Overview
- Liverpool will start their title defence against Bournemouth without midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and with Alexis Mac Allister a doubt.
- Manager Arne Slot cautioned that the champions still need time to integrate their £260 million summer signings in attack and defence.
- Liverpool’s record £110 million offer for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak was rejected as the Magpies insist he is not for sale.
- Newcastle have omitted the unsettled Isak from their squad for the trip to Aston Villa while intensifying negotiations for Brentford forward Yoane Wissa.
- Brentford have agreed terms to sign Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara, reducing their initial £50 million valuation of Wissa to around £35 million to facilitate the striker’s exit.