Alexander Isak’s future is still under question, with the Sweden international not yet knowing where he’s going to start the 2025-26 season.
Indeed, he did inform Newcastle that he’d never play for them again, but, if they don’t manage to source a replacement for him or even bring in a striker at all, they’ll have no choice but to try and force him to play.
At the moment, Eddie Howe is still keen on reintegrating the attacker with the Magpies, but with the way things are headed, it’s hard to see how that will be possible, especially since his heart is now set on a move to Anfield.
Eddie Howe greets Alexander Isak after taking him off as a substitute during Newcastle United's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at St James' Park.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
And, even though the Reds’ initial bid of £110million was instantly rebuffed, rumours have emerged about Arne Slot and Richard Hughes gearing up another bid to sign their number one target.
Keith Downie believes a fee worth £130m would be enough for Liverpool to sign Alexander Isak
Seeing as though Isak still has three years left on his deal at St James’ Park, he doesn’t really have a leg to stand on regarding forcing his way out.
The best way for him to do that would be by handing in a transfer request, but since he’d lose out on things such as bonuses by doing this, he’s yet to formally do it.
And, while speaking live on Sky Sports News in quotes relayed by the Sky Sports website, journalist Keith Downie shared an update on where things stand at the moment.
“Newcastle need to find a replacement. They tried on Benjamin Sesko, they tried on Hugo Ekitike, failed on both of those,” he said.
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“They’re actually even struggling right now, as we can see, to bring in a replacement for Callum Wilson, who left on a free contract. We’ve been telling you for weeks now that they’ve been trying to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford. But he’s seen as the Callum Wilson replacement rather than the Alexander Isak replacement.
“So they can’t even get the second striker in, if you like.
“If they were able to land Wissa in the next few days – and I am expecting a bid in the next couple of days – and Liverpool came to the table offering £130m then Newcastle might have a decision to make.
“However, it would leave them very light on striker reinforcements.”
Alexander Isak warms up ahead of Newcastle United's Premier League match against Everton at St James' Park.
Photo by Scott Llewellyn | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Liverpool must buck their ideas up if they want to sign Alexander Isak
As has been the case throughout most of the summer window, Liverpool are at the centre of yet another transfer saga.
The Reds have dominated the transfer market this summer and have more often than not moved swiftly to sign the players they want.
And, while a bid was made by Hughes for Isak, it was well below Newcastle’s asking price, and, even if the Reds expected that to be the start of a negotiation, they should’ve offered more.
If Liverpool want to retain the Premier League title and make a good name for themselves in the Champions League, signing Isak would be one of the best ways for them to do that.
He’d add yet another layer of quality to their attack, and with players such as Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz around him, the Anfield outfit would become close to unstoppable.
Of course, only time will tell what the future has in store, but for now, it’s anyone’s guess what could end up happening.