The latest Liverpool FC news and views amid speculation around Alexander Isak - and potential alternatives.
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen.
(Image: West Ham United FC/West Ham United FC via Getty Images)
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen.
It is blatantly obvious Liverpool want Alexander Isak - and Isak wants Liverpool. The only problem with this union becoming official before the transfer window closes is a Newcastle United-sized hurdle.
There are eight days left of the summer transfer window, if Liverpool are going to be successful in a saga that has now dragged on for a month publicly, although by some accounts it would seem much longer behind the scenes. So far the only attempt to sign Isak - a £110m offer - was met by the strongest resistance, and there have only been mere hints that Newcastle's hard-line stance could falter.
Head coach Arne Slot and captain Virgil van Dijk are the two within the Anfield dressing room to acknowledge that maybe there is the requirement for more attacking depth before the opportunity is gone, therefore it is easy to see the Reds' predicament.
Either they get Isak or they don't, that is simple - then, it becomes a case of Liverpool deciding if they choose to wait for the Swedish international or switch to any alternative in the final days of the summer.
It remains a mystery as to who that might even be at this very late stage - but whatever the club do, they would have to be sure of it.
In Slot's own words, on Friday: "Having two for each position is ideal, but I'd sooner have less than more, as you'd have to disappoint a lot of people.
"But if there are players who can really make us better then the club has shown they can bring them in.
"But only if things are right - the right player, fee and position."
A player of quality - perhaps one with Premier League pedigree - a suitable amount of money and in the position to match, how about looking at West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen?
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The 28-year-old may be a means to an end having served his current club wholeheartedly for the past five-and-a-half years. Over that period, he has registered 74 goals and 51 assists - guiding the Hammers to Europa Conference League glory in 2023.
CIES Football Observatory estimate Bowen's price to be within the range of £40m to £47.5m, which is way below the total the Reds have shown willingness to pay for Isak's services. It remains to be discussed what kind of wage demands he would have - or the length of contract he would want - as Liverpool would be well aware the player turns 30 next December.
Positionally, Bowen can offer Slot the exact same as a man who he would, effectively, be replacing in their squad, Luis Diaz. He's a winger by trade, though as his career has taken shape the forward has naturally towards a central role, leading the line for various managers at the London Stadium.
Liverpool would also catch their Premier League rivals at truly a bad time, having lost their opening fixtures of the season 3-0 to newly-promoted Sunderland and then 5-1 to Chelsea.
With his club rooted to the foot of the table after games, Bowen told Sky Sports: "I think you can probably imagine [how I feel]. Fuming, disappointing - all the emotions that come on the back of conceding eight goals in two games and not picking up a point."
A talented attacker, who has been in or on the periphery of the England squad, who will need to impress a new national team boss in Thomas Tuchel ahead of next summer's World Cup, and who might have desire deep down to play with in the elite bracket.
Jarrod Bowen fumes after West Ham throw away their lead against Chelsea.
Jarrod Bowen fumes after West Ham throw away their lead against Chelsea.
Liverpool could offer him the platform to perform at the upper end of the Premier League table and Champions League, all while servicing their own need for a strong attacker.
But, continuing to listen to Bowen's answer to the recent defeat to Chelsea proves that there is one huge catch that would potentially deny the Reds this Isak alternative.
Bowen is a man of dedication and responsibility and now appears willing to accept that rather than simply leave West Ham behind to stutter without his leadership.
He added: "It's a collective, we're out there on the pitch.
"When's going well it's easy to pick out individual performances but when things aren't going so well you have to point the finger at every single person.
"We're out there on the pitch, it's not defenders defending well enough, you know, it's midfielders, strikers maybe not pressing we know as well as we can do. It's definitely a hole.
"We have to all look at ourselves - and take responsibility for where we are right now.
"We have to look at ourselves. Managers come in, but the players are out there playing on the pitch and so that's down to us. You have a plan, but football has always been football - keep the ball out of your net and score in the other net.
"Basic football, I don't think we're doing well enough.
"I can tell you that because we've conceded eight in two [games].
"Myself, as captain, am rightly fuming with the first couple of weeks and I share that responsibility.
"That's down to me to get a reaction out of everyone."
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