08/08/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | AUG 8, 2025

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Son admits LAFC not first choice Ű BY GEORGE SESSIONS

SHORTS Everton keen on Grealish loan deal EVERTON have

“How to find the right words for this? I don’t know. I have been thinking for days. It’s impossible. But here I go,” Son wrote. “It’s time for me to say goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur. My home for the past decade. When I arrived in 2015, I didn’t speak English, I didn’t know London, but you welcomed me with open arms, believed in me, and stood by me through every high and low. “I was just a boy from Korea with big dreams who was supposed to have no chance. And now, 10 years later, North London is in my heart forever. “I’ve made friends for life here, had the honour of becoming a godfather here, and had the privilege of captaining our special club here. “I’ve poured my heart and soul into this club, which makes this the hardest decision ever. “I thought if I was ever going to leave, it would have to be on my terms, on the best terms, when our mission had been accomplished together. With pride and honour.” – The Independent

was not my first choice but John (Thorrington, LAFC general manager) was the first call when the season finished and John changed my mind, he changed my heart. “I’m so happy to see all the Korean fans, I was at the game and I saw you supporting like crazy and I wanted to run on the pitch and show my performance. I’m here to win and I will perform. “I will definitely show you something exciting in… are we calling it football or soccer? I will definitely show you some exciting football and we will have success.” Son added that the decision to leave Spurs had left him feeling “very empty”. “I felt like I gave it all, but I felt like I needed a new chapter and new challenge and I chose LAFC. I’m old but I still have good physicality, good legs and I still have good quality.” Earlier Son had issued a heartfelt message to Tottenham fans on making the “hardest decision ever” to leave north London.

SON HEUNG-MIN admitted Los Angeles FC were not his first choice destination after he ended a 10-year stay at Tottenham but insisted they had “changed his heart” on a record Major League Soccer transfer. The 33-year-old on Wednesday completed a move worth in excess of £20 million (RM116m) – the highest transfer fee paid by an MLS club – after it was revealed on Saturday he would be leaving Spurs following 173 goals in 454 appearances and months after he captained the club to Europa League glory. At an introductory press conference in Los Angeles, the South Korea international admitted he had to be persuaded of the merits of moving to the United States before signing an initial two year deal. “They’ve been absolutely working so hard to get me here to join LAFC,” Son said. “If I’m honest it

approached Manchester City about the possibility of taking Jack Grealish on loan for the season. Grealish, 29, was stuck on the fringes of City’s squad last season and his prospects look no brighter after a summer in which the talented 21-year-old French midfielder Rayan Cherki joined Pep Guardiola’s squad. Guardiola left Grealish out of his selection for the recent Club World Cup after coming to a mutual agreement with the winger that he needed a break. Grealish joined City from boyhood club Aston Villa in a transfer worth £100 million (RM580m), which made him the most expensive English footballer in history. And although he has been linked with a return to Villa, it is Everton who have taken the first steps to secure his signature. Everton are hoping to push on after a 13th-placed finish last season under returning manager David Moyes, having moved into their new ground, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, over the summer. The club completed the signing of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea yesterday for around £25 million (RM145m). “Everton’s one of the biggest clubs in the country, and I think that in the next couple of years, the future is going to be bright. It was an easy decision in the end to come here and play for this club,” Dewsbury-Hall said. Newcastle banish Isak NEWCASTLE striker Alexander Isak was told he must train away from the Newcastle squad as uncertainty over his future continues. The 25-year-old Sweden international was told to report for training yesterday but only after the rest of the squad had left. Isak did not travel with his teammates on their pre-season trip to Singapore and South Korea and instead flew to Spain to train at former club Real Sociedad. He returned to Tyneside at the weekend, shortly before coach Eddie Howe and his squad landed back from Seoul and were given two days off. The players were back at the training ground yesterday morning and their families were invited to join them after training. However, it is understood Isak, who reported back to the club’s Benton base on Monday, was told not to come in until after they had left. Isak is understood to have undergone treatment and light training at a deserted training ground on Monday and it remains to be seen whether he will have any involvement in the club’s pre season fixtures against Espanyol and Atletico Madrid this weekend. The striker faces clear-the-air talks with Howe, with his situation becoming seemingly more complicated by the day as a difficult transfer window threatens to spiral further out of control.

Arsenal have belief: Arteta A RSENAL manager Mikel Arteta said the Gunners believe this season will be dif ferent as they aim to get over a series of near misses at winning silverware. After a brief cameo in the north London derby defeat to Spurs in Hong Kong, Gyokeres was yesterday given an hour by Arteta, but his Arsenal homecoming was upstaged by another big money Gunners signing, who was wearing a Villarreal shirt. Gunners aiming to end bridesmaid status after repeated near misses Viktor Gyokeres runs with the ball during a friendly match between Arsenal and Villarreal. – AFPPIC

Arteta has not won a trophy since lifting the FA Cup in his debut season in charge in 2019/20. However, he has transformed Arsenal back into serial contenders for major trophies. Arteta’s men have finished second in the Premier League for the past three years and reached the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2009 last season. The pressure is now on the Spaniard to get over the line after another major investment in new players in the transfer window. Nearly £200 million (RM1.16b) has been spent on new striker Viktor Gyokeres, midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, centreback Cristhian Mosquera as well as winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. “We know what our targets are and what we want to achieve this season – there is a big belief in our ability to achieve that,” Arteta said in his programme notes for yesterday’s pre-season friendly against Villarreal, which ended in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. “We have been very, very close the last few seasons and the whole team is going to determine whether we achieve that or not. “But at the same time, we have to make sure that we don’t lose sight of what we have to do on a daily basis to get to the levels that we want. “We have to set the demands that we want within this goal, because that’s the most important thing – the internal demands have to always exceed any external demand. That is what we are trying to achieve every single day.” Brighton are said to want to keep Baleba for at least one more season and do not intend to sanction a summer sale. The transfer guru states that United recognise that a switch this summer could be unrealistic, especially if the club continue to struggle to sell players. United are negotiating the payment structure with Leipzig after offering a guaranteed £65 million (RM377m) plus £9 million (RM52m) in add ons for Sesko, who has been training separately from the rest of the Leipzig squad this week. With United closing in on Sesko, Rasmus Hojlund’s position at Old Trafford appears increasingly precarious.

Nicolas Pepe, the once-£72 million (RM417m) Arsenal record signing, gave the La Liga side the lead from close range after Pape Gueye’s header came off the post. And more questionable defending saw The Yellow Submarine double their advantage. Gerard Moreno was found in space in the area and while David Raya saved his shot well, Karl Etta Eyong was on hand to nod home from close range. Arsenal responded instantly with their favourite weapon – set pieces. Gabriel Martinelli’s corner was headed home by summer signing Christian Norgaard at the far post, the Denmark midfielder showing he can bring his set-piece prowess from his Brentford days to Arsenal. The Gunners pushed for a leveller in the second half with Gyokeres seeing his best chance of the game kept out at the near post by Luis Junior. But Villarreal would net a third as former Bournemouth and Everton winger Arnaut Danjuma ran clear and finished under Kepa Arrizabalaga into the far corner. Speaking after the game, Arteta told Sky Sport : “Today, I think the result is painful. I think they’ve been super-efficient but we’ve been naive, especially the way we have defending open spaces and that’s something that, especially the way we play, we have to absolutely nail. “Today we haven’t been good at all in that department and that has cost us the game, for sure.” – AFP/Agencies Despite Hojlund’s determination to stay and compete for his place, United seem willing to accept a loss on his sale this summer. Manchestereveningnews.co reported yesterday that Hojlund is coming to terms with the likelihood of being edged out by United should Sesko’s transfer go through. During a discussion about his future in the US, Hojlund stated: “I think my plan is very clear and that is for me to stay and fight for my spot, whatever happens. “Competition is fine with me. It sharpens me. I’m more than ready. “I’m feeling sharp, so I’m welcoming everything that comes. “I think it’s good with competition and it only sharpens the team.” – Express Newspapers

Devils make move for Seagulls’ midfielder Baleba MANCHESTER UNITED have made a move to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to reports. contacted Brighton via intermediaries, but it is likely a complicated deal to do.

The Red Devils are currently working to complete a deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, but also want to bolster their midfield before the summer deadline. According to L’Equipe , United have started talks with Brighton to discuss the terms of a potential transfer, but are yet to learn their asking price. It’s claimed that Arsenal and Liverpool are also in the race for Baleba, yet United are currently considered in pole position. The report adds that Ruben Amorim views Baleba as one of the pillars of his project at Old Trafford as he prepares for his first full season. Meanwhile, David Ornstein reports that United