Alexander Isak remains Liverpool’s top striker target with just a fortnight left in this summer’s transfer window. The Reds are poised to pounce should Newcastle United give any indication they are willing to negotiate after Liverpool tabled a £110 million bid earlier this month, which the Magpies swiftly turned down.
Nevertheless, the Merseyside club are still prepared to discuss a potential British-record transfer exceeding the £116 million they spent on Florian Wirtz. Newcastle aren’t currently open to negotiations, instead concentrating on bringing in not one but two new forwards, and below is a round-up of the latest Isak reports and rumours as this stasis persists.
‘Second offer’
Ex-Sky Sports host Richard Keys alleges Liverpool have prepared an alternative proposal for Isak alongside their initial approach from earlier this month. “Newcastle have had two really good offers,” he states in his most recent blog entry.
“Liverpool are prepared to pay £110m now. Their back-up bid is £80m now and £60m more next summer. I’m of the view the only thing Newcastle have to decide is which one to take.” These observations echo statements made during beIN Sports’ coverage of Liverpool vs Bournemouth.
Keys, however, doesn’t repeat his on-air suggestion that Real Madrid could become involved in the saga. “I heard today that Liverpool have made a bid of £110m. A second offer of £80m now and £60m next season. Take your pick,” he declared during Friday evening’s broadcast. Keys continued: “But I’ve also heard that Real Madrid might be in the frame.”
‘£15m discount’
Former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson has suggested Liverpool could secure as much as a £15million reduction if they succeed in landing Isak this summer. He reckons Liverpool could strike a deal for £125million “plus a load of add-ons, some easy and some not easy” following the clubs’ encounter at St James’ Park.
Borson told Football Insider: “I think if we’d have looked at it at the start of the summer, you’d have said Liverpool will have to pay close to £150million. If he does end up going now, I think they have successfully chipped off £10-15million of his fee.”
Howe responds to Isak claim
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has essentially rejected the notion that Isak informed him of a wish to depart the club in May. Allegations that Isak made his intentions well-known internally before the campaign concluded are doing the rounds.
Howe has now tackled those suggestions. “Trust me, when that final whistle went (on the final day), that (Isak leaving) was the furthest thing from my mind,” he told Chronicle Live before later adding: “I was not thinking of any individual in that moment, so I can’t really give an answer on that (fears Isak would leave this summer).”