17 Jun 2025 22:58:53
Getting very, very positive noise on the Isak front at the moment.
As I've been saying for a few weeks now, Isak's head has been turned, he wants to come to Liverpool. But Newcastle are now resigned to losing him this summer.
They had hoped to keep him another season, hoping the idea of a champions league run would entice him to give them one more year to plan for a future without him, but what I'm hearing is that Richard Hughes has made it very clear, it's now or never. Hughes told Newcastle that Isak is our first choice, but that if they won't sell, he's going straight to Frankfurt to buy Ekitike, widely regarded as "the next Isak". I'm told Newcastle were inclined to call his bluff, but Isak does not want to miss this chance, and he has essentially asked Newcastle to let him go.
To be clear, (to the best of my knowledge) Isak has not formally handed in an official transfer request, but I am being told that he HAS asked Newcastle to facilitate a sale to Liverpool this summer, and it does appear that they have agreed to do business.
The belief within Liverpool is now that the deal will happen. Newcastle have just asked for the time to secure a replacement first, and Liverpool have obliged, similar to how they afforded Bournemouth the time to finalise the deal for Truffert before completing the Kerkez deal.
Newcastle's move for Joao Pedro is progressing well. I'm told the deal will be done for a fee in the region of £60million in the coming weeks. Joao Pedro's camp have received clear assurances that he will be the starting striker. As I understand it, there is zero chance that Joao Pedro joins Newcastle and Isak stays at the club. Which means once the Pedro deal has been completed, Isak to Liverpool will move quickly.
The actual fee for Isak is yet to be agreed, but there is mutual understanding that an agreement will be reached, similar to the Wirtz deal. The player wants the move, Liverpool are willing to pay big money, and Newcastle are resigned to losing him, and so it is just a matter of settling on a number and structuring the payment and add ons. All in all, the total package is expected to be in the region of £130 million, but Liverpool have not ruled out paying a higher figure for more favourable payment terms. It also being discussed for Newcastle to take one or two players going the opposite way. I've reported previously of their interest in Jota, Gomez, Quansah and Bradley. Liverpool have again said that Bradley is not for sale, but the other 3 are firmly on the table. Any deal will be done separately for accounting purposes.
But regardless of whether they end up buying anyone from us, I am confident in saying: all going to plan, Alexander Isak will be a Liverpool player next season.
17 Jun 2025 23:20:51
Sounds plausible to me and I expect it will be done from July onwards to count for next year's psr. Giving Newcastle time will allow us time to move on Nunez and see if Rob is moves on to. Don't think they will take Gomez but Elliot or Quansah perhaps.
17 Jun 2025 23:22:56
Wow dude.
Liverpool fans with a perma stiffy all season if this materialises ?
Thanks for sharing.
17 Jun 2025 23:26:39
Omfg this is starting to get real now. Wow what an unbelievable transfer this will be if it all goes to plan.
17 Jun 2025 23:27:58
Call me an old sceptic but I can't see it happening.
It would be very nice, though.
17 Jun 2025 23:34:36
Holy f*cking moly.
17 Jun 2025 23:34:37
Thanks RedNotice, always good to read your posts :)
17 Jun 2025 23:49:42
Have barely came to terms with the wirtz deal and was taking 4 pairs of trunks to work for that. Don't do this me mate il be handing my notice in.
18 Jun 2025 00:01:00
Red notice, if you are a bluffer, you are one of the best around. No idea if any of this is one bit true but my god I like how it's written.
18 Jun 2025 00:09:00
Its a lot of money for a player who has injury issues and doesn’t track back. Newcastle seem to keep him wrapped in cotton wool when he plays. Don’t get me wrong, he is a superb player but its a gamble and not worth risking 130m. If we could get a hard-working Martinez for around half that price it makes more sense to me.
18 Jun 2025 00:24:44
I'll take it if we get him but I agree with Darwins Evolution, it's a lot for a player that gets injured so much. I'd much rather take Alvarez (if possible) or wouldn't mind someone like Martinez/ Retegui for like £50-60m.
My guess is they take Quansah if someone's going the opposite way.
See what happens.
18 Jun 2025 00:59:19
I think I’d prefer Martinez too but I may have been brainwashed that Isak is always injured. MK- can you provide some stats and set my mind at rest that Isak isn't a sicknote?
18 Jun 2025 01:11:27
You’re an old sceptic @Rigsby -sorry I just love stupid old jokes (Tommy Cooper is one of my heroes.
18 Jun 2025 01:16:28
You are saying things I want to hear so I am choosing to believe you.
18 Jun 2025 02:46:08
Most popular google search today - “Isak injury history “
lol
Not my first choice and would wonder about his fit and yes, his fitness.
But, if this is a players Hughes and their team want then I’d be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
18 Jun 2025 03:18:32
Alvarez has been unavailable for 1 game in the last decade through illness, Martinez and I.
18 Jun 2025 03:19:27
Sorry pressed send because my page scrolled
Martinez and Isaks injury history is littered with Groin, Thigh and Hamstring problems.
18 Jun 2025 04:04:45
Just a summary of Isak's injury history for the past three seasons. The games missed includes for both club and country btw so the numbers are slightly inflated.
1. 22/ 23: 1 injury (thigh), 107 days out, 18 games missed
2. 23/ 24: 2 injuries (groin x2), 56 days out, 12 games missed
3. 24/ 25: 3 injuries (broken toe, groin, hamstring), 43 days out, 9 games missed
It does read for grim reading but for context, he only missed 4 games in the league last season and was either in the starting 11 or came on from the bench in the other 34. He also only missed one game apiece in the EFL and FA Cup, both in the third round. The other games missed were international games so maybe he had an "injury" that kept him out of that.
The only concern I have is his groin injury since it seems like a recurring injury but I think our physios and fitness coaches would be able to deal with it and ensure that it isn't a huge problem. They dealt with Konate's injury concerns quite well last season too so I have more confidence on their abilities. If all else fails, we still have Slot's yoga to rely on ;)
18 Jun 2025 05:32:46
I'm sure Slots medical team will have a full understanding of every injury and will be 99.9% sure they can manage it, otherwise the club won't spend that type of money on him.
18 Jun 2025 07:00:20
Dracred, any info on how many games he was subbed off? Any physios here who know how precarious a reoccurring groin injury could be?
18 Jun 2025 07:26:17
Thanks for the update RedNotice, really interesting to see if they can pull this off.
18 Jun 2025 07:26:56
I've just liked that, WDW.
18 Jun 2025 07:46:43
Fingers and toes crossed, Y. N. W. A.
18 Jun 2025 08:13:48
@Darwin, by my count, he completed the full 90mins 19 times in the league. The other times, he is subbed off any time in between the 66th to 87th min. But on average, I would say it's about 75mins-80mins.
18 Jun 2025 08:26:55
What a brilliant post to read first thing in the morning.
18 Jun 2025 09:53:08
Once Slot has him in his Yoga class I'm sure it will all be fine.
18 Jun 2025 10:23:37
Don't believe it for a second, just like the Wirtz deal.
18 Jun 2025 10:24:24
Thanks for that Dracred.
I guess if we buy him we assume the medical staff are quite happy with the risk assessment. I think id still prefer Martinez but whoever pulls on the shirt will no doubt get all our backing.
18 Jun 2025 13:33:31
That would be f*cking epic lol:
Allison
Frimpong Konate VVD Kerkez
Mac/ Sobz Grav
Wirtz
Salah Isak Gakpo/ Diaz
Jeez that team would be unreal.