Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler on how confident he is that Carlos Baleba will remain a Brighton player:

"Very very very confident, that's just my belief"

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler speaking at his news conference on Carlos Baleba:

"I didn't see any change, he's only changed his hair. I think that's the change he's made in the last two weeks.

"But overall he seems to be in a really good place, he's enjoying it with his team-mates, he's enjoying being a Brighton player.

"I didn't see any big changes and he's an option to start tomorrow".

Brighton & Hove Albion

Let's switch to Brighton now and Fabian Hurzeler has given an update on Carlos Baleba, who is of interest to Manchester United.

Our reporter Simon Stone said earlier this week that the Seagulls have "no desire to or interest in selling" the 21-year-old Cameroon midfielder.

It felt like Eddie Howe picked his words very carefully there. He was certainly more guarded compared to the interview he did with our reporter Ciaran Kelly earlier.

But was he sending out a message to Alexander Isak when talking about how he would not have done as well without the support of everyone at the club?

This feels like a story that will run right up to the deadline.

Newcastle United

Aside from Isak, Eddie Howe also gave a team news update:

"Everyone is available apart from Joe [Willock], and he’s not too far away himself. We have a relatively good looking squad in terms of injury news. Malick [Thiaw] will be part of the squad, he has trained two days, never easy coming in at the end of pre-season, but he’s doing well."

Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on other transfers, including their move for Aston Villa forward Jacob Ramsey: "I am really pleased, it has been a slow burner this summer. We tried to be active early, that didn't happen. Then you're trying to turn things in a positive way.

"Gradually piece by piece we have been becoming stronger. We have quality players coming in. The top end of the pitch is not ideal, but we have time."

Howe then confirmed Ramsey is unlikely to play for Newcastle tomorrow, even if the deal is completed today.

Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe on how the Isak saga has impacted the other players: "In early pre-season, I have not shied away from it being a difficult time. You could see that in our performances.

"But the players are strong mentally, the mood has been good, performances recently have been better. The group has reacted well. Sometimes these things can have a good effect, and we were close anyway. These things can unify you in a way you didn't know possible."

Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking about the siutation of Alexander Isak: "There has been no change. All my focus is on Aston Villa tomorrow. Isak's situation has been clear for a while and that will continue to be the case.

"I've had a great relationship with him, you need that partnership with every player. I have to work really closely with the player for his benefit, to try and improve them. I always want to be there for him.

"I don't think Isak would have done as well without that, his team mates, the supporters - he recognises that, he's an intelligent person."

Will Isak play tomorrow?: "I want him to play, to train, but details of our conversations remain private."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe was unsurprisingly asked about Alexander Isak first up:

"The situation is the same, and that will remain the case."

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United

Right, Eddie Howe is in front of the media.

Let's hear what he has to say...

Newcastle United

It has been a frustrating summer in the transfer market for Newcastle so far, but they have managed to bring four players in:

• Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest, winger) - £55m
• Malick Thiaw (AC Milan, centre back) - £30m
• Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton, goalkeeper) - loan
• Antonito Cordero (Malaga, winger) - free

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on Football Daily

It has been a little bit messy to say the least. There has been a breakdown in communication somewhere up in Newcastle. When you've got the best number nine in Europe, arguably the world, the last thing you want him to do is sit there all summer then tell the club he wants to leave.

Eddie Howe alluded to it - if they had a sporting director it may not have been the case.

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Here we go again at Newcastle United’s training ground…

Where did that summer go?

I’m in place ahead of Eddie Howe’s first pre-match press conference of the season.

I’m expecting the Newcastle boss to be asked about a number of key topics ahead of the trip to Villa Park tomorrow:

• The latest on Alexander Isak’s situation (obviously)
• Jacob Ramsey’s impending move after a fee was agreed with Aston Villa
• Newcastle’s hunt for a striker (the club remain interested in Brentford forward Yoane Wissa)
• The prospect of further signings arriving before the window shuts next month
• Could new arrival Malick Thiaw feature against Aston Villa?
• His ambitions for the season ahead

In an interview with BBC Sport this week, Howe admitted the Isak situation was not “healthy”.

But Howe will be braced for a flurry of further questions on the Swede, who remains determined to join Liverpool.

Here we go.

Fabian Hurzeler, Eddie Howe, Thomas Frank and Enzo Marseca are all speaking to the media in the next 30 minutes.

We will bring you all the top lines as soon as we have them.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker for BBC Sport

So far, Newcastle's pre-season has been a nightmare. There is no other way of describing it.

They have had a disastrous transfer window, missing out on every one of their top targets they went for, and on top of that they have got Alexander Isak's situation hanging over them as they get ready for the opening weekend.

One way or another they have to resolve it, but that won't be easy. Isak clearly wants to leave St James' Park and join Liverpool, but he cannot be sold if they don't get anyone in to replace him.

It's not just one new striker Newcastle need, either. Callum Wilson moved on earlier in the summer so the reality is that if they don't get two centre-forwards in, Isak does not go anywhere.

That is still a possible scenario and, if he is still at Newcastle when the window closes at the start of September, things get interesting because he will want to play - he could be playing for his World Cup place with Sweden at next summer's finals.

There are a lot of ifs, buts and maybes surrounding Isak at the moment, but over the next two or three weeks we will find out a lot more about how things could pan out.

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on Football Daily

The Isak saga will have affected some players more than others. Every footballer understands that you are an individual entity and have to look after yourself.

Isak clearly thinks that his time at the club is up and he wants to vie for more trophies. He does not want to just be a part of the Premier League and Champions League, he wants to win those things.

It can be extremely derailing. But if he walked into the training ground tomorrow there would be 16/17/18 players delighted to see him back.

Alexander Isak is still determined to leave Newcastle United and join Liverpool this summer.

BBC Sport understands it is still the Swede's "determined" ambition to join the Premier League champions before the deadline closes on 1 September.

The Magpies rejected a £110m bid from Liverpool for Isak on 1 August, with the Reds subsequently claiming that they were prepared to walk away from a deal.

The former Dortmund forward missed Newcastle's pre-season tour of the far-east with a "minor" thigh injury.

He then trained alone at former club Real Sociedad, before returning to the UK.

Isak, who scored 27 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions last season, has three years to run on his deal in the north east.

We are building up to the first tranche of news conferences, with Eddie Howe our main focus to start.

I wonder who he will be asked about?

Here is the latest we have on you know who...

Isn't that lovely. Definitely what football is really about.