Liverpool are reportedly set to make a formal transfer bid for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak after giving the green light on Luis Diaz’s £65.4million exit to Bayern Munich. The Colombian winger is departing Anfield after three years on Merseyside, paving the way for a huge summer of spending to continue.
The reigning Premier League champions have already spent nearly £300million on the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, but are planning to bolster their forward options further through Isak. Only Mohamed Salah scored more league goals than the Swede last season.
The Daily Mail claim that the sale of Diaz is likely to formalise the Reds’ move for Isak, with Eddie Howe’s outfit now expecting an official offer.
A deal for Diaz has been agreed between Liverpool and Bayern, with the player granted permission to leave the Far East tour to fly to Europe and sign on the dotted line.
He had pushed for a move to Germany after failing to agree a new contract with Liverpool. The Athletic claim that Diaz first asked to leave a year ago, which was turned down, but two failed attempts at agreeing fresh terms have prompted Arne Slot’s side to consider a sale.
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Slot confirmed that Diaz was left out of the squad for a friendly defeat to AC Milan on Saturday due to speculation surrounding his future.
While Isak, not dissimilarly, has not featured for Newcastle in Asia and has been left behind in England.
A thigh injury was initially cited as the reason for Isak’s absence, before it was revealed that he had asked to leave St James’ Park and demanded an improved contract worth £300,000 a week.
Howe admitted that it was time for the Newcastle decision-makers to make a firm call on whether to allow Isak to leave, with three years still remaining on his existing deal.