 "Liverpool reportedly prepare fresh bid for Newcastle's Isak; United eyeing alternative to Baleba")
The 2025-26 club football season got underway on Friday with top leagues such as the Premier League and LaLiga having their opening fixtures take place on Friday. The English top division began on an emotional note with defending champions Liverpool beating Bournemouth 4-2 at Anfield while Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal have won their opening fixtures in the Spanish top-flight against Girona and Oviedo respectively.
France’s Ligue 1, meanwhile, witnessed Rennes defeat last season’s runners-up Marseille 1-0 in the opening game of the season, while Bundesliga and Serie A will get underway next weekend.
The summer transfer window, however, is still on despite the season getting underway in many parts of the world. And while a majority of clubs largely have their squads assembled and raring to go, there are a couple of key trades that are still on and could have a major impact on the upcoming season.
Liverpool prepare fresh Isak bid
The biggest among them is Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, who has been a target for Liverpool all summer and could still smash the all-time record for the most expensive transfer in British football with a couple of weeks still left in the transfer window.
According to Football Insider, the Reds have not given up on the Swedish striker just yet despite their initial bid of £110 million ($149 million) having been rejected by the Magpies, who are expected an offer in the range of £150 million.
Liverpool, who had won only their second Premier League title in Arne Slot’s maiden season in charge, are now prepared to shell out £120 million ($162.5 million) for the 25-year-old, who currently isn't on best terms with manager Eddie Howe and his teammates.
Isak, the second-highest Premier League goal-scorer last season, had skipped Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia, opting to train by himself in Spain. He continues to remain sidelined, with Howe not including him in his plans for the initial fixtures of the season just yet.
Given the situation, Isak finally joining Liverpool would be seen as a win-win situation; Newcastle, however, reportedly want to hold him back for now and negotiate a fresh deal with him once the transfer window ends on 1 September, one that also includes a release clause.
Liverpool had signed Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £26 million on Friday, taking their pre-season spending past £300 million ($406.5 million), and are now eyeing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi.
United eyeing Sporting CP’s Hjulmand
As for Manchester United, who have opted for a complete overhaul in their attack by signing the trio of Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig), Bryan Mbuemo (Brentford) and Matheus Cunha (Wolves), are eyeing Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand as an alternative, especially with their hopes of signing Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba quickly fizzling out .
Ruben Amorim had a successful stint with Sporting before succeeding Erik ten Hag as United boss and certainly will have had his eyes on the Danish defensive midfielder for the upcoming season, with the club reportedly ready to shell out £50 million ($67.7 million).
The Portuguese club, however, are in no mood to sell Hjulmand after his release clause expired earlier this summer.
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