Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant believes his club will eventually land Alexander Isak, but will be made to ‘sweat’ until the last minute.

The Swedish forward has openly expressed his intention to depart from Newcastle this summer and was not present for the Magpies’ 0-0 match against Aston Villa last Saturday.

3

Liverpool are the frontrunners in the Isak sweepstakes and have already had a £110million bid for the striker instantly rejected earlier in the window.

The Merseyside outfit do not plan to lodge a second bid unless Newcastle provide encouragement a deal could be struck.

But Pennant believes there is simply too much water under the bridge for Isak to successfully work his way back into the hearts of the Toon faithful.

Even in the unlikely event he does, the 42-year-old feels Newcastle would be left with a shell of the Isak that slammed home 23 league goals last term.

Jermaine Pennant’s verdict on the Isak saga

“I just can’t see them keeping him now,” Pennant said on talkSPORT’s Inside Liverpool.

“There’s been so much noise, so much toxicity around the issue. He’s unsettled at the club.

“Even if they were to keep Isak, you’re not getting the same player. It’s facts. So 70 per cent, 80 per cent Isak, you’re not getting the same player.

“He doesn’t want to be there, his heart’s not in it. You can’t force someone to be wherever or do whatever, he’s got to do it on his own.

“Now, is it worth losing potentially £140m to rebuild your squad, to keep someone who is going to give you not what he could give you before and the value may drop as well.

“I think the deal is going to be done, but it’s not going to be done while we play Newcastle. I think this is going to be a deadline day thing. This is going to be like, ‘We’re going to make you sweat, Liverpool’. But I do see him coming, for sure.”

3

Liverpool are in the market for a new man up front after the summer sales of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez to Bayern Munich and Al Hilal respectively for a combined sum of over £110m.

Hugo Ekitike, who joined Liverpool despite heavy interest from Newcastle, started up top and scored for the Reds in their 4-2 victory over Bournemouth to kick off their Premier League title defence.

Virgil Van Dijk’s thoughts on Liverpool’s striker situation

Despite the arrival of Ekitike, Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk believes his side still remains light in the attacking department.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT following Liverpool’s defeat to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, Van Dijk said: “Well we just lost Darwin, he went to Saudi and we lost Lucho, obviously he went to Bayern.

“I think there’s always room for an attacker in order to strengthen us so let’s see what the window brings in terms of the balance of the team.”

Should Liverpool come back with a second bid for Isak, a successful pursuit would take their transfer spending this summer north of £400m.

3

Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, Giorgi Mamardashvili are amongst those who have moved to Anfield this window.

Wirtz is the marquee arrival having joined for an eye-watering £116m from Bayer Leverkusen, making him the most expensive player in Premier League history.

As for Newcastle, boss Eddie Howe is simply keen to eventually put the Isak saga behind him once and for all no matter the outcome.

“We’re keen for a resolution because the consistent noise around the team isn’t helpful for any team,” Howe told talkSPORT’s Sam Matterface after the draw against Villa.

“We’re aware of that, we would like closure on it, but we’re not in charge of when.”