It's claimed Liverpool is willing to pay $148 million to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Spanish outlet Fichajes says that Isak wants to challenge for the biggest honors in soccer, so the time could be right for him to push to leave St. James' Park, with Liverpool among the clubs interested in signing a top striker like Isak this summer.
Much will likely depend on whether Newcastle qualifies for next season's Champions League, as the Sweden international unsurprisingly wants to test himself in Europe's premier club competition again, having only made six appearances in it during his career.
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A player of Isak's caliber should be playing at the top level, but aside from the five appearances he made in the Champions League with Newcastle during the 2023-24 season, he has only made one other appearance in it, as a substitute for Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
Isak, 25, is contracted to Newcastle until 2028, so the Magpies are in a strong position to try and keep hold of the Sweden international, but should they fail to qualify for the Champions League, Isak could agitate for a move. It was reported in March that Isak had paused talks over a contract renewal at Newcastle as he was unhappy with the initial terms that had been offered to him.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona are among the clubs that have been linked with the Sweden international. Liverpool and Arsenal are both expected to be in the market for a top-class striker during the upcoming transfer window. Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez in the same summer that Isak arrived at Newcastle, but the Uruguayan forward has struggled in England and is likely to be sold to make room for a new striker.
It was reported by Tribune last month that Isak favored a move to Barcelona, but that he would not turn down a move to Liverpool if the chance to move to Anfield presented itself. Barcelona is believed to be closely monitoring Isak's situation as it looks for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who will turn 37 in August.
Sikou Niakate linked
Meanwhile, Africafoot reports that Liverpool is considering a move for Braga defender Sikou Niakate as a possible replacement for Ibrahima Konate.
Konate's Liverpool contract is due to expire at the end of next season, and he has been linked with a return to France with the club he supports, Paris Saint-Germain.
The Reds could be forced to offload Konate this summer for a reduced fee or risk losing him for nothing next summer if they cannot convince him to sign a new contract on Merseyside.
Niakite, a 25-year-old Mali international, is said to be being monitored by scouts from Serie A and the Premier League, specifically Liverpool. The center-back reportedly has a $33 million release clause in his Braga contract.
