Inside Alexander Isak transfer saga as Liverpool looks to get its next world-class striker

This time last week, Liverpool’s hopes of signing Alexander Isak this summer looked as though they might have been over. Since then, it’s become clear that this transfer saga is far from over.

Isak has been linked with a move to Anfield for some time now, although it wasn’t until earlier this month that it seemed to have become a distinct possibility.

Now, with the striker clearly unsettled and new reports suggesting Liverpool will soon be making a bid, it feels as though we could be getting a conclusion one way or the other soon - although don’t be surprised to see it drag on for the remainder of the summer.

Liverpool being linked with Isak is nothing new. In fact, the Swedish international was being linked with a move to Anfield back when Jurgen Klopp was manager, but when the opportunity arose in 2022, the German is said to have decided upon Darwin Nunez instead - a decision a lot of supporters will be looking back on now with regret.

Isak would instead head to Newcastle from Real Sociedad, but the Liverpool speculation has followed him to St James’ Park and gone into overdrive over recent months.

He particularly caught the eye after scoring against the Reds in a 3-3 draw in the north-east back in December, before tormenting Liverpool’s defenders during the Carabao Cup final at Wembley in March as he fired Newcastle to its first domestic trophy in 70 years.

By that time, it was clear Liverpool needed a new striker, despite the Reds cruising to the Premier League title. Nunez had fallen out of favor, and Luis Diaz was increasingly being used as a makeshift No. 9.

The latter is now on the verge of joining Bayern Munich, while the former still looks likely to leave the Reds this summer, increasing the need to find new forwards, even after the signing of Hugo Ekitike.

Speaking of which, it is the Frenchman who could be considered the catalyst for the whole saga taking a dramatic turn. Up until a couple of weeks ago, although Isak was seen as Liverpool’s dream signing, there had been no official approach to Newcastle, with any move for a striker looking as though it would come later in the window.

That all changed though when the Magpies submitted a $94 million bid for Ekitike. Although the offer was turned down by Eintracht Frankfurt, it became clear Liverpool would have to make a move.

And so, an approach was made to Newcastle, with the Reds making it clear they were willing to break their own transfer record again after signing Florian Wirtz in order to secure Isak. They were met with a firm no from the Magpies though, who insisted the striker was not for sale.

In making the approach though, Liverpool had seemingly given Newcastle an ultimatum - either sell Isak, or miss out on the striker they’d had their eyes on for years, having previously tried to sign Ekitike before his move to Paris Saint-Germain.

In the end, Liverpool would secure Ekitike for an initial $92M, potentially rising to $106M with add-ons - not much more than Newcastle had offered, and still below Eintracht’s original asking price.

At that stage, it seemed as though the saga had come to an end - in truth, though, it was just getting started.

Just days before the Ekitike deal would be completed, the first rumblings of Isak being unsettled were beginning to emerge. He was sent home before Newcastle’s friendly against Celtic, with Eddie Howe admitting the decision was made due to the recent speculation surrounding his future.

He did insist that his striker would travel with the rest of his squad to Asia, but just a few days later, Newcastle announced its touring squad without Isak, citing a thigh injury.

Just a few hours later, though, reports broke that he had told the club he wanted to leave, and it hardly seemed to be a coincidence that his decision came so soon after Liverpool’s approach.

Indeed, various reports have indicated that Anfield is his favored destination, with links to Saudi Arabia being dismissed as Isak looks to stay in Europe.

There are even signs of Newcastle’s stance potentially softening, with Howe taking something of a more defeatist tone in recent interviews as the club’s chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, has reportedly taken the decision out of his manager’s hands.

Now, with Sky Sports Switzerland claiming talks will soon begin between the two clubs after personal terms were agreed between Liverpool and Isak, the saga could well be approaching some form of conclusion - or we could be set for yet more speculation over the next few weeks.

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