Wage offer could shift transfer balance in Liverpool’s favour | OneFootball

Liverpool weigh up decisive move for Isak as Newcastle brace for contract test

Contract leverage emerges as key to Isak chase

Liverpool’s pursuit of Alexander Isak has not yet entered formal bidding territory, but the framework of a potential move is beginning to take shape. The Newcastle striker is viewed within the corridors of Anfield as the missing piece, a marquee name to cap an already ambitious summer rebuild.

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And while Newcastle are reluctant sellers, the forward’s contractual situation has introduced a potential avenue for Liverpool to explore. According to Anfield Watch, the Magpies are preparing to offer Isak a new deal to make him the club’s highest-paid player, a move aimed at fending off interest. However, should Liverpool match or exceed the proposed wage, understood to be in the region of £350,000 a week the landscape could quickly shift.

Wages the key to any breakthrough

As reported by Chronicle Live, Newcastle writer Lee Ryder stated: “I don’t think he [Isak] will push for a move. I think his head could be turned if Liverpool start bandying £350k a week his way, though.”

That figure would represent a near-tripling of Isak’s current wage of £120,000 per week. While Newcastle have room to negotiate, doing so would require a major overhaul of their wage structure. Liverpool, by contrast, are already operating at that level, with top earners such as Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Florian Wirtz on similarly high figures.

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Financial headroom available at Anfield

With departures likely — including Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa — Liverpool will have room on the wage bill to accommodate a major signing. Those exits alone could free up over £250,000 a week, which would more than cover Isak’s expected demands.

And while no official bid has been lodged, the absence of any denial from Anfield has done little to quell speculation. The striker’s consistent output and ability to lead the line makes him a natural fit in Arne Slot’s tactical framework. Whether Liverpool are willing to meet the anticipated £150m–£200m fee remains to be seen, but they are certainly in a position to match the wage demand that could unsettle Newcastle’s hold on the player.

Isak’s future shaped by ongoing talks

It is now a question of whether Newcastle can keep pace financially with the Premier League’s elite. The Magpies will hope that sentiment and stability are enough to persuade Isak to stay. But Liverpool have the means and intent to test that belief.

Photo: IMAGO

If Isak continues to deliver goals, interest will not fade. And as things stand, Liverpool are watching closely.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

This one feels like it’s bubbling just beneath the surface. Isak is everything we should be going after: Premier League-proven, versatile, composed, and entering his peak years. And let’s be honest, the thought of him leading the line with Wirtz just behind is mouth-watering.

But the numbers are eye-watering too. £150 million or more? For a club that rarely splashes for the sake of it, that’s a serious decision. Still, if Darwin and Chiesa leave, we’ve got the wage space and, more importantly, the need. Because as much as we all rate Nunez’s effort, we need a finisher with consistent composure.

Newcastle want to keep him, of course they do. But can they really offer £350k a week without causing havoc in their dressing room? We’ve been there. That kind of move changes dynamics. For Liverpool, it’s not even a stretch. Salah’s deal set that bar years ago.

We might not be hearing public declarations just yet, but there’s something brewing here. Isak fits the project, and we’ve seen this before. Quiet confidence, then sudden movement. This could be one of those windows.