Time to get excited: Liverpool WILL bid for Alexander Isak

Liverpool are in the process of wrapping up a deal for a new No9 in the shape of Hugo Ekitike. The French under-21 international joins from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m - rising by another £10m if all add-ons are activated.

But the Reds won’t stop there in their quest to overhaul their strike line. Alexander Isak has been of long-term interest to Liverpool. The Newcastle striker is under contract until 2028 and the Geordies are believed to value their talisman at over £120m.

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Nonetheless, the chase for Ekitike is SEPARATE to their interest in Isak. Despite the huge fee going on the 23-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain forward - Liverpool will not give up on Isak.

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That’s according to noted transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, who claims that at least one more big departure will be required before interest in Isak is followed up.

Jacobs: Liverpool WILL bid for Isak

"Liverpool will [bid] if they get any encouragement and they get an outgoing or two,” Jacobs told the Born N’Red YouTube channel.

"So, if they add another attacker, my understanding remains Luis Díaz will have to leave. Darwin is already an expected departure. Add those two up, you’re bringing in significant funds."

Liverpool have barely spent anything over the past 12 months - investing around three windows worth of cash this summer.

It leaves the club in a fine financial position - and allied with new sponsorship deals, a new Adidas kit deal and bigger Champions League and Premier League prize money - there are no concerns over their ability to get an Isak deal over the line.

All they need is an indication from Isak or Newcastle that a transfer could be possible.

Liverpool just waiting for encouragement

"Liverpool already have PSR headroom, so I don’t think it’s so much about: can they afford Isak? As: are they going to be given any encouragement — from the player side or, of course, most importantly, from Newcastle United,” Jacobs says.

"This notion that Liverpool approaching Newcastle has damaged the club-to-club relationship, or burned Newcastle in any way, is not true to my understanding.

"Eddie Howe and Richard Hughes go way back. Dialogue is natural. I think Newcastle would see any approach as a compliment.”

There are still around six weeks left in the current transfer window for Liverpool to get a deal done - otherwise the chase for Isak could be pushed back until the new year. The implication here is that the Sweden international is FIRMLY in Richard Hughes’ sights.

Make no mistake: Liverpool want Isak

"Second of all, is there a time in the window when they still have a window of opportunity to bid? Because they’ve indicated they’re prepared to pay a British transfer record.

"Newcastle know that British transfer records come in scales — and if you beat it by a million, you might not stand a chance. If you’re up at £130 million, perhaps you will. If we’re respectful to Newcastle’s position at the moment, the number might be £150 million.

"So, Newcastle will have to either speak to Isak and realise that the player is agitating for a move — in which case the price may drop — or tie him down to a new deal, in which case I would expect them to do that very quickly.

"But make no mistake about one thing: Liverpool want Alexander Isak. So whether that’s now, whether that’s January, whether that’s next summer — they want Alexander Isak.

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"So it will all be about timing. But there will have to be that outgoing of Díaz first. Otherwise, I’m actually not expecting them to add another attacker.

"And therefore, if Isak was to come in, I think Liverpool fans may have to be a little bit patient — because it could come later in the window."

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