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Luis Diaz left Liverpool for Bayern Munich earlier this week in a £65.5m deal and Mohamed Salah has taken to social media this morning to praise his former team-mate luck in Germany.

"Your energy, drive, and passion on the pitch have left a mark that won’t be forgotten," he wrote.

"We were truly lucky to have you at Liverpool, and it’s been an honour to share part of your journey and success story. As a teammate, you were more than reliable — you were inspiring.

"As a friend, even more so. We all saw the strength it took to keep going through the tough times off the pitch. What you went through would’ve broken most, but you came back strong and gave everything for the club.

"That kind of resilience sets an example for others and earns nothing but respect. Wishing you all the best for what’s next, Lucho."

Liverpool

Liverpool have spent £265m on initial transfer fees as they reshape the squad for the 2025–26 season, headlined by the marquee signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. Below are all the incomings and outgoings this summer...

• Florian Wirtz – £100m from Bayer Leverkusen (potentially rising to £116m)
• Hugo Ekitike – £69m from Eintracht Frankfurt (potentially rising to £79m)

• Milos Kerkez – £40m from Bournemouth
• Jeremie Frimpong – £29.5m from Bayer Leverkusen
• Giorgi Mamardashvili – £25m from Valencia (potentially rising to £29m)
• Armin Pecsi – £1.5m from Puskas Akademia
• Freddie Woodman – Free transfer from Preston North End

All the exits:

• Luis Diaz – to Bayern Munich, fee TBC (up to £65.5m)
• Jarell Quansah – to Bayer Leverkusen for £30m (rising to £35m)
• Caoimhin Kelleher – to Brentford for £12.5m (potentially £18m)
• Trent Alexander-Arnold – to Real Madrid for £8.4m
• Nat Phillips – to West Brom for £1m (rising to £3m)

Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

BBC Sport can confirm Newcastle United have rejected an opening offer from Liverpool for striker Alexander Isak.

The Magpies value the Sweden international at about £150m, with the Reds' offer falling below that figure.

There has been no confirmation as to the level of Liverpool's bid.

Isak was left out of the Newcastle squad for their pre-season tour of Asia as he wants to wants to explore a move away.

The bid from Liverpool has been lodged while Isak trains alone at former club Real Sociedad, amid continued uncertainty around his future.

Confirmation of earlier reports that the Magpies had turned down a bid from Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been quite the summer at Anfield and the Alexander Isak saga stretches back to the middle of July, but how did we get here?

It may take a few bullet points so bear with me...

• Liverpool have had a strong interest in Alexander Isak since start of transfer window.
• Newcastle have £70m bid rejected for Hugo Ekitike.
• Magpies insist star striker Isak is not for sale; Liverpool move for Ekitike; Newcastle cool their interest in French forward.
• The Reds have a bid of £69m with up to £10m in add-ons accepted for Ekitike.
• Isak misses Newcastle's pre-season friendly against Celtic with a reported thigh injury.
• Manager Eddie Howe reveals post-match the expects Isak to join team for their trip to Singapore.
• The Sweden forward is not named in Newcastle's 30-man squad for their tour of Asia.

• BBC Sport confirm reports the 25-year-old is looking to explore options away from Newcastle this summer.
• Isak is training at his old club Real Sociedad as speculation surrounding his future continues
• Reports that Liverpool have had a formal bid rejected by Newcastle , external

All caught up? I need a lie down.

Image source, Getty Images

Good timing of that post from ESPN journalist Mark Ogden suggesting this transfer saga could rumble on all summer...

I say that because The Athletic journalist David Ornstein is reporting that Newcastle United have rejected an official bid from Liverpool for Alexander Isak.

The Reds had previously made an informal approach for the forward but have now seen an official bid rebuffed.

Newcastle had suggested a new deal that involved a 2026 release clause but Isak has not changed his stance and wants to move.

Image source, Getty Images

The saga around Newcastle striker Alexander Isak could continue until the end of the transfer window, says ESPN journalist Mark Ogden:"I think it will, unless Newcastle make a decision that they want to end this now and get players in," he told the BBC's Football Daily podcast.

"But can you imagine Isak leaving for Liverpool, then having to play for Liverpool at St. James' Park a week into the season? That would be a really bad look for Newcastle.

"I think ultimately he will go to Liverpool, but he has to go with enough time that Newcastle can replace him. But the options to replace him aren't really there any more."

Alex Keble
Football tactics writer

Image source, BBC Sport

Liverpool's summer window has already been the most curious we have ever seen from Premier League champions.

Signing Bundesliga stars en masse and swapping out both full-backs implies a major tactical shift that heralds the dawn of a new one.

But bringing in Newcastle United's Alexander Isak would push Liverpool's transfer business into unprecedented territory.

What exactly is Arne Slot thinking?

The simplest thing to do is fully convert Hugo Ekitike into a Luis Diaz replacement, following the Colombia forward's move to Bayern Munich.

Ekitike has played just nine games - two starts and 324 minutes in total - as a left-winger, although he has often tended to drift out to that side, most notably throughout 2023-24.

More importantly, the way Slot has used Cody Gapko and Luis Diaz - as one-on-one dribblers, using their acceleration to cut inside full-backs - corresponds with Ekitike's best qualities.

In the Bundesliga last season, Ekitike came fifth for attempted dribbles (126) and for shot-ending carries (44). He also provided eight assists and ranked fifth for 'attacking sequence' involvements.

He hasn't done it much before, but Ekitike has the makings of a Slot left-winger.

Read Alex's full piece here.

BBC Football Daily

Image source, Getty Images

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast on Isak training at Real Sociedad: "I think it's another little ploy. The rest of the squad are in South Korea so most of the training people will be there. I don't think it looks particularly good, I think it is another signal that he wants to leave.

"Put it this way, if he stays, what has he actually done? He hasn't said anything, he went to Real Sociedad to train, he could just say he went there to get some sunshine while the rest of the squad were away. All of these things are plausible deniability. At the moment, for me, he hasn't done enough to force Newcastle's hand.

"The question we are all waiting for is will he come out and directly say he wants to go. If he doesn't, I think Newcastle will continue to resist."

You can listen to the full podcast here.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport

I'm not sure about that, Andrew. If Liverpool are willing to pay the £130m or £150m it will take to get Alexander Isak, surely they would want him in as soon as possible? Especially with the start of the season just around the corner.

If Newcastle decide they are going to sell, when that is could be more about how quickly they're able to bring in a replacement (or two).

BBC Football Daily

Image source, Getty Images

ESPN's Mark Ogden speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast on why Liverpool may not have made a move for Alexander Isak yet: "These transfers don't happen out of nowhere. Liverpool are a very compelling proposition to any player, they are one of the biggest clubs in the world, Premier League champions, they are the place to be.

"If you are Isak, peak of your career, you want to win trophies, you'll play in the Champions League with Newcastle but who's going to offer you the best chance of winning it? It's Liverpool. Liverpool are sat there knowing they can get the deal done. But if Newcastle want to play hard ball, they can do it.

"Football clubs are ran like a business - the manager and fans might be emotional, but the people who hold the purse strings aren't."

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said earlier this week the club are yet to receive a bid from any club for Alexander Isak.

"[Isak] is still our player. He's contracted to us," he added.

"We, to a degree, control what is next for him. I would love to believe all possibilities are still available to us. My wish is that he stays, but that's not in my full control.

"We have not received a formal offer for Alex, from any club."

BBC Football Daily

Image source, Getty Images

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, on the uncertainty surrounding Newcastle striker Alexander Isak: "The situation hasn't changed from a week ago. It's the transfer story of the summer, it's moving into saga territory.

"Isak hasn't said anything, he hasn't said he wants to leave, he hasn't said he's injured, he hasn't said he wants to move to Liverpool, he hasn't said he's unhappy.

"We all know he'd like to leave, but he has kept his hands clean. At the minute there is no bids to consider, and the official line is that he's not for sale. Liverpool will have to make a bid at some point to put that to the test."