Isak and Ekitike Under the Microscope in Liverpool Transfer Discussion | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Striker Search: Isak, Ekitike and the Questions Dave Hendrick Wants Answered

Isak’s Brilliance Meets Liverpool’s Caution

In a detailed and unfiltered episode of The Daily Red Podcast, Dave Hendrick delivered a forensic examination of Liverpool’s potential transfer business – with a particular focus on Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

Hendrick made it clear that Liverpool retain interest in the Sweden international, confirming, “We know that we have interest in Isak again this summer.” However, he was equally quick to pour cold water on the chances of a deal materialising, citing price, injury record and minutes played as core concerns.

Hendrick revealed a journalist told him the “starting price if they [Newcastle] miss Champions League would be 140 million,” which he described as “obscene… brilliant and all as he is, that is an obscene amount of money.” Even with the hypothetical of using Jarell Quansah as a makeweight, Hendrick wasn’t convinced: “I just don’t see us paying that type of fee anyway for a player.”

While lauding Isak’s ability – “He’s a magnificent player… I would say he’s the best number nine in the league” – Hendrick questioned the striker’s durability. “There’s no history of him playing 45-50 games at an elite level.” He added, “Mo [Salah] has already played 700 minutes more than Isak ever has in any full season.”

It’s a glowing yet cautious assessment, highlighting the fine balance Liverpool must strike between talent and reliability.

Ekitike’s Numbers Spark Mixed Emotions

While Isak garners headlines, another striker sits under the radar: Hugo Ekitike. Hendrick was equally detailed in his evaluation of the young Frenchman, currently at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Drawing parallels with Darwin Núñez’s erratic debut season, Hendrick noted, “Ekitike is currently underperforming his xG in the Bundesliga by 5.7 – worse than Darwin in that first season.” The numbers are worrying for a forward tasked with consistent goalscoring: “For his career thus far, he’s underperformed by 5.58 – 30 goals from 35.58 xG.”

Despite this, Hendrick acknowledged Ekitike’s potential, calling him “super talented” and “a lot more polished” than Darwin. Still, he admitted doubts: “I just don’t know if he’s the guy that we should be looking at right now.”

His analysis wasn’t purely statistical either – he dug into shot selection: “He does shoot a little bit too much from outside the box and maybe a little bit too much from tight angles.” It’s a technical flaw that, in Hendrick’s view, “may well all be very coachable.”

Transfer Strategy Hinges on Robustness

Throughout the podcast, Hendrick returned to a central theme: availability matters. “We need players that every single week they’re going to be available for us – especially when you’re paying that type of price.”

With Darwin’s own inconsistencies noted, and Gakpo’s long-term role still unclear, Hendrick believes Liverpool’s recruitment staff must prioritise robustness alongside flair. He reiterated concerns over relying on players who can’t reach the benchmark: “You need someone who can give you 3,800 to 4,000 minutes in a season.”

Quansah, Newcastle and the Summer Chessboard

Jarell Quansah’s name featured repeatedly as a potential bargaining chip. Hendrick confirmed that Newcastle had inquired about the defender last summer: “They asked us about Quansah – we said no.” There was also talk of a complex swap deal involving Anthony Gordon and Joe Gomez that ultimately fell apart.

Quansah may still hold value in potential deals, especially if Liverpool consider structuring a bid for Isak. As Hendrick posited: “If you could get [Isak] for that by including Quansah… maybe it’s a deal you can make.” But even that, he suggested, would require “pumping Quansah’s value to 40–50 [million].”