Slot Needs a Forward and the Clock Is Ticking for Liverpool

The Reds' Squad Looks Thin Up Front After Summer Exits

What’s interesting about the Alexander Isak situation is that Liverpool have not looked elsewhere for another forward. Arne Slot has made it clear that the squad is shorthanded up front after the departures of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and the death of Diogo Jota. If Richard Hughes thought Isak was out of bounds, surely the sporting director would be looking elsewhere?

Compare Newcastle United’s statement this week with FSG’s communique about Philippe Coutinho eight years ago. Liverpool’s was 44 words long and contained the sentence: “The club’s definitive stance is that no offers for Philippe will be considered and he will remain a member of Liverpool Football Club when the summer window closes.”

Nothing about supporters, best interests, pride and tradition, like Newcastle's. Just a straightforward no.

This week's rambling effort about Isak, which is three times as long, included the lines, “the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired. We do not foresee those conditions being met.”

Mmmm. That door is not closed.