Newcastle reject Liverpool’s bid for Alexander Isak and hold firm for £150m

Newcastle have rejected a formal bid from Liverpool to sign Alexander Isak after the Premier League champions’ offer fell way below their £150m valuation for the forward.

Liverpool’s first official offer for the Sweden international was for less than the £120m suggested when Richard Hughes, sporting director at Anfield, made an informal enquiry over Isak’s availability a fortnight ago. Newcastle value their prized asset at £150m, a British transfer-record sum, but remain reluctant to sell the 25-year-old, who was the second highest goalscorer in the Premier League last season. behind Mohamed Salah.

Isak’s stance since Hughes’ enquiry, however, has encouraged Liverpool to step up their pursuit of the player. The club have spent almost £300m so far this summer, including a £79m deal to sign long-time Newcastle target Hugo Ekitiké. But with £190m recouped in sales since Hughes arrived in June 2024, plus healthy revenues from their title triumph and return to the Champions League, Liverpool are in a position to break their transfer record for a second time this summer. Their current record is the £100m paid to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz in June. That could rise to a current British transfer record of £116m with add-ons.

Isak did not travel on Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia. Newcastle attributed his absence to a minor thigh injury but the striker informed the club that he wishes to explore his options this summer, with Liverpool his preferred destination, and has been training at former club Real Sociedad this week. It is unclear whether he had Newcastle’s permission to do so. There has also been no progress on a new and improved contract for Isak at Newcastle.

The forward, signed from Sociedad for £60m in 2022, has three years remaining on his contract at St James’ Park. Newcastle have insisted Isak is not for sale but have been attempting to sign other top-level strikers this summer, so far without success. It will require a breakthrough in Newcastle’s striker search plus a significantly improved offer from Liverpool for the current stand-off to change.

Eddie Howe and his nephew, Andy Howe, have been overseeing the club’s recruitment this summer after Paul Mitchell stepped down as sporting director and with chief executive Darren Eales due to leave on health grounds. As well as Ekitiké, they have missed out on strikers Liam Delap, João Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo, along with goalkeeper James Trafford, who instead rejoined Manchester City.

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RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is a target but Newcastle face competition from Manchester United for the 6ft 5in Slovenian, while Brentford have rejected their opening offer for Yoane Wissa.

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