Three conditions must be met for Liverpool to successfully sign Alexander Isak in the final days of the transfer windowLiverpool have limited time to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United(Image: Michelle Mercer/Newcastle United via Getty Images))
Time is slipping away for Liverpool to complete the transfer of Alexander Isak. It is the deal they have wanted most in the final weeks of the window but numerous roadblocks have stood in the way.
Liverpool found out first hand negotiations were going to be tough when they had a £110m offer rejected for the Swedish striker. Newcastle have remained resilient in the following weeks that have seen Isak go on strike, refusing to play for Eddie Howe’s side in the new Premier League campaign – he even released a public statement trying to force a move.
The Reds’ match up at St. James’ Park on Monday night also complicated matters amid this saga, now there are just a matter of days for the correct conditions to be met for the deal to happen.
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The ECHO looks at the three things that must line up perfectly for Liverpool to beat the 7pm next Monday, September 1.
Liverpool outgoings
Amid the excitement of new faces at Anfield, supporters may have noticed several players making their way out of the exit door.
It began with Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid back in June (£10m), and the Reds quickly followed up by selling Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford (£18m), Nat Phillips to West Bromwich Albion (£3m), and Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen (£35m).
After a hiatus in July deals have since been confirmed for Luis Diaz to move to Bayern Munich (£65.5m), Tyler Morton to Olympique Lyonnais (£15m), Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal (£46.3m), and Ben Doak to Bournemouth (£25m).
That most recent transaction involving the Scotsman took Liverpool’s transfer income above £200m for the summer of 2025.
Liverpool’s transfer expenditure this summer is already over £300m. This would not have been possible without smart business completed in previous years and the only way further spending on Isak was going to be possible was if the cost was offset with sales.
British record bid
The second condition to signing Isak would be Liverpool coming to an agreement with their rivals. For that to happen, long has it been noted a British record offer was going to be required.
Newcastle reportedly want close to £150m for a player who has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances over the last three seasons.
This is why Liverpool’s flat £110m attempt has received criticism in some instances. Anfield chiefs saw little point in amplifying the noise by making an immediate follow up, so have tried to maintain their silence and let events on Tyneside play out as they have done.
But to state the obvious, this potential deal goes nowhere without Liverpool’s input.
Newcastle replacements
The final condition is that Newcastle successfully replace Isak. This is entirely out of Liverpool’s control.
The Reds have watched on as the North East club have missed out on Liam Delap and Joao Pedro to Chelsea, plus Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United. Liverpool even dipped into the market for Hugo Ekitike, another attacker Newcastle actively tried to sign, but the notion the Frenchman’s move was hijacked is inaccurate as it is understood sporting director Richard Hughes began work on that deal as early as January.
It means almost three months since the summer window first opened for business, Newcastle haven’t signed any strikers. They have five days to rectify this and push the door open for Isak’s exit to Liverpool but this is seeming increasingly unlikely by the minute.
The ECHO‘s colleagues at The Chronicle have covered the Magpies’ attempts to sign two forwards recently. One is Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, who has a £50m price-tag that is not expected to be matched, and the other is Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen, who was subject of a £50m rejected bid on Monday.
Regardless of Liverpool’s hopes, successfully signing both might still not be enough to allow Isak to move as both are viewed as replacements for Callum Wilson, who left as a free agent last month, rather than the Sweden international.