LiveScore Daily: Today’s football news in bite-sized chunks
LiveScore Daily is here to deliver all the big talking points from the world of football throughout the day. Keep refreshing this page for the latest stories in bite-sized chunks.
Goodbye Chelsea
N'Golo Kante took to Instagram last night to bid farewell to the Chelsea faithful.
The midfielder, 32, has followed fellow Frenchman Karim Benzema to Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad on a free transfer.
And he said goodbye to everyone involved with the Blues in a heartfelt social media post.
Kante wrote: "Goodbye Chelsea. The time for me has come to open a new chapter in my career.
"But before that, it is so important for me to say thank you to the great and beautiful family of Chelsea.
"Fans, players, managers, medical staff, board members, all those who have been with me during these last seven seasons in this legendary club.
"Only good memories, great victories and memorable titles won by your side. From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much, I will never forget you.
"And of course, last but not least, I thank my family, my friends, who have always been by my side in good and bad times."
Edin off
Edin Dzeko is on the verge of joining Fenerbahce from Inter Milan.
The veteran striker, 37, played his last game for Inter as the Serie A giants lost the Champions League final to Manchester City earlier this month.
And Fenerbahce have confirmed on their official Instagram feed that he is undergoing a medical ahead of sealing his switch to Turkey.
The Super Lig runners-up posted: "World famous footballer Edin Dzeko arrived in Istanbul to undergo medical check-ups and complete transfer negotiations."
New balls please
The new match ball for the 2023-24 EFL campaign has been unveiled.
Designed by PUMA, the Orbita will be used across the Championship, League One, League Two, the Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy.
The new EFL season kicks off on Friday, August 4.
Nothing but the truth
Gareth Bale has given Major League Soccer-bound Lionel Messi an honest insight into what awaits for him at Inter Miami.
Messi, 35, is destined for America when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires.
And Bale, who finished his glittering career with a spell at Los Angeles FC, admits the Argentina superstar is in for a culture shock.
Speaking to BT Sport, he said: "It is a lot more chilled. If you lose at Real Madrid, it is like the world has ended.
"You are crucified. You feel down. You go home and you’re not happy.
"They accept losing a bit more [in America]. There is no consequence. You can't get relegated over there.
"When you lose a game you go on to the next one. They accept losing a lot better over there."
Sit back and enjoy
Barcelona will host the first El Clasico showdown of the 2023-24 LaLiga campaign when Real Madrid travel to the Camp Nou on October 29.
Champions Barca, who finished 10 points ahead of their arch-rivals to win the title last season, are due to head to the Bernabeu on April 21, 2024.
New deal
Aston Villa have agreed a multi-year shirt sponsorship deal with online sportsbook and casino company BK8.
The partnership will see the BK8 logo on the front of Villa's home, away and third jerseys until the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
And the firm have also committed to helping local charities along the way, with a donation made every time the club sell an adult third shirt during 2023-24.
BK8 EMEA managing director Michael Gatt, said: "We are really delighted to be able to announce our support for local charities as part of our exciting new partnership with Aston Villa.
"Being able to give something back to the supporters for their dedication is a hugely significant part of the reason we want to be involved with a prestigious institution, which is what Aston Villa are.
"As a brand working in football for the last few years, we have committed to working closely with our partners' local community initiatives and ensure we continue our commitment to delivering on our ambitions in this area.
"Over the next three years of this deal we will work tirelessly to make an impact in this area with a number of programmes across the region that engage with Villa supporters locally but also on a global scale."