Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney is set to feature as a pundit in the season's first BBC Match of the Day programme this Saturday in the post-Gary Lineker. Lineker announced last year he would be stepping down as presenter of Match of the Day when the 2024-25 Premier League campaign ended. Former understudy Mark Chapman is one of three presenters who will host the show moving forward.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk addressed the club's defensive woes as Crystal Palace twice came from behind to beat the Reds and lift the Community Shield on Sunday. Van Dijk admitted there have been problems in the backline that need to be resolved and urged his colleagues to regain last season's defensive form, where the champions conceded 41 league goals.
Premier League fans have kept Inter Miami chief David Beckham and X and Tesla owner Elon Musk above Wrexham co-owner and Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds in a list of most desirable club owners. One in five fans in the UK have expressed their desire to see the American billionaire to take over their favourite club, while Reynolds got only 10 per cent of the votes.
Manchester City have entered the race to sign RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, threatening to derail Chelsea’s ongoing pursuit of the Dutch attacker. The Citizens, preparing for Savinho’s likely departure, have made contact with Simons’ camp in an attempt to lure him away. The Blues remain in talks over a £60 million ($80.5m) deal, but City’s late involvement could complicate matters.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has admitted that 'players come and go' in football, offering Arsenal and Liverpool hope of signing Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi before the transfer deadline. Both England internationals played key roles in Palace’s Community Shield triumph over Liverpool, but their futures remain uncertain as interest mounts from Premier League rivals.
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho has been spotted holding a vape while getting a new tattoo. The 21-year-old, who has fallen out of favour under Ruben Amorim, is waiting to see if a move to Chelsea materialises before the transfer window closes. This comes just two years after a similar vaping controversy involving the Argentine.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has revealed that he now believes his side are far closer to competing with Liverpool and Arsenal for the Premier League title, compared to a year ago. The Blues endured a mixed 2024-25 campaign despite a bright start, but recent silverware and steady improvement have convinced Maresca that they could soon mount a serious challenge.