Report: Liverpool agree to sign Isak for record-breaking £130M fee

The most protracted transfer saga of the summer is finally coming to an end.

Liverpool reached an agreement with Newcastle United to sign striker Alexander Isak for £130 million, David Ornstein of The Athletic reports. The deal will set a new British transfer record.

The reigning Premier League champions previously had a £110-million offer for the Swede rejected, and Newcastle were adamant that Isak wouldn't be sold even as he demanded a transfer and missed the club's first three matches of the new season while training alone.

But Newcastle finally relented after signing Nick Woltemade for a club-record fee, clearing the way for Isak to get the move he's desired all summer.

Isak, 25, said in August that his relationship with Newcastle was fractured beyond repair, accusing the club of breaking a promise to allow him to depart this summer if a suitable offer arrived.

The Magpies responded by saying such an offer was yet to be received.

Newcastle tried to mend the relationship with their star striker, but a delegation that included the club's minority owner and representatives from the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) couldn't convince him to change his position and reintegrate himself with the squad.

Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions for Eddie Howe's team last season, finishing second in Premier League scoring behind only Mohamed Salah. The two will now play together at Anfield.

Isak's arrival will bring Liverpool's summer spending to roughly £400 million, as Arne Slot's side embarked on a massive spree to improve last season's title-winning roster.

The Merseyside outfit, the only team in the Premier League to open the new season with three consecutive wins following Sunday's hard-fought 1-0 victory over title rivals Arsenal, has already signed Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Giovanni Leoni.

Liverpool created squad space for their new arrivals with several marquee sales, including Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.