Liverpool show no signs of slowing down in the transfer market and once again shook England. Their latest target is Alexander Isak, the 25-year-old Swedish forward who was Newcastle’s top scorer last season. The Merseyside club made a £120 million bid, immediately turned down by the Magpies, who don’t want to let go of their main offensive weapon without first lining up a replacement. Even so, the Reds’ move only reinforces what’s already clear this summer: Liverpool are the undisputed protagonists of the European transfer window.
Interest in Isak and the impact on Newcastle
According to The Athletic, Isak didn’t even travel with Newcastle’s squad for preseason in South Korea. Officially, the Swede stayed behind due to a minor thigh injury, but the real reason seems obvious: he wants to wear the red shirt of Anfield. It’s not unusual in soccer when a player pushes for a move, but the situation puts Newcastle’s management under double pressure. They need to negotiate a massive fee and, at the same time, secure a striker capable of keeping the team competitive.
Isak is coming off a brilliant season with 27 goals, numbers that explain Liverpool’s heavy interest and willingness to invest. He’s a modern forward who doesn’t stay glued to the box but knows how to finish clinically. At 25, he’s at his physical and technical peak and is a central figure for the Swedish national team. For Newcastle, losing him would be both a sporting and symbolic blow, since he represents much of the club’s growth project under its current ownership.
The rejection of the opening offer looks more like a strategy to buy time than a definitive stance. Newcastle know Liverpool are unlikely to walk away, especially in a market where the Reds have already spent close to £300 million and continue to chase more additions.
Liverpool with no limits
The pursuit of Isak comes on top of an already remarkable list of signings. Florian Wirtz joined for €150 million, becoming the most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history. Hugo Ekitike was another addition to the attack, while fullbacks Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have strengthened the flanks.
On top of that, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili had already been secured before the window officially opened. Altogether, the Reds’ spending has reached €306 million, with projections pointing to more than €500 million by the end of the summer.
That figure is massive, but it also shows how the club’s profile has changed. If Liverpool were once known for measured, well-planned signings, they now look intent on acting as full-blown protagonists in the market, going head-to-head with Manchester City, Real Madrid, and PSG in spending power. Some critics see it as reckless, but one thing is undeniable: the club has reinforced nearly every sector of the squad and still isn’t done.