Isak and Newcastle accuse each other of lying

It’s been a few days since we’ve gone transfer rumours mode, so time to rectify that. No big feature story today, we’ve got too much to get through as we zoom towards deadline day. This last couple weeks of August with games going on and the market still open is crazy for us, and 10x so for the teams themselves.

• The Alexander Isak transfer saga took a turn yesterday, with the striker posting on Instagram that “when promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue.” The club responded by saying that they’ve never told Isak he’d be allowed to leave this summer. So they’re openly accusing each other of lying, and it’s impossible to tell whose version of the story is closer to the truth.
  
  Liverpool have yet to make a second bid, but you’d have to think an increased one would lead to a negotiation at this point, rather than being told to do one.

• Here’s a story detailing the strikers that Newcastle are looking into as replacements, with Yoane Wissa of Brentford and Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea still the biggest names linked. Which would you rather have? Jackson is younger and the much more active presser, but Wissa got great shots and finished them consistently.

• Real Madrid beat Osasuna 1-0 in a very dull match during Xabi Alonso’s La Liga debut, and Rodrygo didn’t play a single minute despite dressing. All the reporting we’ve seen recently suggests that Rodrygo hasn’t asked to leave Madrid, and they’re not actively trying to sell him. But if Alonso just thinks Brahim Diaz is better, they should probably ring up Man City.

• That would be quite a boost to Tottenham’s chances of signing Savinho. But if that’s still not happening, they’re looking into Maghnes Akilouche as an alternative, and I’m shocked he hasn’t been anyone’s main target all window.

• Bilal El Khannouss is inching closer to a Crystal Palace move, which should clear the way for Spurs to lock up the signing of Eberechi Eze.

• Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe got into a fight after Marseille’s loss to Rennes, leading the club to issue a public statement that both players are on the transfer list. Perhaps “Oops, All Dickheads” wasn’t the best squad building policy.

• Kai Havertz is being evaluated for a knee injury, and it’s apparently serious enough that Arsenal is looking into another attacking signing before the window closes. No word yet on profile or budget, so that’ll be an interesting story to watch this week.

• There hasn’t been a lot of fresh news about a Marc Guehi departure, but Palace are still preparing for his potential exit by looking into signing Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet. I’m not sure a 20-year-old with this little experience can be counted on as a Guehi replacement, but consider me interested in a young defender with these stats in Ligue 1.

• Inter Milan have rejected a €50m bid from Chelsea for Alessandro Bastoni, which is a complete joke. I imagine that Chelsea’s directors are just trying to show Enzo Maresca that they understand his concerns and they’re not ignoring his requests for a left center back, but the Blues would need to double that number to get Inter interested.

• Douglas Luiz is close to signing for Nottingham Forest on a loan that becomes an obligation to buy if he makes enough appearances. At his age I don’t think I’d want to pay €30m even if he’s great, but at least Forest secured some insurance against injury problems or him just being bad.

• Leon Bailey has joined Roma on a loan with a straight buy option, so probably just a loan. Aston Villa get all his wages off the books, though.

• Bayer Leverkusen have finally replaced Jonathan Tah by signing Sevilla center back Loic Balde. If you’re hoping this increases the chances of your team signing Piero Hincapie, no it does not.

• Galatasaray have installed a money printing factory at their ground and have reps in England to negotiate for the signing of Manuel Akanji from Manchester City. Pretty wild how he has gone from 2,000+ minutes three seasons in a row to bomb squad.

• Leeds are signing Noah Okafor from AC Milan for €20m, which is a lot of money for a forward who didn’t even score that much in Austria. That should clear the way for Milan to sign either Rasmus Hojlund or Dušan Vlahović, and uhh… why are they doing that? Sign a good striker instead? Just my opinion!

• West Ham have correctly identified that they need a central midfielder, but they’re striking out at the moment. Chelsea have rejected a bid for Andrey Santos, and Marc Casado doesn’t want to leave Barcelona. Let’s see if an improved bid for Mateus Fernandes does the trick.

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