Prior to Tuesday morning, there was still a strong amount of hope that Alexander Isak would play again for Newcastle United.
Today however, the mood has shifted dramatically, and the Swede has burned his bridges seemingly beyond repair.
Still dreaming of a summer move to Liverpool, Isak is reportedly adamant that he will never play for us again: the strongest sign yet that there is no chance of re-integrating him back into first team plays.
And we may not have to wait long for the next development in this unbearable saga, as a fresh bid for Isak could be right around the corner…
Liverpool set to bid again for Isak – Romano
According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool will indeed send us another offer to sign Isak this summer, but on one key condition.
Writing on X, the journalist posted “Liverpool will bid again for Isak, as always planned since July…if/when Newcastle open doors to his exit. No changes.”
After an initial bid of around £110m was rejected earlier this month, we’ve been awaiting a follow up bid from Arne Slot’s side ever since, but they’re seemingly waiting for our ‘invitation’ to bid.
But as things stand, Isak remains the only ‘premium’ striker at the club, something which is unlikely to change even if we sign the excellent Yoane Wissa. One of the key conditions behind us being remotely willing to sell Isak is by having his replacement already ready and raring to go, particularly as we head into a long season with Champions League football included.
Have Isak and Liverpool made one critical mistake?
Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk commented on Sunday night after their Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace that “there’s always room for an attacker in order to strengthen us so let’s see what the window brings in terms of the balance of the team.”
And with Isak himself supposedly shutting down moves to anywhere else besides Liverpool, we hold all the cards in the situation – those being that Isak is contracted to us, and we know that Liverpool have the funds available to pay what we really want.
If Liverpool hadn’t made the move for Hugo Ekitike, it’s likely this entire situation could have been avoided, and Isak would most likely have already made the move to Merseyside due to Liverpool having an extra £70m in the bank and a spare striker slot in their squad.
But it seems that trying to compete with us in the transfer market has only emboldened our desire to keep Isak and avoid selling him to Liverpool at all costs. They took our no.1 replacement option without the foresight of what it would lead to, and now seemingly everyone else is suffering the consequences.
New £240m contract/wage offer with a minimum £250m sell clause, for all PL clubs only.
ToonforJoy(Quote)
Like Isak would sign it ???
PremAndUp(Quote)
That’s like saying blink before a game of chicken starts, why would we be willing to agree to that condition? Big 6 tomfoolery and arrogance.
NUFC Shanghai(Quote)
Sell him for the full amount one minute before the window closes, after we play them
PremAndUp(Quote)
Seems like you want leg irons and handcuffs to keep him prisoner at the club.
Jason(Quote)
Nope. Just want a fair fee.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Jason
Your attempt to equate Isak’s position to that of a slave is pretty repugnant.
A millionaire on £150,000 per week with a long term contract that he signed and a slave?
A contract that would keep paying £150,000 per week if he didn’t score, didn’t perform, got injured, or had to retire? I’m presuming he still would want his wages wouldn’t he?
Contracts are two way guarantees, and your point of view is idiotic to say the least.
Gfor(Quote)
Let him go, he’d spat he’s dummy out. Imagine Liverpool tapping up a player after a cup final. I don’t ever want to see him grace and black and white toon top again. Sell him but not to Liverpool
Mike(Quote)
Liverpool tapping up players from smaller clubs then acting self righteous lol. They did it to Gordon last year, Issac this year and plenty of others in the past. At this point I would sell him to anyone else in a heartbeat, preferably not in England. There are bigger clubs than the bin dippers for him to go to abroad. Pif won’t sell to PSG, Madrid won’t need him for 12 months, Bayern still have one more year of Kane, Barca can’t afford him. Player swap Jackson plus 150m to Chelsea?
Bruce(Quote)
Bruce, as you point out, Isak only has the one option. I noticed, as did you and everybody else, the interest in Gordon one year ago, and what a disappointment he has been this season. Isak has gone a whole lot further, playing like a tart since the cup final and finally spitting his dummy out. I hope his agent is well pleased with himself. Poor old Eddie must be tearing his hair out. As to the way forward, it is any variety of a lose-lose situation you care to dream up. Seems most improbable he’ll be wearing our black and white ever again, so therefore it’s merely a question of how much money we can screw out of Liverpool (we do have form!)
davewallace(Quote)