LIVERPOOL have sanctioned a British record £130million move for Alexander Isak next week – confident that Newcastle will finally let the wantaway striker leave.
And they also still want to land Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi for £35m.
The arrivals of both would take boss Arne Slot’s summer spend to a sensational £466m following the captures of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni, Will Wright and Armen Pecsi.
Liverpool have already had one bid of £110m turned down for Swede Isak but will not make any official approach until after Monday’s clash with Eddie Howe’s Newcastle side.
The atmosphere at St James’ Park will already be hostile enough and the Reds do not want to inflame the situation any further.
But they make their second move big for the striker who was frozen out of Toon by Howe for Saturday’s 0-0 season opener at Villa Park.
During that game the Toon Army chanted: “There’s only one greedy b*****d”, to make their feelings known about a striker who has downed tools, refused to play and is to be fined for missing the Villa game.
Their hero worship for the front man who has scored 62 goals in three seasons since signing from Real Sociedad for £63m has disintegrated into bitterness and spite.
Isak will not only be left out again by Howe but, as things stand, he will not even attend the Liverpool clash.
With Guehi – who appeared to snub Oliver Glasner after Sunday’s draw at Chelsea – ongoing negotiations with Palace are understood to be amicable because Eagles chairman Steve Parish and Kop CEO of football Michael Edwards have a solid relationship.
There is increasing anxiety at Anfield over the stance of centre-back Ibrahima Konate who is refusing a new deal with only this season left on his current contract.
He is keen to join former team mate Trent Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid and Liverpool would consider selling this window or in January rather than let him leave for free next summer.
Guehi, aged 25 like Konate, is seen as the ideal solution while the signings of him and Isak would create a world-record spend across any transfer window by any club – that mark currently held by Chelsea who forked out £391m in 2023.
Slot told the Anfield hierarchy well before the end of last season that he saw Isak as central to the mega-spending masterplan of restructuring the squad that went on to claim the Premier League.
That has not changed despite the arrival of £69m striker Hugo Ekitike from Frankfurt and him scoring in both the Community Shield and Prem opening-day win over Bournemouth.
With sales expected to have topped £230m by the end of the transfer window, it is understood a decision has now been made to try to end that Isak saga by paying an extra £20m.
A likely total price of £130m would also allow Newcastle to double their money on the 25 year old and save face on the sale they have grown to accept is becoming inevitable.
Harvey Elliott, a £40m target for West Ham, could come into the equation in a part-exchange deal, depending on what choice the attacking midfielder makes.
Howe made it clear after the Villa game that he wants the stand-off with Isak resolved as he continues his pursuit of Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
He stressed: “We would like a resolution. I am talking about myself, I am sure the ownership, and the players.
“We need that clarity. You don’t need any distraction. But I am not in control of that. I think only one person really (Isak) can control that.”
SunSport understands that long-held discussions with Isak’s representatives have ensured that personal terms will not be a problem.
Newcastle have so far been reluctant to engage with Liverpool amidst attempts to first bring in replacements having lost out to Manchester United for Benjamin Sesko and, ironically, Liverpool for Ekitike.
The Bees have now upped their valuation of Wissa from £40m to £60m but the DR Congo attacker – also left out at the weekend – is digging in for a move to the North East having removed all association with the club from his Instagram account.
But Wissa is almost certain to get his wish – and a deal could even be struck before the weekend.
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