Alexander Isak transfer news: Newcastle reject Liverpool bid of over £100m with striker keen to explore options
Newcastle reject opening bid for Alexander Isak; Liverpool made informal approach for Isak last month and have now seen official offer rebuffed; Eddie Howe's side are braced for second bid; Liverpool face Newcastle in the Premier League - live on Sky Sports - on August 25
Wednesday 6 August 2025 10:31, UK
Newcastle are braced for a second offer from Liverpool for striker Alexander Isak after seeing their first bid rejected.
Sky Sports News understands Liverpool's opening offer for Isak was £110m plus add-ons. However, the total offer did not reach £120m.
Newcastle do not want to sell, and value Isak at £150m.
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Head coach Eddie Howe confirmed the club have turned down a bid from Liverpool for Isak, but is unsure on what will happen next.
"I am very much removed from anything that's happening back home," Howe said in a press conference ahead of Newcastle's match against Tottenham Hotspur in South Korea on Sunday.
"I was made aware that there was a bid [on Friday] - that bid was turned down all before I even heard about it. There's people back in England dealing with the situation.
"I really don't know what's going to happen next, but from our perspective we still support Alex in every way, and my wish is still that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again."
The Sweden international is training alone at his former club Real Sociedad's training facilities amid uncertainty over his Newcastle future.
It is understood Newcastle are aware of Isak's whereabouts as he recovers from the "minor thigh injury" that the club say has kept him from travelling to Singapore for their pre-season tour, with the player expected back in the north east next week.
However, Howe revealed that he himself only found out about Isak's whereabouts through the media and not from the player himself.
"I know where he is now - through the media," said Howe. "So I think from that perspective, it is difficult to go into any type of detail."
The 25-year-old has informed Newcastle that he wants to explore his options in this transfer window after Liverpool previously made an informal approach for him.
Liverpool play at Newcastle in the Premier League - live on Sky Sports - on August 25 on Monday Night Football.
Analysis: The three reasons why Newcastle rejected Liverpool's Isak bid
Sky Sports News' Keith Downie:
"The figure does not meet Newcastle's valuation, they don't want to sell the player and they are yet to bring in a replacement.
"This is not the last we are going to hear of this story. Newcastle are looking to bring in a top-level replacement. They need to have assurances that they will get a player in. They don't want to leave themselves in a position where they have no strikers. All they would be left with is young Will Osula.
"Next week will be so interesting. Newcastle and Isak return on Monday and it will be interesting to see if Liverpool return with a second offer. Personal terms would not be a problem. It could be done next week. I don't see it dragging on until the end of the transfer window.
"It's a huge transfer and would be a Premier League record. I think if it is to happen, it will happen within the next week or 10 days. The longer it goes on, the less likely it is to be done."
Analysis: Why Isak is in demand
Sky Sports Data Editor Adam Smith:
Alexander Isak scored 23 goals in the Premier League last season - second only to Mohamed Salah.
The Sweden international also outperformed his expected goals (20.42), underlining his elite-level finishing and composure in front of goal.
The 25-year-old consistently finds space around the penalty spot, where he converts a high proportion of his shots. But he's far more than a poacher: six of his 36 efforts from outside the box found the net - demonstrating his range and technique.
The chart below benchmarks Isak's per-90 stats against other strikers in Europe's top five leagues. He excels across a wide spectrum - from goalscoring and dribbling, to opposition-box entries and link-up play.
What do Newcastle do now in the window?
Howe added that Newcastle are only "looking for the best" in terms of transfer targets amid a challenging window for the club.
Not only have the Magpies been hit with Isak's desire to leave, but they have also missed out on a number of transfer targets to rivals, including Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Ekitike and James Trafford.
Newcastle have also hit a roadblock in their pursuit of Brentford forward Yoane Wissa. With Callum Wilson departing earlier this summer, it leaves just Will Osula as their only recognised first-team striker on their pre-season tour of Asia.
"We're looking for the best players that we can get," said Howe. "Whatever our target position is, we're looking for the best so I see all situations open and available to us.
"I feel that's the only way that we're going to get to where we want to go, which is to maximise, and it's quality over quantity. It always has been. That's always been the way that we try to work and the way that we try to recruit, and I think we've done it pretty well to this point.
"It's been a challenging summer, because we've missed out on various targets for loads of different reasons, but we're still very competitive, and we're still in there trying to bring very good players to the club - and that won't change til the window shuts."
Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from next season
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