Image for Liverpool could steal another Newcastle United player if they’re unsuccessful with Isak
Image for Liverpool could steal another Newcastle United player if they’re unsuccessful with Isak
Liverpool have made an approach to sign Alexander Isak this summer despite Newcastle United’s insistence that the Swede is not for sale.
Mohamed Salah won the Golden Boot (and Playmaker of the Season) and Isak was the second-highest. Salah scored 29 goals while Isak managed an impressive 23. Together, they would be a truly terrifying sight for opposition defenders.
Add new mega-signing Florian Wirtz into the equation and it seems difficult to image Liverpool not blowing 90% of their league opponents next season if Arne Slot can get the chemsitry and balance right.
£120m or so for Isak would ease Newcastle’s PSR restrictions but if the Magpies hold firm on their stance that the 25-year-old is not for sale, Liverpool could offer them anothere way out of their situation.
Anthony Gordon may need to be sold to solve PSR headaches amid Liverpool links
According to an article from Chronicle Live, Newcastle may need to sell a high profile player to fund the £87m move to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Liverpool’s involvement is a seemingly ever-present factor for Newcastle in one way or another.
As it stands, Liverpool could either sign Isak or, assuming Newcastle hold onto him, they can move for Ekitike – who in many ways is a younger, rawer version of Isak and potentially make another approach the Tyneside outfit for Gordon.
Liverpool likely need a replacement for Luis Diaz this summer. Although the reported stance is that the Reds are unwilling to sell, they’re likely playing the same bluff as Newcastle: ‘We don’t want to sell, unless you pay the specific price we want.’
Diaz has two years on his Liverpool contract and Isak has three on his, putting Newcastle in a stronger position than the Reds.
Newcastle’s decision-making on Isak and Gordon will come down to a few things
Whether Newcastle sell either Isak or Gordon this summer will come down to how much value they place on next season over the long-term benefits of playing it slow, but smart now.
For instance, selling Isak and signing Ekitike means they could still move for another gem to add to their squad this summer or keep Isak and miss out on Ekitike to Liverpool and potentially still Gordon.
It’s also possible that all recent links to Gordon is just fluff and part of taking advantage of the media spotlight on Isak.