Nottingham Forest

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Here is a recap of Steve Cooper's thoughts before Saturday's Premier League match at Chelsea after speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham:

• He anticipates activity in and out of the City Ground before the transfer window closes on Friday night: "It might be busy and that could be today as well. I suspect there will be some movements."
• Nuno Tavares and Murillo are both "in the final stages of joining": "I hope that goes smoothly. We want new players that are hungry to be here and to get the balance of youthful enthusiasm with some wise heads around the place."
• On the future of Brennan Johnson: "There is a lot of speculation around at the moment. Some of it may be true but some may be as far away as possible - I don't look at it. Loads of things can happen these next two days."
• He is pleased with Taiwo Awoniyi's exceptional form: "You want your number nine to score and he's definitely doing that. You see how hard he is working, his commitment to training and performance and the gameplan. He is full of confidence and getting fit, which is good."
• However, Cooper still wants more: "We want to push him now. The last thing we want is anyone thinking they have done enough. They have to have the mentality of wanting to improve because that's what top players and teams do."
• On the latest tough away trip, this time to Stamford Bridge: "It's a unique start and after Chelsea it carries on. But we've got our heads round it and are thinking to attack as best we can. I don't think we are far away from getting a positive result away from home."

BBC Sport has a dedicated Forest page packed with news, analysis and fan views - get it here

Nottingham Forest

Taiwo Awoniyi has already scored three Premier League goals this season and Steve Cooper was full of praise for his striker when speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham reporter David Jackson.

"You want [your] number nine to score and he's definitely doing that. What we’re seeing is how hard he’s working - we have seen a real daily level of training, engagement into work, his performance, game plan, challenges, objectives, really seeing whole commitment to that," Cooper said.

"He’s not just scoring goals, but playing well. Full of confidence, getting fit, which is good after such an [indifferent] pre-season. We want to push him now. The last thing we want is anyone thinking that they’ve done enough, as they haven’t."

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Nottingham Forest

BBC Radio Nottingham reporter David Jackson has grabbed some time with Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper, who is expecting to be busy with some transfer business in the next couple of days.

He revealed that the defensive pair of Nuno Tavares and Murillo are in the "final stages" of joining Forest.

"[I] learned last year [we] needed some youthful enthusiasm, hungry players wanting to thrive at the level for first time but also need wise heads around the place as well. [We have] got to get that right," Cooper said.

"The two you mentioned [Tavares and Murillo] I believe are in the final stages of joining us. I hope that goes smoothly and we can start working. Not [the] case at the moment. We just want new players that are hungry to be here, want to make a difference."

Cooper also refused to rule out the departure of Wales forward Brennan Johnson, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham.

"[Any transfer] would not be because of FFP [Financial Fair Play]. I don’t know if that plays part of it or not.

"There is a lot of speculation around Brennan Johnson at the moment. Some of it may be true, some maybe [not], as far as possible.

"I don’t look at it. Loads of things can happen in the next couple of days. And maybe some that don’t. Until the window closes and we know exactly what has been done and why, that’s really when we can start thinking about [the] future."

Nottingham Forest

OK, where next? I think we need to hear from Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper, who is promising another busy end to the transfer window at the City Ground...

In case you missed it earlier, below is the full draw for the third round of the EFL Cup.

You can also read more about the draw here.

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Everton threatened to be on the wrong end of one of the biggest embarrassments in their history when they trailed Doncaster Rovers – the bottom team on the league ladder – in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

Sean Dyche’s side finally turned the game around, and reduced the growing fury from their own fans inside the stadium, with the impressive introduction of new £25m striker Beto at the start of the second half.

Beto’s goalscoring and game-changing contribution in what was eventually a 2-1 win must be measured in the context of opponents at the bottom of League Two but his power, pace and the manner in which he took his goal delivered optimism in a season short on that commodity for Everton so far.

Dyche said he took the opportunity to remind his players that the media were waiting for Everton to lose – it is an old school tactic but it is to be hoped he also reminded them, far more pertinently, of what a truly wretched performance they had delivered in a 45-minute horror show.

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A win is a win after losing their first three Premier League games without scoring a goal but now Everton go into another crucial test against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Saturday lunchtime, when they will hope Beto will confirm his good impression against top-flight opposition.

Everton eventually got over the line with Arnaut Danjuma’s late winner clinching a third round visit to Aston Villa, where they were recently humbled 4-0, but the first hour will still have been of huge concern to supporters who made their feelings noisily clear to Dyche and his players.

BBC Sport has a dedicated Everton page packed with news, analysis and fan views - get it here

Could Beto be the answer to Sean Dyche's problems at Everton?

The Toffees were creating chances in their opening Premier League defeats but could not find the net.

"That is why we brought him here," Dyche said after the match (via the Liverpool ECHO, external).

"He only got here yesterday, so it was a lot to ask. We only got his clearance this morning so we had already set the team up.

"I knew he was going to play, I had it in my mind to put him on at half-time regardless, for Youssef (Chermiti), who is a young player who is learning.

"He has adapted very quickly and very well tonight. Obviously, with all due respect, the Premier League is different but he has shown the rawness, the pace and the effect he can have on a team and he gives us something different, which is what we brought him here for."

BBC Sport has a dedicated Everton page packed with news, analysis and fan views - get it here

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Having just signed for the club on Tuesday, Beto, 25, showed his quality on a dream Everton debut as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup.

The 6ft 4in Portuguese striker, who scored 10 goals for Udinese last season, sparked the Toffees after coming on at half-time along with Ashley Young and Idrissa Gueye.

It has been a dismal start to the season for Everton who have lost all three Premier League games so far, conceding six goals and scoring none, and sitting in bottom spot.

However, Beto made an instant impact with his side's first goal of the campaign - and looked sharp throughout his outing.

His equaliser 17 minutes from time lifted the spirits of Sean Dyche's men and they rallied to claim the victory.

Beto also hit the post with a header, while Arnaut Danjuma clipped the crossbar moments later.

With penalties looming, Danjuma then linked up with Neal Maupay and smashed a finish into the bottom corner from 20 yards to dash the hopes of Doncaster.

Beto was already looking forward to Saturday's Premier League match at Sheffield United after helping Everton to break their scoring duck.

"I am really happy to score on my debut, to help the team, win the game, and I am looking forward to the next one and play with these team-mates - and keep winning," he said.

"I can't promise goals but I will promise I will work hard and try to help the team score goals always.

"I am excited about my debut in the best league in the world and I just want to play."

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Arnaut Danjuma struck an 88th-minute winner as Premier League Everton came from behind to beat League Two's bottom side Doncaster Rovers and reach the third round of the Carabao Cup.

An upset looked on the cards when Joe Ironside put the hosts ahead a minute before half-time, glancing in a header from Tommy Rowe's whipped ball.

But new Everton signing Beto levelled with a goal on his debut, reaching an Abdoulaye Doucoure ball to calmly poke past Rovers goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.

And Danjuma netted 15 minutes later to give his side a much-needed first win of the season and a third-round meeting with Aston Villa at Villa Park, in the week commencing 25 September.

Read the full report here.

Before Romelu Lukaku so rudely interrupted us we were about to delve deeper into Everton's close shave at Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup...

Just to recap, Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has agreed to join Italian side Roma on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.

The 30-year-old returns to Serie A having spent last season on loan with Inter Milan, helping them reach the Champions League final.

He is reported to have turned down a lucrative move to Saudi Pro League and is believed to have accepted a wage cut to be reunited with coach Jose Mourinho at Roma.

The player briefly played under Mourinho in 2013-14, during the striker's first spell at Chelsea, and the Portuguese boss signed him for Manchester United in 2017, for an initial £75m.

Read more on this developing story here.

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Romelu Lukaku will wear the number 90 shirt for the Giallorossi after completing a season-long loan from Chelsea to Roma.

The 30-year-old Belgium striker will once again play under Jose Mourinho after working with the Portuguese manager at Manchester United and Chelsea.

"Knowing that Lukaku has chosen Roma can only bring us great satisfaction," said the club's general manager Tiago Pinto.

"All our decisions are focused on increasing the squad’s competitiveness, and we continually assess their performances on the pitch.

"However, it makes us very proud to watch the fans greet Romelu with such excitement.”

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"The welcome I've received from this club and its fans has excited me and given me even more motivation to give my all for my new team," said Romelu Lukaku, 30, in an interview published on Roma's official website.

"As an opponent, I felt the atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico, and felt the warmth of the Romanisti.

"It's nice to know I'm a part of it today. I recently got the opportunity to speak with the owners, and I was impressed by their ambition.

"Now we must work, be humble, and grow game by game. For my part, I can't wait to be available to my team-mates both on and off the pitch.”

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Romelu to Roma, it has got a certain ring to it. The Serie A club have confirmed the deal , externalthat will take Chelsea's Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku to Italy's capital on a season-long loan...

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Doncaster boss Grant McCann is proud of his side after running Everton close in the EFL Cup.

The League Two side took the lead in the first half but Premier League club Everton staged a comeback in the second.

"We carved out a lot of good chances," McCann told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"The performance levels were high, the energy levels were good and we played some good football. We've seen it in two games now."

And he added: "We're gutted about the two goals we conceded. The first one is a world-class pass and a world-class run that is sometimes hard to defend.

"The second one we feel is avoidable, we speak about it all the time about letting people inside us, tracking runs. These are things we have to get better at because we can't let teams get inside us."

Read the full story.

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We have already mentioned stories linking Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi with a move to Nottingham Forest, well today's gossip column also has news on another potential departure from Stamford Bridge:

Bayern Munich have held talks with Chelsea in a bid to sign their 24-year-old English defender Trevoh Chalobah. (Athletic - subscription required, external)

Click here for the full gossip column.

Alex Howell
Football reporter at Stamford Bridge

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Chelsea had to come from behind to beat League Two AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge.

The visitors started brightly and took the lead through a penalty in the 18th minute.

Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez jumped into Harry Pell while trying to punch away a free-kick, and James Tilley made no mistake as he struck the ball powerfully down the centre of Sanchez's goal.

It was also a penalty which brought Chelsea level on the stroke of half-time.

Noni Madueke was brought down by Alex Pearce and the winger dusted himself down to confidently send Alex Bass the wrong way.

Chelsea, who if they complete the signing of Manchester City's Cole Palmer will have taken their spending in this transfer window into the region of £400m, had to bring on some of their big names from the bench.

And it was £105m midfielder Enzo Fernandez who completed the turnaround when he picked up on Alex Bass' poor clearance to fire in from outside the area.

Read the full report.

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Blackburn Rovers manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has praised his team for their matuirty in their record-breaking win in the EFL Cup.

The club defeated Harrogte Town 8-0 which is the biggest victory in the competition.

"We caused a few shocks last year beating Leicester and West Ham, so we know about these," Tomasson told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"The key to the game was the work we'd done all season in the final third, those principles, and the players did a lot of the right things.

"Of course we also had the right intensity and the right attitude from the start of the game. It was a professional performance and very mature."

Read the full piece.

The draw has been made for the Carabao [EFL] Cup third round, with 17 Premier League clubs still in the competition.

There are five all-Premier League fixtures, including holders Manchester United hosting Crystal Palace, while Treble winners Manchester City face Newcastle.

All the fixtures featuring top-flight sides are shown below, while you can see the full draw here and in the graphic below.

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