With just three days left before the transfer window closes, all eyes are on Liverpool’s pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, in what could become a record-breaking transfer saga. The Premier League champions saw their opening £110m bid rejected on 1 August but are expected to return with an improved offer of at least £120m. Sources close to the Swedish forward confirm his desire remains firmly fixed on a move to Anfield, despite Newcastle’s efforts to patch up relations following Isak’s social media post declaring “the relationship can’t continue.”
The move for Isak is seen as the pivotal deal that could trigger a chain of transfers across Europe before Monday’s deadline. Newcastle are pushing to secure Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade in a deal worth up to €80m (£69.3m), a record signing for the club. The 22-year-old is expected to slot in as their first-choice forward, effectively filling the role Isak would vacate. At the same time, the Magpies are pressing ahead in talks with Brentford over Yoane Wissa, who is earmarked as Callum Wilson’s replacement following his departure.
Brentford, however, have already turned down two bids for Wissa, including Newcastle’s most recent £35m plus add-ons. Negotiations are expected to accelerate once Brentford secure a new attacker, with Borussia Dortmund’s Max Beier and Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara both on their shortlist. Dortmund are open to letting Beier leave as they edge closer to signing Wolves’ Fabio Silva, creating the conditions for Brentford to sanction Wissa’s sale.
This delicate chain of moves highlights Newcastle’s position: they will only sanction Isak’s exit once they have both Woltemade and another striker through the door. The Magpies’ counter-statement last week, while firm in tone, notably stopped short of ruling out a sale. With Isak continuing to train away from Eddie Howe’s squad, the signs suggest Newcastle are preparing for life without him.
For Liverpool, sealing the transfer would not only break the British record fee but also provide them with the marquee striker to spearhead their new era. The clock is ticking, and as negotiations intensify, Isak’s move could set off a cascade of last-minute deals across the Premier League and Europe before the window slams shut.
