Wednesday's briefing: Alexander Isak goes public and Rangers suffer big setback
On the pitch, Rangers' hopes of reaching the Champions League took a major hit.
Isak made clear his determination to leave Newcastle this summer as he issued a statement on Instagram that concluded: 'When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue.'
But Newcastle quickly responded with a statement saying no commitment was ever made by a club official that the Sweden striker could leave this summer and that they 'have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired'.
However, the club left the door open for Isak to 'be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates'.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah collected his record third PFA men's player of the year award, with Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey collecting the women's accolade at a ceremony in Manchester on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old Egypt international scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists as Arne Slot's Reds stormed to last season's Premier League title.
'I look at myself now, a guy coming from Egypt and making it to the top level, making history today, it's something that makes me so proud,' Salah said.
The women's award went to Caldentey, who joined Arsenal from Barcelona last summer and scored 19 goals in all competitions, helping the Gunners lift the Champions League.
'Everyone at the club has made it so easy for me and they helped me from the start and it just feels like home and I'm happy to be here,' she said.
Rangers suffered a nightmare start to the first leg of their Champions League play-off against Club Brugge.
Gers defender Nasser Djiga inexplicably allowed a long ball past him in the third minute and grateful visiting striker Romeo Vermant coolly lofted over stranded goalkeeper Jack Butland, before further strikes from Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele had the visitors 3-0 up after just 20 minutes.
Brazilian striker Danilo pulled a goal back four minutes after the break but the Belgian side will have a two-goal cushion for next week's return leg.
Gers boss Russell Martin insisted: 'The tie is still open and the players feel that.'
England forward Michelle Agyemang has returned to Brighton for a second season-long loan spell from Arsenal, having scored five goals in 22 games for the club last term.
The 19-year-old scored two vital equalisers in the knock-out rounds at Euro 2025 to propel the Lionesses into the Basel final, where they successfully defended their title in a penalty shootout victory over Spain.
Agyemang was named young player of the tournament after her breakthrough campaign, and has been nominated for the women's Kopa trophy at this year's Ballon d'Or awards.
Celtic are up against Kazakh side Kairat in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying play-off in Glasgow.
Oliver Glasner will hold a preview press conference for a game Crystal Palace hoped they would not be playing – their Conference League play-off first leg against Fredrikstad – and will be sure to face questions on the future of Eberechi Eze.
Bolton host Reading among a handful of EFL and National League matches.
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