Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has undergone anterior cruciate ligament surgery which is set to rule him out of action for several months.

The 22-year-old did not travel with the Blues squad on a pre-season tour to the United States in order to have "specialist medical assessments".

The London club said the tests on Fofana's knee "unfortunately confirmed that an operation would be required".

The France centre-back joined Chelsea from Leicester for £70m last summer.

"Wesley will now begin his recovery and work with the club's medical department at Cobham during his rehabilitation phase," added a Chelsea statement.

Full story.

Alex Howell
Football reporter in North Carolina

Levi Colwill had an excellent season last campaign, helping Brighton qualify for the Europa League before winning the U21 European Championship with England. Brighton have reportedly had a bid rejected for the centre back and Pochettino has updated us about the chat they had. Chelsea want to keep Colwill and have an option to extend his deal in his contract.

"With Levi also, we were talking, a really nice chat. Of course, always it is private. It is important: they need to know us, what we think, they need to see that the competition is going to be tough but they can challenge for that and can have the possibility if they deserve to be in the starting XI.

"They understood our word and we understood what they meant to us and it is clear and we are so happy. Tomorrow we start the competition, start to compete and they need to speak there on the pitch."

Emma Smith
BBC Sport reporter at Stadium Australia, Sydney

An interesting sign affixed to the gates outside Stadium Australia ahead of tomorrow's game.

One wonders whether rainbow flags - or bucket hats - will be permitted, unlike at Qatar 2022.

Image source, Emma Smith

As part of their announcement of Benjamin Mendy’s arrival, Lorient released a statement: “FC Lorient are pleased to announce today the signing of French international left-back Benjamin Mendy on a two-year deal.

“After having passed his medical, Mendy, who won the World Cup with France in 2018, the Premier League four times with Manchester City and Ligue 1 with Monaco, joins us before the new season..

“The native of Longjumeau, who will wear number 5 with the Merlus, will take his first steps at Espace FCL today. Welcome Benjamin!

I know I said 10:00 for the results of the Man Utd striker poll, but better late than never.

Kane is the clear winner with 2,101 votes.

As a caveat, though, he did get the most thumbs down with over 1,400!

Alex Howell
Football reporter in North Carolina

Mauricio Pochettino spoke at his first press conference since arriving in the states and gave an update about how he is getting on with improving his squad.

"We are still working in the process to finish the squad. We are woking really hard. We have a very young squad also but I think the players are showing commitment and working so well. We are so happy with the way they are working.

"We need to work during this pre-season to build a really strong squad first and then to evolve in the way we want to play and to apply the concept we expect from them."

Image source, Getty Images

Mendy became the world's most expensive defender when City paid Monaco £52m to sign the France defender in 2017.

He won the Premier League title with City in his first season before being part of the France squad that claimed the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have bid £15 million for Ajax defender Calvin Bassey, according to information from Sky Sports, external.

The 23-year-old moved to the Eredivisie last summer in a deal worth £20 million from Rangers and is now attracting interest from the Premier League.

Bassey has been linked with a move to Brighton & Hove Albion, but Marco Silva's side are looking to jump to the front of the queue.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport in Auckland, New Zealand

Image source, Rex Features

It's been another day of winter sunshine and mild temperatures in Auckland, but guess what?

Yep, rain is forecast on Thursday just as the gates to the city's fan park open at 12:00 local time (01:00 BST) before the opening game of the Women's World Cup between co-hosts New Zealand and Norway. (08:00 BST).

The 2,000-capacity fan park is where visitors will be able to watch 48 of the matches on a 34-metre LED screen.

Featuring a Fifa museum, games, food and more than 85 different live performances, the venue will also play host to a VIP: the World Cup trophy, which will be on site for fans to view on 22-23 July.

Thundery showers are forecast an hour before kick-off with heavy rain and strong winds predicted for later in the evening.

Like being back in Salford.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has signed for Ligue 1 side Lorient five days after being cleared of rape.

The left-back, 29, whose City contract expired in the summer, has signed a two-year deal with the French club.

He was cleared of raping a woman and attempting to rape another at Chester Crown Court on Friday.

That followed a trial in January when Mendy was cleared of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault.

More to follow.

Alex Howell
Football reporter in North Carolina

It's day two of Chelsea's tour in the USA and Mauricio Pochettino is working to get his message across to his players.

At an open training session at the WakeMed Soccer Park in North Carolina Pochettino put his players through some shape work and maybe gave us a glimpse of his team for the match against Wrexham.

The outfield players on the pitch were Gusto, Chalobah, Humphreys, Cucurella, Casadei, Andrey Santos, Moreira, Chukwuemeka, Maatsen, Jackson.

Image source, BBC Sport

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at Leichhardt Oval

The Republic of Ireland have had a warm welcome since arriving in Sydney today and that continued as they arrived for their final training session.

Chants of 'Ireland, Ireland' rang out as the team bus arrived at Leichhardt Oval, and the players responded with a wave and a smile as they walked in.

Ruesha Littlejohn even joined in with the cheering and gave a fist pump.

If the Irish players are nervous about tomorrow's opener then they certainly aren't showing it. It's all been very relaxed.

Lorient have signed Benjamin Mendy from Manchester City on a two-year deal.

This news comes just days after the French defender was cleared of rape charges in court.

Australia

Australia manager Tony Gustavsson is asked by BBC's Mani Djazmi why no Women's World Cup host has won the tournament since USA in 1999:

"That's a really good question. There are a lot of reasons. This year a lot of teams can win it, at the Euros for England it was very tight - they needed a goalkeeper having the tournament of her life, a goal scorer firing, lots of things.

"There is also the mental side of playing on home soil, whether that brings pressure or belief."

Image source, Leeds United

The 22-year-old utility man is the first arrival since Daniel Farke took over as Whites manager.

Ampadu was signed from Exeter City by Chelsea as a teenager in 2017 but never quite broke through at Stamford Bridge, making only 12 appearances.

Instead, he has spent the past four seasons on loan at RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Venezia and Spezia.

During that time, he has been a key part of the Wales squad that reached Euro 2020 and the World Cup in 2022, racking up 43 international caps.

He is able to play across the backline, as well as in midfield, and will bring depth, quality and experience to Leeds' Championship campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds have confirmed the signing of versatile defender Ethan Ampadu on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Australia

Australia manager Tony Gustavsson on his plans to face Republic of Ireland tomorrow: "We know the starting XI, the game plan and the finishing XI. We know what the game will look like.

"Ireland are strong at the beginning of halves but concede late in the halves. There are one or two players we have identified, and clear trends we can target."

Australia

Australia captain Sam Kerr on how the team will deal with the pressure from a sell-out home crowd tomorrow: "I love playing in front of packed stadiums, it's ok to feel nervous or get overawed by the crowd, that's life. It's about supporting each other. Everyone knows the crowd will be on our side."

On whether Australia coach Tony Gustavsson has spoken to her about her trademark backflip celebration, and whether she will tone it down given injury concerns: "No discussions! Every time I do a backflip it's not planned, hopefully the games are cruisey and I don't have to do them until later in the tournament. They will be safe I assure you!"

Image source, Getty Images

Australia

Australia captain Sam Kerr on the squad meeting Kathy Freeman, who won Olympic gold at Stadium Australia in 2000, this week: "Kathy is an amazing person and athlete in this country. I don't often get starstruck... but I was starstruck meeting her, she has such a presence.

"She made us feel like we had known her for years. We just sat in a room, chatted, had dinner. What she said to us will stick with us forever."

Australia

Australia captain Sam Kerr on playing at a home World Cup: "I'm really excited, we have been waiting for this moment a long time, it is nice it is finally here. This is a really proud moment for all of us."

On the pressure of being among the favourites on home soil: "We can use it in our favour with the confidence we gain, the results have been good but so has been getting players playing in lots of positions and gaining more depth, with players coming back from injuries. But you are only as good as your last result."