Liverpool 'to make formal offer' for Alexander Isak this week as £65.5m Luis Diaz transfer is agreed | OneFootball

Fresh developments regarding the Newcastle forward’s future are expected this week

Liverpool have agreed a deal that is expected to help fund a bid for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.

The Reds have already bolstered their attack with the signing of Hugo Ekitike but remain interested in bringing Isak, who scored 23 Premier League goals last season, to the club this summer.

Despite approaching Newcastle over signing of the Sweden international for around £120million, the reigning champions of England were quickly told that the striker was not for sale.

Now, the Magpies are bracing themselves for a formal offer from Liverpool for Isak this week.

According to reports, the Merseyside giants have been given the green light to launch a bid for the striker as Luis Diaz’s exit is imminent.

Liverpool have agreed to sell the Colombia international to Bayern Munich for a fee said to be in the region of £65.5m. The money from the sale is expected to fund a bid for Isak.

Luis Diaz’s departure is set to boost Liverpool’s hopes of landing Alexander Isak this summer

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

While the message from the Newcastle hierarchy has been they want to keep their best players, if Liverpool's offer approaches £150m mark and Isak pushes to leave St James’ Park then that stance could soften.

Regardless of the outcome, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is well aware his side must strengthen after missing out on a number of key targets - including Ekitike.

Speaking after the pre-season defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, he said: “We're not deluded. We know we need to bring players in.

“We've known that for a long time. We did a lot of work (at the end of last season), we knew what we wanted.

“But it's been a challenging transfer window. Let's see what we can do.”