Liverpool seal record £130m deal for Alexander Isak as Newcastle scramble for a replacement
Liverpool have agreed a stunning £130 million deal with Newcastle United for striker Alexander Isak, smashing the British transfer record and ending one of the longest-running sagas of the summer.
The Sweden international is expected to undergo a medical on Merseyside today after Newcastle’s Saudi-backed owners finally gave the green light for their star striker to leave. The move makes Isak the most expensive player in Premier League history and signals Liverpool’s determination to reinforce their attack after winning last season’s title.
Talks between the clubs gathered pace over the weekend. Sources said discussions remained amicable, with Newcastle’s majority shareholders, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), prepared to sanction the deal as long as the price was right. Liverpool eventually agreed to match Newcastle’s demands, pushing negotiations over the line.
For Newcastle, the sale represents both an enormous cash windfall and a major headache. Having repeatedly insisted Isak was not for sale, they now find themselves scrambling for a replacement with the transfer window about to close. Their recruitment team has been in talks with Chelsea over Nicolas Jackson and have sounded out other potential targets, but options are limited and selling clubs hold all the leverage this late in the window.
Nick Woltemade, who arrived last week in a club-record £69m transfer from Werder Bremen, has already been unveiled as part of Newcastle’s future strike force. Yet with Isak now gone, the German forward is unlikely to shoulder the entire burden alone. “A new centre-forward must come in,” one senior source admitted, acknowledging the urgency of the situation.
Efforts to tempt Brentford into selling Yoane Wissa have faltered, and Wolverhampton Wanderers remain unwilling to part with Jorgen Strand Larsen. Newcastle’s hierarchy know they face a race against time to secure another elite striker.
Isak’s departure will spark debate among fans about whether PIF’s resolve has weakened. For months, Newcastle insisted he was untouchable, a player around whom their project was built. Allowing him to leave days before the transfer window shuts will inevitably invite criticism.
Still, few could have resisted Liverpool’s record-breaking bid. The £130m fee eclipses all previous transfers in British football and underlines the Premier League champions’ pulling power. Isak, 25, has long been admired for his blend of pace, technical ability and finishing, and Jürgen Klopp has identified him as the perfect addition to his attacking line.
Liverpool’s move for Isak reflects their intent to dominate again in both domestic and European competitions. With Mohamed Salah edging closer to the twilight of his career, the club has been searching for a new star to lead the line. Isak’s signing may represent not just the present but also the long-term future of Liverpool’s forward play.
For Newcastle, clarity has finally arrived after weeks of uncertainty, but at a steep cost. Losing their best striker so close to deadline day threatens to unravel their plans for the season, particularly after they insisted repeatedly that no sale would be sanctioned. Supporters are likely to question whether the club has prioritised financial pragmatism over footballing ambition.
As Isak prepares to swap black-and-white for red, Liverpool can celebrate a landmark signing, while Newcastle brace themselves for a frantic end to the transfer window