Crystal Palace had a busy summer, during which they managed to avoid losing only one player: Eberechi Eze, who joined Arsenal. The likes of Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta are still at Selhurst Park, although that may not be the case in 12 months' time. Guehi is expected to depart next summer when his contract expires, while Wharton has attracted strong interest from the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid. And in the case of Mateta, he could also depart.
The player is in the final year of his contract with the Premier League club, and Tottenham will not want to lose him on a free transfer at the end of the season. He will be able to secure a pre-contract agreement to join foreign clubs in January. Spurs must secure his long-term future quickly if they want to keep him at the club.
Liverpool have had a very strong summer transfer window, with the likes of Florian Wirtz having been signed and Alexander Isak still to come. Their impressive business has included retaining the services of Ibrahima Konate, who continues to attract strong interest from Real Madrid. Liverpool had considered selling Konate this summer amid fears that he could leave for free next July, but there is a determination within Anfield to reach an agreement on a new contract with the defender.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Trent McDuffie, their top cornerback, are not expected to agree to a multiyear contract extension before the team's season starts, sources told ESPN on Sunday. In the past six weeks, the Chiefs have had several conversations in an attempt to negotiate an extension with McDuffie, a two-time All-Pro who will begin his fourth NFL season Friday in São Paulo when Chiefs face the Los Angeles Chargers. McDuffie, 24, is the Chiefs' second-best defender behind pass rusher Chris Jones.
I told the chairman we have to keep Marc if we want to play a successful season," Glasner told BBC Sport. "We have no chance to find the right replacement in one day. We all agreed that we just sell Marc if we have the right replacement in the building. "We wanted a replacement by 1 July. It is 31 August and we have no replacement. We have this agreement so it is clear from me.
New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald said early on in the offseason that re-signing RFA defenseman Luke Hughes was his top priority. As we approach the beginning of September, that deal has still not come to fruition, and the reason why is becoming more clear. NJ.com's Ryan Novozisnsky described that there have been disagreements about the finer details of the new contract. The main point of contention seems to be the contract length.
Following public uproar over the potential end of their 100-year old football rivalry, USC has made an amended offer to Notre Dame that would extend their annual series for multiple years beyond this season, USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen told The Times. Negotiations remain ongoing between the two schools, but Cohen said she is "really hopeful" that USC's new offer, which better accommodates Notre Dame's preference for a long-term deal, would lead to an agreement "very soon."
