Alexander Isak is on the brink of being Liverpool’s record signing, with a £125m switch from Newcastle almost complete.
In a dramatic late-summer surprise, Liverpool have secured a deal to sign the Swedish striker to Anfield after their initial £110m bid was rejected. Isak will have a medical on Monday, a six-year contract lying in wait to be signed.
Speculation around his future had already intensified when he was noticeably absent from Newcastle’s Asia tour amid transfer rumours, a moment many saw as the first clear sign of an impending exit.
“Insiders familiar with the deal have informed BBC Sport that a deal for the Sweden international to move to the Anfield club is now done.”
Not only does the move show Liverpool’s determination to fight for silverware this year, it tells the competitors directly: The Reds are serious business.
Liverpool Squad Revamp in Full Swing
Manager Arne Slot has not been slow in overhauling the team since taking charge. With big departures and super-signings, Liverpool’s summer has been anything but quiet.
Here’s the big news for fans: the club’s overall summer outlay is now nearing £300 million. Isak’s signing will see this become one of the most costly transfer windows in the history of Liverpool.
Liverpool’s attacking line is set to appear utterly different. With Isak and Hugo Ekitike both signing, the Reds will boast a totally re-jigged front line. The onus falls on Arne Slot now to convert this spend into trophies.
Who’s In and Who’s Out?
Let’s take a look at Liverpool’s transfer window thus far:
Latest Transfers
- Alexander Isak – £125m from Newcastle (subject to medical)
- Florian Wirtz – £100m up to £116.5m from Bayer Leverkusen
- Hugo Ekitike – £69m to £79m from Eintracht Frankfurt
- Jeremie Frimpong – £29.5m from Bayer Leverkusen
- Milos Kerkez – £40m from Bournemouth
- Giorgi Mamardashvili – £25m from Valencia
- Freddie Woodman – Free from Preston
- Ármin Pécsi – £1.5m from Puskás Akadémia
- Giovanni Leoni – £26m from Parma
- Will Wright – £200k from Salford City
Major Departures
- Trent Alexander-Arnold – Real Madrid (£8.4m, up to £10m)
- Luis Díaz – Bayern Munich (£60m rising to £65.5m)
- Darwin Núñez – Al-Hilal (£46.2m to £56.6m)
- Caoimhín Kelleher – Brentford (£12.5m to £18m)
- Jarell Quansah – Bayer Leverkusen (£30m to £35m)
- Ben Doak – Bournemouth (£20m to £25m)
Also, a number of players have been sent out on loan, such as Kostas Tsimikas, Lewis Koumas, James Balagizi, James McConnell, Harvey Davies, Owen Beck, and Vítězslav Jaroš.
Eyes on Defence Next?
Whilst the attacking reinforcements have stolen the headlines, Liverpool aren’t finished. Negotiations are still ongoing with Crystal Palace regarding Marc Guehi, as the Reds seek to strengthen the defence. A first bid of £35 million was said to have been made, but Palace are demanding more including possible add-ons.
There was even a proposal Palace were seeking Joe Gomez as part of a swap deal but Liverpool swiftly shut down that rumour.
What This Means for Liverpool
Isak’s arrival turns everything on its head. His work rate, technical quality, and finishing could make him the focal point of Liverpool’s attack for years to come. Throw in the imagination of Wirtz and the strength of Ekitike, and Liverpool appears to be title contenders once more.
But fans and pundits are getting nervous about the defence. Now that Alexander-Arnold and Quansah are gone, reinforcements at the back are going to be needed sooner rather than later.
This signing, should it go through, will make Isak the most costly player in Liverpool’s history, and potentially the most expensive signing of all time by a British club. It’s a big statement. A statement. A gamble, sure, but one that Liverpool obviously thinks will be worth it.
The new era of Arne Slot is upon us. And it’s anything but quiet.
