Costa no nearer a return
Diego Costa has offered no indication he is willing to make peace with Chelsea despite missing out on a move to Atletico Madrid on the final day of the Spanish transfer window and being included in the Blues’ 25-man Premier League squad. Atletico left Costa in limbo on Friday night after failing to agree a deal for the striker by the Spanish deadline, meaning Chelsea is the only club he can play for before the January transfer window opens. Chelsea still want Costa, who has been on strike in Brazil, to return to the club and train to try to make himself available for selection, but sources close to the player say he has offered no suggestion he is prepared to do that.
Liverpool deny Coutinho claim
Liverpool have rejected Barcelona’s claim that they offered to sell Philippe Coutinho for €200million (£183 million) before the Spanish transfer window closed on Friday. Barcelona director Albert Soler told a news conference yesterday: “Liverpool were asking for 200million [euros] and, logically, we didn’t accept that. We thank the player for the efforts he made and showed he wanted to play for us.” However, Anfield sources have rubbished Soler’s remarks as “absolutely false” and “not true in any way, shape or form”.
Barkley denies taking medical
Everton midfielder Ross Barkley has denied undergoing a medical with Chelsea on transfer deadline day before turning down a move to the Premier League champions. “I simply decided that due to my injury, it would be best to make a decision on my future and assess all my options in January when fully fit,” he said on Twitter.
Mourinho in goal for charity
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho played in goal as survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire joined football greats and celebrities in a charity match for those affected by the blaze. The game was played in front of a sell-out crowd at Queens Park Rangers’ Loftus Road stadium, just a mile from the block in North Kensington. The teams were led by former England strikers Alan Shearer and Ferdinand, whose side won 5-3 on penalties.
Win puts Shrewsbury joint top
Shrewsbury moved level on points with Peterborough at the top of League One after a 2-1 win at Gillingham thanks to Carlton Morris and Alex Rodman. Peterborough, meanwhile, saw their 100 per cent start ended with a frustrating goalless draw at Doncaster.
Holmes fires Exeter to victory
Lee Holmes scored the only goal as Exeter remained top of League Two with a 1-0 success over fellow highfliers Newport. Stevenage moved into second with a late 1-0 victory at struggling Cheltenham.
Evans calm over Albion return
Jonny Evans is anticipating no issues when he returns to West Brom next week after the club rejected approaches from Manchester City, Arsenal and Leicester in the transfer window. “Before I left we’d said, ‘If something happens or it doesn’t we’ll just get on with it’. I just want to get on with what I was doing and see what happens,” he said.
Man City duo sign new deals
England midfielders Jill Scott and Izzy Christiansen have signed new contracts with Manchester City Women, it has been announced.