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THURSDAY | JULY 17, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Ű BY CARL MARKHAM

Meanwhile, Liverpool have told Bayern Munich Luis Diaz is not for sale after rejecting a £59 million (RM342m) bid. The Bundesliga champions’ offer of £58.6 million (RM340m) was immediately dismissed, in keeping with the club’s stance which saw them rebuff an approach from Barcelona earlier in the year. Barca subsequently switched their attentions to Nico Williams, who instead decided to stay at Athletic Bilbao, while Marcus Rashford is also a target for them. Bayern are looking for a replace ment for winger Leroy Sane, who has joined Galatasaray on a free trans fer, while the club’s record appearance-maker, Thomas Muller, has also left and they will be without the injured Jamal Musiala for the first few months of the season. Diaz is in the last two years of his contract and, while talks have not progressed over a new deal, privately Liverpool insist he remains an impor tant player and interested clubs are being told that. There is also a long standing interest from the Saudi Pro League in the 28 year-old Colombia international. Al-Hilal’s failed £87 million (RM504m) bid for Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, who is two years older, is viewed by some as a benchmark valuation for an elite attacker in the domestic and global market, but regardless there remains no appetite to sell. Only a few weeks ago Diaz hinted at uncertainty over his future by claiming his representatives were openly discussing his options. “We are currently in contact with Liverpool, because we are talking to clubs, and that’s normal given the transfer market that’s opening,” he said last month. – The Independent

Anderson and Yankuba Minteh last year to avoid a points deduction – a formal bid which would all but dou ble their money inside three years might at least cause them to pause for thought. Neither club has commented on the situation, which will prompt fren zied speculation on the banks of both the Mersey and the Tyne. Isak, who has also been repeatedly linked with Arsenal, has been one of the flag-bearers for Newcastle’s return to prominence under their new owners. His goals last season helped to fire the club into the Champions League for the second time in three years, and it was his strike a t

Newcastle’s majority owners, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, have the finan cial clout to resist any approach should

ALEXANDER ISAK

L IVERPOOL have not given up hope of prising striker Alexander Isak away from Newcastle, despite the Magpies’ insistence he is not for sale. A report yesterday suggested the Reds are prepared to pay £120 million (RM696m) for the 25-year-old Sweden international, who has been a huge hit at St. James’ Park since his £63 million (RM365m) arrival from Real Sociedad during the summer of 2022. There has been no formal contact between the two clubs over a player who is the subject of long-standing interest from Anfield. However, sources

they remain stead fast in their deter mination to hang on to a player who is understood not to be agitating for a move.

But in the age of profit and sustainabil ity rules – head coach Eddie Howe was forced to sell E l l i o t

on Merseyside have indicated Isak is among a series of options being considered as the Reds look to bolster their attacking options in the wake of the death of Diogo Jota and the possible departures of Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa. The frontman, who is currently at a pre-season

Not for sale!

training camp in Austria with his teammates, still has three years remaining on his contract on Tyneside and the Magpies, who are trying to tie him to a new deal, remain adamant he is going nowhere. It is understood they have put a value on him of around £150 million (RM870m) in an attempt to ward off potential suitors. Indeed, sources in the north east have insisted the club’s ongoing pur suit of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, who has also been linked with Liverpool, is no indication they are seeking a replacement for the Swede, but rather a new teammate.

Newcastle shoot down Liverpool interest in Isak as Reds look to bolster attack

Wembley in March that effec tively secured a 2-1 Carabao Cup final vic tory over Liverpool which ended the 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy. Magpies’

Schauffele’s X factor

‘Norris has to be selfish’

England’s secret weapon

- Story on page 28

- Story on page 29

- Story on page 30

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