Ben Smith
BBC Sport

"In Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Filipe Luis, Chelsea have bought experience, proven winners and talent that will immediately improve an already strong first XI.

"Manchester City will, however, push them all the way. Manchester United will improve and may well end up in the top four but they still look light in central defence and in midfield but that could, of course, change before the transfer window closes.

"At the other end of the table Burnley have struggled to recruit real quality and I have a hunch West Brom may get dragged down too.

Top four: Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal & Liverpool. Bottom three: West Brom, Leicester City & Burnley."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal could be set to make Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote their fifth summer signing, according to the Daily Mirror., external

The paper reports that Arsene Wenger is preparing an £8m bid for the tough-tackling midfielder, a player who once memorably equalised against the Gunners in a 4-4 draw. Arsenal have already raided Newcastle for right-back Mathieu Debuchy this summer.

The shopping spree may not end there, as the Mirror also suggests that Olympiakos centre-half Kostas Manolas could be in Wenger's sights as a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen.

Sunderland are closing in on Brighton winger Will Buckley, reports the Echo., external The 24-year-old was left out of the Seagulls' Capital One Cup clash last night and a £2.5m transfer appears close to completion.

BBC Sport's Luke Reddy at the Premier League launch day: "I can confirm Phil Jagielka was just dispossessed by a child under the age of 10. In his defence, it was the only blemish in an otherwise flawless show of dribbling. Perhaps not worthy of being dropped by Roberto Martinez just yet. Jagielka was delivering a coaching session to a group of Everton fans who have travelled down from Merseyside."

Image source, Reuters

Raheem Sterling's pre-season form has been reminiscent of Lionel Messi, according to his Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo,, external Rodgers said of the 19-year-old England international: "Something we said to Raheem when he first broke into the team and something we've reiterated is that you have to have an identity as a player.

"His identity is he has to score goals and create goals. He scored 10 goals last year and this kid is only going to get better.

"When you look at the finish against Manchester City in New York, how many times have we seen Messi produce a touch like that? Taking it through bodies when it's so tight in the box."

Eilidh Child tells BBC Sport: "I was nervous about that race and wanted to get it out of the way but I'm glad it was a solid performance. Watching Jo [Pavey] last night it was amazing and so inspirational and we are all so proud of her."

No problems for Commonwealth Games silver medallist Eilidh Child in the 400m hurdles as she wins her heat to advance to the semi-final.

The Scot, who is the fastest in Europe this year, looks to have bounced back well from the emotions of winning a medal on home soil at the Commonwealth Games.

In the decathlon, Ashley Bryant finishes seventh in his 100m hurdles heat for 865 points and he is down in 18th place with the discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500m still to go today.

Phil McNulty
BBC chief football writer

Runners-up: Manchester City

"Deserved champions last season despite not being at their superlative best for all of the campaign - an indicator of just how much quality is in manager Manuel Pellegrini's squad.

"Yaya Toure seems to have got over his hissy fit about his lack of a birthday cake and Eliaquim Mangala has arrived from Porto in a £32m deal, as well as Bacary Sagna on a free from Arsenal, to strengthen their defence. It will be interesting to see whether Willy Caballero emerges as a serious challenger to Joe Hart in goal and how much Frank Lampard figures.

"City will be in the top two once more - but they will face a fierce challenge from Chelsea to hold on to their title."

Read all of Phil McNulty's predictions here

The Premier League announces a three-year programme of support for primary school sport. The programme will see Premier League and other professional clubs provide community coaches to deliver PE lessons in schools. The Premier League is investing £10.5m to roll the project out in 67 clubs nationwide. A pilot version of the programme last year delivered 66,000 PE lessons.

Image source, EPA

Gareth Bale says he is feeling a lot better about life at Real Madrid as he enters his second season in Spain. Cristiano Ronaldo's double secured a 2-0 Super Cup victory for the Champions League winners over La Liga rivals Sevilla last night, and the Wales international impressed by setting up the first goal with a sublime cross.

"When I came to Madrid I wanted to settle down off the pitch as soon as possible because I knew if I could concentrate on my football I knew what I was capable of," Bale said. "I know everybody in the squad now. I feel comfortable and the second season you're obviously feeling a lot better."

Burnley are back in the Premier League this season and they kick off with a home game against Chelsea on Monday.

"It is great to have Burnley back, what a story," says Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore. "For a place which doesn't have the population the size of Manchester United's capacity it is fantastic.

"And of course they beat United the last time they were in the league. They may do it again, who knows."

We won't have long to wait, the newly-promoted side entertain Louis van Gaal's men on 30 August.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a mixed summer - albeit one that is getting better - for England cricket fans, so what better excuse to cast your mind back to the glory days of 2011. Yes, it was on this day three years ago that Andrew Strauss's side demolished India at Edgbaston to supplant the tourists at the top of the Test rankings.

The hosts, you may remember, racked up a formidable 710-7 declared in their first innings, with current skipper Alastair Cook contributing a handy 294 at the top of the order. There were also contributions from Eoin Morgan, who compiled a diligent century, Kevin Pietersen smashed a quickfire 63, and Tim Bresnan turned in a Sobers-esque all-round performance, with 53 and 4-62.

Throughout the day, we're asking for your Premier League predictions. Here are some from the BBC Sport Facebook page:, external

Eric Kotut Ouma: Manchester United to restore pride at Old Trafford… Chelsea and Man City to go gung-ho for the title while Liverpool and Arsenal continue to entertain… great season ahead.

Tom Shewell-Cooper: Relegated - Burnley, West Brom and Aston Villa.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore believes Manchester United will soon return to a position of strength, following their disappointing campaign in 2013-14.

Asked if he thinks Louis van Gaal will be an instant success, he says: "It's hard to tell at this stage. What is the case is they really are a huge club and they will be back. Whether it is this season or next, they will be back challenging at the top.

"What I want in my position is uncertainty in the league. At the beginning, right the way through and until the end."

Scudamore will be relieved if United do bounce back - he said in March that the club's struggles under David Moyes were harming the worldwide brand of the Premier League.

BBC Sport's Luke Reddy at the Premier League launch day: "He may well preside over the richest football league on the planet and broker billion pound TV deals, but Richard Scudamore is not averse to conducting an interview in the back of a transit van.

"Here he speaks to BBC 5 live Breakfast and says the appetite for a 39th league game overseas has not grown or diminished, but the success of overseas pre-season tours for clubs means there is no rush for it to happen."

Image source, PA

Action continues at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich this morning with Commonwealth medallists Eilidh Child and Lynsey Sharp among those competing.

Child goes in the first of four heats of the 400m hurdles at 09:55 BST with the first three to go through while Sharp, as well as Alison Leonard and Jess Judd, are in the 800m from 10:22.

Sharp is the reigning European champion but had to wait for a year for a medal after Yelena Arzhakova of Russia was given a doping ban.

Southampton have plenty of money to spend this summer, after the sale of a number of their squad from last season, and BBC Sport can report that the Saints could be set to add to the £10m addition of Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster after having a £12m bid for Hull City striker Shane Long accepted.

BBC Sport's Luke Reddy at the Premier League launch: "This must be a dream come true for these young Black Cats. Gus Poyet pulls up and is met by a throng of young supporters who will today be coached by John O'Shea.

"They gather for a team picture and Poyet - the mastermind of Sunderland's unlikely Premier League survival last season - spots the team have no goalkeeper. "Can I be your goalkeeper?" he asks. In truth, they don't look overly keen."

Manchester United will start the new Premier League season with a new captain, after Louis van Gaal entrusted Wayne Rooney with the armband. The England international, 28, replaces Nemanja Vidic, who has left the club for Inter Milan, while Darren Fletcher has been named as vice-captain.

"It is a huge honour and a role I will perform with great pride," said Rooney. "I am very grateful to the manager for the faith he has shown in me."

Van Gaal said: "Wayne has shown a great attitude towards everything he does. I have been very impressed by his professionalism and his attitude to training and to my philosophy. He is a great inspiration to the younger members of the team and I believe he will put his heart and soul into his captaincy role."

Image source, Daily Mail

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal will have been looking on enviously at Madrid and Barca's summer acquisitions and now the Daily Mail says the Dutchman is ready to make a few ripples of his own in the transfer market. As well as Sporting defender Marcos Rojo, United apparently have Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria and Ajax defender Danny Blind on their £80m shopping list.