Liverpool Reveals Maximum Price They'll Pay to Land Alexander Isak
Liverpool are said to be declining to meet Newcastle United's £150 million ($202.6 million) valuation for Alexander Isak, though they remain prepared to set a new British transfer record for the Swedish forward.
The transfer speculation surrounding Isak has been ongoing throughout the summer. Six weeks after Liverpool's initial informal inquiry for the 25-year-old striker, the current Premier League title holders have made only one official offer valued at £110 million.
Newcastle firmly turned down that proposal, having gradually moved away from their original unwillingness to sell once it became evident that Isak was determined not to continue at the club.
Nevertheless, they continue to hold firm on their assessment of Isak's worth. Liverpool, meanwhile, are only prepared to increase their bid to £120 million instead of the £130 million amount being discussed, as reported by The Times. The reasoning behind this position is that Liverpool would be "competing against no one" since Isak has clearly indicated his desire to join only the Merseyside club.
Whether Newcastle will accept a £120 million proposal remains uncertain. Such a fee would be nearly double what the Magpies invested in Isak three years ago and would establish the highest transfer fee in British football history, exceeding the £116 million Liverpool might ultimately spend on Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz from earlier this summer.
A higher bid isn't the sole requirement in the complicated path to bringing Isak to Anfield.
Even after securing Nick Woltemade for a club-record £69 million on Saturday, Newcastle would still need to bring in another striker to adequately replace Isak, particularly since Callum Wilson also departed St James' Park this summer.
Brentford's Yoane Wissa is actively pushing for a transfer north through a remarkable public declaration criticizing his current club's unfulfilled commitments, but the Bees—having already collected approximately £85 million from player departures this summer—face no financial pressure to part with their record Premier League scorer for less than their £60 million demand.