'Where we stand...' - James Pearce on Alexander Isak bid as Liverpool insider names two more who could leave
Liverpool still have a lot of work to do in this transfer window, will Isak be signed and who is next to leave?
The football seems to be getting in the way for Liverpool at the moment as they continue to be busy in the transfer market.
No sooner had Hugo Ekitike arrived for £78m and made his debut for the Reds than Luis Diaz said goodbye and sealed his £65m move to Bayern Munich. Not quite one in, one out, but as there has been all season, there is clearly a plan in place for the summer and Richard Hughes is executing it perfectly. Diaz will need to be replaced and the tragic death of Diogo Jota has left a big hole in the squad as well as the hearts of those who loved him.
What is the latest as Liverpool target Alexander Isak?
The name attracting all the headlines is Alexander Isak with reports that a bid is being prepared in some quarters due to the Reds’ ability to spend big this summer without falling foul of PSR. The resources are there, as is the need. It makes sense to everyone with Isak said to be AWOL from Newcastle’s training ground and keeping himself ticking over at home.
Unfortunately for Liverpool though, it doesn’t make sense for Newcastle as the struggle to find a replacement striker before selling their star man. If anything, after losing Callum Wilson at the end of his contract, Eddie Howe would want more than one new forward in before parting ways with Isak, a point that James Pearce has made on The Athletic’s Walk On podcast:
“Where we stand on it is, Liverpool believe that he is not for sale, so until that position softens, I don't think there's going to be movement. Of course, the Diaz deal has now gone through. I think it's a deal that makes sense for Liverpool. When you think two years left on this deal, turns 29 this coming season, wasn't going to sign a new one. I think 75 million euros is good business. I think there'll be other high-profile outgoings.”
Who are the players who will be next to leave Liverpool?
The record signing of Florian Wirtz and arrival of Ekitike means that other players have been pushed further down the pecking order with Pearce expecting others to follow Diaz out the door:
“I'd still expect Darwin Nunes to leave. I think Harvey Elliott is probably likely to go as well. You're talking about, that's potentially another 100 million you're bringing in as well. The money is going to be there to finance a deal like Isak. But of course, Liverpool, it's not just down to them, is it? I think Newcastle have got a real issue on their hands there, because they've got a player who's unhappy, who wants to be somewhere else.”
Should Nunez and Elliott leave, there will be even more money to spend to upgrade the forward line. If Isak isn’t possible, then the likes of Rodrygo becomes more affordable along with someone less expensive like Malick Fofana. Liverpool fans had every right to be excited at the end of last season, but nobody could have expected what could be on of the best transfer windows ever seen by a Premier League club.