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Key issues to watch with one week to go in the transfer window

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Key issues to watch with one week to go in the transfer window


The 2025 summer transfer window has entered its final week, with next Monday’s 7 p.m. BST (2 p.m. ET) deadline beginning to loom large for clubs and players still looking to seal deals.

Premier League clubs have spent over £2.2 billion on transfers since the first transfer window opened in early June (due to the summer’s Club World Cup), and the existing record of £2.36 billion, set in 2023, is almost certain to be broken before close of business on Sept. 1.

There are still plenty of deals in the pipeline and the early games of this season will have heightened the need for them to be done. So what are the big issues still to be addressed before the window closes? Are there any surprises in store over the final week?

Ogden: New season, same problems for Manchester United
– O’Hanlon: The best worst transfers that should have worked
How did Arsenal beat Spurs to Eze, and why do they need him?

Where will Isak be on Sept. 2?

Alexander Isak‘s future has been the transfer saga that has dominated the summer window, and a deal that is likely to break the British transfer record (currently Chelsea‘s £106.8m move for Enzo Fernández, as Florian Wirtz‘s £100m move to Anfield is reliant on add-ons) if it happens before the deadline.

Isak wants to leave Newcastle, he made that perfectly clear with an explosive Instagram statement, and Liverpool want to sign him. But Newcastle have insisted throughout the summer that the Sweden international is not available for transfer, despite the fact he missed the preseason tour of Asia and has been training on his own away from the first team.

Liverpool offered a fee of £110m for Isak’s transfer on Aug. 1, but that was swiftly rejected by Newcastle and the Premier League champions haven’t made a second bid. It has now become a battle of wills between Isak and Newcastle … who will capitulate first?

The odds now favor Isak staying at St James’ Park, due to the lack of time Newcastle would have to replace him, but maybe the situation will unlock itself once Newcastle have played Liverpool on Monday. Right now, though, it looks as though Isak will miss out on his big move this summer.

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Amorim explains how he’s handling Man United’s wantaway players

Ruben Amorim explains his approach to handling the members of the Manchester United squad who have expressed a desire to leave the club.

Who will leave Manchester United?

Manchester United have been trying to raise funds by offloading unwanted players all summer, yet with a week to go before the window closes, they have banked precisely nothing from player exits.

Barcelona have taken Marcus Rashford‘s £325,000-a-week salary off the Old Trafford wage-bill, but United made no money from the forward’s loan move to Camp Nou. And Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Tyrell Malacia and Antony — all exiled from the first-team squad and training on their own — have so far failed to seal moves away.

Argentina winger Garnacho is holding out for a move to Chelsea, but sources told ESPN that the two clubs are still around £20 million apart on their valuation of the transfer, while Sancho rejected a move to AS Roma last week. Real Betis are struggling to finance a permanent deal for Antony, after he spent last season on loan with them, while left back Malacia is proving even more difficult to shift due to a lack of interest in the former Feyenoord defender.

On top of those four outcasts, United are also trying to offload striker Rasmus Højlund. AC Milan pulled out of a move last week, but Napoli are making progress in a deal to sign the 22-year-old. United are saying they will not allow any of their players to leave on the cheap but, as the clock ticks down to the deadline, expect their asking prices to drop sufficiently.

Does Wissa’s future depend on Isak?

The Brentford forward has been a lower-profile version of Isak this summer and his fate is very much entwined with that of the Newcastle striker. After seeing Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United) and Christian Nørgaard (Arsenal) get big moves away from the Gtech Stadium this summer, Yoane Wissa wants to follow them out of the club and move to Newcastle.

The 28-year-old hasn’t played in Brentford’s opening two Premier League games, with manager Keith Andrews saying it was “not right” to involve the DR Congo forward in his squad — though Wissa has been training with the first team.

Having lost Mbeumo, Brentford are reluctant to lose another proven goal scorer, but a deal could be done if Newcastle up their initial offer of £35m plus £5m in add-ons. Newcastle want Wissa, regardless of whether they can keep Isak, but if the Sweden striker leaves, their need for Wissa will increase dramatically … and so will Brentford’s asking price.

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McManaman: Guéhi should be the priority for Liverpool over Isak

Steve McManaman assesses Liverpool’s transfer plans ahead of the start of the Premier League season.

Will Guéhi move, or stay at Crystal Palace?

Palace captain Marc Guéhi could become one of the biggest stories of the final week of the transfer window due to interest from Liverpool and Manchester City. The England defender, who led Palace to FA Cup glory last season, is out of contract at Selhurst Park next summer and has made it clear to the club hierarchy that he is prepared to remain with Oliver Glasner’s team and leave as a free agent.

That suits Glasner, who has just seen Eberechi Eze leave for Arsenal in a £67.5m move, but Palace chairman Steve Parish has admitted publicly that the best outcome for the club would be to recoup some funds for Guéhi’s transfer rather than lose him for nothing.

Liverpool are the front-runners, as they lack cover for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté at center back, and sources have told ESPN that Guéhi would consider a move to Anfield. But City are also keen and could move quickly if they offload either of Manuel Akanji or Nathan Aké this week.

Will Saudi Arabian clubs return for Fernandes?

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has already rejected the chance to make a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia this summer by turning down a transfer to Al Hilal in June, but Saudi Pro League rivals Al Ittihad are now interested in the 30-year-old midfielder.

The prospects of Fernandes leaving Old Trafford now seem extremely remote, but the Portugal international has made a poor start to the season and United still need to raise funds to balance their £200m outlay on Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko.

United explored the possibility of a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba only to be scared off by the Seagulls’ desire to bring in £100m for the transfer, but a last-minute big-money move for Fernandes would give United the financial power to strike some late deals that could solve a number of problems for coach Ruben Amorim.

Losing Fernandes would deprive United of their best and most-consistent player, but his shortcomings also hold the team back at times. So if Al Ittihad confirm their interest and make a big offer, United and Amorim would have a big decision to make.

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Is Rodrygo’s time at Real Madrid over?

Alex Kirkland assesses Rodrygo’s future at Real Madrid.

Savinho or Rodrygo?

City have already offloaded winger Jack Grealish on loan to Everton this summer and are prepared to let Savinho move to Tottenham for over £60m — a deal which could unlock an £80m move for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.

The Brazil international has fallen out of favor at the Santiago Bernabeu and is available for transfer, but links to Liverpool and Arsenal this summer have come to nothing. Chelsea considered a move for the 24-year-old but chose other options, while City retain an interest and could make a deal happen this week if they offload Savinho.

City manager Pep Guardiola has said he wants Savinho to stay, but Spurs now also want the 21-year-old after missing out on Eze to Arsenal.

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Should Trafford be the number one at Man City?

Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss whether James Trafford should be Manchester City’s starting goalkeeper after their 2-0 loss to Tottenham.

Donnarumma to replace Ederson?

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is ready to make a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester City, but a deal hinges on City being able to offload Ederson. Having signed James Trafford from Burnley earlier this summer, City had been prepared to proceed with the 22-year-old and Ederson battling it out for the No. 1 spot this season. But PSG’s move for Lille’s Lucas Chevalier has led to Donnarumma becoming available and Guardiola is determined to take the chance to sign the Italy international.

City need to find a new club for Ederson, who is out of contract next summer, before completing a move for Donnarumma, however. Galatasaray have maintained an interest in the Brazil international but were only prepared to pay a £3m fee.

With Ederson starting on the bench for City in both games so far this season, expect the 32-year-old to push for a move this week that will pave the way for Donnarumma to head to the Etihad.



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US says Iran can play in Fifa World Cup but IRGC-linked individuals won’t be allowed

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US says Iran can play in Fifa World Cup but IRGC-linked individuals won’t be allowed


Iran’s national team poses for a photo before its World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan in March 2025. — AFP

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday Washington had no objections to Iranian players participating in the 2026 Fifa World Cup but he added the players will not be allowed to bring with them people with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

“Nothing from the US has told them they can’t come,” Rubio told reporters.

President Donald Trump also said his administration “would not want to affect the athletes” in comments he made at the White House.

The 2026 soccer World Cup is set to begin on June 11 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Paolo Zampolli, a Trump envoy who has no official connection with the World Cup, had earlier suggested that Italy should replace Iran at the tournament.

“The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. It would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in but not the athletes themselves,” Rubio said.

“They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers,” Rubio added. Washington has designated the IRGC as a “foreign terrorist organisation.”

Currently there is no suggestion Iran will withdraw or be banned from the tournament that Italy missed out on.

After the start of the Iran war, Iran requested that Fifa move the team’s three group matches from ⁠the US to Mexico, which was rejected.

The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states with US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions. A fragile ceasefire in the Iran ‌war ⁠began over two weeks ago.





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Former Giants co-owner Steve Tisch seen in team’s draft room

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Former Giants co-owner Steve Tisch seen in team’s draft room


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Cameras showed former New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch in the team’s draft room Thursday night during the first round.

At one point, Tisch was seen standing near Giants head coach John Harbaugh. Despite no longer holding a majority stake in the NFL franchise, Tisch remains the Giants’ chairman of the board.

ESPN obtained an NFL memo last month detailing plans by Steve Tisch and his siblings to transfer their stake in the Giants to trusts for their children.

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New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch warms up before the NFL game between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 28, 2018. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

“Prior transfers to these Trusts were completed pursuant to 2023 and 2024 Finance Committee approvals,” the memo stated. “The Sellers now propose to transfer their entire remaining interests, totaling 23.1% of the Club, to the Trusts. … Following the transactions, the Sellers will no longer own any interest in the Club.”

GIANTS CO-OWNER STEVE TISCH, SIBLINGS LOOK TO TRANSFER EQUITY STAKE TO CHILDREN’S TRUSTS, NFL MEMO SHOWS

It was not clear if the transfer requests were in any way related to Tisch’s name appearing in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Justice Department in January. Tisch’s name came up more than 400 times in the files. Tisch at the time said he knew Epstein but denied visiting Epstein’s island.

As for draft night, the Giants made what some viewed as an unconventional pick at No. 10, selecting offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.

Francis Mauigoa celebrating after being selected by the New York Giants at the NFL Draft.

Francis Mauigoa of Miami celebrates after being selected as the tenth overall pick by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Before that, the Giants added another piece to their pass rush, selecting hybrid edge/off-ball linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5.

Reese earned All-American honors at Ohio State and finished his first season as a full-time starter with 6.5 sacks.

Arvell Reese celebrating after being selected by the New York Giants at the NFL Draft.

Arvell Reese of Ohio State celebrates after being selected as the fifth overall pick by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

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Reese is set to join a pass rush that includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and, likely, Kayvon Thibodeaux.

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Rams make surprise first-round move, take Alabama QB Ty Simpson

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Rams make surprise first-round move, take Alabama QB Ty Simpson


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One of the most intriguing stories entering the first round of the NFL Draft was where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson might land. Well, fans got their answer sooner than they expected.

The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The selection isn’t completely out of left field and is arguably the best-case scenario for Simpson. The Rams have Matthew Stafford as their starter for 2026, but Stafford has flirted with the idea of retirement each of the past two offseasons. It’s clear the clock is ticking on his NFL career.

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The Los Angeles Rams pulled a stunner and drafted Alababam QB Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the NFL Draft. (CFP/Getty Images)

Now, Simpson gets to sit behind one of the NFL’s best veteran quarterbacks, learn the position while adapting to life in the NFL, and not face immediate pressure to succeed. Additionally, the Rams are one of the most well-run franchises in the league right now. Sean McVay is an elite head coach who led the team to a Super Bowl victory to cap the 2021 season and just had the team within one win of another Super Bowl berth before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.

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The most surprising aspect is the Rams looking toward the future, quite frankly. This is a team that has had no problem trading away first-round picks to make its team the best it can be each season. It seemed most likely the team would use the No. 13 pick to improve its team for next season, which could be Stafford’s last. Instead, the team decided to put itself in position for Stafford’s retirement without skipping a beat.

Matthew Stafford standing on the field at Lumen Field in Seattle

Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, now 38-years-old, has flirted with retirement after each of the past two seasons. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

There were several surprises in the first 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft: the Cardinals taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, the Titans selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, the Kansas City Chiefs trading up to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 and even the Cowboys trading up one spot to make sure they drafted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11.

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But the Rams completely abandoning their recent strategy (usually trading away first-round picks and loading up for now) to select Stafford’s heir apparent is easily the biggest early shock of the 2026 NFL Draft.



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