Football Daily - Isak’s social statement & who else is on the move?

Episode Date: August 20, 2025

Pien Meulensteen is joined by former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown and BBC Senior Football Correspondent Sami Mokbel for reaction to the latest football transfer news.What was the mood at the PFA Awards as Alexander Isak took to social media last night? Can the saga rumble on for much longer? How should Newcastle United respond? The team chat about Salah, Rogers and Trafford all picking up PFA awards and how each of their futures look. For the English players, what do they now need to do to make Tuchel’s World Cup squad? We get the latest on Wissa and Garnacho’s expected transfers before the panel consider what Arsenal need to do now that it looks like Havertz might be out injured for a number of weeks. Football commentaries this week: Saturday 23rd August PREMIER LEAGUE: Brentford v Aston Villa 1500 KO, live on 5 Live. PREMIER LEAGUE: Burnley v Sunderland 1500 KO, live on Sports Extra. PREMIER LEAGUE: Arsenal v Leeds United 1730 KO, live on 5 Live. Sunday 24th August PREMIER LEAGUE: Everton v Brighton 1400 KO, live on 5 Live. PREMIER LEAGUE: Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest 1400 KO, live on Sports Extra. PREMIER LEAGUE: Fulham v Manchester United 1630 KO, live on 5 Live. Timecodes: 1:31 Isak and Newcastle United’s social media statements 3:21 How did it go down at the PFA awards? 13:57 What would Michael do as a Newcastle player in this scenario? 15:45 What does Isak do if he doesn’t get the move to Liverpool? 17:54 PFA Award winners 18:53 Mo Salah after winning the PFA award 29:41 Latest on Wissa and Garnacho 34:43 Kai Havertz injury and how that changes Arsenal’s transfer window

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So you know a great deal when you see one. That's C-A-R-G-U-R-U-S.C-A. Car gurus.cairous.com. This is the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds. Hello and welcome to the Football Daily podcast with me, P. Moonenstein. I'm joined by former Premier League midfield at Michael Brown and BBC Senior Football correspondent Sammy Mockbell. Hello to you both. First of all, we've already started on a bad note, Michael, because I heard you had the choice to either come to the studio

on my first podcast or record from home. Now tell everyone what you've decided to do. Well, it's decided, and then there's obviously things just fell in the way. And it's holiday time, isn't it? The kids come first. I've got to pick them up. I've got to run them around. I was going to make an exception and come into the studio,

which I wasn't but to come in, Pian. I was almost there. and I just ran out of time, so I couldn't do it. I did try. I promise you, I'd try. See, it was your first one. I thought I'd have to come and try, but I knew you'd be fine.

Sammy, I know you've been busy because it's transfer window. There's been lots of talk going on, especially today. Are these the days that you enjoy the most when you're this busy? Yeah, it's hard, it's hard, the phone is pinging. Do you get so many sort of bits of information

and news across your phone, all every, you know, all the other out. let's a breaking new stories and transfer stories. So it's, to be honest, I can't wait for these next 12 days or 11 days over it is to go. Right. Let's talk about what's been the big story today, because of course everyone's been talking about it, Alexander Isak. I'm going to read you both statements because of course this is where it all started last night. This is what Alexander Isak said when he dropped this bombshell

statement. I've kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn't reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors. The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. When promises are broken and trust is lost,

the relationship can't continue. That's where things are for me right now and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself. So I'll ask you in a minute about where you were when this statement came out but this is what Newcastle responded with after they saw that statement from Alexander Easek. We want to keep our best players but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. As explained to Alex and his representatives,

we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transatlantic transpired. We do not foresee those conditions being met. This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcome back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates. So Sammy you were of course at the PFA awards last night. Alexander Isak wasn't there. He was named in the PFA team of the year but he didn't feel it was the right decision to go to that. When the statement

dropped what was the reaction what happened in the room was everyone sort of on their phones yeah so it was it was around about the time my sala was given his acceptance speech to david jones and my my phone went um on silent obviously um picked it up looked at it and it was um it was a snapshot of the um a screenshot of the statement and like my jaw just dropped i was like that that's that's a pretty gobsmacking statement but then you can just see the a row of the of people next year because all the reporters and journeys are kind of in the same area of the of the of the of the of the hall and then everyone's phone starts pinging and then we're all like showing each other showing each other's phones have you seen there have you seen

statement and then yeah you start looking around the hall and then you can it slowly kind of dawns on you that everyone is seeing this like this news at exactly the same time and everyone's got the same kind of reaction um so yeah to keep the riff around all together, didn't they? All the riffraff in one position so they can control, that no one causes any problems. We could see you, mate. We could see where you were.

There was like a ring around you. Go on. And what happened then, mate? And then it kind of just dawns on you. It just dawns on you the gravitas and the size of what has just happened. It was, to me, this is one almighty throw of the dice by a man. by a man who is absolutely desperate to get out from the club that he's currently at in Newcastle and join the club.

You know, he has had designs on joining all summer Liverpool. He hasn't had his way yet. I feel like he feels like he's got to do something more to force the issue. And I think this was, I think this was it. And yeah, and then obviously the counter response then from Newcastle arrived and I think the key thing out of the Newcastle statement was it didn't at all say that Alexander Isak isn't for sale

it doesn't say that what it says is no one yet has met the conditions that would then see them sell Alexander Isak now that is the danger isn't it? Yeah, that's the danger though when there's not that message but whoever says when they say they're not for sale what is that because everybody's got a price haven't they? Yeah, they do.

We've got to understand at some level and which club can come your way. That is the point. This is probably about 13 years ago, Brownie. But when I think in the first instance, when Barcelona were tracking Philippe Catea, who was at Liverpool at that stage, I remember Liverpool put out a statement saying Philippe Cotinio would not be going anywhere in that transfer window. And it was absolutely unequivocal when he stayed. The Newcastle statement last night wasn't unequivocal.

It was, you know, we still need to get two strikers over the line and then you've still got to meet our threshold for finances. If you do that, potentially we could consider it. That's how I read that statement. Where do you see it all, Michael? Because when you see a statement like that and then obviously the club responds to it, is there a way back for Alexander Isak if he has to stay at Newcastle? Will he be able to go and play with those players again?

We've seen these situations come along every now and then. When it's the biggest player, the biggest transfer story of the summer, then it gets the most traction for obvious reasons. I think when we've seen it develop before, we've realised that there might be a little bit of an agreement to say, well, okay, if it reaches this amount of money, can I go? If it's a big club, would you stand in my way? And they say, oh, surely we wouldn't, if you were to make is this much money.

That might have been the loose conversation that he is maybe insinuating. We don't know. But obviously clearly now that there's nothing in writing for that to happen or Newcastle wouldn't have come out with that statement. I think we would have seen more facts. I think what I look at is from a football club's point of view is a wonderful player. Is it exceptionally well? They're trying to take that next step now to get into the Champions League to be there every single season, to challenge at the top of the table. And then somebody like him is what you need.

But when it comes along, you can go and join a club like Liverpool who are winning trophies. financial rewards are going to be extremely strong to go in another side, which obviously looks like they could go and do that again. He probably feels it's worthwhile at a hundred and odd million that's a fair deal and they shouldn't stand in his way. I think the point what you can't do, and I think we look at other players, I think we've seen a Harry Kane lead by example at times when he could have left the football club and he stayed quiet, he's gotten with his job and kept that work ethic.

It's made untenable now regards to the Newcastle United fans for him to go back. I think it's a football club. if they don't reach the agreement, he sits, he said he was refusing to play, so he shouldn't get paid. And I think they should make a firm stance of it and wait and see how that goes and make sure that Newcastle United will never be bullied, will never be put into that corner,

and a player might have to wait, and Liverpool might have to increase that bid. That's the way it is, and I feel like he should have just kept it quiet, but if he doesn't want to play, then he's got a big problem. So, Michael, you're firmly on the side of the frustrations with the Newcastle fans, because they are frustrated, aren't they, with this whole situation?

It feels like it's been going on for a long time. Yeah, well, the fans are frustrated because they don't obviously always see what the players, seeing, the things that are on the training ground. They just see as a player plays for their football club, which they give everything to do so. It's financially rewarded, but also that's the thing they can't get their head around that they would want to leave and go and play for somebody else when it's not right. That's where it gets a little bit messy.

But if you asked any supporter, he's got a much greater contract to go and play for or go and work in a different environment for somebody else, then most people will take. We've had the conversation so many times about the Saudi Pro League when people have gone over there. Why would you do it? And it's difficult to turn these situations down. I've been there and you take the rewards or you take a greater club. And that's normal. But the problem with his side is saying he doesn't want to play. He's not going to play.

And now I think Newcastle should really dig in unless that money. increases. Sammy, something to pick up on that statement that Alexander Isak put out and he was talking about promises. What are those promises? And do we know who has given him these promises? The point I need to stress, which I didn't stress in the last answer, is that my information is that certain Premier League clubs have known about Alexander Isak's desire to leave this summer pre-Christmas. So we're looking at like eight months, nine months ago. So this isn't a new thing. This isn't something that Isak has thought of over the space of a couple of months.

It's been a long-term thought for him, and it's been a long-term ambition for him to leave this summer. In terms of the broken promises, Brownie alluded to it there. We're never in the room. We're not in the room, so we can't categorically tell you what those promises were because there are two sides to every story. But from our understanding, it is, from Alexander, Isaac's point of view, Newcastle would let him go in this transfer window

if an elite club, if a top club came in for him and the financial conditions were right for Newcastle. Now, Alexander Rissack will see the £110 million offer that's gone in and think that is an unbelievable amount of money and will believe in his mind whether that's right or not that that does meet the conditions of those conversations. $110 million is a lot of money and Liverpool are atop

and an elite club so in his mind he should be allowed to go That's the one isn't it Because what he's also saying is Look at the return I've got you Look how many goals Look I've put you into the Champions League So I've also played my part

In a heavy way Now please can you respect my wishes Last season there will have been interest in him What Newcastle would have said is Listen give it a goal We're in the Champions League We want to try and progress a little bit more. We're really building the right football club, stay with us for a little bit longer.

And this is where it now becomes a problem. But ultimately, the values are apart. I think that's the point here, isn't it? I think, you know, that's where it is. Now, the pressure has been put onto the player because Liverpool and Newcastle can't agree with the financials. And now the player's trying to force Newcastle to take that level of money. And Newcastle are saying, no. And it's where the Liverpool come back with a touch more. And the fixture is not helping. That's just around the corner. I think that's the other point. Do you think they're going to wait

until after that game's being played? It's just written in the stars, isn't it? That Newcastle of Liverpool are literally playing each other in their next game. Do you think we're going to only really find anything out after that? I don't envisage anything.

Nothing can happen. It cannot happen before the game. Is it Monday, the game? Yeah. Yeah. Nothing will happen before then. But I'd be flabbergasted if Liverpool don't make some sort of approach

next week for Alexander Isack. because they may not... Do you think they'll try and find some middle ground? Do you try and find something as a little bit more... In my mind, right? He's definitely got Liverpool's 100% support. That is for sure. Exactly.

And we know the situation that is in. There is no way... There is no way Liverpool, in my mind, didn't know that that was going to happen last night. So having done what he did last night, Alexander Isak, I now can't see any... any other outcome but Liverpool making another offer or some sort of approach for him next week.

Whether that's successful or not will depend on the level of the level of money they're prepared to put into the pot. I'll tell you what's the next question. What they say is, if you're that desperate to go to Liverpool, are you going to commit financially as well? And that's when the player goes, oh, right, okay, so I might have to reduce what I may be getting

to make this deal go through. Well, yeah, exactly. But if Liverpool have to continue up in their offer, then there's only a certain amount, you're absolutely right, but there's only a certain amount of money to go around, right? So the more that Liverpool put into the transfer fee,

the less you'd imagine Liverpool will be able to pay Alexander Isak at Anfield. So there's certainly a catcher in a two situation there. Michael, if you're playing for Newcastle right now, how are you feeling? Yeah, if you're in that midfield area and you're looking for at the top of the pitch and you've got a striker like him

and what's for straight and you start the season and he's in the building, And he's not even at training. I think that's the point where I'm saying before, when I made that out is the first thing you should always do is be fully behind everything that the teammate to do. And I think that's only an honorable and right thing to do to and give that support.

And I do get it and I understand it sometimes when it comes to game days where you start going, well, if I get injured here, then I could miss this dream move. That's the danger that happens. But we get that all the time in football. People say you've got to deal with it. But it is in your mind.

it is there but regards to respect to everybody as we talked about the PFA awards that's voted by your peers how much everybody respects him how much they like him I think the dressing room will be disappointed at this moment and time

in these first couple of games that the whole thing's all about him rather than the success or the drive that they're starting at the start of the season how hard they've worked and it's not necessarily helping the recruitment side of it

that's been a little bit of a mess in it regards to behind the scenes at Newcastle and Eddie Howers obviously got great experience they want to see bodies coming in if you're looking and going right well where are we only two or three then am i looking over my shoulder am i thinking well we're not going to be the team that's that's going to be in that top four top five situation no we're not going to be able to be successful um so yeah i'd be trying to get hold of my teammate i be trying to get him in but this is it's gone too far now where this is a real mess newcastle

i've said he'd be welcome at any point i think that's also dangerous i don't think that's the right I'd be saying, well, you can stay where you are if that's your opinion, and we'll sort it out at some point. He shouldn't just walk straight back into it, I don't think. So Michael doesn't think that he could come back into the club, Sammy. If this move doesn't work for Alexander Isak

and he stays at Newcastle, what does his future look like? That will be the million dollar question. I personally cannot envisage a scenario where Alexander Isak sits out an entire season. One, because that just sounds up

absolutely ludicrous to me for someone who is in the prime of his career to throw away a season because he didn't get his his dream move. At the end of the day, you're a professional footballer. Okay, your wishes haven't come true and you've not, you know, you've not managed to get to get that, you know, to get that dream move that you wanted, but you still got to go out and do your job and perform. Secondly, on top of that, what reinforces the point is that it's a World Cup year and there is a big carrot there for Alexander Risak, a player who of his quality and his profile is built for that stage, for the World Cup stage and if he can go to America next year and perform and score the goals and play like the way we know he can, you know,

he will transcend and he will become a global superstar if he isn't already. I just don't think of a footballer in the prime of his career with that opportunity to look forward to, he's just going to throw that away. I just can't see that. Get closer to the action with live commentary from the world's greatest sporting events on BBC Sounds.

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Drop shots, winner! On Five Sports Extra, Sports Extra 2 and Sport Extra 3. Listen, only on BBC Sounds. You're listening to the Football Daily podcast from Five Life Sports. We spoke there about the PFA Awards. You were both in attendance. Michael, of course, there's lots of ex-players that go. How did you get an invite?

Oh, wow. How did you get an invite? That was a real question. Invited to all their night and to be there. So it was very nice evening. I took my son. Did you? Yeah, who's 15.

So it was a great experience for him to see the attendants. And by the way, a lot of the people backed it. There were some superstar players for obvious reasons. We don't always get to see so many. I think it was well attended by former players, former managers, CEOs. And it was great to see everybody. I think it was a really good night. it went really well. I think the format now, how it is, is much more balanced.

And it's just great to see and listen to some of the interviews. Some were good and some weren't very good. That's for certain. Well, Mo Salah became the first player to have won it three times. We can hear what he had to say after collecting the trophy. Honestly, I think I found always the way to feel hungry and just need more. This isn't like we have a new player. We also need to give them your experience. try to help them also to grow as part of playing football or being a footballer. So, yeah, it's always the hunger that makes me really want more.

You're climbing up the Premier League all-time record list. You're taking home another trophy today. What's next? What more does Mo Salah want from football? I'm still very hungry. That's why I signed for Liverpool another two years. It's great to play in the Premier League in such a that level. And, you know, it's also like with my age, 30 years.

you feel that you can give more and you can really make the different always in each game. So something like, make me proud also for myself because I work really hard for that. Yeah, that was Mo Salah after winning the PFA Player of the Year award, speaking to Liam McDevitt. 33 years old, still very much at the top of his game. He scored 29 goals, 18 assists in the Premier League last season. Interestingly, as well, Sammy, he says he's still able to offer more the older he gets. Can that really be the case?

Well, whatever, if that is the case, I want a slice of what he's having because I feel like I'm getting older by the second. But look, sport science is, and the advancements in sport science is certainly helping modern day footballers eat every last ounce of their careers. And if they take it seriously and some take it more seriously than others, shall we say, then the help and the expertise, tease is there for players to extend their careers, probably much longer than their predecessors. And you only need to look at the shape that, you know, Mo Sal is in to recognise that he's nowhere near towards the end of his career there. He's still in peak physical condition. And the thing now with these Monday footballers, yeah, they get their break time during preseason. But they're constantly training. They're constantly ticking their bodies over.

and they don't allow themselves to return from pre-season, even remotely or slightly overweight. They're raring to go and ready to go, and it seems that they get better and better every year. Another player that astonishes me with regards to that, and it's well-documented, is obviously, Cristiano Ronaldo, is the way he's discipline knows no bounds, and he's certainly benefited from saying no a lot of the time,

during it's not easy that is it it's not easy I'll tell you you know better than me it's not do you know what them two them two being absolutely incredible regards to setting examples for that

and I think that's why the length of contract for Mo Salah because they're looking at him as a football club and saying all his stats ridiculous body condition body of like a 24 year old

do you know of where he's at and how he goes about it how his prep is every single how do you do it every day to that level when he's got everything he wants and he's won everything and these are lots of the special people

it's no secret it's desire, it's hunger, it's preparation and he's a worthy winner and it just keeps performing some great winners when the team of the year came up peeing and you're looking along the line it was a shame we didn't see Alexander Isak

Arsenal, some great coverage what they contributed we look at Nottingham Forest cells and wood I thought that was really nice for them to stand there at the front Virgil Van Bergspot well Declan Rice did So, yeah, I think it was a real positive evening.

Another one of the awards was won by Morgan Rogers. He took home the young PFA player of the year. Winning that award, though, of course, he does follow in the footsteps of Stephen Gerard, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale. He mentioned as well that later down the line that he wants to be looked at as one of those incredible players that people speak so highly about

and he wants to follow in their footsteps. Do you think, Michael, he's got the ability to do that? He's got the ability. I think his journey and the rise that's happened so quick. It was actually Michael Carrick, who had him at Middlesbrough. I was obviously there to present him with the trophy. And you can see Michael was quite proud of what he'd been part of and what he felt like, how he progressed. And I just think you've seen how he goes past people.

He can do things that's so different. He's had to be patient. He's had the up and down that we talk about certain players have to deal with psychologically. And then he's just come, he's come like a train. And what was really nice is he said, oh, we've got the World Cup coming. And he said, you know what? I just need to concentrate and play as well as I can. It was a right answer.

But he realises as well the competition in and around him. But he's going in the best direction. I think he's had a great football upbringing, which is give him different sides of the game. When you talk about going on loans and seeing different sides, I think that will help him. But, yeah, it was a joy to see. He had a brilliant season. He's getting better and better. Yeah, Sammy, what do you make of Morgan Rogers winning that?

award? Yeah, I think he's a really talented player. It's a shame this season that Aston Villarant in the Champions League was it would give him more of a platform, I guess, to perform on the bigger stage and the highest stage and perform against the very best opposition. But he's already a full England international. I was looking at the list yesterday of players who were nominated for that category. And I thought he was a really deserving win I think maybe the only one

that made of push him close was Miles Lewis Skelly who had obviously was very good last season

for Arsenal and his breakthrough season but Morgan Rogers is a player that makes things happen

and as I understand it there are there are a lot of top Premier League clubs who are at the

very least watching him on a regular basis I don't think it would be possible to maybe get him

out this year because I think Villa fans and Unai him would riot if he was to leave

but yeah he's not a promising player anymore, he's the present, he's in here and now. And if he continues to perform, I expect him to go to the World Cup and fulfil that dream of going to America and who knows, you know, injuries

or how he performs, who knows, it could be in a starting 11. Okay, final one to talk about, Michael, I know you were really passionate to speak about James Trafford. He won the championship player of the year. We've got to. Come on, Finn. We've got to. He, of course, kept 29. Another one from Manchester City,

we can talk about, you know, Morgan Rogers, you talk about James Traff Go on, carry on because they've got something to tell you. Right, okay. He got 29 clean sheets, only letting 16 goals, of course, while playing for Burnley last season, became the first goalkeeper to win the award. Take it away, Michael, what do you want to say?

Well, firstly, that Burnley defence was incredible. To him to win it as a goalkeeper, we don't often see that. He was in attendance. He's gone on to Manchester City, managed to get that buyback and move. And then I watched him last week at Wolves. It was a very promising display, quite vocal. Organising the defence got his clean sheet couple of nice routine saves and all of a sudden he's in with the grasp of being Manchester City's

Number one. There's a bit of talk around Edison. Let's see what happens there But he gets up. He does his interview and now we've found a weakness in his game being He doesn't interview well. I don't know whether he's trying to be calm. I don't know whether he's trying to be that one is I'm not really bothered It was like yeah, okay. Yeah, the back four did all right. Yeah, players and he just head down looking away and the next question is a bit more awkward. But that might come. That might develop. The media teams from Manchester City for Burnley found it quite amusing.

I don't know if he's really bothered or whether he cares. But if he's going to be, Sammy, if he's going to be the number one, if he's going to be England and he's going to be here there and everywhere, we've got to get him out there. We've got to get him out. Just give us quotes. Give us good quotes. We've got to give him something.

But you know what? He was mingling around with all his former Burnley teammates, very humble, speaking to everybody a real talent to Michael down to earth and his two big trophies that I've walked around with her

in the after party is a joy so he's one to watch isn't he Sammy do you think he is going to be a regular starter for Manchester City

there is still talk of course Michael just mentioned about Edison still up in the air about that but also interest is there still with Donoruma

the Donorama thing is rumbling away I just have my doubts about Donorama purely on the basis and this is not based on information as to whether I think the deal is going to happen or not.

But I'll just look at Donorama, and as good as a goalkeeper he is, as in the nuts and bolts of a goalkeeper, your shot stopping, you know, your crosses, that kind of thing. He's not particularly renowned for being good on the ball and being good in possession. And what we do know about Pep Guadiole's teams and their goalkeepers,

the way that they play requires the goalkeeper to be good with his feet. And from what I've seen for Donoroma, that's not really your strength. So it will be interesting to see if that is a live one moving forward for city. I think there is a degree of interest, for sure, but whether that city look to push that on. Breaking news, what he's trying to tell you is it's not happening.

It's not happening. Breaking news. You know what happened after the show? Oh, breaking news, yellow ticker. Man City sign Jan Luigi Donorama. But back to James Shafford. He is a goalkeeper. who is adeptive of his feet

and I just wonder if he can get a run and he can play regularly for City this season Brownie might disagree but I wonder if he pushes Jordan Pickford all the way for a place in the

not just in the squad but to start at the World Cup because I think Tushul is looking for a keeper who you can play out from the back Jordan Pickford potentially isn't isn't the best his long part

but that's not his true that's not his ultimate strength is it Jordan's? Jordan no But you know what he has done, he's become very reliable in it for England, in competitions, great experiences, never let us down. So someone's going to have to push really hard to jump over the top. But Thomas Tuchel was in attendance. He's watching all the development, obviously, last night, and he's watching these players come.

But yeah, it's all about form. And I don't think he's afraid to make a decision, is he? You know, if he feels like it's the form goalkeeper coming towards the end of the season and playing in a team. So I think what's going to be important for a James Trafford or for another that your team's going to have to really do well. You're going to have to be consistent in that performances as well to push Pickford. I do feel that.

But it's possible. And we want competition, don't we? I think that's what we want if we're going to try and be successful. Let's continue the conversation about transfers because this summer's window looks set to break the record for the most spending by Premier League clubs. The total spend already surpassed £2.2 billion pounds with the record that was set in 2020.

standing at £2.36 billion pounds. That's with two more weeks of transfers still to come. So you're going to be busy, Sammy. I'm sure you are. Let's have a look at some of the players that are likely to contribute to that figure rising. Starting with Yoan Wissa, Sammy. What's the latest on that?

So Newcastle have reopened talks today with Brentford over a deal worth in the region of £40 million for Yon Visser. Our understanding at the moment is that deal isn't enough and that is under Brentford's valuation and that deal has been or will be rejected so it's now up to Newcastle

to decide whether they want to go back into Brentford with an improved off or a walk away from that deal that obviously then had a knock-on effect as we know as we've discussed about Alexander Isack and Liverpool because Newcastle want two strikers in before they can even consider less in Alexander Isak go Fisser is one that they thought they could do

relatively easily. It's proving painstaking in it. It hasn't happened yet. So if Newcastle decide they walk away from that deal, then one, VISA will be very, very upset because he's desperate for that move. Two, you wonder what implications that has then on Liverpool and ISAC. His asking price has risen as well, hasn't it? It was initially valued at 40 million. Now Brentford is saying 60 million. What makes them warrant that? It's a very good question. And you're right, it has gone up because the deal that they've rejected today is worth 40 million

so it's abundantly clear that it may not have gone up up to 60 but that's what they're looking at and they may get something in between like a 45 or a 50 that's what they're hoping. Does it warrant it? For his age it seems like a tall order to me

particularly for a player who's got a year left on his contract granted Brentford have got an option on that and a further 12 month option but did he score 19 goals last season? I tell you what it tells you is Brentford are in all sorts of uncertainty. They don't want to let any more players leave.

They realise replacement's going to be difficult. Psychological effects on the whole squad. That's almost going, well, we have to put it at this silly, much high evaluation because what do we do? That could be the difference. You can't always just go and replace. though they've got Keith Andrews, great coach, really like him. He's got his work out because of the players that are left in the building.

At some point, they're going to have to say no or get some quick reinforcements to be able to help him out to give him a chance or things in a new remit could change for them. That's sometimes why we see an increased valuation. Let's move it on to Chelsea's push for Garnacho, Sammy. Anything on that? What we do know, what I do know is Alejandro Garnacho can leave Manchester United for a fee.

United would like around £50 million for him Alejandro Garnatcho wants to join Chelsea that's his priority that's where he's got his heart set on the move to London so those at the moment those machinations and those discussions

are ongoing in the background with a view to agreeing a deal ahead of the transfer deadline if I was a betting man to me that deal has legs because I think it suits all parties for him to go to Chelsea would certainly use a suit United who want to get him

off the books and as we know Chelsea are stockpiling or have stockpiles wingers and yeah they've been in talks with Javi Simmons at RB Leipzig and now obviously now trying to get Garnacho as well so but yeah Garnacho to Chelsea is one that I can see happening for sure Michael do you think Garnacho starts in that Chelsea team well who does I think the night you said about the players how you juggle it as a manager with looking around We cover them pre-season of what they started to do. You had success in the Club World Cup. And the array of talent, that's for certain.

I think what interests me is in the areas that they keep recruiting, I feel like they're not necessarily sorting the ones out that I needed. And I feel like at some point, yeah, you're going to say, well, okay, can actually, if it's 50 million, we can see them being worth 75, 80 million down the line when we're developing, when we play, and there's a profit in that. But I feel like as a manager and as a football club and fans, you'd sort of go, well, is it not a another area that we're better off doing for the brighter future right now?

I mean, we understand it because he's got all the talent in the world. But like you said, it's hard to do that if you're not going to play week in, week out. And there's so much competition. Are you playing 65 minutes you're coming off because someone else is fresh? And that's the problem Chelsea have. Another bit of news that came out today, Sammy, about Kai Havert's, Currently being assessed over a knee injury, another big blow for him and for Arsenal. Yeah, it is a big blow.

He's got a niggle in his knee and it's something that he's concerned about. Arsenal are obviously concerned about. From my understanding, he's going to see a specialist or has seen a specialist. And I am now waiting for news on the severity of the results of those tests and the scans. but I am absolutely assured and that he is not a case of a matter of days here or even a couple of weeks we're looking at we're looking at a longer term

at least a month I think he'll be out for maybe longer which is a massive blow for Arsenal and it may lend itself to them pivoting with regards to what they look for between now and the end of the end of the transfer window we know they were looking for a left winger

I wonder now if they looked to supplement what they've really got in at centre forward because of Kaua Havert's injury. Sammy knows that because he was chasing Michel Artetta all around the arena last night I was like to follow him all right it's like, hey, where is he? Come here, I need to know what's happening to Haverz

he's like, well come here and finally get on it. It's like, ah how can use my contact at the start? Yeah, get him. I need a bit of info. What are you doing here? That old one. But listen, Michael, first, for Kai Havert's, he obviously came, only came back from a pretty long injury

middle of May, missed quite a few games. That must be for a player to have to go through another injury. I mean, like Sammy say, we're still figuring out how long it's going to be. But regardless for him to have another injury, that will just be really disappointing for him. Of course it will. I think you look at the competition, you look at how much he wants to be involved, how much Michel Artetta has trusted in him. I think when he comes to the football club, people were wondering what time.

a role, will he play, will he contribute, will he make them better? And I think he certainly has done that, so it will be another blow. It'll be another interesting one. I do feel like for however close Arsenal get, you don't fully feel have got massive reinforcements and certain players when we've seen soccer last year that affected them in such a big way. If you're to lose a Declan Rice, they just need a couple more. I think they're growing. I'm still, I still be really disappointed at the criticism.

that Michel Arteta gets for finish second. And I understand it's all about trophies, all about a delivery. But we look at a Pep Guardiola or a Liverpool under Juergen Klopp. They've had many more years at this. It will have to come to a point where he has to deliver a trophy as a title, I get it and understand it. But yeah, another blow to him right at the wrong time of the season.

So we wish him well, and hopefully it's only a short-term one. All right, guys, thank you very much. That's about all we've got time for. On the Football Daily podcast, thanks to Michael Brown and Sammy Mockbell for joining me. You can come back to the Football Daily Feed tomorrow for the return of Euro League. Steve Crosman is joined by Julian Laurent, James Horncastle and Raffer Horningstein. Thank you very much for listening. He scored goals, lifted trophies and broken records along the way.

There it is. It's a day to remember the Wain Rooney. And now he's got a podcast. Welcome to the Wayne Rooney show. Twice a week, Wayne Rooney, Kay Curd and me, Kelly Somers, break down the biggest stories in the Premier League and beyond. As much as you'd like to say it, loyalty in football now is no existence, whether that's from players or managers. Plus, we'll hear the funniest, wildest and most outrageous stories from Wayne's career.

The Wayne Rooney show. Everybody's talking about it. Listen on BBC Sounds.