Liverpool have broken the British transfer fee record after completing a £125m deal for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.
The fee outstrips the £116m the club spent on Florian Wirtz earlier this summer, which was itself a record, surpassing the £115m Chelsea paid Brighton for Moises Caicedo two years ago.
Isak, who scored 23 goals last season, did not travel to Asia for the Magpies’ ongoing pre-season tour, with the club saying he had a minor thigh injury.
The Sweden international, 25, who has been training at his old club Real Sociedad, has three years left on his contract at St James’ Park.
Isak said: “I feel amazing. It’s been a long journey to get here. But I’m super-happy to be a part of this team, this club and everything it stands for. It’s something I’m proud of and I’m really looking forward to it.”
“I’m just happy it’s done and that I can get back to work. I’m looking forward to seeing my teammates and the fans, and getting back out there. I think I have a lot to give, I think I have a lot to improve. I’m a striker but I always want to give as much as possible to the team, mainly goals but much more than that as well. I want to win everything. Yeah, [as simple as that].”
Despite being able to sign Isak, Liverpool failed in their quest to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi after the deal collapsed at the 11th hour.
Palace pulled the plug on Guehi’s move despite the defender undergoing a medical in London after their defensive target Igor Julio opted to join West Ham on loan from Brighton.
Guehi, 25, had showdown talks with Palace boss Oliver Glasner who was desperate to keep him and the club eventually decided to hold onto the player.
It’s been an eventful summer for Liverpool. The Premier League champions have invested heavily, signing a host of players, including Wirtz, Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth and Hugo Ekitike who joined from Eintracht Frankfurt, for a basic £69m.
