Liverpool's ‘take it or leave it' £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle

The Guardian

a day ago

Liverpool have had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle and do not intend to submit a second offer for the striker in this transfer window.
Despite long-held interest in the Sweden international and his desire to move to Merseyside, Liverpool's first formal offer came in under the £120m suggested when Richard Hughes, sporting director at Anfield, made an informal enquiry over Isak's availability a fortnight ago. Newcastle value their prized asset at £150m, a British transfer-record sum, but are reluctant to sell the 25-year-old, who was the second highest goalscorer in the Premier League last season behind Mohamed Salah.
Given how swiftly Newcastle rejected their offer, Liverpool consider it futile to return with a second bid before the transfer window closes on 1 September. Their offer of £110m for the want-away player remains on the table.
Liverpool were encouraged to step up their pursuit by Isak's stance following Hughes' enquiry and the player's representatives. The club have spent almost £300m so far this summer, including a £79m deal to sign Newcastle target Hugo Ekitiké. But with £190m recouped in sales since Hughes arrived in June 2024, plus healthy revenues from their title triumph and return to the Champions League, Liverpool are in a position to test Newcastle's resolve to keep Isak. Their current transfer record is the £100m paid to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz in June. That could rise to a British transfer record of £116m with add-ons.
Isak did not travel on Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia. The club attributed his absence to a minor thigh injury but the player informed them that he wishes to explore his options this summer, with Liverpool his preferred destination, and has been training at former club Real Sociedad this week. It is unclear whether Isak had Newcastle's permission to do so. There has also been no progress on a new and improved contract.
James Milner will wear the number 20 shirt at Brighton this season in memory of the late Diogo Jota, describing his former Liverpool teammate as a 'great friend'.
The Portuguese forward died aged 28 last month in a car accident, alongside his brother André Silva. Liverpool have retired the number 20 jersey worn by Jota at Anfield in tribute, and Milner has opted to switch from No 6 after Brighton teammate Carlos Baleba changed his squad number from No 20 to No 17.
'Once I heard Carlos was looking to change his number and 20 was available, I wanted to do it as a mark of respect and pay tribute to Diogo Jota," Milner said. 'He was an amazing player who I was fortunate to play with and a great friend as well. It will be a great honour to wear his number in the Premier League this year.'
Isak, signed from Sociedad for around £60m in 2022, has three years remaining on his contract at St James' Park. Newcastle have maintained that the forward is not for sale but have been attempting to sign other top-level strikers this summer, so far without success. Whether a breakthrough in Newcastle's striker search softens their stance on Isak remains to be seen.
Eddie Howe and his nephew, Andy Howe, have been overseeing the club's recruitment this summer after Paul Mitchell stepped down as sporting director and with chief executive Darren Eales due to leave on health grounds. As well as Ekitiké, Newcastle have missed out on strikers Liam Delap, João Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo, along with goalkeeper James Trafford, who rejoined Manchester City.
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RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko is a target but Newcastle face competition from Manchester United for the 6ft 5in Slovenian, while Brentford have rejected their opening offer for Yoane Wissa.