Liverpool drop interest in Alexander Isak's 'best friend in football' amid concern over Newcastle injury recordplaceholder image
Liverpool drop interest in Alexander Isak's 'best friend in football' amid concern over Newcastle injury record | Getty Images
Liverpool have had a Newcastle United defender on their radar but have now withdrawn their interest, according to reports
Liverpool are in the market for new defenders in the coming months with a succession plan needed for Virgil van Dijk and with Ibrahima Konate’s future uncertain.
The Reds are short of options in central defence with Gionvanni Leoni injured and several players have been linked with moves to Anfield with the January window now open.
Marc Guehi remains a target as he is now in the final six months of his Crystal Palace contract. Other Premier League stars are on Liverpool’s radar, with Brentford captain Nathan Collins admired by those at Anfield while Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke has emerged as potential target in recent days.
The 25-year-old joined the Magpies from Lille in 2022 for around £35m. However, he has had persistent injury problems since his move to St James’ Park and has not played since November after picking up a hamstring problem against Manchester City.
Addressing his move to Newcastle, Botman said last year: "In terms of name, Newcastle wasn’t the biggest club that wanted me - that was AC Milan.
"But Newcastle was the club that suited me best. The ambitions, the style of play, and playing in the Premier League. I’ve always made my own choices based on what seemed best for me at that moment.”
Alexander Isak says Sven Botman is his best friend in football
Liverpool record signing Alexander Isak and Botman arrived at Newcastle in the same transfer window, with the Sweden international previously naming the defender as his best friend in football.
Speaking while still a Newcastle player, Isak was asked who is best friend in football was, and said: “I’d probably say Sven Botman. He sits next to me in the locker room. He’s a great guy. We spend a lot of time together.”
Isak is currently out with a fractured leg after being on the end of reckless challenge after scoring in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur last month.
A reunion with Botman does not appear to be on the cards when he returns to fitness, with Liverpool already seeing Leoni and Joe Gomez suffer with injury problems this season.
Giovanni Leoni keen to come back stronger
Meanwhile, Leoni has been speaking about making his return to action. The Italian has suffered an ACL injury against Southampton and will not play again until next campaign.
“As soon as I hit the ground I said to Conor Bradley, my teammate: ‘I’ve done my cruciate’,” he said.
“It had never happened to me [before] but it was a strange feeling, I thought: ‘That’s it, period.’ A great, strong pain, the strongest pain I have felt in life… I believe that life reserves certain things and destiny has led me to this. To myself, I say: ‘It must have happened to make me stronger.’
“I can’t look at the long term, I only think about training my mind. I am determined to look at the day itself, to do what makes me feel good and take care of the recovery. Setting long-term goals means having new problems, in case of slow-downs [in recovery].
“Now the hardest part is over. I’m doing rehab, I’m in the swimming pool, the gym. For a footballer, an injury like this can be the most difficult moment of his career but now I just want to train my head to come back stronger than before.
“I think that’s the key thing: the head can do most of the work.”
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