Transfer news live: Son set to leave Tottenham, Isak future uncertain after Newcastle reject Liverpool bid

The Premier League champions believe the swiftness and clarity of Newcastle’s response means it would be futile to up their club record offer for the striker.

Liverpool, who had made an inquiry for the 25-year-old last month, stepped up their interest in the Newcastle top scorer as they looked to take their summer spending up towards £400m.

But the Carabao Cup winners had long maintained their top scorer was not for sale and they immediately rebuffed turned Liverpool’s bid down.

It ended a 17-year trophy drought for the club.

South Korea captain Son explained his decision to target a “fresh challenge” during a press conference in his home country ahead of Tottenham’s pre-season friendly with Newcastle on Sunday.

The Premier League champions believe the swiftness and clarity of Newcastle’s response means it would be futile to up their club record offer for the striker.

Liverpool, who had made an inquiry for the 25-year-old last month, stepped up their interest in the Newcastle top scorer as they looked to take their summer spending up towards £400m.

The Sweden international has told the Carabao Cup winners he wants to explore the possibility of a move away from St James’ Park and Liverpool, who had made an inquiry about the 25-year-old last month, and followed it up with a formal bid.

Isak would be expected to command a price of over £100m and more than the club record sum Liverpool have paid for Florian Wirtz this summer.

Newcastle had long maintained that Isak was not for sale, but Liverpool are testing that position and manager Eddie Howe has admitted his top scorer’s future could be out of his hands.

Manchester United have made Benjamin Sesko their top striking target and have made contact with RB Leipzig about him.

United had narrowed down their search for a No 9 to the Slovenian and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins before deciding to prioritise a move for the 22-year-old.

Luis Diaz gave up a shirt worn by some of Liverpool’s previous greats two years ago. He swapped from the No 23, donned by a young Robbie Fowler and then Jamie Carragher, for the more iconic No 7. He offered to personally reimburse fans who had bought the old shirt.

The probability now is that he won’t be making a similar offer. Diaz is giving up the number made prestigious by Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Luis Suarez, trading the red shirt of Liverpool for the red of Bayern Munich. He had first asked to leave in 2024. He is getting his wish a year later.

Club executives and senior football figures believe that the Manchester City financial casecould go until at least October before the initial outcome, as the controversy threatens to complicate another Premier League season. Some club leaders have even speculated that it might arrive in the campaign’s second international break, from 4-18 October, given previous patterns regarding similar cases.

An outcome was expected last season, given that the hearing concluded in early December. It has nevertheless rumbled on into the summer, and means another season faces potential upheaval and drastic change through possible points deductions. Manchester City stridently insist upon their innocence.

The Premier League will not bow to pressure to reduce in size from 20 to 18 clubs, says chief executive Richard Masters.

The Blues played almost a year of continuous football before the end of their 2024/25 season gave them a long-awaited reprieve, but will have to do it all over again with 11 months of competitive action culminating back in the United States for the World Cup – the final of which takes place on 19 July in New Jersey.

Manchester United face a crucial summer as Ruben Amorim finally gets the chance to shape his squad and transform his failing team into contenders at the top end of the table.

The release of the Premier League fixtures shows a difficult start for United, with an opening game agasint Arsenal and fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea within their first five matches of 2025/26, and the manager’s future could be called into question early should his side struggle.

United got some early business done with the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves in a £62.5m deal before completing a move for Brentford star Bryon Mbeumo, but co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made clear that the money pot is not deep.

Offloading high-wage players such as Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho seems key to funding the revolution, with a lack of movement causing frustration among fans as United lag behind their rivals.

Here’s everything you need to know about Manchester United’s summer transfer plans.