Liverpool have decided they are prepared to break the British transfer record by sanctioning a £130million move for Alexander Isak this summer, according to reports.
The Premier League champions lodged an opening offer of £110m plus add-ons for Isak, 25, earlier this month, which was rejected out of hand by Newcastle.
But Isak’s future remains in serious doubt, with the striker’s camp outlining his desire to explore potential opportunities away from St James’ Park during recent discussions with Newcastle’s Saudi owners.
Isak has been training separately from the rest of Eddie Howe’s first-team squad after opting out of the Magpies’ pre-season tour of Asia and the attacker played no part in the side’s Premier League opener with Aston Villa at the weekend.
His absence unsurprisingly left Newcastle’s travelling support furious and loud chants of, ‘There’s only one greedy b******!’, were heard in the away end at Villa Park.
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According to The Sun, despite Newcastle’s hardline stance until this point, Liverpool are ‘confident’ of landing Isak, plus Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, before the summer transfer deadline on September 1.
Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni, Will Wright and Armen Pecsi have already arrived through the doors at Anfield across a busy window – and the addition of Isak and Guehi would take the club’s spending spree beyond £466m.
Liverpool do battle with Newcastle in their second game of the season next Monday evening and the Merseyside giants will not make any official approach until after the clash has taken place.
The report claims Liverpool’s hierarchy do not want to ‘inflame the situation any further’ by making a move for Newcastle’s star man prior to the contest.
Wirtz broke the British transfer record when he completed a £116.5m switch from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool back in June – and the Reds would make history for a second time this summer should they succeed with a proposed £130m bid for Isak.
The Sweden international still has three years remaining on his current contract in the north east.
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Facing the media after Newcastle’s goalless draw with Villa, Howe insisted the door was still ‘well and truly open’ for Isak to be welcomed back into his squad.
‘Nothing has changed. The door is well and truly open,’ the Newcastle head coach said.
‘He has to decide what he wants to do. We would like a resolution. We need that clarity. You don’t need any kind of distraction.
‘I am not in control of that. There is one person who can control that. Let’s wait and see. I have made my stance clear. I am concentrating on the team.
Asked about the derogatory chants directed at Isak from Newcastle fans, Howe replied: ‘The supporters acted really well today.
‘If afterwards, they want to say something, they are free to do that.’
Anthony Gordon, meanwhile, admitted the uncertainty surrounding Isak’s future had contributed to a ‘difficult’ start to the season.
‘It has been difficult because we’re a tight-knit group,’ the Newcastle winger said.
‘But you see today, we’ve still got that spirit and togetherness.
‘That will never go, regardless of individuals. We’re still together. Things like this can make you better in the end.’
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