Alexander Isak swap proposed as mega Liverpool and Newcastle deal 'suits all parties'

Former Newcastle United defender Stuart Pearce has suggested Liverpool could propose a swap deal to secure the services of Alexander Isak this summer. Last week, Isak reported a thigh injury ahead of the club's trip to Asia and withdrew from training.

He remained at home and did not travel with the squad. However, it later emerged that the striker had informed the club of his desire to explore his options this summer.

Liverpool have been long-standing admirers of Isak, but Newcastle have remained firm on their stance that the striker is not for sale, with the club valuing him at around £150million.

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Pearce believes that Liverpool may find a way around that by offering wantaway marksman Darwin Nunez as part of a deal to sign Isak before the end of the summer transfer window.

"The title is over if Liverpool get Isak, yes," Pearce told Chronicle Live. "They've ended up investing in what they've got and bring him and his goals through the door to add to [Mohamed] Salah would be incredible.

"I think if a deal does get hashed with Newcastle. I think maybe [Darwin] Nunez going in the opposite direction to Newcastle might be the way that make Newcastle better off.

"In my opinion, Nunez might be the one full of energy. He might just be the one that the new Newcastle fans take to. He creates chances for himself, for sure.

"He's just been a little bit wasteful over time. If he gets that right, all of a sudden he'll be a very effective replacement for Isak," Pearce continued.

"So if I was Newcastle, I would say, look, if at the end of the day we're going to lose Isak, send Nunez to us and then we'll have a bash with him.

"You've played at Newcastle, they just love their own players up there, especially the forwards, don't they? You know, I can see, you've seen Nunez, he goes in, he misses a chance, he misses another one, but he keeps going.

"He's unshakable in that respect. And you think that's a great trait to have as a striker. It's the ones that pull their neck in and don't get into missing chances. So I think I could see him playing for Newcastle, I really could, if they needed a replacement."

Contract negotiations with the Swede, handled through intermediaries, resulted in Isak being presented with a £200,000 per week package by Newcastle, a proposal that would establish him as the club's top earner in history.

Addressing the circumstances, Magpies manager Eddie Howe remarked: "He is still our player. He's contracted to us. We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us. My wish is that he stays, but that's not in my full control."

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