Angad Nagra

Happy to agree that Isak is the best striker in the world right now, but that’s never felt more than a hollow reality. However, this is a manager that shushes the pub you’re in because he’s the one you’d prioritise in a heartbeat. We’ve had better forwards, we’ve not had a better manager.

Who was the source of the news on this latest contract offer rejection?

Perhaps. I’m trying to keep an open mind for now and refrain from passing any definitive judgments one way or the other until we learn more. I hope the club will be similarly dispassionate in trying to learn some lessons from this summer’s experience.

Apparently he’s likely headed to another PIF-owned club. Could be more to this than meets the eye…

I’m reading Liverpool fans thanking Nunez after selling him and not one of them mentioning Saudi blood money, human rights and Sports washing and and this is the THIRD player they’ve sold there. Hypocrisy is off the scale

If true, that adds insult to injury and is a huge reality check for us. It’s going to take years for us to build the pull that the legacy big 6 have over us. Either that or we end up with mercenaries who only want the money and will always go to the highest salary (think Demba Ba, Distan, etc)
#NUFC

Couldn’t agree more mate. Just got back from two weeks abroad with my wife and kid and it cast a long shadow over what should have otherwise been a really fun and enjoyable trip.

Been wondering this exact same thing!

Crystal Palace agreed a fee of £20m with Chelsea for Marc Guehi in 2021. Man U sold Elanga to Forest for £15m in 2023 - I’d much rather we targeted players at that stage and developed them than piss in the wind like we’ve done this summer…

Hope apparently says we’re interested in John McGinn…

Great piece as always, Harry. Agree with you here to a tee.

How Newcastle United Can Emerge Stronger From Benjamin Sesko Rejection Striker Benjamin Sesko has become the latest player to reject a move to Newcastle United this summer, but the club can still emerge with a strong attack.

NEW for @ForbesSports.

No Sesko has to mean Isak stays.

The #MUFC bound striker was the last viable Isak successor. Everyone else is fraught with risk or not a good fit.

#LFC won’t likely pay £150m either. There’s no way #NUFC win Isak is sold.

www.forbes.com/sites/harryd...

Also, the only way bidding less than an existing bid makes any sense to me is if you have no intention of going any higher. Makes me question how much additional wherewithal they have left, either to match our offer, or potentially a counter-offer if RBL give us that opportunity.

A bit hard to say, but doesn’t sound like RBL will accept both bids. Sounds more like they expect MUFC to match our offer.

Fab saying negotiations continuing between MUFC and RBL. Not sure what would be left to negotiate if Mark Douglas was correct about that, but who knows…

On cue.

Thx!

What did he say this morning? I must have missed it.

Yeah, it does seem super weird they’d accept a lower and higher bid simultaneously. Who does that?

I guess I would be surprised if RBL didn’t give us that opportunity after getting the ManU bid. Surely they would want a bidding war as much as any agent involved?

Was lowballing the issue if ManU got a lower bid accepted simultaneously with our revised, higher bid? To me, that would seem to suggest the opposite.

Mark Douglas saying that both bids will be accepted by Leipzig. Bye bye Sesko. #NUFC

Remeber, sky are only saying "one source" is claiming he prefers Man U. There's 2 Slovenians that have said he preferes us.
In all, nobody know. Let's just sweat.
But they bid less! It's an absolute piss take. #nufc

Yes, it’s always couched as “they believe” or “the feeling is”. I’m sure he’s told both clubs he’s open to joining them or neither would have bid. People flapping about us not moving sooner on the second bid but neither RB nor the player seems to have been in any rush so far.

Yep. He sure did. That’s why I miss him, even though it’s impossible to take him back after the manner in which he breached the trust and confidence of the club.

Seems to coincide with when Andy Howe arrived. What do you make of that coincidence? Unlike some others on here, I’m honestly just posing the question and not trying to suggest anything one way or the other because I candidly don’t know what to think about him.

Exactly. Negotiating against yourself at that point.

I agree, but how do you respond to a bid lower than what you’ve tabled? That’s basically negotiating against yourself.

He also isn’t going to take a pay cut, which is what would be needed to avoid breaking our wage structure.