Liverpool have made a formal offer for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, which Newcastle have declined. The Sweden international previously expressed a desire to leave Newcastle this summer, choosing not to join the squad for pre-season and instead training separately at his former club, Real Sociedad.

Reports reveal Liverpool’s opening bid was around £110-120 million, though Newcastle reportedly value Isak closer to £150 million and remain firm on not selling their key striker. Efforts to negotiate a new contract with Isak, potentially including a release clause for 2026, have been unsuccessful given his insistence on a move to Liverpool.

Despite Newcastle’s attempts to retain Isak, including plans to require his return for training next week, the club is actively exploring reinforcement options in anticipation of a possible departure. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško is a primary target, yet competition for his signature comes from Manchester United, who are confident of signing him. Brentford’s Yoane Wissa is also on Newcastle’s radar, although Brentford are reluctant to sanction another significant sale after losing Bryan Mbeumo.

This transfer saga continues amid firm stances from both clubs, with Liverpool pushing to secure the striking talent and Newcastle determined to protect their leading goal scorer.

Liverpool has released the squad’s official shirt numbers ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, coinciding with the launch of their new adidas home and away kits. Among the notable changes, Florian Wirtz has been handed the prestigious No. 7 shirt, previously worn by club legends including Kenny Dalglish and Luis Suárez. This number became available after Luis Díaz’s transfer to Bayern Munich.

Hugo Ekitiké will sport the No. 22 shirt this season. Historically, this number was assigned to reserve goalkeepers such as Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius but was worn by right back Calvin Ramsay during his two senior appearances since joining from Aberdeen in 2022.

New acquisitions Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong will wear numbers 6 and 30, respectively. Giorgi Mamardashvili takes the No. 25 shirt, while Freddie Woodman has been assigned No. 28 following his free transfer to the club. Youth goalkeeper Ármin Pécsi, signed from Puskás Akadémia, will wear No. 41.

Among existing squad members, Conor Bradley has moved up from the high number 84 to No. 12, stepping into a role left vacant by Trent Alexander-Arnold, marking the first time the No.12 shirt has been used since Joe Gomez in the 2021–22 season. Additionally, young midfielder Trey Nyoni has changed his number from 98 to 42.

The new squad numbers mark a fresh start for Liverpool as they prepare for the challenges of the current season with a blend of experienced and emerging talent.

Liverpool have introduced their new home and away kits for the 2025–26 season, marking the start of their decade-long partnership with adidas. Following a pre-season period where players wore Nike kits with temporary squad numbers, the new adidas kits are now officially available to fans.

The home kit features a classic red base highlighted by traditional adidas white accents. Meanwhile, the away shirt adopts a nostalgic design with an off-white base complemented by black and red detailing. Notably, Liverpool’s club crest appears within a shield inspired by the shape of Anfield’s Main Stand from 1906. Both kits include the iconic ’97’ emblem surrounded by eternal flames on the back, a tribute to the club’s history.

In a charitable initiative aligned with the kit release, Liverpool announced that all profits from shirts featuring Diogo Jota’s name and number will be donated to the LFC Foundation, the club’s official charity.

Ben Latty, Liverpool’s chief commercial officer, commented, “This is more than just the launch of a new kit—it marks the beginning of a 10-year relationship for LFC and adidas. Since announcing the partnership in March, there’s been a huge sense of anticipation and excitement. This first collection sets the tone for seasons to come.”

Adidas football GM Sam Handy added, “The return of adidas to Liverpool FC is a momentous occasion for us. Seeing our iconic three stripes adorning Liverpool FC kits again is something we’re incredibly proud of. The Home jersey is a true representation of the Liverpool DNA—classy and understated, while the away jersey pays homage to the club’s rich history. I speak on behalf of everyone at adidas when I say this is just the start of an incredible journey and we’re extremely excited for what’s to come.”

Fans will have their first opportunity to see the new home kit during the friendly double-header against Athletic Club at Anfield on August 4. The away kit will debut in Liverpool Women’s pre-season friendly against Aston Villa on August 9, followed by the men’s side wearing it in the Community Shield match a day later.