Alexander Isak’s future at Newcastle United looks increasingly in doubt after the Swedish striker asked to explore a move away this summer, with Liverpool ready to pounce.
Isak reportedly informed the Magpies of his desire to leave this summer despite having three years left on his current deal. The Magpies want him to extend his stay at St James’ Park but are unable to meet his £300,000 per week wage demands.
Liverpool were linked with the 25-year-old before swooping for Hugo Ekitike in a £79m deal. But the Reds remain interested and could swoop if Luis Diaz departs amid Bayern Munich’s pursuit of the Colombian attacker.
Newcastle Name Their Price For Liverpool Target Isak
The Magpies want a record fee
Isak has stayed at home while his Newcastle teammates flew to Signapore to start pre-season and this was put down to a thigh injury. The expectation is that the Swedish frontman will now depart and that he is very likely to have played his last game for Eddie Howe’s side.
The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope reports that the Tyneside giants are demanding £150m for Isak and expect that fee to be paid if Arne Slot wishes to add him to his squad. The reigning Premier League champions have already broken the British transfer record by swooping for Florian Wirtz in a £116m deal (including add-ons).
Isak would become the most expensive player in English top-flight history if the Merseysiders cough up that hefty fee. He was in red-hot form last season, bagging 27 goals in 42 games across competitions, including a winner in a 2-1 win over Slot’s men in the Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle seem to be preparing for life without their number nine and have started targeting replacements. Brentford’s Yoane Wissa looks likely to join Howe’s Magpies while RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is on the club’s radar.
Club captain Bruno Guimaraes was asked about the situation and remained hopeful his teammate would link up with the squad once fit (via the aforementioned source):
“I’m really close to him (Isak). He’s a good guy. He’s been through some rough things at this moment. My focus is with the lads. Isak is something I cannot control. The club has control of it. I hope he’s going to be fit when we come back to Newcastle to prepare for the new season.”
Isak joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2022 for £63m, and he’s been a revelation at St James’ Park. He has helped fire the black and whites into the Champions League while playing a key role in ending their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy last season.