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Daily Mirror
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Alexander Isak's 'nuclear option' if Newcastle REFUSE to sanction Liverpool transfer
Alexander Isak wants to join Liverpool from Newcastle United, but no offer has been forthcoming just yet from the Merseysiders, and the Magpies insist their wantaway player isn't for sale Alexander Isak's attempts to leave Newcastle United for Liverpool took a somewhat bizarre turn on Thursday as the player's former club, Real Sociedad, confirmed he is training alone in the Basque country. The Sweden international has asked Newcastle executives that he be allowed to explore a move away from St James' Park, is desperate to join Liverpool. He has told Toon bosses that he only wants a move to Anfield, but no offer from the Premier League champions has yet been forthcoming. Isak has not joined his Newcastle team-mates on their pre-season tour, an injury initially cited by the club before the truth about his keenness to depart was soon made crystal clear. It comes as Liverpool have sold Luis Diaz for £65m, a move which will help finance their push to sign the Newcastle striker. Isak's former club Sociedad confirmed on Thursday he was 'working with his trainers' at the club's Zubieta facility, less than two weeks after he did not travel with Eddie Howe's side for their trip to Asia. The decision to train at his old club rather than his current one will only further heighten speculation around the player's future. But, as yet, no offer has been submitted by Liverpool to Newcastle, who are keen on a deal worth £150m. The club's Saudi owners are understood to be keen to dig their heels in and extract the maximum value possible for last season's top scorer - who notched in the club's Carabao Cup Final win over Liverpool at Wembley. But they face something of a balancing act as and when Liverpool come calling. Should Newcastle ultimately price Isak out of a move or simply refuse to listen to offers, then there is potential for Isak and his representatives to go for what has been described as the 'nuclear option' - unilaterally terminating his contract with three years remaining. Isak initially joined Newcastle in a £63m deal on August 26, 2022, agreeing a six-year deal. He has since not signed a new contract on Tyneside. A European Court of Justice ruling in favour of former Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra last year means players can now terminate their deals 'without unnecessary fears', according to the lawyer who led Diarra's case. The ruling appears to have given players greater leeway to terminate a contract without just cause. The court found some of FIFA's transfer rules were contrary to European law because they restricted freedom of movement and were anti-competitive. Jean-Louis Dupont, who led Diarra's challenge and who was also at the centre of the landmark Bosman case which granted players free agency at the end of their contracts, believes last year's ruling lifts the threat of significant sanctions for players who choose to terminate their deals. Dupont, speaking in general rather than specifically about Isak's case, told the PA news agency: 'In its Diarra judgement, the court ruled that players have a right to termination without just cause and that it is for the ex-employer to establish the existence and the quantum of damages, knowing that losing the opportunity to transfer the player is NOT a damage. 'According to the court, such termination cannot entail disciplinary sanctions (when effected in between seasons). FIFA has, imperfectly, amended its rules to abide by the court ruling. But the bottom line is that players have the right to terminate without unnecessary fears.' Asked whether he thought players would now be free from the threat of sporting sanctions such as a ban for terminating their deals, Dupont added: 'Yes. If not, the right to terminate, as granted by the court, would just be theoretical. But, apparently, FIFA is still resisting on this point.' Following the ECJ ruling, FIFA opened a global dialogue on its transfer rules and issued amended, interim rules just before Christmas last year. The world players' union FIFPRO immediately pushed back on the amendments, saying they did not 'provide legal certainty' to players. FIFPRO issued guidance to players in May stating that following the ruling, a player's transfer fee or transfer value could no longer be used in the calculation of any compensation due to the club where the player had been contracted, and advised that the compensation paid should be 'limited to the residual value of the contract, with a possible further reduction or increase on the basis of the national law'. A presumption that a player's new club had induced the termination of contract was removed in the amended rules issued by FIFA last December. Now, a player's old club must prove the new club induced the player to break contract.
Forbes
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Newcastle United Must Stand Firm As Liverpool Move For Alexander Isak
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Newcastle United player Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring the ... More second goal as Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk reacts dejectedly during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by) Everybody knew this was coming, none more so than the decision makers at Newcastle United. Alexander Isak is arguably the best striker in Europe and clubs were always likely to try and sign him; Liverpool developed into the most likely chasers in the spring and has finally shown its hand, making contact over a potential British record £120m ($161m) move for the Sweden striker. The answer, as was always going to be the case, was a strong rejection of the advance, which is well below any sort of fee which would tempt Newcastle into selling at all. Liverpool insists it hasn't made an official bid for Isak because it knows what Newcastle thinks of the situation. The offer will only become concrete if Newcastle opens the door, but with three years on Isak's contract at St James' Park and the club already searching for a striker to replace the departed Callum Wilson, that looks very unlikely to happen. After Isak scored the winning goal against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley in March, the Governor of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, and Newcastle chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, made it clear he was not to be sold. The strength being shown is also predicated on confidence within Newcastle that Isak is happy at the club and will not agitate to leave. Talks over a new contract are planned but will be made more complicated by Liverpool's position, and as much as Isak's camp haven't shut down the Reds advances, it is thought he would need to be explicit in his desire to make the transfer happen in order to change Newcastle's attitude. Even then, it would be difficult; the length of Isak's existing deal means the power is very much in the club's hands. Of course, things can change; but Isak has always insisted he is happy on Tyneside and there are big ambitions for the future, in the Champions League, with him very much at the forefront. The next 24 to 48 hours are said to be key. FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 02: Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates scoring his ... More team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Bochum 1848 at Deutsche Bank Park on November 02, 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by) There are plenty of moving parts in this story, evidenced by how different the situation looks now from Tuesday morning. As mentioned above, Newcastle needs a striker as it is, and has seen a club record £70m bid for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike rejected. Talks with the club and player's representatives have stepped up over recent days, with meetings in Austria where Newcastle are in pre-season training. But Liverpool has identified Ekitike as a potential alternative to Isak, and as part of what has been seen as a 'temperature check' on any deal with Newcastle, will move on to try and sign him if Plan A fails. It has been seen as a huge power play by Liverpool in an attempt to change the narrative of something they don't have control over. It is true that Newcastle really wants Ekitike, having now made three attempts to sign the player in the last four years, but losing out on him would in no way compare to the blow of Isak's departure. The plan remains as it was for Ekitike to play alongside Isak in a busy season for Newcastle, with a possible succession plan in place if Isak leaves in a year or so. Liverpool's presence certainly alters the landscape in terms of Ekitike for Newcastle. It would be hard to see him opting for St James' Park over Anfield given there is a clearer route to the central striker role, a greater chance of immediate success and higher wages on offer. But he has been available all summer and Liverpool has only tentatively entered the race with reports the club is not fully convinced by the 23-year-old, who scored 22 goals in all competitions last season. It is imperative Newcastle shows a strong hand in response to this move by Liverpool. While it could be seen as an attempt to show who is boss, the bid wasn't actually made, the number was well below any interesting value and Isak himself is with the Newcastle squad training as normal. As of now, there is no threat. If Liverpool signs Ekitike, it would be back to the drawing board after a summer of frustration, having missed out on other top targets like Bryan Mbeumo and Joao Pedro already. But that isn't as certain as it may appear; the Reds have yet to make a bid for Ekitike, and Newcastle has pushed the narrative on. Sure, it may be more unlikely, but the plan was to pair Ekitike and Isak; it should continue to that end until it is no longer possible. Whatever happens, selling Isak now would have disastrous consequences. Fans are already disgruntled after such a lack of transfer activity over the last couple of years, and the squad, currently preparing for a Champions League campaign, would take a huge blow in both numbers and morale. It would also mean needing to buy two strikers, replacing one who scored 26 goals last season, with a month to go until the season starts. Newcastle's plan has always been to rebuke interest in Isak this summer and tie him down to a new contract with a huge pay rise. If that can't happen, then signing Wilson's replacement now and adapting to a likely exit next summer is the next best thing. Selling now makes no sense and puts everything in jeopardy for Newcastle. Standing firm has never been so crucial.
The Star
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Liverpool permanently retire Jota's number 20
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Carabao Cup Final - Chelsea v Liverpool - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - February 27, 2022 Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates with the trophy after winning the Carabao Cup REUTERS/David Klein/File Photo (Reuters) -Liverpool are to permanently retire the number 20 worn by Portuguese international Diogo Jota, after his death in a car crash in Spain last week, the Premier League champions announced on Friday. Liverpool said on their website that after consultation with the player's wife Rute and family, the squad number would not be used at any level including the women's team and academy. "I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club's history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual," said Michael Edwards, CEO of football for owners Fenway Sports Group. "Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person. By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal -- and therefore never to be forgotten. "Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us (title) number 20, and he wore -- with honour, distinction and affection -- the number 20. As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20." Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, who played for Penafiel in the Portuguese second division, died in the crash in northwestern Spain on July 3. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Clare Fallon)
Evening Standard
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Evening Standard
Ryan Mason: Tottenham braced for approach from West Brom over manager vacancy
Mason has held a variety of positions at Spurs, including two spells as interim manager. He was asked to take charge of the first team in 2021 after the departure of Jose Mourinho and led Spurs to a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘The best team in Europe' – Liverpool's Mohamed Salah opens up on PSG following Champions League exit
Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah (32) is adamant the Reds have been knocked out of the Champions League by the best team in Europe, PSG. The Egyptian international has given a wide-ranging interview to France Football and has opened up on Liverpool's Champions League early exit despite topping the league phase standings. Arne Slot's Premier League champions were drawn to play Luis Enrique's Les Parisiens in the last-16. The Ligue 1 champions eventually prevailed on penalties, knocking out Liverpool on their own Anfield turf. Salah has admitted that, despite losing the first leg at home with Harvey Elliott scoring an unlikely winner, PSG produced an outstanding performance. 'They were so unlucky, and we were so lucky', Salah said. 'Alisson produced his best-ever performance of his Liverpool career.' Unfortunately for Liverpool, Lady Luck favoured the visitors in the return leg. 'We struck the posts twice or three times. They did goalline clearances too. We were unlucky too.' Advertisement Salah could not tell which one of Liverpool or PSG was the more worthy team to go through, considering both teams dominated one game each. 'And then, you lose to penalties. Sometimes, it's your day. It was their day.' The Premier League season best goalscorer recalled that he shook the PSG players' hands to congratulate them, and cheered for them to win the Champions League. 'We were in great form all season, and in March alone, we hit a bit of a slump. And we ended up facing the best team in Europe at that time.' Salah added that playing the Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle United just days after this gruelling Champions League defeat at home was 'bad timing.' GFFN | Bastien Cheval
