Liverpool's interest in the Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has, without question, been the saga of the summer. But with just over a week remaining until the September 1 transfer deadline, even a social media statement from the Swede hasn't seen anything change.
"Liverpool must be ruthless," Jamie Carragher argued in his Daily Telegraph column on Friday. "It cannot be 'Isak or no one'. Whatever their plan B is, they need to start thinking about executing it. When Liverpool sold Luis Diaz, such is the trust in those in charge of their strategy there was an assumption they had a younger replacement lined up.
"Obviously I would like to see the Swedish striker become a Liverpool player, but not at any cost, and the suggestion that the first £110m offer for Isak is 'derisory' is divorced from reality."
At what point might Liverpool need to move on? What happens if Isak doesn't become available? And how many more attackers are needed? Our Liverpool.com writers have had their say.
Matt Addison
At this point, it feels like Liverpool will get Isak at some point. The question, for me, is likelier to become whether it is this week or at some point in the future.
Liverpool kept Philippe Coutinho after he went public with his desire to move to Barcelona. Luis Suarez wanted out before he was allowed to depart, too. But we all know how both of those sagas eventually ended.
For Isak to be reintegrated at St James' Park, it is going to take quite the climbdown. And ultimately, the player's desire to win more silverware and join one of the best teams in the world is not just going to go away.
At the same time, while moving on from targeting Isak permanently wouldn't be something I'd consider, Liverpool might have to accept that doing a deal before the end of this window might be impossible.
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
For Newcastle to U-turn on keeping Isak, it would have to sign a couple of players to replace him. Given the Magpies' track record this summer, it would be unwise for anyone to expect that to happen: in the final days of the window, things only become more difficult.
Liverpool itself needs at least one more attacking option — and ideally two. For that reason, its brinkmanship when it comes to Isak is going to be tested.
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo could be available, by all accounts. If Liverpool had to switch to getting him next week and then returning for Isak in 2026, that wouldn't be the end of the world — far from it.
Xabi Alonso hasn't really been using Rodrygo (he didn't even come off the bench in the first game of the new La Liga season), and it is curious that he hasn't moved elsewhere. That might be where my eyes switched to sooner rather than later if it was up to me.
Michael Plant
It's remarkable to think that after such a busy and frenetic summer in which Liverpool has been so active in the market, with a little over a week left there's still a sense that multiple players could still join.
Even Slot admitted reinforcements are needed in the attacking areas, even if Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha could have bigger roles to play this term. Another forward player is undoubtedly required, although if that is Isak, it would actually leave the Reds weaker in the wide areas than last season.
One should be enough, but two would certainly be preferable, with Chiesa leaving and perhaps Marc Guehi also signing.
But the question now has to be, at what stage does Liverpool call time on Isak and look elsewhere? No-one expected the saga to rumble on this long, and perhaps an element that hasn't gained enough attention is that the Reds are negotiating with owners who are used to getting their own way.
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Fulham FC at St James' Park on February 1, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
The Isak transfer saga continues to rumble on. (Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Newcastle isn't just a Premier League club to the Saudis, it's also a way to strengthen the country's position in global sport. That makes the prospect of allowing Isak to bully his way out seem less likely.
However, the statement from the club earlier this week hinted that if Liverpool matches its asking price, then a deal could be done. Let's wait and see how things sit after Monday's game and if a new no.9 can be purchased by the Magpies. Suddenly a deal may feel more palatable.
But by the middle of next week, Liverpool needs to make a take-it-leave-it offer. If it's the latter, then identifying another target is imperative.
Given the level of detail in the FSG’s transfer plans, other names will certainly have been circled on the owner’s long list. Rodrygo would certainly be a top-quality addition and maybe the only elite option currently available on the market.
Perhaps, though, the Reds' best course of action if Isak is deemed unavailable is to bring in Guehi to strengthen at the back and add a less experienced attacker - someone like Malick Fofana, let's say.