Liverpool have agreed a British transfer record fee of £125m to sign striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. Sources close to the deal have told BBC Sport that an agreement for the Sweden international to move to Anfield is now in place. Newcastle sources claim the deal could be worth as much as £130m with add-ons. Isak is undergoing a medical on Monday before signing a six-year contract. Liverpool had an original £110m offer rejected in August but are now set to land their first-choice target of the summer. The protracted saga involving the 25-year-old appears set to come to an end on the final day of the transfer window, and it follows Newcastle having signed striker Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart last week. Liverpool have already broken their club transfer record this summer by signing Germany attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz in a deal worth an initial £100m, with a further £16m in add-ons. Isak’s arrival would top that outlay. After also bringing in Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi and Giovanni Leoni, the deal would take the club’s spending to about £416.2m without add-on fees – the highest total in Premier League history. It is only the second time that an English side has shelled out more than £400m in a single summer, following Chelsea’s £401.2m outlay in 2023. Source: BBC

Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Asensio is poised to join Turkish giants Fenerbahce, according to a report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein. Asensio who spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Aston Villa, is reportedly en route to Istanbul to finalize a permanent transfer to the Süper Lig club. Asensio’s move comes as a blow to Aston Villa, who had been keen to secure a reunion with the versatile forward after his impressive stint in the Premier League. During his loan spell at Villa Park, Asensio scored eight goals and provided one assist in 21 appearances, showcasing his quality and earning praise as a “world-class” talent from former player Matthew Upson. Despite Villa’s interest in a permanent deal, financial constraints tied to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) made a transfer unfeasible, leaving the door open for Fenerbahce to swoop in. Ornstein reports that Asensio is set to board a flight to Istanbul on Sunday night to complete the formalities of the transfer. Fenerbahce, under the guidance of their new management following José Mourinho’s departure earlier this season, have moved swiftly to secure the Spaniard’s signature. The Turkish club had been in talks with PSG as early as July, and their persistence has now paid off, with an agreement reached for a permanent move. The deal is said to include a competitive salary package, matching offers Asensio previously received from Saudi Pro League clubs, making it an attractive proposition for the player. The transfer marks a new chapter for Asensio, who is eager to secure regular playing time ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With 38 caps for Spain and a decorated career that includes three Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns with Real Madrid, Asensio sees Fenerbahce’s participation in the Champions League as a platform to reassert his credentials for a spot in Luis de la Fuente’s national team squad. For Aston Villa, the news is a setback in their efforts to bolster their attack. Unai Emery’s side has struggled in the early stages of the 2025-26 Premier League season, failing to score in their opening three matches. Asensio’s creativity and goal-scoring prowess could have provided the spark Villa desperately need, but the club must now look elsewhere before the transfer deadline on Monday, September 1. Fenerbahce, meanwhile, are poised to make a statement with Asensio’s arrival as they aim to challenge for the Süper Lig title and make an impact in Europe. The club’s fans will be eager to see how the Spaniard adapts to his new surroundings, with the medical and final details expected to be finalized imminently. Source: David Ornstein

Bayern Munich are chasing Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and have registered a loan bid for the Nigerian after seeing Nicolas Jackson’s deal fall through. The German club are now targeting Lookman and have approached the Italian club with a loan bid which includes an option to buy, according to Sky Sport. The Bundesliga champions have reportedly inserted a €28 million purchase option in the deal. The purchase option will be triggered should Lookman play a certain amount of games for the club. The Nigerian midfielder was previously in talks to sign for Inter but Atlantan’s unwillingness to offload him to a domestic rival and Inter not matching their terms saw the deal fall through, despite Lookman’s attempts to force the transfer. Atalanta may be open to letting him join Bayern, but they have so far declined the German team’s proposal. The 27-year-old has a contract until 2027 but hopes to leave the club this summer. Bayern still remain the most interested side in the Lookman race and will try push to complete the deal before the transfer window shuts. However, should a deal not pan out for the Atalanta player, he is at the risk of being frozen out of the playing squad until the winter transfer window.   Source: Goal

Bayer Leverkusen have sacked head coach Erik ten Hag after just three matches in charge. Ten Hag who replaced Xabi Alonso in May, and signed a two-year-contract. But Ten Hag’s stay at Leverkusen has been brief after a poor start to the 2025-26 season. Leverkusen lost their season opener against TSG Hoffenhiem at home and then drew 3-3 with Werder Bremen at the weekend. They won their DFB-Pokal first round tie against fourth-tier SG Sonnenhof but since that match on Aug. 15, ex-Man United manager Ten Hag’s tenure turned sour at the 2024 Bundesliga champions. The decision was made by the shareholders’ committee at the club and on the recommendation of Bayer’s management. It has been a summer of upheaval at Leverkusen with several of the stars who led them to the Bundesliga title in 2024 leaving the club. Ten Hag took charge as Jeremy Frimpong, Florian Witz, Amine Adli, Odilon Kossounou, Granit Xhaka, Lukas Hradecky and Jonathan Tah all left the club. In response, Leverkusen spent in the region of €170 million to rebuild the squad with Malik Tillman, Jarell Quansah, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Loic Bade, Ibrahim Masa, Mark Flekken and Ernest Poku all arriving. “This decision was not an easy one for us. Nobody wanted to take this step,” Simon Rolfes, Bayer’s managing director for sport, said. “However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this setup is not feasible. We firmly believe in the quality of our team and will now do everything we can to take the next steps in our development with a new setup.” Ten Hag, who managed ManUnited from 2022 to 2024, replaced Alonso, who joined Real Madrid in the summer. Under Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen won the 2024 title while they were runners-up last season. But while Alonso played attacking football, Ten Hag’s conservative style did not marry with the players. A source has told ESPN Bayer Leverkusen were keen to make this change sooner rather than later. Things were clearly in a dismal state after the clash with Werder Bremen on Saturday. They surrendered a two-goal lead and afterwards, captain Robert Andrich was clearly frustrated. “Everyone played for themselves, everyone ran around the pitch on their own. We have too many players who are preoccupied with other things or only with themselves. I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced that at Bayer,” he said. “The disastrous final phase [of the draw] was a symbol of our current situation. This has nothing to do with any unrest, player transfers or legal proceedings.” Bayer CEO Fernando Carro added: A parting of ways at this early stage of the season is painful, but we felt it was necessary,” Bayer CEO Fernando Carro said. “We remain committed to achieving our goals for the season – and to do that, we need the best possible conditions at all levels and across the entire first team. Now it’s a matter of fully implementing and utilising these conditions again.” Source: ESPN

Liverpool formally announced that star forward Gakpo has signed a new long-term contract and extended his stay at Anfield. The official statement from the club read: “Cody Gakpo has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool FC. The forward ensured he will extend his two-and-a-half-year association with the Reds into the future by putting pen to paper on the deal at the AXA Training Centre on Saturday.” After putting pen to paper on the new deal, Gakpo told the club’s official website: “It feels amazing to extend the contract here at this beautiful club. I’m very grateful and hopefully I can give back many more beautiful moments. I feel at home, my family feels at home and that’s also a big decision always. They feel good. I’m very happy at the club, a good group, good teammates, so the life around the football itself is very good and I enjoy every moment of it. I’m very grateful that I can extend.” Since moving to Merseyside from PSV Eindhoven two-and-a-half years back, Gakpo has made 131 appearances across all competitions, where he scored 42 goals and provided 16 assists. He won the Carabao Cup in the 2023-24 campaign and was also an integral part of Slot’s side that won their record-equallising 20th top-flight title last season. Source: yahoosports

Chelsea have made an official move for Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez, submitting a written proposal worth €40m, according to Fabrizio Romano. The offer was sent shortly after the London club’s match earlier today. The Premier League side are now awaiting Barcelona’s response, but reports in Spain suggest the La Liga giants value the 22-year-old much higher. Barcelona are said to be holding out for at least €60m, with some outlets indicating the price tag could rise as high as €90m. Chelsea’s interest has been persistent throughout the summer, with head coach Enzo Maresca viewing Lopez as a key target. Negotiations between the two clubs are expected to continue in the coming days. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, however, remains confident that Lopez will stay at Camp Nou. “I think he’ll stay,” Flick said recently, noting the player’s improved focus and attitude after their conversations. Source: tribuna

AC Milan have completed the signing of Christopher Nkunku from Chelsea in a deal worth €42 million (£36.2 million). The 27-year-old forward has signed a five-year contract until 2030 and will wear the number 18 shirt at San Siro. The agreement also includes a sell-on clause for Chelsea. Nkunku leaves Stamford Bridge after two seasons in which he made 62 appearances, scoring 18 goals and providing five assists. Last term he featured 43 times in all competitions, netting 14 goals, and appeared in six of Chelsea’s seven Club World Cup fixtures. His time in England was hindered by injuries, including a serious knee issue that disrupted his first year following a £52 million move from RB Leipzig in 2023. He was restricted to 11 Premier League appearances in that campaign and struggled to establish himself as a regular starter. Milan had been searching for attacking reinforcements throughout the summer and considered moves for Victor Boniface and Conrad Harder before turning decisively to Nkunku. The French international was also a target for Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, but Milan advanced talks quickly and secured an agreement. Eighth in Serie A last season, Milan are aiming to return to the Champions League and strengthen their forward line after inconsistent attacking displays. They began the new campaign with a 2-0 victory over Lecce and Nkunku is expected to make his debut after the international break, with Bologna visiting San Siro on 14 September. Speaking after his move was confirmed, Nkunku described Milan as the right step to relaunch his career. The club said they were ‘delighted’ to welcome him and highlighted his technical quality, versatility and proven scoring record across Europe. Nkunku becomes Milan’s fifth senior addition of the summer as they continue to reshape their squad under head coach Paulo Fonseca. Source: Yahoosports

In a dramatic turn of events, Chelsea FC has pulled out of a proposed loan deal that would have seen striker Nicolas Jackson join Bayern Munich for the 2025-26 season. The decision comes after an injury to Chelsea’s new signing, Liam Delap, during a match against Fulham on Saturday, prompting head coach Enzo Maresca and the club’s leadership to reconsider their transfer strategy. The 24-year-old Senegal international was set to move to the Bundesliga giants for a record-breaking loan fee of £13 million, with an option for Bayern to purchase him permanently for £56.2 million next summer. The deal also included a sell-on clause, reflecting Chelsea’s confidence in Jackson’s long-term value. However, Delap’s hamstring injury, which Maresca described as requiring “weeks” of recovery, forced Chelsea to halt the transfer. Jackson, who was already on his way to Munich, will now return to London and reintegrate into the squad. Jackson’s potential exit had been fueled by his reduced role at Stamford Bridge following Chelsea’s acquisition of strikers Joao Pedro from Brighton and Liam Delap from Ipswich Town this summer. The former Villarreal forward, who joined Chelsea in 2023 for £32 million, has scored an impressive 30 goals and provided 12 assists in 81 appearances for the Blues, including a goal in their UEFA Conference League final victory over Real Betis last season. Despite his solid record, Jackson’s opportunities were limited, with his last appearance being a substitute role in Chelsea’s Club World Cup semi-final win over Fluminense in July. Chelsea’s decision to retain Jackson is a pragmatic one, as the club now faces a shortage of fit strikers. Maresca, speaking after the Fulham match, emphasized the need for depth, stating, “When you have two strikers, it’s enough.” With Delap sidelined and Joao Pedro shouldering much of the attacking load, Jackson’s return to the first-team fold provides a vital boost. The striker, who signed a contract extension until 2033 in September 2024, remains a polarizing figure among fans due to his inconsistent finishing but is valued for his relentless off-ball movement and ability to create high-value scoring chances. The collapse of the Bayern move also coincides with Chelsea’s active transfer window, which saw Christopher Nkunku complete a £36 million permanent transfer to AC Milan on the same day. The Blues have raised approximately £309 million from player sales this summer, offsetting their £277 million spent on new signings. Source: Skysports

Manchester United have agreed a deal with Napoli to sign striker Rasmus Højlund on loan until the end of the season. They Serie A side are set to pay an initial loan fee of €6m with an obligation to make the Denmark international’s move permanent for €44m if they qualify for the Champions League. Højlund’s medical is pencilled in to take place on Sunday. United are waiting to be told if the player has agreed personal terms with Napoli before giving the transfer the final green light. The 22-year-old has not been involved in any of United’s first four games of the season and last featured as a substitute in the final game of the preseason tour of the U.S. against Everton in Atlanta. Højlund said during the trip to the U.S. that he was determined to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford this season. However, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig and his continued omission from the squad under Ruben Amorim has forced a change of heart. Højlund, who has experience in Italy with Atalanta, is keen to play as much as possible ahead of the World Cup next summer. If he agrees to join Napoli, he will link up with former United teammate Scott McTominay, who moved to Italy 12 months ago. Source: ESPN

Antony’s proposed move from Real Betis to Manchester United has stalled after the LaLiga club said they had withdrawn their offer for the winger, despite talks that the bid had been accepted. The two clubs had negotiated a permanent deal worth up to £25 million but there was a fresh twist to the saga on Friday when Betis released a statement that read: “There is no agreement for Antony, and we have withdrawn the offer. “We can’t afford the fee and the amounts that Manchester United must instead pay the player before the transfer.” Antony had been given permission to discuss personal terms with Betis, where he spent a successful loan spell last season. If the deal does eventually get the final green light, it will bring to an end Antony’s torrid three-year spell at Old Trafford. He arrived from Ajax under former boss Erik ten Hag in 2022 but struggled to make a significant impact. His transfer fee of £86 million makes him the second most expensive signing in United’s history behind Paul Pogba. Antony impressed on loan at Betis last season, scoring nine goals in 26 games, following his move in January. On his return to United this summer, he was omitted from the squad for the preseason tour of the U.S. and ordered to train away from the senior squad with other players surplus to requirements, including Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho. Source: ESPN