Liverpool REJECTED Alexander Isak agreement | OneFootball

Liverpool fans have known for a long time that asking prices are a rough valuation of a player.

Teams rarely get the exact amount they're after. A negotiation takes place and eventually, each side has to make a compromise in order to get what they want. It's a fundamental business principle.

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Valuations alongside 'gentlemen's agreements' and 'promises' are easily bypassed and it's easy for teams to become hypocritical - this is an idea that Anfield Watch has explored in more depth through the prism of Newcastle's approach for Yohan Wissa, in connection with their Alexander Isak situation.

Earlier this year, in a high profile move for Florian Wirtz, the Reds successfully managed to agree a deal of £100m plus £16m in add-ons instead of caving in and paying Leverkusen's £126m valuation.

As such, it should come at no surprise that Isak was never going to leave for £150m and while a deal looks to be off this summer, insider information has been revealed regarding how much Newcastle were willing to sell him for, had they have subsequently brought in a new striker this summer.

13% discount for Isak was available

According to Craig Hope, the 'not for sale' stance coming out of Tyneside was actually a massive lie.

In his latest report, he said: "The club have pursued alternatives to Isak all summer. Had one of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike or Benjamin Sesko been signed, Newcastle would have explored his sale.

"Sources believe a deal in the region of £130m plus add-ons would, in the end, have seen an agreement reached between them and Liverpool. However, with each passing day and target gone, that likelihood has decreased."

As such, the Reds would have needed to put up more money, but both sides would have compromised, which is exactly how all pieces of transfer business unfold. As said, it's a negotiation.

To suggest that Liverpool have rejected an agreement to sign him is perhaps a little twisted, since the club had received no encouragement that a new bid would have been successful, new strikers needed to be signed at Newcastle before the green light to his move could have been signalled.

But since that's not happening, you can't help but wonder if a £130m bid would at all be tempting at this stage, despite him not having been replaced. After all, since he's gone AWOL, the Magpies don't exactly have a striker at the club despite keeping him. His prerogative is to not play for them again.

On the basis that we've been left waiting so long for a second bid, it would certainly be wishful thinking to consider a move like that being sanctioned by FSG, which in turn would be Liverpool rejecting an attempt at reaching an agreement, primarily because of how far-fetched it would be.

Reason currently suggests that January might be the most opportune moment to consider Isak again, once he and Newcastle have had a chance to stew on their incredibly toxic circumstances.

A further discounted move from the £150m pipe-dream might then be promising and Liverpool would have a lot more time to finalise all the details, with Newcastle more open to hearing their approach.