Liverpool transfer news as Thierry Henry explains why the Reds need Alexander Isak before next Monday's deadline
Thierry Henry on Sky Sports Monday Night Football Newcastle United vs Liverpool
Thierry Henry has had his say on Alexander Isak(Image: Sky Sports Premier League)
Thierry Henry believes it would be in Newcastle United's best interests for striker Alexander Isak to leave the club. The Premier League legend was speaking ahead of the Reds' match against Newcastle United at St James' Park, which the Swedish striker is absent from amid the ongoing saga.
As things stand, Isak is still a Newcastle player, as they resisted Liverpool's £110m offer at the start of the month. But he and the Magpies exchanged fiery public statements regarding their conflicting transfer wishes last week.
And Henry, speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football coverage, said: "I think with the season that he had last season - you can battle with Haaland and the way he played last year, the year before - but I think he is up there with, if not the best striker in the league at the moment.
"I think that's why people are upset at Newcastle, because you're about to lose if not the best striker in the league.
"It's kinda weird seeing it from afar. Myself, do I rate him? Yes. I think he's a great striker, what he can give you off on and on the ball, the way he finishes also.
"When you have a player in this type of situation at his club where he wants to leave, it's because he's good that people are upset. When a player is good and the club wants him out, I don't see anyone crying.
"So, I can understand the fans of the club. I can also understand him. The only thing I said everyone looking at him, talking about it, you always put yourself in the situation as a player where people might not understand if you don't come to training.
"This is something very difficult for people to understand, but obviously they must have said something to him, Newcastle replied, you've had it before."
Henry then criticised the Swedish international for the way he has handled the situation trying to force a way out of St. James' Park.
"Do we know the whole story? No, and we will never know the whole story. I will say that at one point you cannot put yourself in the situation where you don't come to training."
The Frenchman believes the best outcome would be a transfer coming to fruition in the final days of the window. However, there would be a way back for Isak at Newcastle if he were to apologise to his colleagues.
He said: "In an ideal world for everybody is if he can leave, but I also do believe when someone makes a mistake, if he apologise then we can move on. If he scores goals in the same way he played last year, the Newcastle fans will be okay about it.
"The best, for me, right now the way it is, is the best for Liverpool and Newcastle if he goes. But, if he does apologise, if it is seen as a mistake because we don't know what has been said inside the camp, I would accept it as a player. But, he needs to apologise if he wants to come back."
And Henry also answered yes to whether Arne Slot truly needs Isak in his Liverpool squad, having already signed Hugo Ekitike.
"It's a different need for a team that maybe plays at the bottom or in the middle of the table," he explained. "It's because if you're playing in all competitions you need to have two very good strikers.
"One that's coming up, which is Hugo Ekitike. If you manage to get Isak you'd get one of the best strikers in your league.
"I go back to Man United's treble, but you had Cole, Sherringham, and Solksjaer on the bench. I don't think it will be crazy if you have an outstanding striker and a very good one also on the bench. One for one.
"For me, if you want to play in all competitions, if you look at the squad we had at Barcelona that won Champions Leagues, look at the front three and what's on the bench also. I do think it is a need if you want to perform in all competitions."