Kuldeep, Varun give Pakistan back-ten nightmare again
ESPNcricinfo staff28-Sep-2025Nine wickets for 33 runs. Pakistan collapsed from a position of strength in the Asia Cup final. They had no business being bowled out for 146 when they were 113 for 1 with 44 balls left in the innings. Sahibzada Farhan had hit a half-century. Kuldeep Yadav went for 23 in two overs. India were feeling the pressure, missing the services of Hardik Pandya who was out with a quad niggle.But an inexplicable rush of wickets – there was (at least) one every over between the 13th and the 18th, including three in Kuldeep’s final over as he ended his day with a big broad smile – brought a quick and untimely end to their efforts of stringing the perfect game together in the Asia Cup final.Jasprit Bumrah, who was moved to have a few words with the Pakistan batters after they came at him during his first spell, wrapped things up and even included a riposte. He brought down Haris Rauf’s off stump and celebrated it by miming something going down, much like Rauf himself was doing on the boundary last Sunday, seemingly referring to the military conflict between the two countries earlier this year.Varun Chakravarthy was the pick of India’s bowlers. He bowled the high-pressure overs – one in the powerplay, one after Kuldeep was put under pressure, where he picked up Farhan for 57, and later when the collapse was in full flow, he dismissed Fakhar Zaman for 46 as well. Those two were the only Pakistan batters able to score more than 15 runs
It was a significant show of faith in Rio Ngumoha’s potential when Liverpool opted against directly replacing Luis Diaz this summer.
Diaz, 28, had been a steady source of positivity down the left flank for over three years on Merseyside, and he was instrumental in winning the Premier League last season, posting 17 goals and eight assists across all competitions.
But he and FSG had reached a contract dispute, and his openness to moving for new pastures saw Bayern Munich’s £65.5m offer accepted in August. He brought four major honours to Anfield.
Liverpool welcomed a wealth of talent to their ranks this summer, but they didn’t sign an out-and-out left winger. Partly, this was because of Cody Gakpo and £116m arrival Florian Wirtz’s ability to play out on the flank, but Ngumoha’s emergence also played a factor.
However, the up-and-down start to the season will have shown Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes that perhaps that was a mistake. And if rumours are to be believed, the Reds hierarchy are considering rectifying that blunder.
Why Liverpool need a left winger
When Wirtz joined Liverpool in July, it was expected that he would settle in as one of the Premier League’s best players. That is still the anticipation, though his start to life in England has left much to be desired.
After assisting Hugo Ekitike on his debut in the Community Shield, the 22-year-old has since blanked across each of his eight appearances, lacking the quality and confidence in the crucial moments to make a difference.
That quality is in there, but Liverpool’s wider tactical struggles this term have exacerbated Wirtz’s slow start, with the attacking midfielder struggling to find his feet across central and wide berths.
While the German international can play out wide, this is not his most effective role, and with that in mind, Liverpool might want to sign a Diaz-like winger in 2026 to help balance the system out once again, perhaps raising Wirtz’s game concurrently.
And, according to Spanish sources, FSG are preparing an official €75m (£65m) offer for Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, though the Basque outfit are holding out to see that their €90m (£78m) valuation is met.
Williams, 23, was reported by Fabrizio Romano this summer to be Arsenal’s “dream target”, but the Gunners failed to make a breakthrough and went down a different track.
Liverpool are aware of interest from other suitors and hope to close a deal swiftly, so keep a close eye on this one.
What Nico Williams would bring to Liverpool
A maverick of a winger, Williams rose to prominence for his performances at the 2024 European Championship with Spain, vital to the Iberian nation’s triumph, hailed for his “incredible” talent by Barcelona’s Pedri.
During that summer tournament, Spain were simply a cut above the rest, and Williams and Lamine Yamal drew so many plaudits for their electric performances, uncontainable.
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliamsin action with Rangers' Ridvan Yilmaz
The fast-footed talent has played 171 matches for Athletic Bilbao and earned 30 caps for Spain. For his club, he has posted 32 goals and assists apiece.
A groin injury has disrupted his start to the current campaign, but with a goal and two assists to his name already, the £276k-per-week ace is sure to hit form once fitness levels have been recovered.
Last season wasn’t one of seamless success for Williams, who only scored five times in La Liga, but he notched 14 goals across all competitions and showed through his underlying data his high-level ability. As per Sofascore, he completed 2.3 dribbles and won 4.9 duels on average each game.
It’s more than Williams operates in a similar way to Diaz, and thus could be an invaluable puzzle piece for Slot as the Dutch manager works on recalibrating his out-of-sorts Liverpool team.
You would hope that the Merseysiders’ struggles would have been combatted by the end of the campaign, but Williams could prove a long-term success and an upgrade on Wirtz down the left channel.
Goals scored
0.29
0.34
Assists
0.35
0.23
Shots taken
2.59
2.48
Shot-creating actions
4.89
5.17
Touches (att pen)
5.21
5.13
Pass completion (%)
78.9
71.0
Progressive passes
6.33
3.22
Progressive carries
3.95
5.91
Successful take-ons
2.53
3.66
Ball recoveries
4.03
4.77
Curiously, there are quite a few similarities between the respective players, even though stylistic differences are clear when observing them in action.
Both players are adept at taking on defenders, with staggering close control. Wirtz is artful on the ball. However, Williams is more of a relentless carrier, and that is something Slot’s side need to stretch lines and accommodate Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak in the centre.
In fact, he has been described in the past as a “world-class prospect” by journalist Zach Lowy, who went on to say that the “absolute menace” was proving a terror for Spanish defences across the 2023/24 campaign.
It’s clear that Wirtz is a talented footballer and that he could become one of the Premier League’s leading figures at Liverpool. But Liverpool need to sign a first-class winger to add width and energy to Slot’s flanks.
Williams is that man, with his “unpredictable” and “relentless” dribbling, as noted by analyst Ben Mattinson, bound to add a dimension to the Liverpool fold, especially when Mohamed Salah lacks his one-time athleticism on the alternate wing.
Is Williams a more technically talented footballer than Wirtz? Does his ceiling stretch higher than the German playmaker’s own? In both cases, probably not.
However, Liverpool haven’t looked quite right this season, and the Spaniard’s electric pace and Diaz-like qualities as a winger might prove the upgrade needed to restore the tactical equilibrium.
Their answer to Semenyo: Liverpool have a future "best winger in the world"
Liverpool have so much talent within Arne Slot’s squad.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — All-Star home runs are not created equally. Some mean more than others. And sometimes they have nothing to do with the scoreboard.
Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox hit an especially meaningful one in MLB’s 94th All-Star Game Tuesday night. Sure, the two-run blast in his first All-Star at-bat broke a tie and sent the American League to a 5–3 win. But the bigger meaning was evident on the words written on the white athletic tape wrapped around his wrists as he hoisted the Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP Award, a crystal bat named for another Boston outfielder.
On his right wrist, next to a cross, in ballpoint ink were written the words, “Still alive.” On the left, also next to a hand-drawn cross, were two words that in harsher language equated to “Forget ‘em.”
Duran has emerged from the darkness of battling mental health issues in recent years to become a very public advocate of mental health. He started writing those messages on his wrists last season. “Still alive” is a reminder to himself that he is still here after doubting if that would even be possible, and that a bad game is nothing compared to what he went through. The explicit version of “Forget ‘em” reminds him not to allow the doubters and haters to pierce his confidence and self-worth.
The same player who hit .219 in his first two seasons in the big leagues, falling into bouts of anger and darkness, hit .295 last year and is hitting .284 this year with double digits in doubles, triples, homers and steals—one of only a dozen players ever with a first-half quadruple-double and the first since Jose Reyes in 2008.
And now: the All-Star Game MVP and recognition from Red Sox manager Alex Cora that he is one of the leaders and core pieces of the next championship Boston team. A night that began as the national introduction of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes ended with Duran and his advocacy for mental health taking the national spotlight.
Asked if the MVP award proved something to himself about being the best of the best, Duran replied, “You know me. That's not how I think about myself. So, I'm definitely not thinking I'm the best of the best. I'm a guy that keeps my head down and just works hard. I don't like to think of myself better than anybody else. So, I'm just here to work hard. There's so many good players in this league. I'm just thankful that I can play against these guys.”
Duran’s openness about sharing his battle with mental health has encouraged others to reach out to him in gratitude. He welcomes the responses because he understands what many of them are experiencing. His story already has had a major impact. It just got bigger with his first swing in an All-Star Game.
“I mean, All-Star Game, first home run, All-Star Game MVP … it is a first,” he said. “And I'm just very thankful. It's hard to put into words. It won't hit me until I try to go to sleep tonight. Who knows if I'll be able to sleep tonight.”
He finishes as WI’s most capped T20I player and highest run-scorer
ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2025
Nicholas Pooran represented West Indies in 167 games•AFP/Getty Images
Nicholas Pooran, the former West Indies white-ball captain, has retired from international cricket at the age of 29. He finishes with 1983 runs in 61 ODIs and 2275 runs in 106 T20Is.Pooran had recently opted out of selection for West Indies’ T20I series against England and hadn’t featured in ODIs since West Indies’ exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup qualifiers. However, his retirement came as a shock since it was only in November last year – on the occasion of his 100th T20I cap – that Pooran had said he could play 100 more T20Is.In a statement on his social-media handle on Monday, Pooran wrote: “After much thought and reflection, I’ve decided to announce my retirement from international cricket. This game we love has given and will continue to give so much – joy, purpose, unforgettable memories, and a chance to represent the people of the West Indies. Wearing that maroon, standing for the anthem, and giving everything I had each time I stepped on the field… it’s hard to put into words what that truly means to me. To have led the team as captain is a privilege I will always hold close to my heart.”To the fans – thank you for your unwavering love. You lifted me in the tough moments and celebrated the good ones with unmatched passion. To my family, friends and teammates – thank you for walking the journey with me. Your belief and support carried me through it all. Though this international chapter of my career closes, my love for West Indies Cricket will never fade. I wish the team and the region nothing but success and strength for the road ahead.”
Pooran made his West Indies debut in 2016 in a T20I against Pakistan in Dubai, and three years later earned his first ODI cap, against England in Barbados. In 2022, he was appointed West Indies’ white-ball captain but stepped down after a disastrous T20 World Cup in Australia that year. He last played for West Indies in December 2024, in a home T20I series against Bangladesh in Kingstown.But he had arguably his best year in 2024, hitting the most sixes in a calendar year (170) before finishing IPL 2025 with 524 runs at a strike rate of 196.25 with five half-centuries. He was also expected to be a key part of West Indies’ plans for the 2026 T20 World Cup early next year.A regular in the franchise circuit, Pooran will feature in MLC and The Hundred this summer. Apart from the CPL and the IPL, he is also a regular in the ILT20 in the UAE. In T20Is, a format where he finishes as West Indies’ most capped player and highest run-scorer, he hit 2275 runs at an average of 26.14 and strike rate of 136.39. In ODIs, he scored 1983 runs at an average of 39.66 and strike rate of 99.15.”Cricket West Indies extends sincere gratitude and appreciation to Nicholas Pooran for his outstanding contributions to West Indies cricket,” a statement from CWI said on Monday. “We salute his achievements and thank him for the moments he has given fans across the region and beyond. We wish him all the very best in the next phase of his journey.”
New West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo has wasted no time making his mark at Rush Green, and he’s now being tipped to take action against another star player after his controversial James Ward-Prowse decision.
Nuno assessing West Ham squad after James Ward-Prowse axe
Almost immediately after replacing Graham Potter last Saturday, Nuno axed Ward-Prowse from the matchday squad for his debut game in the dugout at Everton, despite the player being a mainstay for his predecessor.
West Ham players were allegedly left shocked by Nuno’s decision to drop the 30-year-old (GiveMeSport), and it has since been reported that Ward-Prowse has no future at the London Stadium under Potter’s heir.
The Englishman could even re-join former club Southampton after being told that he’s surplus to requirements behind-the-scenes (Dean Jones), but Nuno has attempted to quell reports about Ward-Prowse by suggesting that the midfielder still has a chance to play his way into the squad.
However, despite Nuno’s attempts to silence the noise, respected journalist Fabrizio Romano is among the media sources to claim that Ward-Prowse’s January exit is a very real possibility.
For other members of the squad, Nuno is set to assess them over the coming months.
Ward-Prowse is actually just one free-kick goal away from equalling David Beckham’s all-time Premier League record of 18, but all the signs suggest that he won’t be reaching that milestone in East London.
Appearances
73
Goals
8
Assists
12
Bookings/Red Cards
8
Minutes played
5,630
via Transfermarkt
In terms of other players who could meet Nuno’s wrath, former Brentford boss Martin Allen has claimed that the 51-year-old could take action against star midfielder Lucas Paqueta after an incident in the 1-1 draw at Everton.
Nuno tipped to take action against Lucas Paqueta after West Ham incident
Speaking to West Ham Zone, Allen tipped Nuno to pull Paqueta aside for talks in the West Ham offices.
This is due to the Brazil international’s playacting on Merseyside, with Paqueta going down and clutching his face after a challenge from Vitali Mykolenko in a possible attempt to get the defender sent off.
The 28-year-old sent a clear message of loyalty to West Ham after his goal against Nottingham Forest, kissing the badge amid reports at the time that he could join Aston Villa, with Paqueta ultimately deciding to stay with Nuno’s side.
West Ham stuck by the former Lyon star during his spot-fixing scandal, and he could now be looking to repay the Irons’ faith by making an excellent start under Nuno.
A 2022/2023-esque performance against Arsenal wouldn’t go amiss this weekend, with Nuno up against the Premier League’s set-piece specialists and potential title favourites, before West Ham take a fortnight off for the international break.
Ethan Bamber adds four wickets to his first innings five-for to take match figures of 9 for 107
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay03-May-2025
Joe Root added a fine 90 for Yorkshire•SWPix / YorkshireCCC
Warwickshire survived a fine 90 from England star Joe Root to set up a target of 185 in order to secure victory in their Rothesay County Championship clash with Yorkshire at Headingley.Yorkshire were bowled out for 232 in their second innings late on day two, with visiting new-ball seamer Ethan Bamber adding four wickets to his five in the first innings, completing impressive match figures of 9 for 107.Warwickshire then closed on 15 without loss from three overs of their run chase.The day started with the Bears, replying to a first-innings 205, advancing from 161 for six overnight to 253 all out, with Australian Test all-rounder Beau Webster completing a superb 85 off 86 balls on debut.He helped secure a lead of 48 but was the last visiting wicket to fall, caught trying to attack against New Zealand quick Ben Sears, who finished with four wickets.Ed Barnard removed Root for one in the first innings, though the chances of that happening again were realistically slim. But Warwickshire’s bowlers chipped away at the wickets when they started bowling again 35 minutes before lunch.They built early pressure. Bamber bowled locum opener Dom Bess in the third over, leaving the score at 9 for 1.And, either side of lunch, that was the first of seven successive maidens bowled by him and new-ball partner Olly Hannon-Dalby, who hails from down the road in Halifax.James Wharton was run out at the non-striker’s end during the early stages of the afternoon following a mix-up with opener Adam Lyth, who then went on to share a third-wicket 71 with Root from 19 for 2.Both look assured, though Lyth’s effort was curtailed 10 runs short of a fifty when he edged behind off the back foot to Ed Barnard’s seam, leaving the hosts at 90 for 3 in the 28th over.The ICC’s No. 1 and No. 2 ranked Test batters, Root and Harry Brook, then shared 53 for the fourth wicket, though the latter’s stay was too brief for Yorkshire’s liking. He fell lbw for 20, playing around a full ball from seamer Michael Booth shortly before tea, where the hosts reached at 152 for 4 with a lead of 104.Jonny Bairstow top-edged a pull at Bamber behind on six, with wicketkeeper Kai Smith taking a smart running catch, before George Hill edged Barnard to second slip. And when Jordan Thompson miscued to cover as Barnard struck for a third time, Yorkshire were 190 for 7 in the 60th over, leading by 142.All the while, Root looked commanding at the crease in his 100th first-class innings for the county, hitting 13 fours in 131 balls. He reached his fifty off 64 balls, and one driven boundary straight of mid-off against Webster was particularly memorable. However, he missed out on a century when he top-edged a pull to backward point off Bamber to make it 219 for 8.Dan Mousley was the catcher, and the same combination did for Sears soon after before Ben Coad was bowled by Booth for 28, giving Warwickshire a short period of batting to navigate before close.With the bat in the first innings, Webster was excellent before lunch in getting the Bears up to and just beyond 250.A tall and imposing figure at the crease, he mixed power with invention in moving from 32 overnight to reach his fifty off 54 balls and give his new county a decent lead and a batting bonus point.He scooped Coad for six and muscled expensive compatriot seamer Jordan Buckingham, also on debut for Yorkshire, through the off-side for a trio of boundaries to help the Bears into the lead.He dominated a 74-run partnership for the eighth wicket with keeper Smith before pulling Sears to midwicket to end the innings. Smith contributed 19.Sears and Hill claimed two wickets apiece, three of them caught behind by Bairstow.
Com a vitória convincente por 3 a 1 diante do Independiente Medellín, pela Libertadores, o Internacional garantiu muito mais do que somente o seu avanço rumo às oitavas de final da Libertadores.
Vivendo situação financeira onde o orçamento conta com metas de premiação importantes para sua composição, o clube se aproximou do objetivo previamente estabelecido de, pelo menos, atingir as quartas de final do torneio continental.
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Em números, o clube gaúcho chegou a marca de 5,15 milhões de dólares (R$ 25 milhões na atual cotação) através de somatória que envolve a participação na fase de grupos, os três bônus pelas vitórias no Grupo B além da premiação por atingir a primeira fase eliminatória após as chaves da Libertadores.
Caso os comandados de Mano Menezes consigam atingir o que foi estabelecido nas diretrizes orçamentárias, seria somado a esse montante 1,7 milhão de dólares (R$ 8,2 milhões), angariando uma quantia que chegaria a R$ 33,2 milhões.
>IMPERDÍVEL! Transmissão ao vivo dos jogos do Inter na Liberta por apenas R$1,00!
Depois de assegurar a vaga no mata-mata continental, o Inter se volta ao âmbito nacional onde tem jogo pelo Campeonato Brasileiro no sábado (1). Novamente atuando no Beira-Rio, o Colorado recebe o Cruzeiro, às 21h (de Brasília).
A truly disastrous night for Celtic, one that could have enormous ramifications.
On Tuesday, or the early hours of Wednesday local time, the Hoops were dumped out of the Champions League in the play-off round by Kazakh champions Kairat.
Both legs, as well as extra time, finished goalless, before the Scottish Premiership champions were ignominiously defeated on penalties; Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda all seeing attempts saved by Temirlan Anarbekov.
The board gambled on making signings after Champions League qualification was secured, but that has backfired spectacularly.
Thus, Brendan Rodgers’ team will now take their place in Friday’s Europa League draw, but desperately need new recruits if they’re even to be competitive at that level, so could a new winger soon be on his way to Parkhead?
Celtic's need for attacking reinforcements
Across more than three and a half hours against Kairat, Celtic rarely looked like scoring.
Over the two legs, the Celts mustered just six shots on target, creating only three Opta-defined big chances, clearly lacking any sort of cutting edge.
In Almaty on Tuesday, James Forrest, Maeda and Yang Hyun-Jun was the front three deployed by Rodgers, a far cry from an attack containing Kyōgo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kühn, both of whom have been sold this year.
Thus, according to a report by Sky Sports News, Celtic are ‘in talks’ with Swedish side Hammarby as they attempt to sign winger Sebastian Tounekti.
They add that the Hoops have seen an opening bid of £2.6m rejected, with the Stockholm-based side holding out for closer to £5m, noting that ‘negotiations are ongoing’.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Hammarby are currently attempting to win the Allsvenskan title for the first time in 24 years, sat second with nine games to go, but may be under pressure to sell, having been dumped out of Conference League qualifying by Nordic rivals Rosenborg earlier this month.
So, could Tounekti soon swap Stockholm for Celtic?
What Celtic supporters should expect from Sebastian Tounekti
Despite the fact he’s just 23 years old, Tounekti is quite accustomed to changing clubs.
After beginning his senior career at Tromsdalen in the Norwegian lower leagues, he’s since represented Bodø/Glimt, Groningen, Haugesund and Ranheim, before joining Hammarby earlier this year.
In 26 appearances for the Swedish side, he has scored two goals and registered five assists, starting all four of their European ties against Royal Charleroi and Rosenborg, very much a key figure, as the table below documents.
The statistics very much crystallise Tounekti’s strengths, namely chance creation and dribbling, given that, among his current teammates, he ranks first for assists, big chances created and successful dribbles per match this year, while also in the top five when it comes to goals and shots.
Minutes
1,522
8th
Starts
19
5th
Goals
2
5th
Assists
5
1st
Big chances created
8
1st
Shots
36
3rd
Big chances missed
4
3rd
Successful dribbles per 90
2.1
1st
Average Sofascore rating
7.09
8th
Celtic analyst DataBhoys outlines how his strengths are getting to the byline and producing cut-backs, rather than drifting inside and looking to create centrally.
Despite being born in Tromsø, Tounekti is a full Tunisian international, winning just his second cap during a friendly against Morocco in June, four years after his debut, so he’ll surely be motivated to play at the highest possible level, with an Africa Cup of Nations to come in December, followed by the World Cup next summer.
So, why would he improve Rodgers’ current attacking options?
Well, most Celtic supporters would agree that Yang is not a starting-level player, given that he has scored just nine goals in 71 appearances for Celtic, only a regular due to Jota’s injury and Kühn’s sale to Como.
In fact, it has been reported that big-spending EFL Championship side Birmingham City have made an approach in an attempt to sign Yang, with the South Korean international outlining his desire to explore a new challenge earlier this summer.
With Birmingham splashing the cash, Celtic could probably secure a pretty decent fee for Yang, who arrived for just £2m from Gangwon FC two summers ago.
Thus, most supporters would be content if that money was reinvested in signing Tounekti, who certainly has the potential to be a clear upgrade.
Awful news for Adam Idah: "Proven goalscorer" now open to joining Celtic
Adam Idah’s place in the squad may be in danger as a striker is keen on a move to Celtic.
AC Milan secured their second win of the Serie A season after a narrow 1-0 victory over Bologna. Mexican striker Santiago Giménez has yet to find the net for the Rossoneri, but head coach Massimiliano Allegri highlighted the forward’s contribution beyond goals. Milan now sit fifth on the Serie A table with six points.
Getty Images SportStill goalless, but contributing in other ways
Mexico international Santiago Giménez remains without a goal in the 2025-26 Serie A season, extending his drought to five matches after hitting the post on a one-on-one chance against Bologna.
Despite the dry spell, Massimiliano Allegri highlighted the 23-year-old’s overall impact, calling it his strongest outing since joining Milan.
“Santiago ran tirelessly, pressed high, and worked very hard. He missed two good chances, but he reached them because of his effort. I’m very pleased – it was his best game since I’ve been in charge,” Allegri told DAZN.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportAllegri shows faith in Santi
Cameras caught the coach embracing Giménez after substituting him. Since Allegri's arrival, the striker has started all three games for the Rossoneri.
Getty Images SportChasing European qualification
The victory keeps Milan in the race for qualifying for European competition next season. Allegri admitted the objective remains a return to the Champions League, though he urged caution.
“Our goal is to get back into the Champions League. It’s not easy, and we can’t get carried away, but I think we’re doing very well. Winning while keeping a clean sheet for the second match in a row was important. The team stayed compact in difficult moments, and that’s when we cannot fall apart,” Allegri said.
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR AC MILAN?
AC Milan will visit Udinese next Saturday in Serie A action.
Newcastle United have submitted an offer to sign another Manchester United target, amid the two clubs’ pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
Newcastle and Man Utd both make Sesko offers
The Magpies haven’t had things all their own way during the summer transfer window, missing out on numerous targets while also facing the possibility of losing star striker Alexander Isak.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Liverpool are keen on signing the Sweden international before the September 1 deadline in a deal that could break transfer records. However, Eddie Howe recently admitted that “nothing has changed” regarding Isak’s future despite him missing pre-season.
“Nothing has changed. It is very much the mindset of business as usual for the players. You don’t get a chance to think of anything other than training or the next game when you come on these tours. The level is so high that we still have to be at our best.
“Naturally, we are going to miss a player of his quality and the group are going to feel that. I cannot sit here and claim that they won’t, but they are a very professional group of players. They are doing brilliantly, as far as I can see, in terms of managing the current situation.”
Newcastle and PIF will need to sign a replacement for Isak before letting him go, and one forward they are battling to sign is Sesko. Both the Magpies and Man Utd have made proposals to the player, who looks set to decide his next move over the coming days.
However, those at St James’ Park and Old Trafford aren’t just battling for Sesko, as per a recent transfer update.
Newcastle have offer for Real Madrid player rejected
According to a report from Spain, both Newcastle and Man Utd are fighting over a move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
In fact, it is claimed that Newcastle moved to sign Lunin ‘on loan with an option to buy, but their initial offer was rejected’.
Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, the possible departure of Altay Bayindir and the need for competition for Andre Onana has seen them eye Lunin, but those at the Bernabeu ‘aren’t considering his departure anytime soon’.
As we know, Newcastle have now got their new goalkeeper in Aaron Ramsdale in a similar deal to the one they proposed to Madrid for Lunin.
Newcastle enquire for £33m Sesko alternative who made the Ballon d'Or top 30
The Magpies could take full advantage of the situation.
ByTom Cunningham Jul 31, 2025
Signing from Southampton on a season-long loan with the option to buy, Ramsdale will provide competition to Nick Pope after they missed out on bringing James Trafford to St James’ Park.
Whether or not Newcastle still want Lunin remains to be seen, but it looks as if they recently made their move.