Newcastle United have rejected Liverpool’s opening bid of around £110 million for Alexander Isak, according to reports on Friday, 1 August. The Premier League champions had hoped to bring in the unsettled Sweden striker from St James’ Park, but the Magpies are holding out for a valuation closer to £150 million.
Isak, who scored 23 Premier League goals last season and was key to Newcastle’s Champions League qualification, is currently training at his former club Real Sociedad. He did not travel with Newcastle for their pre-season tour of Asia, with the club citing a minor thigh injury.
The 25-year-old reportedly informed the club of his desire to leave this summer, despite having three years left on the contract he signed when he joined from Sociedad in a £60 million move in 2022. On Thursday, Sociedad confirmed Isak was working at their Zubieta training base with personal trainers.
It has been reported that Newcastle offered Isak the chance to extend his contract with a release clause for next year, but he instead reiterated his wish to move now.
Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, have already made waves in the transfer market this summer. They’ve secured the signings of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Giorgi Mamardashvili – bringing their total spending to over £250 million.
Slot is eager to further strengthen his attack by adding Isak, with Liverpool aiming to defend their league title and secure back-to-back top-flight triumphs for the first time since the 1980s.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe remained firm on the situation earlier this week, saying:
“He is still our player. He’s contracted to us. We, to a degree, control what is next for him. My wish is that he stays, but that’s not in my full control.”