Liverpool prepare £150m bid for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak has told Newcastle he wants to explore a move away from the club, talkSPORT understands.
The Swede has not travelled with Eddie Howe's squad for their pre-season tour to Singapore amid continued speculation over his future.
talkSPORT understands that Newcastle sources insist it's down to a thigh issue, despite a precautionary scan coming back clear.
Isak has informed the Magpies that he wants to explore his options, but has stopped short of an official transfer request, as of yet.
The club's hierarchy are aware of Isak's wish to consider his options this summer and isn't willing to commit to new terms, with his current contract running until 2028.
The 25-year-old has attracted interest from Liverpool this summer while also being linked with a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia.
Alexander Isak has reportedly told Newcastle he wants out. Picture: Paul ELLIS / AFP
Premier League champions Liverpool are prepared to pay a British transfer record fee for Isak, who is valued at £150 million [$307 million AUD] .
The Reds have signed one striker already after confirming the arrival of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth up to £79m [$160 million AUD].
However, Liverpool remains an active suitor for Isak, whether now or in future transfer windows, with Newcastle's preference still to keep.
talkSPORT understands that if the Tyneside outfit's hand is forced, then they would rather do a deal to send their prized asset to Saudi Arabia rather than a Premier League rival.
Al Hilal are currently preparing a bid understood to be over £130m [$260 million AUD] for the 52-cap Sweden international.
Isak was left out of Newcastle's pre-season clash at Celtic on Saturday, with boss Howe admitting he wanted to remove him from 'scrutiny' over speculation he may leave the club.
Chelsea are preparing a bid for Leipzig and Netherlands star Xavi Simons. Picture: INA FASSBENDER / AFP
Chelsea prepare Xavi Simons bid – but face major hijack risk
Chelsea are set to make an opening bid to sign RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons, talkSPORT understands.
Simons is close to agreeing personal terms, but is also talking to other clubs with Bayern Munich and Arsenal keen as well.
The 22-year-old is prioritising a move to the Premier League as it stands and could be available for under £60 million.
That's despite Leipzig agreeing an £70 million fee with PSG in January. The breakdown of that package was £44 million guaranteed with a further £26 million in add-ons.
A large proportion of the bonuses haven't been paid yet, which is why Leipzig are prepared to sanction a sale closer to Simons' current market value.
Manchester United have expressed interest in Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins. Picture: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Man United enter fresh talks over Villa star
Manchester United have made fresh contact with Aston Villa for Ollie Watkins, talkSPORT understands.
The Red Devils have identified Watkins as a target in their search for a new number nine, but any move is likely to depend on selling players first.
Villa, who have also shown interest in United's Alejandro Garnacho, value England international Watkins at £60 million.
The 29-year-old scored 50 Premier League goals across the last three seasons and was linked with a shock January move to Arsenal.
Ruben Amorim's side have already spent over £125m ahead of the new season, but are pushing ahead in their pursuit of a new striker.
Originally published as Premier League transfer latest: Alexander Isak wants out of Newcastle, bombshell Saudi move
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It dropped to one when Kennedy Cherrington (concussion) left in the 59th minute and didn't return, but Fleur Ginn's four-pointer with nine minutes to go lifted Steve Georgallis' side to fifth. Newcastle have celebrated hosting the NRLW's first Magic Round by securing their fourth straight win. In front of a hometown crowd the Knights triumphed 18-0 over a luckless Canberra side, while the Warriors and Parramatta returned to the winner's circle on Sunday. The milestones continued at McDonald Jones Stadium with the first scoreless half of the eight-year competition between the hosts and Raiders, and a favourable bounce from the left upright keeping Jesse Southwell's perfect goal-kicking record this season (21 from 21) intact. On Saturday, the first drawn game eventuated between Gold Coast and Canterbury (14-all) and it was the first time games had been stopped by lightning. 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The Cowboys took a 6-0 lead through a Rosie Kelly try in the ninth minute, but that was as good as it got. "Our intent wasn't there today – we got out-enthused," he said. After wins over Cronulla and Canberra, the Cowboys showed none of their customary grit and fightback. Halfback Kirra Dibb is still sitting on the sidelines after being dropped three weeks ago, but Henry says she will be available for next weekend's game against the Eels. A try for prop Ivana Lauitiiti after she swatted away three defenders in her 10-metre run to the line, and a second four-pointer to winger Payton Takimoana did the damage for the Warriors, who avoided a third straight defeat. "We spoke about being prepared to win the game by skill but we'll be ready to win the game by will," coach Ron Griffiths said. "We arrived in Newcastle to torrential rain so we did our captain's run in the rain and then had a swim at Newcastle baths. And the players just said 'Yep, let's get it done'." 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Canberra coach Darren Borthwick said that despite the 0-5 start to the season there was a lot of belief in his team. "It's still not the result we want but they keep turning up for each other and I feel there's light at the end of the tunnel for them," he said. North Queensland coach Ricky Henry said his side were "out-enthused" by the Warriors, going down 12-6 and throwing away the chance to grab a third straight win. The Cowboys took a 6-0 lead through a Rosie Kelly try in the ninth minute, but that was as good as it got. "Our intent wasn't there today – we got out-enthused," he said. After wins over Cronulla and Canberra, the Cowboys showed none of their customary grit and fightback. Halfback Kirra Dibb is still sitting on the sidelines after being dropped three weeks ago, but Henry says she will be available for next weekend's game against the Eels. 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It dropped to one when Kennedy Cherrington (concussion) left in the 59th minute and didn't return, but Fleur Ginn's four-pointer with nine minutes to go lifted Steve Georgallis' side to fifth.
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Don't miss out on the headlines from Swimming. Followed categories will be added to My News. Australian sprinter Meg Harris gambled on herself and came up a world champion. The 23-year-old was one of the big underdog stories of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, bolting from an outside lane to claim a shock silver medal in the 50m freestyle. Inspired by that moment and the success of Australia's unique sprint king Cameron McEvoy, Harris decided to all but shelve the 100m event and focus on being a pure sprinter. It was a huge risk, given she had collected two Olympic and five world titles gold medals by being part of a relay ensemble with her 100m strength, but Harris knew she had potential to stand atop the podium on her own if she went all in on the 50m. Meg Harris celebrates after winning the women's 50m freestyle final. Picture: AFP) So committed was Harris to her new life as a one-lap specialist, she pulled out of the 100m event after swimming a heat at the national trials and coaches needed to twist her arm just to line up for the 4x100m freestyle relay on the opening night of these world titles where she also won a gold medal. But Harris has proven she could have her cake and eat it too. Harris executed a near-perfect race to take Australia's eighth gold medal of the world titles, with a stunning start and underwater to come up clearly ahead of the field and hold on to win in 24.02 seconds from China's Qingfeng Wu (24.26s) and Yujie Cheng (24.28s). She is Australia's first women's 50m freestyle world champion in a decade, joining Bronte Campbell as a one-lap hero after she won the title in Kazan in 2015. It also means Australia boasts the fastest man and woman in the world after Cameron McEvoy also won the 50m freestyle earlier in the meet. Meg Harris was part of five world championship-winning relay teams, with this her first individual title. Picture: AFP 'I still don't have the words to process this, but this is a dream,' Harris said. 'I felt really good the first 15m and that's been my weakness so far. I knew if I got that right I just had to hold on.' Harris said she made the bold call to focus on the 50m after struggling to get back into the grind of swimming life post Paris. 'It was a bit of a tough one. I felt such a high coming off that, and then starting out this year I had to find a new motivation, not just coming in and doing the exact same thing,' she explained. 'I tried for the first couple months, but something just wasn't working. I needed to find a new way to do it. So I stripped everything back and started with the basics, all the things… like the reasons I started swimming. I love sprinting, I love racing. 'So we just took that all back, did everything that I love. I'm excited now to put together the rest when I get home. But yeah, cannot be happier.' Meg Harris takes off, on her way to a world championships gold medal. Picture: Getty Images In a post-Olympic year Australia's eight gold medals is perhaps a stronger return than expected for a swim team that was tipped to struggle with Ariarne Titmus taking the year off, Zac Stubblety-Cook out injured and Olympic great Emma McKeon retired. But it is one more gold medal than the Dolphins secured at the Paris Olympics and importantly there were fresh faces like Harris showing they were ready to stand up as individuals in the path towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Meg Harris reacts after winning the women's 50m freestyle final. Picture: AFP The emergence of Lani Pallister as a serious threat to Katie Ledecky in the 800m freestyle, the arrival of Alexandria Perkins as a 50m-100m butterfly medallist and the 'dirty gold' Harrison Turner in the 200m butterfly have given Australian optimism about regenerating a swim team that is still powered by greats like Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O'Callaghan, Cameron McEvoy and Kyle Chalmers. While it wasn't quite the 13 gold medal haul from Fukuoka's 2023 world titles, the signs are promising enough that the Dolphins are keeping the US swim team honest in the medal table battle ahead of their home Games in three years. Sam Short climbed out of his sick bed just three days after a horrendous bout of gastro for a gallant fourth place in the 1500m freestyle final in 14:43,06. 'I just wanted to get out there and see how hard I could push myself,' he said. 'I was pretty sick three days ago ... fourth I will take that. 'I didn't have to do the 1500 but there was no way I would sit in the stands without giving it a crack.' Earlier, Isaac Cooper was seventh in the men's 50m backstroke. Originally published as World Swimming Championships: Shocked Harris wins 50m freestyle world championship
