Liverpool transfer news: Players make Alexander Isak demand as Arne Slot’s focus turns elsewhere

Alexander Isak’s transfer saga shows no sign of progressing amid fresh speculation of a renewed push to sign defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace

The dust has not yet fully settled after what is already sure to go down as one of the Premier League games of the season and breakout star Rio Ngumoha has become an overnight sensation thanks to his last-gasp winner to break Newcastle’s hearts.

And while Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk hailed the 16-year-old’s impact, the club hierarchy have known about his potential having broken their rules around paying young stars to keep him away from Chelsea.

Meanwhile, there are no updates around the now tedious Alexander Isak saga, while focus must now surely be on whether the Reds try to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace amid doubts over their defensive performances in the opening two weekends of the season.

Here are the transfer tales from in and around Anfield with less than a week remaining before the summer window slams shut.

READ MORE: Transfer News LIVE: Isak to Liverpool update after Newcastle talks, Arsenal’s Hincapie hope, Man Utd and Man City latestREAD MORE: Man City could unwittingly help Liverpool sign Marc Guehi after transfer twist

Isak solution quick

Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes says the players want Alexander Isak ‘s transfer saga to be resolved as quickly as possible, with the striker still pushing for a move to Liverpool.

Isak has not featured for Eddie Howe ‘s side this season after refusing to join his team-mates for pre-season and training alone for the whole summer.

He has since released a statement complaining of “broken promises” from the Newcastle hierarchy, who hit back with their own message denying they had guaranteed he would be sold in this transfer window.

Liverpool have already had a £110million bid rejected for the Sweden international, with Newcastle understood to be valuing him at around £150m.

Speaking after Monday night’s game, Guimaraes said he had not spoken to Isak about the situation but urged the club to find a conclusion to the saga to allow the team to focus on the season ahead.

Guehi assistance

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has emerged as a target for Crystal Palace in a transfer which could help facilitate Marc Guehi’s departure to Liverpool.

Palace are scouring the market for central defenders in case Liverpool meet their valuation for Guehi before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Palace captain has entered the final year of his contract and chairman Steve Parish has admitted they would have little option to sell now in order to avoid losing him for free next summer.

Oliver Glasner has made it clear they won’t sanction Guehi’s departure before the second leg of their Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad on Thursday. But the deal could still be completed over the weekend, if a compromise is found between Palace’s £45million valuation and Liverpool’s of around £35m.

Ngumoha exception

The Reds operate under a strict wage structure for academy graduates, but they made a rare exception in 2024 to lure Rio Ngumoha to Merseyside. Although the teenager is officially on a scholar’s contract worth £1,200 per month, his deal is supplemented by a package of bonuses that can substantially increase his earnings.

Such incentives are rarely offered at academy level, ESPN report, underlining both how highly Liverpool rate Ngumoha and the measures they were willing to take to ensure Chelsea wouldn’t keep hold of him.

Ngumoha, born in London, first joined Chelsea’s youth setup in 2016 and was widely regarded as a future first-team player. Former club captain John Terry, who has worked in the academy in recent years, hailed him on social media as “a top, top player” after news of his move to Anfield broke.

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