Liverpool Ready to Stun Football World with Bold Alexander Isak Move Following Transfer Rejection
Liverpool are allegedly contemplating withdrawing from talks with Newcastle United completely following the rejection of their initial formal bid for Alexander Isak on Friday.
The Merseyside club has been linked with fresh interest in the Swedish forward after he reportedly indicated that joining Liverpool would be his preferred destination this summer. Isak is presently training with his former team Real Sociedad having been excluded from Newcastle's pre-season tour squad in Asia.
Claims surfaced on Friday suggesting Liverpool had submitted an initial proposal for Isak. Estimates of that bid differed, though there was broad agreement it was around £110 million ($145.8 million), considerably below the £120 million ($159 million) figure mentioned when the Reds made an unofficial inquiry in July.
Newcastle are broadly thought to rate Isak at up to £150 million ($198.8 million) so Liverpool's initial attempt being firmly turned down came as little surprise. Nevertheless, BBC Sport remarkably suggests that this entirely foreseeable rejection has led the Premier League title holders to suddenly reassess their approach.
Liverpool apparently believe securing Isak this summer would be "impossible to achieve". While there were hints that Newcastle's unwillingness to sell had been weakened by Isak's obvious wish to depart, the definitive nature of their response to the opening offer has raised serious questions about the entire pursuit.
This development contradicts earlier reports from multiple sources suggesting Liverpool were preparing a follow-up bid for Isak.
Arne Slot's team have already acquired several costly attacking players, including former Newcastle target Hugo Ekitiké, during a record-setting summer transfer window. Nevertheless, the Reds possess the financial resources to keep purchasing and have the competitive need to do so after Luis Díaz's transfer to Bayern Munich.
Without confirming additional signings, Slot emphasized his club's determined recruitment strategy in a conversation with The Athletic this week: "I always say, another thing about Liverpool is that if we see a chance in the market, we never hesitate to bring someone in."