Fabio Capello has ruled out any chance of Manuel Almunia being called up during his time as England manager. Almunia is now eligible to play for England under FIFA's residency rules. While he was not at his most expansive when addressing the subject, Capello made it pretty clear the whole idea of choosing Almunia was a total non-starter. He said: "Almunia, for me, is Spanish. He is Spanish and he plays for the Arsenal team."

 Aston Villa have completed the signing of goalkeeper Andy Marshall on a one-year-deal. The 34-year-old began his career at Norwich City before enjoying spells at Ipswich Town, Millwall and most recently Coventry City. He spent the last three seasons with the Sky Blues before leaving at the end of the 2008-09 campaign. Marshall also has four caps for England Under-21s. He steps into the gap left by Stuart Taylor who has joined Manchester City.

 Birmingham have confirmed an approach from the Carson Yeung-backed Grandtop International Holdings Limited to increase their investment in the club. The Blues released a statement in response to reports of fresh interest from the Hong Kong-based company in acquiring further shares. It read: "The board of Birmingham note the recent press speculation and confirm they have received an approach from Grandtop International Holdings Limited ('Grandtop') - which may or may not lead to an offer for the entire issued share capital of the Company. Grandtop is currently a 29.9 per cent shareholder, having acquired this holding in 2007. As shareholders will be aware, previous approaches did not proceed - and the issue of the funding of any possible offer will be a major factor in determining how the company responds to the approach. A further announcement updating shareholders will be made when appropriate."

 Manager Sam Allardyce is pleased with the progress of summer signing Steven Nzonzi. The 20-year-old is adjusting to life at Ewood Park after arriving from French club Amiens. Allardyce said: "He is a talented player and people will pick out his strength in the air but he has more than that. In time I think we will see him develop into a rounded midfield player. However we do not want to play him yet if we can help it. I would not want to put him in and have him struggle and destroy his confidence."

 Full-back Gretar Steinsson is facing a battle to start the opening day of the season against Sunderland. Steinsson, who has been a regular in the side since arriving in January, lost his place to new signing Sam Ricketts in the friendly against Hibernian. Manager Gary Megson said: "Gretar came to see me on Friday to ask why he wasn't starting. He got the answer that now he has got a little bit of competition in Sam Ricketts, who I thought was terrific. Jlloyd Samuel and Paul Robinson are the same on the left side - we have started to get a little bit more competition all over the show."

 Burnley defender Clark Carlisle cannot wait to test himself against the Barclays Premier League's best players. The Clarets will get their first taste of the top flight against Stoke City on Saturday, and Carlisle is relishing the prospect of proving himself this season. He said: "It's unbelievably exciting and so fantastic to be plying your trade in what's the greatest league in the world. It's the pinnacle of your career to play in the Premier League."

 Chelsea have announced the signing of 188BET as their Official Betting Partner. 188BET, the leading online gaming and entertainment company, and Chelsea will use the partnership to undertake a series of co-marketing initiatives, primarily focused on the Asian market. These will use each company's global appeal to develop their international ambitions. 188BET is regarded as the world's leading in-play betting specialist. The deal, which will run for an initial three year period, will also see 188BET take over the management of Chelsea's online and in-stadium betting operations. The partnership will give Chelsea supporters the opportunity to take advantage of a range of special 188BET promotional activity, which is set to be rolled out during the course of the 2009/10 season. Andy Scott, CEO of 188BET, said "The announcement of our partnership with Chelsea represents a landmark moment for the company. Having already agreed deals with three established Premier League sides the company has now aligned itself with one of the world's most famous clubs."

 Everton manager David Moyes has reiterated he has "no intention" of selling defender Joleon Lescott. The Toffees confirmed on Tuesday that the club have turned down a transfer request from Lescott, amid interest from Manchester City. City have had two offers rejected by their Barclays Premier League rivals, the latest thought to be in the region of £18m. Moyes is determined to keep 26-year-old Lescott at Goodison Park, despite the temptation of making an impressive profit on a player he bought from Wolves for £5m. The Scot said: "We will continue to work with him as we appreciate his many qualities as a player. I have said all along that I have no intention of selling my best players. Joleon is simply not for sale." 

 Fulham have taken Danish defender Magnus Troest on trial. The 22-year-old is no stranger to Premier League football having spent two years with Aston Villa as a trainee. He left Villa in 2005 and returned to his homeland with FC Midtjylland, where he shone. Troest then moved to Parma in 2008 and he again performed well, playing nearly 30 matches and helping the club into Serie A. He was snapped up by Genoa earlier this summer, but he has failed to make an impression and has now been handed the chance to earn a switch to Craven Cottage.

 Hull City manager Phil Brown hopes to add Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo to his squad. While Brown admitted he does not know whether Negredo, who has also attracted interest from the likes of Villarreal, Roma, Stuttgart and Zenit St Petersburg, will come to the Tigers, he is confident a deal can be reached. He said: "As for Negredo, it has been four to six weeks since we first made contact with Real Madrid, but it's hard dealing with a club as big as they are. In terms of European football, they are number one, two or three. One minute you think you are 95 per cent there and the next moment it's 50-50 again. But we are very, very hopeful. In time for Chelsea on Saturday, though? I don't know. Even after the season kicks off, there will be transfer activity, a flurry of it, I imagine, and we will be part and parcel of that." 

 Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists new signing Alberto Aquilani will prove to be a shrewd acquisition. The Italy international has joined the Reds in a £15m switch from Roma, but is currently sidelined with an ankle problem. The 25-year-old has been hampered by injuries for the past two seasons, with his first-team outings severely limited as a result. "If Aquilani was in a normal market he would cost £25-30m but because of the operation he had on his ankle he was a bit cheaper," the Spanish coach said. "We have to wait for a month for him to be fit but he is a player we are signing for five years, not for five matches. He had a bad tackle and an operation and that's normal he missed matches. It would have been the same with (Fernando) Torres or (Steven) Gerrard. That is why I don't think his signing is a gamble. I was talking with a lot of people in Italy and people are saying it is a fantastic signing."

 Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has not given up hope of signing Everton defender Joleon Lescott. City have already had bids of £15m and £18m turned down for the unsettled England international. Everton manager David Moyes has also taken a hard line with the player by rejecting a written transfer request in his determination to keep the 26-year-old. Hughes said: "We have made offers and shown interest, obviously that is seen by virtue of the bids we have put in. But they have been rejected and Everton are fully in their rights to do that, we respect that. We are still trying to speak to the people who will ultimately make the decision over whether or not the deal continues. Those conversations are still to take place but how long they will still be active is open to debate."

 Sir Alex Ferguson feels Manchester United are ready to meet the challenge of winning a history-making fourth consecutive league title. While United have twice won three on the trot, following the achievements of Liverpool and, before the Second World War, Huddersfield and Arsenal, no side has ever managed a fourth. "We would like to do it," said Ferguson. "It would be a great achievement obviously, because we all know what a difficult league it is. Under the circumstances, it was a great achievement to win it last year. But we don't have to go for the Club World Cup this time and we don't have to play catch-up in terms of games." 

 Coventry City have completed the signing of Martin Cranie from Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee. The defender, who was part of the England Under-21 side that reached the European Championship final this summer, completed a medical at the Ricoh Arena on Tuesday after it was announced a deal had been struck between the two sides. Cranie has penned a three-year deal with the Sky Blues and will provide much-needed cover due to his ability to play either centre-half or at right-back.

 James Beattie will take over the Stoke number nine shirt for the upcoming Barclays Premier League campaign. The former Southampton and Everton striker has worn number 20 since arriving at the Britannia Stadium from Sheffield United in January. The 31-year-old takes over from Richard Cresswell, who moves to 16, reflecting his influential role in the Potters' impressive battle to safety last term. Seyi Olofinjana's number four shirt has been left vacant following the Nigeria midfielder's move to Hull City, while summer signing Dean Whitehead will wear the 18 jersey.

 Paulo Da Silva is finally on his way to England after red tape held up his move to Sunderland. The Wearsiders announced the capture of the Paraguay international from Mexican side Toluca last month but had to wait for the 28-year-old to be granted a visa. The paperwork has now been completed and the central defender will arrive in the country ahead of Sunderland's Barclays Premier League opener at Bolton on Saturday. Assistant manager Eric Black said: "Paulo's work permit is sorted, his visa, his flights - you name it. He's en route as we speak and it will be great to have him here. We will have to see where he is physically as we've not seen him for six weeks, but it's more competition for places." 

 Fabio Capello has backed Jermain Defoe as one of England's best forwards. Defoe came off the bench in Amsterdam to transform the friendly with Holland. In scoring twice to seal a 2-2 away draw with a side that has already booked its place at South Africa 2010, Defoe took his recent tally to four goals in two matches and nine altogether under Capello. And the Italian is clearly impressed by Defoe's overall contribution. "Jermain is one of the best English forwards," said Capello. "He can shoot with the left and right foot. He is very fast and his movement without the ball is fantastic. He always goes towards the goal and technically, he is excellent." 

 Manager Gianfranco Zola is still hoping to add two new strikers to his squad in the coming weeks. The Hammers are short on attacking options heading into the new season and Zola is keen to address that issue as soon as possible. Zola, though, is refusing to give up the chase and is optimistic regarding his chances of brining in further firepower before the transfer window slams shut. "We're looking for at least two strikers, that's the idea," said the Italian. "It is not an easy market, but I think West Ham right now is an attractive team and I'm sure I will find the right person."

 Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed he is close to signing Rayo Vallecano duo Antonio Amaya and Mohamed Diame. The Latics have been in talks with Segunda Division side Rayo and a fee for the pair has now been agreed. Wigan are now holding discussions over personal terms with the players, with three-year contracts said to be on the table. He said: "We are quite close to agreeing everything, and the main thing now is thrashing out the personal terms. Hopefully that will be done quite soon and they will be excellent signings for the future. I've followed their progress and development for a long time, and they will bring something different to our squad.

 Mick McCarthy will decide before the club's opening match of the season whether to sign Bobo Balde. The defender has been training with Wolves during pre-season after being released by Celtic at the end of the last campaign. A move to Birmingham City failed to materialise and Balde has been looking to prove his fitness with their fellow Barclays Premier League new-boys Wolves. He has featured in the club's pre-season friendlies and McCarthy has been in no rush to make a decision on a contract for the 33-year-old. However, with Wolves due to face West Ham in their opening match of the season on Saturday, McCarthy is now ready to decide on Balde's future. "By his own admission, Bobo was behind the rest of the players in terms of fitness when he arrived," said McCarthy. "He will train with us again this week and then we will decide."