Liverpool have had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle United and will not make a second offer for the striker in this transfer window. The Merseyside club’s first formal offer fell short of the £120m suggested during an informal enquiry by sporting director Richard Hughes a fortnight ago.
Newcastle value the Sweden international at £150m, a British transfer-record sum, and are reluctant to sell the 25-year-old, who was the Premier League’s second-highest goalscorer last season. Given the swift rejection, Liverpool consider it futile to return with an improved bid before the 1 September deadline, though their £110m offer remains on the table.
Liverpool were encouraged by Isak’s desire to move to Anfield, expressed through his representatives. The club have spent nearly £300m this summer, including a £79m deal for Hugo Ekitiké, but have recouped £190m in sales since Hughes’ arrival in June 2024. Their current transfer record is the £100m paid for Florian Wirtz, which could rise to £116m with add-ons.
Isak did not travel on Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia, with the club citing a minor thigh injury. However, the player has informed Newcastle he wishes to explore his options, with Liverpool his preferred destination, and has been training at former club Real Sociedad this week. It is unclear if he had permission to do so, and there has been no progress on a new contract.
Isak, signed from Real Sociedad for around £60m in 2022, has three years remaining on his Newcastle contract. The club maintain he is not for sale but have been attempting to sign other top strikers this summer, missing out on targets including Ekitiké, Liam Delap, João Pedro, and Bryan Mbeumo. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is a target, but Newcastle face competition from Manchester United.
