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Cristiano Ronaldo: Injury rules Portugal captain out of opening World Cup qualifier

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Portugal's first squad since winning Euro 2016 as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

The Real Madrid forward, 31, has not played since being substituted in the Euro 2016 final against France in July.

Portugal face Gibraltar in a friendly on 1 September before their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign stats against Switzerland in Basel five days later.

Eder, who scored the winner in the Euro 2016 final, is in the 24-man squad.

Manager Fernando Santos has also included Southampton defenders Cedric Soares, 24, and 32-year-old Jose Fonte.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Eduardo (Dinamo Zagreb).

Defenders: Joao Cancelo (Valencia), Cedric Soares (Southampton), Pepe (Real Madrid), Bruno Alves (Cagliari), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Luis Neto (Zenit St Petersburg), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Eliseu (Benfica).

Midfielders: William Carvalho (Sporting Lisbon), Danilo (Porto), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Adrien Silva (Sporting), Andre Gomes (Barcelona), Joao Mario (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Rafa Silva (Braga), Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Nani (Valencia), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Eder (Lille), Andre Silva (Porto).

2016/17 UEFA Europa League group stage draw

Group A: Manchester United (ENG), Fenerbahçe (TUR), Feyenoord (NED), Zorya Luhansk (UKR)

Group B: Olympiacos (GRE), APOEL (CYP), Young Boys (SUI), Astana (KAZ)

Group C: Anderlecht (BEL), St-Étienne (FRA), Mainz (GER), Qarabağ (AZE)

Group D: Zenit (RUS), AZ Alkmaar (NED), Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR), Dundalk (IRL)

Group E: Viktoria Plzeň (CZE), Roma (ITA), Austria Wien (AUT), Astra Giurgiu (ROU)

Group F: Athletic Club (ESP), Genk (BEL), Rapid Wien (AUT), Sassuolo (ITA)

Group G: Ajax (NED), Standard Liège (BEL), Celta Vigo (ESP), Panathinaikos (GRE)

Group H: Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Braga (POR), Gent (BEL), Konyaspor (TUR)

Group I: Schalke (GER), Salzburg (AUT), Krasnodar (RUS), Nice (FRA)

Group J: Fiorentina (ITA), PAOK (GRE), Slovan Liberec (CZE), Qäbälä (AZE)

Group K: Internazionale Milano (ITA), Sparta Praha (CZE), Southampton (ENG), Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR)

Group L: Villarreal (ESP), Steaua Bucureşti (ROU), Zürich (SUI), Osmanlıspor (TUR)

Manuel Pellegrini: Ex-Manchester City manager joins Hebei China Fortune

Former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has joined Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune.

City replaced Pellegrini, 62, with Pep Guardiola in June, despite the Chilean winning the Premier League in 2014.

Pellegrini joins fellow high profile coaches Sven-Goran Eriksson and Luis Felipe Scolari in China.

Hebei's squad contains Argentina's Ezequiel Lavezzi, former Arsenal forward Gervinho and ex-Chelsea youngster Gael Kakuta.

Thierry Henry: Former France striker named as an assistant manager of Belgium

Former Arsenal, Barcelona and France striker Thierry Henry has been named as an assistant manager of Belgium.

He joins the coaching team of Roberto Martinez, who replaced Marc Wilmots at the start of August.

"Thierry is an important figure," said former Everton boss Martinez. "He will bring something different. He agreed right away to join us."

Henry, 39, tweeted: "Honoured to be assistant coach, very excited, can't wait."

Henry will work alongside Graeme Jones, who served with Martinez at Swansea, Wigan and Everton.

Martinez also named his first senior squad on Friday, ahead of their friendly against Spain on Thursday 1 September.

The Spaniard took over from Wilmots, who was sacked after Belgium were beaten 3-1 by Wales in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.

Barcelona: Valencia striker Paco Alcacer wanted by La Liga champions

Valencia striker Paco Alcacer celebrates scoring a goal

Barcelona want to sign Valencia and Spain striker Paco Alcacer before Wednesday's transfer deadline, says Barca's technical director.

Alcacer, 22, is considered one of Spain's promising young talents after scoring 30 league goals for Valencia in the last three years.

"It will be Paco Alcacer or nobody," said Robert Fernandez, when asked whether Barca would strengthen again.

Barca signed Ajax keeper Jasper Cillessen for £11.1m on Thursday

Hull City bid for Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall

Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall has been the subject of a £5m approach from Premier League club Hull City, BBC Wales Sport has learned.

Saturday's Championship encounter with Reading could be the Scottish international's farewell ahead of a potential move.

Marshall, 31, has made more than 280 appearances for Cardiff since arriving from Norwich City for free in 2009.

Cardiff have signed Bolton goalkeeper Ben Amos on a season-long loan.

However, they have also sold back-up keeper Simon Moore to Sheffield United.

Marshall, considered one of the best goalkeepers outside the Premier League, was the subject of interest from West Bromwich Albion last summer and has also been linked with Everton.

His Scotland colleague, Allan McGregor, is presently with Hull but required surgery on a back injury that had him sidelined at the end of last season.

Before the Hull's interest emerged, head coach Paul Trollope admitted Cardiff had players who would interest other clubs.

''I think any manager or any coach wants to keep their best players," he said. "But also I think any coach will tell you all players have their value whether they are top of the league or in League Two.

''Players do have their value. Of course you want to keep your best players, but we are also aware of their value.''

The signing of Amos and defender Joe Bennett, who has joined from Aston Villa, means Cardiff have made seven signings this summer.

Lex Immers, Kenneth Zohore, Emyr Huws, Jazz Richards and Frederic Gounongbe have also moved to the Welsh capital.

Meanwhile, midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi's contract with the club has been terminated by mutual agreement.

Simone Zaza: West Ham close to signing Italy forward from Juventus

West Ham could sign forward Simone Zaza from Juventus on Friday, Hammers manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed.

Bilic said personal terms have been agreed with the Italian as well as a deal with Juventus, which is reported to be a club record £24m.

Zaza, 25, joined the Turin club in 2015 and scored eight goals in 24 games.

"The Zaza situation looks very likely to happen and should happen today, and as far as I know the deal is agreed between the clubs," Bilic said.

"The personal terms are also agreed and he is due in London today, so we hope it will be done."

Zaza was part of the Italy squad which reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 but missed a penalty in their shootout defeat against Germany.

Bilic added: "It's very positive and it's a boost. We've been trying for a long time now to get a top-quality striker and he was always mentioned."

The Croat has made clear his desire to sign a new striker this summer following injuries to Andy Carroll and club record signing Andre Ayew.

Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez to have Arsenal medicals

Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi and Spanish striker Lucas Perez will have medicals at Arsenal on Friday.

The Gunners have reached a deal with Valencia for 24-year-old centre-back Mustafi, who is set to sign a five-year contract for a fee in excess of £35m.

They had already agreed to meet a 20m euro (£17.1m) clause to sign Deportivo La Coruna forward Perez, 27, who scored 17 goals in 37 games last season.

The deals would take Arsenal's spending to almost £100m since last season.

They have already added midfielders Granit Xhaka and Kelechi Nwakali, defender Rob Holding and forward Takuma Asano to their squad.

Everton were closing in on Lucas before Arsenal declared their interest.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has said he is not reluctant to spend money in the transfer market after being criticised by fans.

Speaking on Friday, the Frenchman said the club was "working on deals" and he was "99% confident" they would be concluded before the transfer window closes at 23:00 BST on 31 August.

"It was a strange transfer market," said Wenger. "I expected it to be easier than ever but it has been more difficult than ever.

"It looks like it will be frenetic in the last three days. Everyone has sat on money but we know they will all splash out now."

Japanese striker Asano, who joined from Sanfrecce Hiroshima in July, will join Bundesliga side Stuttgart on a season-long loan.

Iker Casillas and Cesc Fabregas left out of Spain squad

Former captain Iker Casillas and Chelsea players Cesc Fabregas and Pedro have been left out of new Spain manager Julen Lopetegui's first squad.

Casillas is Spain's most-capped player with 167, but the 35-year-old has been overlooked for matches against Belgium and Liechtenstein in September.

Chelsea's Diego Costa and Manchester United's Juan Mata are recalled after being left out of the Euro 2016 squad.

Former Porto boss Lopetegui replaced Vicente del Bosque in July.

29-year-old Fabregas has played 110 times for Spain, while Pedro, also 29, has won 60 caps.

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, West Ham counterpart Adrian, Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta and Manchester City pair David Silva and Nolito join Costa and Mata in the squad.

Spain face Belgium in a friendly in Brussels on 1 September before hosting Liechtenstein in Leon four days later in their first World Cup qualifier.

Squad

Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Pepe Reina (Napoli), Adrian (West Ham)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal (both Real Madrid), Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba (both Barcelona), Marc Bartra (Borussia Dortmund), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich).

Midfielders: Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets (both Barcelona), Saul Niguez, Koke (both Atletico Madrid), Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez (both Real Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), David Silva (Manchester City), Juan Mata (Manchester United)

Forwards: Paco Alcacer (Valencia), Nolito (Manchester City), Alvaro Morata (Real Madrid), Vitolo (Sevilla), Diego Costa (Chelsea).

Vito Mannone: Sunderland goalkeeper out for three months with elbow injury

Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone will be out for at least three months and could require an operation after tearing elbow ligaments.

The 28-year-old Italian, who joined the Black Cats from Arsenal in 2013, was injured during a training session.

Manager David Moyes said he would "definitely" look to make a signing as Jordan Pickford, 22, is his only fit senior goalkeeper.

Moyes added the club had made a bid for Sevilla midfielder Vicente Iborra.

The 28-year-old joined Sevilla from Levante in 2013 and is a three-time Europa League winner.

Moyes said Mannone's injury gives Pickford "the chance to show what he can do".

He added: "He has a big future ahead of him."

The England Under-21 international is a product of the Sunderland academy and has played for a host of clubs on loan.

He made his senior debut for the Black Cats in an FA Cup tie at Arsenal last season, before making two Premier League appearances.

West Ham sign midfielder Edimilson Fernandes from FC Sion

West Ham have signed Swiss midfielder Edimilson Fernandes from FC Sion for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £5m.

The 20-year-old, who scored six goals in 65 games for the Swiss club, has agreed a four-year contract.

He is the fourth midfielder to join the Hammers since the end of last season, after Havard Nordtveit, Sofiane Feghouli and Gokhan Tore.

Fernandes is the cousin of former Manchester City midfielder Gelson Fernandes.

Boss Slaven Bilic, speaking after his side's Europa League exit, said: "Fernandes is a good, young midfielder. We've watched him for a year now and we've bought him to be part of the squad this year.

"He has good pace, good skill, good talent and he is a good signing for us at a great age."

Mario Balotelli: Ligue 1 club Nice interested in Liverpool striker

French club Nice have expressed an interest in signing Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli.

The 26-year-old has made 28 appearances, scoring four goals, since being signed by former Red boss Brendan Rogers from AC Milan for £16m in 2014.

He has been told he can find a new club by current manager Jurgen Klopp.

No deal has been agreed between Nice and Liverpool, but Balotelli was not present at Liverpool's Melwood training headquarters on Thursday.

Balotelli, who has also had talks with Swiss club FC Sion, spent time on loan with Italian side AC Milan last season, scoring one goal in Serie A.

Tim Krul: Newcastle goalkeeper joins Ajax after signing a new deal

Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul has joined Ajax on a season-long loan after signing a new one-year deal with the Magpies.

The 28-year-old Netherlands international has extended his contract with the Championship club until 2018.

He has not played since last October when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Krul has joined Ajax after goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen moved to Barcelona to replace Claudio Bravo.

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Uefa's Best Player in Europe award

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named Uefa's Best Player in Europe for the second time after winning the Champions League and Euro 2016 last season.

The Real Madrid forward beat team-mate Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann in the voting.

Ronaldo, 31, scored the winning penalty for Real in the Champions League final against Atletico and captained Portugal to Euro 2016 glory in July.

Lyon and Norway striker Ada Hegerberg won the women's award.

She beat France's Amandine Henry and Germany's Dzsenifer Marozsan, after winning the Women's Champions League and a French league and cup double with Lyon.

Arsenal agree £17m Lucas Perez fee, with £35m Shkodran Mustafi deal close

Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Deportivo La Coruna striker Lucas Perez and are close to reaching an agreement with Valencia for centre-back Shkodran Mustafi.

Spaniard Lucas, 27, scored 17 goals in 37 games last season and Arsenal will meet a 20m euro (£17.1m) buyout clause.

Germany international Mustafi, 24, is set to join for a fee in excess of £35m.

It would take Arsenal's spending to almost £100m since last season.

They have added midfielder Granit Xhaka, defender Rob Holding, forward Takuma Asano and midfielder Kelechi Nwakali to their squad.

Everton were closing in on Lucas before Arsenal declared their interest.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said he is not reluctant to spend money in the transfer market after being criticised by fans.

2016/2017 Champions League Group Stage Draw

Group A: PSG, Arsenal, Basel, Ludogorets Razgrad.

Group B: Benfica, Napoli, Dynamo Kiev, Besiktas.

Group C: Barcelona, Manchester City, Borussia Monchengladbach, Celtic.

Group D: Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, FC Rostov.

Group E: CSKA Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham Hotspur, Monaco.

Group F: Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon, Legia Warsaw.

Group G:Leicester City, Porto, Club Brugge, FC Copenhagen.

Group H: Juventus, Sevilla, Lyon, Dinamo Zagreb.

Coleman frustrated by Ramsey injury

The Dragons boss believes that his charge was played before he was ready by the Gunners manager, and believes he should have had a chance to rest

Chris Coleman has questioned Arsene Wenger and Arsenal over their treatment of Aaron Ramsey, with the Wales manager insisting the injured midfielder returned to action too soon following Euro 2016.

Coleman vented his frustration and astonishment after Ramsey was ruled out of next month's World Cup qualifier against Moldova on September 5 due to a hamstring problem.

Ramsey, who said he expected to miss the start after helping Wales to the semi-finals in France, suffered his strain during Arsenal's 4-3 loss to Liverpool on the opening weekend of the Premier League season

Coleman is baffled as to why the 25-year-old was not given more of a chance to rest following his exertions at the European Championship.

"I think we all expected him to [miss the start of the season], so I don't know what happened between then [when Ramsey suggested he would be rested] and when he ended up on the pitch," Coleman told reporters.

"I think, to a man, if you were looking at that [team-sheet against Liverpool], it was a bit of a surprise he started. I think Aaron said himself that he wasn't expecting to.

"If you look at Rambo's physical stats, they’re higher than anybody on the pitch in terms of his high-intensity sprints and the kilometres he covers.

"But he's still a human being and it's not like we were knocked out in the group stage. It was a long tournament for Aaron, after a long, hard season.

"So I don't know why he was treated differently. For me as a manager, when I'm missing one of my best players, I think anybody would understand my disappointment."

No Barcelona bid for Mariano, insist Sevilla

The Catalan club have yet to firm up their reported interest in the full-back, while Yehven Konoplyanka could depart should a "disproportionate" offer be tabled

Sevilla chairman Jose Castro says Barcelona have not made an offer for defender Mariano but has confirmed that the club will consider selling Yevhen Konoplyanka for the right price.

Barcelona saw Dani Alves leave for Juventus on a free transfer in the summer, prompting suggestions they might seek to recruit another Brazilian right-back from Sevilla in the form of Mariano.

But the 30-year-old, who only moved to La Liga from Bordeaux in July 2015, has not been the subject of a bid from the reigning champions.

"We don't have any offer from Barcelona to sign Mariano," Castro told a news conference.

Castro also says that interested clubs have yet to make a bid for Ukraine international Konoplyanka, but says a suitor has made their interest known in rumoured Sunderland target Vicente Iborra.

"There aren't offers for Konoplyanka," he said.

"Our policy is [to] study all the offers that arrive to our office, we accept some of them and reject others.

"We always sell if we receive an offer out of scale. We sold [Grzegorz] Krychowiak and [Kevin] Gameiro because we received disproportionate offers. We will value an offer for Konoplyanka, if we receive it.

"We have an important offer for Iborra. In this moment it isn't clear if we will accept it and we will wait to see what happen in next days."

Ranieri knows Leicester are wanted men in Champions League

The Foxes have been placed among the top seeds following their incredible Premier League title victory but the Italian is under no illusions as to their status in the draw

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri believes his side are the pot-one team their European counterparts will want to face in this season's Champions League.

Ranieri's men are among the top seeds for their debut season in Europe's leading club competition on the back of their sensational Premier League triumph last season.

That ranks them alongside the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and defending champions Real Madrid, and the former Chelsea and Juventus boss believes most of the teams from pots two, three and four would welcome being drawn to face Leicester at Thursday's draw in Monaco.

"I will go home and watch it alone. I'm very curious to know the names of the teams [Leicester will face]," Ranieri told a news conference ahead of Saturday's home game against Swansea City.

"We are new. All the other teams will want Leicester.

"Eight to 10 points could be good [enough to qualify from the group].

"I had a very good experience in the Champions League. I can give my knowledge to [the players] now it's important they play how they used to play."

Chelsea sign Eduardo from Dinamo Zagreb

The Portugal international, a member of their Euro 2016-winning squad, signs a one-year deal at Stamford Bridge and will cover Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic

Chelsea have completed the signing of goalkeeper Eduardo from Dinamo Zagreb.

Eduardo, who was a member of Portugal's squad as they won Euro 2016 in France, has signed a one-year contract at Stamford Bridge, and is set to provide cover for Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic.

The goalkeeper has won 35 caps for his country, and made a total of 98 appearances for Dinamo.

"Having the opportunity to come to the Premier League and to Chelsea, to such a big club, it is an easy decision to make," he told Chelsea's official website.

"For me this is the best and the most difficult league and it is another level from where I have been until now. So it is a new challenge, at this moment I feel very good, so I am ready for this.

"All the colleagues I have always say the dream is to come to the Premier League, where there are the best clubs and the best players, and the opportunity to come here arrived at this moment.

"I am happy to be here and I hope I meet the expectations people have for me."

Eduardo is Chelsea's third signing of the summer, following the acquisitions of Michy Batshuayi and N'Golo Kante from Marseille and Leicester City respectively.

Claudio Bravo: Manchester City sign £15.4m Chile goalkeeper from Barcelona

Manchester City have signed goalkeeper Claudio Bravo from Barcelona for 18m euros (£15.4m).

The fee for the 33-year-old Chile international could rise with £1.7m of add-ons, say the Spanish club.

Bravo, who has signed a four-year contract, is expected to start ahead of England goalkeeper Joe Hart and Argentine Willy Caballero.

Barca have replaced Bravo with Netherlands international Jasper Cillessen, who joins from Ajax.

Bravo said: "I'm very proud to be joining Manchester City.

"I know the club is building something very special and I hope I can be part of many successes in the coming years."

Bravo joined Barcelona in 2014 and won two La Liga titles and the Fifa Club World Cup.

He was also part of the Champions League-winning squad in 2015, but never played in the competition for Barca.

"It is not easy to leave a club like Barcelona where I had two fantastic years, but the opportunity to work with Pep Guardiola was too good to refuse," he added.

Guardiola, who became City manager in the summer, said: "Claudio is a fantastic goalkeeper and an excellent addition to our squad.

"He has experience and great leadership qualities and is in the prime of his life. He is a goalkeeper I have admired for a number of years and I'm really happy he is now a City player."

Guardiola has signed Bravo as he has major reservations about Hart's ability to play as the kind of 'sweeper-keeper' his preferred system demands.

Hart, 29, was dropped by Guardiola for the first three games of the season but was made captain for their Champions League play-off win against Steaua Bucharest, keeping a clean sheet in his first start of the season.

It was expected Hart would leave the club before the transfer window closes on 31 August, but an immediate transfer is no longer certain.

He does not want to move to Sevilla or Borussia Dortmund, both of whom are reported to be interested in signing him.

Everton seemed a potential destination late last week but manager Ronald Koeman has said he has "no interest" in signing Hart.

England manager Sam Allardyce has said Hart's situation is "a concern" but that he would pick the player in his squad for the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on 4 September.