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Alexander Isak may need to wait a little longer to complete any move from Newcastle United to Liverpool(Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Liverpool's pursuit of Newcastle United superstar Alexander Isak is already shaping up to be the transfer saga of the summer.

And it would appear there's a long way to run in it yet.

The Reds had long been linked with Isak and firmed up their interest in the Sweden international, who scored against them in Newcastle's Carabao Cup final victory at Wembley in March, last week.

But the Premier League champions saw their £110m bid rejected and, as things strand, they have no plans to make a second offer.

READ MORE:I saw what Arne Slot said about Alexander Isak - and new Liverpool forward cannot be ignoredREAD MORE:Alexander Isak to Liverpool transfer twists set to emerge as £46.3m exit drops major hint

But that doesn't mean Liverpool have ended their interest.

Instead, they are keeping a watchful eye on developments at Newcastle, whose attempts to bolster their forward line, let alone replace their 27-goal top scorer from last season, have so far hit a brick wall.

The Magpies have missed out on targets such as Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Benjamin Sesko and while they are eyeing the likes of Yoane Wissa and Nicolas Jackson, they face competition.

It means that, at present, they are not in a position to sell Isak even if they wanted to.

But it has emerged that there is another reason why Newcastle are in no rush to do business with the Reds, who play Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday before opening their Premier League campaign at home to Bournemouth on Friday, August 15.

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Following that match is a trip to St James' Park, which with Isak struggling for full fitness could even be his first appearance of the season after a summer in which he sustained a thigh injury and spent part of it training on his own at former club Real Sociedad.

And the ECHO's sister site, The Chronicle, have reported that the Magpies have no intention of seeing Isak play in the blockbuster Monday Night Football showdown on August 25 - for Liverpool.

They write: "Isak faces a race against time to fit for the opening day Premier League encounter against Aston Villa on August 16 while Newcastle are also assessing other targets in a bid to have new faces through the door for the game at Villa Park.

"However, one thing United are not in a hurry to see is the sight of Isak in a Liverpool shirt going up against them in the opening home fixture of the season on August 25.

"That's another thing Newcastle have control over as they aim to start the season in positive manner and insiders feel that they are hardly going to "assist" the Reds into getting three points."

That means Liverpool may have to wait to the final week of the transfer window, which closes on September 1, to land Isak, who has informed the Magpies of his desire a fresh challenge elsewhere.

His preferred destination is understood to be Anfield.

Newcastle are in a strong position, though, given Isak has three years remaining on his current contract.

Reds head coach Arne Slot was asked about the forward at his press conference today (August 8) after Darwin Nunez agreed to an initial £46.3m move to Al-Hilal.

Slot said: “As you know, from me and I think every manager works like this, you never talk about players that are not yours.

I can talk about Hugo (Ekitike), who we have signed and done really well until now.

“We are very happy with the squad and have every reason to be happy because we won the league last season.

Okay, players left but we brought players in as well and youngsters are doing good.

“At this moment of time, Darwin might leave, indeed, but things are not signed so we need to wait a few days until that is completely done but there is indeed a chance he is going to leave.”

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With the Nunez now set to move on, Liverpool will explore the market in pursuit of an additional attacking player - but only if key criteria is met.

It’s understood this would include but not be restricted to the desired player being of sufficient quality to start in the first team, represent fair market value, and be realistically attainable.

However, the Reds are believed to be willing to keep their powder dry if the right man is not forthcoming - having previously resisted signing players for the sake of it - in keeping with their longstanding approach to player recruitment.


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