Liverpool continue to be linked with a move for Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak in the summer transfer window
Jake bumped into Luke Shaw at Nando's on his 14th birthday and told him to join Chelsea. The left-back joined Manchester United a few weeks later. Coincidence? Who knows.
Alexander Isak wants to leave Newcastle
Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak(Image: PA)
Alexander Isak is desperate to leave Newcastle United and sign for Liverpool before the end of the summer.
Isak, 25, didn't feature in Newcastle's Premier League curtain-raiser against Aston Villa and released a bombshell statement regarding his future on Tuesday. The Sweden international claimed "broken promises" have led to his absence from Eddie Howe's squad and now "the relationship can't continue".
He is adamant that he has played his final game for the Magpies and is determined to force through a move to Arne Slot's Liverpool before the transfer window closes on Monday, September 1.
In response to Isak's social media statement, Newcastle hit back at the former Borussia Dortmund man and revealed that "no commitment" has ever been made by a club official for him to leave this summer.
Liverpool, meanwhile, remain interested in signing Isak and could come back in for a second bid after their first proposal - worth £110million - was rejected by Newcastle earlier this month.
But should the Reds continue to pursue Isak or move on and target alternatives? Here, our Liverpool ECHO writers have taken a look at the current situation and deliver their own verdicts...
Kieran King
While there is no doubt that Isak would add more firepower and strength to Liverpool's forward line, I think that the Reds should pivot and look at alternatives. For me, I believe that they can use the reported £150m Newcastle want on three players to bolster Slot's squad even more.
I think that the Reds are still one short at centre-back, with Marc Guehi the ideal solution there in a £40m deal from Crystal Palace. Elsewhere, I do think Liverpool are still light on the left side after losing Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich - and Real Madrid's Rodrygo should be the man targeted.
The last position to look at is of course the No.9 berth, and instead of splashing a Premier League record fee on Isak, the Reds should look at a more cost-effective option alongside Hugo Ekitike. Indeed, I think Ollie Watkins would be the perfect addition to the Liverpool front line this summer.
Isaac Seelochan
Isak is a phenomenal striker and has legitimate claims to be regarded as the world's best right now. The Swede would improve any team.
And yet Hugo Ekitike's start at Anfield must offer some room for thought. The Reds don't tend to spend money on big signings for the sake of it so why would they with Isak?
The need for a new centre-back is greater and it's not like Isak will go elsewhere if Liverpool don't make a move. See how the season goes with Ekitike and revisit the situation again next summer.
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Amie Wilson
Isak would be the ideal signing for any team looking to add firepower to their squad this summer, but I feel like the situation has now got a bit too messy.
Players forcing their way out of a club raises somewhat of a red flag when looking at potential signings. Who’s to say that he won’t do the same to Liverpool if another club, such as Real Madrid, comes in for him in a couple of years time?
I also think the saga around the potential transfer will take away from what Liverpool need the signing for, and that is goals. The £150 million price tag will put pressure and expectation on the player and that will only increase with how the situation has played out - if a transfer is complete, questions will be asked the second he has any sort of goal drought.
Therefore, I think Liverpool should think long and hard about the transfer. Newcastle are well within their rights to stand as firm as they are. It’s probably time for the Reds to look at other options.
Jake Stokes
Liverpool should make one last final bid for Alexander Isak before the transfer window shuts, just to test the waters. One more offer won't do any harm and, who knows, it could – at the very least – lay the foundation to a deal in January.
At the end of the day, the Premier League champions don't NEED to spend in excess of £100m a new striker this summer. Isak is a luxury signing. Liverpool already have Hugo Ekitike, who has hit the ground running and seems more than capable of leading the frontline.
The Reds don't need to worry about the spending rules either; they've made almost £200m in sales this summer. Newcastle might think they hold all the cards, but they don't.
If Liverpool walk away and Isak maintains his stance, the Magpies are left with a depreciating asset. That said, I'm glad in a way that Newcastle have stood their ground. Isak shouldn't have signed a contract he wasn't willing to honour. It's that simple.