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Newcastle offered Alexander Isak a new contract with a release clause to convince the striker to stay put before rejecting Liverpool's $157.9 million offer.
The Reds have been tracking the 25-year-old, who has made it clear that he wants to leave St. James' Park all summer, and refused to drop their interest despite splashing $92.7M on Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike. Isak is training at his old club Real Sociedad's facilities in Spain while his future at Newcastle is decided.
According to The Athletic, Newcastle has rejected Liverpool's $157.9M bid for Isak. But before dismissing the Reds' approach, the Magpies offered their star man a new contract with a release clause that would become active next summer in the World Cup year.
However, Isak has not changed his stance and remains determined to leave Newcastle this summer, which has been made clear to the club through his representatives. Liverpool has already spent just shy of $400M this summer, and Isak would see the Reds up their spending to over half a billion dollars, should they land their target.
Isak joined Newcastle in 2022 from Real Sociedad in a $79.3M deal and quickly became one of the Premier League's best strikers. He has scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for the Magpies, with 23 of those coming in the Premier League last season.
Isak also scored in Newcastle's 2-1 EFL Cup final win over rivals Liverpool last season. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has also stated his hope that Isak will remain at the club.
"He is still our player. He's contracted to us. We, to a degree, control what is next for him," Howe said of Isak during Newcastle's pre-season tour in Seoul, South Korea, where the player isn't present, before Liverpool's official approach. "I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us.
"My wish is that he stays, but that's not in my full control. We have not received a formal offer for Alex, from any club. My wish is that he stays and we see him playing again next year."
Isak's current deal has three years left to run, leaving Newcastle in a strong negotiating position. The club is said to be valued at $197.4M, which makes Liverpool's bid short by around $39M.
Selling Isak this summer would leave Newcastle in a tight spot, considering Liverpool already snatched one of their summer transfer targets, Ekitike. Anthony Elanga has been Newcastle's biggest first-team signing this summer from Nottingham Forest.
The club is gearing up for another season in the Champions League. The last time the Magpies competed in the Champions League, the 2023/24 season, they finished bottom of their group, ending their European campaign before the knockout stages.
Howe hopes his team can go further and progress to the knockouts, with Isak remaining their focal point in attack.
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