Liverpool agree British record £125m fee for Isak

Liverpool have agreed a British record £125 million fee to sign striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, with the deal set to be finalized on transfer deadline day after weeks of intense negotiation. The agreement marks a significant milestone in the summer transfer window, resolving a saga that saw Liverpool’s initial £110 million bid rejected in early August, prompting Isak to publicly criticize Newcastle for reneging on promises to allow him to leave for a top club. The £125 million transfer fee surpasses the previous British record of £115 million paid by Chelsea for Moisés Caicedo in 2023, and with additional loyalty payments, the total could reach £130 million for Newcastle, providing them with substantial financial flexibility. Alexander Isak, a 25-year-old Swedish international, was the Premier League’s second-highest scorer last season with 23 goals, just behind Mohamed Salah, and has netted 62 times in 109 appearances since joining Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 for £63 million. Newcastle’s acceptance of the deal follows their £70 million signing of striker Nick Woltemade, indicating a strategic shift after initially holding out for a higher fee, as Isak had been absent from squad activities, not participating in pre-season tours and training separately due to the unresolved transfer situation. Liverpool’s summer spending now exceeds £440 million, having already broken their transfer record with the £116 million acquisition of Florian Wirtz, while generating over £210 million in player sales, underscoring their ambitious squad rebuild under manager Arne Slot. Isak is expected to undergo a medical on September 1 and sign a six-year contract, strengthening Liverpool’s attacking options significantly and providing a replacement for departed forwards like Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez. This move not only bolsters Liverpool’s title defense aspirations but also offers Newcastle crucial funds to reinvest in their squad and comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, highlighting the evolving financial dynamics in top-flight football.