Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak is edging closer to a sensational switch to Liverpool this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The Reds are reportedly plotting a big-money transfer move for the Swedish striker following the completed sale of Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich.
Díaz’s transfer to the Bundesliga giants opened up room for attacking reinforcements at Anfield, and Liverpool are said to be willing to table a record-breaking proposal for Isak.
Isak, 25, is said to favour a move to the Premier League champions and has turned a blind eye to offers from the Saudi Pro League. Al-Hilal reportedly put forward a staggering £600,000-per-week, tax-free deal, which the player declined.
Newcastle United now face a crucial decision regarding their star forward, with Liverpool waiting in the wings, ready to swoop.
Meanwhile, in Spain, Al-Ittihad sporting director Ramon Planes has suggested that Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior could be the next big name to join the Saudi revolution.
“I don’t rule it out. I think it’s part of the idea and plan to be one of the most powerful leagues in the world,” Planes told Marca when asked about Vinicius’ future.
“Vinicius could be part of that plan, to allow players to come at an important moment in their careers. He has everything going for him.”
Vinicius, whose current deal runs until 2027, is reportedly in a contract impasse with Madrid over wage demands. The Brazilian attacker has scored 106 goals and registered 83 assists in 322 appearances for Los Blancos.
Elsewhere in La Liga, tensions are reportedly rising at FC Barcelona following the surprise loan signing of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United.
According to El Nacional, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal feels betrayed by the club’s hierarchy.
During contract renewal talks, Yamal was reportedly assured that Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams was the only target for the left wing. However, the club failed to activate Williams’ €58 million release clause, and instead brought in Rashford on loan.
Yamal, who shares a close bond with Williams from their time with the Spanish national team, had hoped to replicate that partnership at the club level. His frustration deepened as he was not informed before the Rashford deal was finalised.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has reaffirmed his desire to finish his career at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The 33-year-old Belgian, whose contract runs until 2026, revealed that discussions over an extension are already underway.
“My renewal? Talks are ongoing. I want to stay at Real Madrid for as long as possible. My dream is to retire at Real Madrid,” Courtois told Madrid Xtra.
Since arriving from Chelsea in 2018, Courtois has been instrumental in Madrid’s domestic and European success, winning the Champions League, LaLiga titles, and more.
With the transfer window heating up, fans can expect more twists as Europe’s top clubs reshuffle their squads for the upcoming season.
Back to the English Premier League, Fabrizio Romano has reported that newly promoted side, Sunderland, have secured a major coup with the signing of Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen.
The deal, worth €20 million, has been agreed by all parties, with the Swiss midfielder set to sign a contract until 2027.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders has joined Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg on a season-long loan.
Signed by the Blues from Genk in August 2024, Penders, 19, spent the remainder of last season with the Belgian club, making 26 first-team appearances. He also received a call-up to Belgium’s Under-21 squad.
Super Falcons’ Comeback Win Can Inspire Super Eagles’ World Cup Push – Ibrahim Gusau
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, stressed that Super Falcons’ remarkable comeback against Morocco in the 2024 WAFCON final should serve as a rallying call for the Super Eagles in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Waza Immo reports that the Super Falcons stunned the host nation on Saturday night, July 26, at the Stade Olympique de Rabat. The Nigerian women overcame a 2-0 first-half deficit to seal a dramatic 3-2 win and clinch their record 10th WAFCON title.
The performance, Gusau said, was not just historic, but deeply symbolic for Nigerian football.
“I am very happy because our girls rose from the ‘dead’, as they say, and fought to victory. This was an extraordinary performance. I congratulate them for their resilience, doggedness, patriotism and the blatant display of the well-known Nigerian spirit,” Gusau told reporters in Morocco.
The Falcons’ campaign saw them score 14 goals while conceding only three, an emphatic response to their disappointing run in 2022. Gusau credited the team’s technical crew, captain, and players for what he described as a complete turnaround story.
“From the coaching crew to the team captain and the players, we say thank you and well done. With a commanding triumph in the Women’s AFCON once again, what is left for us to target now is conquering the world at the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” he added.
But beyond the silverware, Gusau believes the Falcons’ victory holds deeper significance for Nigerian football, particularly the Super Eagles, who are in urgent need of a turnaround in their World Cup qualification quest.
“This victory, and the spirit behind it, will have positive implications for the men in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series,” Gusau noted.
“We have four more matches to turn the tables against our opponents, and watching the Super Falcons tonight, and how they turned things around, underscores again the wise saying that in sport and life, it is never over until it is over.”
The Super Eagles, currently struggling in their qualification group, are set to face Rwanda at home and South Africa away when the campaign resumes in September.
With morale among fans and players running low, Gusau believes the Falcons’ stunning resilience offers the perfect psychological blueprint.
“This triumph reminds us that no matter how dire the situation, belief and effort can turn things around. The Eagles must draw from this and fight for Nigeria,” he added.