'In the coming hours': How much Liverpool's second bid for Alexander Isak is expected to be - journalist
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Liverpool have work to do in the final days of the transfer window to ensure they leave their squad in the strongest place possible.
It has felt like a long summer for supporters, with two sagas dominating the past two months.
Liverpool could finally have made progress on Marc Guehi’s signing from Crystal Palace, but the bigger story has easily been that of Alexander Isak.
Liverpool have been trying to sign Isak for a British record transfer fee after the Swede made it clear that he wanted to leave Newcastle.
The Magpies have been playing hardball with both Liverpool and Isak, but a breakthrough finally appeared to have been made on Thursday evening, with Newcastle closing in on Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade.
Woltemade’s addition looks to have opened the door for Isak to leave for Anfield, but Liverpool will still have to make a giant bid to make sure that happens.
Photo by Scott Llewellyn | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
This summer window has been an unprecedented one from a Liverpool perspective.
The Reds signed their first ever £100m+ player in Florian Wirtz and could now do it again.
Liverpool already offered £110m for Isak, but having seen it swiftly rejected by Newcastle, they know they must go higher this time.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
And according to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the Reds are expected to put down £130m to try and secure Isak’s signature.
READ MORE: £35m Liverpool player all set to sign new contract and extend stay at Anfield
“Liverpool are expected to submit a £130M bid to Newcastle United in the coming hours,” Tavolieri posted on X late on Thursday night.
“NUFC, with Eddie Howe’s approval, have informed both Isak’s camp and the Reds’ board that a deal could be reached now that a replacement, Nick Woltemade, has been secured.”
All summer long, Newcastle based reporters have parroted the line that Newcastle are looking for £150m in order to sell Isak.
However, having brought Woltemade through the door for big money, there is a certain amount of pressure on the Magpies to get Isak off the books.
Liverpool have never shown any indication that they would be willing to match Newcastle’s valuation, and given they are the only suitor for Isak there is no need for them to bid against themselves.
£130m would feel like a fair compromise, and is a more than healthy fee for Newcastle to bank.
Liverpool are undoubtedly overpaying for a player who only has one Champions League goal to his name three weeks’ away from his 26th birthday.