Alexander Isak to Liverpool went exactly as any transfer does. He was \u2018tapped up\u2019 in the same way any player is and Newcastle got a deal which suits them.<\/p>\n
The summer 2025 transfer window is closed. The analysis is well underway.<\/p>\n
Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
PR v journalism<\/strong><\/p>\n Dear Ed,<\/p>\n Superb Mediawatch<\/strong><\/a> this morning on Luke Edwards and his new Comical Ali job for Newcastle United.\u00a0Congratulations\u00a0to Luke on his promotion.<\/p>\n I like Luke just as I like George Caulkin but hearing them parrot lines clearly given to them directly by Newcastle rather than do their job as journalists was depressing. My particular favourite was George suggesting that there was a belief inside Newcastle that Liverpool only bid for Isak to placate their fans having already spent over \u20ac200 million on attackers to add to an EPL winning team!<\/p>\n Such a massively frustrating summer of nonsense on the Isak transfer with so many people getting their knickers in a twist (including F365 with several articles) over a transfer that has played out 100 times in the same way in the past.<\/p>\n Did Liverpool tap Isak up in the traditional but no longer punished or unique to any one club or group of clubs because they all do it with players they want at clubs further down the food chain? Absolutely.<\/p>\n Were Isak and his representatives \u2018a bit of a dick\u2019 to believe that whatever assurances or promises or as Eddie Howe intimated \u2018conversations\u2019 were had would enable his transfer this summer?<\/p>\n Absolutely \u2013 but Newcastle were very much neither confirming nor denying that such conversations took place.<\/p>\n Were Isak and his representatives \u2018a total dick\u2019 to throw down tools and go on strike to try to force Newcastle to sell?<\/p>\n Absolutely \u2013 but he\u2019s not the first and won\u2019t be the last \u2013 look at Wissa doing the exact same to become Newcastle\u2019s Isak<\/strong><\/a>, or is it still Callum Wilson, replacement.<\/p>\n Were Newcastle perfectly within their rights to demand the value that they felt Isak was worth to them and expect to be able to agree to sign replacements in advance?<\/p>\n Absolutely \u2013 though their \u2018inability\u2019 to find a single striker they could sign between July and 1st September suggests they either need to improve their Football Operations Department or perhaps in reality their strategy was to look to run down the clock to get to the window closing without Isak leaving.<\/p>\n The biggest takeaway is that this transfer, when we remove the absolute nonsense driven by media narratives and online fans, has gone down exactly as expected and as it should \u2013 player wants to move, proposed new club bids a record fee (the talk that this bid was somehow insulting<\/strong><\/a> was absolutely bonkers), current club rejects it and lets it be known what their preferred fee is, clubs negotiate and agree a compromise fee largely in the middle and everyone walks away having got what they wanted.<\/p>\n Newcastle got what they wanted? Perhaps not entirely but they have gotten what they needed namely a massive influx of cash that if they are smart will enable them to invest across the team to make the next step. In the absence of the ability to have a single massive summer like Chelsea and City did post-takeover, it\u2019s what teams have to do to grow when they don\u2019t have huge stadiums and high-ticket prices or hotels and women\u2019s teams to sell.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what the next step needed to be for the club \u2013 sell one of their previous successful signings for massive profit and look to invest to improve the overall team and they could be much better for it.<\/p>\n Regards, \u00a0<\/p>\n Instead of Mediawatch today, can you just put up a link to Luke Edwards\u2019 twitter account? MC \u2013 Meh, close enough.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 28 days later<\/strong><\/p>\n Chris NUFC, you\u2019re treating transfers like they\u2019re supermarket runs. Newcastle didn\u2019t \u201ccave\u201d<\/strong><\/a>, they held their line as long as possible to test the market, which is literally what every selling club does. If a buyer eventually stumps up close enough to the valuation, it doesn\u2019t mean the seller should\u2019ve rolled over on day one. That\u2019s not \u201ccaving,\u201d that\u2019s timing.<\/p>\n And on the striker situation: football isn\u2019t a straight \u201cbuy early = 9 points\u201d equation. Recruitment depends on who\u2019s actually available, whether they want to come, and when a deal can realistically be done. The idea that Isak should have sat out 3 years while the club drags it out is fantasy, that\u2019s not how contracts or careers work.<\/p>\n If you want a film analogy, this is like 28 Days Later where one bite causes the whole thing to collapse in seconds. Transfers are more like the survivors barricading themselves in the mansion \u2014 tense standoffs, long waits, and eventually one side has to make the decisive move. Newcastle didn\u2019t get \u201cinfected\u201d by weakness; they just judged the moment to unlock the door and take the best deal still on the table. \u00a0<\/p>\n Waiting for Liverpool to click<\/strong><\/p>\n In actual real life, I do my best to be\u00a0a glass half-full type of human. I try to accentuate the positive because despite the outrageous fortune of life, I am a privileged lucky person.<\/p>\n Not with football though. Football has been the most fickle of mistresses and the one thing that I absolutely know for a fact is that the moment I show any signs of hubris or over-confidence, the football gods reign down fire on me. Precedents have been set, so when it comes to football, I am a deep pessimist, the kind of person that went into injury time against Arsenal yesterday thinking, well, we at least have a draw here.<\/p>\n But\u2026a thought has lodged in my brain. Liverpool have been deeply underwhelming so far. Lucky to win all three games with late goals, when a draw would have been a fair result on the balance of play. The media has been full of theories about how Slot is going to struggle to get the team firing on all cylinders, that assimilating half a dozen players into a team is no easy task, that these things take time, and that it is to be expected that the team looks disjointed.<\/p>\n Three games. Nine points. Top of the table<\/strong><\/a>. The only team with a 100% record. Not bad for a team that is going through some sort of transition and playing poorly.<\/p>\n Wirtz has made no impact so far, he is clearly struggling to get into the pace of premier league football. You would have to think that he will click at some point. Kerkez looked better yesterday, but he looks a little over-awed and his first two games were poor. Frimpong looked lively, but he went and got himself injured. Salah has looked out of sorts (still got a goal and assist though) and isn\u2019t at the top of his game. Konate had two shockers before yesterday. Mac Allister is clearly short of match fitness.<\/p>\n Oh, and we have just signed some fella called Isak, apparently.<\/p>\n Imagine what Liverpool could be when all the moving parts are working properly. There is a universe where this will happen, I just hope I am living in it. \u00a0<\/p>\n Hey Ash (CFC),<\/p>\n Google is your friend:<\/p>\n \u2018If\u00a0Liverpool sign the Swedish striker,\u00a0it would push their transfer outlay this summer towards the \u00a3400 million mark.<\/p>\n But that would still not come close to the biggest window in Premier League history when adjusted for inflation.<\/p>\n According to football finance expert\u00a0Kieran Maguire, Chelsea\u2019s 2003\/04 spending spree is the largest on record at the equivalent of \u00a3916.4 million in today\u2019s money.<\/p>\n And the Blues do not just dominate the list of the biggest transfer windows ever, they take the top four spots on the list.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Liverpool have consistently spent less than not only all of the big six but also Villa, Newcastle and West Ham so have absolutely earned the right to spend big after 15 years of incredible financial management (from the brink of administration) and 6 years of success on the field.<\/p>\n \u2018Earned\u2019 being the operative word. \u00a0<\/p>\n We all need to spare a thought for Liverpool fans at this difficult time. No longer holders of the net spend trophy<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sure there\u2019ll be a new breakthrough in the field of scouse maths, that\u2019ll bring the trophy back home.<\/p>\n It really does mean more! \u00a0<\/p>\n Kind of looking forward to seeing how the Liverpool fans spin this transfer window when their net spend ends up bigger than nearly every other team\u2019s gross. \u00a0<\/p>\n Hey, big spender<\/strong><\/p>\n I see that the \u201cof course Liverpool are winning they\u2019re spending the most\u201d argument is out now that we are actually spending for once.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a flawed argument of course because we are regularly outspent by United, Chelsea, sometimes city (who in their defence really aren\u2019t as mental as everyone says with their spending , it\u2019s their income which is shifty) arsenal. So what\u2019s the reason when we succeed over these teams when we don\u2019t spend? Remembering also that in title winning seasons we have spent less than Leicester did. We win the champions League and spend\u2026.\u00a314m on minamino, then won the league. Last year it was \u00a315m on chiesa and won the league.<\/p>\n So perhaps it isn\u2019t whoever spends the most obviously wins, it\u2019s whoever spends the most efficiently wins. Why hasn\u2019t arteta won anything since having a team comprised of his own players? Why don\u2019t united ever win the league? Why are city struggling?<\/p>\n Money doesn\u2019t guarantee success, it makes it more likely but ultimately the fact we spent 84m on a striker who seemed to think he got a missed big chances bonus tells you it\u2019s not how much you spend. It\u2019s who you spend it on.<\/p>\n Most of the time Liverpool spend their money well. Misses are rare, and hits are more common. I think this is an area where Liverpool could probably say theure better than anyone else in the league. Even pep at city has been racking up more misses than hits in the transfer market over the length of his term.<\/p>\n If you want to ease your mind and say Liverpool win because we are \u201cbuying\u201d the league just remind yourself everyone spent more than we did last year and they didn\u2019t win the league. And the big signing we did make was actually an anvil around our neck most of the time.<\/p>\n Spending smart > spending big<\/p>\n Sometimes they happen at the same time but spending big \u2260 spending smart READ MORE<\/strong>: Premier League transfer window winners<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0| Premier League transfer window losers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Liverpool tax<\/strong><\/p>\n I have two quick points to make, one observation\u00a0makes me sound like a bitter Man Utd supporter and the other is more something I have noted about the big 6 clubs of late that I think is strange.<\/p>\n 1. Why do clubs pay Liverpool such amounts for their players.\u00a035m for Quansah, 25m Doaks\u2026.. review Liverpool\u2019s outgoings over the last 10 seasons and not one player ever improved or made Liverpool regret selling them. Jordan Ibe 19m, Rhian Brewster 23m crazy prices and a horrific return for Bournemounth and Sheff United. At least when United sell a player you are nearly guaranteed\u00a0they will improve. Fair play to Liverpool for getting such amounts but honestly clubs need to look at what they are buying. City sell loads of players but at least a chunk of them went on to have decent careers.<\/p>\n 2. Where are all the English players gone from the Big 6.\u00a0Liverpool had no English player start on Sunday, Arsenal had 2, United had 2, Chelsea 2, Spurs 1, City 2. There is very little connection between clubs, players and fans anymore and I am aware of the irony of being Irish and writing this but clubs should have players from the area playing because, as a fan, you would think they would play harder or to borrow a Liverpool saying \u2018This means more\u2019. \u00a0<\/p>\n Arteta is an egg<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s getting rather boring. I always ask this mailbox and never seem to get any answer. Why is the onus always on Arsenal to play beautiful football? Liverpool at home are the best transitional threat in the world. How many did you count in the first half? I didn\u2019t count any. Was Liverpool also not trying to win the game? We know the team have a creative problem and that\u2019s why Eze was bought. What more do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n Damola, I\u2019ll give you an answer: As a neutral looking forward to a top of the table clash<\/strong><\/a>, I\u2019d have enjoyed Arsenal actually playing at least one of Eze or Odegaard from the start. This wasn\u2019t prime unstoppable red tide Salah\/Mane\/Firmino that required Arteta\u2019s safety first default. They\u2019re good going forward aye, but so should you be given the wedge spent and available options. Where\u2019s the creativity in a midfield containing Rice, Merino, and Zubimendi???<\/p>\n Arteta\u2019s \u201cplan\u201d was soooooooooo transparent. Field a team of defense oriented giants with an afterthought of an attack sellotaped onto the front of it, strangle the opposition and yourself as a biproduct, then throw on the actual talent with 20 left. At this point, elite opposition now has some space, and Arsenal either draw or lose.<\/p>\n Man\u2019s an egg at this rarefied level, trouble for you is he\u2019s a good manager but not quite good enough, second is actually him overachieving (or would be if he hadn\u2019t spent a billion quid).<\/p>\n Lastly, that post match interview: \u201cI think we elevated (with hand gestures too if you please) the game and the dominance to the point that they have to raise it\u201d. Kinda Mikel, you did dominate them in so far as fielding a team designed almost entirely to shut down Liverpool worked until you actually had to open up a bit. As ever, the howls of outrage will say \u201cWHAT DO YOU EXPECT US TO DO? ALL TEAMS GO TO ANFIELD AND TRY TO NICK IT!\u201d Yeah they do, but context of six years, billion quid, one FA Cup yonks ago is what makes it different for Ickle Mikel IMO. \u00a0<\/p>\n A lot is said of artetas mentality going into big games and setting up to not lose rather than win.<\/p>\n In arsenal\u2019s Amazon documentary there is a scene which perfectly sums up why artetas arsenal cant get over the line<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Worried about an upcoming anfield fixture arteta stops all of his players on the training ground. He\u2019s carrying a portable radio (in the 80s we called them ghetto blasters) and gathers his players around to prepare them. Anfield is a fortress he tells them..one of the most difficult grounds in the world to visit. Because you are not prepared for the noise of the crowd. It can overwhelm you. Engulf you.<\/p>\n Some players simply shrink under the noise and influence , but he knows how to beat it he says. He will desensitize his players to its effect.<\/p>\n He sets the radio down. And tells his players to continue training. While they\u2019re playing a small inter-team game he pressed play and out of the tiny speakers comes the sound of an anfield crowd recording singing you\u2019ll never walk alone.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we are at anfield\u2026.let\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n This says everything to me. I laughed when I first saw it and couldn\u2019t help thinking that as a player id laugh as well. \u00a0<\/p>\n Newcastle nailed it<\/strong><\/p>\n Pre-empting the Transfer Windows Winners<\/strong><\/a> and Losers<\/strong><\/a> piece I am going to bet that Newcastle will be down in the Losers section, and although I would understand why I would like to put forward a counter view.<\/p>\n We entered the summer needing a goalkeeper to push Nick Pope and to potentially replace him, a right winger offering an upgrade to Murphy and depth where we had none, a centre back to challenge Schaer and reduce the average age of our centre backs, a striker to replace Wilson.<\/p>\n Of course the Isak farce meant we needed two strikers instead of one, and selling Longstaff maybe made sense from a PSR perspective (although how much difference does \u00a312m of pure profit make) but we needed another midfielder who was an upgrade to him and take some of the reliance off our first choice three.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve now landed all those positions. No one can guarantee that who we\u2019ve landed will be any good, but if the definition of winning or losing the window is down to what you end up with versus what you wanted, we\u2019ve done that.<\/p>\n Now the argument as to why we\u2019ve lost the window will be that we\u2019ve ended up with players who were way down the list of who we wanted and that is hard to argue against, but its not often than a team outside the top tier gets who they want, and most of those we didn\u2019t land went to other big six teams<\/strong><\/a> (Pedro and Delap to Chelsea, Mbuemo, Cunha and Sesko to United, Trafford to City, Ekitike to Liverpool).<\/p>\n We\u2019ve not lost a top target to another chasing pack rival, that the business all got done in the last few weeks is definitely down to a really poor and inadequate set up but at least we\u2019ve got sh*t done at the end rather than not at all.<\/p>\n
Lindsay, Dublin.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Tom M, Leeds<\/strong><\/p>\n
Gaptoothfreak, Man. Utd., Lisbon (Show me a better irl depiction of Fifa\u2019s\/ PES\u2019 finesse shot than Marc Gu\u00e9hi\u2019s goal)<\/strong><\/p>\n
Mat (Ten Hag loves those poisoned chalices, doesn\u2019t he?)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
James Outram\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
Chris, NUFC<\/strong><\/p>\n
Richard (might need a degree in Scouse Maths) Pike<\/strong><\/p>\n
Lee\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
Paul K, Dublin\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
RHT\/TS x<\/strong><\/p>\n
Lee\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n