With Liverpool on a post-title high and big money burning a hole in their pocket, the Premier League champions have turned their attention to Newcastle’s star forward, Alexander Isak.
But despite swirling transfer talk and some eyebrow-raising squad decisions, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is holding the line—he insists Isak isn’t going anywhere.
Record-Breaking Bid Could Be on the Table
Fresh off a £116 million splash for Florian Wirtz, Liverpool are reportedly ready to go even bigger—prepared to smash the British transfer record to get Isak on board. The potential price tag? Over £125 million.
The Reds are watching closely and will likely only move if they get signs from Newcastle that a deal could actually happen.
Isak Left Out as Newcastle Struggles Against Celtic
Fueling the speculation, Isak was noticeably missing from both the starting XI and the bench as Newcastle suffered a brutal 4–0 defeat to Celtic.
That absence didn’t go unnoticed, but Howe was quick to clarify the situation.
“It was my call,” Howe explained. “He came back to Glasgow with the team, but with all the noise around him right now, I thought it was best he head home.
Sitting in the stands, watching the match—it just wouldn’t have been fair on him.”
Howe Confident Isak Will Stay on Tyneside
Despite the growing interest from Liverpool, Howe doesn’t believe Isak’s exit is imminent.
In fact, he still expects the Swedish international to be wearing black and white come the end of the transfer window.
“I’m confident he’ll be a Newcastle player when all is said and done,” Howe added, clearly hoping to end the chatter before it becomes a full-blown saga.
Liverpool Already Exploring Other Options
While Isak might be their dream target, Liverpool aren’t putting all their eggs in one basket.
Arne Slot and his team are reportedly lining up alternatives, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike now on their radar.
The French striker, who’s also been pursued by Newcastle, is said to be open to a move to Anfield.
Interestingly, Newcastle themselves had a £70 million bid turned down for Ekitike recently—falling short of the 21-year-old’s £86 million release clause.
A Busy Summer for the Champions
Liverpool have already been aggressive in the market.
Alongside Wirtz, they’ve also brought in his Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong and left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.
But it’s not just about bringing players in.
There are outgoing talks happening too, with both Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez attracting serious attention—Bayern Munich are circling Diaz, while Napoli is reportedly keen on Nunez.