Liverpool were “approached” by Newcastle in early June about a deal for Alexander Isak, according to the Daily Mail.

The English tabloid claims that the Magpies needed to raise funds in order to avoid breaking the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules so they offered Isak and Anthony Gordon to the Reds.

Isak and Gordon’s price tags were set at £100m; figures that the Merseyside club were not prepared to pay.

However, negotiations about Gordon did progress further, with Newcastle lowering their demands to £75m, while discussions about Isak were put to one side.

Should Liverpool have made a concerted effort to sign Isak?

If the Mail‘s reporting is accurate, it appears that the Reds had the opportunity to recruit a forward who scored 25 goals in all competitions last season.

On the face of it, £100m doesn’t seem like a bad deal but several factors had to be taken into consideration. Firstly, Isak’s injury record isn’t great. Since joining Newcastle two years ago, he has spent 160 days on the treatment table with thigh and groin problems.

In addition, there is no way that manager Arne Slot could accommodate both Isak and Darwin Nunez in the same team. For that reason, a buyer would need to have been found for the Uruguayan if they were to make a move for another No.9.

What has Isak said about his future?

Speaking earlier this summer, when Arsenal was linked with a bid for the Swede, the Newcastle player said that he was happy with life at St James’ Park:

“I am enjoying myself at Newcastle, and I had the best season in my career – that should not be underestimated. I love everything about the club; the fans, and the city.”

“It (my future) is not something I will speculate about, I have no thoughts on leaving. There has been no talk about it at the club and I have received no information that the could would have to sell me.”

Find out who is in Liverpool’s first-team squad for 2024/2025 season here