Liverpool Football Club has made a significant splash in the final hours of the transfer window, securing the signature of Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a British record fee of £125 million. The deal, which could potentially rise to £130 million with loyalty payments, marks the culmination of a long and hard-fought pursuit by the Premier League champions. Isak is expected to sign a six-year contract with a weekly wage of £300,000.

The acquisition of Isak underscores Liverpool's ambition to maintain their dominance in English and European football. The 25-year-old forward is seen as a key addition to their attacking line, bringing pace, skill, and a proven goal-scoring record. Isak's move to Anfield follows a period of unrest at Newcastle, where he reportedly "downed tools" to force the transfer. He was omitted from their pre-season tour and at one point trained alone at Real Sociedad, his former club. Isak also accused Newcastle of reneging on a promise that he could leave if a major club made a suitable offer.

This transfer window has been an expensive one for Liverpool, with the club spending over £440 million. This includes the £100 million (plus £16 million in add-ons) spent on Florian Wirtz in June. However, they have also recouped over £210 million in player sales.

Newcastle have already moved to fill the void left by Isak's departure, signing Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart for a reported £69 million. They were also in pursuit of Yoane Wissa from Brentford and Jørgen Strand Larsen, but were unsuccessful in their attempts to sign either.

In contrast to the Isak deal, Liverpool's pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi has ended in disappointment. Despite agreeing a £35 million fee with Crystal Palace and the player undergoing a medical, the transfer collapsed at the last minute. Crystal Palace were unable to find a suitable replacement for their captain, leading them to pull the plug on the deal.

Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace's head coach, had expressed his desire to keep Guehi, emphasizing his importance to the team's success. The club had also signed Jaydee Canvot from Toulouse, but Glasner views him as a project for the future rather than an immediate replacement.

The collapse of the Guehi transfer is a blow to Liverpool's plans to strengthen their defense. It remains to be seen whether they will pursue other defensive targets in the near future. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, face the prospect of losing Guehi for a reduced fee in January or for free next summer, as he has so far refused to sign a new contract.