Should have done better with a header when presented with a great chance to equalise but a strong performance from the full-back.
CRISTHIAN MOSQUERA – 4
His mis-kick gifted Newcastle the corner that led to their opener and he didn’t recover.
Billy Vigar dead: Ex-Arsenal star dies aged just 21 after suffering ‘significant brain injury’ hitting head during match
Struggled once the game turned into a scrap and by half-time his manager had seen enough as he was replaced by William Saliba.
GABRIEL – 6
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Gabriel Magalhaes netted the winnerCredit: PA
Looked rattled up against Woltemade and his weak attempt to buy a foul allowed the German to nod home.
His head had gone after that and he was fortunate when no VAR check caught his swing at Woltemade before the break.
Looked a lot more confident and composed once Saliba joined him in the backline and he put a difficult afternoon behind him by holding off Dan Burn to head home the winner at the death.
RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 6
Marshalled Jacob Murphy well in the first half but offered little going up the other way.
Was fuming when the referee put a stop to him using a towel for a long throw.
Got hooked midway through the second half as the Gunners had to go for it, but not before going into the book for a daft foul.
EBERECHI EZE – 6
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Eberechi Eze almost scored at St James’ ParkCredit: Getty
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Forced Pope into an early save and unleashed another great strike before the break.
Was a constant threat throughout but he was bought to get goals in these big games and he failed to do that.
MARTIN ZUBIMENDI – 6
Struggled with the pace of the game at times and also failed to provide enough protection defensively, fortunately, he had Rice alongside him to help.
He did produce a fantastic outside of the boot pass to put it on a plate for Timber but that was the highlight of his afternoon.
DECLAN RICE – 8
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Declan Rice impressed in the midfieldCredit: AP
Tried his best to make things happen and did brilliantly to track Jacob Murphy and deny him a second.
Covered a lot of ground and got his reward when Merino capitalised on his brilliant cross.
BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Enjoyed a good battle against Dan Burn but the Toon defender just about edged it.
Helped out full-back Timber really well but just wasn’t his day up the other end.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6
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Leandro Trossard was not at his bestCredit: AP
Another who tried his best to make something happen but he just couldn’t make it click.
Replaced late on without really causing too much of a threat.
VICTOR GYOKERES – 6
Headed straight at Nick Pope early on and then became the pantomime villain after being denied the penalty.
Rarely had a sniff after that as he struggled against the imposing Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman.
SUBS
WILLIAM SALIBA (for Mosquera, 46) – 7
Helped manage the physicality of Woltemade a lot better than the man he replaced.
The Gunners looked a lot more composed defensively while he was on the pitch.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI (for Saka, 70) – 6
Struggled to really get involved upon his arrival. Had one long-ranger late on but that was about it.
MIKEL MERINO (for Calafiori, 70) – 7
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Merino’s perfect header levelled the scoresCredit: AP
Injected fresh life into the middle to keep Arsenal’s hopes of a comeback going and produced a great header to equalise.
MARTIN ODEGAARD (for Zubimendi, 82) – 6
Could see Arsenal’s confidence grow as soon as he got on and he provided the magic for a winner. His brilliant corner was placed perfectly for Gabriel to head home.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (for Trossard, 88) – 5
His pace was a threat during the closing stages but failed to carve open a clear-cut opportunity.
ARSENAL make the trip up to the North East to take on Newcastle on Super Sunday.
Both sides are wearing black armbands at St James’ Park in memory of former Gunners academy striker Billy Vigar.
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Arsenal and Newcastle are wearing black armbands in tribute to former academy star Billy VigarCredit: Getty
Why are Arsenal and Newcastle players wearing black armbands?
Arsenal and Newcastle players are wearing black armbands this afternoon in tribute to the late Billy Vigar.
The 21-year-old died following a horrific brain injury suffered when he tragically hit his head during a match while playing for Chichester City at Wingate & Finchley last Saturday.
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Billy Vigar came through the Arsenal academyCredit: Getty
Vigar received lengthy treatment on the pitch after hitting his head before being airlifted to the hospital and placed in an induced coma.
He then underwent surgery but tragically died from his injuries on Thursday.
Vigar joined the Gunners academy at the age of 14 and went on to represent the North London outfit at under-18 level, in Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy.
Arsenal released the following statement regarding Vigar’s death: “Everyone at Arsenal is devastated by the shocking news that former academy graduate Billy Vigar has passed away.
“All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this time.
“Rest in peace, Billy.”
Last Saturday’s awful incident at Wingate & Finchley’s Maurice Rebak Stadium has sparked calls for brick walls surrounding football pitches to be outlawed in the UK.
A petition has gathered more than 12,000 signatures, with the FA confirming on Friday that they are launching a review.
But it’s not really a surprise, as back in the Seventies Chelsea’s players, including Alan Hudson and Peter Osgood, were known as the kings of the King’s Road for their fashionable sense of style.
And the club’s 21st-century fans have maintained the tradition, according to research by betting site freebet.com, with 16 per cent getting suited and booted for a big night.
While fans of Newcastle, Burnley and Wolves were in the relegation zone with just one per cent being bothered to look smart.
The table shows there’s a clear North/South divide when it comes to off-the-pitch style.
The top seven spots are filled by teams from London and the south, with Man City and Leeds sharing eighth place with Brentford and West Ham with five per cent.
Spokesman Tim Agnew said: “Our research shows Chelsea fans are the best dressed fans in the Premier League.
“They already had a reputation for wearing Gucci and Prada and our research confirms Chelsea fans like to look sharp.”
Chelsea plunged into crisis at BOTH ends ahead of huge Liverpool clash
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Actor Phil Daniels supports the West London clubCredit: Getty – Contributor
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Celeb chef Gordon Ramsey is also a fanCredit: Getty
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Chelsea footballers John Hollins, Terry Venables, Ron Harris, George Graham and Eddie McCreadieCredit: Getty
Hayden, 30, was not in Eddie Howe’s plans but his circumstances were slightly different.
He told SunSport: “I have sympathy because footballers want to play — but everyone’s got different reasons as to why they find themselves in a so-called ‘bomb squad’.
“It happened to me because I couldn’t find a solution during that summer window which fitted in with what Newcastle also wanted.
“But I had constant contact with Eddie and was given nothing but support.”
Hayden made 187 appearances for Newcastle, won the Championship title in 2017 and had five seasons playing in the Premier League.
But a knee injury in December 2021 sidelined him for 5½ months and Howe later told him he was surplus to requirements.
“And the team had been transformed from one fighting relegation to having top-six form.
“Eddie was honest and said he had five players in front of me. You think to yourself, ‘I know where I stand’. I’d rather that than the manager not talking to me.
“You hear people talk about bomb squads where they isolate you, and that’s horrible — but Eddie and Newcastle didn’t do that.
“We had the conversation as to why he couldn’t name me in the 25-man squad.
“And it’s not as simple as, ‘Why not let him train with the first team?’. If you’re doing an 11 v 11 game and everyone’s fit, you’re not going to be able to train with the group because there are too many players.
So Eddie’s solution for me to train with the Under-23s was better. It meant I could train normally every day — and not by myself.”
Hayden actually embraced that period and even did some coaching.
He said: “The bottom line is you’re getting paid good money by the club as a professional footballer. So you give 100 per cent to them in whatever role you’re in.”
After spending the second half of last season on loan with Portsmouth, Hayden joined QPR permanently in the summer.
And now he is hoping to play for Jamaica at next summer’s World Cup.
He said: “One of the huge blessings to come out of that period was I was able to go to Jamaica for a few days to sort my passport out so I could play for them.
“Had I been playing first-team football every week I’d have not been able to.
“Now I have a chance of making the World Cup. It goes to show you can make everything work out in the end.”
NEWCASTLE UNITED’s proposed plans for a new stadium to replace St James’ Park have seemingly stalled as the club plans to address other business concerns first.
Newcastle United’s proposal for a new stadium has hit a roadblockCredit: Getty
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The plans were expected to propose a new ground on the site of nearby Leazes ParkCredit: Getty
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The club’s Saudi-led ownership are prioritising other aspects of the club before revisiting the plansCredit: Getty
Plans for a new 65,000-seat ground on the site of nearby Leazes Park were set to be revealed earlier this year before being delayed.
Now it seems these plans have been pushed back until the club is on more stable ground in other areas.
According to reports from the Daily Mail, the owners had prioritised other issues, namely the appointment of a new chief executive, a new sporting director and the production of a new training ground.
Headway has already been made on the list, with the club announcing David Hopkinson as their new CEO last week.
The executive has spent time working with football giants such as Real Madrid, and most recently held a role as a President and COO overseeing the business of the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers in the US.
Reports suggest Nottingham Forest sporting director Ross Wilson is in line to make the change to the North East to address the second point.
This follows the departure of incumbent sporting director Paul Mitchell, who chose to leave the club in June ahead of the summer window.
The holdup, it seems, remains on the final point, with Newcastle still unable as yet to find a suitable site for the development, having made one initial offer before negotiations fell apart.
Ground has reportedly been broken on designs for the training ground in collaboration with Populous, the architects behind Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The hope is to make further progress on the training centre in Autumn, but until then, it seems plans for a new stadium will remain on the back-burner.
Fans stunned at size of Newcastle’s Isak replacement Nick Woltemade as he dwarfs over Liverpool star
Calls for a new ground have grown as Newcastle look to establish themselves in the Champions League.
Their current 52,000 capacity ground will host Barcelona on Thursday as the Magpies look to get off to a flying start in the competition.
CLUB football is back for the Premier League this weekend after the international break.
After the last round of fixtures, a chaotic transfer deadline day followed as clubs splashed out £375million on new talent to take the overall spending for the window to over £3BILLION.
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Alexander Isak is in line to make his Liverpool debut at the weekendCredit: Reuters
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Nick Woltemade, Newcastle’s record signing, will have big boots to fillCredit: Getty
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Alejandro Garnacho could play for Chelsea this weekendCredit: Getty
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Harvey Elliott completed a move to Aston Villa from LiverpoolCredit: Getty
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While Jadon Sancho was a deadline-day loan arrivalCredit: Instagram @avfcofficial
And with that wave of new arrivals, including emergency loans, the conclusions of blockbuster sagas and shrewd deals, there will be several new faces for fans to watch.
SunSport has taken a look at stars who could make their debuts this weekend, including two club-record signings.
Kicking off the team in goal is new Manchester City star Gianluigi Donnarumma, who arrived on deadline day from Paris Saint-Germain for £26million.
New £18m Manchester United star Senne Lammens could have been selected just as easily, but they can let their goalkeeping do the talking during the Manchester Derby on Sunday.
Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m sale from Man Utd to Chelsea, was not a deadline day switch but was only announced after the Blues’ most recent game at Stamford Bridge – meaning he will be in line for his debut this weekend.
The 23-year-old German looked impressive during the Under-21 Euros this summer, while he scored 17 for Stuttgart last season.
But he – alongside fellow new Toon ace Yoane Wissa – will have big boots to fill following Alexander Isak‘s record-breaking £130m departure to Liverpool.
Isak’s saga dragged on all summer and was on and off and then on and off again, before possibly the move of the summer was finally put to bed on deadline day.
Elsewhere, there are the likes of Kevin, Fulham‘s own £35m record-breaking arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk, Jaydee Canvot at Crystal Palace and Brian Brobbey at Sunderland who could also make first appearances for their new clubs at the weekend.
NEWCASTLE UNITED supporters are fuming after 45 tickets for their clash with Barcelona were handed to a private school 184 miles away in DUNDEE.
The Magpies welcome the Spanish giants to St James’ Park next Thursday as they kick off their Champions League campaign in bumper fashion.
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Newcastle fans are fuming ahead of the Champions League clash with BarcelonaCredit: George Wood/Getty Images
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Newcastle fans are not happy that 45 tickets were handed to a private school 1in DundeeCredit: George Wood/Getty Images
Only a few lucky thousand managed to secure the hottest ticket in Toon as Newcastle United members entered the ballot in a huge scramble to try and secure a seat.
The membership, which costs £37 an adult and £20 a child each season, is a requirement in order to purchase tickets in ballots or queue sales.
Over 100,000 members were left disappointed as the final few tickets quickly sold out on Tuesday.
And that frustration turned to fury after it emerged 45 had somehow been given to the High School of Dundee, a private school in the Scottish city that costs pupils £20,606.40 a year to attend.
The shock news came to light in a social media post by the school offering a matchday trip by coach plus an overnight stay to students costing £295 per person.
Newcastle United Supporters Trust released a statement that said: “We have been inundated with messages regarding a school in Dundee being given 45 tickets for the Barcelona fixture.
“With >100k in today’s member sale queue and countless tickets on 3rd party sites at vastly inflated prices, we completely understand the ongoing frustration from our members and the wider fanbase.
“We have sent this to the club and continue to push for a response.”
Uefa also have a ticket allocation and their partners also have entitlements to tickets in the Champions League and the governing bodies’ other competitions.
Newcastle are yet to comment but SunSport understands the source of the school’s tickets is being looked into.
Sky Sports viewers ‘get motion sickness’ as Premier League adds new feature for Newcastle vs Liverpool coverage
SunSport has contacted the High School of Dundee for comment.
Newcastle return to action in the Premier League on Saturday when they host Wolves.
ALEXNDER ISAK has broken his silence following his blockbuster move to Liverpool.
The Sweden international completed a deadline-day move to the Reds from Newcastle United to become the most expensive player in Premier League history.
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Alexander Isak has completed a blockbuster move to Liverpool from Newcastle UnitedCredit: PA
Liverpool have shelled out a Premier League record £130MILLION to sign the 25-year-old.
Former Real Sociedad ace Isak went on strike in order to force through his move to Anfield and has yet to play this season.
And he’s champing at the bit to get started for the Reds following his successful self-imposed exile.
When asked what drew him to Anfield, he told the Kop club’s official website: “It’s a mixture of what the club is building.
“But what they’re building on top of what the club already is.
“The history of the club,” Isak told Liverpoolfc.com, when asked why Anfield is the place for him.
“Me getting the chance to be a part of this, I want to create history. I want to win trophies.
“That’s ultimately the biggest motivation for me and I feel like this is the perfect place for me to grow even further and to take my game to the next level and help the team as well.
“I feel like this is the next step for me in my career. I’m super-happy that I’ve been given this chance and I’m very motivated to do something well with it.”
Kop chief Arne Slot has handed Isak the historic No.9 shirt, which has previously been worn by club legends Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Fernando Torres.
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He blasted: “I’ve kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. 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 now act 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.”
Toon chiefs’ stance was that the Swedish international, 25, is not for sale – although a £150m figure would reportedly have been enough to convince the Saudi owners to part with him.
The club hit back: “We are disappointed to have been alerted to a social media post by Alexander Isak.
How Liverpool’s genius ‘sucker’ trick defied Newcastle’s heroic pack-hunters
“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.
“Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his team-mates.”
If they don’t, the Magpies still hold hope of getting Isak to agree to a new contract with a release clause kicking in next summer.
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Isak to Liverpool transfer saga timeline
JANUARY: First links to Liverpool emerge
FEBRUARY: £150million record fee mooted
MARCH: Isak denies Newcastle contract talk
APRIL: Eddie Howe hails Isak as “very professional.”
MAY: Howe insists Isak will not be sold
Last match in Newcastle shirt
JUNE: Transfer links to Liverpool heat up
JULY: Flies with Newcastle for Austria training camp
Left out of Celtic friendly
Liverpool hijack Toon’s Hugo Ekitike deal after making Isak enquiry
Doesn’t travel for pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea, citing injury
AUGUST: Training by himself at Newcastle
Liverpool have £110m bid rejected
Isak stops training and goes on strike
Moves out of his apartment
Releases angry statement blasting ‘trust has been lost’
Newcastle respond by insisting he won’t be sold unless it benefits club
However, a further boost for the champions – who have also signed Toon target Hugo Ekitike this summer – is that The Telegraph claim Newcastle are set to accept a £130m bid even if they are unable to sign another striker.
Howe said: “I don’t know. I’m not party to any talks going on.”
When pressed on whether Isak would be allowed to play for the club again if a move did not materialise, the manager added: “Yes, from my side I’ve said it all along. While he’s still contracted to us that has to be the way.”
In Isak’s absence, Newcastle have started the season with two 0-0 draws either side of the dramatic 3-2 defeat to Liverpool.
Woltemade, Eddie Howe’s fifth recruit this summer and who will wear the No27 shirt, said: “I’m really happy to be at this amazing club. From the first contact, I felt like the club really wanted me and had big plans for me.
“It’s a big step in my life to leave Germany but everybody has welcomed me so well and it already feels like family.
“I have a really good feeling from speaking to the head coach that this is the right place for me to find my best level.
“I know the stadium from watching games on television – it looks amazing and I know the atmosphere is crazy. I’m really excited to play and start scoring goals here.”
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe added: “We’re delighted to get Nick’s signing over the line so quickly. He fits the profile for exactly what we have been looking to add to our attacking options.
“He’s strong in a lot of areas – he has great technical ability and has proven himself to be a real threat in one of Europe’s top leagues – but he’s also still at an age where he has plenty of room to develop and grow here.
“Nick is a great character too and we’re really pleased to welcome him to the group.”
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Woltemade, who has penned a contract until 2031, is not believed to have been registered in time to face Leeds today but could make his debut against Wolves in a fortnight.
The two-time capped German international was top scorer at this summer’s U21 Euros with six goals but suffered defeat in the final to England – who had new team-mate Tino Livramento in their line-up.
Fans stunned at size of Newcastle’s Isak replacement Nick Woltemade as he dwarfs over Liverpool star
He makes the big-money move to the North East after just one season with Stuttgart, having joined them from Werder Bremen on a free transfer just 12 months ago.
He scored 17 goals in all competitions last term, including a crucial goal in the DFB-Pokal final – which Stuttgart went on to win.
Woltemade could watch Toon in action at Elland Road today before linking up with the Germany squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, we revealed Liverpool are expected to make a record bid for Isak in the coming days after club chiefs sanctioned a £130m bid for the 25-year-old.
Newcastle have already rejected one offer worth £110m and are refusing to sell unless they get a replacement
Isak, who is refusing to play for Newcastle and training alone, reiterated his desire to leave this week to Toon’s Saudi chiefs.
Now he will be praying that Howe can get Wissa or Strand Larsen over the line to finally secure his departure.
DREAM TEAM managers have until 11am on Saturday morning to confirm their transfers for Gameweek 3.
We’ve assembled some tempting transfer targets separate from the too-obvious-to-list options for your consideration.
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Horses for coursesCredit: Dream Team
Harvey Barnes (£4m)
Anthony Gordon (£4.5m) would have been a viable option this week had he not seen red against Liverpool on Monday night.
But Dream Team managers can follow the same logic with Newcastle’s No11.
The Magpies are due to face Leeds this Saturday with the Whites having been hammered by Arsenal in Gameweek 2.
Daniel Farke’s side were also humiliated by Sheffield Wednesday’s youngsters in the Carabao Cup.
Newcastle may have had their hearts broken by Arne Slot’s troops last time out but they showed they pack a punch even when a man down to the champions.
Barnes is a true horses-for-courses selection as he boasts a formidable record against Leeds of five goals in six Premier League appearances.
The 27-year-old should be guaranteed playing time while Gordon serves his suspension with Newcastle’s next home game also a favourable match-up in the form of Wolves.
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Wood already has two goals to his name this seasonCredit: Reuters
Chris Wood (£4.3m)
Dream Team bosses could do a lot worse than targeting West Ham’s weaknesses at present.
The Hammers lost 3-0 to Sunderland on the opening weekend and got thrashed 5-1 by Chelsea in Gameweek 2, not to mention a Carabao Cup capitulation at Wolves.
Nottingham Forest will feel confident of a positive result against Graham Potter’s mob this Sunday and their big target man might be first in line to benefit.
Alternatively, four of their midfielders are already into double figures for points: Morgan Gibbs-White (£4.7m), Callum Hudson-Odoi (£3.7m), Dan Ndoye (£3.3m) and Elliot Anderson (£3.7m).
September brings a tricky trip to Arsenal for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men but that’s more than countered by favourable fixtures against Burnley and Sunderland.
Forest will also commence their Europa League campaign after the international break.
Dream Team bosses should ensure they have plenty of players active in Europe once the midweek fixtures start coming thick and fast.
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Set-piece specialistCredit: Getty
Pedro Porro (£5.1m)
Both Brennan Johnson (£4.7m) and Richarlison (£3.3m) are among the most popular recruits ahead of Gameweek 3 at this stage.
And that’s perfectly understandable.
But we’re choosing to shine a light on Tottenham’s defence after two clean sheets from as many outings.
Cristian Romero (£3.6m), Micky van de Ven (£3.8m) and Djed Spence (£3.8m) are all more affordable but it feels like Porro is on the brink of a mega haul.
The Spaniard continues to take up advanced positions and, in the absence of James Maddison (£4.5m), he’s on set-pieces.
It’s worth remembering that Porro racked up a whopping 51 bonus points last season.
Spurs host Bournemouth this weekend but it’s their trip to West Ham in Gameweek 4 that looks most inviting.
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Cunha came close against FulhamCredit: Getty
Matheus Cunha (£5m)
A pure one-week punt to finish.
Manchester United are at home to Burnley on Saturday and their new No10 will be licking his lips at the prospect.
Only two players have registered more shots than Cunha across the first two league games and the Brazilian forward is the outright leader for shots on target.
It feels as if his first goal in red is just around the corner and what better platform than Old Trafford against a newly-promoted team?
Many gaffers will feel they can’t accommodate a short-term move such as this (a Manchester derby awaits in Gameweek 4) especially with the European competitions looming large but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Cunha bagged a big double-digit haul against the Clarets.
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FOOTBALL isn’t just about goals and trophies — it’s about people.
After all, clubs don’t make anything, don’t manufacture anything; all our assets are people.
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Newcastle’s Alexander Isak situation is similar to what happened at West Ham a few years agoCredit: Getty
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West Ham had to go through the same with Dimitri PayetCredit: Getty
Dealing with people is a key part of my job as West Ham CEO. And dealing with a wantaway player is one of the toughest jobs in football.
We had our own Alexander Isak moment at West Ham in 2017 when Dimitri Payet wanted out… and the whole club felt it.
One day he just packed his bags, went to the airport and took a flight to Marseille.
That was despite the fact we told him we did not want him to leave, expected him to honour his contract and had done no deal with Olympique de Marseille for him to be transferred there.
We loved him, our supporters loved him, but he didn’t love us back and that’s hard to take.
The fans were heartbroken, the dressing room unsettled and every training session turned into a circus.
That’s the reality when a star man downs tools. The ripple effect is huge.
The press were camped outside, questions wouldn’t stop and the tension was obvious.
I look at Newcastle’s situation with Isak and genuinely sympathise. He’s a top striker, adored by the Toon Army, but once a player has his head turned, it changes everything.
Suddenly, the focus isn’t on football any more — it’s on one man’s future.
Alexander Isak is biggest name in Newcastle but his strike is a slap in the face to the biggest man in the north east
The hard truth is you can’t make an unhappy player happy. But that doesn’t mean you roll over.
The club has to stay strong, because it’s bigger than any one player. Fans rightly expect loyalty, but as club executives, we have to protect the value of the asset and the pride in the badge.
With Payet, we stood firm. We made sure West Ham got the right deal. It hurt at the time, but the club came out stronger.
Newcastle will be thinking the same way. They will fight to keep Isak if they can, but if the moment comes where he has to go, they’ll make sure it’s on their terms — not his.
That’s exactly how it should be. Players come and go. Clubs don’t. That’s the heartbeat we’re all here to protect.
Isak has not been an isolated case — but the dynamics don’t change much. Remember Pierre van Hooijdonk refusing to play at Nottingham Forest?
Isak to Liverpool transfer saga timeline
JANUARY: First links to Liverpool emerge
FEBRUARY: £150million record fee mooted
MARCH: Isak denies Newcastle contract talk
APRIL: Eddie Howe hails Isak as “very professional.”
MAY: Howe insists Isak will not be sold
Last match in Newcastle shirt
JUNE: Transfer links to Liverpool heat up
JULY: Flies with Newcastle for Austria training camp
Left out of Celtic friendly
Liverpool hijack Toon’s Hugo Ekitike deal after making Isak enquiry
Doesn’t travel for pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea, citing injury
AUGUST: Training by himself at Newcastle
Liverpool have £110m bid rejected
Isak stops training and goes on strike
Moves out of his apartment
Releases angry statement blasting ‘trust has been lost’
Newcastle respond by insisting he won’t be sold unless it benefits club
For a CEO, the challenge is balancing three things: the expectations, hopes and dreams of the supporters, the manager’s needs, and the dignity of the badge.
It’s not about forcing anyone to stay against their will. Unhappy players rarely, if ever, perform at their peak.
But it’s also not about rolling over at the first sign of discontent. The club’s interests must come first.
That means securing fair value, protecting the integrity of the squad and making sure supporters know their loyalty is matched in the boardroom.
In Payet’s case, we stood firm until the right solution came and the player moved. The lesson was that while football is very emotional, decisions must be rational.
Players come and go but, West Ham, like every great club, remains. That’s what we protect every single day.
Newcastle have been a football club for 144 years. And they will be around a lot longer than any one footballer.
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EX-England footie ace Andy Carroll has revealed he is back with girlfriend Lou Teasdale after a stormy split — and vowed to cut down on booze to save their relationship.
Opening up about his feelings for stylist Lou in an exclusive interview with the Sun on Sunday, Andy said: “I love Lou and I love her family. We row like any couple.”
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Andy Carroll has revealed he is back with girlfriend Lou Teasdale after a stormy splitCredit: Ian Whittaker
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Footie star Andy and Lou in a holiday snap
The pair have been dating since his split last summer from ex-wife and former Towie star Billi Mucklow, 37. They are currently divorcing.
The 36-year-old former Premier League star said: “Things have been difficult for me and I’m going through a divorce.
“Some of our rows have been about alcohol, as Lou has been teetotal for 14 years and I have a beer or wine at dinner and a drink after the game, but it’s not a problem in my life.
“I’m a professional footballer and that’s not the case. I play sport every single day so my level of fitness is really good. I play football every day so I’m fit.”
But now he has told The Sun on Sunday that after a misunderstanding in Spain, he and Lou have patched things up.
Former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Andy, who now plays for non-league Dagenham & Redbridge FC, said: “We’re better off together and we’re trying to work through our difficulties.”
He was questioned about rows with her at a packed beachside restaurant and then at their hotel.
He was taken to the police station after the second incident.
Ex-England star Andy Carroll DUMPS Lou Teasdale after police quiz over boozy rows as he tells pals he’s ‘sick’ of her
Speaking about the restaurant incident now, Andy — pictured with Lou, above, as he signed for his new club last month — insisted: “There was no alcohol involved. We argued about me having three coffees in the morning. She was worried I was addicted to coffee and it went from there.”
A joint statement from them at the time said: “Whilst having a private dinner in a restaurant on a quiet holiday in Mykonos, we had a heated discussion of the sort that most couples have had on occasion.
“It quickly became apparent to the police that there was no reason for them to be there.”
It added: “As far as we are concerned, the situation has been blown out of all proportion by an interested member of the public.
“No one was arrested and no one was charged with anything.
“We are very happy, in love and looking forward to our future together and we are disappointed that a private disagreement has become a public matter.”
I don’t want to be with Lou anymore… she gives me ultimatums about everything
What Andy told us last week
Andy returned to England last month, having left French fourth-tier side Bordeaux to play for Dagenham & Redbridge and to be close to his children, who live in Essex.
He said: “I just want to focus on my kids. They’re more important than anything. I’m loving life back in England.
“Obviously when I was working in France, I was there alone, and I was out with the lads a lot. Now I’m back home with the kids and it’s just a different way of life.”
IT’S opening night at football’s multi-billion dollar circus and spending has gone through the big-top roof.
So despite an almighty spree of his own, Arne Slot believes his Liverpool side will face tougher competition than ever if they are to retain their Premier League title.
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Arne Slot admits he will do well to keep his hands on the Prem trophyCredit: Getty
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Florian Wirtz has been brought to Anfield as part of a massive spree that may not be over yetCredit: Mark Pain / Premium Sports Images
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Chelsea will be looking to challenge after spending nearly a quarter of a billionCredit: Getty
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Could Viktor Gyokeres be the missing piece for Arsenal as they chase a long-awaited title?Credit: Getty
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Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season
And as the defending champions roll up to Anfield to face Bournemouth, kicking off another season for the greatest show on Earth, the Dutchman expects the title battle to be fiercer than ever.
But world champs Chelsea have spent another quarter of a billion, followed by Manchester United (£200.5m), Arsenal (£181.8m) and Manchester City (£150.1m for a total of £324m in the calendar year).
And Slot said: “The reason why it’s so difficult lies mainly with the fact there are so many that can win the league over here.
“To win it once is very special, if you can win it twice in five years like us — and City did even better — then that is unbelievable.
“And probably this year’s going to be harder than any year before because every team brings in new players. Our main competitors definitely did as well.
“The challenge in the Premier League is always the teams. We start with Bournemouth — the most intense in the league in terms of running and also playing style — and after that it’s Newcastle and Arsenal.
“That sums up this league and the challenges we have.”
If winning the title is a serious achievement, retaining it is far tougher — only Pep Guardiola’s City, Sir Alex Ferguson’s United and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea have won back-to-back Premier League crowns.
Meet the Premier League’s newest wags after their star partners transfers including nurse, lawyer & make-up expert
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Slot would be walking among giants if he wins a second title in two seasons.
And while the signings of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez provide a major platform, he still wants Newcastle striker Isak as well as Guehi, the England defender who skippered Crystal Palace to beat the Reds in Sunday’s Community Shield.
Perennial runners-up Arsenal are in a major recruitment drive too — adding Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Cristhian Mosquera ahead of a critical campaign for Mikel Arteta.
As ever, Chelsea have bought in bulk — with strikers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap joining wingers Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian, left-back Jorrel Hato and midfielder Dario Essugo at a club powered by its own brand of chaos.
Guardiola’s City — four-in-a-row champions before last term — have made four big signings in Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and James Trafford, to add to their January quartet.
With United’s attacking overhaul bringing Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in, never before have all of England’s major clubs seen such change.
Europa League winners Spurs have spent £100m-plus, with more to come — with even promoted Sunderland well over nine figures.
The league is increasingly competitive. The Liverpool-City duopoly — when two near-perfect teams needed close to 100 points to take the crown — is over.
No longer does one defeat spell disaster, yet fewer fixtures are a formality for any title-chasers.
With Liverpool making so many changes, Slot faces a different pressure to when he inherited Jurgen Klopp’s squad last summer.
He said: “I took over a team with only two weeks to prepare due to the Euros and Copa America.
“This year we’ve brought in very good, intelligent players who need to integrate. Bournemouth will bring a big challenge but everyone is looking forward to it.”
Roll up, roll up — tonight’s the night we begin to find out if they all have more money than sense.
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Man United fans will be praying that Sesko hits the ground runningCredit: Getty
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Guardiola has spent around £150m in a bid to get the title back to the EtihadCredit: AFP
THERE are just four days to go until the new Premier League season kicks off.
Champions Liverpool wasted no time in dropping nearly £300million to bolster Arne Slot’s squad ahead of their title defence.
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Liverpool spent big money to land the likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo EkitikeCredit: Reuters
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Manchester United unveiled their new signings at Old Trafford on SaturdayCredit: Getty
But as managers across the division make their final preparations ahead of this weekend, chairmen will be trying to get some more players in through the doors in time for the curtain-raisers.
SunSport rounds up ten mega-money transfers that could get done THIS WEEK…
ALEXANDER ISAK
The Newcastle striker’s future has been one of sagas of the summer – will he stay or will he go?
Marc Guehi will be sold if the right bid comes inCredit: Alamy
YOANE WISSA
The mass exodus at Brentford this summer may not be over just yet if Wissa follows Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard and Mark Flekken out of the Gtech.
Newcastle reportedly had a £25m bid turned down but look set to go back in for the DR Congo international, with Liverpool monitoring the situation.
Benjamin Sesko is paraded around Old Trafford after completing £74million transfer
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Yoane Wissa may be the next big name to leave BrentfordCredit: Getty
KEVIN
Another Brazilian winger, this time it is Kevin who could be on the move – and heading to the Premier League.
Fulham submitted an offer of £32m but Shakhtar Donetsk are trying to hold out for £43m.
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Kevin could end up at FulhamCredit: Getty
CARLOS BELEBA
Manchester United want to bring in another midfielder before the window closes – and would love Baleba in time for the start of the new season.
He is part of the ‘bomb squad’ deemed surplus to requirements by United gaffer Ruben Amorim, who will happily see the back of the Argentine wideman who was left out of the USA pre-season tour.
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Alejandro Garnacho is in the Ruben Amorim ‘bomb squad’Credit: Getty
NICOLAS JACKSON
But with all the incomings at Chelsea – including strikers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap – there may be a major exit, too, with Jackson third-choice No9.
