Bale returns to Wales squad after suspension
Bale, 28, missed Wales's last game, a 1-1 draw against Serbia in June, through suspension.
Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen and Aston Villa left-back Neil Taylor were both named in the squad, but are suspended for the game against Austria.
"It's nice to have Gareth back and also Neil Taylor for the Moldova game," Wales manager Chris Coleman told a press conference in Hensol, south Wales.
"Gareth is a natural athlete, but at this stage of the season some players take a bit longer to find their best.
"Is he 100 percent where he could be? We'll see where he is when we get him."
Wales play Austria at Cardiff City Stadium on September 2 before tackling Moldova in Chisinau three days later.
Coleman's side, surprise semi-finalists at Euro 2016, are currently third in Group D, four points behind leaders Serbia and the Republic of Ireland with four matches remaining.
Only the top team in each European qualifying group is guaranteed to qualify for the World Cup, with the eight best runners-up across the nine groups advancing to a play-off round.
Rude awakening for Burton after drawing United away
United will be expected to begin the defence of their trophy with victory over a Burton side who have lost three of their first four games in the Championship.
But Liverpool face a stiff task in travelling to Leicester, one of four all-Premier League ties.
The others see Manchester City visit West Brom, a south coast derby between Bournemouth and Brighton, and Crystal Palace home to Premier League new boys Huddersfield Town.
Town stunned Palace 3-0 at Selhurst Park on the opening day of the season.
United and the other teams in European competition only enter the draw for the League Cup, dubbed the Carabao Cup this season after its new sponsors, at the third-round stage.
The decision to stage the draw in Beijing infuriated fans and media in England.
Organisers said it was to help win new supporters and expand the popularity of the domestic cup in Asia.
But the draw was scheduled for 11:15 am Chinese time -- 4:15 am in Britain -- meaning an before-dawn wake -up call for supporters eager to know who their team were playing in ties beginning the week of September 18.
In the event, the draw began 20 minutes late, dragged on for 40 minutes and was not on television, further riling fans attempting to follow it on Twitter.
Previous draws of the League, or Carabao, Cup were dogged by mishaps.
The English Football League apologised after the first-round draw in Bangkok, which saw Charlton supposedly drawn to play Exeter away and Cheltenham at home.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper said that staging the third-round draw in the Chinese capital was "indicative of the total disrespect shown to football fans".
The League Cup was rebranded the Carabao Cup after a Thai energy drinks maker secured a three-year sponsorship deal with the English Football League in April.
Rooney quality under-valued, says Lineker
Rooney has looked rejuvenated since returning to Everton, the club that nurtured his talent when he was a teenager, after becoming an unhappy-looking peripheral figure at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho.
The 31-year-old has scored in both his league appearances for Everton -- including Monday's against Manchester City when he joined Alan Shearer as the only players to score 200 Premier League goals -- and has garnered support for a recall to the England squad which will be named on Thursday.
Lineker -- who also starred for both Everton and England -- said Rooney should figure among the top 10 in British football's hall of fame.
"He probably is," Lineker said, referring to whether Rooney is under-appreciated.
"He'd be (one of Britain's) top 10 ever -- he's had a marvellous career.
"He's been a great player for English football."
Neymar slams Barca bosses after PSG home debut
The people in charge at the Catalan giants "are not the people who should be there, for the direction of Barca," Neymar told reporters after scoring twice on his home debut as PSG thumped Toulouse 6-2 in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
"I want to speak the truth, I'm very sad with them," said the Brazilian star who cost the Paris club a world record 222 million euros ($261 million) to prise from Barcelona.
"I spent four years there and I was very happy. At the start, I was happy. I spent four beautiful years there and I parted happy. But with them (the club's directors), no.
"For me, they are not the people who should be there, for the direction of Barca," said Neymar.
"Barca deserve much better and the whole world knows it."
Despite securing the massive fee for Neymar, Barcelona are struggling to replace him before the transfer window closes.
West Brom reject Man City's Evans bid
"They made an offer and we've turned it down," Pulis told a press conference ahead of West Brom's trip to Burnley on Saturday.
British press reports said City had tabled an offer of around £18 million ($23.2 million, 19.8 million euros) for Northern Ireland international Evans, who is 29.
"We don't want to sell Jonny and we don't need to sell him," Pulis said. "It would have to be a very, very good offer."
But he added: "I think every player is for sale at the right price. It would be crazy to say a team like West Brom won't sell if a team are going to put a huge amount of money in front of you."
City manager Pep Guardiola is seeking to add cover to his squad in central defence, having already spent over £200 million on new players during the close season.
READ MORE: Germany star Hoewedes loses Schalke captaincy
Coutinho, Dembele 'close' to battered Barca
Pep Segura, Barca's general manager, said negotiations with Liverpool for Brazilian playmaker Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund over a deal for promising French winger Dembele could be finalised within days.
"We have to help the team with reinforcements and they will be here in the coming days," Segura told Catalan TV station Esport3 after Barca lost the second leg of the Super Cup 2-0 at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu.
"We are discussing the conditions of Coutinho and Dembele...they are close.
"We hope they will be Barca players next season."
Barca's season has been thrown into turmoil by Neymar's world record 222 million euro ($261 million) move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.
New Barca coach Ernesto Valverde admitted Neymar's absence has affected the balance of the side.
Meanwhile, the Catalans have struggled to close deals for Coutinho and Dembele with Liverpool and Dortmund holding out for fees in excess of 100 million euros in the knowledge of Barca's desperation to land a replacement before the transfer window shuts on August 31.
No progress on Sanchez talks - Wenger
Wenger's admission will only heighten speculation the 28-year-old Chile international forward will join Premier League rivals Manchester City.
Sanchez, who played under City manager Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, is presently injured with an abdominal strain which will keep him out of Saturday's game against Stoke City and prevented him from playing in the opening 4-3 win over Leicester City.
"He (Sanchez) is a player who goes into the final year of his contract. We have not progressed on that front," said Wenger on Wednesday.
"Let's not be wrong, it's not an ideal situation on the financial side and it demands some sacrifice.
"But first of all it doesn't mean the players who are in the final year of their contract will not extend their contract. You have still that possibility and we work on that as well."
If no contract extension is agreed and Sanchez stays at the Emirates, he could leave for free at the end of the season.
"That is a consequence of what I say, yes, unfortunately," added Wenger.
Germany star Hoewedes loses Schalke captaincy
He had been Schalke's club captain since July 2011, but is regaining fitness following a groin operation in May.
"He was disappointed, but he accepted the decision and he knows that, with the World Cup a year away, he can concentrate now solely on his football," explained Schalke director of sport Christian Heidel.
Hoewedes was Germany's left-back in Brazil three years ago and played every minute of their seven games at the 2014 World Cup.
"Even if I don't agree with the decision, I have to accept it," said Hoewedes, who has made 44 international appearances, on his Facebook page.
"As long as I am a player at FC Schalke, I will do everything I can for the club, the staff, the team and the fans."
Following his demotion, goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann will captain Schalke with midfielder Leon Goretzka as his deputy.
READ MORE: Dortmund maintain Dembele suspension
Dortmund maintain Dembele suspension
"Borussia Dortmund have decided to maintain the player Ousmane Dembele's suspension from team training until further notice," the Bundesliga outfit said in a statement.
Dembele was sanctioned after he failed to show up for practice on Thursday, the same day Dortmund announced they had rejected Barca's opening offer for the France international.
The youngster was fined and initially suspended until Monday, missing Dortmund's 4-0 win over Rielasingen-Arlen on Saturday.
"Our focus is now on a concentrated preparation of the team for the Bundesliga opening match in Wolfsburg this coming weekend," Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc said in a statement.
"Ousmane Dembele of course has the option to train separately from the group."
READ MORE: Wenger: No PSG contact over Arsenal star
'Sorry' Poyet on the brink in China
Shenhua finished fourth in the league last year and invested heavily this season, bringing Carlos Tevez to China on a contract which made him one of the world's best paid players.
But the Argentine striker has flopped, missing more than half of Shenhua's CSL games with injury, and he was again absent as they were well beaten in front of their own fans by mid-table Guizhou Zhicheng on Wednesday.
Defeat left Shenhua 11th in the 16-team CSL and Poyet said "I have reached my limit", as furious home fans called for him to be sacked.
"I'd like to say sorry to everyone, I don't know what to say really," Poyet told reporters afterwards, according to the Shanghai-based Oriental Sports Daily.
"As coach I shoulder responsibility for losing this game. I will not hide and I will face everyone.
"I'm proud of having this job but I'm not pleased that I have reached my limit.
"I don't want to keep talking because it will be bad for me to say too much. I hope you won't ask me and show some respect for me."
Premier League top managers tested by great expectations
Despite being feted as teams on the rise, Tottenham and Liverpool have yet to win a single trophy under their current managers.
Pochettino has been in charge at Tottenham since 2014, while Klopp is in his third season with Liverpool, making the forthcoming campaign a watershed moment for both bosses.
After finishing third in the Premier League in 2015 and second last season, Tottenham suddenly find themselves in danger of being stuck in reverse at a time when they should be putting their foot on the gas.
Building his team around England stars Harry Kane and Dele Alli and, with Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Son Heung-Min all influential in their own right, Pochettino has assembled a group capable of beating any side in the country on their day.
But the 45-year-old Argentine and his players have come up short two years in a row as the pressure of the title race proved too much for them.
Last season, they had Chelsea in their sights in the closing weeks before an FA Cup semi-final loss to the Blues triggered a stumble that saw them finish seven points behind the champions.
Making up a deficit of that order won't be easy this season as Tottenham have the thorny issue of playing their home games at Wembley while White Hart Lane is being redeveloped.
Wembley wasn't a welcoming arena for Tottenham when they played their European fixtures there last season, prompting claims that the high tempo pressing game Pochettino prefers was ill suited to the English national stadium's large pitch.
Adding to Pochettino's discomfort, he has so far gone through the summer transfer window without making a single signing.
While Tottenham's title rivals have shattered records with their lavish spending, Pochettino heads into the new campaign with a weaker squad than last year after selling England right-back Kyle Walker to Manchester City.
READ MORE: Big-spending Guardiola leads chase of Chelsea
Big-spending Guardiola leads chase of Chelsea
Pep Guardiola endured a bruising first season in English football as City failed to challenge for the title, eventually finishing 15 points adrift of Chelsea in third place.
The club reacted with a glut of new signings -- three new full-backs in Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo, plus goalkeeper Ederson and playmaker Bernardo Silva -- and now look a force to be reckoned with.
"I think Manchester City are the team to beat," said Manchester United great Ryan Giggs in a recent Sky Sports column.
"I looked at them towards the end of last season and the forward players they've got is scary."
While City shimmered in attack, they frequently looked vulnerable in defence and resculpting the back four has been Guardiola's main priority.
Brazilian Ederson replaces the error-prone Claudio Bravo in goal, while dynamic pair Walker and Mendy will add thrust on the flanks after becoming the world's two most expensive defenders.
City also have John Stones and Eliaquim Mangala on their books, giving them four of the most expensive defenders ever, but with total spending in the league having exceeded £900 million, Guardiola is unrepentant.
"I would like to pay less for the club, for everybody, but the market is the market," said the City manager.
"All the clubs spend a lot of money -- not just us."
- Mourinho's second season -
Across town at Manchester United, Guardiola's old sparring partner Jose Mourinho is also looking to kick on after ending a difficult debut season with a silver flourish.
United finished outside the top four for the third time in four seasons, but secured a Champions League berth by winning the Europa League and also tasted glory in the League Cup.
Mourinho's teams traditionally peak in his second season and he has strengthened in each department with the acquisitions of Victor Lindelof, Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku.
Mourinho won the league in his second seasons at Porto, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, as well as in both of his stints at Chelsea, but he expects this season's title race to be an almighty scrap.
READ MORE: Neymar arrives in Paris promising glory for PSG
Neymar arrives in Paris promising glory for PSG
Fans swarmed a PSG outlet on the Champs Elysees to buy shirts with Neymar's name and number on the back as the 25-year-old forward headed for the city centre in a motorcade after arriving in a private jet shortly before 11am (0900 GMT) at Le Bourget airport north-east of Paris.
Neymar had flown in from Barcelona a day after completing a 222 million-euro ($264 million) move from the Spanish club and will earn a reported 30 million euros ($35.5 million) annually in a five-year deal.
"I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain," Neymar said late Thursday.
"Since I arrived in Europe, the club has always been one of the most competitive and most ambitious. And the biggest challenge, what most motivated me to join my new teammates is to help the club to conquer the titles that their fans want.
"Paris Saint-Germain's ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings. I played four seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge.
"From today, I will do everything I can to help my new teammates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world."
Neymar will appear at a press conference at the PSG's Parc des Princes stadium at 1:30pm (1130 GMT).
He will then be presented to fans at the same ground at around 3:45pm on Saturday before the season-opening Ligue 1 fixture against promoted Amiens.
More than 1,000 fans showed up at the PSG store when shirts bearing his name went on sale Friday as the club wasted no time in cashing in on Neymar's commercial value.
Football legend Pele congratulated Neymar on his move, telling his successor in the famed Brazilian number 10 shirt: "Good luck for your new challenge".
"Paris is a beautiful city and one of my favourites in the world," three-time World Cup-winner Pele wrote on Twitter.
The transfer is more than double the previous world record set by Manchester United's capture of Paul Pogba from Juventus last year for 105 million euros, leaving many commentators aghast at the rampant inflation in football transfer fees.
Leading coaches such as Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Manchester United's Jose Mourinho lamented that the move could cause even greater inflation in transfer fees and player wages.
READ MORE: Ancelotti says decision on Sanches after pre-season
Neymar in Dubai, but where next?
As speculation mounts of an imminent record-busting transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar's video appeared to be from the first class lounge at Dubai airport.
The 25-year-old forward, who was in Shanghai on Monday fulfilling a sponsor's engagement, also posted a photo with the caption in Portuguese: "Lunch at half-way".
In another video posted from an aeroplane, Neymar jokes around with an image messaging app that superimposed a Spanish flag and a small plane on his tee-shirt -- suggesting he is indeed headed home to Barcelona.
The decor in that video was identifiable as from an Emirates aeroplane.
Earlier reports claimed that he was headed from China to Doha, to meet PSG's Qatari owners and pass a medical before his reported 222-million-euro ($260 million) move from Barca.
But his being on an Emirates plane rules out Doha as a possible destination given the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours.
Other reports had said the Barcelona forward could be headed directly to Paris after deciding to quit the Spanish club.
BeIN Sport, like PSG backed by Qatar, said in a tweet in Arabic on Monday that Neymar had decided to leave the Catalan club, citing a club management source at Barcelona.
However, following his latest social media postings, some Spanish media were reporting that Neymar is headed home to Barcelona and is expected to arrive on a flight from Dubai at 8.55pm (1855 GMT).
While Neymar has studiously remained silent about his future, Barca coach Ernesto Valverde is expecting him back at the club on Wednesday for the resumption of training, although Spanish sports media claim he won't turn up.
READ MORE: Ancelotti says decision on Sanches after pre-season
Midfielder Merino makes Newcastle loan move
The 21-year-old midfielder made nine appearances for German club Dortmund last season and is north-east side Newcastle's fifth signing since they returned to English football's top flight.
"Mikel is a midfielder with talent, an Under-21 international for Spain. He's a good size, has quality on the ball and he's very, very focused and professional," Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez told the club's website.
"Hopefully he's the kind of player we can improve a lot - he certainly has the mentality to get better and better," added the Spaniard, a former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager.
Meanwhile Merino was looking forward to joining Newcastle
"I know it's a great club and a really nice city," he said. "I had different options but I think this is the right place for me to play.
Ancelotti says decision on Sanches after pre-season
It came after the Portuguese midfielder reportedly conceded Tuesday he was unhappy at Bayern and expressed an interest in AC Milan.
The 19-year-old, who has had a poor first season at the German champions, told German media that he was not satisfied as he was not playing enough at Bayern.
Both AC Milan and Manchester United have been rumoured to be chasing him.
Speaking in Singapore where Bayern have been playing a series of pre-season games, Ancelotti said that "Renato is with us.
"We said that after the pre-season together, we can make a decision. Yesterday Renato played very well and I hope he can continue to improve."
Rodriguez not here to replace Mueller
The Colombian last week joined the Bundesliga champions from Real Madrid on a two-year loan that some have interpreted as a threat to Mueller, who is coming off the back of a poor season by his high standards.
Rodriguez too has something to prove after losing his place at Real, and Ancelotti -- who managed him in Spain -- expects the 26-year-old to hit the ground running.
Rodriguez gives the Italian coach a broad range of options in midfield and attack.
But speaking in Shanghai on the eve of a pre-season glamour friendly with Arsenal and with Mueller next to him, Ancelotti told a press conference: "Of course we did not buy James to replace Thomas Mueller.
"It's clear because if we think this, we also think James can replace Thiago (Alcantara) because James can play in offensive midfield, and we think because James can play on the right, that he can replace (Arjen) Robben and (Franck) Ribery.
"James can also play on the left and as a midfielder... we did not buy James to replace anyone. We bought James to have a better team and with James we have a team with better quality.
"But James also knows that if he does not deserve to play, he does not play."
Sheringham joins ISL as coach
Sheringham, who made 51 England appearances between 1993 and 2002, joins another United hero Steve Coppell as a coach in India.
Kolkata believe Sheringham's experience with United, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur will help the team as they seek a third ISL title in four seasons.
"One of the top goal scorers and an exceptional player himself I am hopeful Teddy will bring his fine planning skills to lead the way for ATK," Kolkata owner Sanjiv Goenka, chairman of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, said in a statement.
Sheringham, 51, said he was "excited to be joining ATK and can't wait to get started".
"Sanjiv Goenka has told me about the Indian Super League and it seems like a great place to follow your football dreams and ambitions."
READ MORE: Lukaku pays gushing farewell to Everton
Revenue records tumble in Britain
English topflight clubs generated record revenues of £3.6bn, a 9% increase, in the final year of the league's 2013-16 broadcast cycle, the firm said in its annual review of football finance. Revenus will continue to rise in the 2017/18 season, the review forecast.
Wage costs rose to 12% to £2.3bn and the Premier League showed little sign of austerity, with its 20 clubs recording a third consecutive season of operating profits in excess of £500m in the 2015/16 season.
Dan Jones, partner in Deloitte's Sports Business Group, said top clubs did well out of European competition.
"In the 2015/16 season, the ‘big six’ clubs participated in the group stages of UEFA competitions and benefitted from improved UEFA broadcast rights deals, which resulted in an increase in distributions to participating English clubs of around £100m," he said.
READ MORE: Lukaku pays gushing farewell to Everton
Lukaku pays gushing farewell to Everton
"I want to say a big thank you to all the people involved at Everton," the 24-year-old Belgian international striker said.
"I want to thank the fans for your support throughout the four years we've spent together.
"I can proudly say it was an honour to play in front of you."
Everton's record Premier League goalscorer with 68 posted his comments on Instagram from Los Angeles where he is on holiday with now United team-mate Paul Pogba.
United's pre-season tour is in serendipitous fashion beginning in Los Angeles.
READ MORE: Messi is world’s best paid player: Barcelona president
Rooney bids to revive career with return to Everton
The 31-year-old -- who had become a peripheral figure under Jose Mourinho last season -- signed a two year contract on a free transfer according to the BBC bringing the curtain down on 13 trophy-laden years at Old Trafford.
Rooney -- whose move comes the day after United announced they had agreed terms with Everton over buying their leading scorer Romelu Lukaku -- will hope the switch revives his international career which also stalled last season.
"It is some time since I said that the only Premier League club I would play for other than Manchester United was Everton, so I am delighted that the move has happened," he said in a statement to the Press Association.
"Thirteen years ago I went to United with the intention of winning trophies and I have been fortunate to be a part of one of the most successful periods in the club's history.
"I have come back to Everton because I believe (Everton manager) Ronald Koeman is building a team that can win something and I look forward to playing my part in making that a reality for the club I have supported since a boy," added Rooney, who was five times United's leading scorer and on another occasion shared the honours with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Koeman said in Rooney -- who in his time at United won among other trophies five Premier League titles and a Champions League -- he was buying a player with a surefire winner's mentality.
"Wayne has shown me that ambition that we need and that winning mentality -- he knows how to win titles and I'm really happy he's decided to come home," said Koeman.
"He loves Everton and he was desperate to come back. He is still only 31 and I don't have any doubts about his qualities. It's fantastic he's here."
Messi is world's best paid player: Barcelona president
Barcelona announced Wednesday that Messi had agreed to extend his contract until 2021, in a deal that will keep the five times winner of the Ballon D'Or at the club until he is 34.
No financial terms were disclosed but Bartomeu told the Barcelona sports daily Mundo Deportivo: "He is the best player in the world and he is paid like the best in the world and in the history of football.
"He is the best paid sports player, because no one brings as much to his club as Leo Messi."
Prior to his contract extension, Messi was the third highest paid sportsman in the world with an income of $80, million of which 53 million was in salary and bonuses, according the ranking published by Forbes magazine in June.