Manchester United might have accidentally triggered Alexander Isak to Liverpool. Certainly not what they had planned...
Liverpool want to sign Alexander Isak. Just about everybody does, in truth - he was the outstanding striker in the Premier League last season and one of the very best in Europe.
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But the Reds actually feel like they've got a chance. There PSR room is there, Isak supposedly wants to move to Anfield and there's a clear spot for him in the team.
Really, they're one step away from signing him - it's just the most difficult step that remains. Newcastle United have to actually agree to a deal and they're very reluctant to sell their star player.
And with good reason, too. They qualified for the UEFA Champions League and want to make a splash, while Newcastle also harbour dreams of being regulars in the competition.
Selling your best player makes it a lot more difficult to do that. At the same time, they also want to improve their squad. That's what Liverpool are hoping for: that Newcastle decide the money Isak brings in (and the PSR room) is worth more to them than the player himself.
Perhaps some help from Manchester United, then?
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Man United give Liverpool a hand
The Telegraph reports that Newcastle United are struggling a bit with their signings this summer. That's because they're all now valued higher than they probably should be.
They've already seen an offer rejected for Anthony Elanga of around £45m. Nottingham Forest didn't even give them a counter-offer, either.
Basically, everyone costs more than planned and it scuppers their plans to strengthen the squad. There's actually a culprit, too: Manchester United.
Their deals for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo have inflated the market, with lower-league Premier League sides now wanting a lot more for their players. As a result, Newcastle don't actually have the spending power they thought they did.
The Magpies want Elanga, Joao Pedro and James Trafford but a mix of cash and PSR is making that very difficult. Their only fix might well be to sell an expensive asset and Isak is the obvious one.
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Liverpool have been hoping that Newcastle feel the transfer market strain and a bit of pressure to sell Isak. They've bizarrely been helped with that by Man United, whose spending this summer might ultimately be what sends the Swede to Anfield.