Newcastle United
Eddie Howe Reflects on Liverpool’s Rejected Bid for Alexander Isak
Eddie Howe discusses Liverpool’s failed bid for Alexander Isak and his hopes for the striker’s future at Newcastle.
Newcastle United’s manager Eddie Howe has reiterated his wish to see striker Alexander Isak continue playing for the club despite Liverpool’s recent failed transfer attempt. Liverpool submitted a bid, which Newcastle promptly declined, and Howe disclosed that he was quite removed from the negotiations. “I was made aware of a bid yesterday and that bid was turned down all before I even heard about,” Howe said at a press briefing. “People back in England are dealing with the situation.” There was speculation about Liverpool crafting a second bid, but this was eventually dismissed, with Liverpool deciding not to further pursue the transfer.
Howe expressed uncertainty about the future, stating, “I really don’t know what happens next. From our perspective, we still support Alex in every way, and my wish is that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.” He also admitted surprise upon learning through the media that Isak had been training with his former club Real Sociedad, but did not rule out a future reunion with the striker.
Reports suggest that Newcastle officials were puzzled by Liverpool’s initial offer as it appeared lower than a previous bid, which led to their decision to walk away. Some Newcastle insiders reportedly felt “baffled and angry” over Liverpool unsettling Isak. Nonetheless, Howe emphasized focusing on positive steps forward rather than dwelling on the controversy. “Signing players is always complex, we just try to do what we think is right,” he added. Howe declined to comment on other clubs’ approaches, making clear his concentration was solely on Newcastle’s perspective.
Manchester United
Lewis Hall Explains Why Newcastle Extension Felt Like the Right Call
Lewis Hall has explained why he rejected Manchester United interest and signed long term at Newcastle.
Lewis Hall has explained why he chose to commit his future to Newcastle United despite Manchester United showing strong interest over the summer.
The left back, who had been high on Manchester United’s transfer shortlist, ultimately signed a new deal that keeps him at Newcastle until 2031. Hall described the decision as a “no-brainer” after receiving confidence from the club and from new manager Matthias Jaissle.
Hall, who first arrived on loan from Chelsea in 2023, has developed into one of Newcastle’s most important young players. The club made clear they did not want to lose him, instead improving his terms and adding two extra years to his agreement during the 2026/27 Premier League season.
Speaking to Chronicle Live, Hall said: “After not many conversations [with Jaissle],”
“Not many training sessions, I knew that the manager was going to be really good for this club and I knew that as a team, bringing in new players and improving the squad was really important and as soon as we did that, it was a no-brainer really to sign.
“He’s a top guy. He’s been so good to me,” the left back added. “He gives me the license to express myself as long as I do the defensive work and do the running that’s required for this position, which is quite a lot of work. But I’m happy to do it as long as it benefits the team. He’s been a positive for everyone who’s come in so far.”
Hall also said the transfer speculation did not unsettle him. For him, interest from major clubs was simply a reflection of how well he was playing.
“I guess whenever you’re linked to another team, you know that you’re doing something right,” Hall said. “I guess it’s just a credit to your own performances and how you are as a player, how you are as a person.
“I took that as a positive, but at the same time, I knew how much I love playing here and I knew that since the manager came in, I knew the ambitions and what we wanted to achieve.”
Although he has signed long term, Hall acknowledged that future moves in football can change quickly. For now, he says his focus is on the present and on helping Newcastle meet their aims.
“I think when you’re at a team you don’t think too far into the future,” Hall admitted. “Obviously, I’m really grateful for the contract that I’ve received and the trust that I’ve been given from the board and from the manager and everything like that.
“But I’m just taking it game by game, just trying to do the best I can for this club. We’ve got ambitions and as long as we achieve these ambitions and achieve what we want to achieve, I’m sure I’ll be here for a long time.”
Bournemouth
Premier League table comparison after five games: where 2026/27 stands against 2025/26
City lead the early table, while Spurs, Bournemouth, Fulham and Palace have all started below last season.
The opening stretch of the 2026/27 Premier League season has lasted longer than usual because of a change in the international calendar, but five games is still only enough to reveal early patterns rather than a settled table. The 20 clubs remain closely packed, and a single result can still reshape the picture quickly.
There is history behind treating this stage with caution. Last season, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United were the bottom two after five matches, while Bournemouth and Sunderland turned strong starts into European qualification. This year, the early evidence is already pointing in a few different directions.
Manchester City are the only side to have preserved a 100% record. Their 5-3 win over Sunderland, combined with Arsenal’s defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion, sends them into the break top of the table on 15 points, matching Liverpool’s total from the same stage last season. City are also in a much stronger position than they were in 2025/26, when they sat ninth and were eight points worse off.
Brentford and Brighton have made the sharpest gains. Both are five points better off than they were at this point last season, with Brentford rising 13 places and Brighton 11. Keith Andrews’ side were among those tipped for trouble before the campaign, yet they are now being mentioned as a possible European contender. They are one of five unbeaten teams.
Leeds United have also carried their momentum forward, while Newcastle United, Everton and Aston Villa have improved on their starts from last year. Nottingham Forest have the same points total as they did after five games last season, but they are two places higher.
At the other end, Tottenham sit bottom with two points and did not score their first league goals of the season until Aston Villa were already 3-0 up. Bournemouth are still without a first league win under Marco Rose, a clear fall from the fourth place they held after five matches last season.
Fulham and Crystal Palace have also gone backwards, with both lower in the table after managerial changes.
Arsenal
Guimarães Responds After Goal and Away-Day Taunts at Sunderland
Guimarães answered Sunderland taunts, scored his first Arsenal goal, and earned Arteta’s praise.
Bruno Guimarães marked a personal moment on Saturday by answering back to Sunderland supporters after scoring his first goal for Arsenal. The midfielder had already been the target of pre-match abuse on his return to the stadium, where fans labelled him a “fat rat” because of his Newcastle United past.
After the match, Guimarães took to Instagram and addressed the taunts directly. Writing alongside a nod to the insult, he posted: “The fat rat wishes you a nice weekend,” before adding: “They know what they are.”
The result clearly carried extra weight for the Brazilian. Although an away match at Sunderland is not usually among the biggest fixtures on Arsenal’s schedule, it has long had a stronger meaning for Guimarães because of what happened during his time at Newcastle.
Sunderland completed the league double over Newcastle last season, a run that included Guimarães playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 defeat at the Stadium of Light in December 2025. He then missed the return fixture, a 2–1 loss, through injury. As Newcastle captain last season, those results would have left a mark.
This time, however, Guimarães left with a sense of revenge and a performance that drew praise from Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal manager spoke warmly about the midfielder’s influence after the final whistle.
“Unbelievable, but again the personality that he has, and this was a special game for him as well, what it means for him,” Arteta reflected after the final whistle.
“How he grabs the game, making decisions that he’s made … the goal was incredible, and the assist as well to Bukayo [Saka] to put him through. I’m really impressed with him.”
