t's the transfer saga that won't go away. With little over a week of the summer transfer window left, Alexander Isak continues to be in exile at Newcastle as he waits for Liverpool to bid the £150million the club wants to let him go.
In the meantime, the 25-year-old is training alone and no doubt anxiously counting down to the 7pm deadline on September 1. However, it shouldn't just be the British record transfer demand putting the Premier League champions off from making their move. What's more imperative is that right now, there's another target that Liverpool should be pursuing while dropping their interest in the Swedish striker.
The notion that Arne Slot needs a clinical No.9 is questionable. Last season, with Darwin Nunez confined to a bit-part role before his move to Saudi Arabia, his side stormed to the title without a central target man.
The movement of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and now Hugo Ekitike is a potent feature of Liverpool's attacking play. Isak would undoubtedly add finishing prowess, but his presence would also restrict the movement that Salah and co specialise in.
Instead, Liverpool should leave the Isak deal alone and go all out for Marc Guehi. The necessity for a new centre back at Anfield far outweighs the need to boost their forward power further.
With just a year left on his current deal, Guehi would cost considerably less than the extortionate fee Newcastle are demanding for Isak. The ongoing saga of Ibrahima Konate's new deal, let alone the Frenchman's early-season form, suggests the Reds should meet whatever Crystal Palace demands.
Instead, Liverpool should leave the Isak deal alone and go all out for Marc Guehi. The necessity for a new centre back at Anfield far outweighs the need to boost their forward power further.
With just a year left on his current deal, Guehi would cost considerably less than the extortionate fee Newcastle are demanding for Isak. The ongoing saga of Ibrahima Konate's new deal, let alone the Frenchman's early-season form, suggests the Reds should meet whatever Crystal Palace demands.
For all their potency going forward, Liverpool remain vulnerable when teams counter-attack. It was a factor that Bournemouth exposed on the opening night of the season, and Paris Saint-Germain even more so in last season's Champions League clash.
Liverpool will score goals with or without Alexander Isak. And yet, without Guehi, Slot's side are not the clear title favourites many perceive them to be.
FSG still have time to make a major statement this summer. What that statement should be is crystal clear.
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