Why Liverpool Might Buy Über-Elite Alexander Isak (And Why Newcastle Might Sell)

And a look at what Liverpool seem to want from a new no.9

I found it very interesting that Newcastle failed in £120m of bids for three players this past week, as they seek to revamp a squad that has a great midfield (and the titular stellar no.9) but an ageing keeper, centre-backs and backup striker, and not the greatest depth.

That they – or rather, Eddie Howe and his recruiting brother – are trying for João Pedro, who they tried to get before getting Alexander Isak, is interesting too; it could be for an understudy (would João Pedro want that?), and the Brazilian can play in different positions, but it could also be getting a replacement in first. (Obviously Chelsea now also want João Pedro, as they don’t have enough players.)

Newcastle have bid £120m for three players, and landed none. They’re gonna need a bigger boat (loaded with cash).

As I noted the other day in the site’s comments, could it be that they would be happy selling their biggest asset, to revamp a squad that needs refreshing, and needs far more depth? Or are their PSR calculations (to unlock some of that Saudi wealth) fine these days?

The Champions League will bring PSR-pleasing finances, but two seasons ago it also crippled their small squad.

As happens (see Spurs, 2024/25), injuries beget injuries, until you’re down to the bare bones, and they get exhausted, and then maybe injured too. Then you exit the Champions League and fall out of the Champions League places, which is why it’s so hard to juggle the two. It’s almost like being promoted to the Premier League too soon, if you’re not ready.

I’m a little uneasy coveting other clubs’ players (it can seem a bit arrogant). But as this is in the media as a rumour, it’s not me inventing the entire possibility; instead, examining the likelihood, and what it would be about the player that interests the Reds, and if they’d make another huge signing (which could be funded by the number of players leaving Liverpool, and the massive uptick in all other forms of income).

And Newcastle are coveting other teams’ players.

I don’t think Isak would be a standard Liverpool signing, which is why I don’t ‘expect’ it to happen.

But as I’ve said before, he’s much the same age as Virgil van Dijk, and pretty much as good and as proven, and as all-round gifted and grounded, and so it’s not impossible.

That Liverpool have just signed players aged 21, 22 (only just turned) and 24, as well as keepers aged 24 and 20 (and a mere third-choice aged 28, ex of Newcastle and Bournemouth), suggests that someone about to turn 26 isn’t going to tip the squad into old age, even with Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

(Similarly, the departed Brand Trent is nearly 27, and Conor Bradley, who may in part replace him, is five years younger.)

That Richard Hughes and Eddie Howe used to work so closely together at Bournemouth, and have done deals since, makes it more interesting, were they to have discussions about a big deal that could be mutually beneficial.

My guess would be that Newcastle (or the Howe Bros) won’t want to sell Isak, but if they do, they’d do so once players are lined up to join (or fully signed), so they didn’t have to pay extra based on “the Isak money”; instead, relying on that money to come in after, to foot the bill.

They could sell squad players, but then they’d compound the issue of having a smaller squad, and wouldn’t get a lot of money for most of them.

As it stands, they’re having trouble paying the asking prices.

I also found it interesting that talk came out of it “needing more than £150m for Isak conversations to even start”, when players who are not for sale simply never get a price; even if theoretically everyone has a price.

(Mo Salah has never been for sale, but if the Saudis had ever offered £1billion for him, I expect he’d have been sold. My left kidney is not for sale, but if you offer £250,000, I’m there; I’ll even throw in an iffy gallbladder. As such, talks for my left kidney need to start at around £250,000.)

Leverkusen wanted €150m (£127.6m) for Florian Wirtz, but very quickly everyone came away from £100m guaranteed and £16m in add-ons satisfied.

I can’t see Liverpool paying £150m for Isak, but closer to £120m at least seems plausible, if still unlikely, based purely on his age and nothing else.

Again, it depends if something has been seen in Isak that was seen in van Dijk. That’s the litmus test; the unicorn player, who ticks so many boxes.

There is clearly better value out there than Isak, but people said the same about van Dijk, laughing at how much Liverpool spent; indeed, Man United felt there was better value, and so decided against van Dijk and bought Victor Lindelöf instead, who now leaves as a reasonable flop on a free; before then swiftly buying Harry Maguire for even more than van Dijk cost Liverpool, to double face-palm things.

FSG had to be convinced by the idea that van Dijk, as a centre-back, would go on longer, so he was “younger”; and that’s been borne out by him going strong turning 34 this week, and how much the club has won with him. Looking back, he was a bargain, even if he’d melted at 32 and gone to Saudi. This past year has been incredible.

Liverpool could raise north of £200m from sales this summer, and up to £300m if players like Luis Díaz and Ibrahima Konaté were to go as well, in part due to contract situations.

A bargain could be struck for Marc Guéhi, who would clearly not sign to be a backup, to arrive as his replacement, before he is sold (if that’s the plan); or to have the Frenchman see out the final year as a sub, if he won’t sign, or can’t be sold in the way Palace are selling Guéhi, for a suitable fee.

I discussed Guéhi (a previous Newcastle target) in length here (link below), as I think he offers a lot that’s different to Virgil van Dijk and Konaté, and would logically mesh well with the Liverpool captain in terms of combined traits. He’s also only 24 (nearly 25), and Konaté has just turned 26, so it would be another slight lowering of the average age.

2025, The Summer When Liverpool Struck While The Iron Was Red-Hot

The Reds could raise £150m just from the sale of youth-team graduates, with the rest from players only on the bench, and some not even making the bench. (£70m or so has already been banked from Brand Trent, Caoimhín Kelleher and Nat Phillips, if Jarell Quansah’s deal goes through.)

Three enhanced their reputations at the Under 21 Euros, with Harvey Elliott far too good for that level; and Ben Doak could be sold (perhaps to Palace), like Quansah, with an eye to buying him back if he goes up to the new higher levels required to play for Liverpool.

(If the über-talented Elliott – who deservedly won player of the tournament, is sold, he too will have a buyback clause, as he needs regular football; but is not at Florian Wirtz’s level, and the two are the same age.)

Isak Is Unique

I have several reasons for thinking that Isak, not even in his peak for his position (as with van Dijk), can have a really long career, barring any horrific injuries, which I’ll go into below.

Plus, it’s worth examining how he’s been a very reliable finisher his whole career, bar one season when quite young. And a deep dive into why he is such a good player.

I also want to get to the heart of what Liverpool actually want from a no.9, which I myself am still trying to figure out. As if it’s not Isak, who else? Is there a type the Reds want, and if so, what is it?

**The majority of this article, diving deep into what Isak is so good, is for paying TTT Main Hub subscribers only.**

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