Craig Hope has provided fresh insight into Liverpool’s pursuit of Newcastle United star Alexander Isak this summer.
It is now over three months since the Sweden international last donned the black and white stripes, and it does not look as though he will ever wear them again, based on what has been said over the last week.
Alexander Isak is refusing to play for Newcastle United in the hope that a move to Liverpool will arise this summer. The 25-year-old has been training on his own at Darsley Park while the transfer situation has been going on, and Eddie Howe has not spoken to him in weeks.
It has been confirmed that Liverpool are set to make a second bid for Isak after their opening offer of £110m was immediately rejected by Newcastle in August.
Despite talks with PIF, Isak is refusing to return to Newcastle’s first-team squad, so a clean break appears to be best for all parties. Now, journalist Craig Hope has shared his view on what could happen before the transfer deadline.
Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring in a Premier League game between Newcastle United and Liverpool.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Craig Hope suggests Liverpool could sign Alexander Isak before transfer deadline
On Thursday evening, it was confirmed that Newcastle are set to sign Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart for £69m. The player travelled to Tyneside and has taken his medical on Friday morning ahead of the club record move.
Reports stated that Woltemade was a replacement for Callum Wilson, rather than Isak. The 33-year-old left Newcastle after five seasons on Tyneside. Wilson is now at West Ham, but Newcastle are yet to find his replacement.
Meanwhile, Hope believes that the deal for Woltemade can only mean good for Liverpool and Isak.
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“Liverpool haven’t come this far to not come back in with a second offer for Isak,” he said on his YouTube channel.
“I’ve said all along on this and sources I’ve spoken to agree on this. The actual negotiation between Liverpool and Newcastle over the fee, I don’t think is the biggest obstacle to overcome here.
“If Liverpool see that encouragement of the big ticket striker coming in for close to £70m, like Woltemade coming in.
“Yes, he might be sold as a replacement for Callum Wilson, but come on, they’re not spending £70m on a replacement for Wilson. This is bigger than that. If Liverpool see that and it goes through, they will absolutely come in with a second offer.”
Nick Woltemade deal could be enough for Newcastle United to sell Alexander Isak
Bundesliga expert Archie Rhind-Tutt thinks Woltemade is better than Benjamin Sesko, a player who nearly joined Newcastle this summer. The 23-year-old was a star of the Under-21 European Championships this summer, helping Germany reach the finals.
Woltemade will not play against Leeds, but he should be in the starting line-up for the Magpies’ next game against Wolves on 13 September.
It remains to be seen if Isak will still be a Newcastle player once the transfer window closes, but the feeling is that Liverpool could come in with a fresh offer for the 25-year-old.
Now, Hope has suggested that just Woltemade could be enough for Newcastle to let Isak go.
“Since the start of the summer, there has been that pragmatic take on it that if the condition of the sale that the club stated in black and white in their statement were satisfied, a sale would be explored,” Hope added.
“We’re now getting closer to those conditions of sale being satisfied. Maybe, just maybe, rather than two coming in.
“One might be enough for Newcastle to look at it and say, ‘let’s draw a line under this and move on’ because the Isak situation is toxic now.
“There’s an acceptance of that on the inside. It’s got to be right for the club.”