Alexander Isak's Complexity Against Liverpool's Time and Flexibility

If there is one thing that Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak needs the most right now, it might be a time machine. The player's future is likely much clearer had he actively sought solutions last week, unlike the current situation which is filled with uncertainty.

The mystery surrounding Isak's absence from Newcastle's pre-season tour has been solved. According to The Athletic, the 25-year-old striker is not recovering from a thigh injury, as the club had previously stated. Isak refused to participate in the Asian tour because he wanted to leave the club.

The news was somewhat surprising. Last week, Newcastle had just closed the door on Liverpool's offer for Isak. The striker did not show any desire to change clubs. Liverpool then shifted their target and brought in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.

Isak is very passive due to being in a dilemma. His agent had discussions regarding a contract extension with Newcastle. He requested a salary of around £250,000 - £300,000, but Newcastle could not accommodate this. Feeling deserving of a higher wage, Isak has made up his mind to leave.

Had Isak made a decision last week, the storyline might have been different. He would most likely have been in Liverpool's uniform. Ekitike, who was previously offered by Newcastle a few days before Liverpool, also had the potential to replace Isak. That scenario has fallen apart.

The issue is that Liverpool is the most suitable destination for Isak. The Swedish national team player wants to move to a club that can compete for the championship title. At the same time, "The Reds" are able to meet his salary and transfer fee. The situation has become more complex for Liverpool now following Ekitike's arrival.

Ekitike was purchased for a fee of 79 million pounds (Rp 1.73 trillion). In addition to already having a striker, Liverpool has also spent 295 million pounds during this summer transfer window. They have become the club with the highest expenditure in the Premier League to date.

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer said Isak couldn't leave for a reasonable fee. "Of course, Eddie Howe (Newcastle manager) could try to keep him for another season. If he can't, you'd have to get at least £150 million if he really wants to leave," he told BBC Sport.

As a context, Liverpool broke the English Premier League transfer record when they signed attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz for £116 million in June 2025. This means that if they wish to acquire Isak, the team coached by Arne Slot will update that record with a significantly higher price.

Interestingly, Liverpool is reportedly still interested in acquiring Isak. They are not concerned even if they have to spend a total of 450 million pounds in a single transfer window. This amount would set a record for the largest expenditure in the club's history.

The biggest question for Liverpool is how they will navigate the profit and sustainability rules of the Premier League (PSR) with such massive spending? Some clubs that have not been overly extravagant, such as Leicester City and Everton, have previously faced penalties for violating those rules.

According to Sky Sports, after consulting with football finance experts, Liverpool are in a very secure position. They could even spend £500 million in this window and still comply with the PSR. The key is good management over the past few years.

For example, last season, Liverpool only spent 12.5 million pounds to purchase Federico Chiesa. They actually experienced a surplus thanks to player sales amounting to 60 million pounds. This means they still have a transfer budget from last season that has not been utilized.

Liverpool, which has already received more than 60 million pounds from sales in this window, is also still open to offers from other clubs. They could potentially earn an additional 150 million pounds from the sales of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, and Harvey Elliott.

The main problem is that, along with Isak, Liverpool will have two main strikers who both need playing time. Ekitike, who is still "raw," will almost certainly lose a lot of playing hours. This is not the best scenario for the development of the 23-year-old forward.

That substantial amount of money can also be used to improve quality in other areas, such as defense. They need a new center-back to safeguard the club's future. Virgil van Dijk is already 34 years old, while Ibrahima Konate's contract will expire next year.

Certainly, Isak's move to Liverpool will be much more complex even though it is only a week apart. Newcastle will not rush into negotiations, as Isak is still under contract for the next three years. Meanwhile, Liverpool's latest offer of 120 million pounds is still far from Newcastle's valuation.

Howe still hopes that his protégé will stay, even though Newcastle is starting to look for a replacement. "We have several irreplaceable players in this club. Alex is one of them. We acknowledge his talent and abilities. We will do our best to keep him," he said.

Isak can't do much now but wait for certainty about his future. Due to his poor timing, he can only rely on Newcastle and other interested clubs. It's impossible for Isak to correct last week's mistake, as he isn't the main character in the film Sore: Istri dari Masa Depan. (AP/AFP)