5 days ago
Liverpool role reversed after Alexander Isak's latest move in transfer chase
The last time Liverpool were on a pre-season tour of Hong Kong, the wantaway player citing injuries and hankering for a move was their own in Philippe Coutinho, who was desperate to force through a transfer to Barcelona.
Flash forward eight years and as the Reds are put through their paces in the Far East once more, it is Alexander Isak whose name is making headlines where the Premier League holders are now concerned.
Having sounded out Isak's availability earlier this summer, an adamant Newcastle were insistent that their star striker was simply not for sale. It's difficult to believe such a clandestine enquiry, which was apparently made earlier this month, was not done without a fair idea of the Sweden international's willingness to move to Anfield, however, should the Magpies have entertained the possibility of a fee upwards of £120m.
READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk on Florian Wirtz chat, Liverpool transfer spend and message for Hugo Ektike
READ MORE: I was on holiday when a message from Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes changed my life
How much appetite and ability Liverpool have now to resume their fledgling pursuit of the gifted frontman on the back of the latest developments is the major question that, for now at least, lingers on unanswered.
Having committed the thick end of £300m on seven new arrivals already this summer, the idea of breaking the British transfer record for Isak seems faintly fanciful for a club who have, rightly or wrongly, developed a reputation as cautious and conservative during the player trading months.
This summer, though, sees Liverpool firmly in uncharted territory. A free-wheeling June already made this window the most expensive in club history before a further £79m was committed to prise Hugo Ekitike away from Eintracht Frankfurt this week.
It had initially looked as though Ekitike was something of a pivot after the hands-off message about Isak but could both yet join the frontline department at Anfield this summer?
For Liverpool to hurtle through the £400m barrier this summer, however, those drunk on transfer discourse might have to sober themselves and factor sales into the equation. A lot will depend on the movements of those interested in the likes of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez in that sense.
Liverpool are braced for further contact from Bayern Munich having turned down a bid shy of £60m recently and while the Colombia international is not formally in the shop window, Diaz is determined to increase his bottom line and feels he has to move away from Anfield to do just that, with the champions not entertaining talks of a new deal as things stand.
Despite the reluctance to offload Diaz, though, the feeling persists that a deal may be struck if Bayern - or other interested parties - offer a fee that is difficult to refuse on Merseyside. That is a subplot that is expected to ramp up in the coming days as the Bundesliga champions mull over their next play.
For Nunez, Napoli had been frontrunners but talk of a move to the Serie A champions has quietened in recent days, while claims of Saudi Pro League interest lingers in the background. Al-Hilal made an advance for the Uruguay striker in January but have yet to reignite their interest.
It seems impossible that any move for Isak will be made while Liverpool have their current crop of options available to them but the agitation being shown currently might be enough to quicken the Reds' pulse and kickstart some movement up top.
With three years left on his contract at St James' Park, Newcastle might justifiably adopt a relaxed stance over the developments of recent days. Their insistence that their star man is not available has merit but there is no escaping that it's been a tortuous summer for Eddie Howe and his backroom staff as they have struggled to land target after target, including Ekitike, who Liverpool initially sounded out about a deal way back in January.
Liam Delap, Bryan Mbuemo and Dean Huijsen were all wanted at various points, while Chelsea were able to steal a march on land Joao Pedro from under their noses also. A deal for goalkeeper James Trafford also looks no closer with Manchester City said to be leading that particular race. Benjamin Sekso, of RB Leipzig, is now reportedly a target as the club look to contemplate life without Isak through gritted teeth.
A British-record fee for a player who is seeking pastures new and already appears to have downed tools would go a long way towards rectifying a dreadful few weeks off the pitch for a club who had designs on significantly bolstering their squad for another crack at the Champions League this coming campaign.
However Newcastle choose to deal with the internal strife overshadowing their pre-season plans, though, there is little denying that the ball has been firmly volleyed into Liverpool's court. What happens next will be fascinating.
