Wednesday's briefing: Liverpool linked with Isak and Henderson joins Brentford
The build-up to England's Euro 2025 quarter-final against Sweden also ramped up in Switzerland.
Newcastle ward off Liverpool interest in Isak
Newcastle are understood to have put a value of around £150million on striker Alexander Isak (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Newcastle have put a value of around £150million on star striker Alexander Isak in an attempt to ward off potential suitors.
Liverpool have been linked with the 25-year-old Sweden international and a report on Tuesday suggested the Reds are prepared to pay £120m for his services.
The PA news agency understands there has been no formal contact between the two clubs over the player, although sources on Merseyside have indicated Isak is among a series of forward options being considered by Liverpool this summer.
Newcastle's majority owners, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, have the financial clout to resist any approach should they remain steadfast in their determination to hang on to a player who is understood not to be agitating for a move.
Both Newcastle and Liverpool have been linked with Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, who is understood to be valued around the £85m mark by the Bundesliga club.
Henderson has Premier League buzz again
📨 (1) New Message: Jordan Henderson pic.twitter.com/k1wgYlIugR
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) July 15, 2025
England midfielder Jordan Henderson is back in the Premier League after joining Brentford on a free transfer.
The 35-year-old left Liverpool in 2023 and has spent the last two years at Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia and with Ajax in the Netherlands.
'After a couple of years away I still have that fire to come back and play in the Premier League again,' Henderson told Brentford's social media.
'Obviously it's the best league in the world, with the best players. So it's a big challenge but one I'm keen on doing.'
On a busy day at Brentford, the Bees also welcomed fresh investment as businessman Gary Lubner and filmmaker Sir Matthew Vaughn become minority shareholders of the club.
Mamma Mia! England stick with Abba for Sweden tie
England captain Leah Williamson joked she will not 'banish Abba' in the dressing room ahead of their Euro 2025 quarter-final clash with Sweden.
The Swedish band's 'Does Your Mother Know' became a key track on the Williamson-curated dressing room playlist during England's triumphant Euro 2022 campaign, where they beat Sweden 4-0 in the semi-final.
The two meet again in Zurich on Thursday and Williamson said: 'I don't think that will be on the playlist, but it worked in 2022 so I don't want to banish Abba completely.'
Protest at the Palace
Crystal Palace protest over their demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League (Yui Mok/PA)
Crystal Palace fans protested outside Selhurst Park following UEFA's ruling to demote the Eagles to the Conference League.
Hundreds of supporters marched from Norwood Clocktower to Palace's stadium carrying banners, with one at the front declaring 'UEFA: MORALLY BANKRUPT. REVOKE THE RULING NOW'.
Palace qualified for this season's Europa League by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May, which secured a historic first major trophy.
But Palace were demoted after missing a March 1 deadline to demonstrate that American co-owner John Textor, also a part-owner at Lyon, had no control or influence over more than one club in the same competition.
What's on today?
4⃣ huge quarter-final ties to look forward to 🤩#WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/t6TTNRFJ3n
— UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 14, 2025
Italy and Norway meet in Geneva to determine the first semi-finalist at Euro 2025.
The winners will play either England or Sweden in the last four.
Northern Ireland's Linfield host Shelbourne in a Champions League qualifier seeking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from last week's first leg in Dublin.
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