Gossip: Premier League sides eye Hutchinson
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The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
David James hopes Alexander Isak can help Liverpool win multiple trophies
Former goalkeeper David James believes Liverpool need striker Alexander Isak to be able to win trophies at home and in Europe. The ex-England international admits the forward may not be 'the most viable signing' due to Newcastle's £150million price tag, but the Reds' long-term interest in the Sweden international shows how valuable they think he could be to them. Extricating Isak from St James' Park will be far from straightforward, even though the player has not joined his team-mates for their pre-season tour of South Korea and is privately telling people he wants to move to Anfield. However, James said Liverpool will have done their homework and know exactly what difference he can make to a team which won the Premier League in head coach Arne Slot's first season, but came up disappointing short in the Champions League. 'Arne is in the most wonderful position to be able to have to defend titles,' James told the PA news agency after surprising a St Helens walking football team as part of an initiative run by Carlsberg. 'Liverpool will give it the best they can, but there is a bigger carrot of 'can you be dominant in Europe?'. 'Bringing in someone like Isak is not the most viable signing, but when you want to be achieving on multiple levels then you are going to need that squad. 'If Isak comes in – if – then it will be because Liverpool will feel they need him rather than having the money just to get someone. 'What is interesting here is when you look at (Mohamed) Salah last season, he scored the goals but his assist numbers were what got me. 'How much influence he has on players to be better than the numbers they were recording last season will be exciting – and that includes Isak if it goes through. 'These players are coming into an environment where they are at least expected to improve and as Liverpool are currently Premier League champions then improvement would be adding another trophy hopefully.' Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group have undertaken an unprecedented spending spree this summer with almost £300m bringing in club-record signing Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. All are under the age of 24 and have helped reduce the age profile of the squad while also being a long-term investment. While Isak would be the summer's marquee signing, there are concerns Liverpool could be leaving themselves short at centre-back with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez – who returned home from the Far East to have treatment on an injury – the only senior players for that position. They have been linked with Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, who has a year left on his contract, but currently have not made any move. James, however, is not too concerned at present. 'You'd think their offence will always be better than the opposition's defence and they will be able to out-score other teams except for the occasional game,' he added. 'The idea Liverpool have to have the best defence would be wonderful, but I don't think they have to rush into buying someone. It might be something that happens in January. 'The end of the Champions League campaign is naturally when you come up against better teams and your defensive issues can be called into question. 'I imagine they will have so much success anyway they won't feel they have to desperately go out and buy someone and looking at the signings there doesn't appear to be any desperation so far.' :: David James partnered with Carlsberg to surprise members of the St Helen's Walking football team, forming part of the brewer's initiative to give more people access to the more of the best.
The Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Sun
Why Super League's expansion encourages mediocrity, not greatness
IT WAS nice to get a dose of early festive spirit yesterday as Super League clubs voted to expand the competition to 14 clubs from next season. For this really did have the air of turkeys voting for Christmas. 2 The last year or so has been dominated by talk of IMG, you know the global broadcasting giant that has negotiated contracts worth billions of pounds? The firm whose recommendations on grading brought visible improvements to the environment the sport is played in. To me, this decision screamed: 'What do they know? We're rugby league people.' Well, 'rugby league people', you have opened the door to mediocrity being rewarded. Run the club you own like it's an unwanted toy? Have almost 20,000 empty seats at your home matches? Your stadium has one seated and covered stand? Hey, you're welcome to try and join us in 2026. The only saving grace is that 12 of the clubs will be decided by IMG's grading scheme, even then there's a huge flaw. An independent panel will put forward the other two clubs – and to think, 'rugby league people' moaned about the demise of traditional promotion and relegation previously. Set criteria will be made clear. Er, they should be crystal clear already. Time is not exactly of the essence. 'It gets rid of loop fixtures,' is seen as one excuse. Fair enough, but what have they been replaced with, more humdrum matches as the gap between top and bottom grows? What should have happened is contraction rather than expansion. 10 top teams going at it week after week – now that will be something people will want to watch. Broadcasters want to show the best, not one good side easing past a mediocre one while not getting out of second gear. I can almost hear the, 'It's not enough matches for us,' argument from here. Well, make more of what you have. 2 There have been welcome strides in making matches into events at the clubs that get it. However, not enough have realised it. Being able to read the writing in the stands during a match does not exactly scream 'Must see.' Will having more clubs, diluting the talent pool further, change that? I don't think so. Maybe, just maybe, England – you know, the team that should be big everywhere and not an afterthought – could have a game or two as the top flight has been reduced. Still, we are where we are and to quote a phrase heard all too often from 'rugby league people,' it is what it is. And do not even get me started on the away fans argument.
BBC News
3 minutes ago
- BBC News
Transfer news: Man Utd target Sesko and Watkins, plus Diaz and Isak updates
Update: Date: 08:10 BST Title: 'United's move for Watkins is ironic' Content: Simon StoneBBC Sport chief football news reporter in Chicago Any move for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins would be an ironic one. It was Watkins that lost his place in Villa's starting XI when Marcus Rashford joined the club on loan in January. Watkins, 29, was the subject of a bid from Arsenal during that window but Villa rejected the Gunners' offer. United have so far signed three players this summer, spending almost £130m on attacking duo Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who could also play as a central striker but are thought more likely to occupy Amorim's preferred two number 10 slots, and teenage defender Diego Leon. Amorim spoke on Friday about his current preference to sign players with knowledge of the Premier League. Update: Date: 08:03 BST Title: Man Utd interested in Sesko and Watkins Content: Simon StoneBBC Sport chief football news reporter in Chicago Ollie Watkins and Benjamin Sesko are at the top of Manchester United's list of strikers if they decide to bring in a new centre forward this summer. A final decision has yet to be made and there is an acceptance among United's hierarchy that they need to start offloading some of their unwanted players – which might not happen until nearer the 1 September deadline – in order to fund a new arrival. Neither player would be straightforward to bring to Old Trafford. Newcastle, who have missed out on a number of key targets this summer and also have uncertainty over their own star forward Alexander Isak, are known to be keen on RB Leipzig's Sesko while Villa have made it known they are not interested in selling Watkins. However, United feel that stance might change nearer to the deadline, although they feel a suggested £60m price tag would be far too high for 29-year-old Watkins, whose current contract runs to 2028. Update: Date: 07:59 BST Title: Good morning! Content: Rise and shine. We're back on the transfer trail today. Grab a brew and we'll talk you through the breaking news from Old Trafford...
