The Newcastle forward, Alexander Isak, has expressed to authorities within the club his openness to considering a departure from St. James’ Park during the current summer transfer period. Subsequent to this communication, Liverpool’s expressed interest and strategic intentions regarding a potential transfer have gained increased certainty, spurred by a notable advancement in the ongoing situation.
Isak has been engaged in training activities at the Zubieta complex, the training ground of his previous team, Real Sociedad, located in the northern region of Spain. This occurred subsequent to his non-participation in the pre-season tour with the remainder of the Newcastle squad.
Sources from The Athletic suggest that the determination not to participate in the tour originated with Isak himself, despite Newcastle’s official explanation citing a ‘minor thigh injury’ as the reason for his absence.
Liverpool’s initial offer for Alexander Isak turned down by Newcastle United
At present, the Magpies are located in South Korea, which constitutes the second phase of their two-part pre-season tour of East Asia, following a period spent in Singapore.
Discussions have taken place between Liverpool and Newcastle concerning the potential acquisition of the player. While Newcastle has maintained a firm position that Isak is not available for transfer, Liverpool is actively assessing their determination.
Newcastle has rejected Liverpool’s initial proposal for Isak, reportedly in the range of £110-120 million.
Nevertheless, it is anticipated that the Merseyside team will present a revised and enhanced offer. There is a considerable likelihood that Arne Slot will secure his desired player prior to the closure of the transfer window, potentially for a British transfer record fee of £150 million.
According to FourFourTwo‘s analysis, the resolution of this summer’s most prominent transfer narrative is becoming progressively clearer.
Isak has unambiguously conveyed his objectives, the influence of Newcastle has been diminished as a result of the player’s actions, and Liverpool has now officially registered their interest through the submission of a bid.
Currently, the magnitude of their proposal fails to align with Newcastle’s assessed value. However, with a period of two weeks remaining until the commencement of the new Premier League season, the Newcastle leadership finds themselves in a challenging position, given a key player’s apparent determination to facilitate a transfer.
Isak’s contractual commitment to Newcastle extends until the summer of 2028. Nevertheless, the retention of a publicly dissatisfied player, particularly one with significant earnings, offers limited advantages, especially when the club possesses the potential to realize £150 million through what is admittedly a reluctant sale.
Newcastle is reportedly considering Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, whose acquisition could entail an expenditure of £100 million less than the estimated valuation of Isak. This suggests that, notwithstanding their declared stance of ‘not-for-sale’ regarding the Swedish player, preparations for a potential replacement are evidently in progress.
Watkins’ agreement with Villa Park is set to expire in the upcoming summer. The widely acknowledged concerns of the Villans regarding Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) might incentivize the decision-makers overseeing the England forward’s remuneration to contemplate a transfer, assuming Newcastle responds favorably to Liverpool’s pursuit of Isak and formally expresses their interest through a bid.
