Liverpool Have ‘Made Contact’ with £70m Striker Over Potential Summer Move – Journalist | OneFootball

Liverpool Transfers: Latest on Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool’s summer transfer plans are beginning to take shape following a Premier League-winning debut campaign under Arne Slot. With Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa both expected to move on, and Luis Diaz linked with a potential switch to Saudi Arabia, attention is firmly on who could arrive at Anfield. The latest name to cause a stir is Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak — a striker of real quality, but one whose price tag and club situation raise major doubts.

Credit must go to David Lynch, speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, for offering real insight into Liverpool’s transfer thinking.

Interest in Isak is Real but Challenging

According to Lynch, Liverpool’s admiration for Isak is genuine. He explained, “Liverpool are clearly very interested and they feel like the money will be there to do a deal like that because Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz could leave.” That in itself is a huge statement and points to the club’s confidence in recouping significant funds from outgoing attackers.

However, Newcastle are under no pressure to sell. They’ve just qualified for the Champions League and have lifted silverware, which puts them in a strong negotiating position. “If there was a joint brief put out like that, then you would assume that they won’t sell,” Lynch noted. He added, “It just looks really difficult to do and we have to be realistic about that.”

The situation would require multiple variables to align. Nunez must be sold, ideally for a decent fee, and Lynch is realistic about that being a tough ask: “It looks more likely that he will go to a European side than a Saudi side so that makes it harder.” Then there’s the uncertainty around Diaz’s potential exit and whether he’d accept a Saudi switch. In short, Liverpool need dominoes to fall first before making a realistic move for Isak.

Photo: IMAGO

Ekitike Considered as a Viable Alternative

While Liverpool fans might dream of Isak leading the line, there are signs the club are also assessing other options. Hugo Ekitike has quietly come onto the radar, and Lynch suggests that he’s not merely tabloid speculation. “No one at Liverpool is ruling him out, which if it was nonsense they usually would,” he stated.

That sort of line is telling. Liverpool’s recruitment team has a history of working under the radar before striking quickly. With Ekitike available and not tied down by the sort of complications that surround Isak, this deal could develop if others stall. Lynch said confidently, “There’s definitely been contact on the player side, I can vouch for that 100%, but in terms of it turning into anything, it’s still early days.”

Ekitike would represent a considerable gamble, with a price tag expected to be around the £70million mark. After just one top season in the Bundesliga, it would be interesting to see if his performances can translate to the Premier League.

Photo: IMAGO

Forward Sales Hold the Key

In truth, Liverpool’s ability to reshape the front line rests on shifting some of their current assets. Nunez’s departure seems more a matter of timing and fee than desire, but Diaz’s situation is murkier. If both were to leave, Liverpool could reinvest aggressively, with Isak and Ekitike among the targets.

“I do know Liverpool want to move on a couple of their own forwards before we see any movement in the front line,” said Lynch, and that feels like the crux of this entire discussion. The market is unpredictable, but the structure is clearly there. Slot has the title-winning credentials now to attract top players, and the club is prepared for multiple scenarios.

For now, patience is key. Deals like Isak’s rarely happen early and without complication, but if Liverpool can clear space and generate funds, things might move quickly. Ekitike, on the other hand, could be the type of opportunity that opens up in the final weeks.