Having already signed Florian Wirtz for a nine-figure fee, the English champions are now willing to pay even more money for the Swede
On the eve of Liverpool's Premier League meeting with Newcastle at Anfield on February 26, Arne Slot felt compelled to correct a journalist who pointed out that Alexander Isak was in "fine form". "I think that's an understatement," the Reds manager said during his pre-match press conference. "He is in excellent form!"
Slot had a point. Isak was on fire, having scored 15 times in his previous 13 league games – a remarkable run sparked by a thunderous strike against Liverpool in a thrilling 3-all draw between the two teams at St. James' Park on December 4.
Luckily for Liverpool, Isak missed the rematch on Merseyside with a minor groin problem and the hosts triumphed 2-0 – thanks in no small part to the Swede's understudy, Callum Wilson, missing a one-on-one that Isak would undoubtedly have buried. However, Isak was fit to start the Carabao Cup final at Wembley two and a half weeks later, and scored Newcastle's decisive second goal as Eddie Howe's team stunned the runaway league leaders.
If the 2-1 victory constituted a major shock, Isak's influential role in the upset most certainly was not. The 25-year-old had long since proven himself the one Premier League forward capable of consistently causing Virgil van Dijk problems and the Dutchman's respect for Isak was obvious when the pair embraced after the full-time whistle.
Van Dijk even said something while wearing a cheeky smile on his face that prompted a laugh from Isak. The more excitable element of Liverpool's support interpreted this light-hearted exchange as an expression of Van Dijk’s relief that the pair wouldn't be adversaries the next time they met but team-mates.
More realistic Reds didn't even dare to dream of such a scenario – until now…
Getty Images SportTrepidation on Tyneside
On Tuesday evening, it was revealed by several trusted transfer market reporters that Liverpool had approached Newcastle about signing Isak for a fee in the region of £130 million ($175m).
Every single one of them insisted that Newcastle's stance remains unchanged, that their star striker is not for sale. But the confirmation of Liverpool's long-mooted interest unsurprisingly sparked trepidation on Tyneside.
Newcastle fans were on edge as it was after it was revealed that the club were trying to sign Hugo Ekitike. Usually, a move for a much-coveted young player would be greeted with glee but, in this instance, it only aroused suspicion among supporters.
Despite all of the briefs to the country, it looked like Newcastle were signing Ekitike to pre-emptively replace Isak, rather than play alongside him. Of course, Newcastle were in the market for another forward after Wilson's release, and they were interested in both Liam Delap and Joao Pedro.
However, whether Eddie Howe believes Isak and Ekitike could play together or not now seems like a moot point, as it now appears that Liverpool have effectively decided that Newcastle can have one of those forwards but not both.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesLiverpool's power play
The common consensus is that if Newcastle stand firm on their unwillingness to even entertain a deal for Isak, Liverpool will swoop in and sign Ekitike from under them.
After all, the Reds are in dire need of a new No.9 with Darwin Nunez having been deemed surplus to requirements by Slot, and have been tracking Ekitike for some time now.
Things rarely work quite so smoothly in the transfer market, of course.
Maybe Ekitike wants no part in this attempted power play. Maybe he wouldn't even want to join a club that considers him a second-choice signing. Maybe he'll end up alongside Isak at St. James Park and prove just as perfect a partner for the Swede as he was for Omar Marmoush during the first half of last season.
However, the lure of Liverpool is stronger than it has been for some time now – and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are clearly determined to make the absolute most of that fact.
Getty Images SportFSG's prudence paying off
Liverpool's American owners have long been berated for their perceived parsimony. Jurgen Klopp won the Champions League and then ended the Reds' English title drought during his time at Anfield but it was always argued that he could have achieved even more had been given even more money to compete with state-sponsored Manchester City on and off the field.
Liverpool fans were also furious when Klopp's successor Slot was given just one new player to work with before the start of his first season in charge: Federico Chiesa, a basement-bargain buy from Juventus.
However, FSG's prudence has paid off.
Not only did Liverpool win a record-equalling 20th championship last season without spending nearly no money, they've zero Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) worries, meaning they're in a position to spend up to £200m this summer – and that's without taking revenue from potential sales into the equation.
Getty ImagesHow the competition stacks up
The net result is that Liverpool are primed to win the summer transfer window – more than six weeks out from deadline day.
Granted, Manchester City should be much stronger next season than they were last, given they started spending in January, while perennial runners-up Arsenal are finally poised to address the striking problem that has arguably cost them two titles by signing the prolific Viktor Gyokeres.
As for Chelsea, their wild recruitment strategy is starting to reap dividends, with the Blues now being touted as potential Premier League champions after winning the Club World Cup – thanks in no small part to the mid-tournament acquisition of Joao Pedro.
However, Liverpool have already significantly strengthened a squad that won last season's league with four rounds remaining. Basically, the best team in England have just got even better.
