Liverpool Football Club has taken to the summer transfer market with ambitious intentions. Spending high, a luxury they have earned following their 2024/25 Premier League triumph, the Merseyside Reds have signed the likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, among a litany of other handy additions.
Intending to cement themselves as a consistent force once again, their outgoings and incomings tell the tale of a club which is well run and knows they need to capitalise on their successful momentum. A well-balanced squad across the board, the last thing 'Pool fans expected, given their spending, was that they would be earmarked for another nine-figure signing.
Having secured the services of French forward Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, the impending departure of Darwin Nunez means Arne Slot's team will need another forward. Heavily linked to Newcastle's talisman, Alexander Isak, a £150m price tag has been slapped on the Swede. Discussing the deal on The Overlap, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher noted that a fee that high should be left to the Kylian Mbappes of the world.
An understandable hesitation, it begs the question, is Isak in Mbappe's league? Taking into account the stats from their respective 2024/25 league seasons, the Swede and the Frenchman have been pitted against each other to see who is truly the best number nine in the world, according to the data, and if Liverpool should be spending such money on another forward.
Finishing
Kylian Mbappe edges the Swede in front of goal
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe celebrating
Looking at Isak's Premier League campaign and Mbappe's La Liga outings, in which they both appeared 34 times, Real Madrid's new number ten beats Newcastle's number 14 in five of the six categories, although the numbers are close.
Clocking in just over 150 minutes more than Isak, Mbappe's extra time on the field may have contributed to him having more success in front of the goal when it comes to shots, shot accuracy, goals, non-penalty goals and penalty goals. Although the context of opposition needs to be applied to these stats, with Isak arguably performing in a more competitive league, it is hard to argue against the Real Madrid forwards' effectiveness in front of the goal.
However, the former La Liga player can hold his head high, with Squawka's stat database revealing that Isak is the more clinical finisher, snatching at his chances when he can, with an impressive 30.26% conversion rate per 90. An appealing trait that Liverpool will crave, given Nunez's hit-and-miss form, it is the only stat that sees Isak one up Mbappe.
Alexander Isak vs Kylian Mbappe - Shooting
Statistic (per 90)
Goals
Non-Penalty Goals
Penalty Goals
Shots (excl. blocks)
Shot Accuracy (%)
Conversion Rate (%)
Chance Creation
A tight battle is once again won by Mbappe
Jude Bellingham Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid
Although Liverpool's money on Isak would be spent on goals, the game has progressed to such a point that forwards are now also expected to contribute to more than just finishes. Needing to drop deep and link play, be it through forward passes or direct through-balls, the stats reveal that Mbappe is a more creative force than Newcastle's Swedish forward.
Again, losing out to a credible opponent by the skin of his teeth, Isak produces more assists per 90, with his through-balls equalled by Mbappe. However, the former PSG starman defeated Isak on chances created and forward passes.
Given the nature of Liverpool's intense pressing, high turnovers and rapid counter-attacks, a number nine who specialises in forward passes and through-balls would be ideal for Slot's system. Numbers that are still impressive, it gives Liverpool a fantastic base to work with if they were to secure the 25-year-old's services.
Alexander Isak vs Kylian Mbappe - Chance Creation
Statistic (per 90)
Assists
Chances Created
Forward Passes
Through-Balls
Possession
Kylian Mbappe completes a clean sweep
Although the shooting and chance creation stats saw Isak not too far from where Mbappe was, the possession data shows the gap between the two forwards. Defeating the Frenchman on two of the chosen statistics, and drawing on one, Mbappe took the victory on the remaining five.
Much more successful in his duels, as well as buying fouls, the stats also show that Mbappe is more present in the opposition's box, which could explain why his shooting data was ahead of Isak's. Once again, there is no shame in having numbers that are less than Mbappe's, with Isak's data proving he has the potential to be a world-beater, something that Arne Slot could help with.
Alexander Isak vs Kylian Mbappe - Possession
Statistic (Per 90)
Take-on success (%)
Fouls won
Aerial duel success (%)
Ground duel success (%)
Interceptions
Ball recoveries
Possession lost
Touches in opposition box
Verdict
Jamie Carragher may be right in believing £150m is too much
There is no doubt that Alexander Isak is an elite forward. Having proven himself in the hardest league in the world, the Premier League, his next move undoubtedly has to be to one of the world's biggest sides. Possessing stats that prove he may be a perfect fit for Slot's system, with impeccable finishing stats and more than a passable selection of chance creation data, his only floor appears to be when he isn't attacking the box.
An aspect of his game that can be worked on and improved upon, the numbers combined with Carragher's statement that players who are earmarked for £150m moves should be Mbappe-esque, show that Isak should not be valued as such.
An understandable valuation, as it is the amount that Newcastle value his worth to the team. A fee in the region of £100-120m would be a fair figure for Isak. A number that Liverpool have been trying to strike a deal with in the past days to no avail. It is yet to be seen if the Merseyside-based side will up their offer or enter the season without the Swede on their side.
All statistics courtesy of Squawka (correct as of 06/08/2025)