06/08/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | AUG 6, 2025

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

30

A LEXANDER ISAK is facing showdown talks with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe after returning to St. James’ Park for training. The 25-year-old Sweden international headed back to Tyneside over the weekend after spending time working on his fitness at former club Real Sociedad as Premier League champions Liverpool formalised their interest in him with a £110 mil lion (RM638m) bid, which was swiftly rejected by the Magpies. He reported to the club’s training headquarters on Monday morning as the rest of the squad returned from their pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea. Isak missed the tour having cited a thigh injury amid fevered speculation over his future. Newcastle have repeatedly insisted they have no intention of selling their star striker – who they value at around £150 million (RM870m) – this summer. But his indication that he wanted to explore the possibility of a move away from St James’ Park, where he still has three years remaining on his contract, has brought matters to a head. Head coach Howe, who desperately wants to keep a player who has been a key figure in the club’s recent return to promi nence, has been diplomatic about the situa tion in public but he is unlikely to take kindly to a disruption of the team ethic he has tried to build during him time at the helm. Newcastle icon Alan Shearer has called for a swift resolution to Isak’s current predicament, empathising with the player amid rumours of a move to Liverpool. Shearer, speaking on The Rest is Football pod cast, conveyed his understanding of the situation: SHORTS LAFC agree to terms for Sonny

Showdown at Tyneside Isak set for crunch talks with Howe after returning to Newcastle

Forest winger Anthony Elanga and Southampton keeper Aaron Ramsdale – on loan – to their squad while seeing midfielder Sean Longstaff and striker Callum Wilson leave. However, they have also seen targets Dean Huijsen, Bryan Mbeumo, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, James Trafford and Liam Delap move elsewhere. “Up to now it’s been a disastrous window for Newcastle,” Shearer added. “It was meant to be the time we kicked on with heavy investment and hopefully go to another level. It’s been anything but that to be honest. “They’ve missed out on several first-choice targets, so up to now it’s been really poor. Their transfer window has been a mess.” – The Independent/ Express Newspapers

get what you can and get him out and say thanks very much for the memories, off you go.” It has proved a diffi cult summer for Newcastle, who have added Nottingham

“No, I’m not angry at all towards him. I under stand how football works, I know what happens in and around the game. “I probably understand his mentality. Do I like it? Do I understand it? Probably two different things. But I know what football is about and I know how it works, and obviously Liverpool have been into him or his agent.” If Isak cannot be reintegrated, Shearer believes Newcastle should sell promptly and reinvest in strengthening Howe’s squad following a tumultu ous summer transfer window. “I just thought it might have happened next year and if it really is impossible for Eddie to turn him around and he says no,

and it sounds like that is

Eddie Howe (left) and Isak. – AFPPIC/ REUTERSPIC

the case, I want him to be out now, you get your big money for him, whoever’s prepared to pay that and you get other people in, hopefully before hand, and then you move on. “As I said, no individual is bigger than any foot ball club, and if he doesn’t want to be there, fine,

Maresca gets savage with unwanted players

CHELSEA may still be chasing signings in this summer transfer window, but manager Enzo Maresca (pic) has now become ruthless with the players he wants out the door. In a brutal message, the Italian has left nine big

Carney Chukwuemeka is another player to be ousted amid speculation over a return to Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. French midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, on loan at Southampton in 2024/25, is another player axed. Defenders Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, and Alfie Gilchrist join him with the trio all now set to depart. Maresca has also cut two of his forward options. Amando Broja is omitted as he negotiates a move to Burnley, while David Datro Fofana is another name absent after his temporary move to Turkish side Goztepe was cut short by injury. With the list, the club has issued a blunt warning that under-performing players will not be given time to prove themselves at Stamford Bridge. It also appears to be a message to the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, and Jamie Gittens, who are among the new signings this summer. Chelsea have already sold seven players in this window. Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, and goalkeepers Kepa Arrizabalaga and Djorde Petrovic have been joined by Bashit Humphries, Mathis Amougou and Marcus Betinelli in departing. – Express Newspapers EFL for various financial breaches since 2017 and are currently under three embargoes relating to late tax payments, unpaid debts over transfer fees and failing to pay players and staff on time. Under a registration embargo, Wednesday are unable to sign players, including free agents, in this year’s window or the following two in 2026. Staff wages were paid late in March, May, June and July, while a behind closed-doors friendly against Burnley on Saturday was cancelled after players refused to play. – The Independent

name players off his squad list for the 2025/26 season, sending a clear message to his senior players. The Blues returned to training on Monday following their Club World Cup win in America. They’ll now play friendlies with both Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan, before their Premier League opener with Crystal Palace on Aug 17. However, a number of players have essentially been told they’ll play no part in the 2025/26 season if they choose to stay in west London.

SON HEUNG-MIN, who spent 10 seasons with Tottenham Hotspur and stars for the South Korea national team, has a deal in place to join Los Angeles FC, according to multiple reports. LAFC will pay a transfer fee of around US$26 million (RM109m), GiveMeSport and ESPN reported, which would break the Major League Soccer record of US$22 million (RM92.4m) that Atlanta United paid to acquire Emmanuel Latte Lath last offseason. Son, 33, announced over the weekend that he planned to leave Tottenham, saying he achieved everything that he could with the North London club and he was interested in a new challenge. Tottenham faced Newcastle United in a friendly in Seoul, which served as Son’s farewell match. He received a standing ovation and a guard of honor and said he had “a huge respect and am very grateful” to his old club. Son scored 172 goals and added 94 assists in 451 matches for Tottenham across all competitions, with 127 coming in Premier League play. A team captain, he helped the Spurs win the 2025 Europa League for the first major trophy of his career. He previously played in Bundesliga for Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen. Son has also scored 51 goals in 134 matches for South Korea, the country’s second-leading goal-scorer of all time. Son played in the past three World Cups. Rashford scores first goal for Barcelona MANCHESTER UNITED loanee Marcus Rashford has scored his first goal as a Barcelona player, netting in the club’s final match of their pre-season tour of Asia. Rashford, who sealed a loan move to the La Liga side towards the end of July after a period on the sidelines at United, scored the club’s fifth goal in a 5-0 win over South Korean side Daegu FC. The 27-year-old latched onto the end of an Eric Garcia cross to lash in a low effort from around 12 yards in the 66th minute, completing a rout in which Robert Lewandowski and Gave also registered goals. The winger barely reacted after scoring, receiving some congratulations from his teammates during a muted celebration. He may have to wait to make his competitive debut though, with Barcelona not yet having registered him for La Liga action as they face with the same struggles that have prevented them from registering players in the past. Fellow new signing Joan Garcia is also yet to be registered, though Rashford said he is “not worried” about the situation when speaking to Spanish media. “I think it’s something the club needs to resolve, and I’m confident it will happen. I’m focused on training and being ready for the start of the season,” he added.

Raheem Sterling is the most high-profile star to be axed, following his loan spell at Arsenal last season. The 30-year-old is now in limbo three years after his £47.5 million (RM275m) move from Manchester City, having been frozen out since the arrival of the Italian 12 months ago. Ben Chilwell is also missing from the list.

Sheff Wed fans plan protest against Thai owner

Ű BY MARK WALKER

displayed in“a visibly empty away end”at the King Power Stadium. Details of “stronger action” at the Owls’ first home game of the season against Stoke on Aug 16 will be announced soon, the Trust said. Chansiri, who bought the club for a reported £37.5 million (RM217m) from Milan Mandaric in 2015, is trying to sell the club and recently confirmed he had turned down a £40 million (RM232m) bid, while talks with various other interested parties have stalled. The club has been sanctioned by the

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY Supporters Trust has announced plans to protest against club owner Dejphon Chansiri at Sunday’s opening Championship fixture at Leicester. Chansiri is under mounting pressure to sell the Owls as a spiralling financial crisis left players and staff unpaid on time last week for a third successive month. The Trust has called on fans to delay entry to their seats until five minutes after kickoff, while a large banner will be