Robbie Keane has given his view on the Reds' search for a striker and Trent Alexander-Arnold's difficult position
Liverpool have been heavily linked with Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak
Liverpool have been heavily linked with Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Keane believes Newcastle United star Alexander Isak should be Arne Slot's No.1 transfer target this summer.
And the ex-Ireland frontman says Conor Bradley is more than capable of replacing Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back next season, despite the expected arrival of £30m Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
Keane, who joined in a £20m deal from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2008, thinks a new striker should be first on the agenda for the new champions and he pinpointed Sweden international Isak, who has scored 23 Premier League goals for Newcastle this term, as the ideal man to fill the spot.
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Only Mohamed Salah has more than the Magpies frontman with 28 and Keane thinks Isak would be key to launching an assault on the Champions League next term at Anfield.
"I think if Liverpool want to kick on next year, then obviously signing a striker – a real No.9 – would be huge," Keane told Betway. "Someone like Alexander Isak would suit Liverpool.
"I think he would really help them in the Champions League, because you can see that competition is getting even stronger at the top now."
On Bradley and the booing of Alexander-Arnold at Anfield during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal earlier this month, Keane added: "I’m sure Trent Alexander-Arnold would have been disappointed that he got booed by the Liverpool fans. They are brilliant, unbelievable fans and are very loyal as well.
"They’re disappointed that one of their own is leaving, which you can understand, but nobody wants to see anyone getting booed by their home fans.
"Knowing the Liverpool fans like I do, I think it was one of those where they were just getting it out of their system, and I wouldn’t be surprised now in the remaining game if he gets a really good farewell from the fans, because that’s what they’re like. I think they got the frustration out and you’d like to think that will be the end of it.
"To me, Conor Bradley is definitely a suitable candidate to start for Liverpool at right-back next season in Alexander-Arnold’s absence. He is a different player to Trent, of course.
"Trent is technically very, very gifted, while Bradley is more of a runner and is maybe a bit quicker. Liverpool are lucky to have him, and while there’s talk of Jeremie Frimpong joining from Bayer Leverkusen, I think Conor Bradley could definitely do the job."