Sportsday - football news & transfers as it happened

It's a pretty lovely day out there - to the extent that Stoke are claiming that it isn't windy at the Bet 365 Stadium. Not sure whether we believe them though...

It would seem that Sam Allardyce is carrying on with his Sunderland duties for the time being. 

Is that a sign that he's staying at the Stadium of Light...?

Manchester City have made a formal approach for West Ham's 17-year-old defender Reece Oxford, the Daily Telegraph is reporting.

Oxford made his first-team breakthrough last season, and is currently in Germany with the England squad for European Under-19 Championships.

The report suggests that the defender will cost significantly more than £10m.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

2010: Liverpool signed England international midfielder Joe Cole on a four-year contract.

Cole, now 34, won 56 caps for his country, and is currently plying his trade for the magnificently named Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Notts County officials hope hosting the first senior international fixture at Meadow Lane in the ground's 106-year history will lead to more England matches being played there in future.

England Women will play their final home Euro 2017 qualifier in Nottingham against Estonia on 15 September.

Notts Ladies chief executive Matt Alexander said: "I'd like to think if we get a good turn out that we may get another one and other England games."

GB Deaf SwimmingCopyright: GB Deaf Swimming

Andrew Rees has become the first deaf man to swim the English Channel solo.

The Welshman took 15 hours to make the crossing while raising funds to help other deaf athletes compete at the 2017 Deaflympics.

Read about his amazing feat here.

Attention returns to the Europa League qualifiers on Thursday - and Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson is hoping an early goal against Birkirkara will settle any nerves.

The Tynecastle outfit drew 0-0 in the searing heat of Malta last week and are favourites to progress to the third qualifying round.

You can read more here.

With weather to match that of today as well Alex! Thanks very much for your pre-season memories today, you've been a hoot.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all interested in signing 22-year-old Portugal midfielder Andre Gomes from Valencia, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Any potential transfer will cost a reported £54m.

Jonny Del Monte: August '99. Fulham vs Israel at Craven Cottage. Hazy memory of an open stand with no seats. Signed programme at home somewhere.

Mr Hundo: Preseason friendly between newly promoted Padova and Juventus. Got to watch Dino Baggio play. Gorgeous stadium too.

Andrew: Raising money for the Fred Keenor statue and Fabio Borini missing an open goal when Parma came to Cardiff. Glorious.

We still want to hear your most memorable pre-season experiences, so keep them coming at #bbcsportsday.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Bad news for Manchester United fans who got excited earlier when we told you of reports that Paul Pogba's agent was in Manchester... he isn't.

When contacted by Goal, Mino Raiola dismissed today's stories in rather brusque fashion. 

Of course, that doesn't mean that a deal for the 23-year-old midfielder won't happen. It just means you'll all have to carry on being patient.

InstagramCopyright: Instagram

Romelu Lukaku has been given some extra time off during pre-season after his exploits with Belgium at Euro 2016, but looking at that grey sky he may have been better off heading back to Goodison Park anyway.

Then again, that pool does look pretty appealing...

Torquay United chairman David Phillips says a planned takeover could collapse if the new owners cannot buy the club's Plainmoor ground.

The freehold is currently owned by Torbay Council, but prospective buyers Gaming International Limited want to sell the ground and build a new stadium on a different site.

The Gulls entered an agreement with the Swindon-based firm in March.

"There's a pretty good chance of it falling down," Phillips told BBC Sport.

If they cannot complete a deal by 31 July, Torquay will look for new investors as there will be no extension to Gaming International's period of exclusivity.

2012: Tottenham and England defender Ledley King retired from professional football.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

How did you go with the Question of Sport answers? 

We asked you who the four countries to get to the semi-finals over the last two seasons of the Davis Cup were, apart from Argentina and Great Britain, who both qualified twice. 

There's been a late change to Team GB's cycling squad for Rio.

Pete Kennaugh has withdrawn himself from selection for the road race, the 27-year-old having struggled for form since returning from a broken collarbone.

His place goes to Steve Cummings, 35, who had been left out of the initial squad but was named as first reserve.

For all the reaction to that IOC statement, follow the developing story here.

Here's a section of that statement from IOC president Thomas Bach.

“The findings of the report show a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sports and on the Olympic Games. 

"Therefore, the IOC will not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions available against any individual or organisation implicated."