Liverpool Sign Alexander Isak In British Transfer Record £125m Deal From Newcastle

Liverpool collapsed nan British transportation grounds to motion Alexander Isak for £125m from Newcastle connected deadline time but were foiled successful an effort to extremity a stunning model pinch a woody for Marc Guéhi.

On a contrasting time for nan Premier League champions, Isak underwent a aesculapian connected Merseyside earlier signing a six-year statement worthy astir £300,000 a week. Liverpool besides stepped up efforts to motion nan Crystal Palace captain, Guéhi, who had a aesculapian successful London successful anticipation of joining Arne Slot’s broadside aft Steve Parish, nan Palace chair, accepted £35m positive £5m successful add-ons for nan defender.

But Palace dramatically pulled nan plug connected nan woody erstwhile they grounded to motion an knowledgeable replacement. Liverpool had submitted a woody expanse to complete nan transportation aft nan 7pm deadline erstwhile it collapsed. A bid for Brighton’s Igor Julio fell done and a move for different higher-profile centre-back besides grounded to materialise.

Oliver Glasner, nan Palace manager, is understood to person been furious astatine nan determination to judge Liverpool’s connection and reiterated his plea not to waste his skipper during heated talks pinch Parish. There were moreover fears that nan Austrian, who led Palace to their first trophy erstwhile they won nan FA Cup successful May, could measurement down aft making it clear that they must support clasp of Guéhi to person a successful season.

The England world is successful nan last twelvemonth of his statement astatine Selhurst Park and has nary volition of signing an extension. Liverpool whitethorn renew their attempts to motion Guehi successful January but he could person liking from Barcelona and Bayern Munich if he becomes a free supplier adjacent summer. Parish had said aft Palace’s triumph successful nan Community Shield past period that it would beryllium successful nan club’s champion interests to waste Guéhi alternatively than suffer him for free.

Despite missing retired connected their main cardinal protect target Liverpool managed to extremity nan summer’s longest and astir acrimonious transportation saga successful their favour pinch nan grounds signing of Isak. Liverpool had a £110m bid for nan 25-year-old rejected connected 1 August. Newcastle’s position astatine that clip was that Isak was not for sale. However, his consequent onslaught and nationalist statements allied to their £70m signing of Nick Woltemade and attempts to motion either Yoane Wissa aliases Jorgen Strand Larsen encouraged Liverpool to taxable a higher connection connected Sunday night.

Newcastle accepted a fixed interest of £125m pinch nary add-ons. The cancellation of loyalty bonuses to Isak intends nan woody is efficaciously worthy £130m to Newcastle, who paid £55m to motion Wissa from Brentford. Wissa behaved likewise to Isak to unit his move to St James’ Park.

“I want to create history. I want to triumph trophies,” said Isak. “That’s yet nan biggest information for maine and I consciousness for illustration this is nan cleanable spot for maine to turn moreover further and to return my crippled to nan adjacent level and thief nan squad arsenic well.

“I consciousness for illustration this is nan adjacent measurement for maine successful my career. I’m super-happy that I’ve been fixed this chance and I’m very motivated to do thing good pinch it.”

The interest for Isak falls short of Newcastle’s £150m valuation but still represents a British transportation grounds and nan 2nd clip this summertime that Liverpool person surgery their ain transportation record. The champions paid £100m positive £16m successful add-ons for Florian Wirtz successful June and nan Isak woody will return their full summertime spending supra £440m. Liverpool person recouped much than £210m successful subordinate sales.

Isak successful effect downed devices this summer. He refused to play successful a pre-season friends against Celtic and did not spell connected Newcastle’s pre-season circuit of Asia, citing a thigh injury. Since past he has been absent from nan squad, astatine 1 shape training unsocial astatine his erstwhile nine Real Sociedad, and has not spoken to nan Newcastle manager, Eddie Howe, for much than a fortnight. Howe said pointedly connected Friday that morale was beardown wrong nan Newcastle squad aft a difficult opening 2 weeks of pre-season. Isak was portion of pre-season training for only nan first 2 weeks.

The centre-forward accused Newcastle of breaking a committedness that he could time off if a suitable connection came from a large nine and refused overtures from nan nine level to reopen negotiations complete a caller contract. A gathering astatine his location past Monday proved decisive. Isak informed a delegation that included representatives of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Newcastle’s financial backers, that he would ne'er play for nan nine again. The Newcastle contingent near wrong 45 minutes and moves were soon made to motion Woltemade.

Liverpool’s deadline-day business did not extremity pinch Isak and Guéhi. The champions accepted an connection from Aston Villa to motion Harvey Elliott connected a season’s indebtedness pinch an responsibility to bargain nan England Under-21 world for £35m adjacent summer. Liverpool besides received approaches from Milan, Brighton and Palace for Joe Gomez successful nan last 24 hours of nan transportation model but doubts complete nan Guéhi woody – good founded, arsenic it turned retired – meant they did not see letting Gomez leave.

Liverpool judge their cardinal protect options of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Gomez and nan caller signing Giovanni Leoni, who is regarded arsenic a perchance elite talent, should screen nan nonaccomplishment to motion Guéhi.