Liverpool get GREEN light to sign Africa's best player | OneFootball

Liverpool now have a chance to sign Africa's best player from last year.

So at this moment in time the Reds have tunnel vision on Alexander Isak. Or at least it feels like it. Behind the scenes that's probably not entirely the case.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

🚨2025/26 LFC x adidas range🚨

LFC x adidas

Shop the away range TODAY

LFC x adidas

Shop the home range today!

LFC x adidas

Shop the goalkeeper range today

LFC x adidas

Shop the new adidas range today!

Liverpool's recruitment team will be acutely aware Newcastle's stance on the Swede is volatile and it's impossible to predict whether they will get the right replacements for him before allowing Isak to leave.

So, naturally there will be alternatives in place.

At the end of the day Liverpool harbour ambitions of being the best team in the world and competing for the Premier League and the Champions League.

That's why they want Isak. But that's also why if that deal doesn't happen they will have something lined up. Simply put they can't go into the season with Arne Slot's back-up attacking options being Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas away range

But who could they target so late on in the window? The choices are slim. But how about last season's African Football of the Year?

No, it's not Mohamed Salah. Somewhat surprisingly it was Ademola Lookman who was given the honour last year after scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final.

He's someone who has been on Liverpool's radar all summer. Even before that, earlier on in the season Anfield Watch reported Lookman was an option.

Okay, he's not a flashy name. But he's still an elite attacker, who can play in a number of different roles, which means in January Liverpool can still sign Isak and continue to play Lookman.

Crucially, Lookman is still available on the market after his move to Inter Milan fell through. Lookman wants to leave Atalanta. He handed in a transfer request earlier on in the season. That's as green light as the Reds are ever going to get to make a move for him.

He's in his prime at the moment at 27-years-old. He made 20 goal contributions in Serie A last season. Lookman can play on the wing, he can play centrally. He's good in one vs one situations. He moves the needle for Slot and gives him an extra weapon.

Without Isak, Liverpool will need that during the first half of the season. Not to mention Lookman counts as homegrown so he doesn't take up a precious non-homegrown spot in the squad.

It's a transfer that simply makes sense. It's one Liverpool absolutely have to explore.