
Anfield Index
·4 June 2025
Report: £120m forward next on Liverpool’s wishlist despite big signings

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·4 June 2025
Liverpool’s pursuit of attacking excellence has not dulled following their move for Florian Wirtz. According to Graeme Bailey of TBR Sports, the Reds remain fixated on Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak – a £120m target who continues to capture the club’s imagination even amid a flurry of deals.
Wirtz, along with Jeremie Frimpong and potentially Milos Kerkez, represents a dynamic reshaping of Arne Slot’s team. But there’s an acknowledgement at Anfield that another level must still be reached. That ascent, it seems, hinges on the arrival of a premium centre-forward.
Bailey’s insight is telling:“Isak is still one they would love, he is the dream signing striker wise and his contract talks are being monitored at Anfield.”Liverpool may be laying foundations with intelligent squad depth, but it’s a headline-grabbing centrepiece that would truly reshape expectations heading into the new season.
The ambitions are underscored by an acceptance of necessary departures. Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, two forwards who have divided opinion, may well be the sacrificial lambs for a more clinical future.
Bailey reports:“They want another central defender but a striker remains a priority, especially if as expected Nunez moves on and I am told his people are holding talks with various clubs.”
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“Jota is also one of those who they won’t stop from leaving and those exits will help pave the way for a new front-man.”
There’s a brutal logic to it. Slot’s Liverpool may be built around structure, positional flexibility and pressing with precision, but the cutting edge in front of goal has to be sharper. Isak, with his technique and composure, fits that ideal more than the erratic output of Nunez or the injury-prone reliability of Jota.
Should Newcastle refuse to entertain a deal, Liverpool are reportedly tracking other profiles. Names like Hugo Ekitike, Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko have been floated. Bailey’s reporting adds:“We know they are doing work on others… there are plenty of options available to Liverpool – don’t be surprised if it is a really big name that comes in.”
That scouting breadth is a comfort to supporters wary of a drawn-out saga. Yet it’s Isak’s name that continues to echo loudest, not least because of his record-breaking exploits in Tyneside colours – the first Newcastle player to score in eight consecutive Premier League matches.
Bailey suggests FSG are open to strategic exits to finance their striking ambitions. It’s not a fire sale, but an adaptive response to financial realities.
The idea of Luis Díaz being used centrally last season was a temporary fix. If Liverpool are serious about retaining their title and making a push in the Champions League, they need more than just good intentions – they need goals. Isak, for all his cost, represents both a tactical and symbolic shift: from promise to pedigree.
For Liverpool fans, the idea of Alexander Isak leading the line next season is tantalising. His elegance on the ball, his composure in the box, and his ability to link play could finally bring the consistency the forward line has lacked since Sadio Mané’s departure. Wirtz and Frimpong are exciting additions, but Isak would be the marquee move that signals Liverpool’s intent not just to challenge, but to dominate.
Darwin Nunez has moments, but too many misses. Diogo Jota’s output is solid, but his body rarely holds out for long stretches. Supporters will understand if those players move on, especially if it clears the path for a proven, top-tier number nine.
Isak may cost over £120m, but this isn’t a vanity signing – it’s an investment in goals, in control, in turning 1-1s into 2-1s. That’s the margin of titles.