Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has shared an honest recollection of the transfer saga involving Newcastle United and Alexander Isak.
After months of speculation, statements and a complete loss of trust, Alexander Isak finally got the move to Liverpool he was so desperate for.
The 25-year-old refused to play for the Magpies while the transfer situation was ongoing, and effectively cost Eddie Howe’s side seven points in their opening three games of the Premier League season.
Newcastle United stood firm on their valuation for Isak; it was £150m for the majority of the summer before they reduced their asking price to £130m the night before deadline day.
It is believed that Newcastle have made around £80m profit on Isak, a significant amount that will help their PSR stance for the next few transfer windows. While Isak got his move and has since made his debut, Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has made a claim which suggests the Reds were not fussed if they did not sign him.
- Who is Alexander Isak? The striker who burned his Newcastle United reputation to force £125m Liverpool transfer
Liverpool realised they were not desperate for a new striker before signing Alexander Isak
Isak’s Liverpool debut was rather uneventful. The striker played just under an hour, registering just one shot on target while Mohamed Salah stole the show with his brace with just a few minutes on the clock.
On social media, former Premier League striker Stan Collymore said Isak was not Liverpool’s ‘main outlet’. He did not get the same service he did at Newcastle, where Jacob Murphy put in crosses for him to get on the end of. Instead, Salah and Cody Gakpo were happy to cut inside from the wings and make their own chances.
Newcastle will not care what Isak does now, as they have two new strikers in Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade. However, during an appearance on The Overlap US, Werner suggested that they could have backed out of the deal for Isak without much hesitation.
“With the Newcastle situation, their club needed to find a replacement,” he said.
“We thought that we had a terrific financial offer for them, but he did have a contract with them that lasted for three more years.
“I guess our feeling was we had signed Ekitike to be a striker, and we felt if it works then that would be great, and if it doesn’t work there’ll be another option at some point down the road.
“I didn’t know anymore than the news media, I thought we were going to get the defender from Crystal Palace on the last day!
“I think Isak will be terrific, but he’s not the only striker in the world.”
Alexander Isak is under immense pressure to succeed at Liverpool
Newcastle will surely be pleased with their earnings from the Isak deal, which has been deemed ‘transformative’ by local outlets.
It was clear from around August that the Sweden international’s position as a star striker was untenable at Newcastle, and a move away was the best option for both clubs. However, the pressure is all on Isak to succeed.
£130m is a gargantuan amount of money in the football world, a British record fee. Isak has to have a sensational season to make Liverpool feel like they have gotten a winner based on his price tag.
He still has a long way to go, but if his debut was anything to go off, then Isak could be in for a rough time on Merseyside.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
