Arne Slot drops new Liverpool transfer hint after fresh Alexander Isak twist | OneFootball

Newcastle’s move for Nick Woltemade could now open door for Isak to seal dream Anfield switch

Arne Slot has confirmed that he is open to making further signings before the transfer window closes, though both the Liverpool boss and Newcastle counterpart Eddie Howe are remaining tight-lipped for now on the future of Alexander Isak.

One of the summer’s biggest sagas looks set to potentially go right up to Monday evening’s earlier 7pm BST deadline, with Newcastle’s imminent club-record £69million deal for Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade - first reported on Thursday night - leading to fresh speculation over the wantaway Isak now potentially finally getting his dream move to Anfield.

Pressed on how likely Liverpool were to add further to their squad before the deadline, Slot replied: “I think I said after Monday evening that, again, I could make a substitution that impacted the game. That's what Federico [Chiesa] did against Bournemouth and that's what Rio [Ngumoha] did now against Newcastle.

“As always, we try to sign players that can help us, but there is no reason after the first two games to complain or to think we need more. If we can strengthen the squad then we will always try to do that if it's for the right money and it's the right player.

“There are only three or four days to go now, so let's see if we do something – and if we do something, what we can do.”

New speculation: Alexander Isak could yet leave Newcastle to join Liverpool before Monday’s deadline

London Standard

Speaking shortly after Slot on Friday morning ahead of Newcastle’s trip to face newly-promoted Leeds at Elland Road, Howe - whose side lost 3-2 to Liverpool in a thriller on Monday night after a last-gasp stoppage-time winner from 17-year-old winger Ngumoha at St James’ Park, with Gordon sent off earlier for a rash challenge on Virgil van Dijk - had no further update to give on Isak.

“It’s difficult for me to give you any clarity,” he said. “I have no update on what I spoke about the other day.”

However, Howe did stress the need for Newcastle to avoid any further “poor decisions” when asked if he had a preference over Isak’s future.

"Of course I would have a preference, but ultimately you have got to look at all the information,” he said.

"Of course I have a footballing preference, but then you have to take everything else into account. You can't just be oblivious to things that have happened so I'm in that position, really, where I'm trying to separate myself because I have no control over it.

"I will let everything take its course and then deal with the eventuality. I don't think you can be emotionally involved. If you're emotionally involved, you're going to make a bad decision.

“I've said many times we don't want to be in a position where we are having to make poor decisions - which we had to do, well-documented, previously - off the back of the decisions we've made trying to improve the squad, as we are now.

"PSR [the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules] continues to influence everything we do, but we don't want to be chasing a big deficit because that will have big negative consequences if we are in that position again."

On Newcastle incomings and Woltemade, a deal which comes amid ongoing links to the likes of Brentford forward Yoane Wissa and Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen, Howe said: “We are still looking because I think there is an opportunity to improve the squad further. Small steps, let's get the deal we are working on now done first.

“Not too much, but positive signs [on Woltemade], things are moving and developing the right way.”

Howe was also asked if Isak and Woltemade could potentially play together at Newcastle, to which he responded simply: “Yeah, but one we haven't signed and one isn't available to be picked.”