Alexander Isak has reportedly told Newcastle United that he wants to explore a move away from St. James Park. Liverpool remain interested in the Swedish international despite forking out £79million for fellow striker Hugo Ekitike earlier this week.
Liverpool were initially rebuffed when they approached Newcastle to discuss the prospect of buying Isak for a fee in the region of £120m. The Magpies have maintained that their star striker is not for sale this summer, but there was a lingering feeling that the saga could reignite if Isak makes it clear that he wants to move on after three years in the north-east.
Now, The Daily Mail claim that Isak has done just that. Senior figures at St. James’ Park are said to be aware that the 25-year-old wants the freedom to consider his options after talks over a contract extension failed to bear fruit.
It’s said that Isak and his representatives do not want to commit to the Magpies. Although Newcastle do not want to sell, the player’s stance could force their hand if Liverpool table a British record bid in the region of £150m.
The Reds have already smashed the British transfer record once this summer when they signed Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m. And they could do so for a second time if the chance to sign Isak proves too tempting to pass up on.
Isak was left out of Newcastle’s pre-season defeat to Celtic last weekend, which was a decision taken by manager Eddie Howe due to the speculation surrounding his future.
The Swede was then spotted training separately from the main Newcastle group earlier this week, before being left out of the travelling squad for a pre-season tour of Asia. The club put both decisions down to a minor thigh issue which forced Isak to have a precautionary scan.
Liverpool could compile one of the most potent attacking forces the Premier League has even seen if Isak joins Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Ekitike on Merseyside. But a move for the Newcastle man would raise questions about Ekitike’s first-team prospects, given that he was signed to replace Darwin Nunez as Arne Slot’s new No.9.
The Reds have spent nearly £300m already this summer and another £150m for Isak would send that figure beyond the single-window record Chelsea set in the summer of 2023.
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