Liverpool getting closer to DISCOUNT Alexander Isak deal | OneFootball

Liverpool and Alexander Isak aren't going anywhere, regardless of what Newcastle have to say.

A 'strongly worded' statement was put out last night by the Tyneside club, claiming that any notion of a 'not for sale' stance was actually nonsense, as the 'conditions for a sale' merely hadn't been met.

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There are a number of reasons why the sale hasn't transpired; not least the Magpies' inability to sign a replacement striker, the ludicrous and unreasonable asking price and an unwillingness to negotiate.

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Liverpool's initial approach of £110m plus add-ons might have unsettled the player and awoken him to the possibility of leaving Newcastle, but it was in no way 'disrespectful' - it was merely intended to start a dialogue for the transfer of a player that wanted to join the Reds, yet that fact has gotten lost.

In truth, now that the events have transpired in the way that they did, hopes of a £100m plus transfer fee are dwindling. Liverpool and Isak will get their wishes and for a heavily discounted rate as well.

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Isak still holds all the cards

Newcastle fans were celebrating with joy after their club 'stood up for themselves' and 'refused to be bullied', by choosing to keep a player who has gone AWOL and despises the club he's connected to.

The statement he put out on social media last night made it abundantly clear that he will not give in to convention by changing his mind and becoming a team-player again all of sudden, he's disregarded all available pathways to reintegrate with his colleagues. In essence, the Magpies have no striker.

Deciding to break his silence like that was a bold decision to say the least and he will not have done so if he didn't feel it was absolutely necessary. In his view, 'the relationship cannot continue' whether he stays at the club or not. Newcastle have actively put a burden on themselves for this season.

A British transfer record fee of anything over £115m would have made him the third most expensive player of all-time, regardless of whether it was below their £150m asking price. A lot of the money would have been available up-front and the player was more than willing to engage in talks, yet the decision was made to step back. A toxic environment is created, while their PSR concerns remain.

This is supposedly what 'winning' looks like in the eyes of the Newcastle faithful. Mind-boggling.

Liverpool, however, will actually be sitting quite pretty with a somewhat smug smile on their faces.

Not much more could have been done, since no encouragement was received since the initial approach, the player has been crystal clear in his ambition to leave and join the Reds, and the financial agreement that could have been reached is no longer going to be on the table for Isak.

This summer, nothing will happen. It was always likely since Newcastle were massively struggling to get any replacements through the door. The only decision available to them was to block a move for Isak as he's their only frontman, except it's currently incredibly unlikely that he'll ever reintegrate.

Fines might be thrown at him, but that would require the Magpies to take an even firmer stance, which doesn't seem possible since they have a 'family feel' to retain - per their official statement.

The proud traditions of their club should suggest that it's an honour to wear the Black and White shirt - one which Isak no longer respects. He's training on his own and dreaming of wearing Red.

If we assume that he will be kept until after the transfer window closes, then you feel there will be a lot more urgency to arrange his departure in January, when his value will have depreciated loads.

He'll either not be match-fit because he's been sat on the sidelines for months, or the efforts he has delivered for Eddie Howe will have been underwhelming since he's uncommitted and lacking focus.

Dreams of a £150m transfer or even a British transfer record fee could well be in tatters and Liverpool will hold all the cards, offering a fee of their choosing which Newcastle might have to take seriously.

After all, what kind of players are going to be seeing a move to Tyneside as an attractive proposition when the Magpies' star player is accusing the club of 'broken promises' and they've decided to keep him hostage - in a sense - for the foreseeable as some kind of punishment for stepping out of line?

How big the discount might be will be decided in due course, but his move feels inevitable now, and a staggering fee being exchanged now feel like a delusional pip-dream. The Reds will have to hang in for the meantime, but Isak's move has now gained momentum rather than stalled to a halt.