Liverpool transfer news: Alexander Isak slammed as Wirtz opens up on £116m fee

The Alexander Isak saga drags on with a sensational move for the Sweden striker now appearing to be increasingly dependent upon whether Newcastle can seal the signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig

Next stop Wembley as Arne Slot's Liverpool head to Wembley for the FA Community Shield against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

But the Alexander Isak saga drags on with a sensational move for the Sweden striker now appearing to be increasingly dependent upon whether Newcastle can seal the signing of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig and pip Manchester United in the race for his signature.

Either way the Reds appear well set for the new campaign with Florian Wirtz speaking on Monday night following the friendlies against Athletic Bilbao about how he is settling in and the £116m transfer fee will not weigh heavily.

Here are the big transfer stories to keep an eye on from in and around Anfield.

Wirtz relaxed

Florian Wirtz insists his huge price tag “doesn’t matter” as he plans to take the Premier League by storm. Champions Liverpool shelled out an initial £100m to take Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, and should certain add-ons be met then that will rise to £116m.

That fee would eclipse the current British transfer record of £115m that Chelsea paid to take Moises Caicedo from Brighton two years ago.

Liverpool remain in the hunt for Newcastle ’s Alexander Isak in a deal that could top Wirtz’s club record fee, but if that transfer doesn’t come off then Wirtz has no problem with being known as the most expensive new addition to the champions’ squad in what has so far been a £265m summer.

Pressed on the fee Liverpool have paid for him, Wirtz said: “No, I don't think about this. "

Isak slammed

Former Chelsea star Shaun Wright-Phillips has slammed Alexander Isak for the disrespect shown to his Newcastle team-mates while his transfer saga drags on.

Sweden star Isak has let his desire to leave St James Park become public knowledge amid keen interest from Liverpool, though the Toon’s asking price remains some way higher than what the Premier League champions appear willing to pay having last week had a first bid rejected.

And Wright-Phillips, a 36-time England international, reckons Isak has gone about forcing a move in such a way that it could easily be viewed as an insult to his current colleagues.

"I think he's handled it very badly because everyone knows you want out but you should go and train,” Wright-Phillips told AceOdds.com. “You’re not affecting the club, you're affecting the players you've been to war with for the last three seasons. Have a little bit of respect for your team-mates, turn up to train and then go home.”

Diaz reminder

Bayern Munich great Lothar Matthaus has reminded Luis Diaz that he "wasn't the first choice" after moving to the German giants from Liverpool for £65million.

The Colombian's deal at Anfield had two years left and he wanted a new contract, but Kop bosses refused to open negotiations over a new deal - forcing Diaz and his representatives to push for his exit. Bayern eventually secured a deal with Liverpool to take him to Bavaria, ending their summer-long search for new attacking talent.

But Matthaus told Bild : "Diaz is a good player, but he wasn't the first choice for this position. We also received rejections, and Eberl mustn't forget that."