Premier League 24/25 fixtures LIVE: Full schedule of EPL fixtures released including opening matches and Christmas games

Footballers’ unions have followed through on a threat to take legal action against FIFA over the sport’s “unworkable” calendar.

Europe’s highest court will be asked to rule whether the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights – including Article 5 which prohibits slavery and forced labour – has been breached by football’s global governing body in its decision to introduce a 32-team Club World Cup.

Maheta Molango, the chief executive of the English players’ union, the Professional Footballers’ Association, insists football cannot be “exempt” from rules around workers’ rights.

Manchester United are seeking to build a dynamic young squad primarily based on signings under the age of 24, as they now overhaul recruitment after finally making a decision on Erik ten Hag’s future. The Dutch coach will have a slightly altered influence amid contract extension talks, where he won’t have the same responsibility over signings. The new Ineos hierarchy ultimately felt it was only fair to give Ten Hag a chance at showing what he can do within this new structure, which is closer to the Ajax system where he forged his reputation.

While the aim is to quickly restore United as a Champions League club, one of the significant points raised in the internal review – as reported by The Independent two weeks ago – was how Arsenal benefited from patience with Mikel Arteta. Ineos have paid attention to how the London club steeled themselves through a miserable 2020-21 period as the Basque coach transformed the profile of the squad to a much younger team who were gradually being integrated into his tactical ideal.

Kevin De Bruyne has revealed he is open to a big-money move to Saudi Arabia by saying that, as he nears the end of his career, he might welcome an offer that pays him a life-changing salary.

The Manchester City vice-captain has one year left on his contract and has discussed a move abroad with his family, with his wife Michelle willing to consider it, and his oldest child asking how long he has left at the Etihad Stadium.

The German club are willing to spend big this summer, as part of a badly needed overhaul of their squad. Former manager Thomas Tuchel specifically wanted a more defensive minded central midfielder, and that is a position Bayern are pursuing.

Wharton has come out on top in a lot of their analytics, and Bayern are willing to revive prior interest in the youngster.

Chelsea have appointed Enzo Maresca as the club’s new manager.

The 44-year-old becomes the seventh Italian to lead the west London club after guiding Leicester to the Sky Bet Championship title.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at how Maresca’s compatriots fared at Stamford Bridge:

The new Premier League season brings us new storylines and new goals for teams to aim for.

Manchester City are targeting a fifth successive title winning campaign and will no doubt hope to repeat the feats from a couple of seasons ago and win another treble under Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal will hope to strengthen this summer and challenge City for the title again while Liverpool are transitioning into a post-Jurgen Klopp era with Arne Slot taking charge for his first Premier League season.

Erik ten Hag is continuing as Manchester United boss and will hope to add a third trophy to the cabinet in as many years, Sean Dyche will want to improve Everton amid takeover talks while West Ham will be hoping that parting ways with David Moyes brings a more exciting brand of football without sacrificing their strong results.

Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Brighton will all be pushing to finish in the European spots again and Chelsea face another rebuild but this time under new boss Enzo Maresca.

Elsewhere, Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich will all look to keep themselves in the top-flight after winning promotion from the Championship while Brentford, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Wolves, Fulham and Nottingham Forest all aim for top half finishes.

United have acted swiftly after the opening of the transfer window and want to make the England international their first signing of the Ineos era.

But there is a huge gap between the price Everton have put on Branthwaite and the amount United are prepared to pay.

Ten Hag revealed he was on holiday in Ibiza when members of the United hierarchy arrived to inform him they wanted him to stay in the role.

Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel and England’s Gareth Southgate were among those linked with the position after United could only finish eighth in the Premier League last season.

Brighton owner Tony Bloom said 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler was always a standout candidate after making him the Premier League’s youngest-ever permanent head coach.

Albion announced on Saturday that the Texas-born coach will swap St Pauli for Brighton this summer and replace Roberto De Zerbi, who left at the end of last season.

Hurzeler has agreed a deal through to 2027 and will start once a work permit has been granted.