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After a lengthy pursuit, Liverpool are poised to sign striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a British record transfer fee of £125m. The deal, which could reach £130m with add-ons according to Newcastle sources, will see Isak undergo a medical on Monday before penning a six-year contract. Liverpool had an initial £110m offer turned down in August but are now set to land their first-choice target. This move comes after Newcastle secured the Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart last week, potentially signaling Isak's impending exit.
Liverpool have already broken their club transfer record this summer by signing Germany attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz in a deal worth an initial £100m, with a further £16m in add-ons.
Isak's arrival would top that outlay. After also bringing in Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi and Giovanni Leoni, the deal would take the club's spending to about £416.2m without add-on fees - the highest total in Premier League history.
It is only the second time that an English side has shelled out more than £400m in a single summer, following Chelsea's £401.2m outlay in 2023.
Isak, who joined Newcastle in a £60m move from La Liga side Real Sociedad in 2022, scored 27 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions last season. He helped the Magpies win the Carabao Cup in March - scoring as Newcastle beat Liverpool in the final - and they went on to qualify for the Champions League by finishing fifth in the Premier League.
Earlier this summer, Isak was left out of the Magpies' squad for their pre-season tour of Asia with what the club described as a "minor thigh injury", while it was understood he wanted to explore a move away.
He then trained alone at his former club Sociedad before Liverpool's initial bid for him was knocked back by Newcastle. Amid continued speculation about his future, Isak released a statement in which he said promises had been "broken" by Newcastle and that their "relationship can't continue". Newcastle said that "no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer".
However, a move has now been agreed after Isak remained on the sidelines and missed their opening three league games, which included a 3-2 defeat by Liverpool at St James' Park.
