He is still recovering from an ankle injury picked up in January and remains a doubt for the white-ball tour of New Zealand after the Champions Trophy

Danyal Rasool07-Feb-2025Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub has been confirmed out for at least another five weeks owing to injury; he continues his rehabilitation from the ankle injury he sustained in South Africa in January. It further confirms that he will not be available for the Champions Trophy, which runs until March 9, and the extent of his involvement in Pakistan’s white-ball series in New Zealand after that remains uncertain.A PCB statement said Ayub was “progressing well in his right ankle fracture injury”. He remains in England, where he will complete the remainder of his rehabilitation, and has been ruled out for 10 weeks from the time of his injury, which he picked up while fielding in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town five weeks ago.Ayub had to be stretchered off the pitch in just the seventh over of the match, when Ryan Rickelton edged a delivery through the slips, sending Ayub off on a chase to deep third alongside Aamer Jamal. Jamal pulled it back in as Ayub stood poised to be the relay fielder, but lost his balance and twisted his ankle. He went down immediately and appeared in anguish holding the lower part of his leg as the physio rushed on.Related

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Despite prolonged treatment outside the boundary line, Ayub was unable to put any weight on his right ankle, and appeared to be in tears as he was placed on to a stretcher and taken off. He was later seen on crutches in the medical booth.The PCB initially said he would be ruled out for six weeks, which offered some hope of his availability for the Champions Trophy, which Pakistan host. Last week the board announced the squad for the tournament, with Ayub absent from it.A week after the Champions Trophy final, Pakistan embark upon an eight-match white-ball tour of New Zealand, playing five T20Is and three ODIs between 16 March and 5 April. The Pakistan Super League starts on 8 April.

There has been some concern from sections of the Celtic fanbase in recent weeks about the role that Paulo Bernardo is going to play for Brendan Rodgers this season.

The Portugal U21 international has been an unused substitute in both of the club’s Scottish Premiership matches so far this term, with Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren, Arne Engels, and Luke McCowan all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Bernardo played 28 times in the league for the Hoops in the 2024/25 campaign, but only started 13 of those matches, and produced two goals and three assists, per Sofascore.

Rodgers has seemingly decided that he is his last option in the middle of the park, though, as five other central midfielders have been used ahead of him in the opening two matches.

Celtic told asking price for midfield target

It could get even worse for Bernardo before the end of the summer transfer window, as the Hoops appear to be looking at signing another player in his position.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Claret & Hugh, West Ham United central midfielder Andy Irving is a target for Celtic, as they look to further bolster their options in the coming weeks.

The report claims that the Scotland international is not going to get regular football under Graham Potter at the London Stadium, and is on an unofficial transfer list for the Hammers.

It adds, though, that the Hoops will have to pay a fee of around £3.5m to land a deal for the left-footed maestro, who they have already turned down a bid of £2.2m for this summer.

Celtic now have to decide whether or not they want to splash the cash to bring the Scottish midfielder to Parkhead before the end of the window.

Why this is bad news for Paulo Bernardo

The news of the club’s interest in Irving, and the relatively reasonable asking price, will come as bad news to Bernardo because the arrival of another midfielder would send him even further down the pecking order.

It seems unlikely that the Hoops would want to bring in another midfielder, much less one for £3.5m, if they did not plan for the player to play a key role in the side, which means that they would be signed with the view to playing instead of the Portuguese star.

This means that the arrival of Irving could leave Bernardo as the seventh choice central midfielder for the Hoops, meaning that he would not even make the starting line-up if Rodgers switched his midfield three up completely.

Appearances

31

28

Goals

5

9

Big chances missed

0

1

Big chances created

10

7

Key passes per game

1.4

1.2

Assists

6

4

As you can see in the table above, Irving played regularly in Austria in the two seasons before the 2024/25 campaign, when he only started one game for West Ham in the Premier League, as per Sofascore.

These statistics suggest that the Scottish midfielder could provide a big threat at the top end of the pitch from the middle of the park as both a scorer and a creator of goals for his side when given the chance to play week-in-week-out.

The 25-year-old, whose football journey was described as “fascinating” by reporter Barry Anderson, could be an exciting addition to the squad as a homegrown, Scottish, talent who could provide quality depth behind the starters.

However, not everyone would be delighted by his arrival at Parkhead because it could force Bernardo to consider his short-term future at Parkhead with the summer transfer window due to close at the start of next month.

Rodgers could axe Adam Idah by sealing Celtic move for "explosive" £6m star

Celtic can drop Adam Idah from the starting line-up with a move to sign this £6m-rated star.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 12, 2025

The former Benfica starlet will not want to be the seventh choice in midfield for the 2025/26 campaign, as it may see him rarely feature on the pitch, and that is why the possible signing of Irving could result in the Portuguese talent moving on from Celtic.

It wasn’t just incomings that Liverpool were focused on this summer and one Reds star has now revealed he had the chance to leave the club.

Liverpool's transformative summer defined by clever selling

Liverpool have been accused of standing still when crowned Premier League champions in the past, almost settling for what they had earned. This time, such accusations would be incredibly far-fetched. Sat atop their throne after becoming champions last season, the Reds have enjoyed a transformative summer — spending over £400m and ruthlessly selling a number of stars to fund it.

In came Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz , Giovanni Leoni and Jeremie Frimpong, and out went Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez , plus more. It was about as ruthless as it gets from Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, who have created a side capable of enjoying an era of dominance at Anfield, keeping Liverpool second in the net spend pile despite breaking the British transfer record twice.

A lot has been made of Liverpool’s spending and why they’ve suddenly spent more than ever, but one look at their summer sales will provide an emphatic answer. They’re one of the smartest clubs in European football and that was on show for all to see in the summer window.

Forget Leoni: Liverpool already have a Guehi upgrade in Slot's "monster"

Liverpool missed out on Guehi, one of their top summer transfer targets, on deadline day.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 5, 2025

The Reds didn’t just sell for any offer that came in, either. They were tactical. The likes of Nunez and Diaz were seen as players that should be moved on, but only for the right price, with the club even happy to let Diaz run his contract down rather than sell too soon for too little. Hughes and Edwards simply waited for that price to come before cashing in.

What Diaz’s move allowed them to do was also keep hold of another star, who has now spoken about interest from Bayern Munich.

Gakpo admits Bayern interest was "difficult"

Whilst it was Diaz that moved on in the end, the story could have been very different. Cody Gakpo has admitted that Bayern Munich “did come” in for his signature, but he chose to stay put at Liverpool in a “difficult” saga.

It’s a decision that would have been a relief to Arne Slot too, given just how emphatically the Dutchman has started the current campaign.

For all of Liverpool’s standout business, keeping hold of Gakpo will prove to be of underrated importance, with the Netherlands star signing a new contract that will keep him in red until 2030.

The winger has scored once and assisted twice in just four Premier League games this season and will be looking to keep hold of his place following the arrival of Isak on deadline day.

The American midfielder's fine form across the first month of the campaign offers plenty of hope for Milan and USMNT fans, alike

It was the kind of goal Christian Pulisic doesn't score – but the exact one he should. Milan were up 2-0 against Lecce, yet hardly cruising. They needed a third goal to put their Coppa Italia tie to bed. The didn't craft the goal too well. Ruben Loftus-Cheek fed Youssouf Fofana, whose cross expertly evaded a wide-open Santi Gimenez. 

And that should have been it. But Pulisic read the cross expertly. He dashed in front of his defender, and, as the ball skipped off the turf, hooked it beyond a stranded goalkeeper. Game, won. Last 16, secured. It's a new move for the American star, an extra move added to his game that has developed year on year. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, only Lautaro Martinez has more goal contributions than Pulisic in Serie A. This season, thus far, he is averaging just short of two goal contributions per 90 minutes. 

Yes, it’s early in the season. Yes, Milan aren’t weighed down by European football. And yes, new manager Max Allegri has rotated with glee. But Pulisic is pacing this squad, enjoying the best start to a season of his career, and putting the memories of a beleaguered summer behind him. 

• Getty Images
  

  A strong start to the season

  Context is vital here. Pulisic, he insisted in his self-titled PULISIC documentary, that he has always been up against it in Europe. The city of Milan and supporters love him, but they are also always ready to pounce. This is the problem with being Pulisic. American stars generally don't exist in Europe. Pulisic breaks that mold. 

  But that also comes with immense pressure, of course. The down periods at Chelsea were pretty heavy. He has been excellent – to various degrees – in Milan. Yet he still has endured his fair share of criticism in poorer spells. Last year, all said, was a bit mixed. Milan went through two coaches, and even if Pulisic managed to piece together another good season, he never quite took off in a way that he perhaps should have. 

  Enter a new year, and Allegri – in Milan for his second spell as manager. It was a puzzling appointment. Sure, Allegri has a winning pedigree, but Milan have a load of attacking footballers who like to be expressive with the ball. That's the manager's worst nightmare. This shouldn't work. And the former Juventus boss has done his best, at times, for it not to. He has been painstakingly conservative in some of his starting XIs to open the season. The absence of star Rafa Leao due to injury, to be sure, has limited his options here and there. But his insistence on playing a back five has limited attack somewhat. 

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• Getty Images
  

  Off the bench, or from the start?

  It is a good thing, then, that Pulisic has delivered. He started the first game of the season, playing up front in a maddeningly rigid 3-5-2 alongside Leao. It was a puzzling setup, especially against Serie B Bari in the Coppa Italia. But it was also effective. Pulisic scored and turned in an excellent 65 minutes. 

  Since then, he has been in and out of the starting XI – and quite comfortably been Milan's best player throughout. Allegri is still beta-testing here, figuring out the best combinations of players up front. He is, in some ways, spoiled for choice. Santi Gimenez has all of the tools of a complete forward. Christopher Nkunku is a second triker, the kind of reclamation project that Serie A is built off. And a fit Leao is among the best wingers in world football.

  Pulisic's role, in theory, should be a clear starter. But Allegri insists on tinkering. It is a good thing, then, that Pulisic has made an impact whenever he has played. The American has started just three of Milan's six games thus far, playing in a variety of roles. He has scored in four of those appearances and totaled six goal contributions in 287 minutes. Those are elite numbers, the kind you'd expect out of a world-class attacking player.

• Getty Images
  

  Tactical versatility to benefit

  It may seem confusing, in that light, to see Pulisic come off the bench. Why, if he is so effective, is Allegri not fully taking the handbrake off? There are numerous answers here. The first is a tactical one. Allegri is a systems guy. He will play a 3-5-2 to an absolute fault. There are no alternatives here. It doesn't matter that, for example, Milan's squad is far more suited to an orthodox 4-3-3 or 3-4-3. 

  That means it's tough to accommodate everyone. Gimenez is the only No. 9 in the squad. He also needs his fair share of touches to find form. He is a shoo-in due to his size, at 6-1, and potential – despite his challenges in actually finishing. That leaves four players fighting for one spot next to the Mexico international. And thus far, Allegri seems determined to give everyone a chance. The good thing for Pulisic here is that he's versatile enough to work in a variety of different configurations. Under previous managers, he has split time between left wing, right wing, and attacking midfield. 

  At times, he has played as a false nine – even if that is a misuse of his talents. Allegri, then, can sort of chuck Pulisic in whenever he wants, with whoever makes the most sense. That likely won't keep everyone happy – there are too many players here – but it should at least guarantee minutes.

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• Getty Images
  

  Rotation and load management

  The flip side to that is Pulisic's legs remain fresh. Calling him injury-prone might be a bit harsh, but Pulisic has certainly dealt with his fair share of knocks over the years. This is a player, remember, who has been forced into minutes from a young age, brought in by Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund before he was perhaps truly ready for first team football. 

  Any time to rest, then, is ideal. Pulisic missed chunks of last season with calf and Achilles injuries. There has already been scattered talk of a knock holding him back thus far this year. And even if there are freak moments, it is unlikely that Pulisic will be asked to play through anything. More broadly, this is the reality of modern football. Milan don't have to worry about the intensity of playing in Europe, but they will play 38 Serie A games this year, and a good chunk of cup fixtures, too. 

  Expectations are high. Allegri is not a building manager. He is the kind of guy you hire if you want to win things. The expectation here is that Milan win the Scudetto. Anything less is a failure in the eyes of ownership and fans alike. The reason Milan are so deep up front is to suit a coach who likes to tweak – who to tweak – in order to be successful. Pulisic's legs, naturally, will benefit.

Daniel Levy has brought an end to his 25-year stay at Tottenham with the announcement of his resignation as executive chairman on Thursday – huge news which came completely out of nowhere.

Since taking over from Sir Alan Sugar in 2000, Levy oversaw the transformation of Spurs from a largely mid-table side in the late 1990s to one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’, but his running of the club was also marred by protests from supporters over a lack of success on the field.

The Lilywhites are now one of Europe’s most valuable clubs — boasting a state-of-the-art new stadium and training complex — with Tottenham also the ninth highest revenue-generating side in world football, according to the Deloitte Money League.

World Football’s highest revenue-generating clubs — 2025

Value

Real Madrid

£1.2 billion

Man City

£727 million

PSG

£700 million

Man United

£668 million

Bayern Munich

£664 million

FC Barcelona

£659.5 million

Arsenal

£621.5 million

Liverpool

£620 million

Tottenham Hotspur

£533 million

Chelsea

£474 million

via Deloitte Money League

Off the pitch, Levy’s work deserves high praise, but just two major trophies in two and a half decades frustrated the fanbase.

The 63-year-old’s perceived lack of squad investment during his tenure also attracted fierce criticism, but ENIC’s decision to part company represents a “new era” for the north Londoners.

In the aftermath of Levy’s shock exit, questions are being asked about why this has happened now and so suddenly.

BBC journalist Sami Mokbel and other reliable media sources are reporting that the decision to part ways was ultimately taken out of Levy’s hands, with ENIC effectively pushing him out of the door.

Club insider Paul O’Keefe has also shared some intriguing bits of detail about the story.

ENIC plan "weakened" Daniel Levy's grip on Tottenham before resignation

Taking to X, Spurs in-the-know claims that ENIC’s plan to get properly involved — namely through Lewis’ kids Vivienne and Charlie — is said to have “weakened” Levy’s “vice-like grip” on Tottenham before he was forced out.

ENIC appear set for a more hands-on role in the wake of Levy’s departure, and in that sense, a new era certainly has begun at Tottenham.

Their controversial ownership hasn’t exactly been popular among Spurs supporters, but time will tell whether they manage to turn the tide when it comes to public perception.

For Levy, the ex-official and his family are still a beneficiary of ENIC, owning a near-30 per cent stake in the group, but his club involvement will now cease with immediate effect with no notice period (BBC).

Having stunned the Premier League with the loan signing of Jack Grealish from Manchester City, Everton manager David Moyes is determined to strengthen further before the season’s first whistle.

With a visit to Elland Road on Monday, attention has shifted to finding the perfect right-sided partner for their new star.

The Toffees’ recruitment drive has seen them monitor several options.

Leicester’s Abdul Fatawu has been tracked after an encouraging display in the Foxes’ season opener against Sheffield Wednesday, while Southampton’s Tyler Dibling has also been a target.

Multiple bids for the 19-year-old have been rejected, with Saints holding out for £45m plus £5m in add-ons and a 25% sell-on clause.

Dibling has been training away from the first team and is expected to hold talks with his club to address his future.

Everton's Right-Wing Vision

Yet, another name has entered the frame.

One who could bring creativity, intelligence, and composure to Everton’s right flank, potentially forging a formidable partnership with Grealish in the final third.

Transfer Focus

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

According to reports in Spain, a number of English teams including Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have made efforts to sign Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo – a player widely regarded as one of La Liga’s most technically gifted attackers.

The 24-year-old Japan international joined Sociedad permanently in July 2022 after several loan spells from Real Madrid and immediately became a fan favourite, winning the club’s Player of the Season award in 2022/23.

Kubo’s current contract runs until June 2029, meaning Sociedad are under no pressure to sell.

His release clause is thought to be just over £50m, meaning the aforementioned teams will need to raise their bids, having only offered £34m to date.

Real Madrid, having sold him for just £5.6m, retain a 50% sell-on clause, adding another layer of complexity to any negotiations.

Liverpool have been linked in the past, with midfielder Wataru Endo even naming Kubo as the player he would most like to join him at Anfield, labelling him a “future superstar”.

But it is Everton who are now assessing whether the forward could fill the gap left by Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom, both of whom returned to their parent clubs this summer.

Kubo is open to a new challenge and is believed to be interested in a Premier League move, though he also has admirers in La Liga and the Bundesliga.

Why Kubo and Grealish Could Thrive Together

On paper, the prospect of Kubo on the right and Grealish on the left is a tantalising one for Everton supporters.

Both are adept in the final third, capable of driving at defenders, threading incisive passes, and holding the ball under pressure.

Their combined vision and dribbling would stretch defences horizontally, opening space for Everton’s new striker Thierno Barry to exploit with his runs in behind. According to FBref, Barry already ranks among the top percentiles for crosses received, making him an ideal focal point for two wingers who excel at delivery from wide areas.

A look at the numbers from each player’s best season reveals some striking similarities.

In 2022/23, Kubo averaged 4.32 progressive carries per 90 minutes to Grealish’s 6.27, while their progressive passing numbers (2.99 for Kubo, 4.39 for Grealish) indicate a shared ability to advance play and break lines.

Grealish’s passing completion rate of 84.1% eclipses Kubo’s 71%, but both produce consistently in shot-creating actions (3.55 for Kubo, 4.55 for Grealish) and successful take-ons (1.81 for Kubo, 1.97 for Grealish).

Their combined influence could be particularly devastating against deep-lying opponents.

Grealish’s tendency to slow the game, draw defenders, and release overlapping full-backs would complement Kubo’s ability to drift into central positions.

Kubo’s high volume of crosses also adds a different element to Everton’s build-up play, enabling Barry to dominate aerially while midfield runners attack second balls.

Another factor is defensive work rate. Both players understand the modern demand for wide forwards to press and recover possession quickly, something Moyes values highly.

Grealish has been coached in Pep Guardiola’s smart pressing schemes, while Kubo’s work under Imanol Alguacil at Sociedad has honed his ability to win the ball high and transition quickly into attack.

This diligence means Everton wouldn’t be sacrificing defensive solidity for flair.

Tackles per 90 – 2022/23
Jack Grealish	1.62
Takefusa Kubo	1.10
Source: FBref

In the wider context of the Premier League, a Kubo-Grealish combination offers Everton something different from their rivals.

Many clubs boast pacey wingers who thrive on direct runs in behind; fewer can call upon two highly technical wide creators capable of orchestrating attacks as much as finishing them.

This could be the key to unlocking stubborn defences – a problem that has plagued Everton in recent seasons.

From a tactical standpoint, Everton’s midfield structure would also benefit.

With Kubo tucking inside at times to combine with central players, Grealish could hold width on the opposite flank, creating natural overloads.

Full-backs would have space to advance, and the team would be able to alternate between short, intricate combinations and quick switches of play to exploit defensive gaps.

Of course, the move hinges on whether Everton are willing to meet Sociedad’s valuation.

Kubo would represent a significant investment, though his age, contract length, and proven output in a top European league suggest strong long-term value.

In a summer where Everton have already made headlines with the arrival of Grealish, pairing him with Kubo could transform their attacking profile entirely.

Dream signing for Grealish: Everton now targeting another "special talent"

After signing Jack Grealish on loan with a £50m option to buy, Everton have now added a “special talent” to the list of targets…

By
Ben Gray

Aug 12, 2025

Vidarbha 379 and 249 for 4 (Nair 132*, Malewar 73) lead Kerala 342 (Baby 98, Sarwate 79, Nalkande 3-52, Rekhade 3-65, Dubey 3-88) by 286 runsIf fate had played out differently two seasons ago, Karun Nair would have been playing for Kerala after he first reached out to them when he was dumped unceremoniously by Karnataka. They couldn’t commit at the time and Nair, having sat at home for an entire season, couldn’t wait to grab his next opportunity. That’s when Vidarbha came calling.Two seasons on, Nair is at the forefront of Vidarbha’s charge to a third Ranji Trophy title, having batted all day to construct an unbeaten 132, his 23rd first-class century and fourth of the season. It helped stretch Vidarbha’s lead to 286 at stumps on the fourth day, and they still have six wickets remaining. If Nair does lift the trophy, it’ll be his third – his first two were with Karnataka in his first two seasons, 2013-14 and 2014-15.Nair shouldn’t batted this long, but luck shone on him. On 31, in the very first session on the third day, indecision against young seamer Eden Apple Tom had him playing at one that reared up awkwardly to lob off the glove to first slip where Akshay Chandran put down a dolly. Having already lost two early wickets, Vidarbha would have been 55 for 3. Instead, Kerala saw Nair and Danish Malewar, the 21-year-old batter in his maiden season, torment them again, as if to complete the business they had left unfinished in the first innings when a mix-up between the two led to Nair’s run out for 86.Malewar and Nair put on 182 for the third wicket – Malewar making 73 to go with his 153 in the first innings – to defuse any tension there might have been in the Vidarbha camp after they lost Parth Rekhade and Dhruv Shorey inside the first three overs. Rekhade was bowled through the gate by Jalaj Saxena’s in-drift, and Shorey was out to Mohammed Azharuddeen’s brilliance as he dived full stretch to pluck a healthy edge in front of first slip to give MD Nidheesh an early wicket.Kerala could have had a third very quickly, but Malewar was aided by luck when DRS deemed a not-out lbw decision off Saxena to be umpire’s call. It was the start of a frustrating few hours for Kerala, where they dropped a sitter of a big-match player, two of their frontline seamers – Nidheesh and Nedumankuzhy Basil – received warnings twice for running on to the danger area of the pitch, and then saw two healthy nicks off Saxena, their most prolific and in-form spinner, go through the vacant slip cordon when the need of the hour was to attack, not defend. All these factors combined to give Vidarbha the push they needed.Danish Malewar scored 73 in the second innings after 153 in the first•PTI

In the seventh over of the day, Malewar survived again, this time overturning an lbw call on DRS after being given out to Nidheesh, with replays showing the ball swung in late and would have missed leg stump. Things were happening quickly, and Kerala should have remained on the offensive. They didn’t and paid the price.Nair was good enough to pick gaps through the covers as Kerala left the off side open to have him drive against the turn. His ability to mix that up by playing a superb reverse sweep all along the ground made him a tough prospect to bowl to. Malewar’s temperament stood out as he absorbed the pressure from Saxena and played largely within himself until he got to his half-century and then stepped out to play a glorious drive over mid-off.As the partnership grew, Kerala resorted to a leg-stump line briefly to try to unsettle the batters. But given Vidarbha were sitting pretty with a lead, realisation dawned for Kerala that they needed to be a little more on the offensive, by which time the pair had already put on 100 runs.Nair survived on 65 when a leading edge off Saxena didn’t carry to the bowler, and he responded by offsetting any pressure by playing the reverse sweep. En route, he went past the 800-run mark for the season and charged into the 80s by hitting Aditya Sarwate for two back-to-back sixes – one over long-on and one over long-off. As he brought up his century, Nair dropped his bat, removed his gloves and showed nine fingers towards the dressing room to signal his nine hundreds across the season, before taking guard and continuing to blunt the bowling.It needed Chandran’s left-arm, part-time spin to break the mammoth stand when Malewar jabbed at one that flicked the glove and lobbed to Sachin Baby at slip. Then Yash Rathod came out and battled serenely with Nair, and at one point in the final session, overtook Madhya Pradesh batter Shubham Sharma’s tally of 943 to lead the run charts for the season.Then a sharp turner from Sarwate spun back in to trap him lbw, a decision that Kerala got overturned in their favour through the DRS. But moments like those were few and far amid a largely frustrating day for Kerala, whose hopes of a maiden title seem all but gone, with them needing a miracle to make a match of this on the final day.

Newcastle United have submitted a new bid for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa worth £40 million. The offer is said to be comprised of a £35 million transfer fee and £5 million in “difficult to achieve” add-ons.

Brentford brought Wissa to the Premier League from FC Lorient in 2021 for £8.5 million, meaning that the current bid would more than quadruple their initial investment. However, David Ornstein has since reported that this bid has been rejected.

Ornstein writes that sources close to Brentford do not know the club’s current valuation of Wissa, as they have not shared that information with any of the striker’s suitors at this point.

Whilst the Magpies move has been shut down for now, there is positive news for Newcastle in that both Fabrizio Romano and Ornstein are reporting that Wissa wants the deal to happen, with Romano posting that Wissa “hopes for green light to join NUFC project” and has sent a clear message on Wednesday.

Over the last few weeks, a number of clubs have been embroiled in transfer sagas that undoubtedly seemed connected. Newcastle’s need to bring in a player like Wissa has only been added to by the seemingly impending exit of Alexander Isak, who is pushing for a move more than ever.

Newcastle were previously reported to be waiting until Brentford signed Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara to make an offer, as he is seen as potentially being a replacement for Wissa. Now that Brentford have their man, they may be willing to allow Wissa to move to Newcastle if a satisfactory bid is received, especially given Wissa’s desire to see the deal happen.

Once Wissa joins Newcastle, the club may be more willing to entertain bids from Liverpool for Isak, as they, too, will have their replacement striker. Liverpool have already spent heavily this window; they have moved on a number of players for big fees, and players like Harvey Elliott could also be exiting soon, allowing them to have the finances to place a bid that matches Newcastle’s valuation of Isak.

Wissa has big shoes to fill

If Wissa is indeed to be the replacement for Isak, then he has big shoes to fill, but if anyone can do it, he can. Last season, Isak registered 23 goals and 6 assists, whereas Wissa registered 19 goals and 4 assists, only marginally behind the Swedish striker.

One positive way in which the two strikers are similar is that they both outperformed their expected goals last season. This means in the same way that Isak was scoring goals that most strikers wouldn’t, Wissa will be able to join the side and impress in the same way.

While Isak had better numbers, he was doing it in a better team, a team that managed to qualify for the Champions League, whereas Brentford only finished in 10th place. With the addition of Anthony Elanga to the squad and pre-existing players like Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy supporting him, Wissa will likely boost his numbers once he makes a move to the North East.

As the hours continue to tick away on transfer deadline day, Leeds United are still searching for that one last addition of attacking spark and have made contact in pursuit of exactly that.

Leeds' deadline day plan

After a 1-0 victory against Everton, 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal and, most recently, solid 0-0 draw against Newcastle United, Leeds should be fairly happy with how they’ve started their Premier League return. But they must not get complacent. There’s still work to be done in the transfer market.

For all their good work to earn four points from a possible nine, it’s noticeable that they’ve managed just one goal whilst doing so and that came courtesy of Lukas Nmecha’s penalty on the opening day.

It’s an attacking problem that Daniel Farke pointed out before the season even got underway and one that, to their credit, the 49ers have been attempting to solve through targets such as Igor Paixao and Facundo Buonanotte. Ultimately, however, any potential deals for those targets have been hijacked by the likes of Marseille and Chelsea.

Even after those frustrating blows, though, Leeds are not giving up. Farke reiterated that they will be working until the window slams shut to welcome much-needed attacking quality, telling reporters: “In defence and midfield, goalkeeper position and full-back position, we’ve done really good business.

“But we spoke quite open and honest about it, we would need to add some more quality up front. We need to stay awake until the last hour of this window.”

The wait may well be worth it for Leeds fans if deadline day reports are anything to go by too, with the Whites preparing to step up their move to sign one particular star.

Leeds plotting last-gasp Spertsyan offer

As reported by Armenie Football, Leeds are now plotting a late offer to sign Eduard Spertsyan after already making their first approach and launching contact in an attempt to get the ball rolling.

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The Krasnodar attacking midfielder would no doubt help solve Leeds’ problems going forward, and it could even be argued that he’d be a better arrival than the likes of Buonanotte.

Dubbed “underrated” by U23 scout Antonio Mango in 2023, Spertsyan has remained a player under the radar but could now get his chance to take the spotlight at Elland Road.

The Whites would also be signing a player who’s already been bang in form this season, with five goals and eight assists to his name in just 11 games.

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