The Reds know exactly what Isak is capable of, given he tore Liverpool’s backline to shreds during the Carabao Cup final earlier this month. Isak netted what proved to be the match-winning goal in the 2-1 win, as he helped Newcastle end a 70-year wait for a major trophy with the Wembley triumph.
But, as crucial as Isak is to the Newcastle project, a move away from St. James’ Park has been mooted this summer, with Liverpool one of several Premier League sides said to be interested. The Magpies are expected to demand upwards of £100million for the Swede’s signature, meaning Liverpool’s transfer chiefs may have to get creative with their Isak offer.
There have been suggestions that in order to tempt Newcastle into parting ways with Isak, Liverpool could submit a player(s) plus cash offer instead. It would help bring down the transfer fee, while also allowing the Merseyside outfit to shift one - if not more - of their unwanted players.
Alexander Isak has been a thorn in Liverpool's side before
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Among the names being tipped to depart Liverpool this summer are Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez - two players who have previously been linked with Newcastle moves. Reports from the summer detailed how Newcastle had asked questions about the defensive duo as Eddie Howe looked to bolster his defensive options.
But if the six-time European champions do include Quansah and Gomez as sweeteners in their Isak pursuit, it could cause problems for their home-grown quota. Premier League rules state that at least eight players registered in a team’s 25-man squad must be homegrown.
This presents an issue as, alongside Quansah and Gomez, a chunk of Liverpool’s most likely departures this summer are all homegrown. Trent Alexander-Arnold appears Real Madrid-bound (on a free transfer, no less), whereas goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is also being spoken about as a potential departure.
Such a high turnover on homegrown players would almost certainly mean Liverpool would need to enter the market to bring in fresh faces from the British Isles. And considering it’s already shaping up to be a busy summer for Liverpool, the tasks on Slot and his transfer chiefs’ to-do list continue to grow by the week.
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