Three-wicket burst gives Middlesex boost but rain and resistance keeps Gloucs afloat

ECB Reporters Network10-Sep-2024

Toby Roland-Jones kept Middlesex in the promotion hunt•Getty Images

Ollie Price and the weather combined to frustrate promotion-chasing Middlesex on the second day of their Vitality County Championship Division Two clash at Lord’s.Right-hander Price showed guts a-plenty to post 56 not out, his fifth score of 50 or more in the first-class game this season, as the visitors battled to 154 for 5, 223 in arrears of their hosts, on a day when only 41.4 overs were bowled due to bad light and rain.Not many of the Durham University graduate’s seven fours came off the middle of the bat as the home bowlers found plenty of movement through the air and off the pitch, the inside edge past leg-stump being a profitable source of runs.However, Price’s grit came in the wake of Middlesex skipper Toby Roland-Jones’ burst of 3 for 12 in 16 balls either side of lunch and served to take Gloucestershire from 74 for 4 to calmer waters, albeit needing a further 74 to save the follow-on. Roland-Jones had taken 3 for 56 and Ryan Higgins 2 for 47 when bad light, followed by rain, drove the players off for the second and final time at 3:15pm.The bad light, accompanied by some light rain delayed the start by 40 minutes before under still largely leaden skies with the lights on batting proved a hazardous occupation from the off. The first ball of the day from Roland-Jones to Cameron Bancroft was edged between third slip and gully for three, so setting the tone.Roland-Jones and Higgins constantly challenged both edges of the bat in ideal seam conditions, Ben Charlesworth edging the former just short of wicket-keeper Jack Davies when he’d made eight. He wouldn’t prosper for long, soon nicking a beauty from Higgins to Sam Robson at first slip.For a while Bancroft rode his luck, the majority of his 25 coming behind the wicket, before he was undone by one from Roland-Jones which jagged back between bat and pad to trim the bails.Bad light soon intervened again to drive the players off for an early lunch and when they returned Roland-Jones made whatever new batter Miles Hammond had consumed all-but indigestible by hitting him mid-ships first ball.The batter continued after treatment, crashing one sumptuous four through cover only to then edge another snorter from Roland-Jones to Tom Helm at third slip.When the veteran seamer, whose contract was extended for another year only yesterday, removed James Bracey caught behind two balls later, Gloucestershire were 74 for 4 and in peril.Price dug in using all parts of the bat to survive, an authoritative on-drive off Helm the pick of his shots.Graeme Van Buren joined him in a stand of 50 from 67 balls broken by Higgins who trapped his man on the crease.Price’s older brother Tom then joined him in the middle, surviving a blow on the head from a short one from Helm to keep vigil until the weather had the final word.

Burnley now want to sign an £8.6 million attacking midfielder who has been scouted by club chiefs, according to a recent report.

Scott Parker keen to strengthen his midfield options

As the Clarets prepare for life back in the Premier League, club chiefs have been very busy bringing in ten new players, albeit some of whom were already at Turf Moor but have now joined on a permanent basis.

The Lancashire side have added to almost all areas of the team, but with still over a month and a bit left of the transfer window, Scott Parker is keen on adding to his midfield.

Another England international could terminate his contract and join Walker at Burnley

This could be a signing of real intent by the Clarets.

ByHenry Jackson Jul 7, 2025

It emerged from Football Insider at the end of last month that Burnley are interested in signing Tomas Soucek from West Ham United. The Czechia international is out of contract next summer, and the Hammers could be interested in selling him for the right price, as he doesn’t appear to be in the plans of Graham Potter. However, a stumbling block for the Clarets is that the midfielder is on £90,000 a week, which may be too much for them to afford.

As well as looking at Soucek, Burnley are also in the race to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has just become a free agent after agreeing to terminate his contract at Besiktas. Teams from the Premier League and the Championship are also interested in signing the England international.

Burnley line up move for Niko Jankovic

Soucek and Chamberlain have now been joined by a new target, as according to Croatian reports relayed by Inside Futbol, Burnley are interested in signing Niko Jankovic after scouting the player extensively.

The Lancashire side are not the only team to have had scouts watching him closely, as Werder Bremen, 1. FC Nurnberg, Dynamo Kyiv, and Hellas Verona are all interested in a possible deal, as well as teams from the MLS.

The 23-year-old is out of contract next summer, but he is considered an important player by Rijeka boss Radomir Dalovic. Therefore, if Jankovic were to leave in this transfer window, it would have to be for an “excellent” offer, as they value the attacking midfielder at around €10 million, which is roughly £8.6 million.

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The former Croatia under-21 international joined Rijeka in 2023 on a free transfer, and apart from a spell in Stuttgart’s youth team, he has played in Croatia for his whole career. Should he arrive at Turf Moor, he would have the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Hannibal to compete with for a starting spot in that attacking midfield role.

However, the fact that Jankovic can also play on the left-hand side of midfield as well as anywhere across the frontline means his versatility could see him have a strong impact in Parker’s team throughout the campaign.

Yeray Alvarez says hair loss medication was the reason behind his failed doping test as the Athletic Club star was hit with a ban from UEFA.

Alvarez suspended until April after failed doping test Tested positive for banned diuretic CanrenoneDefender can resume training in February 2026Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Athletic defender Alvarez has been suspended until April 2026 after failing an in-competition doping test, UEFA announced in a statement on Monday. The positive sample was taken following the Europa League semi-final first-leg match against Manchester United on May 1.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 30-year-old's sample was found to contain Canrenone, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) under the category of diuretics and masking agents. The test was conducted after a match in which Alvarez played the full 90 minutes as Athletic were defeated 3-0 at home by Manchester United. The suspension is a major blow to the Basque side, who will be without a key defensive player for the majority of the 2025-26 season.

WHAT UEFA SAID

The UEFA statement on the matter read: "On 1 May 2025, Athletic Club player Yeray Alvarez underwent an in-competition doping control carried out by UEFA following a UEFA Europa League match.

"The analysis of the player’s sample by a WADA-accredited laboratory revealed the presence of Canrenone, which is a substance prohibited in- and out- of competition under the category S5. Diuretics and Masking Agents of the 2025 WADA Prohibited List.

"On 2 June 2025, the player accepted a voluntary provisional suspension having effect from that date.

"Following the opening of disciplinary proceedings against the player on 10 June 2025, two UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors conducted an investigation and the case was submitted to the UEFA disciplinary bodies for decision.

"At its meeting on 19 August 2025, the relevant UEFA disciplinary body decided to suspend the player for ten (10) months, starting from the date of the provisional suspension (i.e. 2 June 2025) and ending on 2 April 2026, for committing a non-intentional anti-doping rule violation.

"In accordance with Article 10.14.2 of the UEFA Anti-Doping Regulations, the player may return to train with a team or use the facilities of a club in the last two months of his period of ineligibility, i.e. as of 2 February 2026."

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WHAT ALVAREZ SAID

In a statement, Alvarez expressed his regret and confirmed his intention to challenge the finding. he said: "After studying the case, we have established that I tested positive because I unintentionally took a hair loss prevention medicine containing a banned substance.

"The disciplinary procedure is currently under investigation and subject to confidentiality so I am provisionally suspended and am not authorised to make any further public statements.

"I very much regret this situation but, with the support of the club, I am working on my defence in the belief that I will be able to return to the field of play as soon as possible."

Jobe Bellingham’s father, Mark, has been told he was fortunate not to run into the "feisty" Niko Kovac during his half-time substitution rant.

• Teen star moved to Germany from Sunderland
• Hooked after 45 minutes in season opener
• Working under unrealistic expectations

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bellingham senior did not take kindly to seeing his son, who joined Borussia Dortmund from Sunderland during the summer transfer window, hauled off just 45 minutes into the Bundesliga season opener against St Pauli.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With emotions running high, Mark Bellingham marched towards the dressing room in a bid to question those responsible for a bold call. He was apprehended by club officials and eventually calmed down.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Dortmund have vowed to avoid any repeat, with friends and family no longer allowed behind the scenes, with coaching staff being left to do their job. That means making difficult decisions that may not be universally well received.

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  WHAT HAMANN SAID

  Discussing the antics of team Bellingham in Dortmund, former Germany international and Bundesliga star Dietmar Hamann told : “There are headlines around Jobe Bellingham, but for the wrong reasons. He came off at half-time. His dad didn't get into the dressing room, but he was on the way.

  “It was probably a good thing he didn't because the manager is a feisty character, so it was probably better he didn't face him. Jobe, he's not been playing well. He did okay in the Club World Cup but has found it hard so far.

  “People compare him to his brother. Expectations are high, really high, probably too high. At the moment, he's probably trying a bit too hard. They've got some good players in the middle of the park, so it'll be interesting.

  “I spoke to people in the UK, and they said they paid far too much money for him. Obviously, time will tell us, but at the moment, he's finding it really hard. Again, we shouldn't forget he's only 19.”

The pitch, predominantly packed with black soil, will have lower bounce compared to the first Test in Bengaluru

Nagraj Gollapudi21-Oct-2024

India are under pressure to stay ahead in the race to make the WTC final•BCCI

A bald and slow turning pitch is in the making for the second India vs New Zealand Test, starting on Thursday in Pune. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the pitch, predominantly packed with black soil, will have lower bounce compared to the first Test in Bengaluru, and will be flatter and slower.Shaken by the Bengaluru setback, where India registered their lowest Test score at home – 46 all out in the first innings – Rohit Sharma’s team is under pressure to make it 2-1 in the three-match series to stay ahead in the race to make the World Test Championship final next June. The broad plan for the pitches in both Pune and Mumbai, where the final Test will be played from November 1, will be similar: more turn, thus allowing the Indian spinners to dominate.The one key difference between Pune and Mumbai, though, will be the bounce, due to the differences in the soil: black at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, and red at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.Related

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'Three hours of bad cricket not going to dictate what this team is'

It was meant to be similar in Bengaluru too, but overcast conditions coupled with intermittent rains, leading into and on the first two days, made the pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium favourable for seamers, which New Zealand’s fast men used to their advantage once Rohit elected to bat.But like in Bengaluru, in Pune, too, India will look to field at least three spinners, though the combination could be altered keeping in mind the amount of spin that can be extracted from the slow surface. On Sunday, in a curious move, the Indian selectors decided to add Washington Sundar as the 16th member of the squad, although the original squad had Axar Patel as a fourth spinner along with R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, who played the first Test.This will only be the third Test played at Pune’s MCA stadium. The inaugural Test there was the first of the 2016-17 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which Australia had won by an emphatic 333-run margin, with the match getting over by tea on the third day, as left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe starred with 12 wickets. The surface was abrasive, and the top soil was loose, with multiple small cracks peeling off on the first day itself. The pitch was rated poor by ICC match referee Chris Broad, as spinners accounted for 31 of the 40 wickets to fall. The next Test at the venue was in 2019, when Virat Kohli hit a double-century in an innings victory over South Africa.The pitch against New Zealand is expected to be virtually devoid of grass. It is understood that while the seam movement is likely to be minimal outside of the first hour after the toss, the dry surface will support reverse swing. With the slowness of the surface and the lack of support for fast men, the toss once again becomes vital, with teams likely to want to bat first.

Ben Stokes will return to captain England in Multan this week after two months sidelined with a torn hamstring. Stokes has stepped up his recovery in the past week and will replace Chris Woakes in one of two England changes from the first Test, with Matthew Potts also coming in for the rested Gus Atkinson.”I feel good. I’m looking forward to getting back on the field,” Stokes said ahead of his return. “I’ve worked really hard at the back end of my rehab period at home and throughout the last Test match as well. I’ve put myself through a fitness test, pretty much, over the last couple of days, and come through that pretty well.”England are braced for a lower-scoring second Test, with the match set to be played on the same strip as the one used for their innings win last week. The pitch has been heavily watered but has dried out in the sun during two practice days, and the used surface could bring both teams’ spinners into the game.Stokes has been bowling in training and will be England’s third seam option behind Potts and Brydon Carse, his Durham team-mates. It is a rare example of England picking three seamers from the same county. “It’s going to be a proud moment for the club,” he said. “Durham have a great record of producing England cricketers, and in particular fast bowlers.”On his own fitness to bowl, Stokes said: “I’ve obviously got to be sensible. Playing on a used wicket made the decision a little bit easier… We’ve got two workhorses in the team in Carsey and Potts who just keep going and going and going. But I’m available to bowl, and when I sense the time is right for me to come on and make an impact, there won’t be any doubts in my mind.”Related

• Pakistan to re-use same pitch in Multan for second Test against England

• James Anderson buoyed by breadth and depth of evolving fast bowling stocks

• Pakistan drop Shaheen, Naseem alongside Babar for next two Tests

England’s seamers all had a heavy workload in the first Test, despite their innings win: Atkinson bowled 39 overs, Carse 38 and Woakes 35. Atkinson and Woakes both played all six Tests of England’s home summer and have been rested, with a short turnaround between matches, while Carse should be much fresher after spending June, July and August serving a ban.”You’re looking at the last seven Test matches being pretty gruelling – in particular, the last one,” Stokes said. “Looking at the seamers we’ve got out here, this is a good time for them to have a rest and refresh the body. They’ve had a really big summer and put in really good performances, bowled a lot of overs. It’s a good time for them to get their feet up and have a break.”Ben Duckett retains his place at the top of the order after recovering from a dislocated thumb sustained on the second evening of the first Test, while Jamie Smith will shuffle back down to No. 7 to allow Stokes to return in his favoured role at No. 6.England have stuck with the same spinners – Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir – despite Bashir’s quiet first Test, in which he returned match figures of 1 for 156. Rehan Ahmed is the other spin option in their squad, while the Warwickshire and England Under-19s legspinner Tazeem Ali is on holiday in Pakistan and has been bowling in the nets this week.England XI: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Jack Leach, 11 Shoaib Bashir

The teams will take each other on in three T20Is and three ODIs prior to the Tests

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2024Zimbabwe will host Afghanistan for what will be the first Boxing Day Test in the country in 28 years, followed by their first-ever New Year’s Test, with both matches slotted for Bulawayo.The only previous Boxing Day Test in Zimbabwe was held in 1996, when England were on tour, and the rain-hit Test was drawn in Harare. The only other Boxing Day Tests Zimbabwe have been a part of were in Wellington (2000) and in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha, 2017).The all-format tour will start with the white-ball games, three T2oIs first between December 9 and 12 and then the three ODIs, between December 15 and 19. These games will be played in Harare, after which the teams will move to Bulawayo for the red-ball fixtures.Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan

Dec 9 – 1st T20I, Harare
Dec 11 – 2nd T20I, Harare
Dec 12 – 3rd T20I, Harare
Dec 15 – 1st ODI, Harare
Dec 17 – 2nd ODI, Harare
Dec 19 – 3rd ODI, Harare
Dec 26-30 – 1st Test, Bulawayo
Jan 2-6 – 2nd Test, Bulawayo

“Boxing Day and New Year’s Test matches are iconic cricket fixtures that we are delighted to be adding to our calendar this festive season and we are looking forward to celebrating in style one of the finest traditions in the sport’s long history,” Zimbabwe Cricket chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani said in a statement. “Before the Test series, scheduled for Bulawayo, we will start off with some T20I and ODI action in Harare to complete a full tour, a clear demonstration of our commitment to improve our game across all formats.”Matches between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are always intense and exciting affairs and we have no doubt the players will once again serve up some great entertainment befitting such an historic tour.”His counterpart in the Afghanistan Cricket Board, Mirwais Ashraf, said, “The all-format tour to Zimbabwe is a significant event for us. We have a rich history with Zimbabwe, and playing there has always been challenging, but it’s a challenge I believe the Afghan Atalan can face confidently.”Afghanistan and Zimbabwe have played two Test matches against each other in the past – as well as 28 ODIs and 15 T20Is – and those were both on a March 2021 series held in Abu Dhabi, where both teams won one game apiece.

It won’t be long until all these transfer rumours circling around Anfield come to a head. The summer window is open for another month, but Liverpool will want to wrap up their business nice and early.

Many signings have been made over the past few months. Liverpool have signed Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Giorgi Mamardashvili. Numerous points across the field have been covered.

Arne Slot still needs a central defender, though, with sporting director Richard Hughes having sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m.

And the imminent sale of Luis Diaz could prompt further shake-up in the offensive department, too.

Liverpool's attacking transfer plans

Diaz is on the verge of ending his trophy-filled chapter at Liverpool and signing for Bayern Munich, who have persisted in their efforts to seal the deal for the 28-year-old winger.

With Diaz sold, Liverpool might well turn their focus to Alexander Isak, who has informed Newcastle United he wants to move to Merseyside this summer.

However, the Colombian is more of a winger than a striker, and his sale may also prompt use to sign a direct replacement.

Well, according to Spanish journalist Ramon Alvarez, that replacement could be Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who is in favour of a move to Anfield despite Tottenham Hotspur attempting talks over a transfer.

Los Blancos are open to selling the Brazilian this summer but value him at €90m (about £78m), and further add-ons may be demanded.

Rodrygo, 24, is recognised as one of the world’s finest forwards, and Liverpool will need to weigh up whether a move is financially viable.

Why Liverpool should sign Rodrygo

Rodrygo has been a thorn in Liverpool’s side over the years, part of their European nemesis. Across his five games versus the Reds, he has won four and drawn one.

This is one of the world’s most exciting players, proven on the biggest stage and dangerous across a wide variety of modes. Though he toiled last season, going 17 matches without a goal or an assist in La Liga, Rodrygo remains elite, having rarely been used on his favoured left side, maximising his goalscoring ability.

Were Liverpool to sign Rodrygo and field him where he desires, Liverpool might have a sensation every bit as exciting as Isak, who was named as “the best striker in the Premier League” last season by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher.

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Let’s not forget, Rodrygo is one of the world’s finest forwards, hailed by Jude Bellingham as being “the most gifted and the most talented player” in the Real Madrid squad.

Luka Modric even called him a “world-class superstar”. It’s hardly up for debate that he would add some title-winning quality to the Anfield side. In fact, he might even prove to be a Diaz upgrade who rivals Isak and Mohamed Salah as the cream of Liverpool’s attacking crop.

One analyst even said that he would be “the jewel in the crown” away from Xabi Alonso’s side.

Isak will take some beating, of course. The Magpies goal machine has scored 52 goals and supplied eight assists across his past two seasons at St. James’ Park, with a completeness in his performances that bespeaks his unrivalled ability at number nine, not only a focal point but a connector and a creator.

Rodrygo has a similarly high level, and if Liverpool pull both deals off, Slot might just find he has not one but two of the world’s finest forwards added to his squad of champions.

Shades of Coutinho: Liverpool make contact to sign "complete" £30m star

Liverpool are ready to sign a new defender after Joe Gomez’s injury.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 29, 2025

Celtic have made a habit out of buying and developing and selling on young talent over the years, as they have made millions in profit through player trading.

The likes of Matt O’Riley, Odsonne Edouard, Moussa Dembele, and Virgil van Dijk, among many others, have come and gone thanks to the club’s excellent recruitment work.

Whilst they have had success in plucking players out of top European countries, like van Dijk from the Netherlands or Dembele and O’Riley from England, they have also had success in snapping up talent from more obscure leagues.

For example, Celtic signed Kristoffer Ajer as a 17-year-old for £650k from Norwegian side Start, before they went on to sell him to Brentford for a reported fee of £13.5m.

The Hoops plucked the teenage talent up and sent him out on loan, to Kilmarnock, before integrating him into the first-team to develop into a £13.5m player, and they could repeat a similar trick with their interest in a midfielder this summer.

Celtic enquire about deal for Serbian midfielder

According to Cukaricki sporting director Vladimir Matijašević, Celtic have made contact over a potential deal to sign central midfielder Andrej Bacanin before the end of the summer transfer window.

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

Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “There’s significant interest in our young players, and right now the spotlight is on Andrej Bačanin’s transfer. His performances last season for both our team and the Serbian national side at youth level have drawn attention from numerous clubs.

“We’ve had enquiries from Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers, and clubs like Ajax and Udinese are also interested, among others. It’s possible more options will emerge, but I expect the transfer to be completed within the next ten days.”

This shows that the Hoops are interested in the 18-year-old talent, who could arrive at Parkhead to follow a similar path to success in Scotland as Ajer.

Why Celtic should sign Andrej Bacanin

The Scottish Premiership giants should push to win the race for the teenage starlet’s signature this summer because he could be a future star for the club.

At the age of 18, Bacanin should not be expected to arrive as an immediate first-team star, as he only just made his breakthrough at senior level in Serbia in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

Instead, the Serbia U19 international could follow Ajer’s path by joining another Premiership team, or a club in another country, on loan to continue his development, before making the step to Brendan Rodgers’ team further down the line.

Although he may not be ready to make an instant impact in Glasgow for Celtic, his performances in the Serbian Superliga show that he does have potential.

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As you can see in the table above, Bacanin offered a screening presence in front of the back four when he played, averaging 4.1 tackles and interceptions per 90 in the division.

Meanwhile, no central midfielder for Celtic managed more than 2.0 tackles and interceptions per game, which suggests that the Serbian youngster could offer a defensive midfield option that Rodgers does not currently have.

As was the case with Ajer, though, Bacanin will need to be playing games week-in-week-out to hone his skills and develop as a player, which is why bringing the young whiz in before sending him out on loan could be a shrewd move.

The Hoops could snap him up this summer, to ensure that their rivals do not steal a march of them, before sending him away to develop and improve, with the hope that he will come back a better player who is ready to make his mark on Parkhead in the 2026/27 campaign.

He'll send Idah to the bench: Celtic lining up swoop for £7m "goal machine"

Celtic are eyeing up a deal for a striker who would send Adam Idah to the bench.

ByDan Emery Jul 18, 2025

Serbian Football Scout, who is a professional scout for MLS side Colorado Rapids, previously dubbed Bacanin a “true midfield controller”, and he could control games for Celtic in the future, if they get this deal done.

Liverpool are believed to have submitted their first official bid for Alexander Isak, while there has also been news on the rumours of the striker agreeing personal terms.

The biggest transfer of the summer is still on the cards for the Reds, with Isak making it clear that he wants to seal a move away from St James’ Park.

Liverpool will likely have to break their transfer record for the second time in the same summer, in order to sign him, having already brought in Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a mammoth £116m fee.

Sky Germany journalist has claimed that talks over the transfer are “progressing well”, with Isak’s representatives “very positive” about the saga reaching its conclusion sooner rather than later.

An agreement is believed to be in place for the Sweden international, but it looks as though Liverpool will bide their time and try to be as respectful as possible to the Magpies, perhaps waiting for them to sign a new striker first.

Liverpool willing to give Isak £15m-a-year wages as bid submitted

David Ornstein revealed on Friday lunchtime that Liverpool have submitted a formal offer to Newcastle for Isak, which has been rejected.

And, according to a fresh claim from The Boot Room, Liverpool are “prepared” to pay Isak over £300,000 a week which is exactly what the striker is demanding, earning him around £15m per year.

It is added that “discussions have taken place via intermediaries”, with these wages “putting him just behind” the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, both of whom signed extensions earlier this year.

Liverpool fans are right not to get too carried away about Isak moving to the club, but at this point, it would be a surprise if he wasn’t a Reds player come the end of the current transfer window.

It is clear that he wants to leave Newcastle, with Ornstein revealing he has turned down a new contract with a release clause included, and the Premier League champions see him as their No.1 option to add to their attack.

Assuming Isak does become a Liverpool player, and if they manage to sign a centre-back as well – Crystal Palace and England ace Marc Guehi would be ideal – this could arguably end up being the most exciting transfer window in the club’s history.

Related Bigger mistake than Diaz: Liverpool ready to sell Slot's "monster" for £47m

Liverpool sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, and now face the exit of another star player.

Posts 2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 31, 2025

To sign both Wirtz and Isak is a summer that Reds supporters could only have dreamed of earlier in the year, and the likes of Jeremy Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike are all exciting additions, too.