Why Liverpool missed out on signing Alexander Isak in 2022 | OneFootball

Liverpool considered a move to sign Alexander Isak in 2022 before prioritising the transfer of Darwin Nunez.

Isak continues to be linked with Liverpool in a deal that would cost the Reds a British transfer record fee. The Swedish striker has evolved into one of Europe’s best forwards at Newcastle, having scored 62 goals in 109 games across the last three seasons.

It has now been revealed that the Newcastle striker was a target for Liverpool in 2022, prior to his move to St James’ Park.

Liverpool shortlisted the then-Real Sociedad frontman among their options for the summer transfer window, but instead favoured a move for Darwin Nunez of Benfica.

The latter had impressed against Liverpool in the Champions League with Jurgen Klopp deciding to pursue the Uruguayan.

Liverpool’s former data expert, Ian Graham, has revealed that Klopp’s preference for Nunez swayed the decision-making. Nunez has since struggled to live up to expectations at Anfield and has been linked with an exit this summer.  Isak signed for Newcastle in a £63m deal the same summer.

“Jurgen created a lot of success for the club, so it’s understandable why it moved in that direction (from data-driven decisions to managerial preference),” Graham said in a wide-ranging interview with the Financial Times.

“I’m happy to talk about my colleagues persuading Jurgen (in 2017) that Mo Salah was the player to buy instead of Julian Brandt.

“In 2022, he signed Darwin Nunez (for £64m plus add-ons) instead of Alexander Isak. Both players, if you look at top young centre-forwards in Europe, they would be number one and two — or two and three but (Erling) Haaland was going to (Manchester) City and out of our price range.

“Jurgen preferred Nunez. It would be very churlish of me to say, “It’s terrible that Jürgen had his choice”, when in the past Jurgen had been persuaded by me and my colleagues of a different choice.

“And it was still the case that we signed good players — in Nunez’s case, one of the best young strikers in Europe.”

Read – Five Bundesliga players Premier League clubs should be interested in this summer

See more – Five u-21 European Championship stars set for summer transfers

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