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Manchester City gazump Spurs over Iliman Ndiaye and eye Enzo Fernández deal

  • City agree £65m deal with Everton for Senegal winger

  • Richarlison to stay at Spurs, who agree Mudryk loan

Manchester City are poised to bolster their attack by buying Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye for up to £65m and have opened talks with Chelsea over a deal to sign Enzo Fernández.

City’s hijack of Tottenham’s deal for Ndiaye came after their attempts to sign Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo broke down. The Senegal international is poised to undergo a medical after a fee of £60m plus £5m in add-ons was agreed with Everton, who have little time to find a replacement for one of their most important players before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday night.

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© Photograph: Robbie Hoad/Every Second Media/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Robbie Hoad/Every Second Media/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Robbie Hoad/Every Second Media/Shutterstock

Chelsea’s perfect yet unserious start to the Premier League season | Jonathan Wilson

31 August 2026 at 17:40

Xabi Alonso’s side have scored seven and conceded five in two wins so far, a product of the squad’s constant churn

Two Premier League games played for Chelsea under Xabi Alonso: two wins and seven goals scored. It’s the sort of start that would delight many new managers – only two other clubs can boast about a six-point start this Premier League season (albeit with Arsenal to play later on Monday). Points gained in this odd transitional phase, when almost nobody seems quite ready, could prove extremely valuable come the end of the season. And yet, for all the attacking potency, there must also be concerns about Chelsea’s openness and the five goals conceded.

Context must also be considered, and it projects both ways. It’s early in the season. There has been, as ever, a lot of change at Chelsea. They will get better; they will achieve greater coherence. But equally there has to be a sense of realism about the nature of the teams they’ve played. Brighton may have thrashed a shambolic Aston Villa 4-0 last weekend, but they were missing seven frontline players at Stamford Bridge and still put three past Chelsea on Sunday. And while Fulham looked very lively as Chelsea won 3-2 on the opening weekend, they couldn’t muster a shot on target against Sunderland on Sunday.

This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian US. Subscribe for free here.

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© Composite: Guardian Design, Getty Images

© Composite: Guardian Design, Getty Images

© Composite: Guardian Design, Getty Images

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

31 August 2026 at 10:00

Newcastle players look revitalised, Liverpool’s curious transfer strategy and a worrying start for Palace

Amid the concerns at Manchester United, one player unquestioned is Senne Lammens. The goalkeeper produced some important first-half saves against Ipswich to keep his side in the game in difficult circumstances. A relaxed character, the Belgian is a calming influence in an emotional environment, especially with a panicked defence. When Julio Enciso was through on goal, Lammens had to decide when to come and how far, getting his distance and angles perfect to ensure the Paraguay attacker was repelled. His distribution was also excellent, instigating rapid attacks and bringing the dynamism demanded from the modern goalkeeper. Will Unwin

Match report: Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich Town

Reaction: Carrick hails United’s grit after rout of Ipswich

Will Unwin: Rashford return feels like marriage of convenience

Match report: Liverpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest

Reaction: Iraola angered by substitution delay

Match report: Chelsea 4-3 Brighton

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© Composite: Getty/AP/PA

© Composite: Getty/AP/PA

© Composite: Getty/AP/PA

Aston Villa and Chelsea still enemies despite transfer pipeline, insists Emery

31 August 2026 at 04:00
  • Martínez and Jackson latest duo to move between clubs

  • Goretzka and Suzuki could make debuts against Arsenal

Unai Emery has said Aston Villa and Chelsea are enemies rather than friends, insisting the clubs want to “kill” each other despite regularly doing business in recent years.

Emiliano Martínez became the latest player to move between the teams, after Chelsea paid £117m to sign Morgan Rogers from Villa this summer. Nicolas Jackson, who could become Villa’s record signing after joining in a deal worth up to £65m, and Alejandro Garnacho both joined Villa from Chelsea in this window, the latter on a loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy.

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© Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

© Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

© Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

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