Wednesday's briefing: Alexander Isak goes public and Rangers suffer big setback
Isak's statement – swiftly responded to by the club – came in a social media post which explained his absence from the PFA awards ceremony in Manchester, where Mohamed Salah and Mariona Caldentey received accolades.
On the pitch, Rangers' hopes of reaching the Champions League took a major hit.
Isak: 'The relationship can't continue'
Isak made clear his determination to leave Newcastle this summer as he issued a statement on Instagram that concluded: 'When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue.'
But Newcastle quickly responded with a statement saying no commitment was ever made by a club official that the Sweden striker could leave this summer and that they 'have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired'.
However, the club left the door open for Isak to 'be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates'.
Salah and Caldentey named PFA players of the year
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah collected his record third PFA men's player of the year award, with Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey collecting the women's accolade at a ceremony in Manchester on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old Egypt international scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists as Arne Slot's Reds stormed to last season's Premier League title.
'I look at myself now, a guy coming from Egypt and making it to the top level, making history today, it's something that makes me so proud,' Salah said.
The women's award went to Caldentey, who joined Arsenal from Barcelona last summer and scored 19 goals in all competitions, helping the Gunners lift the Champions League.
'Everyone at the club has made it so easy for me and they helped me from the start and it just feels like home and I'm happy to be here,' she said.
Rangers have it all to do
Rangers suffered a nightmare start to the first leg of their Champions League play-off against Club Brugge.
Gers defender Nasser Djiga inexplicably allowed a long ball past him in the third minute and grateful visiting striker Romeo Vermant coolly lofted over stranded goalkeeper Jack Butland, before further strikes from Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele had the visitors 3-0 up after just 20 minutes.
Brazilian striker Danilo pulled a goal back four minutes after the break but the Belgian side will have a two-goal cushion for next week's return leg.
Gers boss Russell Martin insisted: 'The tie is still open and the players feel that.'
Agyemang heads back to Brighton on loan
England forward Michelle Agyemang has returned to Brighton for a second season-long loan spell from Arsenal, having scored five goals in 22 games for the club last term.
The 19-year-old scored two vital equalisers in the knock-out rounds at Euro 2025 to propel the Lionesses into the Basel final, where they successfully defended their title in a penalty shootout victory over Spain.
Agyemang was named young player of the tournament after her breakthrough campaign, and has been nominated for the women's Kopa trophy at this year's Ballon d'Or awards.
What's on today?
Celtic are up against Kazakh side Kairat in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying play-off in Glasgow.
Oliver Glasner will hold a preview press conference for a game Crystal Palace hoped they would not be playing – their Conference League play-off first leg against Fredrikstad – and will be sure to face questions on the future of Eberechi Eze.
Bolton host Reading among a handful of EFL and National League matches.
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Daily Record
19 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Adam Idah earns Celtic dressing room support as misfiring striker absolved from Champions League blame game
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And skipper McGregor is convinced the misfiring Irishman just needs one goal to spark him into life. He said: "I think everybody looks at strikers and they think they need a goal. 'The big man started well to be fair. I think he's worked hard for the team, it just maybe wasn't his night, but we're just trying to go for something different there, a wee bit more pace through the middle of the pitch. 'So, the gaffer makes the tweaks and the players try and carry it out as much as they can. 'I think everyone thinks strikers need goals to be doing well. The big man will be fine. "He'll come back in, he'll train over the weekend, we'll get him on the pitch at the weekend and hopefully he can get that goal." It's not as if Idah doesn't know where the net is. He hit 20 goals last term - including a Champions League double away to Aston Villa and a derby strike at Ibrox. McGregor stressed the team also has a role in helping him rediscover that form. 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But McGregor won't accept excuses. He added: "Of course it's difficult and we have to deal with it, there's been a lot of things put in place and everybody trying to help us, but ultimately the players when we go out the pitch, we have to be ready. "There's now no excuse. We have to win the game and if we don't, then it'll be on us.'
Metro
22 minutes ago
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Tottenham make contact to sign £80m Chelsea target as Eberechi Eze alternative
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Metro
22 minutes ago
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Michael Owen suggests Man Utd's new £62.5m signing has an 'attitude' problem
Michael Owen has raised concerns over the 'attitude' of Manchester United's new £62.5m summer signing Matheus Cunha. United recruited Cunha from Wolves in June and the 26-year-old made his Premier League debut for the Red Devils in Sunday's defeat to Arsenal. Cunha shined in the top-flight for Wolves last term, conjuring up 15 goals and six assists across 33 games for the West Midlands club. But former United striker Owen feels there is a 'question mark' over the Brazilian who 'caused fights on numerous occasions' at Wolves. Metro's weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. 'My only question mark is his attitude,' Owen told AskGamblers. 'He gets sent off a lot, he waves his arms a lot, and you've already got someone like that alongside him in Bruno Fernandes. 'From a talent point of view, he's absolutely there. And maybe being at Manchester United, being at a huge club like that, might put some manners on him. 'You can't go around grabbing people's glasses off them after a game, getting sent off, arguing with referees, and causing fights on numerous occasions like he did at Wolves. 'But when you're the outstanding player and when you've been carrying the club, when all that pressure's on you and all those different things, then you can understand it a bit. 'When you go to Manchester United, you're in the public glare even more, and you need to behave that way. 'If he irons that out, I think he could be a brilliant signing and as I say, going to Manchester United might put manners on him because there are lots of big stars there, and there have been the greatest stars of all time there in the past. 'He's not going to come in and feel like a one-man band like he might've at Wolves. So, I think it's a brilliant signing. But that's my only question mark.' Owen believes Bryan Mbeumo, who joined United in a £71m deal from Brentford this summer, is 'probably the total opposite' to Cunha. More Trending 'Mbeumo is probably the total opposite,' Owen added. 'Again, you're probably going to get what you've seen over time: direct, quick, and can score with both feet. 'Possibly something Manchester United have been lacking is directness in play and pace, really. 'So that's quite a signing, you're not really questioning too much. You'd expect it to go okay. 'But I'd be really excited by Cunha. I think he could be exceptional, with the provisos I just mentioned.' MORE: Tottenham make contact to sign £80m Chelsea target as Eberechi Eze alternative MORE: Theo Walcott makes worrying Viktor Gyokeres claim after Arsenal's defeat of Man Utd MORE: Borussia Dortmund in advanced talks for £40m Chelsea star after Juventus attempted transfer hijack Your guide to the week in football. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk – sign up, it's an open goal.
