Czech qualifier Jakub Mensik did not hit many happy returns at the US Open as he was crushed by Taylor Fritz on his 18th birthday.

American hope Fritz, the ninth seed, played the ultimate party pooper and gave Mensik just three games in a 6-1 6-2 6-0 victory.

“I felt good. I kind of had a clear plan of what I wanted to do, how I wanted to play him,” said Fritz, 25.

“I returned well. I was moving really well. Yep, I just played a solid match.”

Incredibly, Fritz has dropped just 13 games in his three matches in New York so far. He will face 21-year-old Swiss sensation Dominic Stricker in round four.

The USA are waiting for a first home men’s champion since Andy Roddick 20 years ago, but they already have four in the last 16 with Michael Mmoh potentially a fifth.

They will definitely have at least one quarter-finalist as Tommy Paul beat Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1 6-0 3-6 6-3, and he will face Ben Shelton, who got past Aslan Karatsev of Russia 6-4 3-6 6-2 6-0.

Frances Tiafoe, the 10th seed, came from a set down to beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino to set up a clash with Rinky Hijikata of Australia.

“When any of us see the others having good results, it’s motivating,” added Fritz. “I think they’d all say the same thing.

“But it’s motivating. Because if one of us does something, the others not only want to do it too, they now believe that they can also do it because we think we’re as good as each other. If he did this here, then why can’t I?”

He continued: “I think it’s kind of this progression that we’ve had for a while now, why we’re at where we’re at. Someone achieves something big, then someone else comes and wants to match him or one-up him, and it’s the cycle that keeps going.

“We’re all such good friends, it’s motivating, for sure.”

Czech qualifier Jakub Mensik did not hit many happy returns at the US Open as he was crushed by Taylor Fritz on his 18th birthday.

American hope Fritz, the ninth seed, played the ultimate party pooper and gave Mensik just three games in a 6-1 6-2 6-0 victory.

“I felt good. I kind of had a clear plan of what I wanted to do, how I wanted to play him,” said Fritz, 25.

“I returned well. I was moving really well. Yep, I just played a solid match.”

Incredibly, Fritz has dropped just 13 games in his three matches in New York so far. He will face 21-year-old Swiss sensation Dominic Stricker in round four.

The USA are waiting for a first home men’s champion since Andy Roddick 20 years ago, but they already have four in the last 16 with Michael Mmoh potentially a fifth.

They will definitely have at least one quarter-finalist as Tommy Paul beat Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1 6-0 3-6 6-3, and he will face Ben Shelton, who got past Aslan Karatsev of Russia 6-4 3-6 6-2 6-0.

Frances Tiafoe, the 10th seed, came from a set down to beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino to set up a clash with Rinky Hijikata of Australia.

“When any of us see the others having good results, it’s motivating,” added Fritz. “I think they’d all say the same thing.

“But it’s motivating. Because if one of us does something, the others not only want to do it too, they now believe that they can also do it because we think we’re as good as each other. If he did this here, then why can’t I?”

He continued: “I think it’s kind of this progression that we’ve had for a while now, why we’re at where we’re at.

“Someone achieves something big, then someone else comes and wants to match him or one-up him, and it’s the cycle that keeps going.

“We’re all such good friends, it’s motivating, for sure.”

Andy Farrell believes Ireland must remain calm and “roll with the punches” to realise their potential at the Rugby World Cup.

Former dual code international Farrell is preparing for his first global tournament as head coach having previously been involved as a player and an assistant coach.

Six Nations champions Ireland have topped the world rankings for more than a year and arrived in France on Thursday among the favourites to go all the way.

Englishman Farrell has welcomed setbacks during his tenure to challenge his players and prevent them becoming fazed on the biggest stage.

“The key learnings are the scenarios that we’ve tried to put ourselves through in the last few years,” the 48-year-old said of his previous World Cup experiences in both rugby union and rugby league.

“You hear me say constantly ‘best laid plans and all that’, it’s 100 per cent that at a World Cup.

“The ones that get flustered with all that because they’re not ready for all different types of permutations are the ones that lose the plot.

“The key to progressing in a competition like this is staying calm, keeping your feet under you and making sure that you just roll with the punches and be the best version of yourself no matter what happens and have no-excuse mentality.

“We’ve tried to put ourselves in those type of positions before and we know what’s coming through.”

Ireland have been placed in the tougher half of the draw and begin their campaign next Saturday against Romania in Bordeaux.

Farrell’s men then face Tonga, reigning champions South Africa and Scotland in Pool B, with hosts France or New Zealand likely opponents should they progress to the quarter-finals.

Asked if this is the most competitive and open World Cup, Farrell said: “I think everyone loves to say that anyway.

“Everyone wants it to be like that because there’s so many good teams that can beat each other on any given day.

“The pressures of the competition within itself, the history of all that shows that it is going to be a wide-open competition. So one step at a time. Let’s see if we can build some momentum.”

Farrell assisted Joe Schmidt at the 2019 World Cup before stepping up to become Ireland boss following a quarter-final exit against the All Blacks.

The opening year of his reign, amid the coronavirus pandemic, brought mixed results but his side have won 25 of 27 Tests dating back to round three of the 2021 Six Nations.

“I’m not surprised,” Farrell said of the progress. “If you’re talking four years ago then we probably didn’t know the total plan as in what we’ve been through and what we’re going through.

“The process has always been for the here and now, and the medium term, and the long term.

“A lot tend to go from cycle to cycle and chop a few and carry on.

“I think the right way, for me anyway, is to grow and develop competition as we go and then when we get to something like this (World Cup) watch and learn and let’s pick accordingly on what’s right on the team.”

Celtic’s loan move for Benfica midfielder Paulo Bernardo was the highest-profile signing of a relatively quiet transfer deadline day in Scotland.

Celtic have an option to buy the 21-year-old, who follows Honduras winger Luis Palma and on-loan Liverpool defender Nat Phillips in arriving at Parkhead this week.

Midfielder Sead Haksabanovic joined Stoke from Celtic on a season-long loan, just days after expressing frustration over a lack of game time.

“I feel like a new experience and challenge will be good for me at this stage of my career,” the 24-year-old told Stoke’s website.

Ismaila Soro earlier left Celtic for Beitar Jerusalem – 19 months after his final appearance for the club – and another out-of-favour player, Albian Ajeti, was set to seal a move to Turkish football although there was no confirmation of his exit come the deadline.

Rangers manager Michael Beale lowered expectations of fans in the afternoon when he declared himself happy with his squad following nine summer signings.

A quiet evening ensued, although reports later claimed the club had rejected Stoke’s bid for centre-back Ben Davies.

“We don’t have any injuries so the squad is looking healthy, the squad size has come down in size and average age so we are good to go,” Beale said.

“Naturally every manager is going to sit here and say they would like one more but if we don’t then I am happy with the squad we have got moving forward.”

Aberdeen signed versatile 26-year-old right-sided Danish defender Stefan Gartenmann from Midtjylland on a season-long loan to make it 13 incoming transfers this summer. Out-of-favour defender Anthony Stewart rejoined MK Dons on a season-long loan.

Dundee had confirmed the first incoming signing of the cinch Premiership on deadline day by bringing in Burnley winger Marcel Lewis on loan until January. The 21-year-old was previously on Chelsea’s books and has played for Union St Gilloise and Accrington.

St Johnstone signed two players – 28-year-old Austrian midfielder Sven Sprangler following a trial period and 25-year-old Charlton winger Diallang Jaiyesimi on a season-long loan.

Motherwell signed 19-year-old left-back Georgie Gent from Blackburn on loan until the end of the season,

Kilmarnock left it late to seal a season-long loan deal for former Rangers youth striker Andy Dallas from Barnsley.

The 24-year-old only joined Barnsley from Solihull Moors in July and netted on
his debut for the Tykes. Dallas has scored more than 60 career goals with the likes of Stenhousemuir, Cambridge, Weymouth, Solihull and Chesterfield.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson warned that none of his players would be sold on the cheap after Aberdeen made an approach for Australia midfielder Keanu Baccus.

“There hasn’t been a formal bid, there have been conversations between the two clubs,” said Robinson, who had finished his business ahead of deadline day.

“We are not in a position where we were last year when we had to take offers for players that were below market value. We have steadied the ship and got our finances right.” .”

Ross County signed Scotland Under-21 international midfielder Scott High on loan from Huddersfield.

Manager Malky Mackay told County’s website: “I am delighted Scott has decided to join Ross County. At 22, he is a great age to join the club, and has experience playing in over 60 English Championship games.”

Chairman Roy MacGregor was no doubt delighted at a deal involving English Championship clubs as Ross Stewart’s move from Sunderland to Southampton earned County a seven-figure sell-on fee.

It was a quiet day in the east although Livingston  loaned defender Morgan Boyes to Inverness for the season and Hearts loaned Connor Smith to Scunthorpe and Harry Stone to Queen of the South.

Paris St Germain have signed Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt on a five-year contract.

The deal has reportedly cost PSG 90 million euros to bring the 24-year-old France forward back to his native Paris.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said: “We are delighted to welcome Randal Kolo Muani — a proud Parisien and Frenchman – to Paris Saint-Germain; to his city and his home.

“We have worked incredibly hard to get this transfer over the line.

“Randal is a fantastic French international player and is committed to PSG and our project. I’m so excited to see Randal in a PSG jersey, giving everything for the club.”

Kolo Muani began his career at Nantes before moving to Eintracht, where he scored 26 goals in 50 appearances last season.

Mason Greenwood has joined Spanish club Getafe on loan in a move that Manchester United say will allow the player to rebuild his career away from Old Trafford.

Greenwood was suspended by United on January 30, 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.

The 21-year-old faced charges including attempted rape and assault, but the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February that the case had been discontinued.

Reports that United were planning to retain him following an internal investigation were met by public outcry and the club announced last week that it had been mutually agreed for him to leave.

Clubs in Italy, Germany and Turkey were among those to express interest, but Greenwood has now joined LaLiga side Getafe on a season-long loan, subject to international clearance.

A United club statement read: “The move enables Greenwood to begin to rebuild his career away from Manchester United. The club will continue to offer its support to Mason and his family during this period of transition.”

The PA news agency understands Getafe are making a small contribution to Greenwood’s wages as United focused on finding him somewhere he could resume his career.

Academy graduate Greenwood scored 35 goals in 129 matches for United, with his last appearance coming against West Ham on January 22, 2022.

Tottenham spent big in the closing minutes of the transfer window by signing Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £47.5million.

Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou made the Wales international his number one target following the departure of Harry Kane last month and Johnson has signed a deal at Tottenham until the summer of 2029.

Johnson’s arrival was Tottenham’s only incoming on transfer deadline day after proposed moves for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and Lloyd Kelly of Bournemouth collapsed.

Spurs had to trim their squad before they could sanction any more incomings and even though defenders Japhet Tanganga and Sergio Reguilon left on loan to join Augsburg and Manchester United respectively, Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez were unable to secure transfers away.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also turned down an approach from Fulham and further talks with Atletico Madrid collapsed, while Tanguy Ndombele and Bryan Gil remained at Tottenham.

Forest were the busiest club on deadline day as they wasted no time investing the Johnson cash.

Defender Nuno Tavares arrived on loan from Arsenal, Argentina midfielder Nicolas Domínguez joined from Bologna with Remo Freuler going the other way, while winger Callum Hudson-Odoi and goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos were signed from Chelsea and Benfica respectively.

Liverpool – who have rejected a £150m offer for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabia Pro League side Al-Ittihad – and Manchester United both added to their midfield departments, with Netherlands international Ryan Gravenberch sealing a £35m move to Anfield from Bayern Munich.

United signed Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina until June 2024, subject to international clearance and registration requirements.

The PA news agency understands United have paid a 10million euros (£8.6m) loan fee for Amrabat, with the season-long deal including the option to trigger a permanent move.

If that option is taken, Fiorentina will receive a 20m euros (£17.1m) transfer fee and up to 5m euros (£4.3m) in potential add-ons.

Morocco midfielder Amrabat said: “It is a huge honour to become a Manchester United player. I’ve had to be patient for this moment but I’m someone who always listens to my heart and now I am representing the club of my dreams.

“I am a passionate player; I want to bring that energy to the squad, and I will put everything into every action I take for the team.”

Earlier on Friday, United confirmed the arrival of Turkey international goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce, left-back Reguilon on loan from Tottenham until June 2024 and former Reds’ central defender Jonny Evans on a one-year deal.

Manchester City completed the signing of Matheus Nunes from Wolves for £53m – a club-record sale for the Midlands outfit – while selling Cole Palmer to Chelsea for an initial £40m with an additional £2.5m in possible add-ons.

Wolves spent some of the Nunes money on midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who joined on a five-year deal from Strasbourg.

Crystal Palace bolstered their defence with the addition of Arsenal’s Rob Holding and midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga also left the Gunners to make a season-long switch to Luton.

Brighton signed Ansu Fati on a season-long loan from Barcelona, with Belgium midfielder Mike Tresor making a similar move from Genk to Burnley.

West Ham boss David Moyes likes the sound of his Hammers side being at the top of the Premier League table as they returned to the summit with a 2-1 win at Luton.

Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Kurt Zouma were enough for the visitors to claim all three points, with Mads Andersen’s stoppage-time header a consolation at Kenilworth Road.

Moyes said: “It’s Luton at home, the first game back in the Premier League and once we got into it, we did well enough.

“For a little while (we’re top), but it’s nice for people to say that – it’s good, I like the sound of it and long may it continue.

“It was a really good ball from (Lucas) Paqueta and a finish from Jarrod, so really pleased.

“It’s not easy to come here in the first Premier League game of the season, so overall we did well.

“Kurt’s goal took the game away from them, we were the better team and we probably should have been further in front.

“Two or three counter-attacking moments where we have been so slick with it recently.

“Our away form had been poor, but our away form is brilliant now.

“Today was a bit of the same, we played better, had to defend really as well as their style of play will cause a lot of teams problems and I thought our defenders did really well.”

A quiet first half saw Ross Barkley drag two chances wide for Luton, with Said Benrahma off target for the Hammers, who went ahead after 37 minutes when Paqueta’s cross was powered home by Bowen.

Elijah Adebayo and Tahith Chong fired wide for Luton after the break before Emerson’s effort was ruled offside by VAR at the other end.

With four minutes left, Zouma’s downward header doubled West Ham’s lead before Andersen pulled one back in stoppage time.

Luton might have had a chance to equalise but a possible James Ward-Prowse handball from a corner in the dying seconds was not awarded.

Luton boss Rob Edwards said of the late drama: “A lot of people are telling me that (it’s handball).

“I’ve only seen a still, a freeze frame at the moment; I’ve not had a chance to see it back.

“If it was, I’m disappointed, if it’s gone against us as those are the moments you need to go our way especially at this level to get results.

“But I’m not going to complain about that now, or blame that, we’ve got to look at ourselves.

“Me, myself as well, how we can keep getting better, I don’t want to keep saying the same things after the game.

“Fine moments, basics, one cross into the box we didn’t deal with it well enough in the first half and a set-piece.

“I will say that corner came from a corner that probably should have been our corner before that and then we conceded from it.

“But I saw a team that was a lot more compact than in the last two games and I saw a team that was still aggressive and created chances.”

After the game Luton announced the signing of Albert Sambi Lokonga on a season-long loan deal from Arsenal.

The 23-year-old made 15 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners last season and was in attendance at Kenilworth Road.

Mason Greenwood will spend the rest of the season on loan at Spanish side Getafe as the forward recommences his career away from Manchester United.

The 21-year-old was suspended by the Old Trafford club on January 30, 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.

Greenwood faced charges including attempted rape and assault, but the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February that the case had been discontinued.

Reports that United were planning to retain him following an internal investigation were met by public outcry and the club announced last week that it had been mutually agreed for him to continue his career elsewhere.

Clubs in Italy, Germany and Turkey were among those to express interest, but Greenwood completed a deadline-day move to LaLiga side Getafe on a season-long loan, subject to international clearance.

A United club statement read: “The move enables Greenwood to begin to rebuild his career away from Manchester United. The club will continue to offer its support to Mason and his family during this period of transition.”

Greenwood remains on full pay and the PA news agency understands Getafe are making a small contribution to his wages after United focused on finding him somewhere to resume his career.

United sources previously indicated the player was not expected to play for the club again and the loan move comes 11 days after they released a statement following an internal investigation.

“All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United,” the club said on August 21.

“It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.”

In a statement released at the same time, Greenwood said he “did not do the things I was accused of” but added he had “made mistakes” and took his “share of responsibility for the situations which led to the social media post”.

The academy graduate scored 35 goals in 129 matches for United, with his last appearance coming against West Ham on January 22, 2022.

Greenwood, who has won one cap for England, is contracted at Old Trafford until June 2025, with the deal including an option to extend by a further year.

Sofyan Amrabat plans to bring energy to Manchester United after joining from Fiorentina until June 2024, subject to international clearance and registration requirements.

The PA news agency understands United have paid a 10million euros (£8.6m) loan fee for Amrabat, with the season-long deal including the option to trigger a permanent move.

If that option is taken, Fiorentina will receive a 20m euros (£17.1m) transfer fee and up to 5m euros (£4.3m) in potential add-ons.

Morocco midfielder Amrabat said: “It is a huge honour to become a Manchester United player. I’ve had to be patient for this moment but I’m someone who always listens to my heart and now I am representing the club of my dreams.

“I am a passionate player; I want to bring that energy to the squad, and I will put everything into every action I take for the team.

“I know exactly how Erik ten Hag likes to work and what he needs from his players.

“His coaching and guidance developed me so much as a player earlier in my career; I know that he will help to bring out the best of my abilities so that I can help the group to be successful this season.”

Amrabat played under Ten Hag at Utrecht earlier in his career before moving on to Feyenoord, Club Brugge and then Fiorentina.

The 27-year-old has won 49 caps for Morocco and played every minute of his country’s run to the semi-final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Amrabat’s arrival was viewed as essential by United fans given their early-season problems in that area with opponents being able to attack their back four too easily.

United football director John Murtough said: “We have tracked Sofyan for a long time, so we are really pleased to bring him to Manchester United.

“His committed, high-energy approach to the game fits perfectly with the group that we are building here.

“We know that Sofyan’s mentality, dynamism and technical qualities will help the squad as we look to achieve success in all competitions this season.”

Earlier on Friday, United confirmed the arrival of Turkey international goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce and defender Sergio Reguilon on loan from Tottenham until June 2024.

Bayindir, 25, has signed an initial four-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option of a further year, and will provide competition to fellow new arrival Andre Onana.

Reguilon, 26, has moved to Old Trafford after United lost left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia to injury.

Tottenham have completed the signing of Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £47.5million.

Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou made the Wales international his number one target following the departure of Harry Kane last month and secured the services of the young attacker late on transfer deadline day.

Johnson has signed a deal at Tottenham until the summer of 2029 after bringing his lengthy association at Forest to an end.

Versatile forward Johnson made his Forest debut in 2019, following in the footsteps of father David, and went on to make 108 appearances for his boyhood club, scoring 29 goals.

Ex-Lincoln loanee Johnson became a key figure following Steve Cooper’s arrival at the City Ground and was prominent in the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 2022 before he scored eight times last season to guide them to top flight survival.

While Johnson signed a four-year deal at Forest last summer, he has been prized away for a fee worth £47.5m with a 10 per cent sell-on clause included in the transfer.

Forest did turn down two bids from Brentford for Johnson – who can play anywhere across the front three – earlier in the window, but this sale will help satisfy their Financial Fair Play requirements.

Johnson’s arrival concludes a busy summer of incomings for Tottenham under new head coach Postecoglou, who has taken on a lead role on transfers in the absence of a director of football.

The Australian revealed on Friday that Spurs were close to finding a replacement for Fabio Paratici, who resigned from the role in April.

“If you look at the way the club’s worked previously, that’s always been in place,” Postecoglou said of a director of football.

“When you’re doing something and there’s already a process in place, then you know how it’s going to work.

“Where there’s a new manager and no sporting director, I think anyone would say it’s unusual.

“Yeah, I think it will (be resolved soon). That’s definitely the club’s plan. It’s fair to say that going into the window, there was no point in rushing that appointment, particularly with a new manager in.

“The thinking behind it was that probably the best way to charter this unusual process is to have less involvement with new people as possible. So far, the evidence, when you see the players we’ve brought in, I think we’ve navigated it pretty well.

“I’m not going to appoint the person, I’m certainly not going to get involved in that process.

“The club have already got a clear idea of the way I work and the way I think and the way I want my teams to play. Whoever that person is, it’s my role then to get him to understand me and see the game through my eyes.

“I’ve never felt encumbered with whoever I work with. I usually get my way with whoever I work with. I don’t have total control. I have control of one side of it.

“I wouldn’t see the sense in bringing a player in I didn’t think would fit. I don’t care who was putting him forward or giving him to me, because I think ultimately whatever happens I’m going to take responsibility.

“I like working with a sporting director because they do most of the leg work that I just don’t have the time to do.

“When you’ve got a good sporting director, you work together. They see the game through your eyes.”

Johnson’s arrival was Tottenham’s only incoming on transfer deadline day after proposed moves for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and Lloyd Kelly of Bournemouth collapsed.

Spurs had to trim their squad before they could sanction any more incomings and even though defenders Japhet Tanganga and Sergio Reguilon left on loan to join Augsburg and Manchester United respectively, Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez were unable to secure transfers away.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also turned down an approach from Fulham and further talks with Atletico Madrid collapsed, while Tanguy Ndombele and Bryan Gil remained at Tottenham.

Mauricio Pochettino said football’s stakeholders should not be hypocritical in their judgement of Chelsea after the club’s spending surpassed £1billion under the ownership of Todd Boehly.

The £40million signing of Cole Palmer from Manchester City on Friday pushed total outlay during the last 16 months into 10 figures, with more than £400m having been spent on 12 players in the summer window alone.

That has in part been offset by player sales for significant fees earlier in the window with 14 first-team departures since the end of the last season, most notably midfielders Kai Havertz and Mason Mount who left for a combined £120m.

It was also confirmed on Friday that 20-year-old striker Mason Burstow has joined Sunderland on a season-long loan while Callum Hudson-Odoi has signed for Nottingham Forest, ending a 16-year association with the club.

Chelsea host Forest at Stamford Bridge on Saturday looking to make it three wins in a row after victories against Luton in the Premier League and AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup.

The manager has previously said that anything less than Champions League qualification in his first season will be deemed a failure following the owners’ mammoth transfer outlay which has seen them break the British transfer record twice in 2023.

And with Boehly still relatively inexperienced in European football, Pochettino was at pains to emphasise his responsibility to help guide and advise his employer.

“You can talk about being very surprised about (the billion-pound landmark), or not,” said Pochettino. “It depends. Today football is… we need to evolve. Today it’s different. Completely different. We manage a different type of numbers.

“If 20 years ago we had thought this was going to happen, maybe no one would believe it. But today, it’s normal in football, this type of money moving around.

“It’s a big business, football. And we cannot stop. I think we all get the benefit here, no? I think we cannot be hypocrites. To be involved in football in different areas, you (the press) there or me here. We are living all (what) that business produces.

“I’m not going to be here to give lessons to anyone, but I think football is about getting a good balance. For me, yes Chelsea is spending money. But also it’s selling players. Money in and money out.

“In that case, people arrive in a club in the Premier League like our owners, it’s normal. They want to settle and develop their project, and we are people that are going to help them to be right in their decisions, because we are professionals of football.

“We are giving our vision and advice, and of course after (that) it’s up to them. That is a very special situation that happened from the beginning.”

Pochettino will have Mykhailo Mudryk available for selection after the winger missed last weekend’s 3-0 victory over Luton.

The Ukraine international, who signed for £88m from Shakhtar Donetsk in January but is yet to score or consistently show the kind of form that persuaded Chelsea to bring him to west London, has played just 54 minutes this season and is yet to start a game under Pochettino.

“He’s a very talented player,” said the manager. “He needs to first of all, before talking about football, he needs to feel comfortable, feel really strong in his body. He suffered (during) the (under-21) Euros, he only played one game (because) he was suffering from some injury.

“When I arrived here was never consistent in training, always something happened. Now we are focused and trying to help me to be really strong, healthy and feel good to start to perform.

“No one can perform if they do not feel strong and really confident in your body. It’s time we need to build his confidence. We are working. I hope in the next few weeks he starts to find his best form to start to help the team.”

Ryan Gravenberch believes he has joined one of the biggest clubs in the world after sealing his £35million move to Liverpool.

The 21-year-old Netherlands midfielder has signed a long-term contract at Anfield after spending one season at Bayern Munich.

“I’m very happy. Very happy that the deal is done and I’m finally here,” Gravenberch told Liverpoolfc.com.

“If you see it from the outside, it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. Also the fans, the stadium, I think everything from the outside is top. So that’s why (it was the right club).”

Revealing that he spoke to fellow Dutch players Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo ahead of his switch to Merseyside, Gravenberch added: “Yeah before the move I spoke a lot with the guys and they said we have a good team and everything is top here.

“Actually my decision was quick. I left his office (Jurgen Klopp) with a great feeling and I can’t wait to start working with him on the pitch.

Klopp is enthusiastic about his reinvented midfield and believes the club have done good business this summer.

The Liverpool manager was always planning to revamp that department of his team this summer but even he did not expect to change the whole unit, only for the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia to force him into a radical overhaul.

Argentina’s World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and RB Leipzig’s Dominik Szoboszlai were early arrivals as part of the planned revamp.

But the addition of Wataru Endo and Gravenberch, who was a long-term target but was considered unavailable, came much later than expected after Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia both turned down a move to Anfield in favour of Chelsea.

“We pretty much had to reinvent the team. The midfield is all ready and will be completely new,” he said.

“We had to do that in a season where we didn’t qualify for the Champions League, which has a massive impact.

“I know people expect it to be different but it is how it is. I really think we did good business, the players we brought in are really good, will help the team.

“We are less experienced but that is normal, but we are full of desire and I love this team.”

Mac Allister, who was initially asked to play an unfamiliar holding role, and Szoboszlai have both settled in quickly, which was to be expected as they had a full pre-season to adapt to Klopp’s methods.

The manager expects them to make bigger strikes, although he conceded Endo will take longer after only arriving from Stuttgart mid-August, but believes they have the capability to match the successes of the players they have replaced.

“The natural skill-set is obvious but we had to replace the most successful midfield in the young (recent) history of this club,” added Klopp ahead of Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa.

“Fabinho, Henderson, Milner, Gini Wijnaldum a few years ago. All had big parts in the team. Naby (Keita), (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain, they all played big parts in that midfield.

“In our best periods I remember you asked me the question if we had enough of a goal threat from this midfield when we scored all the goals from the front line.

“I think we have much more goal threat in midfield now but the work-rate these guys put in, the stability they gave us was second-to-none and that is what we have to create as well.

“We will see how we do that because we can play different systems, we have to think about that during the season definitely.

“But I think it is clear the players we brought in have real quality, are young and in a super way really excited about the opportunity of being here, so that’s a cool mix.”

Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Kurt Zouma saw West Ham continue their fine start to the season as they went top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Luton.

The Hatters, who were hosting a top-flight clash for the first time since April 1992, tried to make a quick start as Ross Barkley dragged a volley wide from just outside the box.

West Ham offered little as an attacking force in the opening exchanges bar a Said Benrahma shot that flew wide, as Barkley had another chance for the hosts after 15 minutes, once more failing to test visiting goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from a decent position.

Bowen had been kept quiet until the 26th minute when he took Nayef Aguerd’s long ball on his chest and fired narrowly wide.

The visitors almost led after 36 minutes when Edson Alvarez fired goalwards, denied by a brave block from Mads Andersen, with Benrahma curling the loose ball wide.

They were in front just 60 seconds later as Lucas Paqueta was given time and space to pick out Bowen, whose close-range header had too much power for Thomas Kaminski.

Luton responded well to the goal as Elijah Adebayo fired a decent opportunity over the top and then Ryan Giles got away on the left, his cross nodded on to the roof of the net by Carlton Morris.

Town ended the half on the front foot with a corner causing trouble inside the area and Tahith Chong nudging the ball behind from a good position.

The Hammers thought they had doubled their lead five minutes after the break when Emerson blasted the ball into the net after some ponderous defending, only for the offside flag to be raised and the goal disallowed following a VAR check.

Buoyed by still being in the game, the Hatters looked to restore parity with Marvelous Nakamba’s inviting ball into the box not being read by Adebayo, who was unable to turn the ball in under pressure from Aguerd at the back post.

Bowen sensed a second just after the hour mark after being left unmarked once more but this time couldn’t beat Kamsinki.

Roared on by a vociferous home crowd, Luton tried their utmost to find a way back into the game and almost did so when the ball dropped to Morris eight yards from goal, but his shot appeared to take a nick off Aguerd and go over.

West Ham then made them pay with four minutes to go as James Ward-Prowse’s corner was met imperiously by Zouma and his downward header flew in.

Luton gave themselves hope in stoppage time with Morris’ header turned in by Andersen but the Hammers held on.