Key events
Newcastle reject opening bid from Liverpool for Isak
Liverpool have seen their opening offer for Alexander Isak turned down by Newcastle.
It is thought a £120m bid was made by the Premier League champions but Newcastle will hold out for more. Their situation is complicated by the fact they would first need to find a replacement for Isak.
Can Morecambe be saved? Josh Halliday has been speaking to fans about the grave situation they find themselves in.
“Great windows for Liverpool and Arsenal so far and they both finished above Man City last season,” writes Phil Grey. “I’m guessing this will be the first season a Pep club won’t start the season as favourites to win the league (and the other domestic trophies) since his first season as a manager at Barcelona in 2008.”
I think Liverpool start as favourites. City have done plenty of business over the past seven months and you always back Guardiola to have something up his sleeve. City will be an interesting watch either way.
The absolutely prolific Ben Fisher has been down to Newport for a chat with their new gaffer David Hughes about his first EFL job. Also a lovely mention of the new away kit, which is a stunner.
More than £22m in Covid-related loans from the Scottish government to football clubs remained outstanding at the end of the last financial year, it has been revealed following a Guardian freedom of information request on the eve of a new Scottish Premiership season.
I think the most interesting League One game of the weekend will take place at Edgeley Park, where Stockport are hosting Bolton. The Hatters have enjoyed another successful summer in the market, even if they have lost Isaac Olaofe, although the money recouped on him shows they are smart operators in the market. Nathan Lowe looks a smart signing on loan, while Joseph Olowu is an excellent centre-back.
Two power hours on the trot from Yara and I. It is high-intensity stuff, going in short bursts like Jofra Archer, causing chaos and danger in equal measure.
Will Unwin is back to bring you the latest for the next hour. Hopefully I lived up to expectations.
Brentford have not dropped their interest in Ipswich’s Omari Hutchinson, according to reports. Last month the west London club’s £35m bid was rejected. The fee matched the winger’s relegation release clause but did not include enough cash up front. The relegation clause has since expired. Brentford’s club-record fee spent was the £30m the spent on Igor Thiago from Club Brugge last year.
Some early lunchtime listening, perhaps? In our latest episode of Football Weekly Extra Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Sanny Rudravajhala and George Elek to preview the return of league football this weekend.
Plus after almost two years since Football Weekly’s last live show, they are making a return for one night only to Troxy in east London on 11 September. All the information and tickets (both in-person and for the livestream) can be found here.
Rhian Brewster becomes Derby’s eighth signing of the summer, the 25-year-old joining the club on a two-year contract after leaving Sheffield United.
The striker was a regular for the Blades in the 2024-25 season, with 42 appearances in all competitions. They finished third in the table and reached the playoff final at Wembley.
Rhian Brewster: “The project sounded really, really good and it’s something that I want to be a part of.” 👊
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) August 1, 2025
Sven Ulreich, the Bayern Munich goalkeeper, has posted on his social media that his six-year-old son Len died a few weeks ago after a serious illness.
The player thanked family, friends and Bayern for “their discretion and great support over the past few months” before asking the public to respect his family’s privacy during this time.
The Guardian understands Leicester are hoping to complete the signing of the American midfielder Celeste Boureille. The 31-year-old left the French side Montpellier earlier this summer and has been a key target for the WSL side.
More on that exclusive from Tom Garry as it comes.
Excl. Leicester City are hoping to complete the signing of the American midfielder Celeste Boureille, the Guardian understands. The former Portland Thorns and AC Milan player left the French side Montpellier earlier this summer and has been a key target for the #BarclaysWSL side
— Tom Garry (@TomJGarry) August 1, 2025
A different type of transfer news: Liverpool unveil their new home shirt after switch from Nike to Adidas. Some clubs and kit sponsors just seem to make sense this. Liverpool and Adidas just screams of nostalgia. The club wore kits by the German apparel brand from 1985 to 1996, and again from 2006 to 2012.
The unveiling launch video brings back those legends of yesteryear alongside the current crop of men’s and women’s players.
An update on João Palhinha: Tottenham have agreed to sign the midfielder on a season’s loan from Bayern Munich, with the deal for the Portugal international including an option to make his move permanent for £27m.
It is understood that Spurs will pay a loan fee of £4.3m and will also cover the whole of Palhinha’s wages, with the 30-year-old expected to complete his medical in the coming days.
Palhinha has three years remaining on his current contract but is believed to have been keen to return to the Premier League after enjoying two successful seasons in west London. He only made six starts in the Bundesliga under manager Vincent Kompany.
Ed Aarons with the latest.
Thanks Will, will try my best. Some loan news for you. Chelsea’s Mamadou Sarr has joined RC Strasbourg on a season-long loan. The defender joined the London outfit from the Ligue 1 side in June and was included in their squad for the Club World Cup.
𝖂𝖊𝖑𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝕸𝖆𝖒𝖆𝖉𝖔𝖚!
The Club is pleased to welcome back Mamadou Sarr, who joins Racing on loan for the 2025/26 season! pic.twitter.com/fZCSM39BIN
— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) August 1, 2025
He joins two other Chelsea players – Mike Penders and Kendry Paez – on loan at the Ligue 1 side.
Manchester United have also sent Ethan Wheatley on loan at Northampton Town.
I think we can all accept I’ve done an incredible for the opening 90 minutes of this blog. Can Yara El-Shaboury maintain this standard for the next hour? That’s for you to decide.
It is not just the players primed for the new campaign after a brutal pre-season. Ben Fisher went to see the referees get put through their paces in Alicante. It’s good work if you can get it.
Looking ahead to tonight’s season opener … I am interested to see how Lasse Nordås gets on at Luton. I joined a sinking ship in January, made more difficult arriving from Norway during their pre-season. Now he has had chance to acclimatise, he could be very important to Luton’s chancers of bouncing straight back.
What a relief for Lucas Paqueta that he can fully focus on playing football again and what must have been a difficult couple of years.
Never a quiet day at Old Trafford.
Black Cats complete deal for Roefs
Sunderland have signed the highly-rated Dutch goalkeeper Robin Roefs from NEC Nijmegen. The 22-year-old has signed a five-year deal at the Stadium of Light, becoming the club’s eighth signing of a busy summer.
“It feels really good to have signed for Sunderland,” Roefs said. “Joining such a big Club with a rich history is a proud moment for me, and I’m excited for the challenge ahead in the Premier League. Last season was my first real experience as a senior goalkeeper, and I was happy with how it went, especially with the stats at the end of the campaign. To be part of this journey at a Club like Sunderland is really special, and I’m looking forward to the campaign ahead.”
When you watch a lot of League One and League Two it is easy to forget quite how sensationally good all these players are. At one point every one of the them was the best somewhere – school, youth, academy, wherever. It is a weird situation where they are living the dream – being paid to play football – but constantly having to acknowledge they are not the best at this.
Max Rushden on the joys of transfers as a lower league fan, as they desperately every new face is the saviour they never knew.
Need more hot transfer gossip? Get stuck into today’s Rumour Mill.
A further transfer nibble from me …
Luton’s Lamine Fanne is wanted around Europe. Turkish side Konyaspor have already made contact with the Hatters about the Senegalese midfielder, who only moved to Kenilworth Road in January. Istanbul Basaksehir, Empoli and Copenhagen are also interested in the 21-year-old.
Leyton Orient should confirm the loan signing of Manchester United’s Jack Moorhouse today. The player was at the club yesterday finalising the deal ahead of a season working with Richie Wellens. Orient had a cracking record with last season’s loan signings, so United will be hoping they can work their magic with the highly-talented Moorhouse.
What happens when two superstars collide? Ben Fisher and Tom Brady in one article is about as good as it gets in the world of sport. Oh and Wayne Rooney gets further mention. A big day for him at Guardian HQ.
Dominic Booth went down to Moss Rose to have a chat with John Rooney about his brother, not being Robbie Savage and the joys of the National League North. I was always quite excited to read that Franny Jeffers is the assistant manager.
It looks like friend of Football Weekly Conor Coady is on his way to Wrexham from Leicester after the two clubs, reportedly, agreed a £2m fee for the former England centre-back. The Welsh club have enjoyed a good summer of mixing potential and experience in their transfer dealings.
Rangers sign Spurs teenager Moore on loan
Mikey Moore spoke of his love for Rangers after joining the Ibrox club from Tottenham on a season-long loan.
The highly-rated attacker, who turns 18 later this month, came through the ranks at Spurs and made his senior debut against Manchester City a little over 12 months ago, thus becoming the youngest Tottenham player to feature in the Premier League at the age of 16 years and 277 days.
Moore, who has played for England youth sides up to Under-19 level, told the Ibrox club’s official website: “I’m excited to get going.
“As soon as I heard Rangers were interested and wanted me to come, it was a massive opportunity for me. I’m excited to be here and hopefully I can show the fans and everyone what I can do. I’ve always loved Rangers as a club. My family have always loved them.
“I think with the new boss and the way that we play, it’s a great place to be at the minute. It was a pretty easy decision for me to come here.” PA Media
We have a couple of transfer stories knocking around from last night.
Where is Alexander Isak? He has wandered off to San Sebastian to enjoy a bit of solo training, some pintxos and hopefully the odd glass of Txakoli. I appreciate he might want to leave but it is always fascinating how these players go about it.
Arne Slot says Liverpool are always keen on signing top quality players and there aren’y many – if any – better strikers than Isak around. It also helps that he really wants to move to Anfield.
We might as well start in the traditional way with our League One and Two previews for the upcoming season.
The really good news is that I wrote them, so you can email in to tell me what utter nonsense I am spouting. I think, technically, I am still Harrogate Town’s fourth choice goalkeeper, so I know what I am on about.
Football is … back?
In the monied leagues, the focus is on Alexander Isak’s future. The Swedish striker is currently training alone at Real Sociedad as he looks to force a move away from Newcastle, with Liverpool his desired destination.
Down the pyramid the action is on the pitch. Obviously football at no point stopped thanks to the Club World Cup, Women’s European Championship, European qualifiers, constant transfer rumours swirling and the general lack of anything else in our empty lives.
League One gets us going with Luton v AFC Wimbledon later, which would have been a Premier League v League Two clash a couple of years ago. It shows that football can still be quite fun and unpredictable.
We welcome all your comments, predictions and insight heading into this glorious time when the Football League is given centre stage.