Liverpool have reportedly accepted defeat in their battle to sign Newcastle United star Alexander Isak this month.
The Reds have enjoyed a big-spending summer with Arne Slot breaking the Premier League transfer record to bring in Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
Alongside Wirtz's arrival, the total summer outlay has already hit £265m, with Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Armin Pecsi, Milos Kerkez and Huge Ekitike all landing at Anfield.
Slot is looking to drive his team to the next level in 2025/26 and the club hierarchy were prepared to bankroll a sensational offer for Isak.
The Magpies rejected an initial bid of £110m for the Sweden international - who has already informed Eddie Howe of his desire to leave Tyneside - but the PIF-backed ownership would not accept less than £150m.
That is within Liverpool's remit, despite it meaning overtaking Wirtz's record, but as per reports from The Telegraph on August 10, Newcastle's Saudi Arabian owners have now closed the door on an exit.
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Frustration over their inability to land Benjamin Sesko ahead of Manchester United, and a determination to hold Isak to his current contract, means the former Real Sociedad forward looks to staying put.
Newcastle will now utilise the remaining weeks of the window to sign attacking players to work alongside Isak with Brentford star Yoane Wissa an ongoing target.
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Wissa is rumoured to be ready to strike over Brentford's refusal to sell him for below their £40m valuation - on the back of scoring 19 Premier League goals in 2024/25 - amid rumours he was promised an exit if a suitable offer arrived.
However, the saga could now take another twist, with Sky Sports reporting Liverpool have entered the race for the DR Congo international.
Slot sent scouts to watch Wissa last season, and his positional flexibility offers a different profile to Isak, and he could be available for less than a third of the price.
The clock is ticking for all parties, and missing out on another target would be a hammer blow for Howe, even if he resists Isak's exit push.
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