Newcastle pushing to sign Strand Larsen from Wolves | Transfer Talk
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[Music] Alexander Isac is included in Sweden's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers despite not featuring for Newcastle once this season. Hello, welcome to Transfer Talk. What a window it has been already. And with 5 days remaining, we look set for a thrilling end. And Alexander Isac hasn't got his move yet, but will it happen? We'll discuss that and plenty more coming for you this hour. Also coming up, Mikuel Arteta is trying to add to his defense. Will we see Pierro Hin Cape join the club? Chelsea could be busy in the leadup to the deadline with the focus on outgoings. Will Nicholas Jackson find a new club? And despite signing Mads Hermanson earlier this month, West Ham go back in for goalkeeper John Victor. [Music] A very good afternoon to you at home and welcome to former Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels is with us. It's great to have you with us Charlie. >> Thank you. I'm excited. >> And our reporter of course James. Sorry you don't get as big a welcome James. It's great to have you as well in the Premier League. >> Right. Just quick news of a done deal into us. Barcia Dortmund have now completed the loan signing of Chelsea defender Aaron Anelmino. But right, let's start with Newcastle and Alexander Isach who has been added to Sweden's international squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Keith Downey is at St. James's Park for us. Uh Keith Alexander Isac met with the club's co-owners on Monday. He's now been called up to the Sweden squad. So where do we stand on this one? Yeah, look, I don't think it's any surprise that Alexander Isach has been called up to the Sweden squad. Yes, we know he has been training on his own for a number of weeks now, but of course, uh he's a Swedish international. They will want to use him in their upcoming matches against Slovenia and Kosovo. And I I was expecting that. I think I would have been more surprised had Alexander Isac not been called up to that game. He probably needs a little bit of normality giving given everything that that's going on and has been going on throughout this protracted uh summer potential sale to to Liverpool. But you ask me where we stand with it right now. Look, it's probably the exact same place as where where we stood yesterday because it's one of these situations where for Alexander Isach to move to Liverpool, um a certain number of um dominoes need to fall or a certain number of things need to happen for allow to allow that to to take place. Look, we know Newcastle are looking for replacements. They've actively been working away in the transfer market all summer long to try and bring in a replacement for Alexander Isac to allow him to leave. They tried for Benjamin Cesco, of course that fell through. They tried for Hugo Ekitiki, that fell through. Um, and now they they're trying for Wolves, Jorgen, Strand Larson, as well as Brenford's Yoan Wissa. So, I I still feel that if um if if one of these situations or maybe two of them get to a point where they're closer about to happen, that may change things regarding Alexander Isach. He had the meeting, you're right, on Monday at his home here in Newcastle alongside a delegation from the PIF, who of course own Newcastle United and Jamie Rubin, one of the the club's other directors. He had that meeting. Um, I'm told there was no resolution from that meeting. It wasn't like they came out of that and they decided to sign a new contract and carry on with the season. That is not the case. So the stalemate remains and you have to say with just what's five six days left of the transfer window to go if that stalemate continues there still is a chance that Alexander Isac could leave Newcastle United um by the end of this window for Liverpool. But of course Liverpool have to make a bid that's acceptable to Newcastle and I would suspect Newcastle need to get at least at least one potentially two replacements because they are so so light in strikers at this moment in time. Uh yeah, we'll get into potential replacements in just a second. Keith, like you say, there's only five days to go in the window now, even if the clubs could agree a fee. Is there time to do it given we're talking about such a large sum of money? >> Yeah, I I think there is. Look, I think there is. I think I think with a situation um like this um look, it's been spoken about all all summer long, hasn't it? We know the situation. I think Liverpool know what Newcastle are looking for. or Newcastle know what they would be looking for for a deal to get done. Um and although it would be a British transfer let record, a Premier League transfer record, remember they've already had 110 million pounds plus7 millions in add-ons uh turned down round about four weeks ago. That would have been a record in itself. So that's been turned down. It's going to be more than that. It will be a record. Although it's a huge transfer, eye watering sums of money, I still think because everything would be okay on ESC side. I think he would there would be no issue with personal terms. For example, I think they could weirdly actually push it through quite quickly. I think the thing that's holding it up is Newcastle's um attempts to bring in a a replacement or or replacements because the players that they're looking looking at their clubs need to bring in replacements. So, it's like a domino effect at the moment and it's the sort of thing where there's a stalemate right now. you know, it feels like we're waiting and and we're waiting. But I think it'll just take one thing to fall into place for for things to to move and we could still see Alexander Isach uh leave, but of course I think all options are open and we could still see Alexander Isach remain here on on Tside as well. Look, one thing's for sure, it's going to be a fascinating last few days of the the transfer window as we tick down to the the deadline at 7 p.m. on Monday evening. >> Uh Keith, you've mentioned obviously potential replacements. Jorgen Strand Len they're not having much luck agreeing a deal with Wolves as it stands but feels like this is maybe a replacement for Callum Wilson and if so it's a big fee or potential fee for a backup option isn't it? >> Yeah I mean look that's that's the noises coming out of the football club here at Newcastle is that he would be a replacement for Callum Wilson. Um Callum Wilson of course left and has yet to be replaced. Of course Newcastle playing without Isach at the moment so they don't have a recognized number nine. Anthony Gordon played in that position against Liverpool here on Monday night and and got himself sent off. He's missing for the next three matches. So they're even more light than they than they were before. They've just got young William Aula who of course scored here and that look I think we'll probably be given an opportunity against Leeds at the weekend. In terms of the fee for Jorgen Strand Larson, you're right. It's big, isn't it? They've already had one bid on Monday turned down,50 million, and then they returned to the table last night with a second offer, £55 million for the Norwegian international striker. Again, turned down by by Wolves. I I look, I think the player is open to the move. And while he's not agitating to leave like we see with with both Isach and and Whistler at their respective clubs, I think he would be open to a move here to to Newcastle United. But again, I think for Wolves, they one want to make sure it's a fee they're acceptable with. They're clearly not happy with the 55. They want more than that. Um, and they would need to get a replacement in themselves as well. So, look, George Mendes, who works as an adviser for the club, I think, furiously working away in the background to try and see if they can bring in a replacement to allow Strand Larson to go, but as yet Newcastle haven't agreed a fee either. So, it's it's very it's very similar to the the situation with Whistler at Brenford, other than Whistler's refusing to to essentially play for Brenford or has been up until now. But Larson clearly is playing. Scored two goals against West Ham United last night and looks like he's fully committed to the cause. So doing things a bit differently to what we see from both Alexander Isac and Joan Whistle. But again, I do think if one or two of these dominoes fall, we might see a a a quick movement in the whole transfer market and things begin to fall into place. >> Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much, Keith. Right, let's get stuck into this then, Charlie. Just first of all, Alexander Isac, what have you made, you know, as a as a former player, what have you made of this whole Alexander Isac situation? >> Yeah, it's it's been a big transfer saga throughout the whole summer. Uh I think if if the game wasn't on Monday if if Liverpool playing Newcastle later on the season, I think either a deal would have been done or not done quicker. I think now now the game's over and the stuff like that. I think the talks have happened uh and now a conclusion will will happen obviously before the end of the season now because there there's so many domino effects that happen off this you say if if Newcastle do go in for a strand len now Wolves got to look for a striker as well so there's there's so many things in place but Newcastle I don't think will let him go if if there is an offer accepted before getting a striker in >> from a player perspective can you let's think of from Alexander Isach's perspective and everything he's chosen to do personally and sort of during this summer. Do you understand his frustrations where he's been saying, you know, he's been promised certain things that haven't then happened? So, do you understand it from his point of view as well as the other one? >> Yeah, I mean, there's there's two sides to every story, isn't there? And listen, we no one really knows what what was said, what wasn't said, but uh you know, Alexander is fully committed to to to his priorities and his beliefs and what was said to him. So, uh if that's the case, that's how he feels and you can't you can't begrudge someone like that. But uh as I said, Newcastle are >> say the the owners they they control what where he can go and and can't go. So and if if if uh the talks have gone well and they've everything gets sorted out then I'm sure he will go with with everyone's best wishes because uh he is a fantastic player but ultimately Newcastle want him to stay because say he is one of the best strikers if in the Premier League if not in the world. So why why wouldn't you want him to stay? I mean, James, do you see any world in which new in which Alexander Eek now stays at stays at Newcastle? >> Well, I don't think if they don't get the money which they feel he's worth and they can't find a replacement. So, two things really need to happen. Liverpool needs to come in with a bid which Liverpool which Newcastle feel is acceptable. They value him at 150 million. I'm not sure it will necessarily take that because you got a very unhappy player and if he's not willing to play, yes, he's got three years on his contract. So, Newcastle from a business point of view have put themselves in a brilliant position, but ultimately if the player refuses to play, yes, you can find him. You can you can do what you want, but ultimately the player power is going to win here if Liverpool come in with a suitable offer. But crucially, Newcastle need to find alternative options. It's just whether or not they see signing Whista and Strand Lson if they can get those two deals done, which they don't look close to doing at the moment. And they say, "Right, we'll take a bit of a profit with the ESAT money and we'll go into the season with those two as our frontline strikers." and whether or not they think that is acceptable because at this moment in time they're not going to sign a Alexander Isat replacement who is world class and who guarantees 20 goals a season which what this man has done over this last two seasons. >> Well, it it's interesting actually do you think Whissa and Strand L and Charlie are probably as good as you're going to get for Alexander Isac because also when you look at both their seasons if you take away Alexander Isach's penalties they scored a very similar amount him and Whistler last season. So when you look at those two that they're going to bring in to replace Isach is that as good as they're going to get? I think what what that Newcastle are looking for at the end of the window is options. So when they go from September all the way through to January, they need options up the front of the pitch. Uh and like you say, there's there's goals all around their their squad. So Isak's going to be a massive miss, not only for his goals, but for his play. But if they can have options and different uh people scoring, chipping in with goals, I'm sure they'll be happy with it. >> Uh what about Eddie How then? As a man that has worked under Eddie How, you've obviously worked under him for so many years. Um, what's he like as a man manager? Just first of all, >> you know, he's really good. He's he's first and foremost, he's a family man. He he he he cares about his players. Uh, he understands. He listens. Uh, and he wants their best interest in heart. And listen, his biggest asset is is developing players and making them better. I mean, you can see from where Newcastle was when he first took over to where they are now, the increase in, I'm sure, in every single player, not only the players that you see, but every single player on the squad, I'm sure, has got got better through through his work rate. Not only him, but obviously all his staff. >> Uh, and and listen, everyone who works with him will say the same thing. Uh so he'll be he'll be just want this window ended knowing him he just wants everything wherever Isac stays at goes if he gets more players he just wants this window ending so he knows he's got his squad and he can work with them to to the next window. >> Yeah and of course they got Champions League football as well to look forward to at St. James Park this season and will this be hurting Eddie how you know he's had to come out. It's not a situation that's ideal for anyone everyone involved and having to come out and talk to the media and front up because he's the only one that really does that. Will he be hurting do you think? Uh that's a that's a tough question. I think that's it's it's like any manager's role. I mean he he'll be dis it'll be disappointing probably the way everyone's gone about it. Uh but like I said before I think he just wants his window to end. He wants his squad together and then whatever he has he I know he's he'll work with him to the best of his ability. >> It's been a frustrating window though James hasn't it for how I mean he's come out and said that himself. I mean it has been frustrating in some senses but when you look at the goalkeeper department, defensive department, midfield department, they're actually better than they were last season. So you can argue it has been successful on that front. Clearly right now they're very short when it comes to strike options because Anthony Gordon's now out of three matches. Callum Wilson's departed, hasn't been replaced. So in a way there'll be immense frustration, but in a way Newcastle fans can also be encouraged that they've been in the market for these type of players. They've been going in for some of the best players. They've been going against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. Things haven't gone their way with those deals, but I think Newcastle fans would rather than be going after these players and going after players with slightly lesser lesser abilities. So, it has been frustrating, but on paper, they actually are in a really good spot. But clearly strikers, I agree with that. I think if you take the EAC situation out of it, >> I think they've had a good window in terms of the recruitment they've made. uh that Jacob Ramsey coming in now, you know, it's been they've got an actually really good squad. >> Uh and I say if Isak stays, it just it just makes them even stronger. And if they bring in two more players for one player, again, their squad gets better. So I I agree if if I think they've had a pretty good window if you take the Isaac situation out of it. And just finally that performance I know all be it they lost the game in the last second but that performance will give Newcastle and their fans you know such confidence because you know to go two and n down and to go down to 10 men and the comeback it just shows I remember Newcastle said in their statement you know we're a family club we've got strong traditions and you know they're a proud club and that performance was everything about Newcastle. It was yeah, you know, it was it was a full-blooded performance and it started from before the game, you know, the fans getting on top of obviously the occasion with everything surrounding it, but uh >> say 11 v1 they were they were really they were on top of Liverpool and gave them a real big scare. Uh and then even when they went down to to 10 men, you know, the the fight that they showed, the the quality that they showed and the composure that they showed even though they was down to 10 men and to get back in in it and you know, it was it was a lovely goal to Liverpool's winner. Uh really really good from the youngster. Great finish, but uh I think Eddie will will look at it as a as a whole and think, you know what, that was that was a good performance and we're in a good place. >> Yeah, can take plenty of positives, but will Alexander Isac be a Newcastle player or a Liverpool player come Monday evening. Uh right, still so much to get through here on Transfer Talk. Coming up, KBY Mayu's future is in doubt. West Ham could be looking for another goalkeeper. Plus, Julian Lauron joins us. Don't go anywhere. [Music] Uh, welcome back. West Ham are back in talks to sign Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor. They're understood to be discussing an initial loan that could become permanent if he manages to establish himself as the number one. The fee for the permanent aspect could be6 million pounds as West Ham look for more competition in goal following a disastrous start to the season. James, this is a bit of a nightmare situation because they bought in Hermanson over John Victor hasn't had a great start to the season. Areola comes in, makes a mistake yesterday. So, I mean, where do they go from here? Are they looking a bit silly now? >> It does feel like a really strange situation on paper if they're looking for a goalkeeper to already replace Hermanson considering he's only had two matches. And yes, it's been a really disappointing two matches in the Premier League for West Ham conceding eight goals, but surely you can't be writing him off after two matches. They' have done so much homework on the player and based on two performances, you surely can't be writing him off. It's whether or not he's coming in Victor John if they can arrange a deal to compete with Hermanson and then Areola gets to move elsewhere because I'm not sure Areola at this stage of his career wants to be a third choice goalkeeper. It just shows how quickly things move in in football. 18 months ago, you'd be saying Alons Areola was one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League, one of the most reliable goalkeepers. But but things change and managers have different opinions on players, which sometimes as fans, you you don't necessarily agree with. It's clear they were looking for an upgrade on Areola in the summer, though. That's why they brought her Manson in, but this makes sense in terms of value for money if they are able to get this deal done. So, um it's an interesting situation though. It doesn't look great, does it? >> Uh no. Do you think so? If John Victor does come in, then is that to replace Areola? You think one of them, one of them has to go and it's probably not going to be Ma