Palmer, James, Colwill involved in Chelsea training ahead of Villa trip (2024)

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• Slot wants Liverpool job
• Ashworth taking Newcastle to arbitration
• Howe confirms Guimaraes clause expiry
• Hemp signs new Man City deal

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• Liverpool’s ‘Last Dance’ has disintegrated
• Xavi’s Barca U-turn – the dramatic story
• Slot, Amorim, Lopetegui: Who is going where?

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Chelsea have been given a boost after Cole Palmer, Reece James and Levi Colwill took part in team training today.

Palmer was always expected to be back in the squad sooner or later having missed the 5-0 loss to Arsenal on Tuesday night through illness. But the sight of Chelsea's top scorer being back on the pitch so soon raises hopes that he will be fine to face Aston Villa on Saturday.

James and Colwill have been out for four months and nearly eight weeks respectively. James had to have surgery on a long-term hamstring problem, while Colwill suffered a toe problem.

The Athletic reported last week that Colwill was hoping to return for either the Arsenal or Villa fixture. Meanwhile, James revealed on social media recently that he expected to come back soon.

Chelsea still have a chance of qualifying for Europe via a top-seven finish in the Premier League with six games to go. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino will feel their chances of doing so will improve if the trio are available for selection after their return to partial team training.

Yesterday, Erling Haaland was ruled out of Manchester City’s Premier League game at Brighton & Hove Albion.

City boss Pep Guardiola did confirm, though, that Phil Foden and John Stones are fit for today's trip to the Amex Stadium.

Haaland missed City’s last match — Saturday’s 1-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Chelsea — with an injury, while John Stones was taken off at half-time. Sky Sports reported that Foden was not pictured in City’s opening training on Tuesday. Read more below

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is expected to undergo groin surgery which will mean he misses their remaining fixtures this season.

The 23-year-old missed Chelsea’s 6-0 victory over Everton on April 15 but returned to start in their FA Cup semi-final loss against Manchester City five days later, as well as Tuesday’s 5-0 defeat at Arsenal where he was taken off after 67 minutes.

Argentina international Fernandez now faces a battle to be fit in time for this summer's Copa America which begins on June 20. Argentina will play Ecuador on June 9 and Guatemala five days later in the United States as warm-up matches ahead of the tournament.

More analysis below

Brentford forward Ivan Toney took part in and scored in a small-sided game in training on Thursday as he steps up his recovery from a hip injury.

Toney experienced discomfort during the warm-up before Brentford’s 0-0 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on April 3 but played the full 90 minutes. He was named on the bench for their 3-3 draw with Aston Villa three days later and only came on for the final 10 minutes. The 28-year-old was an unused substitute in a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United on April 13 and was dropped from the squad for their 5-1 win against Luton Town last Saturday. Head coach Thomas Frank said Toney would have played at Kenilworth Road “if it was a cup final.”

He has scored four goals in 13 appearances this season since returning from an eight-month suspension for breaching betting rules and is hoping to be named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for this summer’s European Championship in Germany. Brentford face Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday evening and Toney could make a return.

(He is) progressing,” Frank said. “I’ve got to hope he is available for Saturday. There is still one more training (session), so let’s see.

“Ivan just loves to play football. He wants to play and get out there. Every game he is missing he hates that. All footballers have that same feeling and then of course there is a Euros coming up which is important. But he is aware it’s important to be fit to perform so there’s plenty of games.”

Frank also provided an update on full-back Aaron Hickey. The 21-year-old is recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered in November in training, which required surgery, and is not expected to feature in the final four games of the season. Frank added Hickey’s chances of representing Scotland at the Euros are “not fantastic.”

Everton manager Sean Dyche has warned his players against assuming they are safe from relegation after Wednesday night's 2-0 win over Liverpool.

Goals from Jarrard Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were enough to seal Everton's first Merseyside derby win at Goodison Park for 14 years.

The win takes Dyche's side eight points clear of the relegation zone with four games remaining in the season.

Asked whether the win all-but guarantees Everton's safety, Dyche said: “That’s the challenge. It’s why I nipped it in the bud last night. We have to go and do it again. I praised the players and then said ‘right, let’s go and perform again'.

“There certainly shouldn’t be (a feeling of safety). We’ve taken big steps but there’s more to come. We can control the situation ourselves, even with the points deductions, which we’ve always aimed to do."

The Toffees are edging clear of the drop zone despite twice being docked points for separate breaches of the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

Everton's appeal against their most recent two-point deduction will be heard next month and Dyche says he is "proud" of how his players have remained focussed on the quest of survival.

"We’re sticking to the task, whatever comes at us. I’m certainly proud of that because we’ve had some ups and downs ourselves," he said.

"The challenge has been from the outside with the points (deductions). I don’t think that’s helpful and I’m sure most people agree with that."

Everton are next in action against Brentford on Saturday.

Erik ten Hag believes it his “responsibility to build on the legacy” of Manchester United’s youth graduates after Ethan Wheatley’s first-team debut.

Wheatley, 18, became the 250th United academy graduate to make his first-team debut for the club after coming off the bench in Wednesday night’s 4-2 home victory over Sheffield United.

The striker has been a regular in the United Under-21 and Under-18 sides this season and recently scored a hat-trick in the latter’s 9-1 victory over Liverpool Under-18s earlier this month.

Harry Amass, 17, and 18-year-olds Habeeb Ogunneye and Louis Jackson have also been named in United's recent matchday squads after impressing in youth teams.

United have historically had a stream of academy graduates in their first-team squad with their European Cup successes in 1968, 1999 and 2008 all having multiple players formed at the club enjoying success.

Current first-team players Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay, Jonny Evans, Tom Heaton and Omari Forson are among those who progressed through United's youth system.

Xavi says his job at Barcelona is “unfinished” after it was confirmed that he would remain as head coach following the reversal of his initial decision to leave the club.

It was confirmed on Wednesday that the 44-year-old would remain as Barca’s head coach following discussions with sporting director Deco, who later accompanied Xavi in an emergency meeting with Joan Laporta at the club president’s personal residence.

Laporta announced the decision at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

Full story below

Xavi will remain as Barcelona’s head coach after reversing his decision to leave the club this summer.

His change of heart follows discussions with Barcelona sporting director Deco, who later accompanied Xavi in an emergency meeting with Joan Laporta at the club president’s personal residence on Wednesday evening.

The official confirmation of his intention to take charge next season came at a press conference this afternoon.

Xavi said in January after a 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal that he would exit his position at the end of the campaign and repeatedly denied suggestions he could be persuaded to stay on but has now changed his mind.

Here are Pol Ballus and Laia Cervelló Herrero with the inside story of a huge U-turn.

Virgil van Dijk says Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot’s footballing “philosophy” makes him an appropriate candidate to become Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Liverpool.

The Athletic reported on Wednesday that Liverpool have had an opening bid for Slot rejected after making the Dutchman their preferred choice to replace Klopp — who will step down at the end of the season after nine years at the helm.

An opening offer of €9million (£7.7m, $9.6m) was knocked back, with Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football Michael Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes leading the negotiations with Feyenoord CEO Dennis te Kloese.

Van Dijk was asked about reports linking his fellow countryman with the top job after Liverpool's 2-0 defeat to Everton on Wednesday evening.

"I find it hard to answer of course, but I think Arne Slot is perhaps one of the better Dutch coaches at this moment," Van Dijk told European streaming platform, Viaplay.

He added: "I think the way of playing and the philosophy he has, that he could be a Liverpool coach.

"Only I think from what I read and hear is that it's still far from being completed. We shall see."

Dan James is likely to miss Leeds United's Championship finale with Southampton next weekend with injury.

The Wales international, who has 13 goals and seven assists in the league this season, sustained an abdominal muscle and damage to cartilage near his ribs during the win over Middlesbrough on Monday.

He will miss Friday's game with QPR and while Daniel Farke says there is a "bit of hope" he could feature in the final round of the season, given the usual recovery time associated with this type of issue it is more realistic he will be absent.

Farke revealed that the majority of James' team-mates have all come through the rest of the week unscathed with the only concern being over Patrick Bamford who picked up some bruising on his knee.

Leeds are currently second in the table behind leaders Leicester City with two games of the season remaining.

Ipswich Town sit one point behind the automatic promotion places having played one game fewer.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Xavi "has done a good job" at Barcelona.

It was announced on Wednesday that Xavi will remain as Barcelona’s head coach on a contract that runs until the end of June 2025 after reversing his decision to leave the club this summer.

His change of heart came after discussions with Barcelona sporting director Deco, who later joined Xavi in an emergency meeting with Joan Laporta at the club president’s personal residence on Wednesday evening.

Barcelona exited the Champions League quarter-finals to Paris Saint-Germain and are 11 points behind Madrid in La Liga, who are first. Ancelotti, however, praised Xavi for the job he is doing.

He said: "He has done a good job at Barça, he knows the club well, I think it's the right decision."

Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, is out for his side's La Liga clash at Real Sociedad on Friday, while Ferland Mendy will not travel in the hope of being available for Madrid's Champions League semi-final first-leg against Bayern Munich.

Bournemouth have confirmed they will spend pre-season in the United States this summer.

The Premier League club have announced they will head to Los Angeles, California with the playing squad, including USMNT captain Tyler Adams, to be based at the training facilities of MLS team LA Galaxy.

They also toured the U.S. back in 2016.

The two-week trip will see the club play their first two friendlies of pre-season and will also take in a visit to Santa Barbara.

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United delivered another chaotic but ultimately victorious performance, beating the Premier League’s bottom team Sheffield United 4-2 at Old Trafford.

Twice United trailed against Chris Wilder's side with Jayden Bogle and Ben Brereton Diaz both on target for the visitors but Bruno Fernandes helped avert another damaging result.

Here, The Athletic’s Mark Critchley examines the main talking points.

Leeds United’s assistant manager Christopher John has been suspended for one game following misconduct in their Championship match against Blackburn Rovers in April.

John was shown a red card after engaging in a brief confrontation with Blackburn staff members and expressing his displeasure to fourth official Keith Stroud. His frustration appeared to stem from Patrick Bamford being denied a penalty after he fell inside the box.

John has also been fined £2,000 for the incident.

In a statement, the FA said that John "admitted that his behaviour was improper during the 97th minute," and "an independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions following a subsequent hearing".

It means John will sit out of Leeds' Championship clash at Queens Park Rangers on Friday evening.

The transfer window for players will open when the season ends but the movement of managers has no deadline — anyone can switch roles at any point.

Jurgen Klopp’s announcement in January that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of this season after nine years at Anfield kicked off speculation over who would replace him.

Soon after, Xavi said he would be stepping down as Barcelona head coach this summer before Bayern Munich joined the party in February by confirming they would be parting ways with Thomas Tuchel, leaving three of the biggest jobs in European football open for applications. However, Xavi has now reversed his decision and will stay on at Barca.

A disappointing season for Manchester United, meanwhile, has also led to questions over Erik ten Hag’s future and a potential vacancy at Old Trafford.

So who are the managers expected to be on the move in the coming months and who is staying put?

Austria manager Ralf Rangnick has confirmed he has held talks with Bayern Munich over becoming their next head coach.

Bayern are searching for a new head coach with Thomas Tuchel set to depart at the end of the campaign.

Rangnick told Austrian outlet 90minuten that Bayern have approached him over the position, and while he did not appear to rule out a move, the 65-year-old indicated that he’d need to weigh several factors before reaching a decision.

Erik ten Hag is hopeful that Mason Mount will be available for Manchester United's Premier League clash against Burnley this weekend.

Mount missed United's 4-2 win against Sheffield United on Wednesday and Sunday's dramatic FA Cup semi-final victory against Coventry City at Wembley.

The 25-year-old has missed a number of matches this season due to injury, but Ten Hag expects the midfielder to return on Saturday. He also revealed that he doesn't expect any injured defenders to feature, with Willy Kambwala, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans all out.

Ten Hag said to BBC's Match of the Day: "No, not yet (defenders returning). We have to be patient for it.

"For coming back for the game against Burnley, I don't expect (them). Mason Mount, he will return, I think."

Jurgen Klopp's final Merseyside derby as Liverpool manager ended in disappointment as Everton boosted their hopes of survival with 2-0 win at Goodison Park.

Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewis were enough to seal Everton's first home win over Liverpool in the league since 2010.

Here, Andy Jones and Patrick Boyland answer some of the key questions from tonight’s game at Goodison Park.

So an era of unprecedented Premier League changes could be about to move into new territory — from points deductions to spending constrictions.

The asterisks which dot this season’s table in relation to punishments for clubs who have breached the top flight’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) may soon be followed by question marks on balance sheets across the division.

Should a majority of its clubs vote through the proposed hard spending cap for the 2025-26 season, it would not only aid the competitive nature of what is the world’s strongest domestic league, but also enforce a subtle shift in the perceived power base of English football.