With Isak currently in Spain training at his former club Real Sociedad, Liverpool have finally made their first formal move for the 26-year-old.
The Reds followed up a series of informal contacts with an offer for Isak which is understood to have been worth more than £100m, but the Newcastle hierarchy turned it down.
Liverpool officials are now understood to be considering their next move, with a second offer regarded as likely.
Isak has informed senior Newcastle officials of his desire to leave the club this summer and join the reigning Premier League champions.
Newcastle’s ownership group are understood to have raised the possibility of a new deal with Isak and his representatives, and are reportedly willing to consider including a clause in the contract that could pave the way for a move next summer.
However, Isak has shown no willingness to enter into formal contractual discussions as he sees his future with Liverpool.
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The Sweden international is understood to have been in contact with some of Newcastle’s senior players, who are currently in South Korea preparing for tomorrow’s friendly with Tottenham. However, his team-mates have been unable to persuade him to alter his stance.
Isak has three years remaining on his current Newcastle deal, and the Magpies’ public stance has always been that the striker is not for sale. Isak joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 in a deal worth £60m, and Real Sociedad have a sell-on clause enabling them to ten per cent of anything above that fee.
With Isak currently training at Sociedad’s Zubieta base, it remains to be seen what will happen next week when Eddie Howe and Newcastle’s first-team squad return from the Far East. Howe had been intending to hold face-to-face talks with Isak, but it is unclear whether the forward will agree to return to the Magpies’ Darsley Park training complex.
Newcastle have been investigating potential replacements for Isak, but their interest in Benjamin Sesko is complicated by Manchester United’s ongoing attempts to sign the RB Leipzig striker.
Newcastle remain hopeful of persuading Brentford to sell Yoane Wissa, but he is regarded as a replacement for Callum Wilson rather than a target linked to Isak’s future.
