Alexander Isak: Striker returns to Newcastle as Liverpool prepare to 'insist' with second bid

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Evening Standard

·2 August 2025

Alexander Isak: Striker returns to Newcastle as Liverpool prepare to 'insist' with second bid

Scandinavian forward wants to leave St James’ Park

Alexander Isak has landed back in Newcastle as the uncertain situation surrounding his future reaches crunch time.

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The Swede had flown to Spain to train by himself at former club Real Sociedad’s facility while his current team-mates were on pre-season tour in Asia.

The striker had ruled himself out of the tour citing a thigh injury, although speculation continued to rumble on about whether he would remain on Tyneside beyond the summer transfer deadline.

Isak is of particular interest to Liverpool, who on Friday lodged a bid worth £110million plus add-ons, which was rejected by Newcastle.

The Magpies are reportedly after a fee in the region of £150m if they are to sell their talisman, and Eddie Howe’s side have already made moves in an attempt to sign a replacement, as they submitted an offer to RB Leizpig for Benjamin Sesko on Saturday.

Isak wants to make the switch to Anfield, and will now have an opportunity for face-to-face talks after it was revealed that he had jetted back into Newcastle following his Spanish escapade.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Saturday that - despite contrary reports - Liverpool were considering a second bid, and were prepared to “insist” for the striker.

Sky Sports report that Isak had touched down at Newcastle airport on Saturday afternoon, and he is due in for training alongside his colleagues on Monday, when they return from Asia.

The news comes after Howe, the Newcastle manager, had said that the rumours surrounding his star striker were “not ideal” amid the Magpies’ preparations for the new Premier League campaign.

Newcastle are also interested in Yoane Wissa, the Brentford striker, and made a £25m bid for the Conogolese last month, which was turned down by Brentford.

The Bees’ head coach Keith Andrews told Sky Sports after his side’s pre-season friendly against Queens Park Rangers that Wissa’s situation - similar to that of Isak’s - was also “not ideal”, and he confirmed that the forward had indeed departed Brentford’s pre-season camp in Lisbon prematurely in order to hold talks with the club’s hierarchy.