One Premier League game down, 37 to go. Liverpool made it a winning start, as they so often do on the opening matchweek of a top-flight campaign, but the victory over Bournemouth wasn't exactly smooth sailing.
Indeed, the Cherries exposed structural flaws in the Arne Slot machine, though it's not worth panicking, with Liverpool's defensive fragilities solved, at least in part, by the signing of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.
Ryan Gravenberch's return from suspension will add a further layer of balance and coherence to the Reds squad, but it's the frontline that is being considered an area of importance as we drag into the final stages of the transfer window, with depth lacking.
cody-gakpo-liverpool
Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch with the Premier League title.
And with that in mind, it would appear, and be of little surprise, that Liverpool are not yet done at the front end of the field.
Liverpool targeting forward signings
Hugo Ekitike is off to a flyer in a Liverpool shirt, scoring excellent goals against Palace in the Community Shield and then Bournemouth during the league opener.
Hugo-Ekitike-Liverpool stats
But with Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez sold, and with the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, Liverpool are left without options across the frontline, and it's clear that Slot could hit the jackpot if FSG manage to secure the most coveted signature on the market.
You would be on the money to have guessed that the signature belongs to Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, and according to a recent update from TEAMtalk, Liverpool intend to bid again for the Sweden striker after seeing an opening £110m offer rejected at the start of August.
Isak, 25, is on strike at St. James' Park, and Fabrizio Romano has chipped in to reveal that the Magpies have tried everything to convince him to stay, offering a new contract with a release clause active from 2026.
However, this still isn't deterring the Reds with further reports indicating that Michael Edwards has just returned from a trip to Boston, where he discussed the club's efforts to sign the centre forward with FSG.
Isak only wants Liverpool and is fighting hard to get his move, releasing his first statement since talks over his future commenced on Tuesday evening.
How Alexander Isak compares to Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool have potentially broken the British transfer record already this summer, with the £100m fee paid to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz potentially growing into a record £116m package through add-ons.
Isak would cost north of that, with sources close to Newcastle maintaining that the £120k-per-week talent is valued in the ballpark of £150m.
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their first goal-2
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their first goal
While Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes would hope to shave something off that mountain of money, there's no chance FSG would catch their quarry for anything less than a record-breaking fee. Even so, Isak would be the cream of the crop, a better deal, even, than Ekitike.
Eintracht Frankfurt received £79m from Liverpool for the 23-year-old Frenchman in July, and his start to life in England suggests that Slot has hit the jackpot.
However, Ekitike remains unrefined and untested across the span of a campaign at a club like Liverpool, whereas Isak proved himself to be "the best striker in the world" last season, as commented by BBC Sport analyst Raj Chohan.
Isak vs Ekitike in 2024-25
A more prolific marksman and with a similarly athletic and energetic style of play, you might say that Isak is the hallmark, the player whom Ekitike is seeking to emulate and rank alongside through positive progress at Liverpool.
Isak is also creative and inventive in his play, with Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope remarking that he can be "like a wizard" when on the ball.
What's more, Isak has proven himself a deadly and consistent finisher across multiple Premier League seasons, bespeaking his quality as one of the best of the best.
Isak's Last Two PL Seasons
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Touches*
Shots (on target)*
Big chances missed
Pass completion
Big chances created
Key passes*
Dribbles*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels (won)*
Data via Sofascore
Ekitike is currently Liverpool's sole out-and-out first-team striker, and so signing Isak makes a whole lot of sense. Moreover, the two players have the athletic range to compete alongside each other.
But make no mistake, Isak would be the kingpin of Liverpool's frontline, and even for more money, a better and more impactful signing than this rising version of Ekitike, which simply makes a thrilling comment on the calibre of attacking talent Slot is packaging the team with.