Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati is in the running to retain the Ballon d'Or Feminin after enjoying another glittering campaign in 2023-24.

Bonmati was crowned the world's best player after helping Spain win the World Cup for the first time in 2023, succeeding team-mate Alexia Putellas, who won the award in 2021 and 2022.

The creative midfielder could follow Putellas in becoming a two-time winner after helping Barcelona win a Liga F and Champions League double in 2023-24 – their third in the last four years.

Bonmati opened the scoring in the Blaugrana's 2-0 Champions League final victory over Lyon in Bilbao, having also netted in a 2-1 aggregate triumph over Chelsea in the last four.

In the league, Barcelona won 29 of their 30 games, drawing the other, with Bonmati's 11 assists only bettered by team-mate Caroline Graham Hansen (19).

Hansen is one of five other Barca players on the 30-player shortlist, alongside Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Salma Paralluelo and Patricia Guijarro.

Four Chelsea players are nominated after the Blues sealed a dramatic Women's Super League title success in Emma Hayes' final season in charge, with former Barca full-back Lucy Bronze joined by Lauren James, Sjoeke Nusken and Mayra Ramirez.

Bronze and James are two of three England internationals to make the cut, with Lauren Hemp also in the running after scoring 11 WSL goals for Manchester City last term.

The winner of the award – as well as the recipient of the men's prize – will be announced at an awards ceremony in Paris on October 28.

Caitlin Foord helped herself to four goals as Arsenal trounced Rangers 6-0 to progress from their first Women's Champions League qualification tie on Wednesday.

Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League proper last season after being beaten on penalties by Paris FC in qualifying, but they navigated the first hurdle of their 2024-25 campaign with ease at Meadow Park.

Playing their first competitive game of the season, Arsenal were just one goal to the good at half-time as Foord nodded in a cross from debutant Mariona Caldentey, but they put their foot down after the break to pull clear.

Foord tapped in a close-range second before Alessia Russo drilled into the bottom corner just a minute later, and the former had her hat-trick with 21 minutes to play, hammering a volley past Lizzie Arnot after pulling off to the far post.

The Gunners were not done there as Kim Little dispatched a late penalty, and there was to be more joy for Foord in stoppage time as she prodded home the rebound following a strong Arnot save.

Jonas Eidevall's team must still navigate a first-round final versus Rosenborg – which will take place on Saturday – and a second-round tie, if they are to make the group stage.

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has missed out on a nomination for this year's award, with Lamine Yamal, Rodri and six England internationals making the 30-man shortlist.

Former Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels has joined Roma on a free transfer, the Serie A giants have confirmed.

Hummels has been without a club since he was surprisingly released by Dortmund in June, having helped them reach the Champions League final last season.

He led all centre-backs in the competition for line-breaking passes, with 133, but was unable to lead them to victory against Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium, where they were beaten 2-0.

Hummels made a total of 508 appearances across two spells with Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles and finishing as a Champions League runner-up on two occasions.

The 2014 World Cup winner was linked with a move to Bologna last month after they sold Riccardo Calafiori to Arsenal, only to fail to agree terms with the Rossoblu.

He has instead joined Danielle De Rossi's Roma, who were in need of defensive reinforcements after allowing Chris Smalling to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha.

Reports suggest he has penned a one-year deal with an option to extend his stay in the Italian capital by a further 12 months, with Roma announcing he will wear the number 15 shirt.

Hummels' debut could come at Genoa on September 15, with his first home outing potentially coming against Udinese one week later.

The Giallorossi failed to secure Champions League qualification last season and will play in the Europa League, with Athletic Bilbao their first opponents on September 26.

Jamaica and Manchester City striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw has once again been included on the 30-player shortlist for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, which is considered the most prestigious individual award in world football.

Awarded by French magazine France Football, the winners in each category will be announced at a ceremony scheduled to take place at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28.

Though she didn’t match her 31 strikes from the 2022/23 campaign, Shaw enjoyed what could be described as her finest Barclay’s Women’s Super League (WSL) season to date last year, breaking individual, club, and league goal records.

The 27-year-old won the WSL Golden Boot with 21 goals in just 18 appearances and also became Manchester City’s record goalscorer when she netted against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in March 2024.

With an impressive turn of pace, remarkable aerial ability, and a clinical finish, Shaw was often the driving force behind City’s attack and was once again named in the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) WSL Team of the Year for 2023/24.

To add to that list, the towering striker, who had her 2023/24 season cut short due to a broken foot, also claimed individual awards in the form of the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Shaw is one of three players from Gareth Taylor’s Manchester City nominated for the prestigious award, with Yui Hasegawa and Lauren Hemp being the others.

The list also includes last year’s winner, Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona.

Full Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist

Barbra Banda - Shanghai RCB/Orlando Pride

Aitana Bonmati - Barcelona

Lucy Bronze - Barcelona/Chelsea

Mariona Caldentey - Barcelona/Arsenal

Tabitha Chawinga - PSG

Grace Geyoro - PSG

Manuela Giugliano – Roma

Patricia Guijarro - Barcelona

Caroline Graham Hansen - Barcelona

Guilia Gwinn - Bayern Munich

Yui Hasegawa – Manchester City

Ada Hegerberg - Lyon

Lauren Hemp – Manchester City

Lindsey Horan - Lyon

Lauren James - Chelsea

Marie-Antoinette Katoto - PSG

Alyssa Naeher - Chicago Red Stars

Sjoeke Nusken - Chelsea

Ewa Pajor - Wolfsburg/Barcelona

Salma Paralluelo - Barcelona

Gabi Portilho - Corinthians

Alex Putellas - Barcelona

Mayra Ramirez - Chelsea

Trinity Rodman - Washington Spirit

Lea Schuller - Bayern Munich

Khadija Shaw– Manchester City

Sophie Smith - Portland Thorns

Mallory Swanson - Chicago Red Stars

Tarciane - Houston Dash

Glodis Viggosdottir - Bayern Munich

Liverpool may struggle to recover when Mohamed Salah finally calls time on his stint on Merseyside, says fellow Reds attacker Luis Diaz.

Salah has entered the final year of his contract with Liverpool, for whom he has scored 214 goals in all competitions since arriving from Roma in 2017.

With Saudi Pro League clubs and Paris Saint-Germain having been linked with the Egyptian, he is yet to agree fresh terms with Liverpool, and his comments after Sunday's 3-0 win at Manchester United cast further doubt on his future.

In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Salah said he was keen to enjoy 2024-25 in case it proves to be his "last year" at Anfield.

Salah said "nobody" at Liverpool has talked to him about a new contract and suggested his future will be dictated by the club.

Diaz, who scored twice from Salah assists at Old Trafford last time out, says Liverpool will suffer whenever the 32-year-old does seek pastures new.

"It would be hard for us," the Colombia winger told Telemundo. "It would be hard for Liverpool. 

"It's going to hurt us a lot. He still has a year to think about it, it's not easy. He always gives his very best. 

"He has done it from the start. It would be very hard to lose a key player like him. It's his decision and we respect that, but I hope he doesn't leave."

Salah joined Diaz on the scoresheet on Sunday, netting his 10th goal in nine appearances at Old Trafford in all competitions.

He is just the second player to score 10 or more goals at a single away venue for Premier League clubs since 1992-93, after Alan Shearer, who scored 10 at Elland Road.

Salah has now either scored (11) or assisted (six) 17 of Liverpool's last 23 Premier League goals against United, recording more goal involvements versus the Red Devils than any other player in the competition's history.

The Barbados Football Association (BFA) has officially named its National Senior Men’s Squad for the upcoming 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League C campaign. The 23-man squad, alongside the management team, is set to travel to St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands this Thursday as they prepare for their opening matches.

Head Coach Kent Hall has expressed optimism about the team's development, building on the groundwork laid during the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers and has chosen to blend experience with fresh talent as he looks to revitalize the squad following a challenging period. 

Notably absent from the squad are Weymouth Wales’ Nadre Butcher and Elijah Downey, along with Tajio James and Akeem Hill. The squad will also be without the services of Thierry Gale, who is still recovering from an ACL injury sustained in February. Hall emphasized the importance of fitness and readiness for the physical demands of international football as key factors behind the selection of the new-look squad.

In goal, Nicoli Brathwaite will take the lead, providing a solid foundation for the team’s defense. In defense, the likes of Andre Applewhaite, who will captain the side, along with Ackeel Applewhaite, Sheran Hoyte, and Shay Prescod, are expected to form a formidable backline. These players will be joined by Khimani Cox and Nathan Walters, offering further defensive strength.

 Midfield duties will be handled by experienced players such as Hadan Holligan and Jireh Malcolm, who will work alongside younger talents like Nathan Sealy and Justin Griffith. Hall’s midfield selection highlights a blend of creativity, dynamism, and control, which will be essential in executing the team’s game plan.

 In attack, the team will look to the pace and precision of players like Ricardio Morris and Ethan Taylor, both of whom have proven their goal-scoring capabilities. Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse and Mario Williams are expected to add further depth to the attacking options, ensuring Barbados can compete at the highest level in their matches against The Bahamas and the US Virgin Islands.

Dani Carvajal has no intention of playing for any European club other than Real Madrid, describing a move to MLS as a possibility at the end of his career.

Carvajal came through the ranks at the Santiago Bernabeu before spending a lone season in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen in 2012-13.

Since returning to Madrid, Carvajal has built a legacy as one of the club's most decorated players, winning LaLiga four times, the Champions League on six occasions and the FIFA Club World Cup five times.

Carvajal scored the opener as Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund in last season's Champions League final, then played a key role as Spain won a record-breaking fourth European crown at Euro 2024. 

Carvajal saw fellow Madrid stalwart Toni Kroos hang up his boots after that tournament and sees his own contract expire next year, but he has no intention of moving or retiring in the near future.

"I have until next summer on my contract. I'm not considering retirement at the moment. I talk about it with my family," he told The Athletic.

"I want to enjoy every game, every training session. As the years go by, you realise you have to give more value to every moment and enjoy it.

"The relationship I have with the club is very transparent, very clear. If both parties agree to continue, I hope to stay here for many years."

Pushed on where his future could lie when he does leave the Spanish capital, Carvajal talked up the prospect of following Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to the United States. 

"It's a possibility. When I decide not to be at Real Madrid, I'm not going to play in Europe, and the alternatives are much reduced," he said of moving stateside. 

Asked if that meant he would have to choose between MLS, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, Carvajal said: "Exactly, it would be one of those three options."

Madrid have taken eight points from their first four games of the season in LaLiga, already sitting four adrift of early pacesetters Barcelona, who have a perfect record.

That is despite Los Blancos finally bringing in long-term target Kylian Mbappe, and some have questioned whether the Frenchman can play in the same side as Brazilian duo Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.

Carvajal is confident they will make it work, though, saying: "It's clear that the three feel comfortable playing on the left, but last year I had a lot of space on the wing and it boosted my attacking play a lot. 

"This year, I don't think there will be any problems. When you don't have the ball, you have to be structured, but when you have the ball, the coach gives us more freedom. The system is up to the coach; he's the one who decides."

Ian Maatsen is disappointed not to have made the cut for the Netherlands' Nations League squad, but is willing to wait it out.

Maatsen, who was initially a surprise omission from the Dutch Euro 2024 squad before he was called up as a late replacement for the injured Frenkie de Jong, was not included by Ronald Koeman in the squad for the fixtures against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Germany.

The left-back, who helped Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final last season before joining Aston Villa from Chelsea, is yet to feature in a senior game for his nation.

Instead, he is a standout name in the Netherlands' Under-21 squad.

And while he is frustrated not to have made the cut for Koeman's selection, the 22-year-old will bide his time. 

"Of course this is a disappointment. I expected to have to report to the [senior] side," he said.

"I could have withdrawn, but that's not who I am. Sometimes you have to accept things and not worry too much. I have to show here that I am the best and can play for the Dutch national team.

"I tried to enjoy myself to the fullest. I was always raring to go. Even if it was just for a minute. I wanted a cap but it hasn’t come yet."

The Dutch Under-21s face North Macedonia Under-21s on Friday.

Lucy Bronze is targetting Champions League success in her first season at Chelsea.

The Blues are entering a new era under new manager Sonia Bompastor, who led Lyon to the Champions League final last season.

Bronze, though, helped Barca beat Bompastor's team in that clash in Bilbao, claiming the trophy for the fifth time in her career.

The full-back won the Champions League three times with Lyon and twice with Barca, and now wants to make it a sixth with the Blues, who fell short of European glory under Emma Hayes.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Bronze said: "Bringing the Champions League back to this country would be a huge success and would make women's football even better."

And with the standards set by Bompastor, who has won the Champions League three times (twice as a player and once as a manager), and her assistant Camille Abily, Bronze sees no reason why Chelsea cannot get over the line.

"The team's good enough and adding Sonia and Cammy's experience as both coaches and players that have won it is a huge thing," Bronze added.

"They aren't afraid to talk about it and make the demands it takes to get to a final so hopefully this is the year we break that brick wall down.

"She [Bompastor] has very high standards, she's very demanding. I'm laughing but my Lyon team-mates used to play with her and nothing was ever good enough.

"Everything needed to be better, which is why she was one of the best players to ever play for France.

"She's still got a little something now, but it's her standards that will hopefully get this team to the highest level."

The 2024-25 Women's Super League will have fans excited at the prospect of new managers right across the league.

Four of the 12 clubs involved will have new bosses in the dugout when the campaign begins in mid-September.

The most hotly anticipated of those newcomers is Sonia Bompastor, who will be following on from the Emma Hayes dynasty and trying to create her own era of success at Chelsea.

In the last decade, Chelsea found the winning formula that brought silverware galore. Hayes won 15 trophies during her 12 years as manager, cementing the club’s complete dominance of the domestic competitions in England. 

That haul included a last-gasp push for the WSL title last season, as the Blues pipped Manchester City to the post.

Opta's supercomputer is backing Chelsea for the title, but Bompastor certainly has big shoes to fill.

The recipe to success

The success that Bompastor must try and replicate will be no mean feat for the new Blues boss. However, she has won one trophy as a player and a manager that Chelsea were never able to under Hayes: the Champions League.

The former France international is also no stranger to pressure and expectations having played in and managed arguably the most successful women's team of all time in the Champions League.

She captained Lyon to victory in 2011 and 2012 and went one better in 2016 to become the first person to win the famous competition as both a player and a manager. 

Bompastor's list of honours is significant as a player. She won eight Division 1 Feminine league titles, six with Lyon and two with Montpellier, she won the Coupe de France four times, and the Champions League twice.

As a manager, she won three league titles and one French Cup in her time as coach of Lyon. She has the mindset of a serial winner and, after Hayes, Chelsea could hope for nothing less in a new boss. 

Bompastor won exactly 100 of her 118 games in charge of Lyon, registering an 84.75% win percentage and losing only eight times.

Her Lyon team scored 381 goals, an average of 3.81 per match, while conceding only 71 in return (0.71 per game). Bompastor's numbers truly speak for themselves and are the reason Chelsea made her the number one candidate to replace Hayes and lead what they hope will be a new era of success. 

A new champion?

The WSL is notoriously a difficult hunting ground for new managers. No manager in the competition's history has ever won the WSL in their first season in charge. There have also only ever been five winners of the competition.

Bompastor's predecessor Hayes won seven, Laura Harvey and Matt Beard have two titles each, while Nick Cushing and Joe Montemurro lifted the trophy once apiece.

It means we have an interesting quirk in the new season, with Liverpool boss Beard being the only active manager to have won the WSL title among all the current bosses.

But Bompastor will still face stiff competition, as her main rivals in Jonas Eidevall, Marc Skinner and Gareth Taylor have all taken Hayes to the wire in recent seasons as the league continues its explosion of expansion, growth and increased competitiveness.

Bompastor came so close to securing a second Champions League medal last time out with her Lyon side ultimately falling just short when they faced a formidable Barcelona team who made their own piece of history by securing a quadruple, becoming the first team to do this since Arsenal in 2007.

Her ability to navigate and win at all costs could bring a new chapter of success for Chelsea. 

Bompastor's Blues...champions breed champions

The new Chelsea boss has been left with solid foundations as she aims to win the WSL at the first time of asking. Bompastor is taking over a team that scored 71 goals in the WSL last term, 10 more than any other team, while only Man City (15) conceded fewer goals than the Blues (18).

Chelsea accumulated 59.87 xG, the most in the league, over four more than next-best Arsenal (55.48).

In fact, Chelsea had the best shot-conversion rate in the WSL last season, despite losing leading scorer and 2023 player of the year Sam Kerr to an ACL injury at their winter training camp in January. 

Before her injury last season, Kerr was averaging 0.61 goals per 90 minutes, from 3.66 shots per 90, with a 16.67% conversion rate.

But Kerr's goals per 90 was actually at its lowest since the 2019-20 season, while her xG per 90 (0.46) was at its lowest during her time at Chelsea altogether.

Getting Kerr fit and firing will be Bombastor's task – the Australian is still a world-class operator on her day, as she showed by hitting double figures in each of the three seasons prior to last season. Kerr has committed her future to the club, signing a new contract till 2026. 

Chelsea had 429 shots in the WSL, the second-highest total after Arsenal (436). They averaged 0.13 xG per shot, a higher total than any team in the division. Lauren James was the joint second-highest scorer in the WSL last season, with 13 goals. The England international greatly outperformed her 6.1 xG, showing high-level finishing and demonstrating clear improvement in that area of her game. 

Mayra Ramirez had a fine Olympics with Colombia, and starred in Chelsea's huge win over Manchester United on the final day of last season. She scored three goals in seven WSL games last term following her record-breaking switch from Spain.

The impact Ramirez could be huge in her first full season with the club. Her speed, strength and deadly finishing could prove too much for defences across the WSL. 

Bompastor has also added more quality to the attack by bringing in Sandy Baltimore on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. The France international is another proven winner, is a creative force and loves to drive at defences. She made 21 successful dribbles and had 24 touches in the opposition box in the Champions League last season. 

Defensively, the Blues were solid last term, with their 18 goals conceded coming from an expected goal against of 20.36, though they faced more shots than both Man City (184) and Arsenal (176). Millie Bright was missing for most of the season, however, and she really could be like a new signing this term.

Bompastor has looked to the market to help Chelsea reach that next level. Lucy Bronze, who has won every domestic trophy there is to win in France, Spain and in England, has joined after leaving Barcelona. Bronze has won the Champions League five times, lifting the trophy in spells with both Lyon and Barca.

Bronze created 28 chances for Barcelona last season from full-back – the second-most of any defender for the European champions, after Ona Batlle. Bronze supplied four assists and her experience in both attack and defence could be one of the missing links for European success.

The best of the rest

But what constitutes success for the new manager? And how big is the expectation from the club and fans alike to see their recent glory days replicated? With Man City and Arsenal both adding significant summer signings to their squads, this may be the hardest and fiercest title race we have ever seen in the WSL. 

City ran the Blues so close, with Hayes' team winning it on goal difference on the final day. Taylor has not left anything to chance, with City signing the all-time leading goalscorer in the WSL Vivianne Miedema, who left Arsenal in the summer. 

It is not just goals Miedema brings - she is also a creative force, having laid on 35 assists in the WSL, which ranks behind only Beth Mead (45) and Katie McCabe (36).

With Golden Boot winner Khadija Shaw, as well as Lauren Hemp, Chloe Kelly and Mary Fowler in their ranks, there seems to be little danger of City losing a title on goal difference again with such a stacked attacking line.

Arsenal stayed in the race for as long as they could but their attack ultimately let them down. While they have let arguably one of the best players of all time leave their ranks, they have brought in some big names themselves in the hope they can challenge their London rivals once more. 

Quality signings have come in at both ends of the pitch. Mariona Caldentey (signed from Barcelona), Daphne van Domselaar (signed from Aston Villa) and Rosa Kafaji (signed from BK Hacken), who is a youngster regularly tipped as the next big superstar of the women's game, have all arrived.

But only time will tell if one of these sides can beat Bompastor's side to glory and success.

We could be about to witness the new era of a new champion, especially if she can clinch that elusive Champions League title that Chelsea have so longed for.

Jack Grealish can expect a frosty reception should he feature for England against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, so says Callum Robinson.

Grealish, who was omitted from England's Euro 2024 squad, has returned to the Three Lions fold under interim manager Lee Carsley.

And with Manchester City team-mate Phil Foden having withdrawn from the squad due to illness, it seems likely Grealish could start on the left for England against Ireland in Saturday's Nations League clash in Dublin.

Grealish, who has Irish grandparents, represented Ireland at underage level before switching allegiance to England in 2015.

And Ireland striker Robinson, who played alongside Grealish at Aston Villa, would not be surprised if jeers from the Irish crowd were directed at the 28-year-old.

"I'd be surprised if he doesn't because I think he gets booed anywhere he goes anyway – even in England," said Robinson, who himself switched allegiance from England to Ireland.

"I think he'll be getting ready for a bit of abuse but that's part of it, it's part of the game. He's old enough and with being a senior player now, that stuff's going to come.

"As I said, he gets it in English games [in the Premier League], I don't think there will be any change on Saturday, I think he will be getting it."

Ireland are set to host England for the first time since a goalless draw in a friendly in June 2015.

In a competitive match, this is the first time England have played in Ireland since a November 1990 Euros qualifier, which finished 1-1.

England won their last meeting with Ireland in November 2020 – the Three Lions have not won consecutive games against them since doing so with wins in 1980 and 1985.

After a challenging spell on the sidelines, England-born Reggae Boyz defender Amari’i Bell is back with the national team and is already setting his sights on greater success.

Bell, a seasoned fullback who has been a key figure for Jamaica, is thrilled to rejoin his teammates and play under new head coach Steve McClaren, with their first assignment being the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League.

The Reggae Boyz are set to host Cuba at the National Stadium on Friday before travelling to face Honduras four days later.

Bell, who missed significant time for both club and country due to a torn hamstring for which he had to do a repair surgery, expressed his excitement about returning to the Jamaican squad.

“It feels amazing to be back; it's been a long time now, but, you know, I'm happy to be here. It’s been tough being away from the pitch, and it was a big injury, one of my first of my career, so mentally it was hard to get back in a good place. But I went through the rough patch, and I'm now feeling good. I'm in good spirits and ready to go,” Bell shared.

“Like I said, it was a long time out and I had my ups and downs through the rehab process, but towards the end of it, I started to see the light a lot more and, yeah, mentally, my head is in a much better place,” he added.

Bell’s return comes at a crucial time for Jamaica, as they aim to build on their third-place finish in the last edition of the Concacaf Nations League.

The team’s performance was commendable, but Bell believes they have the potential to go all the way this time around, particularly with the guidance of McClaren, who brings a wealth of experience to the team.

McClaren, who has managed clubs in England’s Premier League and served as an assistant coach for the England national team, is known for his tactical acumen and ability to get the best out of his players.

“Yeah, for sure, for sure. Finishing third was a strong result, but we know we have the ability to do even better, so the plan is to go one step better this time and win it. That's the plan, and there's no reason why we can't do it. Everybody believes in ourselves and what we can do. So, yeah, we're going to go for it,” Bell said.

With his presence, Bell, who has 17 international caps since making his debut in 2021, adds depth and experience to Jamaica’s defensive line, a critical component as they aim to stifle the opposition in what promises to be a highly competitive tournament.

The 30-year-old’s ability to balance defensive duties with attacking support makes him a vital asset to the team’s ambitions.

“We’ve been building something special with this group. The chemistry is there, and the belief is growing. We know that winning the Nations League is a realistic goal, and we’re all committed to making it happen. We didn't do well in the Copa America as we thought we could have, but it's stepping stones,” Bell, who has two Concacaf Gold Cup and a Copa America appearance, noted.

For Bell, the opportunity to lift the Concacaf Nations League trophy would be a career-defining moment, much like it was when his club Luton Town earned promotion to the English Premier League (EPL).

Though his EPL experience was cut short due to the injury, Bell is eager to relive the experience.

“Yeah, man, that (Premier League experience) was amazing. It is something that everyone aspires to do in their career, and, you know, thankfully I got there. Unfortunately, it was cut short by the injury, so I still feel like I've got unfinished business there, and the aim with Luton is to get back promoted,” Bell declared.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish was left scratching his head by the lack of interest in midfielder Eberechi Eze during the transfer window. 

Eze, who joined Crystal Palace from Queens Park Rangers in 2020, has attracted plenty of interest for his performances with the Eagles over the years.

The 26-year-old got his tally up and running for the new Premier League season on Sunday, netting the equaliser in Palace's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. 

Last season, Eze completed more dribbles (69) and created more chances (54) than anyone else in the Eagles squad, also scoring 11 goals in 27 league appearances. 

But another one of Palace's top performers, Michael Olise, secured a move to Bayern Munich in a £50million switch, with Parish relieved they were able to keep at least one of their prized assets for the start of the current campaign.

"I was really worried from a club point of view of losing Michael and Ebbs in the same window," Parish told Sky Sports News.

"We didn't have in Ebbs the interest that I thought we would have.

"I was astounded. Genuinely astounded. I mean, the guy's just an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person."

Palace did have plenty of interest in defender Marc Guehi and rejected multiple bids from Newcastle, the latest of which reached £65m.

Guehi impressed for England at Euro 2024 in the absence of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, starting every game on their way to the final. 

Parish was expecting Guehi to leave Selhurst Park during the transfer window, but with Joachim Andersen returning to Fulham on a permanent transfer and an injury to new arrival Chadi Riad, forced him to alter his plans.

"I don't think the window worked out exactly the same format that we thought it would," Parish added.

"Maybe we thought at the beginning it'd be more likely that Marc Guehi went and we kept Joachim Andersen.

"We accepted that bid [for Andersen] which then made it very difficult really to sell both of our starting centre-backs in one window."

The Magpies' attempts to sign Guehi rolled on for most of the window, with the Eagles standing firm on their valuation having earned sizeable fees for Olise and Andersen.

Parish was able to welcome eight new faces to Selhurst Park, including the permanent arrival of Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah and the loan transfer for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah on the final day of the window. 

But the Eagles chairman is all too aware that he will not be able to hold on to Guehi, and his other star players, for too long amid the financial powers from the clubs in the division and across Europe.

"We're proud of the fact that Michael Olise's gone to Bayern Munich," said Parish.

"We want to be selling to the top clubs, or to clubs like Newcastle who've got great aspirations and have recently been in the Champions League.

"So we have to manage all of those things. We won't get really great young talent to come to us if they think they're going to be stuck."

"We want to be playing in the Champions League. The reality is we don't right now.

"That's what players want to achieve in their career and we respect that and we respect the fact that sometimes we're going to be a pathway to that."

The much-anticipated fourth edition of the Concacaf Nations League gets underway on Wednesday, when 16 League B teams begin their hunt for promotion to taste League A action in the tournament’s next edition.

Split into four groups, the countries will face each other twice during the FIFA Match Windows in September, October, and November. However, unlike previous editions, matches will now be played at a centralized venue per group to help alleviate some of the travel challenges in the region.

Group winners will be promoted to League A, while fourth-place finishes are relegated to League C. Additionally, the tournament will help to decide berths for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Group A

El Salvador, Montserrat, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Bonaire comprise the first group. El Salvador returns to League B after being relegated in last year’s tournament, while Bonaire makes its debut after earning a promotion from League C.

Montserrat and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will try to build on their 2023/24 Nations League campaign, in which they both finished with nine points.

Group B

Curaçao, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Saint Martin are the teams drawn into Group B.

Saint Martin was promoted to League B, coming off an undefeated run in last year’s Nations League, while Curaçao is back in League B for the first time in three years after being relegated from League A. Grenada is also back after being relegated for the first time in four years.

Meanwhile, Saint Lucia, which tallied 10 points last year, will be hoping to ascend to League A for the first time.

Group C

Haiti, Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Sint Maarten round out Group C.

Aruba returns to League B for the first time since 2019/20 via promotion. Haiti also is back after being relegated.

Sint Maarten and Puerto Rico will rely on top scorers Gerwin Lake and Ricardo Rivera to lead the way.

Group D

The four teams in Group D are the Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica.

Dominica arrives via promotion from League C to rub shoulders with Dominican Republic, and Antigua and Barbuda, who are on the hunt for a first-ever League A promotion, while Bermuda aims to improve after going 2-2-2 in last year’s edition.

At the conclusion of the group stage in November, the four group winners will qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Group Stage, and the two best second-place finishers will advance to the 2025 Gold Cup Prelims.

The Gold Cup Prelims are scheduled for March 2025.

Meanwhile, League C action is also scheduled for Wednesday, with Bahamas and US Virgin Islands to open their Group A accounts. Barbados is the other team in the group.

Anguilla and Turks and Caicos Islands are set to cross swords in Group B, which also includes Belize, while British Virgin Islands will visit Cayman Islands in Group C, which also has St Kitts and Nevis.

At the end of the Group Stage in October, the three group winners and the best second-place finishers will advance to the 2024 Concacaf Nations League Play-In. The Play-In will take place in November 2024.