Liverpool 'rejected' by second Premier League striker amid Alexander Isak transfer saga
Liverpool have strengthened heavily in the transfer market already this summer, yet they don’t look to be quite done just yet.
The Premier League champions have raided the Bundesliga for Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Hugo Ekitike, of Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively, while Milos Kerkez has also joined the Reds from Bournemouth.
Ekitike was a target for Newcastle as they looked into bolstering their frontline this summer, only for the Reds to trump the Magpies for the Frenchman.
Newcastle have struggled to strengthen in the off-season, seeing the likes of Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko and James Trafford opt for moves elsewhere.
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However, they appear to be closing in on the signing of Yoane Wissa from Brentford in their quest to add to the squad.
“(Wissa had) verbally agreed personal terms, they’re not gonna be an issue. He’s desperate to come here,” Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie said on his official YouTube channel.
Liverpool showed late interest in Wissa
Wissa, who scored 19 league goals for the Bees last season, had also been the subject of interest from Tottenham, now managed by former Brentford head coach Thomas Frank.
Newcastle, though, did run the slight risk of missing out on the 28-year-old to another Premier League rival.
“I was actually told by one source today that Liverpool have shown a little bit of late interest,” Downie added.
“Imagine Wissa going to Liverpool after all this. That is not the case; he is not going to go there, I am told only Newcastle for Yoane Wissa.”
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool did hold a concrete interest in Wissa, or whether they were looking to force Newcastle’s hand in their bid to sign Alexander Isak.
The Sweden international has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield, but the Reds have seen their one and only formal bid for the striker rejected.
Isak is yet to put in a transfer request in order to force a move to Liverpool but the former Real Sociedad star is eager to secure a switch to Merseyside.
Isak "furious" he won't be allowed to leave
The 25-year-old’s future remains in limbo with Newcastle hellbent on keeping one of their prized assets, who struck 23 times in England’s top tier last term.
The player himself has reportedly been told he will not be leaving Newcastle this summer and will not be allowed to join Liverpool, which has allegedly left the player furious.
As rumours of a move away from St. James’ Park, Isak was omitted from Newcastle pre-season tour of in Asia, and has been forced to train on his own in the off-season.
Head coach Eddie Howe has also admitted that Isak won’t be available to face Aston Villa when the pair meet in their Premier League season opener next weekend.
Topics: Liverpool, Newcastle United, Alexander Isak, Transfer News, Premier League, Football
Ben McAleer