The transfer saga involving Newcastle star Alexander Isak has taken a fresh twist - minutes before suitors Liverpool kick off their Premier League campaign.
The Reds are taking part in Friday's season curtain-raiser against Bournemouth at Anfield.
Manager Arne Slot included all four of Liverpool's available outfield signings in his starting XI after what has been a busy summer thus far on Merseyside.
But their business is not done there, with the club having announced the signing of 18-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma on Friday.
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Liverpool are also in talks to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.
Slot, meanwhile, hinted to Sky Sports in his pre-match interview on Thursday that the Reds are still in the market for a new centre-forward to complement the arrival of Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool saw a £110 million bid for Isak rejected by Newcastle last month.
The player is now 'on strike' from St James' Park, according to the Daily Mail's Craig Hope, and will play no part in the Magpies' opening league fixture against Aston Villa on Thursday.
The biggest development since Liverpool's bid occurred on Thursday night, with Brentford striking a £37 million deal with Bournemouth to sign winger Dango Ouattara.
That transfer is significant as it could decide the future of Newcastle-linked Yoane Wissa - potentially opening the door for an Isak departure for what would comfortably be a British-record transfer fee.
Newcastle identify new transfer target
Hope claimed on Thursday that while Newcastle were considering the option of signing only one striker this summer and still signing Isak, the preferred option would be to bring two new forwards to St James' Park.
The same reporter now states that the Magpies have identified Goncalo Ramos as a new centre forward option.
The Portugal striker came off the bench to equalise for PSG in Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup clash against Tottenham, which Luis Enrique's side won on penalties.
However, he is not a regular starter at Parc des Princes, and it is claimed that the 24-year-old is now a 'live option' for Newcastle after the club were previously told that a deal was unlikely.
Should both Ramos and Wissa be signed, it would almost certainly lead to a swift departure for Isak if Liverpool can match Newcastle's asking price.
The Magpies have thus far been unwilling to negotiate, but it has been reported that they would demand potentially in excess of £150 million to allow the 25-year-old, who has three years left on his contract, to depart the club.
Topics: Alexander Isak, Liverpool, Premier League, Newcastle United, Transfers, Football
Ryan Smart