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The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Anger at Alexander Isak reveals biggest regret from summer transfer saga
Villa Park was emptying when a chant emerged from a corner. 'One greedy ba*****,' they sang, and it wasn't the Aston Villa fans referring to the £77 price of tickets in the Holte End for a 0-0 draw. Alexander Isak, unnamed but the object of the Newcastle supporters' ire, may object to both the noun and the adjective. He might argue that ambition, not avarice, is driving his attempts to leave Newcastle. He will get his way. The issue is when; where, too, depending on if his departure comes in this transfer window, January's or next summer's. By then, Anfield may not be the destination. One weekend does not mean plans are ripped up and nine-figure bids abandoned, but the early evidence is that Newcastle need Isak rather more than Liverpool do. There was a sliding-doors scenario whereby Isak had been allowed to go to Liverpool because Newcastle secured Hugo Ekitike. Instead, the Frenchman is Anfield's new darling. Newcastle can congratulate themselves on their ability to identify high-class strikers and lament their inability to sign them – since Isak, anyway. Now Newcastle have the worst of all worlds: without Isak's services, without a replacement, without an injection of around £110m, without any goals at Villa Park. Eddie Howe praised the players who had made themselves available but, by invoking the word 'distraction', he conceded there was one. Howe called for a 'resolution'. In one respect, he is guaranteed one within 15 days. The transfer window will close and when Howe said the door was open for Isak, he meant to come back into the fold. The striker may have checked out mentally – and moved out physically, from his house in the north-east – but contractually he is still in. Howe has said a lot while saying a little. A recurring theme is that the situation is out of his hands. Yet that could be construed in different ways. 'Alex has to decide what he wants to do. He is in control of what he does,' his manager said on Saturday. But only in the sense that Isak could opt to come out of his self-imposed exile; he is not in control of an exit. Not mentioned as explicitly, but with their own form of control over Isak's destiny, are Howe's ultimate employers, Newcastle's owners. Yasir Al-Rumayyan and the Saudi Arabian PIF have adopted an uncompromising stance so far; they may be a regime unaccustomed to backing down. Perhaps Liverpool have not endeared themselves to a club they hope to raid – signing Ekitike, noting that Newcastle also wanted Giovanni Leoni – which could make them still more determined not to grant the Premier League champions their wishes. So it would represent a U-turn if Newcastle suddenly opted to sell. Some would say that, of everyone, the club that had the tag of the world's richest has the least need to. Yet Howe raised the subject of PSR at Villa Park; it has been a constraint on their spending and Newcastle would have considerable leeway if they cashed in on Isak. That said, they are struggling to spend on strikers, regardless of budget. One interpretation is that Isak is bringing his price down, his actions rendering it less likely that Newcastle can command £150m. Yet he is not in the strongest bargaining position. If Newcastle do not relent, the eventual verdict on his summer may be that he miscalculated: by making his efforts to go public knowledge, he alienated the Newcastle public; by stepping up his attempts to leave when Arsenal were closing in on Viktor Gyokeres and Liverpool on Ekitike, he may regret not being more militant earlier in the summer. Has he misread Newcastle? Would he have been better coming to an arrangement where he was permitted to go in 2026 for an agreed fee? If he stays against his wishes, it will be instructive if he has burnt his (Tyne) bridges. The relationship with the fans who used to borrow from Abba to sing about a 'striker from Sweden' has altered irrevocably. Perhaps it can be patched up, but the love feels gone. Two players scored in the final as Newcastle won their first trophy since 1969, which should have secured legendary status. One, Dan Burn, is a lifelong fan. The other soon sought to join the beaten finalists. If Isak is proof that football can be fickle, he is not alone in that. He scored 21 and 23 goals in the last two Premier League seasons. If he is reintegrated, if there is a pragmatic recognition that he is stuck at St James' Park, and finds similar form, supporters may celebrate his goals, and maybe even the player himself, without the love really returning, and Newcastle will benefit in the short term. But if so, will Liverpool have blinked first in the Isak impasse and brought in another attacker, rather than sitting and waiting? So someone won't get their perfect resolution. Perhaps no one will. But the greatest risk may be for Isak himself. He might not get his, whether now or even next year. He might have played his last game for Newcastle. He may not enjoy the soundtrack in their next game. Because they face Liverpool and it feels a certainty that he will line up for neither of the clubs at a standstill in a tug of war.
Scottish Sun
7 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Departing Rangers star bids emotional farewell after 16 years following transfer exit as he says ‘I fulfilled my dream'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ROBBIE FRASER says he lived out his childhood dreams at Rangers after sealing a transfer exit. The 22-year old brought an end to a 16-year spell at Ibrox just a few days ago. 3 Robbie Fraser's time at Rangers has come to an end Credit: Willie Vass 3 He helped Livingston seal promotion last season Credit: Kenny Ramsay 3 Fraser (left) was back in the Rangers fold during pre-season Credit: Willie Vass Fraser enjoyed a successful youth career at Rangers, having joined as a seven-year old in 2010. The defender worked his way through the academy ranks and became the B team's captain. Fraser was handed his first team debut in a 5-2 victory over Dundee at Ibrox in May last year and signed a contract extension the very next day. He went on to make five first team appearances for the Gers in all competitions, including an appearance against Tottenham in the Europa League last season. Fraser spent the second half of last season on loan at Livingston and played 23 times across all competitions. He was a key figure as Livi sealed an instant return to the Scottish Premiership by winning the play-offs. Fraser returned to Ibrox at the end of his loan spell and was in and around the first team during pre-season, and was also named in the Gers' initial Champions League qualifying squad. But he's now heading back to the Championship after sealing a move to Dunfermline Athletic on Friday. This time, the move is a permanent one. After linking-up with Neil Lennon's side, Fraser said he felt it was now time to play regular football and "show that I'm more than capable of holding my own." Billy Dodds on turning down Celtic for Rangers and surviving relegation scare with Aberdeen Now that the dust has settled, Fraser has taken to social media to reflect on a 16-year spell at Rangers. In an emotional Instagram post, Fraser said he's "proud" of everything he achieved and says he lived out his dream of playing for his boyhood club. Fraser said: "Almost 16 years at the club. A club I grew up dreaming and believing I could play for every single day as a young kid. "To say I have went onto achieve this makes me so proud. "From the age of seven at the very start of the academy all the way to now, I've given absolutely everything I could possibly give everyday to the football club. "I've experienced some amazing highs but some tough lows but I've always kept the same attitude no matter what. "I want to say a massive thank you to all of the staff in the academy, first team and behind the scenes who I have worked with and under. "You have worked tirelessly with me over the years to help me become a better player and person. "Secondly a thank you to all of the teammates I shared the changing room and pitch with. "You all pushed me to the maximum to help me become better. I've made friends for life because of this. "And of course a big thank you to the fans of Rangers. Thank you for all your support. I'll always be very grateful. "The club has been almost my whole life so a very long journey with many highs and lows but I leave very proud of what I achieved and with my head held high. "I fulfilled my dream of playing for the club I grew up supporting and watching from the stands. "I wish the club the very best in future. "Thank you Rangers Football Club." Fraser left Rangers despite the club's glaring need for left-back cover. Jefte looks set to return to Brazil with Palmeiras, while Ridvan Yilmaz has been frozen out under Russell Martin. A reinforcement has now arrived, however, with the Gers sealing a loan deal for Jayden Meghoma. The 19-year old has joined the Light Blues from Brentford for the season. Meghoma previously worked under Russell Martin at Southampton before moving to the Bees in a £10million last year. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Two Leeds players to watch out for this season
BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked two Leeds United players who will be worth watching out for in the next few Piroe Age: 26 Position: Striker Country: Netherlands Guy Mowbray: The very definition of a wildcard, given that he can look like he can do it all AND the total opposite - sometimes within the same game.I've got a feeling Leeds will have brought in a new striker to start ahead of him before the big kick-off, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him come on as an impact sub to get them a point or two early in the BijolAge: 26 Position: Centre-back Country: SloveniaConor McNamara: Leeds' new centre-back from Udinese is a very interesting signing. I've been wondering for a few years now why a Champions League club has not snapped him one failing seems to be a tendency to mis-time lunging tackles, something he will need to get right in the cut and thrust of the Premier League, but otherwise he appears to have all the attributes - very strong in the air, mobile, and able to ping an accurate long-range pass.I commentated on several of his games for Slovenia at last summer's Euros in Germany, and he did really well in games against strikers such as Harry Kane, Rasmus Hojlund, Alexander Mitrovic, and Cristiano Ronaldo - none of them scored in their games against Bijol during the about more players to watch here
