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Tag: Isak

  • Isak, Arokodare, Chukwueze to lead parade of new EPL signings

    Isak, Arokodare, Chukwueze to lead parade of new EPL signings

    The Premier League returns this weekend after a two-week pause with clubs eager to show off their new transfer window purchases, none more so than champions Liverpool for whom Alexander Isak could make his debut at Burnley on Sunday.

    Of course, there is Nigerian interests  with the Super Eagles duo of  Tolu Arokodare and Samuel Chukwueze  would expectedly turn out for their  new English  clubs  this weekend after  both being involved in late transfer moves just before the International break.

    Arokodare  who moved from Belgian side Genk to Wolverhampton Wanderers could make his dream EPL debut in Saturday’s  trip to Newcastle while  Chukwueze  who  left on a loan deal from AC Milan to Fulham to join his compatriots, Alex Nwobi  and Calvin Bassey, may debut in front of the home fans tomorrow  at the Craven Cottage against Leeds.

    Meanwhile, an astonishing 3 billion pounds ($4.05 billion) was spent by the 20 clubs in England’s top-flight, a fair chunk of it in the last few days of trading as clubs beefed up their squads for the months ahead.

    Isak’s acrimonious split from Newcastle United was finally resolved in the nick of time, with Liverpool paying a British record 125 million pounds for the Swedish goal-machine.

    Read Also: Polo royals brace for 2023 Kano Polo Tournament

    The 25-year-old did not play a single minute for Newcastle this season as he was effectively frozen out and while he did come off the bench for a brief cameo for Sweden against Kosovo on Monday, it is unlikely he will start at Burnley.

    However, manager Arne Slot will be keen to give him some minutes at Turf Moor where Liverpool will be seeking to maintain their 100% start to the defence of their crown with a fourth win.

    Isak may have been the highest-profile summer deal but several other clubs resume their Premier League campaigns eager to try out some expensive new toys.

    Arsenal are likely to hand a first start to Eberechi Eze at home to Nottingham Forest, a club who not only added Oleksandr Zinchenko, Dilane Bakwa, and Cuiabano on deadline day but since replaced manager Nunu Espirito Santo with Ange Postecoglou.

    Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Postecoglou can expect a baptism of fire on his return to north London, especially with Arsenal still smarting from their loss at Liverpool.

    After two successive defeats, Manchester City host Manchester United on Sunday in the weekend’s big derby with manager Pep Guardiola’s side trailing their neighbours in the standings. All eyes will be on who Guardiola puts in goal after the last-minute signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

    United, who have four points after a last-gasp win against Burnley, will almost certainly also have a debutant in goal after the arrival of Senne Lammens on deadline day.

    Aston Villa have endured a poor start with one point and no goals from their first three games so expect to see their deadline day signings feature away to Everton tomorrow.

    Jadon Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, will give Villa some much-needed attacking spark while Harvey Elliott, surplus to requirements at Liverpool, could also start.

    Everton, for whom loan signing Jack Grealish has been in scintillating form so far, will be buoyant after spending 97 million pounds in initial transfer fees during the summer and could give a debut to new midfielder Merlin Rohl.

    Tottenham Hotspur travel to West Ham United on Saturday as they begin a new era following the shock exit of executive chairman Daniel Levy after 25 years in charge of the club.

    His parting gift may have been the signing of Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris St Germain on deadline day and he could make his debut at the London Stadium.

    Newcastle fans may lament the bitter loss of Isak, but softening that blow was the signing of Yoane Wissa from Brentford for a reported 55 million pounds.

    Wissa will have the opportunity to instantly endear himself with the St James’ Park faithful at home to bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

    Brentford, who also lost forward Bryan Mbeumo in the summer to Manchester United, signed Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson to bolster their attack and he could feature at home to Chelsea in Saturday’s late evening offering.

    One deadline-day deal that failed to complete was Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi’s expected sale to Liverpool.

    Palace fans will be relieved to see the inspirational central defender, who scored his first England goal on Tuesday, back in red and blue at home to Sunderland tomorrow.

  • Liverpool agree British record £125m fee for Isak

    Liverpool agree British record £125m fee for Isak

    Liverpool have agreed a British transfer record fee of £125m to sign striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

    Sources close to the deal have told BBC Sport that an agreement for the Sweden international to move to Anfield is now in place.

    Newcastle sources claim the deal could be worth as much as £130m with add-ons.

    Isak is expected to have a medical on Monday before signing a six-year contract.

    Liverpool had an original £110m offer rejected in August but are now set to land their first-choice target of the summer.

    The protracted saga involving the 25-year-old appears set to come to an end on the final day of the transfer window, and it follows Newcastle having signed striker Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart last week.

    Liverpool have already broken their club transfer record this summer by signing Germany attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz in a deal worth an initial £100m, with a further £16m in add-ons.

    Isak’s arrival would top that outlay. After also bringing in Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi and Giovanni Leoni, the deal would take the club’s spending to about £416.2m without add-on fees – the highest total in Premier League history.

    Read Also: Sweden call up Isak despite  standoff with Newcastle

    It is only the second time that an English side has shelled out more than £400m in a single summer, following Chelsea’s £401.2m outlay in 2023.

    Liverpool could still add to the spree, with the Reds working on a deal to sign England defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.

    Meanwhile, the departures of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyler Morton and Ben Doak have recouped an initial amount of about £190m.

    BBC

  • Howe backs Isak instand-off with Newcastle

    Howe backs Isak instand-off with Newcastle

    Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said his club cannot win in the saga over star striker Alexander Isak’s future.

    The Swede, who was the Premier League’s second top scorer last season and netted the winner to win the League Cup in March, went public this week on his desire to leave Tyneside, amid interest from Liverpool.

    Newcastle hit back with a statement of their own, denying Isak’s claims that promises had been broken towards the player.

    According to reports, Isak had been promised an improved contract only for Newcastle to hold off due to pressures of meeting financial sustainability rules.

    Read Also: Newcastle yet to receive Isak offer – Howe

    Liverpool have reportedly had one bid of £110 million ($148 million) rejected, with the Magpies holding out for a British transfer record £150 million.

    The two clubs face off in the Premier League on Monday, but 25-year-old Isak will not be involved as he continues to train apart from the rest of the Newcastle squad.

  • Isak transfer situation ‘far from ideal’ – Howe

    Isak transfer situation ‘far from ideal’ – Howe

    Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe says the transfer situation surrounding striker Alexander Isak is “complex” and “far from ideal”.

    Newcastle turned down a £110m bid from Liverpool for Isak on Friday, with the Magpies valuing him at about £150m.

    The 25-year-old was left out of Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia with what the club described as a “minor” thigh issue.

    The Swede has since been training alone at former club Real Sociedad – something Howe said he found out about through the media.

    “I think from my situation, I am very much removed from everything that is happening back home,” Howe told a news conference, external on Saturday.

    “I was made aware there was a bid yesterday. That bid was turned down before I heard about it. There are people back in England dealing with the situation. 

    “I really don’t know what is going to happen next but, from our perspective, we still support Alex in every way and my wish is still that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.”

    Isak joined Newcastle in a £60m move from La Liga side Sociedad in 2022.

    He was the Magpies’ top scorer last season as the club won the Carabao Cup and ended their 70-year wait for domestic silverware.

    Howe said he is not in direct contact with the forward, adding: “I know where he is through the media, so I think from that perspective it’s difficult for me to go into any detail.

    “The situation is far from ideal. It is quite complex. I think that is all I have got to say.”

  • Newcastle yet to receive Isak offer – Howe

    Newcastle yet to receive Isak offer – Howe

    Newcastle have not yet received a bid for their top scorer, Alexander Isak, says manager Eddie Howe.

    The Sweden striker is exploring his options for a potential summer move and has not travelled on the team’s pre-season tour of Asia, although Newcastle initially said he has a “minor thigh injury”.

    A source has told BBC Sport that Liverpool are still interested in the 25-year-old, despite signing Hugo Ekitike for an initial £69m.

    The Magpies had maintained that Isak is not for sale and although Howe admits he is not in “full control” of the player’s future, he says that no offer has been submitted yet.

    “He is still our player. He’s contracted to us,” Howe said at a news conference in Seoul.

    Read Also: EPL: Isak scores twice as Newcastle sink Southampton

    “We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us.

    “My wish is that he stays, but that’s not in my full control. We have not received a formal offer for Alex, from any club.”

    Isak joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 in a deal worth about £60m and still has three years left on his contract.

    He has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for the Magpies, including 27 in all competitions last season.

    BBC

  • EPL: Isak scores twice as Newcastle sink Southampton

    EPL: Isak scores twice as Newcastle sink Southampton

    Alexander Isak scored twice as Newcastle came from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 at St Mary’s Stadium.

    The Magpies were 1-0 down after Jan Bednarek’s early header but, after Isak won and converted a penalty, the Sweden striker netted a second just four minutes later with a curled finish.

    Isak’s quickfire double invigorated Eddie Howe’s team and, after half-time, Sandro Tonali added a third to put the result beyond doubt.

    Newcastle are now back in the Premier League’s top four, before Chelsea’s game against Manchester City later on Saturday, while Southampton remain rooted the the foot of the table.

    Howe said that his side were fatigued in last week’s 4-1 home defeat by Bournemouth and the Magpies started sluggishly at St Mary’s.

    Bednarek rose high to head James Bree’s cross beyond Martin Dubravka, rewarding Ivan Juric’s team for a positive start.

    But after the visitors were awarded a penalty for Joe Aribo’s foul on Isak, the in-form forward converted from the spot to restore parity.

    Isak nonchalantly finished from Jacob Murphy’s pinpoint pass moments later, as Howe’s side seized control.

    Tonali netted early on in the second half, as the Magpies dominated, with Murphy striking the post and Isak being denied a hat-trick by Alex McCarthy – in goal for Southampton with Aaron Ramsdale injured.

    Matheus Fernandes looked to have set up a grandstand finish with a late strike but it was ruled out for offside, as Newcastle took all three points back to Tyneside.

    BBC

  • EPL: Isak scores again as Newcastle beat Tottenham

    EPL: Isak scores again as Newcastle beat Tottenham

    Alexander Isak continued his magnificent scoring run as Newcastle came from behind to inflict another home defeat on Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham and stretch their winning run in all competitions to six matches.

    The visitors came into Saturday’s Premier League game in scintillating form but fell behind after just three minutes when Pedro Porro’s in-swinging delivery was headed in by Dominic Solanke.

    However, Anthony Gordon restored parity two minutes later, firing low past Spurs’ debutant goalkeeper Brandon Austin into the far corner in front of watching England manager Thomas Tuchel.

    Spurs were adamant Joelinton should have been penalised for handball in the build-up to Gordon’s goal, but the officials deemed that the contact with Lucas Bergvall’s pass was accidental and that the Brazilian’s arm was in a natural position.

    Isak dragged a Jacob Murphy cross off target shortly after the half-hour mark but made no mistake from a similar position moments later, slotting home after Radu Dragusin had deflected another Murphy delivery into his path.

    The Swede becomes the third Newcastle player to score in seven consecutive Premier League matches, after Alan Shearer in 1996 and Joe Willock in 2021.

    Read Also: EPL: Isak scores as Arsenal drop points at Newcastle

    Tottenham improved after the break and almost equalised 10 minutes into the second half, but Brennan Johnson struck the woodwork from the tightest of angles after Martin Dubravka had kept out Pape Sarr’s effort from outside the box.

    Second-half substitute James Maddison curled an effort narrowly wide of the far post and Sergio Reguilon lashed a shot off target late on, but there was no way back for Spurs as Postecoglou’s team slumped to a fifth home league defeat of the campaign. BBC

  • EPL: Isak scores as Arsenal drop points at Newcastle

    EPL: Isak scores as Arsenal drop points at Newcastle

    Alexander Isak scored the only goal as Arsenal dropped points in the Premier League against Newcastle at St James’ Park.

    The Swede’s 12th-minute header came after the Gunners failed to clear their lines and Anthony Gordon sent a sumptuous ball into the area.

    Arsenal had started the game well but once Isak found the net they struggled to get a handle on proceedings and lacked creativity in the final third.

    Read Also: EPL: Bournemouth end Arsenal unbeaten start after 2-0 defeat

    Mikel Arteta made changes in the second half to try to break down Newcastle’s resolute defence but his side registered just one shot on target across the 90 minutes.

    Victory for the Magpies moves them up to eighth in the league while Arsenal are third and will find themselves eight points adrift of Manchester City in top spot should Pep Guardiola’s side beat Bournemouth later on Saturday.

    BBC