Liverpool plan record Isak deal - Friday's gossip

Liverpool are ready to break the British transfer record again for Alexander Isak, but Al-Hilal are also preparing a huge bid for the Sweden striker, while Newcastle are lining up Benjamin Sesko as a potential replacement, plus more.

Liverpool are poised to make a British record bid for Newcastle and Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 25. (Mail+ - subscription required)

But Saudi side Al-Hilal are also currently preparing a bid, understood to be more than £130m, for Isak after he was omitted from Newcastle's squad for their pre-season tour of Singapore. (Talksport)

Chelsea and Manchester United have ruled out a move for Isak, with the latter having already spent big on Brazil forward Matheus Cunha, 26, and Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo, 25. (Mail)

Newcastle have turned their attention to Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko with the 22-year-old RB Leipzig striker the main target should Isak leave. (ipaper)

Aston Villa have told Manchester United striker Ollie Watkins is not for sale, despite interest in the 29-year-old Englishman from the Old Trafford club. (Telegraph - subscription required)

Newly promoted Leeds United have agreed a deal with Lyon for goalkeeper Lucas Perri worth £15.6m, with the 27-year-old Brazilian expected to undergo a medical at the Whites' pre-season training camp in Germany. (Mail)

Bayern Munich are set to bid again for Liverpool and Colombia winger Luis Diaz. The Merseyside club are aware of the 28-year-old's desire to leave and talks will continue. (Fabrizio Romano)

Liverpool have offered French defender Ibrahima Konate, 26, a new contract to fend off interest from Real Madrid, who are keen to sign him this summer or next. (Footmercato - in French)

Brazil international Douglas Luiz, 27, failed to report for the first day of pre-season training at Juventus on Thursday as West Ham, Everton and Liverpool all have interest in the midfielder. (Gazetta dello Sport - in Italian)

Chelsea's English winger Raheem Sterling, 30, has emerged as one of a number of forward targets for Italian champions Napoli. (Calciomercarto - in Italian)

Liverpool attacker Harvey Elliott is open to leaving the Anfield club, with interest in the 22-year-old England youth international from West Ham. (Metro)

Spurs are considering a £15m offer from LAFC for captain Son Heung-min as the 33-year-old South Korean mulls over his future. (Sun)

Real Madrid are open to loaning 19-year-old forward Endrick to another team to avoid hindering his progress, but the Brazilian would prefer to fight for his place at the Bernabeu. (ESPN)

Hull keen on keeping Drameh - Friday's EFL gossip

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic says he has no interest in letting defender Cody Drameh, 23, go this summer despite interest from Derby County and Preston North End. (Hull Daily Mail)

Southampton have joined top flight clubs Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund in the race to sign Metz striker Idrissa Gueye, 18, with the Senegalese teenager expected to leave the Ligue 1 side just months after joining. (L'Equipe - in French, subscription required)

Watford are set to offload Jorge Hurtado, 21, and Antonio Tikvic, 21, after both players were sent out on loan deals last season.

Forward Hutardo is set to return to his native country of Columbia on loan to Millionarios with an a option to buy, while Croatian under-21 defender Tikvic could make a permanent move to German side Munster. (Luca Bendoni via X)

Wrexham and Sheffield United have lost the battle for Crystal Palace defender Rob Holding, 29, with the Englishman preferring a move to MLS side Colorado Rapids. (EFL Analysis)