The Isak Saga

[miller0863]

This could go on a while …

The Athletic journalist David Ornstein is reporting that Newcastle United have rejected an official bid from Liverpool for Alexander Isak.
The Reds had previously made an informal approach for the forward but have now seen an official bid rebuffed.
Newcastle had suggested a new deal that involved a 2026 release clause but Isak has not changed his stance and wants to move.

[miller0863]

£120m plus add ons

[teesred]

I've a feeling it's going to drag on too.

[Insidious]

Hughes and Howe know each other well.

I'd speculatively guesstimate (even worse lingo than "Sky Sports understands...") that we will be able to get him, but that -

- Newcastle understandably won't budge until they have a striker in.
- It appears to drag our so that Newcastle get the "we tried everything we could" narrative for the fans.
- Newcastle might want the larger bit of the fee up front to save face.
- Gentleman's agreement about Isak not featuring in that second game of the season for us, which is away to Newcastle.

[LFC-DPG]

I’m surprised but fingers crossed we can get it done.

Looks like Sesko is edging toward Man United so the barcodes will need to have someone else lined up before agreeing to a deal.

[miller0863]

There’s always Nicky Jackson….

[miller0863]

Apparently we are going back in with £130m plus £10m.

Which they will reject as previously agreed.
We then go back in with £135m plus £15m and they accept.

They have said all along he’s going nowhere unless they get £150m

[jozza800]

Am I the only one that isn't wholy convinced by him? Don't get me wrong, I think he'd be more effective than Nunez but there's just something about him I can't quite put my finger on.

One thing, is if we do end signing him, nobody can accuse FSG of sitting on their hands this summer!

[Daffydd]

It's a war of attrition.

We're going to sign him in January.

(See van Dijk, Virgil)

[miller0863]

Echo reporting we offered £110m flat

[justme]

the "BBC" are saying we may pull out of the deal.. If we lose Nunez.. we will need a number 9.. I know we signed Ekietike but he's unproven. its a big gamble on relying oh him straight away. He needs to bed in..with the sad death of Jota we will be short if Nunez does indeed leave

[miller0863]

Probably just a bit of sabre rattling

Maybe…

[Insidious]

We publicly announced moving on from an attempt to buy Van Dijk and got him a few months later.

Patience.

[Ravo19]

I read that newcastle turned offer down stating isak not for sale untill they get replacements in which is proving difficult.
Its pointless liverpool putting in a 2nd offer untill newcastle have there replacements,imo this is whats happened and not liverpool stepping away.

[Crimson Dynasty]

the "BBC" are saying we may pull out of the deal.. If we lose Nunez.. we will need a number 9.. I know we signed Ekietike but he's unproven. its a big gamble on relying oh him straight away. He needs to bed in..with the sad death of Jota we will be short if Nunez does indeed leave

Don't forget the departure of Diaz, who filled in at the 9 in most games.

Really, the death of Jota and Diaz leaving (and potentially Nunez too) all does leave us with a massive hole in the central striker role.

We could go with a lineup that has Eketike with Wirtz playing farther forward in that false 10 role as a front pairing while Szobo and/or Macca slot in behind them in the central midfielder position.
But it's the depth I'm more worried about.

We need at least one more attacker even if we may play some games with Wirtz in a forward role rather than midfield.

Is Rio ready,......especially if we need to have some games with Gakpo playing central as he has both with us and the Dutch national team?

One thing is clear.
If we do go for another striker in the market (even if lower profile), that will pretty much spell the end of Isak's dream to move to us.