Liverpool’s winter plans have been thrown into sharp focus after a major setback up front. The Reds left north London with three points last weekend, but the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur came at a cost. Alexander Isak picked up an injury that has since required surgery, and the club has confirmed there is no clear return date. With claims suggesting the striker could be sidelined for months, attention has naturally turned to January and how Liverpool might respond. This is the stage of the season where pressure builds. The Premier League does not pause for sympathy. Fixtures keep coming, and Liverpool remain in a tight race where depth matters. When a starting striker is ruled out for an extended spell, speculation follows quickly. Names begin to circulate. Past connections are revisited. Familiar leagues are scanned. That has been the pattern in recent days, with talk growing around a forward playing in the Netherlands and links being drawn back to Arne Slot’s time there. From a Liverpool point of view, it felt like a story that fitted the moment, even before any firm detail emerged.
The second part of the story, however, brings clarity. Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda has been linked with Liverpool in some quarters, partly because Arne Slot previously worked with him after Feyenoord signed Ueda from Cercle Brugge in 2023. This season, Ueda has delivered strong numbers, with 19 goals and one assist in 25 matches, which only added fuel to the rumours. But Dutch outlet 1908.nl has played down the claims firmly. The report states Feyenoord have “no reasons to fear” Ueda leaving in January, pointing to his contract running until 2028. It also adds that Feyenoord have not been approached by Slot or Liverpool. According to the outlet, Liverpool have no concrete interest, and the links have been dismissed as “myths”. Any move is described as “highly unlikely”, with the suggestion the story has been pulled from thin air. From a Liverpool perspective, it is a reminder that not every January rumour reflects reality. Isak’s absence is real. The speculation is loud. But for now, this particular link appears to be going nowhere.
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