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Newcastle striker Isak still determined to join Liverpool

By in News, Sports News
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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent
Sean Kearns
BBC Sport
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Alexander Isak is still determined to leave Newcastle United and join Liverpool this summer.

The Athletic reported on Tuesday the striker, 25, was “adamant he will never represent Newcastle again”.

BBC Sport has not been able to verify this, but it is understood it is still the Swede’s “determined” ambition to join the Premier League champions before the deadline closes on 1 September.

The Magpies rejected a £110m bid from Liverpool for Isak on 1 August, with the Reds subsequently claiming that they were prepared to walk away from a deal.

Liverpool have also stepped up their attempts to sign Crystal Palace and England centre-back Marc Guehi, 25.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said following a pre-season friendly defeat by Atletico Madrid that “everything is in play” when it comes to Isak’s future, but stressed it was “clear” he “cannot involve” the striker in his current plans.

As such, Isak is expected to miss Newcastle’s Premier League opener at Aston Villa on Saturday (12:30pm BST).

The former Dortmund forward missed Newcastle’s pre-season tour of the far-east with a “minor” thigh injury.

He then trained alone at former club Real Sociedad, before returning to the UK last week.

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Newcastle have failed with several moves for strikers this summer, with Liam Delap opting to join Chelsea, Benjamin Sesko choosing Manchester United and Hugo Ekitike moving to Liverpool.

Interest remains in Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who left the Bees’ pre-season camp in Portugal in July because of his desire to join Newcastle.

The 28-year-old returned to first-team training last week following constructive talks with head coach Keith Andrews.

But the DR Congo striker remains keen on moving to Newcastle should a fee be agreed.

Howe’s side are also closing in on the signing of AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw.

Related topics

  • Liverpool
  • Premier League
  • Football Transfers
  • Newcastle United
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Zoe Ball makes ‘sad’ revelation after brutal response from daughter Nelly

By in Entertainment News, News

Zoe Ball’s insight into her family life comes after her dad Johnny Ball made a revelation about her relationship with her ex-husband Fatboy Slim

Zoe Ball discussed the change in her daughter on her Dig It podcast (Image: DIGITPODCAST)

Zoe Ball has opened up about a “sad” shift in the bond with her daughter Nelly. The 54-year-old is mum to 24-year-old son Woody Cook, and Nelly, 14, with her former husband Norman Cook, who is better known as Fatboy Slim.

Speaking about sleeping arrangements on her latest Dig It podcast episode with Jo Whiley, Zoe expressed disappointment over her daughter’s reluctance to share overnight stays with her.

The BBC Radio 2 host revealed: “I love going to sleep in the same bed as Nel. When she’s here, I’m like, ‘Do you want to stay the night? It’s a girl’s night – wanna stay the night?’

“And it’s really sad when she just looks at me and is like, ‘No mother’ and shuts the door. Or looks at me and says, ‘No mother, go to bed now’.

Zoe Ball
Zoe Ball with her children Woody and Nelly(Image: INSTAGRAM/ZOEBALL)

“And my favourite thing [is], if you do get to share a bed with your kids, sometimes, I know it sounds creepy, but just looking at their faces as they sleep, it doesn’t matter how old they are, you look at them and I always have those moments of just remembering their faces when they were babies and it’s like, ‘Look at you, all grown up’.”

Zoe frequently offers followers glimpses into her home life through her Instagram account, which features snaps of her children, her well-known father Johnny Ball, and her late mum Julia.

However, one thing she prefers to keep private from fans is details about her love life.

In photographs shared by The Sun in June, the broadcaster was spotted clasping hands with an unknown gentleman at Glastonbury Festival.

A source revealed to the publication: “Zoe is down at Glastonbury as a punter and has brought her new boyfriend along for the ride.

“They seemed blissfully happy and were strolling along holding hands.

Zoe Ball, Norman Cook and Woody
Zoe Ball shares her two children with her ex husband Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim(Image: GETTY)

“She was really smiling at him as they walked along and he was very protective of Zoe and put his hand across her back.

“People were doing double takes at her bloke though because he looks a lot like Fatboy. It’s so great to see Zoe smiling again.”

Zoe was married to Fatboy Slim from 1999 to 2016, and according to her father Johnny, they’re now closer than ever before.

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Chatting to Boom Radio, he revealed: “They’re very good friends today. They’re divorced, but they’re better… if you like, they’re closer today than they were when they were married. And that’s a lovely thing.”

After their divorce, Zoe began dating Billy Yates, who tragically took his own life at the age of 40 in 2017.

Iran says it arrested 21,000 ‘suspects’ during 12-day war with Israel-US

By in News, World News

Iranian police arrested as many as 21,000 “suspects” during the country’s 12-day conflict with Israel and the United States in June, according to state media citing a law enforcement spokesperson.

Following massive Israeli air strikes that began on June 13, which killed top military officials and scientists as well as hundreds of civilians, Iranian security forces began a campaign of widespread arrests accompanied by an intensified street presence based around checkpoints and “public reports”. The US also carried out extensive strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during the conflict on Israel’s behalf.

Iranian citizens were called upon to report on any individuals they thought were acting suspiciously.

“There was a 41 percent increase in calls by the public, which led to the arrest of 21,000 suspects during the 12-day war,” police spokesperson Saeid Montazerolmahdi said.

He did not say what those arrested were suspected of, but Tehran has spoken before of people passing on information that may have helped direct the Israeli attacks.

Since the end of June, Iran has executed seven men convicted of spying for Israel.

Deportations of Afghans

The Israel-US-Iran conflict has also led to an accelerated rate of deportations for Afghan refugees and migrants believed to be illegally in Iran, with aid agencies reporting that local authorities have also accused some Afghan nationals of spying for Israel.

“Law enforcement rounded up 2,774 illegal migrants and discovered 30 special security cases by examining their phones. [A total] 261 suspects of espionage and 172 people accused of unauthorised filming were also arrested,” the spokesperson added.

Montazerolmahdi did not specify how many of those arrested had since been released.

Last Liverpool Goal Had Special Meaning For Jota

By in News, sport-news

Diogo Jota revealed the emotional meaning behind his last Liverpool goal in a touching interview before his death in a car crash.

Jota and his brother Andre Silva died when their Lamborghini went off the road in the accident in northern Spain on July 3.

The Portugal forward was on his way back to England to start pre-season training after helping Liverpool win the Premier League title last term.

Jota’s final goal for Liverpool was the vital winner in the Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield in April.

Speaking in an interview just weeks before his death, Jota admitted he felt proud to be able to contribute to Arne Slot’s team by scoring in such an important game.

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“It was a very tough season for me but I was always there fighting and I could help the team that day and I’m proud of what I could still do,” he said in the documentary titled “Champions 24-25: The Inside Story”.

“It’s hard to describe. That’s the feeling I look for when I play football, that’s why you put all your life and all your efforts to moments like that, moments where you can decide an important game.”

Jota, 28, spent five years with Liverpool after joining from Wolves in 2020.

He won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Anfield.

“It is something I could not even dream as a kid, I wanted to play in the Premier League but I could never imagine to win it,” Jota said in the documentary about his Liverpool success.

“Pictures that will be shown forever. It is a remarkable achievement for a small guy that came from Gondomar, where I had this dream.”

Liverpool have posthumously retired his number 20 shirt and the club have announced that Jota will be remembered with a permanent sculpture outside Anfield, while a mural of the star already adorns the wall of a building near the stadium.

PHOTOS: Tinubu Receives Soludo In Abuja

By in News, Nigeria News

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday hosted the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the duo held a closed-door meeting in the nation’s capital.

Although the details of the meeting are still sketchy, Channels Television gathered that the meeting may be connected with the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, where Soludo is seeking a second term in office.

READ ALSO: Ebonyi Station Lifts Suspension Of GM Who Allegedly Criticized Nwifuru

Soludo was seen wearing a cap bearing Tinubu’s infinity logo, a mark of endorsement for the President who may seek another term in office.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Anambra Governorship election is scheduled to be held on November 8, 2025.

See photos below:

Anambra State Governor,, Charles Soludo visits President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on August 12, 2025.
Anambra State Governor,, Charles Soludo visits President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on August 12, 2025.

Rangers withdraw request for St Mirren postponement

By in News, Sports News
SNS

Rangers have withdrawn a request to postpone their Scottish Premiership visit to St Mirren should they reach the Champions League play-off round.

Russell Martin’s side are strong favourites to progress past Viktoria Plzen as they go into Tuesday’s away leg of their third qualifying round tie with a 3-0 lead.

Rangers had indicated they might want a blank weekend between the first and second legs against either Salzburg Austria or Club Brugge, should they progress.

The match will now go ahead on Sunday, 24 August with a 12:00 BST kick-off for live television broadcast at the SMiSA Stadium.

Rangers find themselves four points behind reigning champions Celtic after opening their domestic season with two draws.

Related topics

  • St Mirren
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Rangers
  • Scottish Football
  • Football