Premier League
Gyökeres Backs Isak and Reflects on Player Power After Record Liverpool Transfer
A striker defends a record transfer, addresses player power and recalls similar transfer struggles .
The first international break of the season arrives in the immediate aftermath of Liverpool completing the Premier League record-transfer of Alexander Isak. The move was made official a day earlier, bringing an end to what had been the biggest transfer saga of the summer.
In an interview, Gyökeres admitted he congratulated him on the move. When asked about the wider debate over player power — players forcing their way out of a club — he offered a measured perspective. “I think the clubs have the most power,” Gyökeres said. ”It’s maybe difficult for the players to choose in a lot of cases. When it’s a player that’s not wanted in a club it’s the total opposite, he doesn’t have any power and the club can literally do whatever they want with the player. It’s difficult, but it’s how the situation is.”
That view is informed by recent events. Newcastle United were adamant on keeping Isak despite the player making his desire to join Liverpool abundantly clear. After training by himself for a month, Isak finally got his dream move to Anfield.
Gyökeres experienced comparable resistance during his own transfer. Before joining Arsenal, Sporting CP made it hard for the Gunners to complete the transfer, with the striker’s agent eventually accusing his former club for disrespecting Gyökeres in the negotiations.
Both Swedes were among the most coveted strikers in the transfer window, with major European clubs vying for their services. In the end, both players landed at the destinations they wanted.
On the international stage the pair continue to carry expectation. Gyökeres and Isak have scored 31 goals between them for the national team, and they will begin their World Cup qualifier campaign when they visit Slovenia on Friday. The recent transfers and the comments around player influence ensure the topic remains central as national teams regroup.
Bayern Munich
Agent: Liverpool Called Ekitiké After Agreement Reached with Eintracht and Newcastle
Agent Ali Barat says Liverpool called Hugo Ekitiké after a deal with Eintracht and Newcastle Anfield.
An agent involved in the negotiations surrounding Hugo Ekitiké says the striker was set to join Newcastle United before Liverpool intervened.
Ali Barat, who says he worked on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt, described a process he considered complete until a late contact from Liverpool changed the outcome. “I was working on behalf of Eintracht Frankfurt to bring him to Newcastle ,” Barat told Tuttosport . “I stayed in Germany for 10 days. We agreed everything with the German club and the player, then Liverpool called him and he chose Anfield.” Barat added that the Reds were only hours away from missing out on the French forward, and that Isak would ultimately end up at Anfield as well.
The Ekitiké story was not isolated. Florian Wirtz rejected an expected move to Bayern Munich and instead completed a £116 million ($156.6 million) transfer to Anfield, according to the report. Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeneß spoke on Doppelpass about his club’s business and took aim at rivals over several signings.
Hoeneß referenced Newcastle’s spending on Nick Woltemade, accusing them of using “Monopoly money” to secure that signature, and then turned his attention to the Wirtz deal. “We’re very satisfied at FC Bayern,”” Hoeneß began. “We are the real winners of the summer transfer window. We have a strong team and didn’t need to strengthen it much.
“Of course, we would have liked to have Florian Wirtz, but we’d never have bought him for €150 million.”
The account from Barat reinforces how quickly transfer situations can change when multiple clubs engage late in negotiations. In this case, what Barat describes as an almost-finalised agreement with Eintracht and Newcastle was overturned when Liverpool made a late approach and the player opted for Anfield.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham and ENIC Dismiss Takeover Approaches After Levy Leaves
Tottenham and ENIC reject approaches after Daniel Levy’s departure, saying the club is not for sale.
Tottenham Hotspur have publicly rejected suggestions the club could be up for sale following the departure of chairman Daniel Levy. Levy’s exit prompted speculation over the club’s long-term ownership and several media reports of potential takeover interest.
Reports identified approaches from a group led by Amanda Staveley and from a Chinese consortium fronted by Dr Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng. Coverage also said ENIC, the majority owner, had been contacted about selling its 87% stake in the club. The Telegraph report the proposals were made after Levy’s exit was formalised.
The club and its majority shareholder responded with a firm denial of any intention to consider offers. The official statement was published in full and reads:
“The Board of Tottenham Hotspur Limited is aware of recent media speculation and confirms that its majority shareholder, ENIC Sports & Developments Holdings Ltd, has received, and unequivocally rejected, separate preliminary expressions of interest in relation to proposals to acquire the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of ENIC from (i) PCP International Finance Limited; and (ii) a consortium of investors led by Dr. Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng through Firehawk Holdings Limited,” a statement read.
“As a consequence of ENIC’s majority ownership interest in Tottenham Hotspur, were any offer made to acquire ENIC and complete, a mandatory offer would be required under Rule 9 of the Code to acquire the shares of Tottenham Hotspur not already held by ENIC.
“The Board of the Club and ENIC confirm that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale and ENIC has no intention to accept any such offer to acquire its interest in the Club.”
Having now been named as interested parties, Staveley’s group are expected to release a statement confirming they will not place a formal bid. The club’s response leaves ENIC as the confirmed long-term majority owner and closes the door on reported approaches that followed Levy’s departure.
Crystal Palace
Liverpool to Wait Until Summer for Marc Guéhi as Konaté Contract Talks Stall
Liverpool will not pursue Marc Guéhi in January amid Ibrahima Konaté contract uncertainty. They wait
Liverpool have decided not to reopen talks to sign Crystal Palace centre back Marc Guéhi in January, sources say, even as uncertainty surrounds Ibrahima Konaté’s future at Anfield. Guéhi is in the final year of his contract and is not expected to sign a new deal with Palace. His club’s decision to block a previous move to Liverpool is believed to have left him frustrated.
Overseas clubs can approach Guéhi over a free transfer from January, with Barcelona and Real Madrid among the clubs touted as potential suitors. If Liverpool were to pursue him in the winter window they would again need to agree a fee with Palace, but The Times report that Liverpool have ruled out paying a transfer fee for a player who wants to join and is approaching the end of his contract. The club are said to prefer waiting until the summer to try to sign Guéhi on a free transfer.
The Telegraph add that within Anfield there is a sense some of the external speculation is aimed at pressuring Liverpool into action in January. The club’s stance mirrors the situation they face with Ibrahima Konaté. Konaté is also in the final year of his contract and attempts to secure an extension have so far been unsuccessful.
Konaté is a known target for Real Madrid and was asked whether Kylian Mbappé had been speaking to him about a move to the Santiago Bernabéu. “He calls me every two hours!” Konaté joked in an interview with Téléfoot, in which he also insisted he does not speak Spanish. Madrid, like Liverpool over Guéhi, are thought to be willing to wait until next summer to pursue Konaté on a free transfer, while the Reds remain frustrated by the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold to the 15-time Champions League winners a few months ago.
Agent: Liverpool Called Ekitiké After Agreement Reached with Eintracht and Newcastle
Tottenham and ENIC Dismiss Takeover Approaches After Levy Leaves
