Brentford's tribute to the late Robert Rowan
This week, BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast have been granted exclusive access to Brentford's training ground.
In a recent interview, director Niti Raj explained the reasoning behind naming the training facilities after the late Robert Rowan.
"In 2018, Robert Rowan, our friend and colleague, died following a cardiac myopathy at the age of 28, and that was a massive shock to all of us and brought home that many young people die every year not knowing about cardiac health conditions," he said.
"We worked with this fantastic charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young, that do cardiac screenings for young people.
"They can tell you if there is something you need treatment for or if you need to make lifestyle changes to hopefully avoid these tragedies."
Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast for more
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Report: Liverpool weigh £30m sale as Brentford and others show interest
Ben Doak and Liverpool's £30m Opportunity: Smart Business or Short-Sighted Sale? Transfer Turbulence Around Young Talent Liverpool's summer activity has been relentless, with deals flowing in and out of the club in rapid succession. The latest transfer spotlight, however, is fixed on 19-year-old Ben Doak, a name that barely registered with the casual fan last summer but now finds himself a £30m-rated target for a trio of Premier League clubs. Advertisement Per the Hounslow Herald, Brentford are keen to add Doak to a growing collection of ex-Liverpool talent, having already secured the signatures of Caoimhin Kelleher, Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho over the past two summers. But they're not alone. Crystal Palace and Brighton have reportedly entered the fray, a development that significantly strengthens Liverpool's hand. Sale May Fund Big-Name Targets Liverpool's motivation is clear. While they've already welcomed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and bid farewell to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kelleher, bigger targets are on the radar. Chief among them is Florian Wirtz. Liverpool to recoup funds to help fund Wirtz and more. With the club still engaged in talks over Milos Kerkez and potentially a striker, Doak's sale could serve a broader strategic purpose. His potential may be considerable, but in a summer of reshaping, even promising youth might be considered expendable to fund marquee arrivals. Market Value and Timing Work in Liverpool's Favour Doak's value, and the timing of this interest, place Liverpool in an advantageous position. Ipswich Town had tried in January, but the Reds didn't want to sell. The mood seems to have shifted, and rightly so. The competition between Brentford, Brighton and Crystal Palace all but guarantees a fee close to the full £30m. Photo IMAGO Given that Doak's 2024/25 campaign was hampered by injury after a strong loan stint at Middlesbrough, it's a bold valuation—but not unrealistic. There's enough performance data, promise and Premier League readiness to justify it, particularly in a summer when even mid-table clubs have serious money to spend. Development Versus Immediate Value Selling Doak would be another sign that Liverpool are prioritising short-term gains and proven quality over longer-term squad depth and player development. That may be a calculated risk worth taking, but it will only pay off if their reinvestments—particularly in the Wirtz deal—yield immediate returns. Advertisement It's a recurring theme under Fenway Sports Group: buy low, develop smart, and sell high. In this case, it might be more about selling smart and buying elite. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis There's no doubt Ben Doak has something about him. Pacey, direct, and fearless—he looks every inch a player suited to Arne Slot's dynamic football. His performances at Middlesbrough hinted at serious potential, and despite injury setbacks, most Liverpool fans would have liked to see him get a proper run in the first team before decisions are made. That said, £30m is no small change for a player who's still largely unproven at Premier League level. If that money helps secure someone like Florian Wirtz, a generational talent who could redefine Liverpool's attacking play, then it becomes more palatable. But it always stings to see homegrown or carefully scouted youth sold on just before they might explode. Advertisement Brentford, Brighton and Palace are all clubs with smart recruitment and solid coaching. If any of them land Doak, he'll probably thrive. The worry then is hindsight. If he becomes a star elsewhere, fans will question why we didn't show more patience. Still, given the bigger picture and financial pragmatism required to stay competitive in the modern game, this looks like a sale Liverpool can afford to make—but only if they get the rest of their summer business absolutely right.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool announces second summer transfer after chasing Florian Wirtz
Armin Pecsi has signed a contract with Liverpool after agreeing to join the Anfield club from Hungarian side from Puskas Academy. The 20-year-old is regarded as one of the best young goalkeepers in the world and was last month nominated for the Golden Boy award, which is awarded to the best young player in the world. He's Liverpool's second signing of the summer after Jeremie Frimpong, while Florian Wirtz is edging closer to joining the Reds. Advertisement Pecsi is Liverpool's second signing of the summer after Jeremie Frimpong's arrival from Bayer Leverkusen was confirmed last month. understands that Pecsi will initially play for the Reds' U21s side while benefiting from training with senior goalkeepers Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili. The fee is understood to be up to around $2 million (£1.5 million). READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Florian Wirtz medical, next signing imminent, Milos Kerkez latest READ MORE: Liverpool sent Jack Grealish message as big summer continues to take shape Pecsi, 20, first began training with Puskas' senior team as a 16-year-old and ended his time there as the team's first-choice goalkeeper, helping the club to a second-placed finish in the Hungarian top flight in 2024-25. Advertisement Meanwhile, Caoimhin Kelleher said that it was an easy decision to leave Liverpool upon completing his transfer to fellow Premier League side Brentford earlier this week. Reflecting on his exit from Anfield and his arrival at his new club, Kelleher said: 'I'm buzzing, I'm really happy to be here. 'I don't think it was very difficult for me to leave [Liverpool]. I felt for my own career that the time was right for me to go, to be a no.1 and to play every week. 'I heard of some interest a number of weeks ago. Once I knew Brentford was in for me, it was definitely one I was really excited about and wanted to do as quickly as possible. Advertisement 'When I come back for pre-season, all focus will be on what I want to do next year; to work on certain goals and what I need to improve on, and to have a really good season for Brentford." Liverpool's new No. 2 goalkeeper, Mamardashvili, confirmed last month that he will move to Anfield at the end of the season after there were some suggestions that he might spend another season at Valencia. "I'll go to Liverpool and give my all, just like I did at Valencia," Mamardashvili said. "I'll work hard every single day, training with Alisson will help me."
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Newcastle Hit Back at ‘Saudi Tax' Transfer Demands
Summer Strategy Built on Realism, Not Riches There's a perception Newcastle United are flush with cash, a perception the club believes is both outdated and damaging. As Luke Edwards revealed in his excellent report for Telegraph Sport, Newcastle are 'growing increasingly frustrated by rival clubs putting a 'Saudi tax' on transfers and refuse to be held to ransom over key targets.' Advertisement It's an accusation that's been hanging in the air since the PIF-led takeover in 2021. The expectation is that Newcastle will, and should, spend extravagantly – but the club is pushing back, constrained by the Premier League's strict profit and sustainability rules (PSR). Edwards was given rare insight into the club's negotiating table, and what's clear is that Newcastle are walking a tightrope. They are attempting to add quality to Eddie Howe's squad without blowing apart the financial structure that's slowly, carefully, been built. Value Takes Priority Over Vanity Newcastle's business so far has been quiet, but deliberate. There's clarity in their strategy. They want to recruit in four key positions – goalkeeper, centre-back, right-sided forward, and striker – but they 'cannot spend upwards of £60 million on players when wages are also a consideration.' That's where the Bryan Mbeumo situation becomes telling. As Edwards explains, Mbeumo was 'a leading target by Newcastle's recruitment team' but wage demands and a hefty transfer fee forced the club to walk away. Signing the Brentford man could have meant making him the top earner at the club. Doing so before star striker Alexander Isak is rewarded with a new contract – talks for which are set to begin in July – would be a recipe for dressing room unrest. Advertisement And so, Newcastle hold firm. No player, however talented, is worth tearing up the wage structure for. 'Mbeumo would have likely been Newcastle's highest earner if he had signed,' Edwards wrote. 'That would have inevitably prompted others at the club to ask for parity.' Photo: IMAGO Talent Targets Still in Sight – But on Newcastle's Terms The ambition hasn't waned, but the method is clear. Newcastle have eyes on several exciting players. Burnley's James Trafford remains a top goalkeeping target, while Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo and Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga are being considered for that right-sided role. However, progress is limited – so far – by inflated price tags. Advertisement Brighton's Joao Pedro fits the mould of what Newcastle are after: young, versatile, and Premier League-proven. Yet his price – reportedly up to £70 million – risks consuming a huge chunk of the budget. It's a fee Newcastle could theoretically pay, but not if they want to fill all four positions. As Edwards reports, 'it has caused pause for thought internally.' Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike has long been admired, but the £80 million fee means any move is unlikely unless things change. Likewise, Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi remains of interest in central defence, but Newcastle will wait for his value to drop, knowing his contract is entering its final year. Contract Talks with Isak Key to Summer Stability Everything this summer revolves around Alexander Isak. Newcastle are planning to make him the club's highest earner – a just reward for his performances and potential. But the negotiations won't be easy, and the club knows that bringing in players on higher wages before that deal is done could be destabilising. Advertisement 'Bringing in new players on significantly more money than that before those talks begin is fraught with danger,' Edwards warns. It's a point of sensitivity at St James' Park – one that highlights Newcastle's desire to build a sustainable elite club rather than simply buy one. The Magpies are still shopping in the upper tiers of the market, but they're doing so with calculation, not chaos. Other potential names include James McAtee, liked by Howe and potentially available at £25 million. West Ham's Mohammed Kudus is another admired target, though his future may hinge on finding the right financial compromise. As ever, there will be quiet moves, too. 'Some of their biggest transfers, like Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon and Sandro Tonali from AC Milan, were only known about 48 hours before they signed,' Edwards notes. Newcastle haven't stopped moving – they've just learned to move smartly.
