Liverpool have already seen a £110m bid rejected by Newcastle for Alexander Isak and Jamie Carragher doesn't think his former side should return with an improved offer
12:17, 14 Aug 2025
Jamie Carragher during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Etihad Stadium on May 2, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Jamie Carragher didn't include Alexander Isak in the five deals Liverpool should complete(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher snubbed Alexander Isak when listing the five deals he wants Liverpool to complete before the end of the summer transfer window.
The Premier League champions have already splurged around £300million on Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Armin Pesci, Freddie Woodman and Jeremie Frimpong this summer. Not content to rest on their laurels, the Reds are also closely linked with a move for Isak.
They have already had a mammoth £110m bid turned down by Newcastle at the start of this month. With the Swedish striker seemingly set on joining the Anfield club, Liverpool would need to increase their offer to a sum that would comfortably shatter the British transfer record in order to convince Newcastle to sell.
But Carragher doesn't think a deal for Isak should be a priority for the club hierarchy at this moment in time. That is mainly down to the arrival of Ekitike last month for a fee of £69m plus £10m in potential add-ons.
The Reds icon, appearing on Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, highlighted the transfer business Liverpool should instead conduct, including the signing of two new centre-backs – a position Arne Slot has been left short following Jarell Quansah's departure and in light of Ibrahima Konate's contract expiring next summer.
Carragher pointed out: “They’ve got to get at least one centre-back, maybe two.” With the Reds agreeing a £26m deal with Parma on Wednesday night to secure 18-year-old defender Giovanni Leoni, long-term target and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi could mark the first of Carragher's five next transfer moves.
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He then recognised the potential exits of Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott as two additional pieces of business, with their two prospective attacking replacements bringing that total up to five dealings overall before the window closes on September 1.
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United
Isak is pushing for his dream move to Anfield(Image: Getty Images)
The pundit stated: “Liverpool need two more attackers because they’re going to sell Harvey Elliott and they’re probably going to sell Federico Chiesa.”
When pressed by colleague Gary Neville on why he had omitted Isak from the list, Carragher doubled down on his earlier concerns about the potential transfer by suggesting the Swede's arrival wouldn't make sense, given the decision to splash out on Ekitike already this summer.
Carragher explained: “It could be another player. I’m not fully invested in breaking the bank for Isak. It’s not about him as a player, [although] I do worry about how robust he is to play twice a week for Liverpool.”
He went on to add: “When you break the British transfer record for a player, he has to play virtually every game. He only doesn’t play when he’s injured.
Hugo Ekitike celebrating his goal in the Community Shield
Carragher feels sorry for new arrival Hugo Ekitike(Image: Getty Images)
“Ekitike, who Liverpool think is going to be the next Isak, would then have to be an understudy - but I think he’s too good and too expensive to be an understudy. You’re only going to play when he’s (Isak) injured.
“It’s not like Ekitike will have a year to learn the ropes and then become first-choice – Isak will still be there as your centre forward next year. For me, it’s been done the wrong way around.
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“When he (Isak) costs that much money there will also be a pressure on the manager to say, ‘He’s my guy,’ and play him. I just feel a little bit for the lad (Ekitike) who was bought for £80m thinking he was going to be the next big thing.”
It's understood that Liverpool are prioritising the signing of another defender, with both Slot and Virgil van Dijk pinpointing the defence as the team's Achilles heel following their penalty shootout loss to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield.
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