Aston Villa transfer news: The truth about Nicolas Jackson, latest on Morgan Rogers contract and Emi Martinez's future
With eyes firmly on regaining their place in the Champions League for 2026-27, Villa boss Unai Emery and his key lieutenants are showing no desire to encourage interest in their exciting forward Morgan Rogers.
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Metro
6 minutes ago
- Metro
Alexander Isak rejects £96m transfer offer after Liverpool talks
Newcastle United striker and Liverpool transfer target Alexander Isak has rejected a stunning contract offer worth £600,000-a-week. Isak informed Newcastle last week that he wants to explore his options this summer despite having three more years on his current contract. Newcastle spent £63m on the Sweden international in 2022 and have seen Isak develop into one of the best strikers in the world. Isak scored 27 goals in all competitions last season to help Newcastle win the Carabao Cup and qualify for the Champions League. Despite tentative transfer rumours earlier in the year, Isak was expected to stay at St James' Park this summer – but he dropped a bombshell last week by telling Newcastle he was open to leaving. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Isak is yet to join up with his Newcastle teammates on their pre-season tour in southeast Asia as he is reportedly managing a minor thigh injury. Liverpool have expressed interest in signing Isak since he revealed he was open to a summer move but Newcastle still want well over £100m for the striker. Arne Slot sanctioned Liverpool's £69m move for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike earlier this month but the Premier League champions are also interested in bringing Isak to Anfield. Isak has also attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League, with Al Hilal offering the forward a contract worth a stunning £32m-a-year tax-free with lucrative bonuses on top. As well as pocking £600,000-a-week over three years, Isak has been promised a further £3.6m for winning the Saudi Pro League and £1.75m for finishing as the division's top scorer, according to The Sun. Al Hilal finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season and recently poached Simone Inzaghi from Champions League finalists Inter Milan. Despite the incredible sums on offer, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says Isak has rejected the approach from Al Hilal and informed the club he intends to remain in Europe. Liverpool will not come close to matching Al Hilal's contract proposal but can offer Isak the chance to win major trophies under Arne Slot. As well as signing Ekitike, Liverpool have bolstered Slot's Premier League champions with the signings of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe addressed the speculation over Isak's future ahead of the club's pre-season friendly against Arsenal on Sunday. 'He is now in Newcastle getting his injury assessed. Hopefully he will be back soon and playing in the black and white shirt, that's what we want to see,' Howe said. 'Of course there are things going on behind the scenes. Conversations that happen between Alex and ourselves and Alex and the club will stay private. 'He is very popular in the dressing room and would love him to continue his journey at Newcastle. There are no contract talks taking place, that will be for a later date, potentially. 'I certainly hope he stays. It's football, who knows what the future will bring.' Speaking after the game, which Arsenal won 3-2, Howe said there was 'no chance' that Isak would join the pre-season tour for Newcastle's final two games in southeast Asia. Ex-Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has predicted Isak will end up at Anfield and believes the club have been pursuing him behind the scenes for 12 months. 'I can only see Alexander Isak joining Liverpool if he does leave Newcastle, which is now expected,' he wrote in his column for CaughtOffside. 'I think this has been something that's been ongoing probably for 12 months or more. I think the expectation from Newcastle was that it was going to be next season that other clubs were going to bid. More Trending 'A lot of fans will want him to be sold abroad, but it doesn't work like that. If the player says that they're going to down tools unless you let me go to this specific club, it's very, very difficult for the club.' Arsenal and Manchester United have previously been linked with Isak but the Gunners have just spent £64m to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting. Isak would likely have major reservations about joining a United team who finished 15th in the Premier League last season. Ruben Amorim is keen to sign a new striker, however, and has discussed two targets after missing out on his former Sporting star Gyokeres to Arsenal. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: William Saliba provides major update on Arsenal future amid fresh Real Madrid transfer links MORE: Liverpool agree Luis Diaz transfer with £65.5m exit imminent MORE: Ruben Amorim explains why Man Utd fans must wait for Bryan Mbeumo debut
Evening Standard
6 minutes ago
- Evening Standard
Chloe Kelly thanks for doubters after firing England to Euro 2025 glory
'I am so grateful to be out at the back end, but if that's a story to tell someone who maybe experiences something the same, then tough times don't last and just around the corner was a Champions League final. I won that and now a Euros final, I've won that.
The Independent
6 minutes ago
- The Independent
Luke Littler beats James Wade to win first World Matchplay crown in Blackpool
Luke Littler won his first World Matchplay crown as James Wade's remarkable run in Blackpool fell at the final hurdle. Littler claimed a hard-fought 18-13 victory at the Winter Gardens to become the fifth player to win the PDC Triple Crown – Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Luke Humphries having also won World Championship, Matchplay and Premier League titles. Wade was in his seventh Matchplay final 18 years on from his solitary success in 2007, which came six months after Littler was born. Littler's scoring power in a high-quality contest proved decisive – he hit 17 180s to Wade's six in averaging 107 – and set a new tournament record of 64 maximums, beating Adrian Lewis' previous best of 56. 'It means absolutely everything,' Littler told Sky Sports after winning the last four legs to hold the Phil Taylor Trophy aloft. 'I idolise Phil, he's come here 16 times and won it. Now my name is on this trophy – and I can say I've completed the Triple Crown. 'Since I started on the Tour and got my Tour card I've always said to myself, 'as long as I win one of every major I'll be happy.' 'I've only got a few left to tick off and I'll definitely chase the majors I haven't won yet.' Littler had to mount another comeback 24 hours after losing the first five legs of his semi-final to Northern Ireland's Josh Rock. Wade stormed into a 5-0 lead but did not have a single dart at a double in the second mini-session as Littler levelled in style. The 42-year-old left-hander produced an 11-darter in the next, but Littler responded by winning successive legs to lead for the first time at 7-6. Wade managed to keep in touch, helped by a bull finish in the 19th leg, and fought back from a double break down to cut the gap to just one at 14-13. But Littler pulled away and crossed the line in style with a 115 out shot (20-57-38), the biggest finish of the match. 'A little bit,' Littler said when asked if he had felt in control. 'Five-nil down once again, I said, 'I've been here before, what are you doing?' 'But I managed to pull it out of the bag and win the next five. I've shown I can come back from 5-0 or 7-3 down. 'I'm happy I can pull myself out of these scorelines, but I don't want to be 5-0 down again. 'James started to drop off a bit and I started to find my best darts.' By winning the title 18-year-old Littler became the youngest ever champion in Matchplay history, six years younger than Wade when he lifted the title.
