Reading the Game ⚽

The Independent’s football newsletter ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0QvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD0xZHh4cHljY2phdHFXBXNwY2V1QgpmoUXZrGYJBHdVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0QvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD1jd3VldHhpdWFvZG9XBXNwY2V1QgpmoUXZrGYJBHdVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Friday, August 2, 2024     ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXV0aG9yL21pZ3VlbC1kZWxhbmV5P2xpZD1tcWx5YnJobjBlaTlXBXNwY2V1QgpmoUXZrGYJBHdVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvYXV0aG9yL21pZ3VlbC1kZWxhbmV5P2xpZD1wZGszaGc3NnByZzdXBXNwY2V1QgpmoUXZrGYJBHdVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0Q-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvP2xpZD05ZXJrMjRycGU5cDdXBXNwY2V1QgpmoUXZrGYJBHdVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ Arteta reconsiders forward options Arsenal are currently assessing their forward options after Newcastle United rather firmly made it be known they would not be even considering any moves for Alexander Isak. As was reported by the Independent at the start of the summer, the Swede was Arsenal's top target for a number-nine but they were unwilling to get into a saga that went on the entire window. That has led them to quickly move on but it's gone a bit further than that. Mikel Arteta saw Isak's qualities as so specifically suited to what he wanted that it almost got to a point of Isak or no one for number-nine. Arsenal have shown they are willing to spend big money but, as with Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk before, that has to be on a player that exactly fits. Declan Rice was that. Isak is that. But the sense is they don't just want to go for a forward for the sake of it. Arteta did briefly consider Ivan Toney again before the Euros, but quickly felt the forward wasn't fully suited. As it stands, Arsenal look likelier to go for a wide forward who can go central.   Support The Independent Join The Independent's mission for truth. With your support, we challenge the status quo, uncover crucial stories, and amplify unheard voices. Your contribution ensures our independence and fuels honest, transparent journalism. Whether $5 or $50, every donation matters. Support us today to keep truth free. [SUPPORT US](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0Q1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZG9uYXRlP2xpZD1xcXQ5MzE3MXdudWxXBXNwY2V1QgpmoUXZrGYJBHdVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Other clubs willing to test Newcastle... Many other clubs are watching what Newcastle do next, and not just given all of the debate about the club. It's more about what business is possible, especially as rivals have had conflicting information from the market about what the Saudi Arabian-owned club need to do. Some believe they still need to make one major sale, which would really mean one of Isak, Bruno Guimaraes or Anthony Gordon. Others believe they only need a sale if they want to do other major business. Both Liverpool and Arsenal, however, have so far found Newcastle highly resistant to moves in a way that suggests they do not need to let any players go. That could of course be mere positioning in a relatively slow market, that is expected to again go to the wire in terms of major deals. Arsenal are in the unusual situation of wanting two major stars from Newcastle, in Isak and Guimaraes. They are two the St James Park hierarchy are absolutely unwilling to let go, though. A move for Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino suggests that Arteta is moving on there, but that has raised some bigger talking points in Spain... Spanish prices display a market shift and a football cycle While Conor Gallagher's move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid is seen as good business, there is some surprise that his potential fee is far higher - by almost 50% - than that of a highly technical player like Mikel Merino. It also says something else about the market. The general view in football is that this has been an achingly slow window, and part of that is because a new "austerity" - a relative term in the game of course - is starting to hit. Wages and fees have been too high for too long, with wider economic forces beginning to affect broadcasting and commercial income. Of those leagues that do have money, then, the Premier League has been affected by its own willingness to pay high wages for so long in how so many clubs are close to PSR limits. The Saudi Pro League, meanwhile, only has limited foreign player slots available. Two relative exceptions are the Bundesliga and Serie A, who have enjoyed moderate financial growth in the last year, and are currently seeing more business. That has gone hand in hand with this general view that La Liga has now slipped to become Europe's fourth league, quite a change from when it was by some distance the game's grandest home for the greatest stars. And yet La Liga is of course the domestic league of the European champions, who had a more diverse squad in terms of clubs than ever before. Spain, unlike the 2008-12 glory era, were not just filled with players from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Now, as the interest in players like Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Dani Olmo and Nico Williams accelerates, it's hard not to think some of it comes from the necessity that develops from inability to spend. More homegrown players are used. Clubs can hang onto them longer... until it gets to the point where they thrive, interest in them grows, and the cycle goes around again. La Liga suddenly becomes seen as a home of talent once more, increasing its commercial profile. Right now, mind, it could do with that boost. Chelsea could meanwhile be looking to Spain for other reasons. There are only six international loan spots, but the London club have a group of around 15 players who need to find temporary clubs in the next four weeks. American training grounds reveal new traits As misleading as it can be to draw too much from pre-season trips, there are naturally some developments that will be more substantial than results. The Liverpool squad have started to really talk among themselves about how "different" Arne Slot's coaching is compared to Jurgen Klopp's. It is certainly more technical. There has also been something similar at Manchester United, in a different situation. New assistants Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake are said to have greatly elevated the level of training.   Football news ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZ2FyZXRoLXNvdXRoZ2F0ZS1lbmdsYW5kLWV1cm8tMjAyNC1tYW50cmEtYjI1Nzc4ODMuaHRtbD9saWQ9ejU3MXI2cTFidmdrVwVzcGNldUIKZqFF2axmCQR3VVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [Erik ten Hag reveals thoughts on his short-term Manchester United contract](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZXJpay10ZW4taGFnLWNvbnRyYWN0LW1hbmNoZXN0ZXItdW5pdGVkLXJhdGNsaWZmZS1iMjU5MDEyMC5odG1sP2xpZD0xZnRncTJvNm93MThXBXNwY2V1QgpmoUXZrGYJBHdVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvcGhpbC1mb2Rlbi1lbmdsYW5kLW5ldGhlcmxhbmRzLXNwYWluLWV1cm8tZmluYWwtYjI1Nzc4OTAuaHRtbD9saWQ9Y3lhaWg3Mzcwc3VxVwVzcGNldUIKZqFF2axmCQR3VVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [Chelsea complete signing of Filip Jorgensen to escalate battle for No 1 spot](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZmlsaXAtam9yZ2Vuc2VuLXRyYW5zZmVyLWNoZWxzZWEtbmV3cy12aWxsYXJyZWFsLWIyNTg4NjkyLmh0bWw_bGlkPXdrN3JsMGJoczBvZ1cFc3BjZXVCCmahRdmsZgkEd1VSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)   Miguel's Dispatches There's a thought that has repeatedly struck this summer, that has only been accentuated by the Olympics. Football doesn't really... rest any more. As someone who grew up in the 1990s, if you'll forgive the personal "back in the day" diversion, there were periods where the summer felt like an ocean of non-football. The best you got was almost checking teletext for transfer news before the European qualifiers kicked in. It did mean there was a proper anticipation to the start of the season. That is still there for many clubs, especially for those the lower you get off the top, but it's not like football has had any real break. Some of this is of course the evolution of media and the entire ecosystem of the game, in a way we've talked about a lot in the Independent, but part of it is also what football wants. All of this fits into the ongoing debates about the calendar. While it means football is omni-present, and there is always a "big" match, it can mean the gravitas of those big matches is lessened. There's an illustrative situation at the moment where the Premier League are among those pushing against Fifa's Club World Cup, which could well impinge on pre-season tours to the United States, where so many clubs are trying to create the sense of "big matches" at the moment. All of this comes as players themselves have felt the effects of the calendar, which could be seen in performance in the Euros. Instead, what is happening? Coinciding with the Olympics are qualifiers for a Champions League which is now going to be hugely bloated.   QUOTE OF THE WEEK     “Jack, sometimes it’s hard to know what to say but I’m gutted for you and thinking about you. My most gifted player I’ve worked with. Take care. Shaky.” Craig Shakespeare's message to Jack Grealish when the playmaker missed out on the Euros, a text that the player shared, and shows the warmth of the late Leicester City coach   Reading the game quiz Five players have gone from La Liga to the Premier League for transfer fees of at least £60m. Name the five. ([You can find out the answers here](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvbWlndWVsLWRlbGFuZXktbmV3c2xldHRlci1xdWl6LWFuc3dlcnMtYjIwNzc5NjguaHRtbD9saWQ9bWRpa2FwMWZhZzdiVwVzcGNldUIKZqFF2axmCQR3VVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too)   [INDYBEST](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0Q-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0P2xpZD01bDg3MDJwbHliM2hXBXNwY2V1QgpmoUXZrGYJBHdVUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) / [BEST BUYS](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0RPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L291dGRvb3ItYWN0aXZpdHk_bGlkPTFqeW5meDkweHFod1cFc3BjZXVCCmahRdmsZgkEd1VSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) [hydration](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L291dGRvb3ItYWN0aXZpdHkvaG93LXRvLXN0YXktaHlkcmF0ZWQtYjI1ODg1MjcuaHRtbD9saWQ9anIzY2RzbHNuczRoVwVzcGNldUIKZqFF2axmCQR3VVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) How to [stay hydrated in hot weather](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L291dGRvb3ItYWN0aXZpdHkvaG93LXRvLXN0YXktaHlkcmF0ZWQtYjI1ODg1MjcuaHRtbD9saWQ9azhreGIzeW96bXc5VwVzcGNldUIKZqFF2axmCQR3VVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj), according to experts.   [MP sale](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L291dGRvb3ItYWN0aXZpdHkvbXlwcm90ZWluLXBheWRheS1zYWxlLWIyNTg3NTg2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWgxa2drMzY0YTE4a1cFc3BjZXVCCmahRdmsZgkEd1VSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) [Myprotein’s payday sale](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L291dGRvb3ItYWN0aXZpdHkvbXlwcm90ZWluLXBheWRheS1zYWxlLWIyNTg3NTg2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXJqMnZ5cjR4bnRieVcFc3BjZXVCCmahRdmsZgkEd1VSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) continues: Get up to 70 per cent off.   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0Q8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlL2FwcD9saWQ9ZWl5bmdodng5bXo1VwVzcGNldUIKZqFF2axmCQR3VVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0Q9aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC5vbmVsaW5rLm1lL25vNXgvZDI1ZTc0Y2M_bGlkPWxlaDd6MWV4Z3FraFcFc3BjZXVCCmahRdmsZgkEd1VSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~   Further reading ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvdWVmYS1ldXJvLTIwMjQtZ29sZGVuLWJvb3QtcnVsZXMtYjI1Nzg2NzUuaHRtbD9saWQ9dmdlZjM3MTNqazI5VwVzcGNldUIKZqFF2axmCQR3VVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [Man United suffer another injury worry as new signing Leny Yoro leaves defeat on crutches](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvbGVueS15b3JvLWluanVyeS1uZXdzLW1hbmNoZXN0ZXItdW5pdGVkLWIyNTg4NzIwLmh0bWw_bGlkPTIwNjF5YXY4MXd2MVcFc3BjZXVCCmahRdmsZgkEd1VSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0RpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvc3BhaW4tZXVyby0yMDI0LWZpbmFsLWVuZ2xhbmQtYjI1Nzg0NDcuaHRtbD9saWQ9bDcwcHBmaHBoaHBjVwVzcGNldUIKZqFF2axmCQR3VVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [American club offer Brits chance to join fan ownership scheme in California](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoj15FP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvb3JhbmdlLWNvdW50eS1mYW4tb3duZXJzaGlwLXVzYS11c2wtbWxzLWIyNTYwNTU0Lmh0bWw_bGlkPTVtMWF4Y2Ixc3p2aVcFc3BjZXVCCmahRdmsZgkEd1VSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)   The Independent proudly partners with [Refuge](~/AAAHagA~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~) and the [National Domestic Abuse 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