Jermaine Pennant says Liverpool 'need' to complete Isak deal

Ex-Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant believes his old club need to complete a deal for unsettled Newcastle striker Alexander Isak to ensure they are able to defend their Premier League title.

Isak has been at the centre of a summer-long saga, with the Swedish striker courted by the Reds and making no secret of his desire to swap Tyneside for Merseyside.

Newcastle have constantly stressed their reluctance to sell and things took a fresh twist on Tuesday night, when Isak released a statement via his Instagram Story suggesting 'promises have not been kept' by his current employers over his future.

The Magpies were quick to respond via their own statement on the club's website, stressing that the 'conditions of a sale have not been met' and stating they will 'welcome back' Isak into their squad when he is ready.

Pennant urges Reds to get Isak deal done

Chatting exclusively to Odds Now on behalf of 7bet football betting, ex-Liverpool winger Pennant explained why he sees the potential acquisition of Isak as so crucial for his former club.

Pennant said: "I think Liverpool need Isak. They only have one No9 after Darwin Nunez's departure and if he gets injured, then they could struggle down the middle.

"Isak is top class, a proven goal scorer and I'm certain he would do brilliant in that famous red kit.

"The fact Liverpool have lost other forward players over the summer means they really do need Isak. Mo Salah isn’t getting any younger and with so many games to be played across all competitions, getting Isak in should be a priority for Liverpool."

Isak has handled situation poorly

Though Pennant is keen to see Isak rock up at Anfield, he has plenty of sympathy for how Newcastle have been treated by their talisman – a view Stuart Pearce also echoed when speaking to us earlier this month.

Pennant explained: "From a Newcastle perspective, I don’t know the full story as we only see what is in the media – but it isn’t looking good.

"He did so well there last season and had pretty much became a hero for life at the club, scoring a goal to win them the League Cup.

"But now to not train or be with the squad when the new season has begun, it’s a big shame to be fair.

"Ultimately, Newcastle gave him the platform to achieve what he has and he should get to work for his club until a transfer is agreed – if it even is."

Bookies unsure how Isak saga will pan out

Following the two statements released by Isak and Newcastle last night, bookmakers have altered their betting odds on where Isak will be playing his football after transfer deadline day.

The Toon's reluctance to sell has seen most sportsbooks trim him into 4/6 to still be at St James' Park after September 2nd 2025, while a summer move to Liverpool has now drifted to 11/10.

One interesting development has been the slight trimming of Isak's odds to join Arsenal or any club in the Saudi Pro League, with both options having a top price of 25/1 but as low as 14/1 with some firms.

There is a school of thought that Newcastle may be irked with the way Liverpool have gone about their business, which may lead them to look for an alternative buyer to the Reds.

However, selling to a divisional rival like Arsenal is likely to prove just as unappealing for the Magpies, while it is unclear whether Isak would consider heading to the Middle East with his best years still ahead of him.