Alexander Isak remains intent on leaving Newcastle United for Liverpool during what remains of the summer transfer window.
Time, however, is running out for Isak. While things could change very quickly while the transfer window is still open, there are multiple hurdles blocking Isak’s move to Anfield.
Indeed, Liverpool have not yet bid anywhere near Isak’s valuation. Newcastle, meanwhile, do not look any closer to signing adequate replacements.
Geordie Boot Boys understands that Liverpool will make another bid for Isak but that really isn’t the issue. It’s surely all about how much they are willing to pay, and how far along Newcastle are in their hunt for replacements.
Newcastle value Isak at £150million which, even for free-spending Liverpool, may be prohibitive.
- Who is Alexander Isak? The striker who burned his Newcastle United reputation to force £125m Liverpool transfer
Liverpool may not even pay £130m for Alexander Isak
According to The Times, there are considerable doubts as to whether Liverpool would pay even £130million for Isak.
The report claims that Liverpool simply wouldn’t be interested in a deal if the price really was £150million.
They add that £130million could be considered too much for a player who has made it clear that he wants to leave his current club.
Last week, Eddie Howe confirmed Newcastle were sticking to their valuation of Isak.
The Newcastle United manager said: “They [the owners] are being strong on the valuations of players and on how a player leaves the football club. All of these things are important. They are important on this situation and also the future.”
Jamie Carragher tells Newcastle to sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has urged Newcastle to sell Isak to Liverpool.
That is not all too surprising given the fact Carragher is a Liverpool supporter, having played for the club for his entire career.
However, Carragher appeared to be speaking from experience rather than as a Reds supporter.
He compared Isak’s situation to that of Fernando Torres, who ended up staying at Liverpool in the summer of 2010 despite wanting to leave. Eventually, he left for Chelsea in January 2011 and Carragher says that it was a relief the Spaniard had gone at that point.
“I think Newcastle should sell Isak,” he said.
“The reason I say that is because there will be so many people outside of Newcastle telling Newcastle and Eddie Howe what they have to do. ‘You’ve got to be strong, you’ve got to show in the future that players can’t just come in and demand to go’.
“But they don’t have the problem of Isak every day. They don’t have the problem Eddie Howe has – every press conference going in there and getting asked questions about it.
“It’s a cloud over the club constantly. The reason I say it is because I’ve got experience of it. We had this with Fernando Torres at Liverpool, where he didn’t really want to be at the club.
“He ended up staying and we sold him in the January. That four or five months was a nightmare for the club and everybody at the club couldn’t wait for him to move on.”
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