Liverpool have already made significant investments this summer, but the question remains—who would need to be sold in order to make room financially for Alexander Isak?
This summer’s success for Liverpool will ultimately be measured by how well they manage to fill the two or three remaining key positions, especially after starting the transfer window with strong momentum.
The club has strengthened the full-back roles efficiently, maintaining quality without taking major risks. With the record acquisition of Florian Wirtz, their total expenditure has edged close to the £200 million mark, which aligns with their summer budget.
However, Liverpool’s transfer activity isn’t over yet. They remain in pursuit of a new striker, though progress has been slow, especially with Darwin Nunez’s proposed switch to Napoli still pending. A formal offer has been lined up for Alexander Isak, but securing his signature will come at a hefty price.
Who Liverpool Need to Offload to Afford Alexander Isak
A reported price tag of £150 million for Alexander Isak leaves Liverpool facing a significant shortfall of around £135 million, based on the spending already completed this summer—unless they find a way to balance the books creatively.
The sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £30 million makes a small dent in that gap, though his departure means a new centre-back will also need to be recruited. Should Liverpool turn to Marc Guehi as a replacement, it could stretch Richard Hughes’ resources even further, making his summer priorities one to closely monitor.
A compromise over Darwin Nunez’s fee may be necessary, with Liverpool possibly needing to lower their asking price from over £55 million. If Napoli agree to a £50 million deal, the Reds would then be just £55 million short of what’s needed to fund Isak’s arrival.
Harvey Elliott, who starred for England Under-21s and was named player of the tournament, is expected to attract interest. Though valued at £40 million—a figure that might now seem modest—his departure could prompt Newcastle to engage in negotiations. Elliott might even serve as a makeweight in a potential swap deal for Isak.
Arne Slot may ultimately have to choose between securing his ideal striker and leaving another area temporarily understrength, unless further manoeuvres can be made. Liverpool might explore the loan market, including the increasingly common loan-to-buy method that could be used to bring in someone like Guehi while remaining within PSR limits.
Convincing Newcastle to sell Isak, however, presents its own challenge. If the Magpies are demanding £150 million for the Swedish forward, they will also be expected to offer a salary that reflects such a valuation—something his representatives will undoubtedly insist on.
Newcastle Dig Deep in Attempt to Keep Isak
Speaking to Football Insider, former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown suggested that this scenario isn’t entirely unrealistic.
“Newcastle are confident Isak will stay,” said Brown. They’ve been speaking to him about a new contract and I hear they’ve made progress there. It’s been mentioned that he could be the highest-paid player in their history, and if that’s what it takes to get him to sign, I expect them to do it.
“There’s been interest from Liverpool and Arsenal too, but that’s unlikely at the moment. Newcastle are planning to make improvements to the squad this summer, if they can do that it will prove to Isak that they are ambitious and want to press on.
“They haven’t found it easy so far, though, and have missed out on a couple of deals. From their point of view, it makes it even more important that they keep their best players.
“Isak is the main man there and they want to build around him for the future. From what I hear, there’s a good feeling that he will sign a new contract.”
The truth is, Isak’s contract holds little significance for Liverpool unless it includes a release clause, as Newcastle have already set a steep valuation. The real issue remains unchanged—how can Liverpool afford him after already making major investments?
In other news, Liverpool Handed Huge Boost in Pursuit of 11-goal Star as Selling Club Faces €200m Deadline in Two Weeks