Archive September 1, 2025

The striking strikers have been out of the window.

Both Alexander Isak and Yoane Wissa chose not to train this summer and issued demands for relocation.

Chris Sutton, a former Blackburn and Aston Villa striker, described the pair’s behavior as “disgraceful,” “disgraceful,” and “disrespectful.”

However, Joe Hart claimed that clubs have “stomped all over players” in the past during a heated debate on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Whatever your opinion was ultimately, it succeeded. Isak signed Wissa from Brentford for £55 million on deadline day, making a record-breaking £125 million move to Liverpool from Newcastle.

In stark contrast, England defender Marc Guehi, who had continued to play and train with Crystal Palace, saw his long-awaited move to Liverpool fail despite receiving a lot of praise for his professionalism.

Isak stated in a statement this month that their “relationship couldn’t continue” and that Newcastle had broken all of their promises.

On social media, Wissa also issued a statement urging Brentford to “keep their word” and let him leave two days before the transfer window was closing.

Sutton says there is no such thing as a pattern and that Arsenal this summer should be one example of players who “down the tools and get a move,” but Sutton says: “I can also point to Eberechi Eze who didn’t and still got his move.”

All of this, according to Troy Deeney, is new because players have “always done what they needed to do,” have been making public statements and refusing to train “since the beginning of time,” he said to BBC Sport.

Does it set a precedent for Isak to act badly and get a move, Wissa to act badly and get a move, but Guehi is really nice and doesn’t get his move, according to The Observer’s football correspondent Rory Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club?

Is it not great, or what?

Joe Hart, a former England goalkeeper, said: “I know how Alexander Isak has handled himself, but I can assure you that if things went another way, they would have stomped on him.”

“I’ve seen it in football so many times.”

Former Blackburn and Aston Villa striker Sutton described Isak as “fast becoming a legend at Newcastle” before this summer.

The Sweden striker, who had three more years on his contract, helped Newcastle win the Carabao Cup in March, the club’s first trophy in 56 years. He had 27 goals in total since joining the club in 2022.

However, his reputation in the North East is now deteriorating following his successful transfer to Liverpool.

Newcastle, on the other hand, came to benefit from Brentford’s “downing tools” from Wissa. Before Newcastle’s bid was accepted on deadline day, the DR Congo striker missed all four of his team’s games in August.

Sutton believes that the two players’ behavior was improper despite the fact that both players made their moves.

He told BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, “Players sign contracts, people sign contracts in their daily lives, and you abide by those contracts.”

What Alexander Isak and Yoane Wissa did is absolutely abhorrent. They may be content to watch them go out tonight, but it’s a disrespectful, disgraceful behavior.

There is no loyalty, clubs look after themselves and players look after themselves, according to Alan Shearer, who previously addressed BBC 5 Live in August. “I get clubs and football players look after ourselves,” he said.

This debate has two sides.

Would Guehi have left Selhurst Park if he had pushed more for a move to Liverpool?

Wayne Rooney, a former Manchester United striker, said on Saturday on BBC Match of the Day that “he deserves a lot of credit because we have seen some players decline to play.” He merits a lot of praise for acting morally.

Guehi will eventually return to Palace’s training facility after the international break, model professional or not.

Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney claimed that clubs should not be critical of Isak and Wissa’s behavior.

No one complains when a team removes a player, even though some claim there is no loyalty in football, as some claim? The former Watford captain said.

No one asserts that a manager’s removal from a club results in lack of loyalty. However, because the fans are fans, they anticipate the players to be devoted to the team.

Oleksandr Zinchenko, a left-back for Arsenal, has signed a season-long loan deal with Nottingham Forest, and Dilane Bakwa, a winger for Strasbourg, has signed a deal worth more than £30 million.

Forest had been attempting to sign Atletico Madrid’s Javi Galan, but they were unable to close the deal, so they made a quick move to sign Zinchenko from Ukraine.

Since joining Arsenal from Manchester City for around £30 million in 2022, the 28-year-old has made 91 appearances for the club. He becomes Forest’s 12th summer signing.

Ross Wilson, the chief football officer, said, “Alex’s pedigree speaks for itself. He played a significant role for Arsenal in recent years and was a significant member of the highly successful Manchester City team.

We are delighted that he completed our incoming signings this summer, and he brings valuable experience to Nottingham Forest.

“Over the summer, we have done a lot of work to create a competitive squad that is both young and old and ready to compete in all kinds of competitions.”

We are confident that Alex will make a significant impression both on and off the pitch.

To help increase Forest’s spending, Bakwa, 23, has agreed to a five-year contract.

Since joining Strasbourg from Bordeaux two years ago, the France Under-21 international has made 71 appearances.

I’m thrilled to have joined this legendary club, Bakwa said. I’m appreciative that the club and the owner gave me this opportunity.

“I didn’t hesitate once I learned there was interest,” I said, “because the ambitions of everyone here motivate me.”

Zinchenko joined Forest on deadline day as the second left-sided player to join the City of Chicago.

The 22-year-old is the fourth Botafogo player to join the club this summer under a four-year contract at the City Ground.

Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich for £37.5 million, James McAtee from Manchester City for around $ 30 million, and Rennes striker Arnaud Kalimuendo for $ 26 million are the new signings for Forest.

After his public criticism of Forest’s transfer business, manager Nuno Espirito Santo will also speak with owner Evangelos Marinakis over the international holiday.

The Portuguese acknowledged that Marinakis’ relationship had changed while the Portuguese believed the club had moved too slowly for their goals.

Nuno, the former manager of Wolves and Tottenham, is being told that despite the information, is expected to be in charge when Forest travel to Arsenal on September 13th.

Nuno insisted that the loss would not have an impact on the discussions despite Forest’s 3-0 defeat at home against West Ham on Sunday.

Additionally, Forest has signed Brazilian side Rio Ave full-back Eric Moreira on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old moved to Ave, which is also run by Forest owner Marinakis, after making five appearances in all competitions last summer.

Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp has been signed for an initial sum of 21 million euros (£18. M) plus add-ons by Manchester United.

Lammens, 23, has a five-year contract at Old Trafford and is yet to earn a senior cap for his country.

“I’m very pleased to be playing for Manchester United.” It’s truly a dream come true,” Lammens remarked.

“The past few years have been an incredible journey, and hopefully there will be something special when it ends up here.”

Royal Antwerp won the Belgian Super Cup in 2023 with the assistance of Lammens, who has made 64 appearances for them.

In March, he was named for the first time in the Belgium national team.

Jason Wilcox, the director of football for United, stated: “Senne has great potential. She is a great young goalkeeper.”

Lammens’ arrival at Old Trafford comes as the club is working to fix glaring issues with goalkeeping.

Altay Bayindir, the country’s top player, has made errors in the Premier League, and Andre Onana, the country’s top scorer, was responsible for a goal against League Two side Grimsby last year.

Since joining the club in 2023, when United released England international Dean Henderson for free and gave David de Gea his contract at United, neither have persuaded them.

Brentford’s Yoane Wissa has been acquired by Newcastle United for £55 million.

The initial fee for the DR Congo international, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season, is £50 million plus £5 million in add-ons.

This summer, Brentford turned down two offers from the Magpies for Wissa.

Alexander Isak was sold to Liverpool for a record-breaking £125 million transfer fee, which Newcastle did in the wake of.

At St. James’ Park, Wissa will wear the number nine.

The 28-year-old confirmed in a statement on Sunday that he wanted to leave Brentford after a protracted transfer saga that lasted for a while.

The DR Congo international removed his Instagram account from any connection to the club earlier in the window.

Wissa expressed his excitement at joining one of the biggest Premier League clubs on the website.

“I’m very, very excited to sport the black and white shirt.” I have faith, I have dreams, and I will do everything I can to make them all come true. I’m eager to start.

Eddie Howe, the head coach of Newcastle, stated: “We’re delighted to have Yoane on board because we have admired him for a while.”

He “has demonstrated Premier League quality,” as evidenced by his team’s crucial work and goalscoring performance.

Yoane has pace, power, and an excellent work rate, which will both enthral our supporters and complement our play. He immediately increases our strength.

In 149 games for Brentford, Wissa added 49 goals to his 2021 tally.

Newcastle has signed him for the second time in recent days, joining them from Stuttgart for the six-year deal that also included club record signing Nick Woltemade.