Transfer news live: Liverpool target Isak after Diaz deal, Arsenal want Eze, Man Utd latest – UK Times

The Daily Mail report that Liverpool are readying to submit an official bid for Alexander Isak this week having boosted their financial power with a deal to sell Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich.

Newcastle boss, Eddie Howe, has admitted there was ‘no chance’ Isak would be meeting up with the squad in Asia which gives rise to an expected move away from the club.

The club value Isak at £150m but it will be tough to extract that price out of Liverpool though a high bid – somewhere between £100-£130m – is expected.

The Magpies will need to decide whether it is worth cashing in on Isak or forcing him to stay as he has three years left on his current deal.

Arsenal are hoping to agree a fee that comes to £60m, rather than the reported £68m clause, although on terms that are also amenable to Palace.

Although there has not yet been any formal contact between the two clubs, the suggestions are that both will be flexible, amid good relations between the two boardrooms.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting, for a final fee of €63m (£55m) with a further €10m to potentially be paid in add-ons (totalling £64m).

The 27-year-old has signed a five-year contract.

The purchase marks the end of an 18-month hunt for a number-nine from Arsenal, who have been insistent on signing a goalscorer for the “here and now”.

Gyokeres’ arrival also marks the end of a hard period of negotiations with Sporting, who were insistent on more achievable add-ons. At one point, the deal dragged on and stalled over a potential add-on of €5m.

Manchester United have been firmly rebuffed by Aston Villa after an informal inquiry over a possible move for Ollie Watkins.

United made the inquiry on Thursday evening but were told that Watkins ‘is not for sale’.

Watkins is just one of a few strikers United have looked at along with others including Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

With a valuation of around £60m, Watkins is one of the cheaper options United are exploring and has proven Premier League quality.

If they do pursue a deal then it will be difficult to convince Villa to part ways with their man.

Liverpool had long insisted Diaz was not for sale but reluctantly agreed to his request to go.