logo
Slot hints at new Liverpool bid for Newcastle's Isak

Slot hints at new Liverpool bid for Newcastle's Isak

Al Jazeeraa day ago
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has refused to rule out an improved bid for Newcastle's Alexander Isak as the Premier League champions consider adding to their formidable firepower as Darwin Nunez is set to leave for Saudi Arabia.
After a quiet first year in the transfer market under Slot, the Reds have spent almost 300 million pounds ($402m) on forwards Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike as well as full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.
Nunez is one of a number of significant exits that will help recoup much of that outlay as the Uruguayan closes in on a 46-million-pound ($61.8m) move to Al Hilal.
Liverpool reportedly had a 110-million-pound ($147.8m) bid for Isak turned down by Newcastle, who are seeking a record British transfer fee.
The Swedish striker has not been part of the Magpies' preseason preparations and has been told to train on his own by Newcastle.
'You never talk about players that are not yours,' Slot said at his pre-match news conference before Sunday's Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley, the traditional curtain-raiser for the season.
'I think we have a lot of attacking power in our team. When I think about Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike, Mo Salah, Jeremie Frimpong, who can play as a right-winger, Florian Wirtz, who can play as a left-winger, I already feel I have a lot of attacking options in my current squad.
'But as always as a club, we are always looking at the chances in the market.'
Last season, Liverpool celebrated a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title but were devastated last month by the death of forward Diogo Jota.
The Portuguese international was killed in a car accident with his brother in northern Spain as he began to make his way back to England for the preseason.
A series of tributes has been paid to Jota at every Liverpool game since and will continue throughout the season.
A 'Forever 20' emblem, referencing Jota's now-retired shirt number, will be printed on Liverpool's shirts this season while a permanent memorial will be installed at Anfield.
'First of all, tragedy impacted us, but it impacted far more his wife, children and parents,' Slot said.
'But it impacted us as well, definitely. The tributes that have been done since were all very emotional and impressive every time we were somewhere.
'It started off in Preston and in Asia as well. It's been emotional but impressive as well.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Who can stop Liverpool reclaiming the English Premier League?
Who can stop Liverpool reclaiming the English Premier League?

Al Jazeera

time2 hours ago

  • Al Jazeera

Who can stop Liverpool reclaiming the English Premier League?

The new Premier League season kicks off on Friday, August 15, when champions Liverpool entertain Bournemouth. Arne Slot's Reds will be favourites to lift the trophy once more, but can Arsenal improve on three consecutive second-placed finishes? Manchester City are expected to bounce back from an uncharacteristically quiet season under Pep Guardiola, while Chelsea are the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) champions. Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the likely candidates. Liverpool Slot's side stormed to a record-equalling 20th Premier League title last season. The Reds finished 10 points clear of Arsenal – and that after taking their foot off the gas in a winless four-game run to finish. Florian Wirtz is the big name summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen and comes with a hefty price tag of $156m. The German midfielder follows French forward Hugo Ekitike and Dutch wide man Jeremie Frimpong through the Anfield gates. The latter will be utilised both in covering for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has joined Real Madrid, and Mohamed Salah, who will depart midseason to represent Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations. Securing the ongoing services of both Salah and Virgil van Dijk, however, was undoubtedly the biggest piece of business the Reds needed. Egyptian forward Salah was heavily linked with the Saudi Pro League and, having topped the goalscoring charts against last season with 29 goals, would have been a huge loss. Dutch defender and Liverpool captain van Dijk has been the rock upon which the Reds' fortunes have been built since his arrival from Southampton in 2018. The pursuit of Aleksander Isak from Newcastle United has been ongoing for some time. Slot has teased the Reds may return with a second bid, and if one position has been in question, it is an out-and-out striker – Isak's 23 goals last season proved he is one of the hottest talents in that role. 'Every team in the Premier League is spending money,' Slot said in the run-up to the new campaign. 'So if we are only favourites because we've spent a bit, I would see that as weird because we've lost a lot as well. But that we are favourites because we won it last season and we played so well, that's clear.' The tragic death of Diogo Jota, in a car crash in Spain in July, supersedes all concerns of success. Coming to terms with his loss will be painful in training and in matches, with his absence felt in ways far beyond the gap the Portuguese forward leaves in the starting XI each week. Arsenal Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have been the form team of the last three seasons in the Premier League, but three second-place finishes in a row are starting to burn deeply in north London. Substantial reinforcements have been sought to help the Gunners end their 22-season wait to lift the Premier League title once again. Viktor Gyokeres is the headline news, given Arteta made little secret of his frustration with the club's lack of striking options last season. The signing of the Swedish striker from Sporting Lisbon for 63 million pounds ($85m) will be seen as the best chance to close the gap on Liverpool. Noni Madueke's capture from Chelsea, meantime, divided Arsenal fans. The England international does, however, bring further depth and additional quality to a forward line, whose top scorer last season was Kai Havertz with a paltry nine goals. The arrival in midfield from Real Sociedad of Martin Zubimendi, a Euro 2024 winner with Spain, can only solidify the already meticulously manufactured system Arteta has arranged. Chelsea Chelsea will surely hit the ground running following their stunning FIFA Club World Cup success against European champions Paris Saint-Germain last month. Enzo Maresca's side stormed to a 3-0 win against the Parisians, who swept through the UEFA Champions League – culminating in their own 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan – to complete the treble. Joao Pedro's three goals across the semifinal and final at the CWC have already gone a long way towards validating his 60-million-pound ($80.7m) signing from Brighton before the tournament. That move came on top of the capture of fellow strikers, Liam Delap from Ipswich and Estevao from Palmeiras. Estevao scored against the west London club in his last game with his Brazilian outfit during the quarterfinals of the CWC. Disjointed has long been a word associated with Chelsea on and off the pitch, certainly since their last Premier League title win in 2017. Whether Maresca can continue to tie the team together following the CWC triumph, and whether that tournament will test the legs of the Blues players later in the season, could well be deciding factors in Chelsea's title challenge. Manchester City Will Pep Guardiola's team bounce back to the form that saw them claim a record fourth consecutive Premier League title only a season ago? Or will the light blues of Manchester continue to feel the heavy burden of a side that conquered all before them, only to seemingly lose control of their own success last season? The injury to Ballon d'Or holder Rodri undoubtedly hit City hard last term, and the news that he will miss the start of the new campaign will also come as a huge concern to Guardiola. For a team that won an unprecedented five trophies in 2023, and the record-setting Premier League title the following year, to fall so far last season came as a huge shock to all, not least their manager. Indeed, many believed last season may well have been Guardiola's final term. Even with a two-year contract extension signed midway through the last campaign, a slow start to this season will once again cast doubt where once it seemed unthinkable. The departure of Kevin De Bruyne marks a passing of the guard, and that absence will now be doubly felt in the early stages with the unavailability of Rodri. Their nine league losses last season were more than their two previous seasons combined and resulted in a first finish outside the top two since 2016-2017. The Blues also crashed out of the Champions League and League Cup early, and their FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace meant no silverware for the first time in eight years. Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, defender Rayan Ait-Nouri, winger Rayan Cherki and goalkeeper James Trafford have all been recruited in the close season. The summer spree pushed City's spending for 2025 past the 300-million-pounds ($403.5m) mark, following the arrivals of Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis in the January window. 'I'm pretty sure it'll be good, but it won't be a red carpet season,' Guardiola said. 'The expectation at the beginning of the season is always, let's go and try to do our best, win the first games, get confidence and move forward. We want to try and do better than last season, especially with consistency.' A cloud that continues to hang over the club, however, is that they still face 115 charges of breaking Premier League financial regulations. City, who have always denied any wrongdoing, were charged with the alleged breaches in February 2023. A verdict during the October international break. Manchester United and the rest United have defied their financial woes to reinvent their front three with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo signed earlier in the window, and the big-money move for Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. The Red Devils' captain Bruno Fernandes hit out at a 'lazy' preseason performance following the 2-2 preseason draw with Everton, and also called for more reinforcements. One of the longest serving players at the club, England international Luke Shaw, also criticised a 'toxic' dressing room culture that manager Ruben Amorim was trying to change. Just like Guardiola, his opposite number across the Manchester divide, how long the reversal in fortunes takes is likely to take will define how much longer Amorim has at the helm. A slow start may mean his tenure barely lasts a year having replaced Eric ten Hag as manager last November. Newcastle United narrowly missed out on a top-four spot, and with it Champions League qualification, last season, having been seen as early-season title contenders. The doubts surrounding their star name, Isak, cast huge doubts heading into the new season for Eddie Howe's side. Should the Swede depart, and with their own top target, Sesko, moving to Old Trafford, the Geordies look the most under threat of falling short of last season's progress. Aston Villa were another side that have threatened to break into the Premier League's elite, having secured Champions League football two years ago, which resulted in a run to the quarterfinals last year. Ivory Coast forward Evann Guessand has been signed from French club Nice for a reported fee of at least 30 million euros ($35m). The 24-year-old winger scored 13 goals last season. If the transfer merry-go-round continues, however, then Villa striker Ollie Watkins could be the next on the move, with all of last season's top four having been linked with a move for the England international at some stage. Indeed, Isak's future at Newcastle could well be the trigger for whether Watkins remains at Villa Park when the transfer window shuts on September 1.

Manchester United complete Benjamin Sesko signing from RB Leipzig
Manchester United complete Benjamin Sesko signing from RB Leipzig

Al Jazeera

time7 hours ago

  • Al Jazeera

Manchester United complete Benjamin Sesko signing from RB Leipzig

Manchester United have signed Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko from Germany's RB Leipzig on a contract until 2030, the Premier League club have announced. The transfer fee is 76.5 million euros ($89m) with 8.5 million euros ($9.9m) in bonuses. The 22-year-old, who joined Leipzig from the Austrian club RB Salzburg in 2023, scored 39 goals in 87 appearances across all competitions for the German side. 'The history of Manchester United is obviously very special, but what really excites me is the future,' Sesko said, upon completing the deal on Saturday. 'When we discussed the project, it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon. 'From the moment that I arrived, I could feel the positive energy and family environment that the club has created. It is clearly the perfect place to reach my maximum level and fulfil all of my ambitions. 'I cannot wait to start learning from [manager] Ruben [Amorim] and connecting with my teammates to achieve the success that we all know we are capable of together.' Manchester United, who finished 15th in the Premier League last season, have also signed forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo for the new campaign, which starts at home against Arsenal on August 17. It was only ever United. — Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 9, 2025 Sesko had also been a target for Newcastle United, who are actively seeking replacements for wantaway striker Alexander Isak. 'Benjamin possesses a rare combination of electrifying pace and the ability to physically dominate defenders, making him one of the most exceptional young talents in world football,' Jason Wilcox, Man United's director of football, said in the club's announcement. 'We have followed Benjamin's career closely; all of our data analysis and research concluded that he has the required qualities and personality to thrive at Manchester United. 'Working under the guidance of Ruben and our excellent performance team, Benjamin is joining the perfect environment to support him to reach his world-class potential. 'The desire that all of our new signings have shown to join the club this summer highlights the appeal and stature of Manchester United, as we continue to build and develop a team capable of challenging for the biggest honours.' Current United strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scored just 18 goals between them in all competitions last term as United fell to a club-record 18 losses in the Premier League era and its lowest points total of 42. Only four teams scored fewer goals than United in the top flight last term – including the three relegated clubs – as the 20-time English champion recorded its lowest finish in the modern era when it placed 15th, just three places above the relegation zone. Sesko has been compared with former Paris Saint-Germain and United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic because of his height – both are 1.95 metres (6 feet, 5 inches) tall – and flashes of technical skill. Of his goals, the striker has six goals in 28 Champions League games for Leipzig and his previous club, Salzburg. He has also tallied 16 goals in 41 games for Slovenia.

Manchester United complete Benjamin Sesko signing from RP Leipzig
Manchester United complete Benjamin Sesko signing from RP Leipzig

Al Jazeera

time11 hours ago

  • Al Jazeera

Manchester United complete Benjamin Sesko signing from RP Leipzig

Manchester United have signed Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko from Germany's RB Leipzig on a contract until 2030, the Premier League club have announced. The transfer fee is 76.5 million euros ($89m) with 8.5 million euros ($9.9m) in bonuses. The 22-year-old, who joined Leipzig from the Austrian club RB Salzburg in 2023, scored 39 goals in 87 appearances across all competitions for the German side. 'The history of Manchester United is obviously very special, but what really excites me is the future,' Sesko said upon completing the deal on Saturday. 'When we discussed the project, it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon. 'From the moment that I arrived, I could feel the positive energy and family environment that the club has created. It is clearly the perfect place to reach my maximum level and fulfil all of my ambitions. 'I cannot wait to start learning from [manager] Ruben [Amorim] and connecting with my teammates to achieve the success that we all know we are capable of together.' Manchester United, who finished 15th in the Premier League last season, have also signed forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo for the new campaign, which starts at home against Arsenal on August 17. Sesko had also been a target for Newcastle United, who are actively seeking replacements for wantaway striker Alexander Isak.

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