£120k-p/w “wizard” is now “pushing to join” Liverpool

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted that the Reds won’t hesitate to strike with additional additions in the summertime switch market.

By no means within the Anfield facet’s historical past has there been such a cascade of first-team signings throughout a single summer time window, however then Liverpool gained the Premier League final season and have the monetary means to package deal Slot’s squad with thrilling additions.

The considered Mohamed Salah combining with the likes of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, beforehand two of the German Bundesliga’s brightest abilities, over the following few years is kind of a factor.

And extra could but be added to the ranks.

Nevertheless, Luis Diaz has been bought to Bayern Munich for a £65.5m charge, and that is a departure which shall be felt on Merseyside subsequent season.

Liverpool’s determination to promote Luis Diaz

Liverpool bought Diaz, 28, because of the reality he had entered the penultimate 12 months of his contract and needed to depart, incomes a relatively meagre quantity in comparison with lots of Liverpool’s best-paid stars.

Bayern introduced the Reds with a fairly couple of pennies, and his sale felt like a no brainer, though it has now left the Anfield facet missing the versatile ahead’s electric-paced power.

Following the announcement of Diaz’s sale, Salah mentioned this: “Your power, drive, and keenness on the pitch have left a mark that gained’t be forgotten.”

And he solely improved over the previous 12 months, shifting from Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpress to the extra methodical ‘Slotball’.

Diaz’s sale does, after all, hand Cody Gakpo one thing of a window to understand over the approaching weeks and months, for he’s – as issues stand – Liverpool’s main left-sided ahead.

However the Colombian, now a part of the Die Roten squad, performed a fair proportion of soccer as a makeshift quantity 9, and when Liverpool substitute him, they may have their sights set at a central participant.

Liverpool goal desires to hitch them

As per The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Liverpool have seen a gap provide for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak knocked again. It fell into the ballpark of British-record territory, in extra of £120m.

Switch reporter Ben Jacobs has corroborated the report, revealing that the 25-year-old is “pushing to hitch” Slot’s facet. The Magpies, it is necessary to emphasize, are adamant they may solely money in ought to they discover a appropriate alternative.

Cautious planning and dealing with of funds have allowed Liverpool to shift into this enviable place, and Isak actually can be the icing on the cake this summer time.

What Liverpool would get with Alexander Isak

Isak has been with Newcastle for 3 years now, having joined them from Actual Sociedad for £63m in 2022. Pundit Ally McCoist hailed him as “one of the best all-round centre-forward” within the Premier League for his efforts throughout the 2024/25 season, and it is hardly an outrageous take.

Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland could also be a extra medical ball-striking machine, however Isak’s rounded model, merging power with model, suggests he may slot proper into the way in which of issues at Anfield.

It is the sort of offensive sport that might play proper into Salah’s strengths, prominently, but additionally Gakpo’s too. Liverpool’s Netherlands ace scored 18 targets and offered seven assists final season, instrumental in successful the Premier League.

He is not averse to creating and drawing defenders away, after all, and so on this method, Liverpool may discover a new high-class partnership growing between Isak and Gakpo, with the Newcastle quantity 9 so elegant and appropriate for the prolific huge ahead’s talent set.

The £120k-per-week Isak has quite a bit in his locker, however he has nearly simplified his sport at Newcastle, relinquishing a few of the extra athletic and cellular parts to refine his world-class taking pictures. It labored to an emphatic impact, for Newcastle restored their place within the Champions League and gained the Carabao Cup (towards Liverpool within the ultimate) moreover.

He was solely outscored by Salah, however his roundedness means that he may very well be an thrilling dance accomplice for Gakpo, whose obligations could effectively enhance with Diaz now gone.

Gakpo is not a one-trick pony by any stretch, however he does put an emphasis on his goalscoring, chopping inside and clinically putting on objective.

Since Isak created 11 huge possibilities within the high flight final season, it looks like he can be a tailored addition to mix with Gakpo, who ranked among the many high 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers within the Premier League final 12 months for non-penalty targets (0.47) per 90, as per FBref.

The Dutchman was praised by pundit Peter Crouch for having “gone up a stage” since Slot changed Klopp within the dugout, and you’ll solely think about the sort of heights that the 25-year-old may attain alongside a cultured and assured famous person resembling Isak, who has been described by teammate Nick Pope as being “like a wizard” for the playmaking facet to his arsenal.

As soon as once more, Liverpool know that their hopes of signing Isak hinge on Newcastle’s skill to discover a alternative. They need RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, however he is additionally being pursued by Manchester United, who’re readying a proper bid.

Nevertheless, the Magpies shall be cautious about holding Isak on the books after his determined efforts to pressure a transfer to Liverpool, and that is – undoubtedly – one to maintain a detailed eye on.