Newcastle United

VIKTOR GYOKERES’ penalty should not have been overturned. The Arsenal forward went through on goal and was fouled by Nick Pope.

Newcastle goalkeeper Pope got a touch on the ball but he did not win the ball. The touch does not negate the award of a penalty.

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Why did VAR get involved? It was not a clear and obvious error from referee Jarred Gillett. The on-field decision should have stood.

Gyokeres played it onto Pope, that is how he got the touch and then there is a late challenge and brings him down.

How many times do you see a foul given for a player that wins the ball and follows through?

The touch does not mean it is not a penalty. VAR should not have got involved.

We saw this last season at Brighton when William Saliba was adjudged to have committed a foul on Joao Pedro after he headed the ball.

Newcastle then wanted a penalty of their own late on after Anthony Elanga’s cross struck Gabriel’s arm inside the box.

But Gillett got this right. It was not a penalty.

It was a blocked tackle, it came back off Elanga and hit Gabriel’s arm, which was in a natural position.

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When you go to ground, where else can your arm go? Your arm has got to be in the air.

And look at the pace of the ball and the close proximity.

I would have been amazed if Gillett would have recommended a review.

DECLAN RICE was rewarded for his brutal shift as Arsenal battled back to beat Newcastle.

However, Cristhian Mosquera failed to make the most of his chance after he was thrust into the starting XI alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.

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Arsenal were stunned in the first half after falling behind after a Nick Woltemade header in the 34th minute.

Mikel Arteta‘s side had dominated much of the first half and were denied a penalty by a VAR decision.

The visitors avoided defeat as Mikel Merino was the hero, nodding in an equaliser in the 84th minute.

The turnaround was complete as Gabriel scored in the winner in the dying seconds of the match.

Scroll down to see how SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse rated the Arsenal players’ performances…

DAVID RAYA – 6

Had very little to do and was let down by Gabriel for the goal.

Swept up well when needed.

JURRIEN TIMBER – 8

Strong performance from the Dutchman up against Anthony Gordon and he wasn’t found wanting once the game turned into a physical battle.

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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.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.

IT will come as no surprise to their stylish famous fans, but Chelsea supporters are the best dressed in the Premier League.

The club’s followers are most likely to wear a smart suit for a night out, a survey has revealed.

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Celebrity fans including Gordon Ramsay, Jeremy Clarkson, David Baddiel, Madness singer Suggs and actor Phil Daniels are always well turned out for a trip to the club’s Stamford Bridge home — and regular fans have followed suit.

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.”

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ISAAC HAYDEN feels sympathy for Chelsea ‘bomb squad’ members Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi.

The ex-Newcastle midfielder, now at QPR, spent the first five months of last season in limbo after failing to secure a summer move.

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Sterling shared a photo of himself training alone late in the evening, while boss Enzo Maresca admitted he has not even spoken to the winger this season.

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.

Hayden said: “By the time I’d come back, they had signed Bruno Guimaraes, and Joelinton was playing as a No 8 — so there was no space.

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“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.”

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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.

The Saudi-led ownership group have discussed the prospect of building a new stadium in the city since taking over in 2021.

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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.

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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.

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.

The Blaugrana are facing their own difficulties as they renovate their stadium, a saga that has been marred by extensive delays.

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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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.

Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie – signed on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with a £45m option to buy – put in a great display for Ecuador against Argentina and will partner £13m Bournemouth signing Veljko Milosavljevic and West Ham loanee Igor Julio in defence.

There are three more loanees to consider going forward: Tottenham’s Randal Kolo Muani, Nottingham Forest‘s Oleksandr Zinchenko and Aston Villa‘s Jadon Sancho, who all arrived in the twilight hours of the summer window.

Harvey Elliott followed Sancho to the struggling Villans from Liverpool on an initial loan with a £35m obligation to buy next summer.

The front three is where the majority of the star power and cost come into play.

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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.

Newcastle star Nick Woltemade is the club’s record signing at £69m.

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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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.”

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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.

SunSport has contacted the High School of Dundee for comment.

Newcastle return to action in the Premier League on Saturday when they host Wolves.

AN ICONIC football commentator has made the “most difficult decision” to announce his retirement.

Former Newcastle United star Ray Hudson is leaving commentating behind and leaving broadcasters CBS Sports and SiriusXM FC Radio.

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Hudson, 70, made the announcement that he was retiring on social media.

He wrote: “Very sad today, I retire from @CBSSports & @SiriusXM FC.

“Thank you all for sharing so many magesteeerial memories, wherein the beautiful game & players, beguiled & bewildered us.

“Sincere thanks to everyone I worked with; you inspired me. To everyone out there, I love you & I’ll miss you.”

Hudson stepped into broadcasting full-time after his final managerial role at DC United in 2004.

In recent years, he has been working on Sirius XM Radio as the host of “The Football Show”.

He had also been a part of CBS Sports’ regular coverage for the Uefa Champions League since 2022.

He told The Athletic: “It is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my professional life.

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“This was really hard, and there are private reasons for it in some ways that I’d rather not talk about. 

“Walking away from something that you love so much it’s heartbreaking.

“But I know this is the right thing for Joan (his wife) and I.

“The time to step away is now, but I will say I did change my mind so many times over the last few months.”

Fans reacted to his news by wishing him well in his retirement.

One posted: “But you don’t retire from being maestro.”

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A second wrote: “Gliding into retirement like an eel covered in peanut oil. We will miss you goat.”

A third commented: “I salute you, wishing you the very best, the Leonardo Da Vinci of commentary..”

A fourth said: “You’re a legend, Ray.”

Another added: “You are legendary, Ray. Enjoy retirement!”

During his playing career, he made 25 appearances for the Magpies between 1974 and 1977.

He scored twice for the club, with both goals coming in separate games against Derby County.

In 1978, he made the switch to the US and joined the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the NASL.

He made played 151 times for the club before he had a short spell back in Europe with German side Union Solingen between 1983 and 1984.

He would return to the Strikers in 1984, but only after they had relocated from Florida to Minnesota.

Before ending hanging up his boots he would enjoy spells in Canada with the Edmonton Brick Men as well as the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

His first entrance into football commentating was for the Miami Fusion in the MLS expansion during the 2000 season.

He was later named the team’s head coach before he was sacked the following year.

FORMER Prem stars who lost tens of millions in failed investments are demanding justice.

TV pundit Danny Murphy, 48, said he was a victim of “financial abuse” — turning to booze, drugs and gambling after losing about £5million.

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He was among up to 200 players who invested with Kingsbridge Asset Management in the 1990s and 2000s.

It attracted up to £417million before failed ventures led to loss of homes and bankruptcy.

Investors were deemed to be “victims of crime” in a police investigation but are still being chased for millions in tax.

Murphy is one of 11 stars, including ex-Arsenal ace Michael Thomas, calling for more protection from tax charges.

David McKee and Kevin McMenamin, who ran Kingsbridge, denied wrongdoing on BBC’s Panorama last night.

Murphy said he feels “shame” over his involvement.

“It’s the shame, embarrassment and guilt of getting yourself in a position that you think you’re better than,” he said.

“I’ve lost four – maybe five – million, roughly.

“The financial abuse I’ve suffered has caused me monumental problems in my life.”

He added: “The financial abuse in football and the dark side of football, is something that has gone under the radar for too long.”

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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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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NEWCASTLE finally named their price for wantaway striker Alexander Isak.

And they are willing to sell him on deadline day even if they don’t land another replacement.

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Newcastle have been determined throughout the summer to keep hold of the star forward.

They rejected a £110million plus add-ons opening offer from the Reds all the way back at the beginning of August.

That prompted Isak to go on strike, tell bosses he will never play for Newcastle again and miss every match so far this season – as well as launching a scathing social media statement.

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.”

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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.

“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.”

However, there has been a sudden change of heart with less than 24 hours to go until the transfer window closes at 7pm on Monday.

That comes after Public Investment Fund members and club co-owner Jamie Reuben visited the player at his home earlier this week.

It is now understood Newcastle would accept £130m for Isak.

And that could tempt Liverpool to go back in with an improved offer on deadline day.

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.

The Toon spent a club-record £69m on giant forward Nick Woltemade.

But their chances of bringing in another – namely Wolves star Jorgen Strand Larsen or Brentford’s wantaway Yoane Wissa – appear to be fizzling out.

SunSport also revealed Roma and Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk could be the subject of a £30m bid on the final day of the transfer window.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted after Saturday’s goalless draw at Leeds that he still “does not know” what will happen with Isak.

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.

Their Champions League campaign begins when they host Barcelona on September 18 before facing the likes of Benfica, Bayer Leverkusen and PSG in the league phase.

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NICK WOLTEMADE has become Newcastle’s new record signing – as Alexander Isak’s dream move to Liverpool edges closer.

The Magpies have forked out £69m to Stuttgart for the giant 6ft 6in German international, 23, to end their summer-long pursuit of a new frontman.

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Now they will ramp up efforts to bring in either Wolves star Jorgen Strand Larsen or Brentford’s wantaway Yoane Wissa before Monday’s deadline day as on-strike Isak sweats on his future.

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.

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.

THE best teams in Europe are set to go head-to-head once again as the Champions League returns for another thrilling season.

PSG are the current kings of the continent after thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the Munich final last term.

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The French giants are among the favourites for the trophy once again, as are Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Six Premier League teams have earned the right to mix it with the big boys in the Champions League this season.

Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea and Europa League winners Tottenham will all be in the draw for the league phase.

The Gunners went the furthest of the English sides competing in Europe’s elite club competition last term.

Mikel Arteta‘s men reached the semi-finals, losing 3-1 on aggregate to eventual winners PSG.

English sides will be looking to stop the rot after failing to make an appearance in the Champions League final in back-to-back seasons.

First up is the league phase, and SunSport brings you the all-important details ahead of the draw.

When is the Champions League draw?

• The draw for the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League will take place on Thursday, August 28.
• The show will begin at 5pm BST.
• Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum will stage the draw.

How to watch the Champions League draw FREE

• The Champions League draw will be broadcast live on Uefa.com.
• TNT Sports 1 will also air the draw on regular TV.
• The broadcaster will also provide a FREE live stream via the TNT Sports YouTube channel.
• Alternatively, you can discover all the confirmed ties by following SunSport’s live blog of the draw.

How does the Champions League league phase draw work?

Like last year, the league phase has 36 teams from across Europe competing, with each side handed eight games.

The 36 clubs are split into four pots based on their Uefa coefficient, with the opponents generated by automated software.

Starting with Pot 1, one physical ball will be drawn before the automated software randomly draws two opponents from each pot, one home and one away.

Teams cannot face more than two opponents from the same country and are not permitted to face other sides from the same association as theirs.

The top eight teams in the final table will automatically go through to the last 16.

They will then be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides who were placed ninth to 24th in the table.

Champions League draw pots

Pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Man City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona

Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge

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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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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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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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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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.

Dream Team in association with Midnite

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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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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.

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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.

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

And what about William Gallas, Peter Odemwingie, ­Carlos Tevez, Saido Berahino and even Cristiano Ronaldo’s ill-fated decision to return to Manchester United?

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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YOANE WISSA is back training with his Brentford team-mates and could feature in the Bees’ clash with Aston Villa.

The Democratic Republic of Congo international has been the subject of TWO failed bids from Newcastle United, whom he’s eager to join.

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He missed the west Londoners’ Prem opener against Nottingham Forest amid Newcastle’s continued interest in signing him.

Wissa, like wantaway Newcastle hitman Alexander Isak, who the Magpies want him to replace, was training alone late last month.

But Bees boss Keith Andrews has revealed the 28-year-old is back training with his team-mates and could be in the starting XI for the visit of Villa.

He said of Wissa: “He’s been training with the team.

“In terms of being involved this weekend, I’ll make a decision on the squad tomorrow, but he’s part of the group this week.”

Brentford have knocked back £30m and £40million offers from Newcastle for Wissa’s services.

The Bees board, who let Bryan Mbeumo join Manchester United last month, are seemingly determined to keep him at the club.

And Andrews is hoping to still be able to call on Wissa come September 2.

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He said: “He’s a Brentford player right now.

“My stance around Yoane all along is I don’t want him to leave.

“That hasn’t really changed in any way, shape or form. I keep going back to being understanding of his situation.

“But for me I don’t want to lose a player of that quality.

“So that hasn’t really changed throughout the whole episode of the transfer window.

“Hopefully, he’s here in the next 10-12 days, whatever it is. Certainly, as a head coach that’s what I would like.”

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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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.”

The Sun revealed on Wednesday the couple had split, with Andy unfollowing celebrity make-up artist Lou, 41, on social media.

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.”

In June, we reported Carroll was twice quizzed by police over bust-ups with Lou during a break on Greek party island Mykonos.

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.

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.”

Last September, the Sun on Sunday reported Andy and Billi, who have three children, were divorcing after two years of marriage.

The couple started dating in 2013, soon after he joined West Ham.
And he popped the question during a romantic holiday in Rome in 2014.

That year Billi said: “He is one of the most genuine and caring people I have ever met.”

Gateshead-born Carroll, who has two children from a previous relationship, has often been in the news over his romps, brawls and court cases.

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He said meeting Billi turned his life around.

Carroll’s boyhood dreams came true when he began his professional football career with Newcastle United in 2006.

The big centre-forward was soon a hit with Toon fans, following in the footsteps of another local idol Alan Shearer.

In 2009-10, Carroll scored 17 goals in 39 games, and 11 in nine games the following season.

In 2011, he earned a £35million transfer to Liverpool, a then record fee for a British player.

At his peak he was picked for England in nine games between 2010-2012, including scoring against Sweden at Euro 2012.

I love Lou and I love her family, we row like any couple

What he told us this week

He was sold by Liverpool to West Ham but struggled with a series of injuries.

His career saw him moving on to a succession of clubs including back to Newcastle, later to Reading and then West Brom.

Carroll’s career, although full of ups and downs, has brought him enormous sums of money.

In May 2019, he was listed as the 14th wealthiest sports person aged 30 or under in The Sunday Times Rich List.

His fortune at the time was said to have increased to £19million.

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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Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season

England’s biggest five clubs have already shelled out more than £1billion between them this summer, in a whopping total spend of £2.1billion — or £2.5bn including deal add-ons.

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.

Liverpool’s imminent signing of Giovanni Leoni would take their summer outlay to around £300m  — with deals for Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi still possible.

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.

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“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.

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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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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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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?

Liverpool had a £110m offer rejected as the Toon want £150m but how helpful could a sulking, unhappy Isak be for Eddie Howe?

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SAVINHO

The Brazilian winger only joined Manchester City a year ago – seen as very much the replacement for Riyad Mahrez.

But Tottenham have entered talks over the wide man – although City would not entertain offers under £50m.

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MARC GUEHI

The Crystal Palace captain led his side to a second Wembley trophy in three months on Sunday – but could line up for opponents Liverpool this season.

Steve Parish admitted the Eagles will sell if the right bid comes in as Guehi enters the final year of his deal. Newcastle have also been interested.

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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.

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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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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.

The Cameroon star is only 21 but Brighton will not let him go on the cheap, so much so that the Red Devils may well need to pay a record-breaking £115m-plus for the holding midfielder.

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XAVI SIMONS

Chelsea are after a young, exciting attacker – again. This time it is Xavi Simons being lined up.

RB Leipzig will want at least £60m but the Blues may try and strike a deal which sees Christopher Nkunku return to his former club – plus Tyrique George.

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ALEJANDRO GARNACHO

Copy and paste from above – but this time it is Alejandro Garnacho who could be on his way to Stamford Bridge with talks underway.

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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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.

Jackson would prefer a switch to Newcastle, but the Toon will only bid for him should Isak leave – and they are determined not to let that happen.

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EBERECHI EZE

Just like his skipper Guehi, Eze continues to be linked with an exit away from Selhurst Park.

With the Ademola Lookman deal seemingly off the cards, Arsenal may swoop for the Palace talisman in a package worth £55m to £60m – although Tottenham may attempt to hijack the transfer if they can’t get Savinho.

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