Ruben Neves role and squad absentees – behind the scenes with Bruno Lage’s Wolves

Two months into his Wolverhampton Wanderers tenure, Bruno Lage finally sat down for what would traditionally be described as his ‘official unveiling’ at Molineux yesterday.

Due to Covid-19 there wasn’t the usual circus, with a handful of journalists and club staff sitting around three spaced out tables in a suite overlooking Molineux’s pristine pitch.

Wayne Rooney delivers key transfer update after Derby County’s Championship opener

Wayne Rooney said he is unable to add to his Derby County squad as things stand – but the Rams boss is hoping that can change.

Derby are operating under a transfer embargo and can only sign free agents on year-long deals and players on half-season loans, but a limited number and within a wage limit.

They have added defenders Curtis Davies and Richard Stearman, goalkeeper Ryan Allsop and attacking midfielder Ravel Morrison.

Davies and Stearman played in today’s 1-1 draw against Huddersfield Town while Allsop was on the bench.

Derby have reached their limit of 23 players of ‘professional standing’, Rooney confirmed, but the club remains in talks with the EFL to see if the situation can be relaxed further.

Nottingham Forest ‘swoop down’ on former Bayern Munich defender

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for young right-back Mert Yilmaz as boss Chris Hughton targets defensive reinforcements.

The Reds made their second summer signing earlier today, when Philip Zinckernagel joined on a loan deal from Watford, with goalkeeper Ethan Horvath having joined last month.

Aston Villa ‘set sights’ on £30m-rated Serie A attacker

Lazio’s Argentinian attacker Joaquin Correa looks set to leave the Serie A this summer and Aston Villa have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old

Town and Pigott tipped to top League One table

Ipswich Town are joint favourites to win League One – and new striker Joe Pigott is being backed to top the division’s scoring charts.

The new-look Blues, who have made a slew of signings over the summer, are 6/1 bookmakers to lift the League One title.

‘Undercooked’ – Fans have mixed emotions as Norwich City conclude pre-season

With seven days to go until their Premier League campaign kicks off against Liverpool, Daniel Farke may have been hoping for a smoother end to pre-season. 

It’s been a pre-season disrupted by a coronavirus outbreak that saw two matches cancelled and forced 11 members of their first-team group into self-isolation. Those still forced to stay at home are set for a return to training on Monday. 

West Brom tie down ‘perfect’ Matty Phillips with new contract extension

West Brom boss Valerien Ismael believes Matty Phillips is the “perfect” role model after the forward signed a new contract extension.

The 30-year-old was praised by his Baggies boss for showing a “professional” attitude and will remain at the Hawthorns until the summer of 2024 after putting pen to paper on a new set of terms.

A YOUNG Southend United side secured a 1-1 draw at Ebbsfleet United this afternoon.

Matt Rush put the Shrimpers in front in the first half but a late strike from Elliott Romain saw the match end all square.

Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt on MK Dons late draw, fan atmosphere and Elias Kachunga

In front of more than 16,000 fans at the University of Bolton Stadium, Mo Eisa put the visitors ahead midway through the first half, but Wanderers went in level at half-time thanks to Josh Sheehan’s brilliant free kick.

Bolton went ahead after the break thanks to Amadou Bakayoko, but Scott Twine leveled with a free kick of his own shortly after, before substitute Hiram Boateng appeared to have taken all three points for the Dons.

But Wanderers grabbed a deserved point when new signing Elias Kachunga kept the ball alive for Alex Baptiste to fire home from close range.

Liverpool transfers – Reds dealt Renato Sanches blow as Scott Parker makes Arnaut Danjuma admission

Bournemouth boss Scott Parker has admitted he in unsure of Arnaut Danjuma’s future at the club amid outside interest from other sides.

The Dutch winger scored 15 goals and registered seven assists in his debut Championship campaign last season as the Cherries narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League.

Liverpool are one of the teams linked with a summer swoop for the 24-year-old, and Parker has conceded that there are no guarantees Danjuma will remain a Bournemouth player.

“Well, I don’t know about that. I can’t commit to that,” he said when quizzed on the future of the former Club Brugge man.

Parker added: “I think it’s been well-documented, while we’re in a transfer window, one of your best players, you understand you’re vulnerable in that. We’ve rejected a bid from another club. I don’t know whether that other club will come back, I don’t know whether other clubs are around it. So I can’t be committal on that.

Everton ready to loan out goalkeeper after Manchester United friendly absence

Goalkeeper Joao Virginia was missing from Everton’s final pre-season friendly of the summer at Manchester United

The 21-year-old was not included in the squad for the Blues’ friendly with Manchester United today, with a move away from Goodison now on the cards.

Virginia is attracting interest from Championship clubs, as well from abroad, it is understood and Everton are now willing to sanction a short-term departure from the club.

Man United won their final pre-season friendly 4-0 and hope to have Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane in their squad next week.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reiterated Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane cannot be ‘thrown into a game’ as Manchester United prepare to start the Premier League season.

United thrashed Everton 4-0 in their final pre-season friendly at Old Trafford on Saturday and Varane watched the game with his family while isolating.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho confidently despatched a late penalty as Leicester stunned Manchester City to claim the Community Shield at Wembley.

The meeting of last season’s Premier League champions and FA Cup winners was absorbing in parts and looked to be heading for penalties, but Iheanacho struck from the spot into the top corner with a minute remaining after being tripped by Nathan Ake.

City’s record £100m signing Jack Grealish was given his debut on 65 minutes, but he could not muster a clear-cut opportunity for a much-changed team.

Chelsea are close to sealing a deal to re-sign striker Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee of £97.5m from Inter Milan.

Despite saying earlier in the summer he was happy to stay with the Italian champions, the 28-year-old Belgian reversed his stance this week and told Inter that he wanted to join Chelsea if the right offer was received.

The deal would be just short of the £100m British record that Manchester City paid Aston Villa for England midfielder Jack Grealish on Thursday.

Some details are still to be resolved, but provided there are no unexpected problems, Lukaku will return to the club where he spent three seasons from 2011, although two of those seasons were spent on loan at West Brom and Everton.