Alexander Isak to Liverpool: Latest on Newcastle United striker as terms of deal for Premier League-record transfer assessed

Liverpool would be prepared to pay a fee in the region of £130-£140m to pry Alexander Isak away from Newcastle United, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has claimed.

The Merseysiders will enter the 2025-26 season as champions, but they could begin the campaign boosted by the arrival of Isak, who is said to have been subject of an approach from the Reds.

If Liverpool are to secure the services of the Swede, they will almost certainly have to break the the British transfer record, especially as some reports have suggested that the striker could cost £150m.

Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch claimed that while the Reds will not want to go north of that figure, they would be willing to part with significant sums, saying: "I don't think Liverpool would want to go anywhere north of £150m, and I don't think they would ideally be close to that.

"They would do a deal if it's at £130m, if you're at £140m, but anything beyond that seems a little outrageous because there's always a chance of the player - as good as he is - coming in and having real injury problems, or it just doesn't work out. [Injuries] would probably be the only reason it wouldn't work out.

"Liverpool could almost make back the money that they've already spent in the market, get back to zero and then have the chance to go out and splash big money on Isak."

Isak has only twice started at least 28 league games in a single season since he joined Borussia Dortmund in the 2016-17 campaign, so any agreed fee may have to factor in his history of injuries.

Why have Liverpool approached Newcastle for Isak now?

The key reason why Liverpool have approached Newcastle for Isak would appear to be the fact the Magpies have moved to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.

It is difficult to imagine the pair playing together, so perhaps the Toon view Ekitike a replacement for their current number nine and have therefore decided to be proactive in the market.

When asked about whether Ekitike signing for Newcastle would boost Liverpool's chances of landing Isak, Lynch agreed when he told Sports Mole: "It doesn't lessen the chances of Liverpool signing Isak, does it? It's very hard to see Newcastle playing a 4-4-2 given their options.

"One thing you can't rule out is that while yes, he could be the Isak replacement, he may be coming in a season early and they're going to use a season to bed him in, keep hold of Isak and have a real crack at the Champions League and have a real crack at the Premier League this season.

"I don't think you can guarantee that Isak goes this summer, but it's much easier to see a world where he goes to Liverpool once Newcastle have signed Ekitike. If you're Liverpool, that surely is encouraging I would say at the very least, albeit it doesn't guarantee anything."

It is important to highlight that Ekitike will be looking for regular playing time considering he will hope to be named in the France squad for the 2026 World Cup.

How will Liverpool fund Isak this summer window?

Florian Wirtz was brought to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee that could rise to £116m, and there are question marks about how Liverpool would also be able to fund a deal for Isak.

However, there are a number of players at the club that could be sold, including striker Darwin Nunez, who is said to have suitors in the Saudi Pro League.

Lynch insisted that the the Reds will need to sell in order to boost their purchasing capacity, telling Sports Mole: "I think it does need sales. There are some candidates for sale in that front line - and all across the pitch - that have futures with question marks over them in this Liverpool squad.

"Liverpool would, as much as they've got great spending capacity, need to start putting some sales together now, but if they do that then they'll put themselves in a strong position.

"Sales will be important, there's no question about that, but equally it's very easy to see where those sales come from. There are so many candidates for departures in this squad who don't clearly have a big role to play next season but could still generate serious money if they were to sell them. Isak doesn't feel out of the realms of possibility, that's for sure."

Attacker Luis Diaz has also been the subject of significant interest this summer transfer window, and it would not be surprising if Liverpool looked to reinvest the fee received from his potential exit.

> Click here to listen to the full discussion on the terms of a deal for Alexander Isak

Written by
Lewis Nolan