Folarin Balogun’s deadline-day move looked close to completion before it unravelled into one of the window’s most complicated sequences. Everton had already agreed a $54.1 million (£40 million) deal with Monaco on Monday, and the striker was due to undergo a medical at Finch Farm.

That routine check did not go smoothly. Vague issues emerged, although the draft does not make clear what caused Everton’s concerns. Balogun had not featured in Monaco’s matchday squads in any of their first four games of the new season, and his last competitive outing had come against Belgium in Seattle.

Even so, the situation did not shut the door. Everton returned to Monaco to revisit the fee, while attention shifted elsewhere. The uncertainty around Balogun also prompted a late approach for Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee, who was open to the idea after turning down Fiorentina. United were not prepared to lose him, with only one natural senior centre forward, Benjamin Šeško, available and little time left in the window.

Monaco’s handling of Balogun also affected their negotiations over Lamine Camara. Romain Molina said Thiago Scouro had been “bragging and demanding” more than $80 million for the midfielder until Balogun’s future became unclear. With one major sale needed to balance the books, Monaco eventually accepted $63.7 million (£47.1 million) from Chelsea for Camara, who had been identified as Enzo Fernández’s replacement.

Chelsea, however, were then left frustrated when Monaco reversed course after Balogun’s move appeared to be back on. Everton had already submitted a deal sheet signed by the player, giving them a two-hour grace period beyond the 11 p.m. BST deadline to complete the paperwork. Chelsea had not done the same for Camara, so no similar late rescue was possible.

The sequence did not end there. Balogun later changed his mind, did not report for Monaco training the next morning, and talk of a move to a league with a still-open window began to circulate. The fallout also affected Erik Lira, with Monaco needing Balogun’s departure before the Cruz Azul midfielder could occupy the club’s non-E.U. roster slot.

Haji Wright’s preparations for the new season have been disrupted by a significant injury setback, with the striker now expected to miss several weeks of action. The U.S. men’s national team forward had already been absent from Coventry City’s recent friendly matches against Espanyol and Monaco, and the club has now confirmed the reason for his absence.

Frank Lampard delivered the update on Wednesday and made clear that Wright will not be involved in the opening fixture against Arsenal on Friday. The Coventry manager was blunt about the seriousness of the problem and the impact it has on both player and club.

“Haji Wright won’t be available for the Arsenal game,” the club’s manager Frank Lampard confirmed Wednesday, regarding the team’s season opener against the reigning champions on Friday. “He won’t be available for a little while, he’s got a very serious quad injury which is disappointing for Haji and for us.”

Lampard also indicated that the recovery period could stretch well beyond the immediate weeks ahead, with the forward potentially facing a long spell on the sidelines.

“It’s certainly going to be a number of weeks, could even be up to 12 weeks.”

For Coventry, the timing is far from ideal. Wright’s absence removes an important attacking option just as the new campaign begins, and the club must now wait to see how quickly he can progress through recovery. The phrasing of the update leaves little doubt that this is more than a minor issue, with the possibility of a three-month absence now on the table.

With the opener against Arsenal arriving on Friday, Coventry have already been forced to adjust their plans without him. The latest assessment confirms that Wright’s return will not be immediate, and his fitness remains one of the early uncertainties of the season.

The Premier League is set to extend the momentum of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a new Coast-to-Coast initiative across the United States for the opening round of the 2026/27 season.

The project runs from Friday, Aug. 21 to Monday, Aug. 24 and will feature watch parties for all 20 clubs. Supported by NBC, Peacock and USA, the league says events will take place in 15 U.S. cities, giving supporters the chance to gather around their team and connect with fellow fans.

In a statement, the Premier League said: “We are planning a nationwide celebration of all 20 Clubs, our players and all the exciting Premier League action—by bringing fans together across 15 U.S. cities for activations and watch parties during our opening weekend,”

The schedule covers the full division, with demand expected to be strongest around the traditional ‘Big Six.’ Manchester United’s event will be held in New York, while Liverpool’s will take place in Boston. Arsenal, who open the league season, will have their U.S. gathering in Denver.

Manchester City’s watch party is set for Washington, D.C., while Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will both be represented in Texas, with Dallas hosting Chelsea and Austin hosting Tottenham Hotspur.

Other clubs will also be spread across the country, including Aston Villa in Chicago, Bournemouth in Tampa, Brentford in Atlanta, Brighton & Hove Albion in Kissimmee, Coventry City in Detroit, Crystal Palace in New York, Everton in Houston, Fulham in Atlanta, Hull City in Cincinnati, Leeds United in San Francisco, Newcastle United in Newark, Nottingham Forest in Chicago and Sunderland in Nashville.

Further details are expected later, and fans can register their interest here.