Liverpool are catching strays from Bayern Munich legend Uli Hoeness, who has called a summer transfer decision into question in a recent interview.
The three-time European Cup winner, now honorary club president of Bayern, was discussing the 2023 move for Harry Kane that has proved one of the best signings in recent memory.
Hoeness praised the Englishman and outlined how his transfer value has skyrocketed since moving to the Allianz Arena.
That’s where the Liverpool shade comes in, with Liverpool’s record-breaking move for Alexander Isak called into question.
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Uli Hoeness suggests Alexander Isak is not worth the fee Liverpool paid
The 74-year-old doesn’t shy away from voicing his opinion, and this one won’t go down well with Reds fans.
He’s not wrong about Kane’s status as one of the best in the world, not just this season, but since he left the Premier League.
But it’s the comparison with Isak, and the suggestion that he is not worth the fee Liverpool paid, that is most noteworthy from his recent interview with Kicker.
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He says: “It was a bit of a risk [spending €100m on Kane in 2023]. But he’s played incredibly well for us in recent years. If we consider the price-performance ratio, I’d say 150 million.
Harry Kane of FC Bayern München looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and FC St. Pauli 1910 at Allianz Arena
Photo by Marcel Engelbrecht – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
“But then you see that Alexander Isak of Liverpool cost 150 million euros. If he’s worth 150 million, then Harry is worth 250 million euros.”
Hoeness is suggesting that the gap in quality between Isak and Kane is such that the Swede should not have come close to that British transfer record fee, but it misses a pretty relevant factor.
That is, Isak is 26 while Kane is 32. Hoeness is speaking as though quality is the only thing that matters with transfer fees, which is somewhat facetious.
Isak has been injured at Liverpool for most of the season and has not yet had the chance to justify his price tag, but to suggest that he is somehow worth far less than a player six years his elder isn’t a claim many will get behind.
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Alexander Isak during Leeds United v Liverpool - Premier League
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Sure, it could be that Liverpool overpaid. And yes, Kane looks like a bargain now. But there is not a €100 million gap between the two, and Isak is going to be around for a lot longer than Bayern’s current main man.
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