Paul Gascoigne is one of the geatest players in Glasgow Rangers history and undoubtedbly one of the most entertaining footballers of all time.

‘Gazza’ joined the Gers from Lazio in 1995 and won the lot in his debut campaign at Ibrox, lifting the Premiership title and the Scottish Cup while being crowned the SFWA Player of the Year and PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

Perhaps his finest moment in a Blue shirt came against Aberdeen in that 1995-96 campaign, as a hat-trick at Ibrox which included a stunning solo goal sealed the league title.

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The following year is remembered for Gascoigne’s masterclass in the Scottish League Cup final against Hearts, as he scored twice in a 4-3 victory, and Ally McCoist recalls an argument with the match-winner that day: “The half-time whistle goes and we’re up the tunnel and we’re still at it the two of us, we’re in the dressing room and we’re still at it, so Walter Smith comes in and says: ‘Right, everybody shut up and calm down’.

“But Gascoigne is still raging and I can see Walter getting angrier and angrier. I’ve known Walter long enough by this point to just keep my mouth shut, but Gascoigne keeps going.

“Eventually Walter picks him up by the scruff of the neck and hangs him up on the peg where you put your coats and he says: ‘Paul, I will not tell you again to shut up!’”

He continued: “Eventually when it calmed down Gazza got up, went out of the dressing room and straight into the director’s room – in his gear by the way! – and had a whiskey.

“He threw it down his neck, came back into the dressing room, sat down, Walter did his team talk, he walked out for the second half and he scored two goals. He was unbelievable.”

McCoist and Gascoigne played with some incredible names during that era – perhaps no surprise given they won nine straight league titles – from Richard Gough to Brian Laudrup, and Gazza has revealed it was the Dane who blew teammates away in training.

Gascoigne: Laudrup was 'one of the best players in the world'

Speaking about his greatest teammates, Gascoigne named EURO 1992 winner Laudrup as a ‘match-winner’ who was ‘virtually untouchable’ both in games and on the training ground.

Laudrup won three titles in four seasons at Glasgow, while both he and his brother are widely regarded as two of Denmark’s greatest ever players.

Even in a team stacked full of big names, his elegance, quick feet and creativity stood out like a sore thumb.

After Brentford turned down their latest offer to sign Yoane Wissa, Newcastle United have now reportedly set their sights on another Premier League rival.

Newcastle walk away from Wissa deal

It has been a miserable summer for the Magpies. From early frustration in pursuit of Joao Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo to Liverpool’s swoop to sign Hugo Ekitike and the unraveling Alexander Isak saga, to say not much has gone to plan would be an understatement.

Now, Brentford have seemingly made things worse. After missing out on Ekitike, Newcastle reportedly turned towards Wissa in hope of finally landing a top target.

The forward left the Bees’ pre-season camp amid the rumours and things looked to be heading in the right direction. As has been the case all throughout this summer, however, things have now reportedly changed.

According to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs, Brentford have now closed the door on selling Wissa for anything less than £50m+ after Newcastle raised their bid to over the £30m-mark. As a result, the Magpies – for now – have walked away.

Wissa, meanwhile, has reportedly refused to train amid disappointment over Brentford’s stance and the pact that they’ve broken which should have allowed him to leave for £26m this summer.

Whether the forward can be persuaded to return to training remains to be seen. Of course, if the situation stays unresolved, then it will be interesting to see if Newcastle return with another attempt to sign the 28-year-old.

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For Eddie Howe, the saga represents yet more frustration after he admitted that it’s been a difficult summer in pursuit of targets.

He told reporters: “I wish I could give you clarity, and some kind of guarantee that this or that is going to happen, but I can’t. My wish was for us to do our business early, and we certainly tried, but it wasn’t to be.”

Frustrated or not, Newcastle have now reportedly returned to the drawing board and shifted their focus towards yet another striker option.

Newcastle now eyeing Watkins move

Following the Wissa bombshell, those at St James’ Park reportedly have another option in mind. According to The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, PIF and Newcastle are now eyeing a summer swoop to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa.

As the stats highlight, Newcastle’s backline are already well aware of Watkins’ quality and have been on the end of it five times in nine games over the years. As alternative options for Wissa go or even replacements for Isak, the England man certainly wouldn’t be a bad option.

Full of praise for his star striker last season, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery told reporters: “He’s amazing. Because he’s a really hard worker and his commitment to work every day is amazing.

“When he is scoring goals, it’s the main objective he can have. Where he is assisting as well, he’s contributing to help the team. But even when he’s not doing both, he’s working for the team. Defensively, the commitment was always high. He is in the press to the opponent.”

England produced an electric all-round display to set up a series decider at Bristol on Sunday, as they thrashed Australia by 186 runs at Lord’s. Harry Brook’s sublime 87 formed the backbone of the innings which was capped off by the thunderous hitting of Liam Livingstone in a ground-record 25-ball half-century. Jofra Archer then briefly rekindled memories of 2019 with the best spell of his latest comeback, while Matthew Potts bagged a career-best 4 for 38 in an overwhelming performance.Harking back to last year’s dramatic Ashes Test, there was also, briefly, a moment with an Australian wicketkeeper in the spotlight. On 17, Brook glanced Mitchell Starc down the leg side and was given out but queried whether the catch had carried to Josh Inglis, who had been recalled to the side after injury. The replays showed the ball pitching just before his gloves. The crowd booed as the pictures came on the big screen, accompanied by a few chants of ‘same old Aussies, always cheating’, but it was a tame interlude compared to 2023.Following his maiden ODI hundred in Durham, Brook cruised to a 37-ball fifty, adding 79 in 53 balls for the third wicket with Ben Duckett and 75 in 47 with Jamie Smith for the fourth, as England went through the gears in a game cut to 39 overs by heavy morning rain. Livingstone produced a grandstand finish to the innings with a mighty display of striking, including four sixes off the last over bowled by Starc, whose 28 runs conceded amounted to the most expensive over by an Australian bowler in men’s ODIs. England amassed 156 off their last 15 overs.Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh gave the daunting chase a promising start – Head launching a gigantic pull out of the ground over the Tavern Stand – and after the eight-over powerplay Australia were 66 without loss compared to England’s 34 without loss. Overall, the 16 sixes hit in the match was a record for a Lord’s ODI. However, sustaining the tempo was a tall order. Head swung across the line at Brydon Carse and Steven Smith edged an ugly charge at Potts.Then Archer produced something special. An off-cutter at 88.2mph initially shaped in at Marsh before straightening to beat the edge and clatter off stump. It was a gem of a delivery to give Archer his first Lord’s wicket since 2019 and he rightly wheeled away in celebration. When his next ball clattered into the forearm of Marnus Labuschagne, the 2019 flashbacks were in full flow, albeit in coloured clothes, and Archer also added Glenn Maxwell during Australia’s collapseBefore long, however, his ball to Marsh had a contender for delivery of the game (or series) when Carse found an unplayable offering to flatten Labuschagne’s off stump. It was a collective effort from England’s quicks who shared nine wickets – Potts taking three wickets in four balls to rush through the lower order – before Adil Rashid finished things off.Matthew Potts starred with four wickets•Getty Images

Under heavy cloud, the ball nipped around early after England had been put into bat. Phil Salt fell shortly after the powerplay, skewing the excellent Josh Hazlewood to backward point, and Will Jacks picked out the same fielder to give Marsh a wicket in his second over – the first he had bowled since April 3. On a day when Cameron Green was revealed to have a back injury, it was not insignificant that Marsh was back with the ball.Brook initially appeared to be playing a different game to the other batters, as he skipped out of the blocks with three leg-side boundaries prior to his near-dismissal, and England’s momentum built around him. Sean Abbott’s expensive series continued – by the end of the innings his combined figures for three outings were 19.4-0-165-0 – while both Brook and Duckett took on Adam Zampa as well as the other overs of spin from Maxwell and Labuschagne.Duckett, who had offered a tough return catch to Starc before scoring, sent Zampa over long-on for six before moving to a hard-working 51-ball half-century one ball later, before top-edging the legspinner to deep backward square. Smith continued the aggressive approach against Zampa, sending him over wide long-on, and Brook added a second six in the same over to deep midwicket. The 12 overs of spin went for 106.A moment of absent-mindedness nearly did for Smith when he only just avoided being run out when he didn’t run his bat in at the non-striker’s end, although the ball ended up costing Australia six runs as the deflection went to the rope. By then, Brook was challenging for England’s fastest ODI hundred at Lord’s – 61 balls by Jos Buttler – but picked out long-on as Zampa ended his stay from his 58th.Smith fell in the next over, slicing Maxwell to short third, but any concerns the innings may limp to a finish vanished as Livingstone provided stunning late power. A huge blow over midwicket off Hazlewood was followed by the dismantling of Starc’s figures, including two sixes into the pavilion, to the increasingly joyous roars of a large crowd. Unlike last summer, an England-Australia series goes to the final game 2-2, although the weather in Bristol may yet have the final say.

Manchester United are now preparing an offer to sign an “incredible” £6.2 million Brazilian who wants to join the Red Devils, according to a new report.

Man Utd move on to new targets after finalising Mbeumo deal

The Red Devils have spent the last six to eight weeks working on a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. They had seen two bids turned down for the Cameroon international, but on Friday it was confirmed that they had finally agreed a deal with the London side.

The forward underwent his medical at Carrington over the weekend, with pictures emerging of him wearing the club’s training kit, and now an official announcement is expected soon.

Now that United have wrapped up that deal, they are turning their attention to their next set of targets, and they include signing a goalkeeper and a striker. United have been linked with moves for Nicolas Jackson and Randal Kolo Muani most recently, but the Premier League side have also held internal discussions about signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.

In fact, TEAMtalk report that United are set to intensify their efforts to sign Sesko, who is said to be valued at £67 million by the Bundesliga giants.

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Meanwhile, signing a new goalkeeper is also considered a priority for United, and on Sunday, Fabrizio Romano reported that the Red Devils made initial contact to be informed on a deal for Senne Lammens, who currently plays for Royal Antwerp.

The 23-year-old is among the options on United’s list, but he is not their only target, as they are also looking at another name.

Man Utd preparing bid to sign John Victor

According to Goal Brasil, relayed by Sport Witness, Man United are now expected to make an offer in the coming days to sign John Victor from Botafogo.

The report states that United have been in contact with Victor’s entourage since December last year, and he is now considered their top target in their search for a new goalkeeper. It isn’t clear what United’s offer will be, but the 28-year-old does have a release clause worth €7.4 million, which is roughly £6.2 million, and that figure would need to be paid in full to bypass Botafogo.

It goes on to add that other Premier League teams have approached Victor’s agent in recent days, but the goalkeeper is prioritising a move to Old Trafford. However, a deal will only progress when United have made an offer.

John Victor’s Club World Cup stats

Apps

4

Starts

4

Goals conceded

3

Goals conceded per game

0.8

Saves made

13

Saves per game

3.3 (81%)

Passing accuracy per game

18.0 (65%)

Clean sheets

1

Clearances per game

2.8

The Red Devils are well stacked in the goalkeeper department, as they still have Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir, and Tom Heaton in their ranks. The latter pair played in their opening pre-season game against Leeds United over the weekend, but it remains unclear if Bayindir has a future at the club.

Onana has also been linked with a move away and is now dealing with a hamstring injury that could see him miss the start of the season, so Victor, who has been dubbed “incredible” by FIFA’s official media channels, could arrive and have a good chance of being the club’s number one.

West Bromwich Albion fans will hope their team is back in the Championship promotion reckoning very soon after stumbling to an unsatisfactory ninth spot in the division last time out.

Ryan Mason is an unknown entity from the dugout – having only ever been an interim manager option at former side Tottenham Hotspur – which could well work in his favour, as the exciting 34-year-old rookie prepares to try and guide his brand new side back into the playoff positions.

He has been backed in the transfer window so far, with George Campbell the latest addition from CF Montreal, on top of Aune Heggebo joining the group from Brann for a whopping £4.7m.

Whilst that lavish fee will of course have caught the eye of the Hawthorns masses, Mason might well have another trump card in his back pocket when attempting to finally bring in the likes of Mikey Moore to the West Midlands on loan, owing to his ex-Spurs connections.

West Brom's ongoing pursuit of Moore

It’s been well documented across this chaotic transfer window to date that West Brom are keen to add Moore to their ranks this summer, knowing full well he was coached by Mason back in North London.

On top of that already healthy working relationship being a major plus, Moore does look ready for a chance to shine in the demanding EFL, having lit up youth pitches at Spurs for some time now, away from also scoring his first ever senior strike for his boyhood employers last season in the Europa League.

Moore’s silky surge forward against IF Elfsborg, and the subsequent finish that was drilled into the back of the net, would have got Spurs supporters out of their seats, with the 17-year-old finally off the mark for the club at a senior level, after collecting 29 goals and assists in U18 Premier League action.

The trail has gone slightly cold involving the Baggies hunting down Moore’s services, however, with German outlet BILD even speculating that Borussia Dortmund are now looking at the raw attacker.

Therefore, it might not be as straightforward as once thought for Mason to flex his close-knit ties if the might of Dortmund are sniffing around, which might now lead West Brom down a different avenue for another rising Premier League starlet…

The "special" PL ace who could be Mason's next Moore

West Brom will be seen as a worthwhile working environment for Premier League youngsters to join, considering the likes of Harvey Barnes and Romelu Lukaku called the Hawthorns home briefly on loan as wide-eyed starlets, before going on to have lengthy careers at the very top.

James McConnell will hope he’s the next up-and-coming youngster that finds his brief stay at West Brom to be as transformative as others have experienced, with journalist Lewis Steele recently revealing that the highly-rated Liverpool midfielder is on the Baggies’ radar, after news came out that he was being allowed a loan opportunity away from Anfield.

Whilst Moore is the talk of the town based on his Europa League exploits, McConnell – who is more mature at 20 years of age – would be another exciting talent to obtain, in the same mould as his 17-year-old counterpart.

Firstly, the Reds number 53 can boast that he has a solitary appearance in the more luxurious Champions League, whilst he also looked assured and confident at Wembley back in 2024 when trusted with a 33-minute cameo in the EFL Cup final versus Chelsea.

McConnell would come away from that short stint on the Wembley turf with many a notable voice showering him with praise, with Jurgen Klopp even going as far as to hail the 20-year-old as “special”.

Lastly, his adaptability for the cause, away from Moore primarily favouring a spot down the wing or as a striker, will also make him an attractive prospect to pick up on loan, as West Brom attempt to gun for promotion during the intense 46-game marathon.

CM

35

5

7

DM

28

1

3

AM

7

1

1

RM

2

1

0

RB

1

0

0

CF

1

0

0

LW

1

0

0

LM

1

1

0

McConnell has even lined up as a right-back on occasion across his entire Anfield stay, with Mason now surely viewing the Liverpool man as a versatile gem that’s worth pursuing, over holding out hope a move for Moore gets off the ground.

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تحدث قائد ليفربول، فيرجيل فان دايك، بعدما قاد فريقه لفوز مثير على أتلتيكو مدريد في الدقائق الأخيرة، ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، ليلة الأربعاء.

والتقى ليفربول وأتلتيكو مدريد على ملعب “آنفيلد” في الجولة الأولى لمرحلة الدوري ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وكانت نتيجة المباراة تشير إلى تعادل إيجابي 2-2، وسجل فان دايك هدف فوز ليفربول في الدقيقة الثانية من الوقت المحتسب بدلاً من الضائع.

وقال فان دايك متحدثًا على قناة “TNT Sports”:”حاولنا وواصلنا الضغط من أجل تسجيل الهدف الثالث، لكننا استقبلنا هدف التعادل بعد كرة غيرت اتجاهها بشكل كبير وهذا لم يكن جيدًا”.

وأضاف: “ومع ذلك وجدنا طريقة للعودة، وكنا خطرين دائماً في الكرات الثابتة، يجب أن أقول إنهم كانوا عدوانيين للغاية، وأنا سعيد لأنني سجلت هدف الفوز”.

وأكد فان دايك: “إنهم فريق لا يستسلم أبدًا، ولديهم لاعبون أكفاء قادرون على معاقبتك إذا لم تكن حاضرًا في لحظة، وإذا تأخرت قليلًا، وهذا ما فعلوه عندما عاقبونا قبل نهاية الشوط الأول”.

اقرأ أيضًا | رجل مباراة ليفربول وأتلتيكو مدريد في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وأكمل: “بعد الاستراحة حاولنا تسجيل الهدف الثالث، لكنهم اكتسبوا بعض الثقة من هدفهم أيضًا، علينا أن نواصل القتال ونُظهر الصلابة التي اعتدنا إظهارها لسنوات، وكانت ليلة أوروبية رائعة أخرى هنا”.

وسُئل فان دايك هل يؤمن الفريق دائمًا بأنه سيجد طريقة، وأجاب: “أعتقد أننا أظهرنا مرارًا وتكرارًا أننا قادرون على تحقيق ذلك، كنت محظوظًا اليوم بتسجيل هدف الفوز، وسنمضي قدمًا”.

وبشأن أهداف ليفربول في الدقائق الأخيرة، علّق: “الأمر يتعلق بالإصرار، نحن لا نحب أن يحدث هذا كثيراً، نحن نفضل أن نسيطر على المباريات، لكننا نعمل على هذا الجانب، إنه عملية تحتاج إلى وقت، الهدف الأول كان من الممكن تفاديه، أما الهدف الثاني فكان فيه بعض الحظ لصالحهم”.

New Zealand’s lower middle order put up a fight, but couldn’t avoid an innings defeat

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Sep-2024New Zealand battled on day four, with overnight batters Glenn Phillips, and Tom Blundell completing half centuries, before Mitchell Santner struck 67, batting partly in the company of the tail. But this fight only served to throw into relief their abysmal 88 in the first innings, rather than provide any serious hope of avoiding even an innings defeat.In the end, having played out 40.4 overs on day four, they lost their final wicket – Santner – still 154 runs behind Sri Lanka. The hosts had only batted once.For Sri Lanka, it was their third Test win in a row. With four matches to go in their World Test Championship cycle, they are now in the hunt for one of those final two spots, though they must hope for other results to go their way too, to have a better chance.Sri Lanka will be buoyed too by the six-wicket haul achieved by debutant offspinner Nishan Peiris, even if he was expensive as New Zealand’s batters went hard at him. He finished with figures of 9 for 203 in the match, having taken 6 for 170 in the second dig.Peiris dismissed each of the three half-centurions on day four. Blundell was out on the third over of the morning, when he missed a reverse sweep (he was trying his second one in a row, having nailed the first for four), and been struck in front of the stumps. Later, Phillips attempted to launch Peiris over the straight boundary, but found Dimuth Karunaratne at long on. After lunch, Peiris had Santner stumped when the batter had allowed his back foot to slide out of the crease – the last New Zealand wicket to fall.In between, Prabath Jayasuriya had bowled both Tim Southee and Ajaz Patel, the latter with a vicious one that leapt back at Ajaz from the rough. He himself finished with 9 for 181 from the game.Phillips and Santner were New Zealand’s best day four batters, however. Phillips’ main strategy was to get on the back foot as often as possible, and play off the surface. This frequently worked – allowing him to pounce on even slightly short deliveries, while forcing bowlers to go fuller to him, presenting scoring opportunities down the ground. He completed his fifty off 66 balls, and would go on to be involved in a 64-run seventh-wicket stand with Santner, to follow the 95-run stand he’d shared with Blundell.Santner, meanwhile, was not quite as proactive as Phillips, but found the offside productive. Occasionally, he would dance down the track and look to hit Peiris in particular down the ground. He collected two sixes and a four this way, and completed his half century soon after lunch, off the 97th ball he faced. He was out off the third delivery Sri Lanka bowled with their second new ball.

The supporters of Tottenham Hotspur will undoubtedly have a sense of excitement building among the fanbase, as they start a new era in the 2025/26 campaign.

Thomas Frank is set to lead the side in North London, hoping to build on the Europa League triumph they achieved at the end of the previous season.

Many may have seen the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou as harsh given the European success, but his side’s lack of quality in the Premier League led to his departure.

The Dane will be looking to avoid suffering a similar fate, needing to strike a balance between success in the league whilst also being competitive in the Champions League.

However, if the new boss is to be a success during his maiden campaign in the role, he will undoubtedly need backing from the hierarchy within the transfer window.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

In the last couple of days, Spurs have made their opening offer to West Ham United for the potential signing of talented forward Mohammed Kudus – but their bid was immediately rejected.

However, they’re set to make another offer in the coming days, with the new boss wanting to accelerate a deal for the Ghanaian attacker this window.

Despite the move for the 24-year-old, another Premier League forward has emerged on their shortlist in recent days in Rodrigo Muniz, according to Brazilian outlet BolaVIP.

They claim that a £32m bid has been made for the Fulham striker after he scored eight times in England’s top flight throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

It also states that the Lilywhites will face stiff competition from Leeds United, after the newly promoted side made an offer for his services earlier this window.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s answer to Haaland

Erling Haaland is a player who’s constantly tormented countless backlines within the Premier League, scoring endless goals for Manchester City over the last few years.

The Norwegian moved to the Etihad back in the summer of 2022 and has since scored 124 times in his 146 appearances – a simply staggering record in the modern day.

He’s registered four goals in his six appearances against the Lilywhites, often causing the club countless issues, with the fanbase undoubtedly wishing they had their own version of the forward.

However, talents like Haaland don’t come around very often, and if they do, they will likely cost a small fortune – especially given the money in the current climate.

They could be about to land their own version of the talisman with Muniz this summer, with the Brazilian labelled as a similar player to the City star by FBref.

Whilst he’s undoubtedly been massively outscored throughout 2024/25, he’s managed to outperform Haaland in numerous key areas, showcasing what an excellent addition he’d be to Frank’s side this summer.

Muniz, who’s been labelled as “one of the best strikers in the Premier League” by teammate Willian, has registered a better goal per shot on target rate – demonstrating his clinical edge in front of goal.

Games played

31

31

Goals & assists

9

25

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Passes into final third

1.2

0.3

Progressive passes

2.5

0.6

Take-ons completed

0.9

0.4

Fouls won

2.9

0.4

Aerials won

6.3

1.8

He’s also registered more progressive passes per 90, with more passes completed into the final third, having the ability to provide others around him with chances in attacking areas.

The Fulham star has also completed more take-ons per 90, whilst also winning more aerial duels, offering Frank an all-round option at the top end of the pitch that he will likely desire.

It’s unclear if Marco Silva’s side will accept the latest offer for Muniz’s signature, but it’s evident that, from the stats produced, he would be an excellent option for Spurs.

If he can replicate the levels produced by Haaland over the last couple of seasons, it would be a superb signing and one that could catapult the club up the table next campaign.

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Liverpool have long been an ambitious club, but it feels like FSG recognised just how big a superpower Arne Slot’s Anfield side are, having unleashed the dogs in the transfer market this summer.

Giorgi Mamardashvili has arrived to provide competition for Alisson Becker between the sticks, while Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez will redefine Liverpool’s wide berths over the coming years.

Florian Wirtz, who joined in a British-record £116m deal last month, has been called “the best midfielder in the world” by former Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes.

And Hugo Ekitike will now join from Eintracht Frankfurt in a £79m package, bringing his intelligent, all-action striking style to the team.

But that doesn’t mean the Premier League champions are done and dusted just yet this summer.

Liverpool's next move in the summer transfer market

Liverpool have bolstered heavily this summer, but, as has been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, they aren’t done just yet.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

With Darwin Nunez up for sale, Ekitike will need a strike partner, and Liverpool are gearing up to make an incredible signing that might just top all others this summer.

Indeed, according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are still weighing up a new bid for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, though it would take a new British-record bid worth £130m to even tempt Eddie Howe into parting ways with his talisman.

Bailey stated: “Liverpool aren’t going away. If there’s a chance of getting him, Liverpool are going to be there. I think the approach was more to say to Isak and Newcastle, ‘don’t forget, we are here and ready to make our move’. That was intrinsically behind it. If Liverpool think it’s doable, a bid could go in, it’s not beyond the realms of fantasy. They’ve already come in and made it clear they’ll pay £120m, so it’s already a bid in everything but name.”

Last week, Liverpool approached Newcastle for Isak before forging ahead with a bid for Ekitike, rebuffed as they were. Even so, the Reds may yet return to sign their dream target.

How Isak compares to Ekitike

If Liverpool have the financial means to sign Isak this summer (and it appears that they just might), Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes might just come together to pull off something special.

Newcastle signed Isak from Real Sociedad for a club-record £63m fee in 2022, and he’s gone from strength to strength since then, now recognised as one of Europe’s leading centre-forwards.

Since his Premier League debut, he’s even managed to hit the back of the net at a more clinical rate than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, which highlights just how incredible a deal this could be for the Reds.

1.

Erling Haaland

97

85 (0.88)

2.

Mohamed Salah

108

66 (0.61)

3.

Alexander Isak

86

54 (0.63)

4.

Ollie Watkins

112

50 (0.45)

5.

Bryan Mbeumo

101

38 (0.38)

Moreover, the Sweden international is dynamic and well-rounded as a marksman. As per FBref, he ranked among the top 16% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, and the top 7% for progressive carries per 90.

A far cleaner striker than Ekitike, Isak would unquestionably be the most exciting signing of Liverpool’s remarkable transfer window, hailed for his “limitless potential” by Toon boss Howe.

To think that Isak, 25, still has lofty heights to scale in spite of his meteoric rise in the Premier League over the past few years is quite a thing.

Certainly, Slot’s first-class coaching could unlock some depth of his skill set he doesn’t even know sits latent within.

Intelligent, industrious and ever enterprising, Isak would rock the footballing world, were he to move to Merseyside this summer.

If Liverpool were to complete a deal for Isak this summer, it would immediately relegate Ekitike to the second fiddle up top. If that doesn’t make the decisive comment on who’s more exciting, what does?

A bigger star than Ekitike: Liverpool enter race to sign £100m winger

Liverpool are consolidating their position at the top of the Premier League this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 22, 2025

حسم التعادل الإيجابي مباراة الأهلي والهلال بثلاثية لكل منهما، ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين” دوري روشن” موسم 2025-2026.

واستضاف الأهلي نظيره الهلال على ملعب الملك عبد الله الدولي “الإنماء” ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين” دوري روشن” موسم 2025-2026.

وافتتح الهلال أهداف المباراة مبكرًا في الدقيقة 12 بهدف سجله ثيو هيرنانديز بتسديدة قوية بعد تمريرة من مالكوم.

طالع.. ترتيب هدافي الدوري السعودي بعد ثنائية مالكوم في مباراة الهلال والأهلي

وأضاف مالكوم الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 24 بعد انفراد بإدوارد ميندي حارس الأهلي من صناعة داروين نونيز.

وعزز مالكوم التقدم مستغلًا تمريرة من سالم الدوسري سددها بشكل رائع في الدقيقة 41 مسجلًا هدفه الثاني في المباراة.

وقلق الأهلي الفارق بالهدف الأول في الدقيقة 75 عن طريق إيفان توني بعد عرضية من فراس البريكان.

وأشعل توني الأجواء بتسجيل الهدف الثاني له وللأهلي في الدقيقة 87 من كرة رأسية، وتعادل بعدها بهدف ميريح ديميرال في الدقيقة 90.

ورفع الهلال رصيده إلى 5 نقاط في المركز السابع من جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي خلفه الأهلي بنفس الرصيد من النقاط. أهداف مباراة الأهلي والهلال اليوم

هدف الهلال الأول

هدف! ⚽️🔥

ثيو هرنانديز يضع البصمة الأولى في الكلاسيكو 🎯#الأهلي_الهلال | #الكلاسيكو_على_ثمانية#دوري_روشن_السعودي#عزّنا_بطبعنا 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/4isnWIYP5D — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) September 19, 2025

هدف الهلال الثاني

هدف! ⚽️

مالكوم يضاعف النتيجة للهلال أمام الأهلي 🔥 #الأهلي_الهلال | #الكلاسيكو_على_ثمانية#دوري_روشن_السعودي#عزّنا_بطبعنا 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/Crm9MCjHl4 — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) September 19, 2025

هدف الهلال الثالث

هدف! ⚽️🔥

مالكوم يزيد الأوجاع على الأهلي بهدف هلالي ثالث 🎯#الأهلي_الهلال | #الكلاسيكو_على_ثمانية#دوري_روشن_السعودي#عزّنا_بطبعنا pic.twitter.com/Wvzv9CS9WW — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) September 19, 2025

هدف الأهلي الأول

هدف! ⚽️⚡️

إيفان توني يُعيد الأهلي ويقلص الفارق ضد الهلال ويشعل المباراة 🔥 #الأهلي_الهلال | #الكلاسيكو_على_ثمانية#دوري_روشن_السعودي#عزّنا_بطبعنا 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/Olm9QjKUzE — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) September 19, 2025

هدف الأهلي الثاني

هدف! ⚽️⚡️

إيفان توني يقلص الفارق ويشعل الأجواء، النتيجة الآن «2-3» 🔥#الأهلي_الهلال | #الكلاسيكو_على_ثمانية#دوري_روشن_السعودي#عزّنا_بطبعنا 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/mh2uxM575g — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) September 19, 2025

هدف الأهلي الثالث

هدف! ⚽️⚡️

ديميرال يعيد الأهلي من بعيد ويسجّل التعادل، إثارة وأجواء نارية 🔥#الأهلي_الهلال | #الكلاسيكو_على_ثمانية#دوري_روشن_السعودي#عزّنا_بطبعنا 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/ZKHjYJLpmS — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) September 19, 2025