Millwall, Portsmouth, Watford, Huddersfield Town, Oxford United, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday are all trying to sign former Peterborough United midfielder Archie Collins, 26, for free after his contract with the Posh expired this summer. (Yorkshire Post), external
For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.
Image source, Getty ImagesDavid Moller Wolfe (left) and Zeki Amdouni have helped their countries reach the World Cup quarter-finals
We started with 49 EFL players at the World Cup but only four have survived to reach the quarter-finals with their respective teams.
England could face three of them with Watford goalkeeper Egil Selvik and defenders David Moller Wolfe (Wolves) and Sondre Langas (Derby County) part of the Norway squad which has broken new ground by reaching the last eight.
Selvik, 28, has played one game at the tournament so far, a 4-1 defeat by France in their final group game, while Moller Wolfe, 24, has started four of their five matches.
Langas, 25, like Selvik has had just the one outing, also against France.
Norway meet England in Miami on Saturday, 11 July (KO 22:00 BST).
Burnley forward Zeki Amdouni appeared as an extra-time substitute for Switzerland in their last 16 win over Colombia on Tuesday night, going through 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw.
That was the 25-year-old's third appearance of the tournament, all of which have been from the bench and he will hope to feature in their quarter-final tie against Argentina in Kansas City on Sunday, 12 July (02:00 BST).
Image source, Getty ImagesWatford owner Gino Pozzo has made 24 managerial appointments in 14 years
We asked for your thoughts on another summer of change at Watford, with new head coach Alessio Dionisi coming in, a shake-up to the recruitment approach and key players rumoured to be following Giorgi Chakvetadze through the exit door.
Here are a selection of your responses on what you make of the upheaval at Vicarage Road and your expectations for the 2026-27 Championship campaign.
Chris: Relegation incoming. Another season of panic loans (from Udinese) and manager changes. Nothing will change until Pozzo and Duxbury leave.
Matt: It doesn't matter how many changes are made. The only change needs to be the ownership. They did so much good initially but for the last six years they have driven us into the ground.
Richard: After over 35 years as a season ticket holder, I have not renewed this year. I'm fed up of the managerial merry-go-round.
Andrew: Feels like the last few years of poor recruitment both on and off the field is going to finally catch up with us. With us being just over a month from the start of the season and being extremely short in key positions, I am predicting that we might get pulled into the relegation scrap or at best mid-table.
Divs: The disappointment of appointing another mediocre manager may yet be replaced with enthusiasm should we get some decent players in. If we aren't able to attract anyone, we should be looking at who we will be playing in League One next season.
Sid: Another worrying summer. An unknown manager with no Championship experience who'll be gone by mid-October. Our best players understandably looking elsewhere for the opportunities we can no longer provide. I feel so sad to see the Pozzo Project go from unimaginable success to utter neglect.
Richard M: Another season of the same with strikingly similar questions...as always. Will the manager make it through the season? Unlikely. Exodus of quality players and reliance of youth? Highly probable. Mid-lower table/relegation fodder? Absolutely.
Daniel: The board say the same thing every year, new manager who wants to play attacking football who we are going to back with signings and try and get them into the Premier League. Reality is that it isn't happening and after failing miserably last season, I hope that this season, the board can make the right decision in terms of recruitment and in how the club is run as a whole.
Terry: There's constant turmoil at the club, change of policy goes hand in hand with change in manager, coaches and staff. Until both go together without interference from above, nothing will change.
Paul: Scott Duxbury should be the main change at Watford. He is responsible for identifying managers and the constant change is down to his poor skillset. It wasn't long ago he was saying the club needed a manager with EFL experience, who had gained promotions and would bring a new dynamic to the club. Instead he brings in a manager with no EFL experience and who won promotion in Italy once.
Where to start in a summer of upheaval at Watford Football Club?
Alessio Dionisi has replaced Ed Still as head coach - becoming the 24th boss since the Pozzo family took control in 2012 - and the Italian has brought new backroom staff in with him.
The under-21 team is no more and changes are being made to the recruitment staff and strategy at Vicarage Road.
Attacker Giorgi Chakvetadze has left for sister club Udinese and rumours are swirling about the future of key players Nestory Irankunda, Imran Louza and Othmane Maamma.
With all these changes in mind Hornets fans, what are you making of another turbulent summer?
What are your expectations for the 2026-27 campaign?
Let us know your thoughts here and check back later to see a selection of your responses.
Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor
Image source, Getty ImagesAlessio Dionisi was appointed Watford head coach in June
It has been a summer of change at Watford, and not just in the coaching department.
Head coach Ed Still was the first to go almost immediately last season had ended - Alessio Dionisi replaced him and brought in new coaching staff.
That has led to departures and the decision to scrap the under-21 team, which affects the Hornets academy category status, and has also seen coaches Charlie Daniels and Alberto Garrido leave the club.
But interestingly, there have also been changes from a recruitment perspective.
Luke Dowling has returned as sporting director, having left Watford eight years ago. He has worked at different clubs since but is back at their London Colney training ground, tasked with identifying talent in the Football League rather than abroad.
The search for young overseas stars will continue but the club have realised that more EFL experience is required. This is a real shift in recruitment policy and one Watford have been crying out for.
Signings have yet to be made and with loan players returning to their parent clubs, the Hornets are short on numbers, particularly in defence and midfield. The team could look very different for that first game in August.
Attacker Giorgi Chakvetadze has already signed for sister club Udinese which will help balance the books.
Last season did not quite work out for the Georgian talent. Injuries hampered him and when he did play he could not find the rhythm he needed to really impact games. But he is still a top player and should have a big career.
There also continues to be speculation on the future of a number of their other talented players including Nestory Irankunda, Imran Louza and Othmane Maamma, although the sale of Chakvetadze means only one more may need to leave.
Watford still have Kwadwo Baah and Rocco Vata in their ranks. Like Chakvetadze they struggled last season because of injury and form. Watford are really going to need these two livewires to fire next season.
With Dowling in, Valon Behrami has left. He was working closely with technical director Gianluca Nani last season.
Nani remains but it will be interesting to see how the recruitment pans out this summer and just how much of a say Dowling has.
Image source, Getty ImagesInto the round of 16 we go at the World Cup and we still have some English Football League stars searching for international glory.
Here is where you can catch your players as we enter the next knock-out stage:
Saturday, 4 July
Alfie Jones, Middlesbrough - Canada v Morocco (18:00 BST)
Ali Ahmed, Norwich City - Canada v Morocco (18:00 BST)
Cyle Larin, Southampton - Canada v Morocco (18:00 BST)
Sunday, 5 July
Sondre Langas, Derby County - Brazil v Norway (21:00 BST)
Egil Selvik, Watford - Brazil v Norway (21:00 BST)
David Moller Wolfe, Wolves - Brazil v Norway (21:00 BST)
Monday, 6 July
Raul Jimenez, Wolves - Mexico v England (01:00 BST)
Jose Sa, Wolves - Portugal v Spain (20:00 BST)
Tuesday, 7 July
Zeki Amdouni, Burnley - Switzerland v Colombia (21:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesThe TV schedule for the opening two months of the English Football League's 2026-27 season have been announced and with that, there are a few games getting a headline slot.
Here are the new dates to jot into your calendars across the EFL in August and September:
Thursday, 20 August - Sheffield Wednesday v Bradford City (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 23 August - West Bromwich Albion v Burnley (12:00 BST)
Friday, 28 August - Wrexham v Birmingham City (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 6 September - Birmingham City v Wolves (12:00 BST)
Monday, 7 September - Bromley v AFC Wimbledon (20:00 BST)
Thursday, 10 September - Stevenage v Luton Town (20:00 BST)
Friday, 11 September - West Ham United v Wrexham (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 13 September - Sheffield United v Wolves (12:00 BST)
Thursday, 17 September - AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons (20:00 BST)
Friday, 18 September - Bristol City v Watford (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 20 September - Wolves v West Bromwich Albion (12:00 BST)
The above matches are the single-game choices whose dates have been moved for TV coverage - there are also a number of Saturday lunchtime, evening and multi-game midweek matches also being televised. The full list is available here., external
The BBC Sport website will have live text commentaries of all the above fixtures and you can also tune in to games via your local BBC Radio station.
Image source, Getty ImagesFour English Football League stars have exited the World Cup after DR Congo and Senegal suffered defeats in the last 32 on Wednesday.
West Ham right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe were both in the starting line-up for DR Congo's 2-1 loss to England, the African side having led through a seventh-minute goal from Brian Cipenga.
Watford's Edo Kayembe came on as a DR Congo substitute in the 76th minute before Harry Kane netted a second goal to send the Three Lions through.
Meanwhile, Hammers left-back El-Hadji Malick Diouf featured for Senegal as an extra-time substitute in their game against Belgium but a controversial late penalty from Youri Tielemans knocked the Lions of Teranga out of the competition.
Image source, Getty ImagesWolves striker Raul Jimenez scored during Mexico's victory over Ecuador on Wednesday to set up a potential last-16 tie with England at the World Cup.
The 35-year-old doubled the host nation's lead by finding the top corner during the 2-0 win and Maxico will now face either the Three Lions or DR Congo on Monday at 01:00 BST for a place in the quarter-finals.
Wanderers team-mate David Moller Wolfe also secured a place in the last 16 after starting the match for Norway in their 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.
The defender will be joined by Egil Selvik of Watford and Derby County's Sondre Langas as the Norwegians head to New Jersey to play Brazil on Sunday at 21:00 BST.
However, there are some English Football League players who will not be continuing to feature in the tournament after yesterday's results.
Rams stopper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom was between the sticks for Sweden's knockout match against France on Tuesday but they succumbed to a 3-0 loss.
Stoke City keeper Viktor Johansson and Burnley defender Hjalmar Ekdal also return home following Sweden's loss without any tournament minutes under their belt.
Plymouth Argyle are in advanced talks to sign Watford goalkeeper Nathan Baxter. The 27-year-old Londoner has only made eight appearances for the Hornets since joining last summer. (Watford Observer), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday gossip column here.
Image source, Getty ImagesUdinese forward Luca Kjerrumgaard has entered talks to remain at Watford following a successful loan spell last season.
The Dane joined the Hornets on a season-long loan in August, scoring 10 goals across his 43 Championship appearances.
Fellow Udinese loanees Saba Goglichidze and James Abankwah will return to their parent club.
The Serie A side is owned by Italian businessman Giampaolo Pozzo, father of Watford owner Gino Pozzo.
Image source, Getty ImagesSouthampton striker Cyle Larin has scored two goals for Canada so far at the 2026 World Cup
We have reached the knock-out rounds of the World Cup but there are still plenty of players from the English Football League representing their country.
Here is where you can watch them in the round of 32:
Sunday, 28 June
Lyle Foster, Burnley - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)
Alfie Jones, Middlesbrough - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)
Ali Ahmed, Norwich City - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)
Cyle Larin, Southampton - South Africa v Canada (20:00 BST)
Tuesday, 30 June
Crysencio Summerville, West Ham - Netherlands v Morocco (02:00 BST)
Sondre Langas, Derby County - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)
Egil Selvik, Watford - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)
David Moller Wolfe, Wolves - Ivory Coast v Norway (18:00 BST)
Hjalmar Ekdal, Burnley - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)
Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Derby County - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)
Viktor Johansson, Stoke City - France v Sweden (22:00 BST)
Wednesday, 1 July
Edson Alvarez, West Ham - Mexico v Ecuador (02:00 BST)
Raul Jimenez, Wolves - Mexico v Ecuador (02:00 BST)
Axel Tuanzebe, Burnley - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)
Edo Kayembe, Watford - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, West Ham - England v DR Congo (17:00 BST)
El-Hadji Malick Diouf, West Ham - Belgium v Senegal (21:00 BST)
Friday, 3 July
Jose Sa, Wolves - Portugal v Croatia (00:00 BST)
Zeki Amdouni, Burnley - Switzerland v Algeria (04:00 BST)
Harry Souttar, Leicester City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)
Mohamed Toure, Norwich City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)
Cameron Burgess, Swansea City - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)
Nestory Irankunda, Watford - Australia v Egypt (19:00 BST)
Saturday, 4 July
Abdul Fatawu, Leicester City, Colombia v Ghana (02:30 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesCharlie Daniels took charge of two games as interim boss at Watford last season
Watford have announced the departures of Valon Behrami and Charlie Daniels from their backroom staff as well as confirming first-team coach Alberto Garrido's exit from Vicarage Road.
Garrido joined the Championship club in the summer of 2024 to work alongside then boss Tom Cleverley and retained his position under Paulo Pezzolano, Javi Gracia and Ed Still. He had already announced earlier this month that he was leaving Watford.
Former Watford player Behrami worked as assistant to the club's sporting director Gian Luca Nani and leaves after 12 months in the role.
Daniels initially joined the Hornets as an academy coach in 2021 before moving up to assist Ed Still when he was appointed head coach in February, having taken charge of two games in interim charge following the departure of Javi Gracia.
Meanwhile coach Dan Gosling will remain with Watford to assist new boss Alessio Dionisi.
The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you've got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.
Here are some key dates to put in your diary:
16 August 2026 - Southampton (H)
22 August 2026 - Wrexham (A)
26 December 2026 - Portsmouth (A)
1 January 2027 - Queens Park Rangers (H)
1 May 2027 - Blackburn Rovers (A)
See Watford's full fixture list here.
The EFL will reveal its fixture list for the 2026-27 season on Thursday.
Want to know who your team will face on opening day? The fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that is not all.
The draws for the group stage of the Vertu Trophy and the first round of the Carabao Cup will also take place.
So check back on 25 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.
Image source, Getty ImagesWest Ham United are keeping tabs on 20-year-old Watford winger Nestory Irankunda, who scored in Australia's 2-0 win over Turkey in their first game at the 2026 World Cup. (Football Insider), external
For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked you what you thought of Watford's appointment of new boss Alessio Dionisi.
Here is a selection of what you had to say:
Matt: He will be gone by the first international break. Until Gino Pozzo wakes up, realises that the problem is him and the people that run the club, we will never move forward.
Martin: If you throw enough darts at the board eventually you must hit the bullseye, surely?
Graham: Par for the course. Completely predictable appointment, ticks every WFC box - no EFL experience, doesn't speak English, mediocre career, unknown, recently sacked for poor results in a poor league in a foreign country.
Qas: We keep putting a new driver behind a sputtering car, rather than changing the engine. Likely to lose Louza and possibly Irankunda or Maamma this summer, without adequate replacements, it might finally be the season our car comes to a complete stop.
Tony: Again it feels like the Pozzos trying to do things on the cheap. Duxbury says we need more Championship experience so we go an get a 'promotion specialist' who has never coached in England.
It will be interesting to see what they do in player recruitment as they are lagging behind other teams (even compared to League One) in terms of splashing the cash on quality, proven players.
Harry: I suppose that Pozzo feels that the scattergun approach to appointing first team coaches must, by the law of averages, pay off at least once. Can only hope that he gets given the players to supplement those already at the club to allow him a chance of success.
Neale: If we get in the players we need he has a fighting chance. We need two experienced defenders and a striker who can hold up. If we get those, it would suit his system he will want to play.
Keeping hold of Baah, Kyprianou, Irankunda and Vata will be crucial to that though. Fingers crossed (that's all we have left!).
Peter: Changing the manager on such a frequent basis only fosters a toxic attitude within the players, as they know they won't be to blame. We've seen this for the last few seasons, and it won't change until the Pozzos sell the club.
Joel: So this is the experienced, promotion-winning Championship manager we were promised? Another elite appointment from the board who have once again ticked every box on the job specification.
I assume Alessio has been told to avoid anything longer than short-term accommodation, because I'm not convinced he'll make it to the first international break, especially when you consider his record at previous clubs.
Recalling the Watford bosses in the Pozzo era. Audio, 17 minutes
Geoff Doyle tries to remember the 23 head coaches at Watford in the Pozzo 14 year era.
Watford appoint Alessio Dionisi - analysis. Audio, 8 minutes
Watford commentator Geoff Doyle analyses the hiring of Alessio Dionisi as head coach.
Irankunda off the mark at World Cup. Audio, 2 minutes
Watford forward Nestory Irankunda describes what it's like scoring at the World Cup.
"Genuine and honest" - A tribute to Kenny Jackett. Audio, 5 minutes
Former Hornets midfielder Derek Payne pays tribute to Watford legend Kenny Jackett.
