Liverpool handed major transfer blow amid Alexander Isak latest contract stand-off

Liverpool have hit a potential stumbling block as they try to raise funds for Alexander Isak, who could cost as much as £150million this summer. Despite already bringing in striker Hugo Ekitike for £79m, Isak's bombshell revelation has put the Reds back in the market as Newcastle refuse to meet their talisman's contract demands of £300,000 a week.

Arne Slot's outfit have shown willingness to pay such figures this summer, putting Florian Wirtz on similar money following his capture from Bayer Leverkusen. They are yet to package a formal offer to Newcastle, but those involved expect it to be forthcoming.

With roughly £300m spent already this summer, Liverpool would be looking to offload players for hefty transfer fees if they took their outlay to £450m in one summer through Isak.

Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott are the players earmarked to make way, and all three could raise the necessary £150m combined, with the Reds hoping to get as much as £80m for the Colombian winger.

He was not in the squad for their friendly defeat to AC Milan, with Slot admitting that he "was left out today due to speculation on his future."

Bayern Munich and Barcelona had been the two frontrunners for Diaz's signature, with the German side submitting a bid worth £58.5m 10 days ago, only to see their initial offer rebuffed.

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Bayern are set to return with a deal worth £65m, below Liverpool's valuation still, and according to Foot Mercato are confident of getting that move wrapped up.

Their optimism may be caused by Barcelona's public admission that they are no longer pursuing Diaz. After being turned down by Nico Williams, the La Liga giants turned to Marcus Rashford on loan instead.

Having brought the Manchester United man in, club president Joan Laporta said that there would be no more incomings.

"We've hit all our targets for the upcoming season," Laporta told Mundo Deportivo. "In principle, there won't be any more signings now. We have a good squad and a coach who wants to bolster the first team when necessary with youngsters from the reserve team."

That statement means that Liverpool can no longer leverage their interest in negotiations with Bayern for Diaz.

Vincent Kompany's side are fully aware that they are the only team trying to sign Diaz. They do not have to increase their bid in fear of being gazumped by a rival.

Bayern can sit and wait for Liverpool to lower their price, perhaps growing increasingly desperate for cash to fund a move for Isak.

In turn, Liverpool have suffered a blow in hopes of receiving their full asking price of £80m and the knock-on effects could spill into the Isak contract stand-off saga.