Liverpool and Newcastle told Isak transfer 'reality' with agreement 'expected'

The transfer window deadline is fast approaching and still Liverpool and Newcastle United haven't found common ground when it comes to Alexander Isak, who wants to leave St James' Park for Anfield

Emile Heskey believes an agreement will be reached to see Alexander Isak swap Newcastle for Liverpool - and the Sweden international has been tipped to be a roaring success at Anfield.

The Premier League champions saw a £110m bid rejected for Isak at the beginning of the month and have yet to return with a second offer for the striker, who has refused to play for Newcastle and is desperate to move to Merseyside. Last week, Isak, who hasn't kicked a ball for Newcastle since May, released an explosive statement on his Instagram account citing broken promises and lost trust. The club immediately responded, insisting the conditions to allow Isak to leave had not yet been met.

One of those key conditions is finding a TWO replacements - one for Isak and another for the already-departed Callum Wilson. So far this summer, the Toon have failed to sign Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, who both joined Chelsea, Hugo Ekitike who moved to Anfield and Benjamin Sesko, who completed a £73m move to Manchester United. A deal for Yoane Wissa from Brentford is yet to be agreed with the Bees, while two bids for Jorgen Strand Larsen have been rejected by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, Heskey believes that, where Isak is concerned, a deal will be thrashed out before Monday's 7pm deadline.

"I think [Newcastle and Liverpool ] will come to some agreement," Heskey said. "It's disappointing how it's actually played out, but it probably works in both teams' favour that they come to some agreement.

"But the reality is, as a club, if you've got a contract with a player - you hold the ace. So I don't blame Newcastle at all. They have to try and get the best they can out of their asset. The who-ha that they're having around that right now, and the pressure that is probably there, is a lot different to what I would have had to go through.

"First and foremost is to enjoy it (if Isak's move to Liverpool happens). The fans are going to love you. One of the best things about Liverpool fans is they love and get behind their players. I know he's gone now, but look at [Darwin] Nunez. There was a lot of pressure on him to score goals, but the fans got behind him, sang his name, and made him very welcome whenever he was on the pitch. And they're always like that. They'll always get behind you as long as you work hard and produce."

Former England international Heskey, speaking to Gambling.com, added that Isak's arrival would be no bad thing for the man currently leading the line, Hugo Ekitike, either. He added: "I've got no doubt that [Isak] will produce. He'll be fantastic if he eventually comes. They do need someone else. The reality is, you always need two strikers that challenge each other. Because you push each other to try and be better.

"We played with two up front, so we had five in my time [at Liverpool]. You're always pushing each other because you're at the biggest club in the world and you've got to be challenged all the time. You've got to be challenged to push yourself to do better and do more and more.

"So having someone that pushes these players is key in each position. If you get complacent, that's when bad things can happen. But I definitely think there's room for one more forward."