Newcastle United
Article 17 and Isak: the legal route reshaping Newcastle’s Liverpool pursuit
Isak’s standoff with Newcastle may pivot on FIFA’s revised Article 17, offering a legal escape route
The transfer stand-off involving Alexander Isak and Newcastle United has entered a public phase, with the striker attempting to force a move to Liverpool. Isak has refused to continue training with Newcastle. Eddie Howe has called for Alexander Isak’s future to be cleared up.
A lesser known change to Fifa’s transfer framework could alter the balance of the dispute. The development traces back to the Lassana Diarra ruling at the Court of Justice of the European Union last year, when Diarra successfully challenged Fifa’s rules as too restrictive for players seeking to change clubs. The CJEU found that footballers should have rights comparable to other workers and that Fifa’s rules must comply with EU labour and competition law. An ongoing class-action lawsuit is seeking compensation for other players who may have lost earnings under the former rules.
Fifa has revised its regulations since that ruling, though players’ union Fifpro has criticised the amendments as not going far enough. The key change sits in amended Article 17, which allows a player to unilaterally terminate a contract without reason if they have been under contract for at least three years, or for two years if they are 28 or older. Isak is 25 and has been under contract at Newcastle for three years after joining in the summer of 2022.
Under the new rules, Isak would be able to invoke Article 17 next summer, provided the termination is invoked within 15 days of the end of the season. Once the transfer window opens, he would then be free to join any club of his choosing. Newcastle would be entitled to compensation; that figure must be agreed with the buying club or, failing agreement, could be referred to Fifa’s Dispute Resolution Chamber or the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Any compensation awarded under Article 17 would be unlikely to match the roughly £110m Liverpool have already offered, an offer the hierarchy at St James’ Park rejected. There is no evidence Isak’s representatives have threatened to invoke Article 17, but the option provides a potential escape route. Liverpool must decide whether to increase their offer, and Newcastle must weigh whether Isak can be reintegrated into Eddie Howe’s squad or whether accepting a transfer fee is the best course.
Newcastle United
Dan Burn reflects on Alexander Isak exit as Newcastle reap a British-record fee
Dan Burn wished Alexander Isak well after a fractious exit; Newcastle banked a British-record £130m.
Dan Burn described the summer around Alexander Isak’s departure as draining but offered a conciliatory tone after Newcastle accepted a British-record fee. The club secured top-tier European football and, having pushed back initially on any sale, belatedly agreed to bank £130 million ($175.6 million) for the 25-year-old.
“I’m glad it’s done,” Burn said, reflecting on a period the squad wanted to close quickly. “We wanted the transfer window to close just to have clarity,” he told assembled media ahead of England’s World Cup qualifier against Andorra.
Burn acknowledged the personal ambitions that drive players. “I’ve been in football long enough to understand that for a player the career is short and they have things they want to achieve. I’m happy it’s over. Alex is a mate and it’s a tough situation as you want him around to help the team. But [I] also understand for him what he needs to do personally. I’ve got nothing but good wishes for Alex.”
There were accusations that Isak’s displeasure affected the finale of last season, with suggestions he behaved like a player who did not want the Magpies to qualify for the Champions League. Supporters reacted loudly on the terraces and some branded the striker a “rat” during matches.
“There’s no animosity,” Burn insisted. “As a Newcastle fan myself, you know what Newcastle fans are like; we’re protective of our club and city and you want players who want to be there for Newcastle and don’t want to naively think there is anywhere else to go apart from playing for Newcastle. I understand why our fans were frustrated. I’ve been in the game long enough to know what goes on and wish him all the best, apart from when we play Liverpool .”
Burn also revealed a simple farewell from Isak to his former teammates. “He put a message in the chat just saying that he was leaving, and thanks for the memories, all that sort of stuff, and the lads replied,” the England international revealed.
Admitting the saga dimmed some of last season’s positivity, Burn said: “I think it can be frustrating at times. Everything was so positive last season, so that took a little bit of a shine off. But I’m not silly, I’ve been around football a long time now, and people have short careers, and they want to max out absolutely everything they can, so there’s no hard feelings from me. I think we’ve got two good players in that position now, which will hopefully fill up the goals that we’ve lost.”
Newcastle signed young German forward Nick Woltemade for a club-record £65 million and added Yoane Wissa as reinforcements to replace Isak.
Aston Villa
Seven Premier League exits that could still happen before summer windows close
Seven Premier League players still have time to move this summer as late windows remain open. still.
Several high-profile squad issues from the summer transfer period remain unresolved as windows in other countries stay open. A number of players who sought moves during the summer have seen potential destinations narrow, but transfers are still possible.
Emiliano Martínez looked to have said farewell to Aston Villa supporters at the end of last season but did not complete a move and now faces an uncomfortable return. He was linked with Manchester United late in the window, but United signed Senne Lammens instead. Martínez has been connected with the Saudi Pro League and could still be a target there; Galatasaray are another reported option after failing to sign Éderson.
André Onana has not actively pursued an exit and is content at Manchester United, yet the arrival of Lammens has altered the goalkeeper pecking order. Onana has been replaced by Altay Bayındır for all three of United’s Premier League matches this season and only featured in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town. A move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia remains a possibility if offers appear.
Tyrell Malacia was the only member of Manchester United’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ who did not secure an exit, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony all leaving. A late loan to Elche fell through and the left back is currently in limbo, with first-team minutes at Old Trafford unlikely.
Raheem Sterling’s loan at Arsenal diminished his standing and a permanent exit from Chelsea did not materialise despite reported interest, including from Fulham. Sterling has never played abroad and, given Chelsea’s reported weekly wage commitment, a move away will be costly for the club if they fail to shift him.
Axel Disasi arrived at Chelsea from Monaco for £39 million but fell down the pecking order under Enzo Maresca and spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa. Villa declined to sign him permanently and links to Bournemouth and Monaco did not progress. Chelsea continue to pay his reported wages and clubs in Turkey, Portugal or Saudi Arabia could offer a solution.
Yves Bissouma has been marginalised since Thomas Frank’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur and was even omitted from the club’s league phase Champions League squad. Reports link him with interest from Turkey and Saudi Arabia as Spurs seek to recoup a fee before his contract runs down next summer.
Jamaal Lascelles has been pushed further down the pecking order at Newcastle United following the signing of Malick Thiaw. He has not featured this season, though he was on the bench for the goalless draw at Leeds United, and The Athletic reports Newcastle may allow him to leave this summer despite the domestic deadline.
Liverpool
Parma CEO: Newcastle Offered More Before Giovanni Leoni Joined Liverpool
Parma turned down a bigger offer from Newcastle before Giovanni Leoni’s switch to Liverpool……..
Parma’s chief executive has confirmed the club rejected a higher offer from Newcastle United for teenage centre back Giovanni Leoni before the defender completed a high-profile move to Liverpool.
Leoni has so far been involved with Liverpool only as an unused substitute, his sole matchday selection coming in the 3–2 win over Newcastle. Parma say the sequence of events reflected both the financial appeal of Liverpool’s bid and the player’s willingness to accept the opportunity.
Federico Cherubini told local newspaper Gazzetta di Parma: “I’ve always said we wanted to keep him, and he’s always said he’d be happy to stay here. We even turned down an offer from Newcastle, which was more advantageous than the one Liverpool eventually made,”
He added: “When the Reds came forward, our plans changed: both because the offer was very attractive and because the player made it clear he was very happy to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Parma say their decision followed a period in which they had backed Leoni despite limited first-team experience. The club had promoted him after he had made just 12 appearances in Italy’s second tier.
Cherubini acknowledged mixed emotions at losing a youngster the club had backed early. “On the one hand, it’s disappointing to lose such a promising young player, but on the other, we’re proud to have believed in him in unsuspecting times, when he’d only played a few games in Serie B,” Cherubini explained.
The club framed the move as the result of a commercially attractive offer from Liverpool combined with the player’s preference to move. Parma say their earlier refusal of Newcastle’s higher proposal underlined their initial wish to retain Leoni before circumstances changed.
