Could Isak Be Anfield’s Next Iconic No.9?
A proven Premier League predator with Salah ready chemistry, but does Alexander Isak’s price tag and injury record make him a risk too far or the final piece in a title winning puzzle?
There’s a real buzz around the prospect of Alexander Isak swapping St James’ Park for Anfield this summer; frankly, I’m torn between awe and caution. Newcastle’s steely insistence that he won’t be sold cheaply looks to have softened into a pragmatic willingness to cash in if a bid around £130 million to £140 million lands on their desk, perhaps even closer to £150 million, Champions League football has driven the valuation skywards, yet the fact they’re now apparently open to offers at all marks a sea change in stance.
Liverpool’s pursuit seems genuine. After all, he’s been labelled their “dream target from day one,” and whispers suggest the Reds have secured the striker’s blessing. This would explain the club’s measured approach to other centre forward links, delaying any rash decision on somebody like Hugo Ekitike or Benjamin Sesko until they know whether their ultimate quarry is within reach.
Isak’s credentials speak volumes, a genuine Premier League proven goal machine, he’s repeatedly hit the 20 goal mark in back to back seasons, and his xT map places him exactly where you’d want him, in and around the penalty area pinning defenders and carving out space for Wirtz and Salah, he sees the pass and lays it off, he retains possession when pressed, his shot rate is off the charts and he commands the box with the kind of presence you can’t buy.
Yet £100 million plus for a player with a patchy injury record gives me pause. Value for money matters. Ekitike might yet blossom into something special at a fraction of the cost, but if you’re building what promises to be one of Europe’s deadliest attacks, perhaps only the very best will do, and right now, Alexander Isak looks to be exactly that.
What do you reckon?
