Premier League team news, tracked daily

Developing the earlier 'travelled to Girona but short' line, Arteta said on the record: 'He's on the pitch and doing quite a lot right now but is still weeks away - I cannot tell you how much.' Timber and Saliba are both confirmed out of the 16 Aug Community Shield and the 21 Aug league opener v Coventry City. Timber was again absent from the Como squad on 12 Aug.

FPL: Timber should not be in GW1 squads at all despite carrying no FPL flag yet; his minutes go to White, Mosquera and Hincapié. Saliba remains a months-long absentee.

All three were left out of the Como squad entirely on 12 Aug, having only rejoined training on 8-10 August after England's and Spain's World Cup runs. Unlike Raya, Eze, Merino and Madueke, none of the trio was given any minutes in the last match before the season.

FPL: None of the three has played a pre-season minute, so a bench role or reduced minutes in the Community Shield and possibly GW1 is live. Keep existing doubts on Saka and Rice rather than clearing them.

In their final pre-season friendly at the Emirates on 12 Aug, Arteta started a youth-heavy XI (Kepa; Salmon, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Hincapié; Julienne, Nwaneri, Eze; Dowman, G.Jesus, Martinelli) and emptied the bench at half-time. Ødegaard came on at 46' for Dowman and played 45 minutes; Raya played the second half and saved two penalties in the shootout; Eze started; Merino and Madueke made their first pre-season appearances. Bruno Guimarães debuted at half-time after only three training sessions.

FPL: Raya and Ødegaard are through their build-up and should be fit to start the Community Shield and the 21 Aug opener. Eze starting a full first half puts him ahead of the pack for a front-line role.

Club-record summer signing Johan Manzambi was ruled out of the PSG final with the knee injury he picked up at the World Cup. He is completing rehabilitation in Spain with specialist Jurdan Mendiguchia. Villa hope the layoff is weeks rather than months, with a possible return during the opening weeks of the campaign.

FPL: Manzambi is a major doubt for GW1 at Brighton and should not be counted on as a nailed starter yet. His absence keeps Kamara, Gomes and McGinn as the central midfield base.

Garnacho was omitted from the matchday squad in Salzburg. Reports attribute this to concussion protocols following the head/facial injury he suffered in the friendly against BG Pathum United in Thailand, when he was forced off bloodied after a collision. He was filmed training on 11 August, so accounts of his current status conflict.

FPL: A watch item rather than a confirmed absence: he has missed a competitive final 11 days before GW1 but has been training. Seek confirmation from Emery's pre-Brighton press conference before committing to Garnacho.

Villa lost the UEFA Super Cup 2-1 to PSG in Salzburg on 12 August. Now registerable after Villa won their CAS appeal against FIFA, 17-year-old Brian Madjo started up front and scored a 45th-minute equaliser to become the youngest goalscorer in Super Cup history. The XI was Bizot; Cash, Lindelof, Pau Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Gomes; Buendia, McGinn, Hemmings; Madjo — with 19-year-old George Hemmings also starting.

FPL: Madjo is now genuinely available and is the most likely deputy if Watkins is eased in, though this XI was distorted by three rested World Cup players and three absentees, so it is weak evidence for league roles. McGinn came through 90 minutes after a knee scare.

All three missed the Super Cup entirely, having been given four weeks off after finishing the World Cup on 19 July. Emery post-match: 'They are joining us after this match. They are not going to be there on Saturday but they will start training with us now.' The stated plan is to have them ready for the Premier League opener at Brighton on 23 August.

FPL: This is scheduled rest, not injury, so all three should be available for GW1 — but they will miss Saturday's Gladbach friendly and start the season with roughly one week of team training and no pre-season minutes. Treat as managed rather than doubtful.

Villa officially confirmed on 12 August that Evann Guessand has rejoined Crystal Palace on a season-long loan containing a conditional obligation to buy (Palace describe it as an option). He completed his medical on the Wednesday morning and was already omitted from the Super Cup squad to finalise the move.

FPL: Guessand is no longer a Villa asset and should be removed from all Villa plans. His exit thins the forward line behind Watkins and slightly strengthens the case for Madjo and Buendia as rotation options.

Chelsea's last World Cup internationals reported back on Tuesday 11 August, with Reece James, Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez returning from delayed breaks after reaching the semi-finals and beyond. New signings Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco linked up with team-mates for the first time. Alonso now has effectively his full squad ahead of Saturday's Real Sociedad friendly, though Henderson is still being assessed after breaking his forearm in England's World Cup celebrations and Emegha is completing his return from a hamstring problem.

FPL: The main pre-season doubts over James, Rogers and Lacroix are resolved — all three are in full training with 13 days until the Fulham opener. Henderson remains a genuine doubt and is not an FPL consideration.

The pre-agreed move for Kazakhstan forward Dastan Satpaev from Kairat Almaty completed on his 18th birthday, 12 August, for a reported £3.3m. The deal had been agreed as far back as February 2025 and could not be registered until he came of age.

FPL: No immediate FPL relevance — he is a squad-filling teenager widely expected to go out on loan rather than feature for Alonso this season.

Chelsea confirmed the signing of 28-year-old Spanish left-back Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano on a contract to 2031, for a reported £16.3m (€19m plus £2m add-ons). He replaces Marc Cucurella, who joined Real Madrid in June, and trained with the group at Cobham on arrival.

FPL: A specialist senior left-back arrives to compete directly with Jorrel Hato, whose grip on the left-back slot is now genuinely contested. Hato may shift to left centre-back if Alonso uses a back three.

Chelsea have told Manchester City and any other suitor they must lodge a £120m net bid by 5pm UK on Friday 14 August. If no acceptable offer arrives, Chelsea say Fernandez will not leave this window. City have made contact but are reported unwilling to meet the asking price.

FPL: Enzo's future should be settled by Friday and the club's stated position is that he stays; he is back in training and available for the Fulham opener. Treat him as a Chelsea asset unless a bid lands.

Coventry officially confirmed Hamer's return on 11 August on a long-term contract, fee reported at roughly £6m (c.€7m) after two earlier bids were rejected. The 29-year-old made 132 appearances in his 2020-23 spell and was Player of the Year in both 2021-22 and 2022-23. Hamer said: "I'm buzzing, it's the move I wanted to make."

FPL: A first-choice-calibre central/attacking midfielder arrives who was Lampard's top target — he should start regularly and is a set-piece and creativity candidate. Squeezes the minutes of Torp, Rudoni and Sakamoto in the midfield rotation.

In an interview published 12 August, Frank Lampard said of Wright: "I felt quite quickly that he's a No. 9 and he prefers to be in that position too... with his speed, size and ability to run in behind defenses." Wright scored 18 goals in 40 games in the promotion season and has been linked with West Ham, but Lampard has told the hierarchy he wants to keep his key players.

FPL: Reinforces Wright as the lone central striker rather than a wide/rotational option, and lowers (without eliminating) deadline-day exit risk. No change to his existing role — he stays the primary Coventry attacking asset.

Johnson, 25, completed a move to Everton on 11 August as the other half of the McNeil swap, signing a four-year deal. He had joined Palace from Tottenham in January 2026 for a then-club-record £35m but failed to score in 26 appearances.

FPL: Remove Johnson from all Palace projections — he is now an Everton asset and faces his old club on the opening weekend. His exit frees up a wide starting berth that McNeil is the obvious candidate to fill.

McNeil, 26, completed a move to Selhurst Park on 11 August in a rare straight swap that took Brennan Johnson to Everton, signing a four-year contract. Fees were undisclosed. He made 114 appearances for Everton and had come close to a Palace move in January before the deal collapsed on deadline day over paperwork.

FPL: A proven Premier League wide man arriving 11 days before the opener and stepping straight into the role vacated by Johnson — a viable cheap midfield option if he starts at Everton on 22 August. Watch the Freiburg friendly (15 Aug) for confirmation of his role.

Palace officially announced Guessand's return on 12 August on a season-long loan from Aston Villa. Villa describe the deal as carrying a conditional obligation to buy, Palace as an option to buy. The Ivory Coast forward spent the second half of last season at Selhurst, playing 14 times and scoring twice, and featured in the Conference League final win. Steve Parish: "We're thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome Evann back to Crystal Palace."

FPL: Adds another body to a crowded Palace front line alongside Mateta and Strand Larsen, so treat him as a rotation forward rather than a nailed starter until Sage's opening XI is seen. Slightly dampens the case for Palace forward minutes generally.

McNeil, 26, left Everton for Crystal Palace on 11 Aug as the other half of the Johnson deal, signing a four-year contract. He ends a four-year spell at Everton and had been close to joining Palace in January before that move collapsed on paperwork.

FPL: McNeil should be removed from all Everton projections and any Everton-based differential plans. His exit clears the left/wide rotation and hands minutes to Johnson, George and Dibling.

Everton and Crystal Palace confirmed a rare straight swap on 11 Aug: Wales winger Brennan Johnson joins Everton on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, seven months after a £35m move from Tottenham to Palace. He is Everton's fifth summer signing after Rohl, Hackney, George and Norgaard. Moyes publicly backed him to rediscover his form.

FPL: Johnson arrives as a direct replacement for McNeil on the right flank and should start regularly, making him a cheap attacking option worth monitoring. Temper expectations: he failed to score in 26 Palace appearances.

Jordan Pickford was not in the squad for the 12 Aug friendly at Murrayfield, with Mark Travers starting in goal. He had still not returned to training after England's World Cup run and was reported as set to rejoin later in the week. He is not injured; this is an extended post-tournament break.

FPL: Pickford has played no pre-season minutes and is unlikely to feature against Lille on 15 Aug, leaving roughly a week of training before the 22 Aug opener. He remains the clear No 1 when available, but the ramp-up is tighter than previously assumed.

At Murrayfield on 12 Aug, Everton started Travers; Patterson, Tarkowski (c), Keane, Mykolenko; Armstrong, Hackney, Dewsbury-Hall; Ndiaye, Barry, George. Ndiaye converted a 36' penalty and played 64 minutes before Beto replaced him; Barry (27') and George (73') also scored. Sky's report said Ndiaye, Barry and George 'looked in excellent nick'.

FPL: Ndiaye is sharp and taking penalties in pre-season, strengthening his case as Everton's main attacking asset. Barry starting ahead of Beto is a mild nudge in that striker battle, but one experimental friendly XI is not conclusive.

Mount was withdrawn after 18 minutes of the 1-1 draw with PSG on 8 Aug and subsequently missed training on the Monday and Tuesday, ruling him out of Croke Park. Carrick said: "He got kicked. We just wanted to be careful and look after him." United describe the absence as precautionary.

FPL: Minimal direct impact given he is a bench option, but it further thins midfield cover behind Bruno Fernandes and Cunha for the opening weeks.

Šeško was absent from both the XI and the bench at Croke Park, extending a run of missing every pre-season friendly with the shin problem he aggravated against Liverpool in May. United believe there is a chance he features against Milan on 15 Aug and remain confident he is fit for the 22 Aug opener at Hull.

FPL: He is likely to enter GW1 with zero pre-season minutes, so a managed workload or bench start is a live risk even if declared fit. Treat early-season minutes as uncertain rather than assuming a full 90.

Carrick told MUTV pre-match: "Marcus, Licha and Kobbie aren't quite ready yet. We're preserving them for this weekend." All three are late World Cup returners rather than injured — Martinez played in the final. Post-match Carrick said of Rashford: "He's our player. He's come back great... he's trained only two or three days and it's all normal."

FPL: Confirms the three are fitness-ramping, not frozen out, and are due minutes vs Milan on 15 Aug. Martinez and Mainoo should be available for the Hull opener; Rashford's inclusion is now a role question, not a transfer one.

Carrick named Lammens; Dalot (c), Yoro, Heaven, Amass; T. Fletcher, Santos; Amad, Zirkzee, Dorgu; Mbeumo in the 12 Aug friendly in Dublin. Zirkzee scored from a Mbeumo assist; Aaronson equalised. Bruno Fernandes, Tielemans and Cunha were introduced together on the hour, with Mazraoui converting the winning penalty.

FPL: Low signal for GW1 shape — this was a deliberate rotation game with the Milan friendly (15 Aug) as the real dress rehearsal. Zirkzee's start and goal are cover-only while Šeško is absent, not a promotion.

Newcastle officially confirmed the 22-year-old defender has joined 2. Bundesliga side 1. FC Kaiserslautern on loan for the whole of 2026/27. Murphy had trained with the first team under Jaissle at La Manga before leaving the camp ahead of the Valencia friendly.

FPL: Removes a fringe defensive body from the squad and slightly thins Newcastle's full-back cover, reinforcing Jaissle's stated need for a right-back signing.

Newcastle's official team news confirmed Elanga was "stretchered off in Spain, but is fit enough to start here" — four days after a heavy Jose Gaya challenge at Valencia left him needing a stretcher. Lewis Hall, who had been training individually and was left out of the Valencia squad, also returned to the starting XI at left-back.

FPL: Newcastle's two most FPL-relevant defensive/attacking returnees are both back in the first-choice XI, so no GW1 doubt attaches to either.

Jaissle's first-half XI at Murrayfield on 12 Aug: Horníček; Shahar, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Joelinton (c), Bamba; Elanga, Touré; Osula, Wissa. All ten outfielders were replaced at half-time — Woltemade, Barnes, J.Murphy, Willock, Ramsey and Steur came on, with Barnes scoring the 84th-minute consolation. Horníček was the only player to complete 90 minutes.

FPL: Horníček looks nailed as the No.1 and Osula, not Woltemade, led the line in the strongest XI. Woltemade's second-half-only role is a mild warning for his GW1 minutes.

After naming eight starters aged 25 or under at Murrayfield, Jaissle said: "You are also smart enough to see the needs in the squad" and referenced the "vacuum" left by the exits of Bruno Guimarães, Tonali, Gordon and Trippier — "It's a really young team at the moment so there are vacuums where players need to step up." On transfers he added: "We handle these things internally, we are aware of what we need, and as you know, there's still some time."

FPL: More incomings are likely before 1 September, especially at right-back and in central midfield, which could quickly displace the young players currently starting.

Speaking after the 1-3 friendly loss to Everton on 12 Aug, Jaissle said of Schär: "He's on the way back now. Hopefully in the next days he will be included in the team training, and then we need to see if he gets some minutes already in the weekend." He said Livramento and Lewis Miley were "a bit of the same". All three were absent from the Murrayfield squad; Newcastle host Bayer Leverkusen (15 Aug) and Strasbourg (16 Aug) before the Liverpool opener on 23 Aug.

FPL: None of the three is in full team training 11 days out, so all are live doubts for GW1. Livramento in particular is a popular cheap defender whose start is no longer safe to assume.

Forest confirmed the signing of 22-year-old Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP on 11 August for a reported £34m, on a four-year deal with the option of a further year. He made 132 appearances for Sporting and played for Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup.

FPL: A club-record-level centre-back outlay who started the very next day — he is an immediate starter and pushes Jair Cunha and Morato further down the centre-back queue. Worth watching as a cheap defender only once his price and role are confirmed in the FPL game.

Dan Ndoye, who only rejoined Forest training in early August after a long World Cup with Switzerland, started and volleyed home Gibbs-White's cross in the 4th minute. Ola Aina, previously listed as carrying a knock, also started the game.

FPL: Both of our doubts are resolved — Aina and Ndoye are training and starting friendlies, so the hand-researched damps should come off ahead of GW1 at home to Leeds.

In their final home friendly on 12 Aug, Forest beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 with an XI of Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Diomande, Murillo, N.Williams; Sangare, Schlager; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Igor Jesus. Five defenders started, with £34m signing Ousmane Diomande going straight in a day after signing; Kalimuendo came off the bench to score the 90+1 winner from a Netz cross.

FPL: Looks like Glasner's lead XI nine days before the Leeds opener: Sels, Gibbs-White, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina and Ndoye all nailed-looking, and Igor Jesus is ahead of Wood/Kalimuendo up top. The five-defender selection hints at Glasner's back-three shape, which would squeeze Forest's fourth-choice centre-backs.

Le Bris described Alderete's World Cup knee problem as "just about stiffness. It's not major" and said of the pair: "probably both of them should be on the bench for Ipswich, I think." Neither was risked in the 2-0 friendly win at Lens on 8 August. Reporting on 11 August said Le Bris had not ruled either out but hinted they may not be ready to start, with Luke O'Nien in line to deputise at centre-back.

FPL: Both carry FPL's own 75% knock flag. Alderete's doubt is not resolved — he has played no pre-season minutes — so keep avoiding him for GW1, and note O'Nien is short-term injury cover rather than a promoted starter.

Adingra hurt his ankle after coming on as a substitute in the pre-season win over Wrexham. Le Bris said on 8 August: "Simon might be a bit longer, so we are still monitoring his ankle and we need to wait." Pictures on 9 August showed him in a protective boot on his left foot at the Academy of Light. No update has followed, and he was absent from the left-wing selection discussion on 11 August.

FPL: FPL currently has no flag on Adingra, so his price and projection look deceptively safe. Treat him as a genuine doubt for the GW1 opener at Ipswich and avoid him until the boot is confirmed off.

The 32-year-old left-back completed a free permanent move to Konyaspor on a two-year deal, with formalities finished on 10 August and FPL removing him on the 12th. With Dennis Cirkin's contract having expired in June and no replacement signed, Sunderland's €33m bid for Toulouse's Dayann Methalie was rejected.

FPL: Reinildo is now the only specialist left-back at the club and should be treated as close to nailed for GW1 at Ipswich. Watch the window to 1 September — a new left-back arriving would reverse this.

Sunderland confirmed on 11 August that the 22-year-old Norwegian defender has joined KV Mechelen permanently on a deal to 2029 with an option for a further year, with a sell-on clause retained. Note FPL has mislabelled this as a season-long loan.

FPL: Negligible in isolation — Hjelde was a fringe defender who spent last season's second half on loan at Sheffield United. It matters only as part of a wider thinning of Sunderland's defensive cover.

Announced by Wrexham on 11 August after a medical on the 10th: £8m initial plus performance add-ons that could exceed £10m, on a four-year deal to 2030. Sunderland posted a farewell piece on 12 August with tributes from director of football Florent Ghisolfi and head of goalkeeping Neil Cutler. FPL removed him on 12 August.

FPL: Minimal direct impact — Patterson spent last season's second half on loan at Millwall and Melker Ellborg was already the established No.2. Robin Roefs remains nailed; Sunderland have signed no replacement, with only reported interest in Ipswich's Alex Palmer.

Carvalho came on around the hour mark at Roazhon Park for his first first-team minutes since his season-ending ACL injury, hitting the inside of the post late on. Reports noted little sign of rustiness on his return.

FPL: Carvalho is available again but returns as midfield cover rather than a starter; not an FPL buy yet, though he adds competition in the attacking-midfield rotation.

Thiago led the line in the 4-2 win at Rennes on 8 August, heading in a Mathias Jensen corner on 19 minutes and assisting Dango Ouattara before being replaced by Callum Wilson at half-time. It was his first appearance of pre-season following his late return to the group from the World Cup.

FPL: The doubt over Thiago's readiness for the 22 August opener v Spurs is effectively gone; he is fit, scoring and back leading the line. Treat him as a full-price premium forward option again.

Alonso rotated his whole starting XI from the previous tour match, naming a second-string side: Sharman-Lowe (Slonina at half-time), Tosin, Anselmino, Gittens, Essugo, Nicoll-Jazuli, Quenda, Estevao, N.Jackson and Delap. Delap scored twice from the spot and Mudryk came on as an 87th-minute substitute, crossing for the late own goal that rescued the draw. Palmer, Caicedo, Enzo, Joao Pedro, Colwill, Hato, Neto and Sanchez did not feature.

FPL: Read this as squad rotation at the end of a two-week tour, not a pecking-order statement — treat the absences of the senior group as rest, not demotion. Delap's two penalties came with no established senior taker on the pitch, so it is not evidence against Palmer on spot-kicks. One friendly remains (Real Sociedad, Stamford Bridge, 15 Aug) before Fulham away on Monday 24 Aug.

Aaron Anselmino pulled up with an apparent hamstring problem on 29 minutes and was replaced by 16-year-old Reggie Watson, leaving the pitch in tears after Alonso insisted he come off. Mamadou Sarr was named in the starting XI but withdrew after picking up a knock in the warm-up, replaced by academy centre-back Olutayo Subuloye. No club timeline has been published for either.

FPL: Both are deep-squad defenders with negligible FPL relevance, so no direct points impact. The relevance is indirect: Chelsea have now lost three centre-backs from the group in 24 hours (Chalobah sold, two injured), and Sarr's planned loan exit is on hold pending scans.

Chelsea officially confirmed on 9 August that Chalobah completed a permanent transfer to Cesc Fabregas' Como, ending nearly two decades at the club. Reported at roughly €30m fixed plus €6m in add-ons and a sell-on clause, with the defender signing a five-year contract.

FPL: Chalobah is off the FPL radar entirely — remove him from any squad plans. It thins Chelsea's centre-back rotation behind Colwill and Lacroix, though no clear single beneficiary has been named yet.

Iraola said of the £60m Rennes signing: 'we were in doubt whether to pick him today, should be fine for next one.' Jacquet has still not made his Liverpool bow but is expected to face Como on 16 August.

FPL: A precaution, not a setback, but Jacquet has now missed another friendly and remains short of match minutes with the opener two weeks away. His GW1 start is less certain than his depth ranking implies.

Iraola confirmed Mac Allister 'will link up with us on Monday' (10 August) following a three-week holiday after Argentina's run to the World Cup final. He will face fitness tests before joining full sessions and is expected to be involved against Como on 16 August.

FPL: He returns under two weeks before the Newcastle opener with zero pre-season behind him, so a bench or reduced-minutes role in GW1 is a live risk even though he is not injured.

Iraola said Jones had trained every day but 'finished with some issues in his hip' the day before, and it 'didn't make sense to risk' him. The manager added it 'doesn't look like anything big' and hopes Jones is available for Como on 16 August.

FPL: A precautionary absence rather than a real injury, and Jones is a rotation option anyway. No action needed unless he also misses the Como friendly.

The summer signing from Osasuna came on around the hour mark for his first Liverpool appearance, cutting short his post-World Cup holiday to be available. It was his first game time since May, having not played a minute in Spain's World Cup win.

FPL: Removes the 'no pre-season, not yet back' doubt on Munoz — he is fit and in the matchday squad. Still a squad option rather than a nailed starter, so treat as a watch rather than a GW1 buy.

In Iraola's first Anfield match on 9 Aug, Liverpool led 2-0 through Isak (16') and Wirtz (29') before losing 3-2. XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Frimpong, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak, Koumas, Ndukwe. Kerkez, Mamardashvili, Chiesa, Elliott and Ngumoha were among the subs.

FPL: Close to a first-choice shape two weeks from the Newcastle opener: Alisson, Van Dijk, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo and Isak all fit and starting. Isak and Wirtz scoring on their Anfield return is a green light for GW1 ownership.

In City's final pre-season match (Seoul, 9 Aug) Maresca started Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias (c), Vitor Reis, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Reijnders; Savinho, Foden, Semenyo; Marmoush. Semenyo set up both Marmoush goals and was man of the match, taking him to four assists in three tour games; Ait-Nouri added a late third. Haaland, Rodri, Cherki, Anderson, O'Reilly, Guehi and Doku all played no part. Maresca said the wingers' threat was the tour's standout feature and that "from tomorrow pre-season is finished and the real business starts".

FPL: Semenyo is being used as the focal supply line in Maresca's winger-heavy setup, reinforcing his premium-midfielder case. Marmoush's brace is stand-in No.9 output only — Haaland is back in training this week and remains the nailed striker.

Speaking after Sunday's 3-1 friendly win over Atletico Madrid in Seoul, Enzo Maresca was asked about Rodri's situation and said: "Yes, at the moment he will be in Manchester. There is no update. On Aug. 14 he will be back." Rodri missed the entire Asia tour while recovering from back surgery following the World Cup; Maresca gave no separate return-to-play date.

FPL: Rodri only rejoins the group two days before the Community Shield, so he is very unlikely to be match-fit for that and is a real doubt to start the 23 Aug opener v Bournemouth. Treat him as a bench/rotation risk for GW1 rather than a nailed starter.

Sesko has sat out all four pre-season fixtures (Wrexham, Rosenborg, Atletico Madrid, PSG) with a shin complaint he aggravated in the 3-2 win over Liverpool on 3 May. MEN's Steven Railston reports he has stepped up rehab at Carrington, will join the Ireland camp, and United hope he can play some minutes against AC Milan on 15 August.

FPL: Sesko is still expected to be fit for GW1 but will arrive with zero pre-season minutes, so early-season load management or a bench start is a real risk for anyone buying him for the opener.

Speaking after the 1-1 friendly draw with PSG, Carrick said United will have their entire group together for the Ireland camp: 'We have got a full squad this week in Dublin.' Martinez, Mainoo, Rashford and Cunha have all completed extended post-World Cup breaks and are available for the Leeds friendly on 12 August, ahead of AC Milan on 15 August and the Hull opener on 22 August.

FPL: Removes the post-World Cup availability cloud over Martinez and Mainoo with two friendlies left to build up — both are live picks for the GW1 trip to Hull.

Barcelona declined their €30m option after his loan (14 goals in 49 apps), so Rashford returned to Carrington and has been given the No.14 shirt, with Matheus Cunha keeping No.10. Carrick has confirmed he travels with the squad to Dublin and is in line for minutes against Leeds at Croke Park on 12 August — his first United involvement since December 2024.

FPL: Rashford is a genuine squad option again rather than an absentee, but Carrick offered no guarantees on a starting role, so treat him as a rotation punt until he actually starts.

Arsenal confirmed the signing on Saturday 8 August: a reported £75m (rising) deal, four-year contract with a one-year option, squad number 39, with Andrea Berta citing his 'mentality, quality and leadership'. He joins up with the squad immediately but is short of fitness after the World Cup and is not expected to play against Dortmund, where he will instead be paraded before kick-off.

FPL: A £75m 28-year-old central midfielder arriving as a win-now starter squeezes minutes for Merino, Nwaneri and the Ødegaard/Eze rotation. He is unlikely to be fully match-fit for the opening fixtures, so treat him as a wait-and-see rather than an early buy.

Ahead of the 2pm BST Emirates Cup game with Borussia Dortmund on 9 Aug, Martin Odegaard is reported back in training and could feature for the first time this summer, with Gabriel and Martinelli set for a bigger role than their Betis cameos. Saka, Rice, Eze, Raya, Zubimendi, Merino and Madueke are all still on extended post-World Cup breaks and unavailable; Saliba and Timber are listed injured, and Kepa or Meslier will start in goal. The XI was not confirmed at time of writing.

FPL: Confirms the WC contingent (Saka, Rice, Raya, Zubimendi, Merino, Eze, Madueke) will have almost no pre-season, so early-season minutes are a real risk; Odegaard is furthest along of the damped group.

Palace lined up Benitez; Riad, Richards, Canvot; Cardines, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Nketiah, Strand Larsen. Sarr scored from a corner routine and Matheus Franca won it after half-time. Dean Henderson, Daniel Munoz, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Brennan Johnson and Yeremy Pino were not in the matchday squad, with no club explanation given.

FPL: Shape and midfield pairing look settled, but Henderson's and Munoz's total absence is unexplained and worth monitoring before GW1 at Everton on 22 August.

Chadi Riad started in the back three alongside Chris Richards and Jaydee Canvot, while Jorgen Strand Larsen started in attack after returning to training following the World Cup earlier in the week. Both were making their first appearances of pre-season.

FPL: Riad (£4.5m) and Strand Larsen (£6.0m) are both fit and integrated ahead of GW1; Strand Larsen looks set to lead the line.

Crystal Palace officially announced the free-transfer signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu, 27, after a successful trial period, making him Pierre Sage's second summer signing. He was named among the substitutes for the Fulham friendly and can operate across the back three.

FPL: Squad depth rather than an FPL asset; adds competition at centre-back and right-sided defence but is not a starter on arrival.

Adam Wharton made his first appearance of pre-season in the behind-closed-doors 2-1 win at Fulham's Motspur Park on 7 August, starting in central midfield alongside Daichi Kamada. He had missed the entire pre-season including the Como Cup with the ankle problem.

FPL: Wharton (£5.5m) is available and match-fit two weeks before the Everton opener; our earlier doubt should be removed entirely.

Bart Verbruggen started in goal and played in Brighton's 4-3 pre-season win over Strasbourg in Vienna, making several saves. He reported to the Austria camp as a returning international, with no sign of the hip bruise picked up on Netherlands duty in June.

FPL: Removes the fitness cloud over Brighton's first-choice keeper ahead of GW1; Verbruggen can be treated as a fully available nailed starter again.

Scan results reported on 6 August confirmed Baleba suffered ankle ligament damage in a training session at Brighton's Vienna camp, ruling him out for 'a few weeks'. He missed the 4-3 friendly win over Strasbourg. David Ornstein reports he is doubtful for the start of the campaign, though Brighton do not anticipate a longer-term problem.

FPL: Baleba is a major doubt for the GW1 home game with Aston Villa; avoid until he is seen in training or a friendly. Opens extra central-midfield minutes for Ayari, Groß and Hinshelwood.

Tromso won 5-0 away at CFR Cluj in the third qualifying round first leg on 6 August, all but securing the play-off tie against Brighton. Brighton play the first leg away on 20 August with the return at the Amex on 27 August, meaning an Arctic Circle trip three days before their Premier League opener at home to Aston Villa on 23 August.

FPL: Raises GW1 rotation risk across the Brighton XI: a long northern-Norway away trip on 20 Aug sits three days before hosting Villa. Treat non-nailed Brighton assets with caution for GW1.

Adam Wharton was listed as a notable absentee for the behind-closed-doors friendly at Fulham on 7 August, still recovering from the ankle injury that has cost him the entire pre-season. He missed the Swindon opener on 18 July and did not travel to Italy for the Como Cup in late July. Palace open the league season away at Everton on 22 August.

FPL: Palace's key midfielder now has zero pre-season minutes with two weeks until the opener, so he is a genuine doubt for GW1 and likely to be eased in even if fit. Avoid until he is seen in a friendly — the 15 August Freiburg game is the checkpoint.

Everton confirmed the signing of Denmark midfielder Christian Norgaard from Arsenal on 5 August for an undisclosed fee reported at around £7m, on a contract until June 2028. He is Everton's fourth summer signing after Merlin Rohl, Tyrique George and Hayden Hackney.

FPL: A defensive midfielder with minimal attacking returns — not an FPL target himself, but he compresses the minutes of Everton's other central midfielders.

Norgaard revealed Moyes and Mikel Arteta both convinced him to move, saying he 'needed a change and to play a bigger football role'. He is expected to sit in front of the back four, filling the gap left by Idrissa Gueye's free-transfer exit and by James Garner's post-surgery absence.

FPL: Norgaard should start in the deep midfield role from the opener, but as a defensive pivot he is a low-ceiling FPL asset. The bigger read-through is negative for Iroegbunam's minutes.

At the La Manga camp Fabian Schär and Lewis Hall worked away from the main group, Schär after tweaking his groin in the 4-1 defeat at Bristol City, though neither is thought to be carrying a major injury. William Osula remains a doubt with a minor groin complaint picked up in training, and Tino Livramento is still out with the calf problem that cost him the World Cup.

FPL: Keeps our existing doubts on Schär and Osula live going into the opener; Hall (a popular cheap defender pick) is worth watching — one report only so far, so no flag change yet.

Miley, who fractured his right fibula in training in May, is described as ahead of schedule and is now training with team-mates at the La Manga base. He is unlikely to feature at Valencia on Saturday, with his realistic target the Premier League opener at home to Liverpool on 23 August.

FPL: Miley is a live differential in a midfield stripped of Tonali and Bruno G., but he is not yet match-fit — worth monitoring for a role signal rather than buying now.

Jaissle brought his entire Al Ahli staff with him: assistants Alexander Hauser, Engin Yanova and Florens Koch, goalkeeper coach Alexander Bade and analysts Maximilian Fischer and Steffen Konrad. In his first media appearances he promised 'front-footed, intense, aggressive' football with three non-negotiables — trust, respect and commitment — and indicated further recruitment is planned, while CEO David Hopkinson warned the club had been 'living beyond our means'.

FPL: A brand-new coaching staff means last season's Howe-era role and set-piece assumptions should be treated as unreliable until the Valencia friendly (8 Aug) and the Liverpool opener (23 Aug) show his actual shape and selections.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder signed from Real Madrid until summer 2031 with a one-year option, for a reported €10m as part of a combined €50m double deal with Garcia. He takes the No.8 shirt vacated by Harry Wilson. Palacios made seven first-team appearances under Arbeloa at Madrid.

FPL: A cheap-enfranchised midfielder to watch, but unproven in the Premier League — wait for friendly minutes before investing. His arrival further reduces the case for Fulham's incumbent creative midfielders.

The 22-year-old Spain international joined on a five-year deal to 2031 with a club option for a further year, for a fee of €40m (£34m). He takes the No.7 shirt vacated by Raul Jimenez. Club media ran his first interview and first-day content on 4 August.

FPL: Fulham's marquee signing and direct replacement for Jimenez — a genuine premium-forward candidate. He also converted 6 of 7 penalties for Real Madrid Castilla last season, so he is a live contender for spot-kicks.

At Garcia's unveiling on 4 August, head coach Alvaro Arbeloa praised the £34m signing's pace, physical strength, pressing intensity and technical quality, saying "I'm so happy to have him with us." Arbeloa coached Garcia at Real Madrid in the second half of last season.

FPL: Strong signal Garcia is being bought as the first-choice No.9, not squad depth. Treat him as the likely starting striker ahead of Rodrigo Muniz until a friendly XI proves otherwise.

Speaking after the Liverpool friendly, Daniel Farke confirmed Okafor will be back in training imminently: 'Noah Okafor will join us from next week, back in training.' Okafor was given extended time off following his World Cup involvement and did not travel on the US tour.

FPL: Okafor re-enters the winger rotation but has missed the entire tour, so he is unlikely to start GW1. Monitor rather than buy.

Calvert-Lewin was introduced at half-time for his first pre-season appearance after training alone, and scored in the 71st and 84th minutes as Leeds came from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Soldier Field. Both goals came from long Ethan Ampadu throw-ins, the second headed in after a Bornauw flick-on. Bornauw also came through 56 minutes after replacing the injured Gudmundsson on 34.

FPL: Removes the fitness cloud over Leeds' first-choice striker three weeks before GW1 and flags a genuine set-piece/long-throw goal threat from Ampadu deliveries. Calvert-Lewin is now a live budget forward option.

Gabriel Gudmundsson limped off after 34 minutes of the 4-2 win over Liverpool in Chicago. Speaking to Swedish press on 4 August, he confirmed it is a hamstring problem on the opposite side to his previous injury, said he was 'sad' about the setback, and said scans were pending on the squad's return to England: 'It's a little feeling, so we'll see.' No club timeline has been issued.

FPL: Leeds' first-choice left-back and a £4.5m budget defender is now a real doubt for the GW1 trip to Nottingham Forest on 22 August. Avoid until scan results land; Bogle or Justin may cover the flank.

Alejandro Garnacho made his Aston Villa debut in the 3-1 win in Jakarta, starting in attack. He joined on 23 July on a season-long loan from Chelsea with an obligation to buy reported at around €50m triggered by performance milestones.

FPL: Confirms Garnacho is integrated and starting rather than easing in — relevant for anyone weighing a mid-price Villa attacker, though one friendly start is not yet proof of a nailed role.

Emery fielded his first-choice group for the first half against Indonesia All Stars: Lindelof and Pau Torres in defence, Buendia, McGinn and Barkley in midfield, Guessand and Garnacho ahead of them. He used 22 players in total, with 19 playing exactly 45 minutes, then introduced Mings, Cash and Maatsen after the break.

FPL: First clear read on Villa's post-Rogers attacking shape — Guessand and Garnacho look like the starting wide/forward pair, and Buendia's start plus a 4th-minute goal puts him back in the picture.

Oliver Dovin has not played competitively since rupturing an ACL in March 2025 and had a confirmed setback in February. Named on the teamsheet on 18 July but watched from the stands; Ben Wilson played all 90.

FPL: Dovin at £4.0 is a trap until he proves fitness — Wilson is the interim, Rushworth the intended #1.

Coventry agreed a fee of £22.5m rising toward £30m on 28 July, eclipsing the £17m Amenda record. Rushworth was their loan Player of the Season in 2025/26 with 17 Championship clean sheets. Not yet officially announced by the club.

FPL: Once completed, Rushworth is the intended first-choice keeper. Do not build around any current Coventry keeper until this resolves.

At Yankee Stadium on 30 July, Iraola fielded a young side with Mamardashvili in goal, Chambers and Ndukwe at centre-back and Kerkez at left-back. Dominik Szoboszlai captained the side and was used at centre-back after Gomez's injury; Rio Ngumoha's deflected strike won it, and Iraola singled out Trey Nyoni for praise.

FPL: Szoboszlai being trusted at centre-back in an injury pinch is a mild red flag for his attacking-returns ceiling. Ngumoha and Nyoni are genuine cheap-enabler watch items, but neither is nailed yet.

Speaking after the Wrexham win on 30 July, Iraola confirmed the quartet who stayed in Chicago — Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and new signing Jérémy Jacquet — will feature against Leeds United on 2 August, building minutes gradually. Jacquet has recovered from a shoulder problem.

FPL: First real look at Iraola's likely first-choice spine three weeks before the Newcastle opener. Isak and Wirtz starting together is the key signal for Liverpool's attacking template.

Iraola confirmed at his Chicago press conference on 30 July that Gomez, forced off after eight minutes of the 4-2 win over Sunderland, has a muscle injury: "he will be some weeks off... normally I always put myself as one month". He explicitly ruled him out of the 23 August opener at Newcastle, while stressing the injury is "not massive".

FPL: Avoid Gomez for the opening weeks. It also thins an already stretched centre-back group (Leoni, Jacquet), which raises minutes certainty for Van Dijk and Konaté's replacements.

City describe a short rehabilitation and expect him around the squad near the Community Shield on 16 August, but there is no official return date.

FPL: Avoid for the opening gameweeks until he plays actual minutes.

In the 1 August friendly against Inter in Hong Kong, Foden started as captain in the No.10 role. Maresca: 'I just want to help Phil be the Phil we all want.' World Cup internationals were absent, so the selection is suggestive rather than conclusive.

FPL: Strong early signal in the No.10 battle with Cherki and Marmoush — the 9 August Atletico friendly, with internationals back, is the real test.

De Zerbi is managing his comeback from the season-long knee problem; still flagged as injured with no fixed return.

FPL: A watch-list player, not a GW1 pick.