Alexander Isak will likely be Liverpool’s number one transfer target until the deadline strikes.
Since the summer window opened at the start of June, the Sweden international has been Arne Slot’s number one target to be the man to lead his attacking line.
Indeed, Hugo Ekitike was brought to Anfield after the Reds’ first offer for Isak was rebuffed, but with the amount of sales that Liverpool have made this summer, they still have enough room within their budget to welcome Newcastle’s talisman.
And, even though some fans may not believe that the Reds need a new number nine due to Ekitike’s recent performances, it’s hard to deny that Isak’s arrival would be impressive.
Alexander Isak smiles as he arrives at St James Park ahead of Newcastle United's Premier League match against Chelsea.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Due to the way things have panned out thus far, many expect Slot to have a new striker, but at the moment, talks seem to have ground to a halt.
Jon Dahl Tomasson backs Alexander Isak due to the ‘complex’ situation he’s found himself in
The fact that Isak has refused to play for Newcastle again shows that his heart no longer lies at St James’ Park.
Although the Magpies have managed to deliver Champions League football the last couple of seasons, they’re miles away from winning it, which, at the end of the day, is the goal of any professional footballer.
Liverpool, however, are one of the strongest competitors in the competition, which is likely why Isak wants to join.
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And, while speaking to Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen, Sweden’s manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson, has backed his star man’s choices.
“First of all: Alex is an extremely professional player. A fantastic character and personality. I have spoken to Alex a lot during this period,” he said.
“Situations like this are quite complex. These are extremely complex environments that the players operate in. I’m sure it will work out in the end, but you have to know the whole picture before you draw conclusions. That’s always a good tip.
“I don’t think we know the whole story. I don’t know the whole picture either. It’s quite normal because there’s a lot of politics in a football club.
“But one thing is for sure: Alex is a great guy and very professional. We should all be very careful about drawing conclusions because we don’t know the bigger picture.
“There is time, he is a professional, and I know he has been training.
“Of course, he hasn’t trained with a team and hasn’t played any matches. Let’s wait and see. We will have a good chat, Alex and I, and hopefully, he will be back in team training soon.
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United in action during the Premier League match against Everton at St James' Park.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Liverpool need to put their money where their mouth is or move on from Alexander Isak
Since there are three years left on Isak’s deal with Newcastle, the Magpies hold all the cards.
They’re not in a position where they’re going to be forced to sell, and, seeing as though they haven’t been able to source a replacement for the Swede yet, they have no desire to sell him on.
Of course, a massive bid in the region of £150million would likely be enough to entice Eddie Howe into a sale, but, because the Reds’ initial offer was £110million, it’s unclear how high Richard Hughes and co would go.
If the Reds want Isak as much as they say, they need to put their money where their mouth is and pay a premium.
Otherwise, they need to turn their attention elsewhere and focus on bringing in another attacker.
And, that’s because, although Federico Chiesa bagged a goal against Bournemouth on Friday, the fact that Ben Doak has now been sold to Bournemouth means that the Reds are now even lighter upfront than they already were.
This, while trying to win all the competitions possible, is far from ideal.