Alexander Isak & Newcastle United transfer twist as Liverpool confirm £65m move….
Newcastle United are braced for a bid from Liverpool for Alexander Isak.
Liverpool are expected to launch a bid for Alexander Isak after freeing up funds to do so.
The Premier League champions have sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich for a reported £65million, with the transfer made official on Wednesday morning. The Colombian scored 41 goals in 148 appearances during his three-and-a-half-year at the club.
And with that, Newcastle United are now braced for an imminent approach. It is no secret that Isak has expressed a wish to leave this summer, and only Liverpool are expected to be at the table.
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Newcastle United’s stance on Alexander Isak
The Reds made an informal approach for Isak a fortnight ago whilst the Magpies were on a pre-season training camp in Austria. That unsettled the Swede and he has not yet featured in any pre-season games.
Eddie Howe’s squad are currently in the Far East but Isak, according to the club, has stayed at home due to a “minor thigh injury”. But because of the speculation, people are drawing their own conclusions.
Newcastle always maintained that Isak is not for sale but due to the player’s stance, it’s fair to stay that feeling has slightly changed. But if Isak is to be sold, then it will be on United’s terms.
The Magpies are believed to value Isak, who has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances since arriving from Real Sociedad in 2022, at £150million. With still three years left on Isak’s contract, the club are in a strong negotiation position.
Sourcing a replacement is another big factor. Newcastle have held talks with the representatives of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko but are yet to accelerate a potential deal.
What have Newcastle United said about the Alexander Isak situation?
Newcastle’s visit to Asia has been dominated by the Isak speculation, with many questions directed at head coach Eddie Howe. While Howe admits his preference would be for Newcastle to fend off Liverpool, a final decision on Isak’s future will ultimately rest with the club’s hierarchy.
Speaking again about the Isak situation ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Team K-League (kick-off 12:00pm BST), Howe said: “He is still our player. He’s contracted to us. We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us. My wish is that he stays, but that’s not in my full control.”
Last week, Howe also said: “I wouldn’t put a timescale on it. I think with these situations it has to be right for the football club, and everything then is taken into context below that.
“But the club will make the right decision with all the information that it has, and ultimately to try and move the club forward in whatever way that is. Then it’s up to us to make good decisions the other way and try and improve the squad as best we can. That’s what we’re trying to do, regardless of Alex’s situation.
“But I think there’s a wider picture here. There’s a whole football club that has to make the decision. The ownership, together with the board of directors, especially with the money involved in modern day transfers. The manager of course has an opinion, but ultimately the decision will rest with the board.”
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