Alexander Isak has been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, so we simulated the 2025/26 season to see how he could perform under Arne Slot.
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Alexander Isak celebrates the 2nd goal during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium
Liverpool have been heavily linked with Alexander Isak as Arne Slot looks to bolster his squad in the summer transfer window
(Image: Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Liverpool could be set for a busy summer transfer window, with Newcastle United's Alexander Isak being linked with a move to Merseyside at the end of the season.
Despite being top of the Premier League, there's still room for improvement in the Liverpool squad, and with the futures of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all uncertain, a big rebuild could be on the cards for the Reds this summer. With Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz struggling for goals in recent months, a new attacker may be a target for Arne Slot's side, and Isak is the name being mentioned the most.
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25-years-old, Isak has impressed since making his move to Newcastle in 2022, with the striker on 19 Premier League goals so far this season after notching 21 in the previous campaign. The Swedish International has also scored four in six against Liverpool, most recently in the Magpies' Carabao Cup Final win over the Reds.
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But, any deal for Isak won't come cheap, with Newcastle set to demand well over £100million for their star man. So, what could happen if Isak were to make a move to Liverpool this summer? We used Football Manager 2024 to find out...
Liverpool's 2025/26 season simulated with Alexander Isak
To complete this simulation, we used Football Manager 2024 to sign Isak from Newcastle, with the Reds breaking the Premier League transfer record to sign the Swedish International. We then simulated the 2025 summer transfer window and the rest of the 2025/26 season to see what could happen.
Firstly, the Reds were able to sort of contracts for Van Dijk and Salah, with both signing two-year deals with the club. Alexander-Arnold did not though, with the defender leaving for Real Madrid. Darwin Nunez, Wataru Endo and Joe Gomez also left on permanent deals, while Jeremie Frimpong, Adam Wharton, and Dani Vivian all signed for Slot's side as well.
On his arrival, Isak instantly became the Reds' new starting striker, with Jota playing second string to the 25-year-old, he kicked the ground off running as well, grabbing a hat-trick on his debut in a 4-0 win over West Ham United in the Premier League.
Liverpool's top scorers from the 2025/26 season
Liverpool's top scorers from the 2025/26 season(Image: Football Manager 24)
At the end of the season, Isak ended the campaign as the Reds' top scorer across all competitions, scoring 31 goals in 43 appearances. 24 of those came in the Premier League, with the striker just missing out on the Golden Boot to Erling Haaland (26).
At the end of the 2025/26 season, Football Manager 2024 put together an overall best Liverpool XI, based on performances, statistics, and other metrics. This is what it looked like:
Liverpool's best XI from the 2025/26 season
Liverpool's best XI from the 2025/26 season(Image: Football Manager 24)
Full Liverpool best XI: (4-2 -3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Isak.
Isak led Liverpool's best XI, with Diaz and Salah starting on either wing as Cody Gakpo missed out. New signing Wharton couldn't make the best XI ahead of Alexis Mac Allister or Ryan Gravenberch, but Frimpong did as the Dutchman impressed in his first season at the club.
With Isak leading the line, Liverpool were one of the most dangerous sides in the Premier League, with the Reds winning 28 of their 38 league games in what was an impressive campaign. But, Manchester City were also back to their best, with Pep Guardiola's side pipping the Reds to the title.
Liverpool just missed out on winning the Premier League title
Liverpool just missed out on winning the Premier League title(Image: Football Manager 24)
28 wins, five draws and five losses saw Liverpool end the season with 89 points, seven more than Arsenal in third, but two fewer than the champions. Man City also knocked Slot's side out of the Champions League in the semi-finals, but there was silverware in the simulation, with Liverpool beating Arsenal 3-1 to lift the FA Cup after losing 2-1 to the Gunners in the Carabao Cup Final earlier in the season.