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Follow all the latest transfer rumours, gossip and signings
A summer transfer window dominated by the chase for centre forwards for many of the Premier League’s top clubs continues with Liverpool still pursuing Alexander Isak – but finding Newcastle resolute in their desire to keep the Swedish striker.
Liverpool have sold Darwin Nunez to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal for £46.3m, which should open up funds to bid again for Isak. Newcastle, however, have been clear that they do not wish to sell, even if Eddie Howe has admitted it is tricky to see a route back for the exiled forward.
Manchester United, conversely, have got another major deal done. Benjamin Sesko was unveiled to supporters at Old Trafford a week before the start of the Premier League season and will join Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in a new-look front three for Ruben Amorim, who has enjoyed a productive first summer transfer window.
Arsenal are preparing to bolster their own forward line further by signing Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze. Palace want a fee in excess of £60m and an official offer could soon go in. Arsenal have also rejected a swap deal which have seen them sign Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and send William Saliba the other way.
All the latest updates, rumours and done deals will be covered in the blog below:
Alejandro Garnacho is not the only player on Chelsea’s wishlist – Xavi Simons remains a target, Sky Sports say, with the RB Leipzig man capable in an attacking midfield role or out wide.
Alejandro Garnacho is still yet to leave Manchester United despite appearing to be bound for the exit door after publicly expressing frustration over his usage at the end of last season. Chelsea, The Athletic say, are continuing their talks over possibly extracting the Argentinian winger from Old Trafford.
Also chasing one of Crystal Palace’s best and brightest are Arsenal. Eberechi Eze has long been linked with a move from south to north London and a bid could go in over the next few days, reports suggest.
Liverpool’s summer spending appears to be far from finished. The Daily Mail believe that they will have more talks with Crystal Palace today as the two sides meet in the Community Shield with defender Marc Guehi a player of interest. Guehi is out of contract next summer.
In one respect, Darwin Nunez replaced Sadio Mane, in another Roberto Firmino. When he left the Anfield pitch, probably for the last time in a Liverpool shirt, he was replaced by Lewis Koumas. He was given a standing ovation by many, along with a final blast of the chant of “Nunez”, as he came off in Monday’s pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao’s second team.
It was a fond farewell, but also an anticlimactic one for the man who, when he joined, arrived with the expectation that comes with being Liverpool’s record signing. He had the deceptive debut, when he scored and Manchester City’s striking newcomer Erling Haaland did not, in the Community Shield; since then the Uruguayan delivered another 39 goals in competitive games, the Norwegian 124. The comparison was long since abandoned.
When each came to England in 2022, Nunez as Firmino’s long-term successor and as Mane was joining Bayern Munich, it did not escape attention that he cost more than Haaland – an initial £64m, potentially £85m – albeit with a significantly lower salary. So a transfer to Al-Hilal for a guaranteed £46.2m, and perhaps more, represents both a significant loss and yet a fine bit of business by Liverpool.
Could Liverpool fund an improved offer for Alexander Isak with the money earned by selling Darwin Nunez? Al-Hilal have spent nearly £50m on the Uruguayan.
Eddie Howe has admitted he will not have the final say over striker Alexander Isak’s future at Newcastle.
The 25-year-old Sweden international is currently training by himself after taking no part in the club’s Sela Cup fixtures against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid this weekend, having missed the Magpies’ trip to Singapore and South Korea amid Liverpool’s ongoing interest in him.
Newcastle have rejected a £110m offer for Isak, who has three years remaining on his contract, from the Anfield club out of hand, but his situation remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Asked after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by Atleti at St James’ Park if he may have to let the player go, Howe said: “That’s a decision that I won’t make, that will be for other people to make.
“For me, I’m just trying to manage the situation and manage the team, most importantly manage the group of players that I’m working with day to day, that I love coaching and helping.
Liverpool are still chasing Alexander Isak, but Newcastle’s position is increasingly clear – and strong. The Telegraph report that the striker has been informed that he will not be sold this summer, a blow both for the Anfield club and Isak, who has made his desire to leave clear.
Things weren’t particularly great for Manchester United in their final pre-season outing yesterday against Fiorentina. Richard Jolly assesses the good and the bad.
Here, Michael Jones has a look at the winners and losers of the deal for Benjamin Sesko.
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