Connect with us

Sports

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

Published

on

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.

play

0:37

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.

play

1:22

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.

play

2:04

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.

play

2:00

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.



Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Mike Vrabel is back to try to help the Patriots recapture their glory days

Published

on



Read more



Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Afghanistan have no ‘specific targets’, says captain Rashid

Published

on

Afghanistan have no ‘specific targets’, says captain Rashid


Rashid Khan is not included in Afghanistan’s preliminary squad for New Zealand Test. — ICC

Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan says his team have no “specific targets” despite producing groundbreaking performances in recent ICC global events, ahead of a T20 international tri-series starting Friday.

Rashid’s men face Pakistan in the opening game in Sharjah, with the United Arab Emirates the other side taking part in the event which serves as a warm-up for next month’s Asia Cup, also in the UAE.

Afghanistan reached the semi-finals of last year’s T20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean, and narrowly missed out on reaching the last four at the ODI Champions Trophy in Pakistan earlier in 2025.

Those performances followed an impressive showing at the 2023 one-day World Cup, when the Afghans produced statement wins over England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“We do not have specific targets, and we do not want to put extra pressure on our players,” Rashid said Thursday when asked if Afghanistan are targeting the Asia Cup title.

“Our target is to play the brand of cricket we have played over the years. For us, the main target is to put in 200% effort on the ground,” he added.

“I think we have been doing well in the ICC events and although we haven’t played T20I cricket over the last few months, the guys have been playing in T20 leagues around the world and that has helped.”

Afghanistan beat Pakistan 2-1 in a T20I series at the same venue in 2023.

The 16-man Afghan squad for the tri-series includes fast-rising mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar along with fellow spin bowlers Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid.

The Asia Cup gets under way on September 9, as teams ramp up their preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Contrary to Afghanistan, Pakistan’s fortunes are dipping after they crashed out of the last T20 World Cup in the group stage before failing to win a match at the Champions Trophy.

This year they lost a T20 series in Bangladesh 2-1 but overcame the West Indies by the same margin.

Under new captain Salman Agha, Pakistan are going through a transition with former skippers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan out of the T20 squad.

“We are trying to build a team and this tri-series and then the Asia Cup will be a good opportunity to achieve that,” said Agha.

“We know both these events will be challenging but we are ready.”

All three teams in the tri-series will play each other twice, with the top two to face off in a final on September 7.

Besides Afghanistan, Pakistan and the UAE, the Asia Cup will also include defending champions India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman and Hong Kong.





Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Messi: I ‘played with fear’ in semifinal win

Published

on

Messi: I ‘played with fear’ in semifinal win


Lionel Messi admitted to “playing with fear” as he returned from injury to score twice in Inter Miami’s 3-1 Leagues Cup semifinal win over Florida rivals Orlando City.

Messi converted a 77th-minute penalty at Chase Stadium and then added another goal in the 88th minute — after combining with Jordi Alba — as Miami came back from a goal down to clinch a place in the final.

“I wanted to be here,” Messi said after the game. “When I came back against [LA] Galaxy [on August 17] I felt some discomfort, I didn’t feel comfortable, but I wanted to play the game.

“It was really important to be here because it’s a difficult opponent, they’d beaten us in the two games we played against them this year. In the first half I was playing with a bit of fear, but after that I felt a bit [more] free.”

Orlando had beaten Miami 4-1 when the teams last met on Aug. 11, with Messi absent.

– Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments for Inter Miami
– Lionel Messi’s late heroics lead Inter Miami to Leagues Cup final
– How to predict when aging Europe-to-MLS moves will succeed

The Argentina star has been struggling with a muscular injury in his right leg this month, and made a brief return against the Galaxy, before coming back into the team on Wednesday.

Miami will now play Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup final on Sunday, after they defeated LA Galaxy 2-0 in the other semifinal.

It will be Miami’s second appearance in the final in two years, after they won the tournament in 2023, while in 2024 they were eliminated in the round of 16.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending