logo
REVEALED: How Liverpool became kings of making mega-money from player sales... and why that means they can still afford Alexander Isak AND Marc Guehi this summer

REVEALED: How Liverpool became kings of making mega-money from player sales... and why that means they can still afford Alexander Isak AND Marc Guehi this summer

Daily Mail​9 hours ago
There is a phrase within the industry that some of the bigwigs in the offices of Premier League clubs are starting to call ' Liverpool tax'.
It refers to the champions' knack of ekeing every penny out of a potential deal and selling their assets for healthy prices when other teams might not have been able to get anywhere near as much money for the same player.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Newcastle's Alexander Isak: When trust is lost, the relationship can't continue
Newcastle's Alexander Isak: When trust is lost, the relationship can't continue

Powys County Times

time13 minutes ago

  • Powys County Times

Newcastle's Alexander Isak: When trust is lost, the relationship can't continue

Alexander Isak has said 'when promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue' as he broke his silence amid his attempts to force a move out of Newcastle. The Sweden striker, who has been the subject of a rejected bid from Liverpool, was not involved in Newcastle's Premier League opener on Saturday as they failed to score in a goalless draw at Aston Villa, having been training alone after refusing to play in some pre-season matches. On Tuesday the 25-year-old, who scored 27 goals in 42 games for the Magpies last season, was named in the PFA Premier League team of the season and used a post on Instagram expressing his gratitude to address his situation, accusing the club of breaking promises. 'I've kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken,' Isak wrote. 'That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn't reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors. 'The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To act now as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. 'When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue. That's where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.' Isak's situation has turned into a saga which has rumbled throughout this transfer window. As speculation mounted over a possible transfer in July, Isak missed the club's pre-season tour of Asia with the club citing a thigh injury, and then trained alone at his former club Real Sociedad. Liverpool had a bid reportedly worth £110million plus add-ons rejected by Newcastle at the start of August but have retained an interest in the player despite signing Hugo Ekitike – a forward who was also targeted by Newcastle. Newcastle are said to value Isak at £150million, and would only consider a sale if they have signed a replacement. As well as missing out on Ekitike, Newcastle were frustrated in their pursuit of Benjamin Sesko who chose to join Manchester United. Isak, who returned to training at Newcastle on August 4, has three years remaining on his contract at St James' Park, and it was understood he would be fined if he missed competitive matches as a result of his desire to leave. After Saturday's match at Villa, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said 'other people are dealing with that issue'. Howe has continued to express his hope that Isak stays at the club. Isak began his post on Tuesday by saying he was 'proud' to be included in the PFA Premier League team of the year. 'First and foremost I want to thank my teammates and everyone at Newcastle United who has supported me along the way,' he wrote. 'I'm not at the ceremony tonight. With everything going on, it didn't feel right to be there.' — Newcastle United (@NUFC) August 19, 2025 In a statement issued late on Tuesday, Newcastle said they were 'disappointed' by Isak's post and added: 'We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer. 'We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. 'As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired. We do not foresee those conditions being met. 'This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his team-mates.'

Make no mistake, what's unfolding is spiteful class warfare on steroids: JEFF PRESTRIDGE
Make no mistake, what's unfolding is spiteful class warfare on steroids: JEFF PRESTRIDGE

Daily Mail​

time13 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Make no mistake, what's unfolding is spiteful class warfare on steroids: JEFF PRESTRIDGE

Another day and yet another rumour emerges of an egregious attack on the wealth of Middle England by this tax-grabbing Government. It's enough to reduce grown men and women, the prudent and thrifty to tears. Having just informed us that a more pernicious inheritance tax regime is heading our way, Labour has now indicated that it is looking to impose a new property tax regime on middle-class homeowners. It seems that nothing in our financial armoury – our home, pension and savings – is sacred in the eyes of Labour. It's all there to be grabbed or taxed to the hilt. Although details of the proposed tax are rather sketchy – and Treasury officials are currently remaining schtum – the fact that the story broke in the Labour-supporting Guardian newspaper suggests that this new tax regime has legs. No smoke without fire. The tax, it seems, could apply to those selling homes worth more than £500,000 – and replace the current stamp duty tax which is levied on buyers. Another option is an annual levy on the value of a property – a wealth tax whichever way you look at it. At what rate the tax would be applied is anyone's guess but it would surely be set at such a level that it raised more than the Treasury currently receives in stamp duty (£11.6billion in the last financial year). After all, this is a tax overhaul driven essentially by Labour's desperate need to generate more revenue for the Treasury's coffers, much diminished by the Chancellor's bloated spending and costly U-turns on winter fuel payment and much-needed welfare reform. It's scary – bloody scary. Make no mistake about it, what is unfolding before our very eyes is class warfare on steroids. A spiteful assault on millions of people who through a mix of thrift, sacrifice and damned hard work have built their own financial fortress, only for the Big Bad Wolf that is Labour to come along and attempt to blow it down. While the current stamp duty tax regime is far from perfect, a replacement property tax – whichever form it takes – would bring with it a shedful of issues. For example, if it took the form of a seller's tax, it would surely clog up the housing market even more than it is now. I imagine that many elderly homeowners sitting in sizeable £500,000-plus properties would opt to stay put rather than sell up, pay the tax and downsize. But if it was an annual tax, it could blow a hole in your household budget. Alongside the replacement for stamp duty, Labour is also rumoured to be looking at abolishing council tax and introducing a 'local' property tax which owners, not residents, would pay. This would be based on the value of the home. Good luck there, Rachel Reeves, given that a similar idea (the poll tax) introduced some 35 years ago by a Conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher went down like a lead balloon – and was swiftly abandoned. Of course, there is a strong case for reform of property taxes in this country. But my suspicion is that Rachel From Accounts will use reform as cover to squeeze the middle classes until the pips squeak. As far as she is concerned our homes, pensions and savings are hers to tap for extra tax. Frightening. Beware of the Big Bad She-Wolf.

UK independent space agency scrapped to cut costs
UK independent space agency scrapped to cut costs

BBC News

time13 minutes ago

  • BBC News

UK independent space agency scrapped to cut costs

The UK Space Agency will cease to exist as an independent entity to cut the cost of bureaucracy, the government said on will be absorbed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in April government says this will save money, cut duplication and ensure ministerial one leading space scientist said the move would lead to disruption in the short term and the UK losing ground to its international competitors over the long run. Dr Simeon Barber of the Open University feared that scrapping UKSA would lead to Britain's space sector "losing focus"."Around the world countries have been recognising the importance of space by setting up national space agencies, and for the government to be scrapping ours seems like a backward step," he said. UKSA was created 2010 in response to the growing importance of the sector to the economy. The development of small spacecraft, satellites and space instrumentation is a field that the UK excels at, thanks in part due to the agency. Its role is to develop the country's space strategy, coordinate research and commercial activities and liaise with international partners. During its tenure UKSA saw a UK astronaut, Tim Peake launched into space to work on the International Space Station and the development of Britain's own capability to launch small satellites and other small payloads into space from space sector generates an estimated £18.6bn a year and employs 55,000 people across the agency, its budget and activities will now be absorbed into DSIT. It follows a commitment from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reduce costs and cut the number of arms length government bodies, known as quangos (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations), starting with the abolition of NHS England announced in minister Sir Chris Bryant said: "Bringing things in house means we can bring much greater integration and focus to everything we are doing while maintaining the scientific expertise and the immense ambition of the sector."The merger will see the agency become a unit within DSIT, staffed by experts from both organisations and retaining the UKSA supporters of the space agency, such as Dr Barber fear that this will mean a loss of the agency's dynamic, proactive approach which has proved to be so successful for the UK's space science and its space industry. He said there was a danger of moving to more bureaucratic, less incentivised ways of working, which he said were more typical of government departments, and were the reason the agency was created in the first place."It feels like we're going to get stuck in the mud again," he told BBC News.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store