Crystal Palace

More from Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner on his frustrations around the club's transfer business: "We are very, very late to find replacements. I think we could behaved much better than we did. It’s not the best way to start the season. I think we are below the edge.

"If Marc [Guehi] leaves maybe I will try my boots because I was a centre-back. We have to act. It’s Crystal Palace’s future and we need to add numbers."

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner on the club's lack of signings in the transfer window and the impending exit of Eberechi Eze: "We need to add not numbers - it's easy to add 10 numbers. We need the right players. The profile is defined for months.

"It’s not surprising for anyone that Ebs [Eze] left, honestly it's not surprising, because five days earlier we couldn't have done anything if he leaves.

"We knew that the chances were very high that this will happen and honestly, again I say it like it is, we missed to replace him early enough, that's completely our fault and nobody else's fault."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace chairman and co-owner Steve Parish has hinted that captain Marc Guehi could still leave the club before the end of the summer transfer window.

This comes after a deal was agreed on Thursday with Arsenal for the sale of star forward Eberechi Eze.

Speaking after the victory over Fredrikstad, he said: "If Marc wants to sign a contract, he can stay. If he doesn’t, then we have to look at it. It’s a difficult situation.

"Players leaving on a free is not ideal, I’m not going to pretend it is. That’s a situation we have to look at in the next eleven days."

On the flip side, manager Oliver Glasner is adamant that the centre-back must stay at the club.

In his post-match news conference he stated: "I just know if Marc leaves and is not available for Fredrikstad then we will have big trouble. We can't register anyone new to the Conference League squad in between the first and second leg, so from my side he has to stay. "

For a club that should be riding a high at the moment, such a difference in stance between manager and chairman is far from the ideal situation.

Image source, Getty Images

Ruben Dias upon signing his contract extension: “I am incredibly happy today. I’m so proud to represent this great Club. City are where I want to be – at the top of the sport, competing for trophies. The Club’s ambition aligns perfectly with mine and as a footballer there is nothing better than that.

“I love Manchester – it is my home now – and I love the Manchester City fans. Their support from day one has been absolutely unbelievable, and I appreciate them a lot.

“My job now is to be the best I can be for the duration of this contract, so that I can play my part in helping us challenge for more silverware."

Right let's switch it up, shall we?

From one huge transfer story to another, although this one seems like it's much closer to reaching a conclusion.

Before we start speaking about Eberechi Eze, though, let's hear what Ruben Dias had to say after signing a new Manchester City deal.

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

There had previously been a school of thought that the Alexander Isak saga could be a win-win situation for Newcastle United.

Either Newcastle keep hold of one of the best strikers in the world or, alternatively, the club receive a huge sum that could be transformative in a world of Profit and Sustainability.

Yet Howe crushed that argument after labelling it a “lose-lose situation” today.

Firstly, there are just a week-and-a-half left of the window, which gives Newcastle little time to recruit not only a quality replacement for Callum Wilson but, also, an additional striker capable of filling Isak’s boots.

And that's *if* Liverpool make an improved offer that really gives the club a decision to make.

Secondly, if Isak stays, Newcastle will have to try and reintegrate a player who has made it abundantly clear that he wants to leave the club.

Yet Howe again stressed that the door remains open to Isak representing the club again.

Howe even suggested the players would welcome Isak back and the Newcastle head coach repeatedly spoke highly of the Swede’s character, making the distinction between the “regrettable” saga and the striker’s daily conduct during his three years at the club.

Isak may have made his feelings clear on Tuesday night but, clearly, Howe has not given up on the 25-year-old one day pulling on the black and white shirt again.

Image source, Getty Images

Quite a lot going on at Newcastle then.

Let's recap the best lines from Eddie Howe's news conference:

• Isak situation a 'lose-lose for Newcastle'
• Howe has not seen Isak this week
• 'No doubt players would welcome Isak back'
• Isak can win supporters back
• 'Club working hard on transfers'

Does anybody else get the feeling the Alexander Isak saga just won't go away?

That's all from Eddie Howe, who must be sick of answering questions about Alexander Isak.

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on whether he spoke to Alexander Isak at the end of last season about leaving the club: "Me and Alex had conversations, yes I'm not going to deny that.

"Individual conversations are better off remaining private. Yes, we had conversations about his future."

More on Isak's character: This situation is regrettable. Not something we wanted or Alex wanted. I'm talking about his conduct every day, his professionalism, he is very committed, very driven, and very professional. Others can make their own opinion, but I'm giving you background about the player I know everyday."

Newcastle United

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Howe on whether he has tried to find a resolution in his conversations with Alexander Isak: "Of course, we want him training and playing with he team, that is our wish. But he's not, so it's not the desirable outcome for us at the moment until he is back playing.

"That's a sad situation for us. When I speak to him we are trying to find a positive solution all the time.

"I haven't seen him for five or six days but when I saw him he was good, he was normal Alex."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on the possibility of ending the transfer window without any additional signings: "That's possible. We are still actively in the market but any transfer has to be right. With PSR you are always trying to manage that situation. We have to be careful with what we do. We can't allow ourselves to go into a difficult moment when we are forced to sell a player like Elliot Anderson and Yakuba Minteh."

Newcastle United

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Howe on if Isak can rebuild his relationship with the fans: "I believe he can. I believe the supporters will always react on how a player plays and what he gives to the team. There are always two sides to every story.

"There is always more than even I will now as there are conversations that have taken place away from my understanding of it and I've been away on pre-season and have become detached from the situation.

"My job now is to support Alex, care for him and see where we are in a weeks time"

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on Alexander Isak's statement and what he means for his future: "If Alex is to play for Newcastle again he has to be totally committed and I don't think it works any other way. That question is for another day but any player that puts on the shirt and streps out on to the pitch has to give his all for the team.

"My reaction [to his statement] was disappointment in that these things are being made public. For me all of these things should be face-to-face between club and player. It doesn't reflect well on the club or Alex and I think from the clubs perspective they felt they had to reply but for me it was a sad moment.

Newcastle United

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Howe on Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike earlier this summer: "There's no doubt I really like Hugo and have done for a number of years. He's got really good qualities, and he showed that in his first Premier League game, he had a really good debut against Bournemouth.

"He's got really good movement, intelligent, good in the air, scores goals, scores off both feet. Our job will be to keep him quiet. He is going to be a threat this year."

Newcastle United

Eddie Howe on whether Newcastle need an independent figure to resolve the Alexander Isak situation: "I don't see it as black and white as that. We will s Alex in every way possible. We can't do that at the moment, the situation doesn't make that possible."

On whether the club's message has been strong all summer: "The club have had a very strong stance regarding Alex's situation all summer. There have been a lot of conversations between club and his representatives that I haven't been part of."

On whether he is saddened by the way the situation has played out: "Yeah. I don't think it had to be this way. It's disappointing I am having to speak about it every press conference at length and it's taking away form the football. We've got Liverpool. That's going to be a tougher game without any other distraction. The players have done very well to blank it all out bit it is there in the background and it's not helping us. It is regrettable we're in this situation."