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• Grealish motivated by Euro 2024 heartbreak

  Jack Grealish said his omission from England's Euro 2024 squad was "the most difficult thing I've ever had to deal with".

  Grealish was left out by Gareth Southgate, despite having been a regular in England's set-up since 2021.

  The playmaker, who joined City from Aston Villa for £100million after helping England reach the final of Euro 2020, endured a stop-start campaign for Pep Guardiola's team in 2023-24.

  Grealish scored three goals and set up a further three in 36 appearances in all competitions for City last season, but injuries and a loss of form meant he often had to settle for a cameo role. 

  But after missing out on Euro 2024, the 28-year-old has additional motivation to get back to his best.

  "I'll be honest it was probably, football-wise, the most difficult thing I've ever had to deal with in my career," Grealish said ahead of City's pre-season clash with Barcelona.

  "I was absolutely heartbroken and then obviously when you're on your holidays, wherever I was, every time you turn on the phone or turn on the TV or whatever, you just see it. So it was hard to not to see it.

  "For myself now, moving forward, I have to just try to use that as motivation going into this season and try to have the same mentality as I had two years ago.

  "In my first season at City I don't think I performed as well as I could and in the second season I played in a lot of the games and that was down to the first season. I had wanted to come back stronger and I certainly did that, so hopefully I can do that again.

  "This is my chance to get my fitness, to have a two-week head start and try to be as fit as possible. And I'm playing with confidence. I feel like that's what I need and fingers crossed I can do that."

  In Guardiola, however, Grealish feels he has the ideal mentor.

  He added: "I always speak to him. I won't go into too much detail about what we speak about because that's between me and him.

  "He's been so good for me in the three years I've been here - there’s not too many people better to take advice from. Pep is a master in this game."

• Veiga calls for patience during Maresca's Chelsea 'process'

  New Chelsea signing Renato Veiga has urged fans to trust the process under Enzo Maresca after their heavy pre-season friendly defeat to Celtic on Saturday.

  The Blues were thrashed 4-1 by the Scottish champions in Indiana, which followed a 2-2 draw with League One side Wrexham in their first match under the Italian.

  Chelsea had 10 shots on target in their defeat to Celtic and struck the woodwork twice, but their only goal came from the penalty spot as Christopher Nkunku converted.

  They have also struggled in defence, getting caught playing out from the back three times in those games, leaving Maresca with problems to solve ahead of their Premier League opener against Manchester City.

  However, Veiga, who played his first minutes in a Chelsea shirt on Saturday, remains optimistic the club will soon see the results of Maresca's tactics.

  "Of course, it's about results and in every football game you want to win," he said. "Chelsea especially has to win every game. But we are in pre-season. The most important thing is the process, the connection between each other.

  "When the time comes [to play Manchester City] on August 18, that is when it counts and when we have to win for sure.

  "He [Maresca] is a very direct manager, very direct in what he wants. You just have to enjoy and learn the maximum that you can in every training session, to give everything you can in every session — that is very important for him as well, and after, you can replicate it on the pitch."

  Veiga signed from FC Basel for a reported fee of €14million earlier this month, penning a seven-year contract with the West London club.

  The versatile 20-year-old is yet to be told if he will definitely be part of Maresca's plans for the upcoming season, but he is relishing the chance to represent Chelsea.

  "How can you say no to Chelsea?" he added. "For me, they are the biggest club in England.

  "They have a very ambitious project, not only for the present but the future as well. Right now, the most important thing is the present and I am very happy to be here.

  "I am a very versatile player. I just can't wait to get more opportunities to play for this club.

  "I was watching them [Chelsea] at home [when I was young], buzzing about Didier Drogba's goals and N'Golo Kante's tackles. I just want to be able to live those moments as well."

• Lindstrom joins Everton on loan from Napoli

  Everton have completed the loan signing of Jesper Lindstrom from Napoli, the club confirmed on Friday. 

  Lindstrom will join the Toffees for the 2024-25 season with the deal including an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.

  The 24-year-old becomes the fourth addition at Goodison Park following the arrivals of Tim Iroegbunam, Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Harrison. 

  Lindstrom arrives after a difficult season with Napoli, playing just 416 minutes in 22 league appearances for the Serie A side. 

  The Denmark international arrived in Naples from Eintracht Frankfurt where he scored 14 goals in 80 appearances, helping the German side lift the Europa League in the 2021-22 season. 

  “I feel very good. It’s amazing to represent Everton," Lindstrom said in his first interview with the club. 

  "This is a big club, with big history, a good stadium and, as I’ve seen, very good facilities as well. I’m very, very happy to be here and I feel like this is a good fit.

  “I actually heard of Everton’s interest a while ago – not only from now but previously. England is very similar to Denmark so I will feel at home quickly.

  “I’ve spoken to the manager. It sounds as though he likes the way I play football and I can be a good fit for the team with my speed, so now I want to deliver."

  The search for another attacking option out wide had been the priority at Everton, having seen Arnaut Danjuma return to Villarreal following the completion of his loan deal, and the sale of Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa.

  Everton managed 40 goals last season, the second worst in the Premier League ahead of Sheffield United (35), and Dyche believes Lindstrom has a lot to offer in the final third. 

  "Jesper is a player with very good ability who can operate in a number of different attacking roles, which will benefit us heading into the new season," said Dyche. 

  "He joins us with a range of different experiences. He is hungry and eager to succeed with us, and that's a strong starting point as we look to add more productivity to our attack."