Liverpool analysis: Is Alexander Isak the answer to Arne Slot’s problems at Anfield?
Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak has been linked with a move to Premier League leaders Liverpool amidst rumours he may have been set for Arsenal.
The Swede is one of the Premier League’s hottest prospects, and at 25 years old, he looks set and ready to guide a title-winning team from the front.
With the Reds looking to completely overhaul their front line this summer, Transfer News Blitz’s Joe Matthews looks into why he may be the answer to Scouse prayers.
Why Liverpool?
Arne Slot arrived at Anfield last summer to inherit a squad full of superstars suiting the level of a side hoping to challenge for a Premier League title.
This they did under the keen eye of Jurgen Klopp, but due to it not being Slot’s squad, many thought he might struggle to get going on Merseyside.
Less than a year on, and Liverpool sit comfortably atop the league table.
However, with Luis Diaz linked with a move away, Darwin Nunez underperforming, and Mohamed Salah still yet to sign a contract, the forward line is becoming increasingly more in need of a makeover as the season goes on.
The Dutchman still doesn’t have his own team, and, according to Football Insider, Isak is the ‘perfect’ player to bolster the Reds’ frontline.
Who’s leaving to make the space?
Name-for-name, Liverpool have one of the most stacked sets of attacking options in not just the league but arguably world football.
The regular starting trio consists of Ballon d’Or contender Salah on the right, Dutchman Cody Gakpo on the left, and Diaz operating as a false-nine through the middle.
With EURO 2020 champion Federico Chiesa arriving in late August, he accompanies the ever-interesting Nunez and Jota on a diverse yet high-quality bench.
However, with Slot apparently unimpressed by Nunez’s inconsistent performances, Jota’s lack of minutes through injury, and the Italian winger struggling to get settled on Merseyside, it looks as though it is time for change.
It is believed that the Reds rejected two proposed bids from the Saudi Pro League for Nunez in January, but future plans to sell the forward have not been too well hidden, and it is likely he will leave this summer.
His Portuguese counterpart Jota has been rumoured to be a target for injury-ridden title-contenders Arsenal, despite his own struggles with similar issues in recent seasons.
It is also becoming apparent that Slot may not want to persist with Diaz through the middle, and a potential move to Barcelona has continued to raise eyebrows in Catalonia.
How would Isak fit in?
In the Premier League this season, Isak has netted 17 times in 23 games, with five assists on top.
He tends to operate as a solo striker for Newcastle, generally being accompanied by Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy on his wings, who, combined, have 23 goal involvements to Isak’s 22.
At Liverpool, he would effectively be plugging the gap still left open after the departure of club legend Roberto Firmino in 2023.
It was supposed to be Nunez who would replace the Brazilian, but the Uruguayan has failed to make the mark expected of him and his huge £85million price tag.
Instead of becoming a renowned goal scorer, he instead became known for his sporadic play and humorous style, which has caused him to miss numerous clear-cut chances throughout his time at Anfield.
So, where Liverpool currently have a player who consistently underperforms on xG, with Nunez tallying just 11 Premier League goals from 16.4xG last season, they would be getting someone consistently overperforming on xG, as Isak currently has 17 goals from 14.2xG this season.
Ultimately, the price tag would undoubtedly be hefty - likely over the £100million mark - but should Isak make the move from Tyneside to Merseyside, it would send shivers down the spines of Premier League defences and title-contenders.
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