Football Daily - Liverpool's summer, Carlos Baleba & the Community Shield

Episode Date: August 8, 2025

Maz Farookhi presents a preview of the Community Shield & assesses Liverpool's summer. Don Hutchinson, Glenn Murray & Miguel Delaney join Maz ahead of the Premier League season.The team discuss Newcastle's ongoing transfer woes, Manchester United's business thus far, including their interest in Brighton's Carlos Baleba, and the lack of activity at Crystal Palace.Timecodes: 01:30 Best & worst transfer windows 05:00 Liverpool's shrewd business 06:50 Newcastle's transfer woes 18:45 Who could challenge Liverpool for the title? 24:10 Oliver Glasner pre-Community Shield 25:00 Crystal Palace's lack of activity 34:45 Man Utd's interest in Carlos BalebaUpcoming 5 Live Commentaries: Sun 1500 Crystal Palace v Liverpool for the Community Shield, Wed 2000 PSG v Tottenham for the UEFA Super Cup.

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Hello and welcome to the Football Daily podcast with me, Mas Farooke. Coming up, we'll look ahead to the Community Shield at Wembley this weekend between the Premier League Champions Liverpool and the FA Cup winner's Crystal Palace. We'll also get the latest on Newcastle's stuttering transfer window and take a closer look at Brighton Summer Business. With me at the former Liverpool, Everton, and Newcastle midfielder Don Hutchinson, a Palace in Brighton striker Glenn Murray

and Chief Football Writer at the Independent Miguel Delaney. Hello, gents. How are you, Maz? Good, thank you. Good thank you. Are we excited for the new season then next weekend? I am. I think it's fair to say, Mas. My summer was pretty chock. I was over in America doing the Club World Cup.

Then I spent a week over an island at Port Rush watching the golf. And then I went glamping last week. So, yeah, I can't wait to get back. Glenn? Can't really respond to that, can you? I know. I can't compete with Don's answer there. It sounds like that is a Carlsberg summer break, Don. Well, there was kids involved, so there was plenty Carlsberg for sure.

I think we're going to talk about it quite a lot over the next few minutes. But when we look at the Premier League clubs and activity or less activity in this summer transfer window, who do we think it's had the best summer and who do we think's had the worst? I think Liverpool. Yeah, Liverpool is the best, aren't it? I mean, I'm speaking to a few. executives, other clubs, I think there's even an element of surprise

because, I mean, they expected Liverpool to build from a position of strength, but it's sort of the level they've gone to, they've not just kind of improved the champions or the title squad. They've bought game-changing players, well, especially one so far in Florian Works and potentially a second

in Alexander Isaac. And I suppose, I think it's all the more relevant, and we'll probably get on to this in the context, say, of the title race and maybe Arsenal, because it has felt like to the two years that Arsenal were the club that were on the brink of maybe getting that final game-changing signing

to propel them to the title. Liverpool stole ahead of them last year and to be fair, there were all sorts of other variables and now, I mean, Arsenal have done decent business they've solved areas they need it in their squad, but it still doesn't feel to the level of Liverpool's business. Yeah, Glenn, do you agree? Because this is

something Miguel and I and our other guests last week were talking about that Arsenal now appear to have strength and depth in every position, but still it seems like Liverpool perhaps have had the strongest summer. Yeah, I agree with the guys. I think Liverpool have been really clever, strengthened

that position of power, good awareness of what they needed. I like their business in their fullback areas, especially. It's going to add a lot of athleticism to their squad and I really can't see past them. And as for the worst, I mean, it's really difficult to see, isn't it?

Because there's a lot of transfers still to be made. But one club that I think has had a good window is Manchester United as far as recent transfer windows goals for that football club

I feel there's been some positive signings given as well obviously they haven't got European football to offer as well done absolutely I mean I watched Antonio Conte's Napoli last season

in Seria rummed to a title because they had no European football so it can be a massive help I think from what I've heard behind the scenes talking to one or two guys that are quite close to the inner sanctums of Man United they feel as though

from an internal point of view, they looked at Liverpool and they've looked at Man City and they're starting to think that way. So what they were thinking when they made the signings that were quite rash and the likes of Xerxes and Hoyland, they were future and good

young players with potential and many others, Dorgo and other. But I think what they've done, they've looked at Liverpool and thought, how many signs have Liverpool made that they're going to be around for a long time? Loads of them. Allison, you know, Andy Robertson,

you can go anywhere. Virgil Van Dundel. Like, the list is pretty endless. And Man City are the same with the likes of Rodry and many others. And Man United now have looked at Liverpool and Man City and thought, that's the way we've got to go. So they've got assigned players now that are going to be at the football club for a long time. So Bruno Fernandez keeping him's a massive plus. Then you add Ambuomo who hit 20 goals last season.

Cunia is going to be very interesting to watch because he plays lots of motion. You'll see a red card in him. I don't mind that. You know, I never like to see or anyone try to knock a player like Coonier or Wayne Rooney when they got loads of red cards as long as they didn't detract away from their performance levels and now Benjamin Sheshko. I mean he's raw he's not the finished article. It's a lot of money for

close to 75 million on a 22 year old that's got potential but Rasmus Hoyland had that potential as well so hope Man United fans can be a little bit patient with Sheshko if he doesn't hit the ground running but I agree with Glenn I think they've had a good window but Liverpool have done something that FSG have not done for an awful long time I mean, Liverpool won the title last year was spending just £10 million on Federico Kieza.

So that was just remarkable. Now they're just playing fantasy football because in a weird way, they don't even need Alexander Isak because Ekatik is that player. So yes, they're going to raise the bar. And if they get Alexander Isak, you just go, my word, they are pushing the boundaries to a whole new level.

The other thing about Liverpool, and they've done this at a couple of windows, really, is that they got their business and maybe Isak is added to it later on this window. see and we'll talk about it more in a moment. But they've done their business nice and early in the window. It seems very organised and in a sense, actually, Manchester United, as Glenn was saying there, having a good window, getting your business done nice and early, getting your house

in order before sort of the last minute deals. That is the way to go and Liverpool are leading the way in that. Yeah, and it's all the more important, actually, I think, in, look, we talk about this all the time now, modern football. It's a very systemised game now with managers who, a bit of debate over whether now too many are too idealistic, but even still everyone has systems they play and it's all the more important for every single

member of that squad to be properly drilled in that system. In fact, we've already seen an example of an issue of the other way this summer would say Jacarez's debut for Arsenal is game so far where through no fault of his own, other than maybe the amount of time it took to get to deal

done with sporting, he's clearly not drilled in Artetta system. And so, I mean, one of the things that stood out when I was watching Arsenal is obviously that players like Odegaard will need to get the ball to him much more quickly than they're used to because that's just the way he plays. That's something he's going to have to come up to speed with it. And that is the benefit of what Liverpool and Manchester United,

and Citi, to be fair, I suppose, given they've done a lot of their business early. In terms of the worst, I mean, I was just thinking there, as you said it, and it's all the more relevant to this issue of kind of drilling players early. I mean, you can't look beyond Newcastle. And the weird thing there is, I mean, I was talking to someone who was connected to the club last night. and they were saying if he stood back and it was taken

on its own terms a window where as yet they haven't actually lost a player although let's see what happens with Isaac obviously

they've made one or two additions they will eventually get two forwards visa being one of them maybe one more

but given that he won the trophy in March which kind of released the club then qualifying of the Champions League emboldened them

and obviously the expectation from that was that this would kind of consolidate the squad they wouldn't have to sell, it would maybe push him onto another level. And given the amount of players they've missed out on,

that's what's created this negative mood. I mean, as it stands, the squad, I mean, it's the squad that got them into the Champions League, but obviously it's just been surrounded by negativity and a failure to push on. It's funny that you say that, Miguel. I go back probably three or four weeks, being a Newcastle fan myself,

and I was unbelievably optimistic at where Newcastle could go this season because there was no talk of Alexander Isak going. They put a record bid in for, Eckertique and I'm thinking in my humble opinion they've got the best midfield in the contrary I mean Liverpool fans might argue that's a great debate but I think Newcastle's

midfield complement each other all three of them then on top of the Langer and Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes and all the competition for places I thought this is Newcastle kicking on this with Eckateke and Alexander Isak this to me feels like a team in a club now that could challenge the top three and all of a sudden you fast forward a couple of weeks Eckertique moves on

to Liverpool brilliant signing for them and then all of a sudden now Liverpool coming in for their Starman and there's rumours about Tanali go into Yuva and swap the in for Vlaevich so it's incredible how flat the window's been and they are desperately needing strikers

they're desperately needing top quality players to try to keep into that top four Don, do you think there's been a slight breakdown in communication at the club? Because I feel as though if they'd sat down with Isaac at the start of the summer and he made them aware that he wanted to leave the football club, then they might have not

missed out on the likes of Ekatiki and also I suppose when when you boom out and you look at the Premier League in general, it's just a really unfortunate window for Newcastle to want a nine because the likes of Chelsea who are probably a slightly bigger draw, so you've got Chelsea

United Arsenal, all wanting nines as well. So it's just unfortunate, isn't it? It is, mate. It's a compliment in a way, if you look at it from a half glass point of view. It's a compliment that Newcastle are shopping in the same windows, the likes of Liverpool and Man United because we're not

a mid-table club that are trying to sign, you know, sort of bargain players for cheap money and hoping that that can sort of reach the top sort of six or seven in European football. Newcastle are trying to kick on to being established. I know it's, you know, they missed out in Champions League football last year, but they had it the season before. And PSG, this PSG team, have been lauded for being the best team in the country in Europe and rightly so because they are. But Newcastle fans had the best time of their life when they demolished them four or five up in St. Jameses. Now, they're giving them a real good hiding. So Newcastle, I feel as though are trying to kick on. So you're

right, they've missed out on Emburmo, they've missed out on Ike, they've missed out on Cessco. So I think Miguel's right, they're probably going to try and sign two strikers. From what I'm hearing up in the north-east, they're not going to be happy with one striker going to allow Isaac to go. They're going to want two. So you would have thought a 25 million Yuan Wissa will be that man. And then it's where else they go. I mean, if the communication levels were there, they should have signed Victor Osman, who then went to Galatasarite. That's the player they should have had their eye on. So maybe it's someone a bit left-field like Olly Watkins, but they're going to have to sign

top quality players to try and keep them in the top four. I mean, Newcastle are playing a friendly tonight at St James's Park against Espaniel. There's no Alexander Isak at all involved in the match day squad. I mean, what is next for him? Because it feels, does it feel, Don, that

kind of the relationship with Newcastle has broken down so much, there is no way back? Is Liverpool now back on the table a week ago? It wasn't after their initial bid. No, I think Eddie Howe's playing a good hand. think he's playing the manager hand where he's saying, you know, you walked away from the training camp, you come back home, you were missing for, you know, four or five days, you can't just

waltz straight back into first team training. You know, me and Glenn have probably been in that situation before, or we know how players act. And if me and Glenn were both at Newcastle, and we'd been away running the hard yards in preseason, Alexander Isak was away, and I use this phrase very loosely, but down tools for a few days, because his head was turned. And then we go back to the training camp in Newcastle, the training ground, and Isak walked straight back into our training regime and all the drills and the tactics, we'd be like, hang on a minute,

like, what's you doing now? So I think Eddie Howes played a really good and strong hand by saying, listen, you've got to earn the right and you've got to earn the respect of your teammates to come back in. And also you've got to show the right character to want to come back in because the Premier League starts in a week's time.

You know, we can try and get you up to a speed as quick as possible. So I think it's all open. I think the chances of Alexander Isak going and staying off 50-50 because if Liverpool don't come in with 140 million pounds and Newcastle don't get two strikers, he ain't going. And he's got three years left on his contract. So it's very delicate. And on that as well, what's he going to do?

Sit in the bench for a year? I mean, we know that's not going to happen. It's not realistic for him either. But just on that point, Don, this is a question, I suppose, for the two former players, Glenn and Don. When a player does that, would you see, say you're in a squad when that happens,

would you see it as almost a referendum on yourself like him kind of giving his opinion on the squad and the players or do you see it as almost kind of like well he's a professional, he has to fulfil his career or is it a bit of both even? I think it's a kick in the teeth to go. Miguel, you've asked two generations here. I think it's a kick in the teeth though.

I think if you're Anthony Gordon who was trying to be prized away from Liverpool and he stayed, I think it's a little bit of a kick in the teeth to suggest that, oh, okay, you've got an ego, the top man you want to leave and we're all doing the training behind the scenes because we're going to get ourselves ready. But then again, you know, when he walks through that door into the first day of training, I guarantee you, the players will be absolutely fine. They'll be absolutely fine with that. I know how players are. Glenn's been around players. We've been around players

where, you know, there's been real troubled times and then soon all of a sudden a player can waltz back into the training ground and he just has a big massive smile and the players go, ah, come on then let's just bury it let's just get on with it at the end of the day that they're friends so he's kind of he's trying to look after himself listen there will be some players in the squad I doubt they'll let their feelings be known that their nose will have been put out and they probably more than likely will be strikers that they haven't got many of but there'll be some if he walks back in on the first day of the season and starts that game will be absolutely delighted to see him and I'm thinking of the midfield three because he just gives them that

option all the time, running beyond, always there to short defeat and ultimately is a game changer. Mas, I'll give you a very quick story, a very quick story. It's completely different to this situation, but I'm just recalling the scenario that I had when I played for Sheffield United in a semi-final playoff down at Portman Road against Zipswich. And Mauritio Torrico was a left back. And he was a nasty piece of work, but he was all right because we all had a sort of edge to us back in the day. And we won and went to the final. And I went to shake his hand. And he'd done the unthinkable. He spat in my face, which was horrible. And I I pulled my hand back to chin him, and Yan'an Agafjortov was our teammate behind him,

and he pulled my arm back to stop me from chining him. And if I had of, I'd have missed the playoff final, Danubey against Crystal Palace. Now, fast forward, we lost that game. Fast forward about six months, and Alan Padu takes over. Who does he sign? He signs Tariko, the left back, and he walks into the West Ham training room, training ground, and I look at him, and he looks at me. We both just laughed and went, ah, you just get on with it.

You just bury it. It's just the nature of the beast. That's what it is. That's what the life in times of being inside a dressing room. In terms of Benjamin, I mean, I don't know how I follow that, but in terms of churning, in terms of Chesco, I mean, Miguel, we talked about this last week, the fact that, you know, Newcastle almost in the best position they could be,

got Champions League football this season. And yet, you know, Luke Edwards on our Football Daily podcast this week, describe Newcastle as the undatables. Like, they just can't seem to get the big signings, the big players over the line this window and why that is? Because from the outside, given obviously how they've had to kind of balance the books the last

couple of windows, with PSR this window, it felt like they'd be one of the teams who'd be able to do a bit more business. I mean, it does feel they're suffering from whatever PSR and the debate around that, other latent problems that actually been building up for some time

as mostly as regards the running of the club. I mean, the most obvious issue is that they've been trying negotiate transfers this window without any specialists in doing so because paul mitchell's sporting director left uh there's all sorts of stories then that i suppose it's left a club that's directionless right now and while i i wouldn't necessarily have been kind of the what had the warmest words about amanda stavely say i think she did her personality gave the club a kind of a culture there and also gave it i suppose something the um the human touch that people go to now

from what you hear, a lot of the players are talking about how there's no visibility from the hierarchy, you know, it almost feels like there's a team and there's the club, and they obviously there's the question over who's actually making transfer decisions and how. And so then when it comes to kind of, I mean, this is the thing with Isaac, I suppose it made this point a little bit the last time, but, you know, for clubs that are on the up, it actually makes sense to sell players big and replenish the squad. There's actually so many examples of successful clubs that have done including Champions League winning clubs. Like, you know, PSV did it sell in Romario,

won the European Cup. Juventus did it for years, or they sold their best player every year and replenish squad. In Liverpool, obviously, we have the example of Casino. But the flip side of that is, you need the structure in place to actually prepare for those sales,

and Newcastle just don't have that structure. And hence, we've been in this situation where they've gone from one target to another, and that's what's made the window look so bad. And even the CESCO situation, felt like it brought it to an ear. Because looking at it externally, It's almost like, you know,

Man United used Newcastle as a stock and horse to a degree because, okay, what's the price going to be here? Once we know the price, we go in. I mean, you've got to give context to the undidavals, haven't you? I mean, come on. You've got the number one striker in Europe. He's your number nine. Who on earth is going to go and try and challenge him for that spot?

All the plays they've gone for are all strikers. That's what they want. But no one's going to go for 50, 60, 70, 70, 70. million and sit on the bench behind Isaac because ultimately, if he steers, that's what you're going to do. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges.

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Listen on BBC Sounds. This is Five Live Sports. The Football Daily podcast. Glenn, you're going to be part of our commentary team at Wembley Stadium for the Community Shield on Sunday Liverpool against Crystal Palace. We talked about this at the top of the show. Liverpool, again, the team to beat the season in the Premier League?

Any other big contenders up there? The city might be interesting in that. It does feel it's got a bit of a 20. 17 to feel with that Guardiola's managed to get or at least his squad has been I suppose half it's been changing

or half the half potential first team has been changed in a way that was probably overdue now on the other side of that we've got the great variable of what exactly is going to happen with the Manchester City case now of course the club insisting their innocence but for the second season in a row I mean I remember writing in my preview for the independent

this time last year this could be an unprecedented season because the table might change due to a disciplinary case well now we're going to another season without hanging over it but for the moment that's just a potential city insisting their innocence

there mightn't be any punishment at all but it does just kind of it's that factor hanging there but there's an element of unknown about city I suppose because we haven't really seen since 2017 Guardiola bring through a new team at the club in this way

Arsenal I think should be in a good place but it's just that feeling that maybe it's going to be second place again, perhaps that they just Arsenal basically should have gone for an Isaac. And this was slightly surprising about the Nonny Medwakey signing.

Not to, not to criticise him as a player, but it didn't exactly feel like a position for 48 million that Arsenal exactly needed. And surely that 48 million, given what, they've ended up spending 65 million or so on Jokcarez, could they not have put that money and the Jokorez money

towards maybe a pitch for a striker of EZAC's level? We know they wanted him. And that's just, I mean, that's the sort of that, that's the sort of, that signing that becomes the real game changer there. Don, up there, you're nodding away there. Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal. The usual suspects, I think Chelsea are an interesting team to keep an eye at on.

Just looking at their results so far, they're playing Labourcusing right now, and the young boy Estevao, who are commentated on, the Club World Cup was scored. So they're going to be very interesting. I think a couple of weeks back, or certainly a month ago, when everyone was talking about the lights of Isak and Yokorez and all these top class number nines, The two that never got a mention was Ekateke, and one was Zhao Pedro. Two centre fours that are really brainy, really clever, they link the play really well. They come short, they've got ability, they've got a trick, they want to score goals.

And I think Zhao Pedro for Chelsea could be an absolutely brilliant sign. It's exactly what they've needed. Dilap's going to be an interesting one whether he gets game time. And then all of a sudden you read that, Nicholas Jackson's been linked with the likes of Newcastle for 80 million pound. I mean, it's incredible numbers. I mean, I'd rather put another 20 to that. and try and sign La Tada Martinez for $100 million from into Milan. So the numbers that get abandoned around at the moment, it's just, it's incredible, really.

But when you look at the business that Liverpool have done, on the back of being champions last season and being superb, to sign Florian Vert's is a brilliant signing. To replace the two fullbacks, outstanding work. The young boys in midfield, like Gravomirk, they're still very young, and they've still got so much more to give. and then you add a critique and you add potentially Isak I mean, how do you stop him?

The one thing we do have to mention with Liverpool if out of respect as much as anything else is of course Diogo Jada now I know

this is an uncomfortable discussion to have but I mean and obviously the football side of this pales next to the reality of a young man losing his life

and the effect in the family but football has to be played and you do I suppose and I was talking to someone within Liverpool about this the other day in that they don't really know how the squad is going to react

in the long term and I can't think of a situation and a tragedy comparable to this in modern football probably I mean we are going back to them to like the Busby Babes the emotional effect of Hillsborough perhaps in terms of like the effect in the champions

and that is that is something that could again it feels so incongruous and strange to be discussing a tragedy like that in the context of football but it will affect it or it could affect it. It is something that's there. And I suppose we just don't know how the team are going to react. On the other side, of course, they're going to wear number 20 on their shirt all year. And I mean, there might well

be a sense of actually trying to do it for the yoga. I think you can already see that in preseason. I think that's the thing, isn't it? It does feel like it has been a galvanising thing that's brought the players, that's bought the squad, that's brought everybody at Liverpool together in a sense, at least from the outside looking in at the moment. Yeah, definitely. I mean, I imagine that'll be the aim is to honour Diego Jotter. And do you know what? Anfield and Liverpool, it's an emotional place

and when they all become won, it's a scary proposition and they could do special things this season off the back of that. Well, let's talk about Crystal Palace because there are Liverpool's opponents in the Community Shield on Sunday. They won the FA Cup of course last season,

the club's first major trophy. It should have made it a summer to savour for Palace but instead it's been one clouded by uncertainty over which European competition they're going to play in. We're expecting clarification on whether it will be the Conference League or the Europa League next week from the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But let's hear from Oliver Glasner. He was asked early today if the ongoing court case has impacted their preseason.

Not at all. So the first meeting we had after when we met, it was just mentioned it once. And we have one slogan for us is we want to focus on the things we can influence. And so we can't influence the decision of 2A4. We have no influence on the decision of the CUS. So it just makes no sense and the players really did very well. The whole preseason and training worked very hard. It was, we were never talking about it.

We said, okay, on the 11th of August we will get the final verdict and we will accept it. So it's the only thing we can do. And we, our job is to prepare for competitions. because we will play definitely four competitions and we're looking forward to this. And again, our job is to be best prepared. This is what everyone did.

Don, it feels like there's parallels with what you were saying a few minutes ago about Newcastle and the situation is kind of Crystal Palace. When you think about May and those amazing scenes of celebration at Wembley Stadium and we find ourselves here a few months later with a real lack of activity in the transfer market for Crystal Palace. Yeah, but I think the most important thing

McChrystal Palace is they've brought four or five players in, squad which are they're going to bolster the squad. But the most important thing for their window is not allowing any of the big boys to go. So they can't allow the likes of Mateta to go or Ezra or Adam Wharton. Got so many players that there were a fantastic story last year. And, you know, when you watch the Premier League unfold over the years and you have a favorite team and Palace for that for me last season, I had no doubt really that they'd win the cup final.

It was just sort of written in the stars. thought Oliver Glasner might have moved to the Bundesliga in the summer, so he stayed, which is a massive plus. So the window from now till when it closes is, as it stands right here, right now, a very good one because, as I said, some of their star players have stayed and they might stay one more year. The test will be Mark Gerhey because the likes of Newcastle and Liverpool are still looking for a centreback. I think he's only got one year left on his contract, so Palace might feel as though they might need to cash in or they give me a new contract. But they're a brilliant story. Whatever European competition they play in when we get the news on Monday,

they've absolutely deserved it. But are they going to keep, you know, Eberichiez is the big one, obviously the Arsenal target and he's the one that feels like he's the creative outlet for them. Gehi, as Don's saying into the last 12 months of his contracts, I mean, these are big players to try and replace at the last minute if the moves do come for them then. Yeah, I mean, I think regardless of what European competition they're in, they're going to need to score depth. So I think that's where the frustration lies with the, regardless of signing big, big hitters or signing lads for big money,

just players, people in the football club that can do a job because that change from a Sunday to Thursday puts a lot of pressure on a squad and it's the first time this squad's done it. So I feel as though that's where the frustration lies. And also, when you look back to the last summer, transfer window at Christopalus. They were really late on their business there and there was a real uncertainty around the football

club and what was going to happen with Mark Geh again and Desi, similar people obviously it all played out how it did but they had a really bad start to the season and I know Oliver Glasner was frustrated by that and it seems to be the same again. Especially when you've won the Cup final you think they would take a little

bit more momentum into this transfer window and yes I'm sure they've been derailed somewhat with the European competition but they are going to be playing in Europe so it doesn't really matter which competition you're in you need to prepare for more games

and they're in a very precarious situation palace because if anyone meets Eze's valuation to try and replace him is going to be an iron impossible. Mateta's similar, try and replace those goals. Munoz at right back was an exceptional performer last season

so yeah I mean it all depends if they can keep those players and if they can't then it's going to be a scramble. I mean as Glenn mentioned there as well. It is that there's another parallel with last summer in that. One of the reasons for Palace's slow start to the season, it's actually easy to forget now

given how it finished was, of course, the Michael Olisei situation, who then ended up going to Byron, they had to adapt to that, and now we might have the exact same thing with Ezi. Now, I think that's really interesting, because I've actually written about this a fair bit over the summer, and it's striking, or at least

very noticeable, how much the noise sort of changed. I mean, we know Mikhail Artena loves him. Arsenal, we all know of Arsenal's interest. I think it's pretty much common knowledge that his first choice would be Arsenal. Yeah, that deal is there to be done because the release clause, because I suppose, you know, like Arsenal know how they could structure a deal. They have been thinking about how to do it, yet they haven't gone all in yet. Last week, the talk was that they want to sell first, I suppose they want to be kind of very comfortable in PSO, Arsenal see themselves

as a very responsible club in that way. And then suddenly in the last few days, there's been a little bit to talk about how Arsenal may be preferred a left-winger more, which is actually why again find the Madueke signing a bit surprising in that context. And now I think there's another variable to all that in that Spurs have lost Madison for most

of the season. They have to go into the market, really. Does this start a race? I was talking to some people who have some knowledge of the as a situation earlier in the week. And the kind of talk then was that it's going to be this week just before, in the build-up to the start of the Premier League that we might

finally see movement but then I've also been hearing that last four or five I'll tell you what Miguel I'll tell you what Miguel who's not really had a mention over the last couple of weeks because it's all gone a little bit quiet

is Morgan Gibbs White I mean I was thinking you know PSG changed or changed the dynamics were playing a sort of false nine last season Liverpool done it at times when Sabos Lai played or Louis Diaz played as a false nine

I would take him in a Newcastle in a heartbeat Morgan Gibbs White it's just whether they can prize them away from Forrest's who was obviously heavily linked with Tottenham a few weeks ago. Yeah, well, obviously we've seen the well-publicized social media announcements that he was staying. But yeah, you wonder if someone actually tested that,

what could happen next. But yeah, it's, our Arsenal still wanted an extra piece of business. Spurs think badly needed. And as you say, Newcastle have all sorts of vacancies. I mean, do you remember, what was it, three years ago where we still had the situation where the transfer window, they made what now seems a bizarre decision to close it just before the season began

because of the distraction. I mean, I suppose it made a certain sense because everyone was suddenly, everyone had their squad notionally as they wanted it when the season began. But of course, sometimes it's only when you start games. They actually realise, well, we've still got issues we need to solve here.

And it now seems absurd that we'd be going into the season next week and the window could notion have closed on Thursday night. Although Pallas will probably want it closed now to make sure nobody gets a Sessa, Nobody gets Adam Water and nobody gets Mark Gahey

and perhaps as well and Don you mentioned it there about Oliver Glasner and I was quite surprised by how open he's been with his frustration about the lack of transfer activity at Palace.

I was promised that we would be more active and bringing new players earlier this year I mean that's that says quite a lot about what's happening at Crystal Palace at the moment as well I think I mean I don't mind it

because he's sort of throwing it on the board a little bit so you've got to be respectful having that conversation and throw in that statement there, because he's more or less saying to the board, listen, if we're going to compete domestically and we're going to compete in European football,

we're going to need, A, to keep all our best players if we can, sometimes it's inevitable that you lose one. That's why we mentioned Newcastle with ESAC, even Newcastle can't keep hold of their star man, so it's going to happen to a team like Crystal Palace with all due respect, that's just going to happen. That's just the nature of the beast and the food chain of the Premier League.

But I don't mind it because he's more or less saying to Steve Parrish and the owners, come on, like you need to back me. I can't just go all season. And Ketia has picked up a bad injury. So the left with Meteta is the sort of loan number nine. So that might be an area why they might want to try and do work in. But I don't mind it because, as I said before,

I think it's nice that a manager comes out and calls it and says, you know, I'm not just going to sit back and be quiet and say nothing. And we go into a season where it's going to be really difficult. Of course, it is domestically in European football. And then not have enough bodies. So I'm going to throw it out there that I need a little bit of help. And they're yet to replace

Sporting Director Dougie Freepen. Does that feel like, again, a big recruitment for Palace behind the scenes because obviously some absolute gems that managed to uncover? Yeah, I was talking to kind of agents who have worked with Palace and Dougie over the past few years.

And I think it's almost one of the great uncertainties now at Palace in that they've become a club that's basically been known for really maximising the catchment area they're in. I think this is one of those stats that I do actually quite like it. south london is now one of the three most fertile areas for football in the world

as well as paris and south polo and palis themselves obviously sit in that catchment area they've they've become known as a club that gives players gives young players chances a lot of players got into better things but some of that has come from signings as well and a lot of duggies work and now they're in this kind of interesting situation where they've got a really good squad there's about five or six players there that a lot of the wealthiest clubs in europe as we've already mentioned Wharton, they'd be looking at to improve their squad. And eventually, some of them are going to leave.

I mean, contracts for now, they have ambitions. And the question is about the succession, because so far, in the time since they got promoted in, what, 2013, their succession plans have been superb. And maybe this is where the question comes in. And maybe it's why they need to keep the, or most of the squad together for this Europa League campaign or conference league campaign,

because then that could be maybe a springboard in a different way. Yeah, for me, it's no shock that they've been quite in the transfer market because of Dougie Freeman. He, for me, first and foremost, he knows the football club really well. So he knows what would fit there. He knows what type of person before a player suits the South London Football Club. And also, the way he fished into the championship was exceptional. Better than anyone else has done it in the Premier League. But when you look at the history, who's brought in, he's brought Alicia Wharton and has in.

I don't think anyone's gone into the championship and been so successful as Dougie was. Just on Brighton, Glenn, they have lost some of their key starting players this summer. Esther Pina, Angel Pedro, Simon Odingra. Now it looks like Manchester United as well interested in signing Carlos Belieber. I mean, is this just another example

of the brilliant sort of model that Brighton have created? You know, again, identifying gems away from sort of other Premier League teams and then kind of getting them through the system, selling them at bigger prices, finding the next one, finding the next one? It's a difficult balance because if you sell at the wrong time and you don't replace, then you find yourself like Southampton were, I think, six or seven years ago when they had a really good track record of doing it. So it's that balance of trying to progress your football club whilst selling people

and ultimately, for want of a better description, being a feeder club. But if you can get the player, when they join at a better level than they were the last time and the cycle should continue and you should keep getting better. When we talk about Carlos Belieber, this boy is so special. I see him glide past Premier League players who've played in the Premier League with 10 years like their Sunday league players.

The way covers ground is exceptional. He's reading of the game. Listen, I think he's still a tiny bit raw and he could probably do with another year in the Premier League and that is where I think Manchester United and maybe trying to get a jump on the other big clubs in Europe but I mean, we all know what

Tony Bloom's like, we all know what Paul Barber and the football club are like, they will not let him go for cheap. I personally believe it'll be more than what Keisado is worth because I think he's a better football player than him. You were talking about £100 million pounds, I think, for his sale, Don, and you were nodding

away that. I mean, he had a great season last season, believe it. Worth it. I've seen him play loads of times. I've seen him play live so many times. he's one of these players, like Glenn said, he can Glyplas players. And I remember a couple of games. He ran the show up with St. James's Park and the FA Cup.

Then I went down to Brighton and watched them against Forrest and the FA Cup as well. And it was the little things that sort of, and I'm not trying to sound patronising here, but I'll say the untrained eye. And he was giving five-yard passes away. And people might think, well, that was a little bit. That was poor play, five-yard pass.

I actually looked at it and thought, the game's too easy for him. He switched off and he's just going, you can just have that because, you know, I can pass that ball five, ten yards in my sleep. So being a young player, that can happen. And then once you get that sort of overconfidence knocked out of you, and you then go on and you play more Premier League games and the standards in yourself and the development of the team and the coach and then potential transfers,

this kid, I don't think,'s got a ceiling. I think starting price is over 100 million. And I think he's got potential to be one of the best. I think he's just a well-rounded, got every single tool. in his locker and can do so much more once he gets wiser and he's nowhere near his prime he's what seven, eight years away from his prime

incredible player. Yeah, that's the thing isn't it? The 100 million price tag then brings the pressure and the spotlight and the focus and that at this point in his career maybe feels as Glenn says perhaps a season or so too soon for that big move. I think probably a season

so too soon just for his own development. I have no doubt the 100 million price tag he wouldn't blink an eye he's just that type of kid I mean the way he's stepped into the Premier League and he's running past people that he'll have watched back in his home country

for years and years and treating them like they've barely played he's just like it's insane how good he could be and do you know what he has been linked to Manchester United and he would immediately make that midfield

much much better and that's what I mentioned before about Man United having an eye on players like they can bring in who will be at the football club for a long time. He's one of them. Isn't there a little bit of a strange dynamic there? Because, I mean, look, Brighton have almost become

the most influential club in the Premier League recruitment, basically. Everyone has seen what they've done. And now even the kind of the wealthiest club is the Manchester United, the Chelsea's are looking at that thing. Well, rather than pay Brighton 100 million, we can get in ahead of that maybe. But, and I think the ultimate example of this is actually Hoyland. One of the reasons why, basically, Brighton can do this

and the way other club is can't is because it's just, it doesn't have really. all the same pressure as a Manchester United. So it's almost the perfect, the perfect club would have got so much stability where a player can come into the Premier League for the first time and adapt in the way that you can't at Manchester United.

So it's still why it makes sense, even if it is more expensive. And I think it does feed into one of the trends of this summer, which I suppose after years of the wealthiest club with the old Big Six-A, purchasing most of their players from abroad, they've gone back to buying from the Premier League's middle classes. I mean, look at most of the business

we've been talking about. And I do wonder whether now realising that the kind of the Premier League premium, that extra you pay for Premier League proven experience, they're thinking they kind of need it. Manchester United seemed to illustrate that, which is actually why it's surprising why they went for Cessco, say, over Watkins. But just one final point in that as well. I mean, if Manchester United do manage to pull off Beliba this summer,

or the signing of Beliba, it's some way away from what Sir Jim Ratcliffe's comments back in what February or March we were talking about, the club could be going bust. If it weren't for the changes he made, which, you know. And keep an eye up. I was on live live last week, though, talking about how I couldn't see how they could afford at SESCO.

I've been since set right about that. So from what I've been told is they had a budget going into this window before sales for a forward and a wide forward. They obviously did CUNY and Mbuehameau, but the way the deals were structured, especially in terms of installments, has allowed them to stay within PSOR and also signed SESCO.

But now, of course, So we're talking about $100 million for Beliba. That's a whole other level. Yeah, to keep an eye off of one more as well because PSC have signed Leal Shevallier, goalkeeper, who's brilliant. And from what I've been told is Man United are just monitoring what Donna Rummer is going to do. So if they got him through the door,

you go, that spine of that side, all of a sudden is completely changed. And I'd probably go to Miguel's point there when he said some of the Man United Sons have felt a little bit rushed in the likes of Xerxes and Hoyland potential in those young players. I've probably got no doubt if they had to join Brighton first they would have been so much better off right here right now and that's because ultimately there's less expectation Brighton's aim is to finish in the top 10

if they get into Europe it's a successful season but if they don't it's not a catastrophe and also what I've seen a real trend of recent years is these kids need minutes in the Premier League and when you're vying for trophies and when the expectation of your fans is so high It puts that extra pressure on. Brighton have been able to do that with the likes of McAllister.

I mean, the list is so long. You've got Trossard, you've got Keisido. All these people have been able to be given minutes in the Premier League, make mistakes and become better players for that. The thing is we've got so much data now that we can measure footballers distances, the passes that they make, the assist, the goals, the pass before the assist. Everything's got everything you can measure in football.

The one thing you can't measure is a. player's confidence. And when you're a player and you're getting loved off your manager and you've got time and you feel special, the best example I can think of in the last 18 months is Scott McTominay. He's just been nominated for a Ballandor for the work that he's done at Napoli. He was discarded at Man United because he's gone under Antonio Conte and he's gone to Italy and he's felt loved and he's felt special. And as I said before, you can't measure that in a player. It's just kicked them on to all sorts of levels. Thanks everyone. That's it for this episode. episode of the Football Daily on the next one, Steve Crossman, will have reaction to results from the first round of championship fixtures.