logo
Wednesday's briefing: Liverpool linked with Isak and Henderson joins Brentford

Wednesday's briefing: Liverpool linked with Isak and Henderson joins Brentford

Former Reds captain Jordan Henderson returned to the Premier League at Brentford, while Crystal Palace fans protested at Selhurst Park over their European competition demotion.
The build-up to England's Euro 2025 quarter-final against Sweden also ramped up in Switzerland.
Newcastle ward off Liverpool interest in Isak
Newcastle have put a value of around £150million on star striker Alexander Isak in an attempt to ward off potential suitors.
Liverpool have been linked with the 25-year-old Sweden international and a report on Tuesday suggested the Reds are prepared to pay £120m for his services.
The PA news agency understands there has been no formal contact between the two clubs over the player, although sources on Merseyside have indicated Isak is among a series of forward options being considered by Liverpool this summer.
Newcastle's majority owners, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, have the financial clout to resist any approach should they remain steadfast in their determination to hang on to a player who is understood not to be agitating for a move.
Both Newcastle and Liverpool have been linked with Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, who is understood to be valued around the £85m mark by the Bundesliga club.
Henderson has Premier League buzz again
📨 (1) New Message: Jordan Henderson pic.twitter.com/k1wgYlIugR
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) July 15, 2025
England midfielder Jordan Henderson is back in the Premier League after joining Brentford on a free transfer.
The 35-year-old left Liverpool in 2023 and has spent the last two years at Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia and with Ajax in the Netherlands.
'After a couple of years away I still have that fire to come back and play in the Premier League again,' Henderson told Brentford's social media.
'Obviously it's the best league in the world, with the best players. So it's a big challenge but one I'm keen on doing.'
On a busy day at Brentford, the Bees also welcomed fresh investment as businessman Gary Lubner and filmmaker Sir Matthew Vaughn become minority shareholders of the club.
Mamma Mia! England stick with Abba for Sweden tie
England captain Leah Williamson joked she will not 'banish Abba' in the dressing room ahead of their Euro 2025 quarter-final clash with Sweden.
The Swedish band's 'Does Your Mother Know' became a key track on the Williamson-curated dressing room playlist during England's triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, where they beat Sweden 4-0 in the semi-final.
The two meet again in Zurich on Thursday and Williamson said: 'I don't think that will be on the playlist, but it worked in 2022 so I don't want to banish Abba completely.'
Protest at the Palace
Crystal Palace fans protested outside Selhurst Park following UEFA's ruling to demote the Eagles to the Conference League.
Hundreds of supporters marched from Norwood Clocktower to Palace's stadium carrying banners, with one at the front declaring 'UEFA: MORALLY BANKRUPT. REVOKE THE RULING NOW'.
Palace qualified for this season's Europa League by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May, which secured a historic first major trophy.
But Palace were demoted after missing a March 1 deadline to demonstrate that American co-owner John Textor, also a part-owner at Lyon, had no control or influence over more than one club in the same competition.
What's on today?
4⃣ huge quarter-final ties to look forward to 🤩#WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/t6TTNRFJ3n
— UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 14, 2025
Italy and Norway meet in Geneva to determine the first semi-finalist at Euro 2025.
The winners will play either England or Sweden in the last four.
Northern Ireland's Linfield host Shelbourne in a Champions League qualifier seeking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from last week's first leg in Dublin.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Arsenal transfer news: Tottenham eye Gunners target as Mikel Arteta makes admission
Arsenal transfer news: Tottenham eye Gunners target as Mikel Arteta makes admission

Daily Mirror

time19 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Arsenal transfer news: Tottenham eye Gunners target as Mikel Arteta makes admission

Arsenal have been very active in the transfer market this summer as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season, having finished second for the third year in a row Arsenal are hoping to wrap up the signings of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres and Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera in the coming days, with Mikel Arteta strengthening his squad ahead of a renewed Premier League title challenge. ‌ Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke have already arrived for more than £120million combined, while Nuno Tavares and Marquinhos have been sold to Lazio and Cruzeiro respectively. ‌ Jorginho, Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey have all left the club after their contracts expired, while Arsenal reached an agreement with defender Takehiro Tomiyasu to terminate his deal a year early. ‌ Arteta's transfer admission Arsenal have signed four new players so far and are closing in on deals for two more, but Mikel Arteta believes they are still "short of numbers". Arteta said: "There's still a long time in the window and we are seeking still. In terms of numbers, we are short and we have to improve the depth and quality of the squad. We are constantly looking in the market. Until that happens, [we] focus on the players we have - and I'm very pleased with what I have seen in the last 10-15 days. "It's like shaking the tree again. New faces... they bring new excitement, new energy as well. We signed very important players as well. I think everybody feels that the heights have to go to different level and it's what we are seeking." Tottenham eye Arsenal target Arsenal have been linked with a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha, but Tottenham have now emerged as contenders for his signature. ‌ Bild reported earlier this month that the Gunners have 'showed strong interest' in Palhinha, who impressed in the Premier League with Fulham before joining Bayern last summer. However, new reports have claimed that Spurs are also interested in the Portugal international. Palhinha struggled for game time last season and was limited to just six Bundesliga starts, with Vincent Kompany preferring the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Aleksandar Pavlovic in the centre of the park. ‌ Gyokeres latest Arsenal are hoping to complete the signing of Viktor Gyokeres soon, with the deal having dragged on for weeks now. And Sporting Lisbon defender Ivan Fresneda has spoken out about the ongoing saga following a 1-0 victory over Sunderland in a pre-season friendly on Monday. When asked how the squad is coping with the way the move is playing out, Fresenda responded: "You won't like the answer, but it's not my responsibility." Sporting are said to be interested in Almeria striker Luis Suarez as a potential replacement for Gyokeres and the Spanish side's sporting director recently told CNN Portugal: "We haven't had any official contact with Sporting to date. We haven't received any formal or informal contact, but we have with other clubs, and we're moving forward with negotiations with other clubs."

The comeback queens - these Lionesses never give in
The comeback queens - these Lionesses never give in

Sky News

time20 minutes ago

  • Sky News

The comeback queens - these Lionesses never give in

When all seems lost, these Lionesses find a way to rescue it. The comebacks queens, always coming back for more. And now into a third consecutive final with a chance to defend their European crown. But even Sarina Wiegman feared they would be flying home today when the clock hit 88 minutes in the semi-final with Italy and they were still trailing 1-0. Just why had the defence been picked apart too easily again in the first half to concede to give Barbara Bonansea the space and time to score? Just why were Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp, in particular, not clinical enough? 0:25 Maybe that is a recipe for success rather than a desperate rescue mission. Because when Wiegman saw there would be seven minutes of stoppage time, suddenly there was hope again. Especially as five minutes earlier, the manager had brought on Michelle Agyemang. It's a lot to rely on a 19-year-old. But this is a striker who scored 41 seconds into her international debut as a substitute in April. And she scored the equaliser that sent the quarterfinal into extra time last week before England beat Sweden on penalties. Now the weight of the nation was on her shoulders again - and she delivered in the sixth of the seven minutes of injury time. "She has something special," Wiegman said. "She's very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do. "When you talk about little things that she picks up straight away, because she's not only in the 18-yard box very dangerous but when we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well too." The Arsenal forward even hit the crossbar in extra time before the Wembley winner from the final three years ago showed again why she's a super-sub. Just when it seemed England would need to win another shootout, Beth Mead was brought down and now they had one penalty to win it. Chloe Kelly was denied but alert to pounce on the rebound. And with a 2-1 win, England will go the distance for a third tournament in a row. No England team has ever previously enjoyed such a deep run. For Kelly it will be a second final of the year after winning the Champions League with Arsenal. But it is a year that began despondent at Manchester City before securing a move to the Gunners. "The moments when in January I felt like giving up football makes you so grateful for these moments here today, and this makes you enjoy every minute of that," Kelly said. "I think confidence comes from within, but from around you as well. The players that we stand side by side with on the pitch, give confidence in each other." And England will certainly feel confident. These Lionesses never give in. How many teams would want to bottle up that fighting spirit and resilience? "When it finishes like this I am enjoying it but it's a little bit dramatic," said Wiegman, who has now reached an unprecedented five tournament finals with the Netherlands and England.

England saviour Michelle Agyemang ‘something special' says Sarina Wiegman
England saviour Michelle Agyemang ‘something special' says Sarina Wiegman

South Wales Argus

timean hour ago

  • South Wales Argus

England saviour Michelle Agyemang ‘something special' says Sarina Wiegman

Agyemang has scored three times in her first four appearances for the defending champions, who were initially stunned in their 2-1 last-four comeback victory over Italy when Barbara Bonansea opened the scoring for the underdogs 33 minutes into the Geneva semi-final. But just as she did in their quarter-final against Sweden, the youngest Lioness in Switzerland came off the bench and levelled late in the second-half. clipping the crossbar in extra-time before fellow replacement Chloe Kelly emphatically buried the rebound from her own saved penalty late in the second period. England goalkeeper Khiara Keating (left), Michelle Agyemang and Leah Williamson celebrate after the match (Nick Potts/PA) 'She has something special,' Wiegman said of Agyemang, who levelled with less than two minutes remaining in second-half stoppage time. 'She's only 19-years-old, she's very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do. 'When you talk about little things that she picks up straight away, because she's not only in the 18-yard box very dangerous but when we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well too. 'Even when you saw her shot hit the crossbar, that was not just a shot, she was aiming for it. If she continues like this she has a very bright future.' Despite her tremendous trajectory, Wiegman does not feel pressure to give the major tournament debutant, who scored 41 seconds into her England debut in April, more minutes than she has so far. 'She's not forcing me,' insisted Wiegman, who has now guided teams to three consecutive European finals, and will aim to make it a hat-trick of three trophies – one with the Netherlands and two with England – with victory in Sunday's Basel final. 'I think she is very grateful she gets minutes, and she's really ready for it. I think her growth and her development went so quickly, from not starting at Brighton, being on loan, to getting lots more minutes and showing how good she is and coming into our team. 'I think how these things go, (they've gone) pretty smoothly for her, and I think she feels very good about that. England await their opponents for Sunday's final – either World Cup holders Spain or Germany, who England beat 2-1 in the final of their home Euros to lift their first major trophy in 2022 after Kelly scored in extra time. Agyemang, who returned to parent club Arsenal at the conclusion of the last campaign, drew high praise from Gunners team-mate and England captain Williamson – the woman she replaced with five minutes remaining in normal time. 'She feels inevitable right now,' said Williamson. England's Chloe Kelly beats Ella Toone to the ball to score the second goal (Nick Potts/PA) 'I think she's quality. I think what she brings, she's a nightmare to play against. I'm glad she's my teammate at club and country. 'She deserves her flowers. I hope she gets them. I hope she enjoys tonight, and then I hope she's ready to go at the weekend.' Fellow Gunner Kelly, who signed a permanent agreement with Arsenal earlier this month, said she felt like she was in a 'fantasy' and was feeling 'so proud to be English' after writing more history for her country. Agyemang, she said, 'made something happen for the team, got us back in the game, and built so much momentum for us. 'Especially that one where she hits the crossbar, I think that gave us a new lease of energy. She was unbelievable tonight. She gave us a lot of confidence, and when your forward is doing that, it's special.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store