Premier League champions made informal approach for the Magpies star last month and have now seen an official offer rebuffed; Eddie Howe’s side are now braced for a second bid

liverpool’s pursuit of alexander isak has taken a dramatic twist after newcastle united turned down a blockbuster £110 million bid plus add-ons for the swedish striker the offer fell short of the magpies’ £150 million valuation and while the bid was substantial the rejection signals just how firm newcastle are in their resolve not to sell unless their price is met now the football world waits to see what liverpool do next as the reds prepare a second offer to test newcastle’s resolve even further

isak has become one of the most sought-after strikers in europe after scoring 23 goals in the premier league last season second only to mohamed salah his performances have turned heads across europe but it’s liverpool who’ve taken the boldest step so far even before the formal bid there had been rumblings of an informal approach from liverpool last month and with the first official offer now rejected the pressure is mounting from all directions

the situation has been complicated by the fact that isak is currently training alone at real sociedad’s facilities his former club while recovering from what newcastle have labelled a minor thigh injury the fact he’s not been with the rest of the squad on their pre-season tour to singapore has only increased speculation about his future though newcastle insist they’re fully aware of his whereabouts and that the injury is genuine the timing of it all is certainly curious

isak has reportedly informed newcastle that he wants to explore his options during this transfer window and that alone is enough to send alarm bells ringing at st james’ park newcastle don’t want to sell him that much is clear but they’re also realists they understand the economics of modern football and they know that if a club like liverpool comes in with a serious offer and the player is open to the move then the decision isn’t as black and white as they’d like it to be

sky sports reports that personal terms between liverpool and isak wouldn’t be a problem if an agreement is reached between the clubs that’s often one of the most complicated parts of a transfer but in this case it’s unlikely to be a stumbling block what remains is whether liverpool will come back with an improved offer that matches newcastle’s £150 million valuation and if they do whether newcastle will stick to their guns or buckle under the pressure of a huge payday

newcastle’s position is influenced by more than just money they’ve not brought in a top-level replacement for isak yet and letting him go now would leave them desperately short in the striker department with only 20-year-old will osula available as a central forward option that’s not a scenario manager eddie howe or the club hierarchy will be comfortable with especially as they prepare for a champions league campaign this season after securing a top-four finish last year

the timing of everything is what makes this even more intriguing with isak expected back in the north east on monday and liverpool set to face newcastle in the premier league later this month on august 25 live on sky sports the story has all the makings of a transfer saga that could explode into full drama in the next 10 days as one sky sports reporter said if this deal happens it’ll happen quickly and not drag into the final days of the window the longer it takes the less likely it becomes

from liverpool’s side their interest in isak comes as part of a wider strategy under new manager arne slot who has already brought in jeremie frimpong florian wirtz hugo ekitike and rio ngumoha this summer the reds are clearly rebuilding with both youth and flair but the addition of a striker like isak would elevate their front line to another level arne slot recently made it clear that liverpool will not hesitate to strike if the right opportunity arises and isak fits that bill perfectly

isak’s style of play aligns seamlessly with what liverpool are trying to do under slot he’s not just a goal poacher he’s a complete forward capable of scoring from inside and outside the box making runs behind defences linking up play and pressing from the front his ability to consistently find space around the penalty spot and convert chances with clinical precision makes him one of the most dangerous forwards in the game today

stats back that up last season he outperformed his expected goals total of 2042 with 23 goals that kind of overperformance is a sign of elite finishing he also scored six goals from outside the box demonstrating his range technique and confidence to shoot from distance in terms of his per-90 stats isak ranks among the top strikers in europe across categories like dribbling goal conversion opposition box entries and link-up play he’s not just a scorer he’s a creator and a game-changer

but newcastle’s reluctance to sell is not just emotional or sentimental it’s rooted in football logic they missed out on hugo ekitike earlier this summer who ironically chose liverpool instead and have also failed to land several other targets despite their champions league qualification this makes isak even more valuable to them because replacing a striker of his quality in this market is extremely difficult especially with the window closing in just a few weeks

newcastle’s pre-season form has also been less than ideal losing three games in a row and missing their talisman striker isn’t helping morale with pressure growing on eddie howe to not only maintain their place among the top clubs but also make a deep run in europe this season they simply can’t afford to make a misstep by selling isak without having a guaranteed high-quality replacement lined up that’s why the club have taken a hardline stance for now

financial fair play is also a factor for newcastle while they’ve received significant backing from their ownership group they still need to comply with uefa’s regulations and a sale like this would help balance the books especially after a relatively quiet summer in terms of major incoming transfers but they don’t want to be left short-handed that’s why any sale would be contingent on bringing in a suitable replacement quickly and efficiently

as for isak himself the player is believed to be keen on the idea of playing for liverpool who offer both prestige and the chance to compete regularly for silverware under a fresh project led by slot he would also be reunited with ekitike and part of a vibrant youthful attacking unit alongside the likes of salah diaz jota and gakpo at 25 years old isak is entering his prime and a move to a club like liverpool could be the perfect next step in his career

the coming days will be crucial if liverpool submit an improved offer that hits or comes very close to the £150 million mark newcastle may have a real decision to make especially if they can line up a suitable replacement in time from liverpool’s side the clock is ticking they want to get this done well before the transfer deadline and preferably before their own premier league season gains full momentum

whether or not this transfer materializes the saga around alexander isak is a clear indication of the shifting power dynamics in the premier league clubs like liverpool are willing to spend big again to get their top targets while clubs like newcastle are no longer content to be feeder clubs and are fighting to keep their best talent both on and off the pitch

fans on both sides are watching closely for newcastle supporters the hope is that isak stays and leads them into a historic champions league run for liverpool fans the dream is to see the swede arrive and link up with their powerful front line to bring back major trophies in the post-klopp era one thing is certain the isak transfer story is far from over and the next chapter could be written any day now as football’s summer drama unfolds in full force