally suspended after failing a drugs test.

Delap bolsters an attack that lacked a suitable option when Nicolas Jackson was unavailable, while Noni Madueke could also be moved on following the arrival of 18-year-old Brazilian Estevao Willian from Palmeiras.

Having done a lot of deals already, sources say Chelsea will now slow their activity on incomings and focus on the difficult task of player sales.

The one weakness with this approach is clubs interested in their fringe or wantaway players could try to force cheaper deals.

Joao Felix, Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja and Carney Chukwuemeka are not with the squad in the United States and set to be offloaded.

However, it would be unfair to say Chelsea do not have a plan and their embarrassment of riches in attack is something their supporters can be pleased about as they pursue success next season.

What do you make of the move for Pedro? Are you happy with what he would bring to the Chelsea attack, and how do you see the forward line looking next season?

Get in touch with your thoughts here

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is in talks to take over as the club's Under-18 coach.

Previous U18s coach Adam Lawrence left United at the end of the season, part of a major summer upheaval at youth level that also includes academy chief Nick Cox taking a job at Everton as technical director.

United feel former Scotland international Fletcher, 41, will provide continuity as the search for Cox's successor continues.

Fletcher initially returned to Old Trafford in a non-playing role during Ed Woodward's time as chief executive.

He was appointed as technical director in 2021 but moved roles following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival as minority shareholder, when Jason Wilcox took the job after leaving Southampton.

He was a first-team coach under Erik ten Hag and, in more recent times, has been a link between the first-team and academy and travelled to Malaysia and Hong Kong at the end of the season, when a number of young players were selected.

Fletcher has long-term management ambitions of his own and this would be a positive first step.

He has previously been reluctant to take on an academy role as his twin sons Tyler and Jack were both excelling as players.

However, they have now moved out of the Under-18 age group, which leaves Fletcher to take the job if he wants.

It is understood he will work closely with Travis Binnion, United's Under-21 lead coach.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Everton are progressing in talks over a new contract with defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

The 23-year-old is regarded as an important part of the club's plans as they move into a new era at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Last summer, Manchester United had two bids rejected for the centre-half, the second of which was about £45m.

Club sources had said it would need a “mega” offer to even consider selling the player, who had been valued at £80m.

Branthwaite made 30 Premier League appearances to help the Toffees to finish 13th in the table and his current deal expires in 2027.

Tom Mortimer
Hungarian football writer

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Hungary was not Milos Kerkez's birthplace, but it is where he became a footballer.

At 15, he moved from Austria to Hodmezovasarhelyi in the south of Hungary, and made a decision: "If I get to a good enough level, I want to represent Hungary's national team." That decision today looks prophetic.

Kerkez is now Hungary's first choice left-back, has already played more than 100 senior club games, and this season made many people's Premier League team of the year - all at the age of 21.

He is also not the only Hungarian moving to Liverpool. This summer, Liverpool have not just signed Kerkez, but also Armin Pecsi - a 20-year-old goalkeeper from Puskas Akademia, the club closest to Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban's heart.

The symbolism is impossible to ignore: the most storied club in England tapping directly into Orban's £3bn football project.

Liverpool's history with Hungarian players has been patchy at best.

Istvan Kozma joined in 1992 but never settled. The highly rated trio of Krisztian Nemeth, Andras Simon and Krisztian Adorjan flattered but faded. Even Peter Gulacsi, now among Europe's elite goalkeepers, was once just 'the other keeper' behind Pepe Reina and Brad Jones.

But Kerkez - like Dominik Szoboszlai before him - is the product of a very different Hungary.

In the past decade, the Hungarian Football Federation has begun building a modernised system to become a sophisticated footballing outfit.

It is not only about money - though Orban's vast investment has played its part. It is about momentum and method. Data-led development, better coaching pipelines, and a renewed sense of national pride have combined to give young players real pathways.

Kerkez has followed that pathway. With AZ he saw the vision. At Bournemouth, he chose the project, not the prestige.

Now, he is moving to the Premier League champions and one of the biggest clubs in the world.

For Liverpool? Well, the Hungarian market is beginning to bear very different fruit.

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Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

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Brentford are renowned for their innovative, data-led approach under owner Matthew Benham, often defying conventional wisdom in search of an edge when it comes to recruitment and strategy, and they have certainly bucked the trend by naming the inexperienced Keith Andrews as their boss.

He was previously the Bees' set-piece coach and has also worked as an assistant at MK Dons, Sheffield United and the Republic of Ireland but this is his first managerial role.

It is increasingly rare for Premier League clubs to opt for a permanent manager who has not taken charge of a competitive senior game.

The last man appointed in such circumstances was Mikel Arteta in 2019, though the Spaniard was by that point already a sought-after coach following three years working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Other examples have also tended to involve high-profile individuals.

Middlesbrough hired Manchester United assistant manager Steve McClaren in 2001 and Gareth Southgate in 2006, while Gianfranco Zola's managerial career began with West Ham in 2008 - and the likes of Attilio Lombardo (Crystal Palace), Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli (both Chelsea) started as player-managers in the 1990s.

A less well-known name is Les Reed, who won one of seven games with Charlton in 2006. Sammy Lee's reign at Bolton in 2007 was similarly brief.

The list below excludes managers who initially proved their worth as a caretaker, which is now an increasingly common path for rookie bosses and minimises the risks for clubs.

Most recently, Gary O'Neil took the reins at Bournemouth in August 2022 despite no prior experience, getting the job on a permanent basis three months later.

Although dismissed at the end of the season, he led the side to 15th, earning another shot at management with Wolves.

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New Brentford boss Keith Andrews says he feels "humbled" but "very capable" after being formally announced as head coach.

The 44-year-old, who originally joined the club as a set-piece coach in July 2024, was confirmed as Thomas Frank's replacement on Friday.

It is the first time Andrews has held a managerial role having previously been on the coaching staff with Sheffield United, MK Dons and the Republic of Ireland.

"Pretty humbled would be the overriding feeling and honoured that I'm the person that's been chosen to take the club into the next chapter," he told club media, external.

"I'm very appreciative of the owner, the board and the staff that have supported this decision. It's an opportunity I feel I'm very capable of doing and ready to do.

"I don't know where to start in terms of what's exciting me because there's so much - the potential of the football club, the potential of the players and the potential of the staff that underpin what has brought success to this brilliant football club."

"It's an amazing place to be and I've felt that for 12 months now. That will remain. It's really important to me to have that vibe around the football club, that energy.

While some may see it as a risk, Andrews' appointment represents continuity for the club who also hired from within when promoting Frank from assistant to head coach.

In his set-piece role, the former midfielder helped the Bees at both ends of the pitch, with their three goals conceded from set-pieces in 2024, the fewest in the top flight.

"I want a team that the fans feel represents them and what they want to see on a Saturday," Andrews added on what supporters can expect from his side.

"We want to play winning football, we want to be competitive, we want to have an edge and we want to play dynamic, relentless football, but we want to be organised.

"I love it here, I love coming in every single day, and I will give absolutely everything to continue the success of this football club."

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport journalist

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Fulham are one of two Premier League clubs yet to sign or sell a senior player this summer, along with Aston Villa, but it appears the west London side are attempting to remedy last season's lack of attacking incision.

They are reportedly pursuing a deal for 23-year-old Brazilian forward Romulo, who provided 17 goals and 10 assists in 33 matches last season for Turkish club Goztepe.

Six of those goals were penalties but his tally still compares favourably with Fulham top scorer Raul Jimenez, who scored 14 times - including five penalties - in 43 games.

Overall, as the graphic below shows, Fulham's shooting accuracy was the third worst in the Premier League in 2024-25.

They made an unrivalled 894 crosses in last season's Premier League, leading to 22% of their goals, but creative midfielders Andreas Pereira, whose Fulham future is in doubt, and Emile Smith Rowe often struggled to break down defences.

Pereira created 20 chances from open play, four fewer than Smith Rowe - with both men lagging well behind team-mate Alex Iwobi's impressive figure of 58.

Two attacking options, Willian and Carlos Vinicius, have left the club on free transfers, while Tom Cairney and Kenny Tete are both out of contract in a few days and yet to accept the offer of new deals. Wrexham and Everton respectively are circling.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

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Keith Andrews only joined Brentford last summer, when he was appointed set-piece coach, but the Irishman has succeeded Thomas Frank as their head coach.

The 44-year-old has no previous managerial experience, though he has served as part of the coaching staff at MK Dons and Sheffield United, plus the Republic of Ireland Under-21 and senior sides.

But his work at Brentford has clearly impressed the club hierarchy, including a notable improvement in their record at defending set-pieces. The Bees conceded just three top-flight goals from set-plays in 2024-25 (excluding penalties), at least three fewer than any other club.

That was a substantial reduction from their previous three Premier League seasons. The west London club conceded nine such goals in 2023-24 and 12 in both 2021-22 and 2022-23.

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We asked for your views on the future of Harvey Elliott and whether it should be at Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Ian: It's a tough one because you can see what he can do but when given chances starting for Liverpool he's not performed. The England Under-21 displays will help his price tag for us though.

Will: He's not going to get a chance at Liverpool this season and with such a young midfield there's no reason it'll be different next season. So while I'd prefer to loan him, it only really makes sense to sell. But we'll regret it.

Stevo: Looks great at the U21 tournament, but doesn't contribute consistently or take his chance to impress when given a start at Liverpool. Looks OK on substitute appearances, but nothing game-changing. I like Harvey and his commitment. Maybe let him have game time elsewhere and bring him back when he's ready.

Ski: Definitely keep Harvey, either through a sale and buy-back option, or as a back-up to Mo Salah. Just play him more in the advanced role. He's doing brilliantly.

John: Keep Harvey at Anfield to complement that formidable midfield. His best is still to come.

Tricia: There is no way Elliott should be sold by Liverpool. He always gives 100%, is still developing and improving and is loyal to the club. We've learned with Trent Alexander-Arnold that is worth a lot!

Brian: If Harvey wasn't a Liverpool player already we'd be looking to buy him. At 22, he is as talented as Alexis Mac Allister in midfield and as good a finisher as Salah. It would be madness to let him go.

Peter: He's such a clever footballer. I would be absolutely gutted if Liverpool let him go. You can't blame him for going if he's not getting game time. If it's development and he isn't going to be used in the near term, loan him to a top European club. He's too good to let go.

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Neither striker Nicolas Jackson nor winger Noni Madueke are seen as untouchable this summer having been linked with moves away from Chelsea in recent weeks, but both would command large fees and are not actively being forced out of the club.

When asked about Madueke's future recently, boss Enzo Maresca said: "Noni is our player. You can read a lot of speculation at the moment, but we consider Noni our player for the coming season."

However, the arrival of 18-year-old Estevao Willian from Palmeiras after the Club World Cup would mean another left-footed right winger joins the squad in addition to Madueke and Pedro Neto.

The Blues' attitude towards sales of senior players is that few are considered off the table - except top performers Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo.

Midfielder Andrey Santos is attracting significant interest after a successful loan spell and has struggled for minutes in the Club World Cup, despite making his Chelsea debut as a substitute against ES Tunis.

The Blues would ideally want to keep Santos as a squad player but he could push for an exit.

Goalkeepers Mike Penders and Filip Jorgensen, midfielders Kendry Paez and Mathis Amougou, and defender Aaron Anselmino could all join Strasbourg on loan, but Chelsea are open to allowing their best young players to seek other temporary moves if they can find clubs with European football.

Attacker Omari Kellyman, a £19m signing from Aston Villa last summer, remains out after surgery on a hamstring injury but is expected to be back before the transfer window closes and is seeking a Championship loan move to get his career back on track.

Chelsea are out to sell the vast majority of the senior players not included in their 28-man Club World Cup squad, including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, Armando Broja, Djordje Petrovic and Lesley Ugochukwu.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia are believed to be monitoring Felix's availability.

Certain academy graduates could also leave permanently, like Leo Castledine, Alfie Gilchrist and Sam Rak-Sakyi.

As first revealed by BBC Sport, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to join Arsenal for £5m.

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Harvey Elliott joined Liverpool in July 2019, two months after becoming the Premier League's youngest player at just 16 years and 30 days.

As he settled in, he was only given seven minutes of top-flight action in the title-winning 2019-20 season before impressing on loan at Championship side Blackburn Rovers during the following Covid-affected season.

Since then, it has been patchy. Scattered good form has dovetailed with significant spells on the bench and a player whose future looked so promising now finds his career at a crossroads.

So is it fair for Arne Slot and Liverpool to be keeping him sidelined?

His numbers since the 2021-22 season are unconvincing.

He is ninth for chances created, 14th for goals scored and eighth for assists, behind the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo, who all moved to Anfield after Elliott.

It it scant reward for a talent who is currently tearing up his second straight Under-21 European Championship as second top scorer (four goals) and a constant supplier of opportunities.

Naturally, there is mitigation. Over this time period, he ranks 19th for minutes played - only just above Kostas Tsimikas - so he has not been afforded the same opportunities on the pitch to consistently provide impressive numbers.

Dig a little deeper, though, and the case for keeping him further weakens.

While minutes can massage the numbers over goals and assists, they cannot account for efficiency and, when given the chance, in certain areas Elliott has not been effective enough.

The above graph shows metrics such as passing and shooting accuracy and here his success rate is poor relative to his team-mates.

Similarly, he is not a particularly effective dribbler, being successful only 45% of that time.

Now, in fairness to Elliott, he is a player who takes risks with the ball so might be expected to have weaker attributes. After all, Mohamed Salah's passing accuracy ranks him 39th for Liverpool over the past four seasons - and he has not done too badly.

However, Elliott's key competitors for a midfield berth, all boast better accuracy and from a larger sample size of minutes.

Neither is the England Under-21 star a particularly effective dueller - his 46% success rate ranking him 21st.

While Elliott has had his moments in a Liverpool shirt, under Slot last season his performances were limited and his end product even more so.

Fine displays in this summer's international tournament have boosted his profile but, rather than give him oxygen for a push into the Liverpool XI, it is probably more likely to increase his price for a host of European suitors.

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We asked for your views on how Liam Delap will fare next season and whether he should be first choice ahead of Nicolas Jackson.

Here are some of your comments:

George: It's very hard to compare strikers from clubs at either end of the table. However the goals/XG score is really interesting. I reserve judgement until the end of the season, seeing how both play in this team. My hunch is Delap will shine, and Nico has a lot of growing to do in terms of his temperament and turning his wasteful nature in front of goal.

Colin: Delap is a natural, instinctive, talented striker with a great temperament. Jackson is the polar opposite and a proven liability. He must go.

Marvo: Delap should lead the line, period.

Emmanuel: I think Delap is more composed and looking at the team he's coming from, he will do better and score more goals with Chelsea if he gets the supply. At that age, he will be a great asset to Chelsea.

George F: I think it's time Jackson found another team. He has demonstrated he is not a team player (red cards) and a reluctance to pass. Too often he tries to dribble into an impossible situation and loses possession. On paper, Delap appears to be a terrific fit and a striker that is dearly needed.

Roy: Delap is a breath of fresh air. He's positive and gelled the team instantly. I'd play him ahead of Jackson all day long.

Steve: Delap for me every time, Jackson's a liability. Give Delap the service and he'll get goals. It's the other end I'm more concerned with. The goalkeeper situation is a joke. We're a world-class club with a third-rate goalkeeper. It's ridiculous and so frustrating.

Rich: Delap any day of the week. Jackson has shown how much of a liability he is -his petulant behaviour is his downfall. Delap is a future England star.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole believes Harvey Elliott will be hot property this summer after his stellar performances at the Under-21 European Championships.

On Wednesday, the midfielder scored twice against the Netherlands to send England's youngsters into their second successive Euros final, with his four goals putting him as second top scorer in the tournament.

After the game Cole told Channel 4: "I love the kid, he plays football the right way. I am excited for his future. He has done a great job for Liverpool, but if he decides to move on, there are levels to move on again. That passion, he can show every week.

"Anyone outside the top six he comfortably walks into, and then two years on that level he comes back to Liverpool's level and competes.

"He started as a young man at Fulham but his learning has been spread out. Teams from all over Europe will be looking for Harvey Elliott's agent's number."

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Cole also believes Elliott's match-winning strike- driving forward before firing a low shot into the corner from the edge of the box - was worthy of great praise.

"That second goal, if Messi did this, the world would be stopping," said Cole. "He has this ability and the frustrating thing is he could do it on a consistent basis if he played regularly.

"His problem is he can do so many good things. He's a victim of his own skills and that is why he has been so good for Liverpool. They can play him anywhere."

What's the plan for Elliott?

Should he still be given a chance at Liverpool?

Or do his Euros performances just push his price tag up?

Let us know what you think