With Liverpool being heavily linked to a move for Alexander Isak, Arne Slot said the club would never hesitate to sign a quality player if the chance presents itself. The Premier League champions have already spent close to £300m this summer and are expected to bid for the Sweden striker, who is training alone at his former club Real Sociedad.
Liverpool are long-standing admirers of Isak and have funds available from the £65.5m sale of Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich. Isak is known to be keen on moving to Anfield and it was confirmed by Sociedad on Thursday that he is “working with his trainers” at the club’s Zubieta base after missing Newcastle’s tour of Asia. The 25-year-old has three years left on his contract and Newcastle would want around £150m for their prized asset. Liverpool, it is believed, do not want to pay more than £120m. Regardless they will almost certainly have to break the British transfer record to get their man.
“I always say, another thing about Liverpool is that if we see a chance in the market we never hesitate to bring someone in,” said Slot as Liverpool left Japan after their pre-season tour of the far east. “In the end it’s about quality and we have already made some very good signings. In terms of quality, we are already in the right place.”
This summer Liverpool have brought in Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, the former for a club-record £100m, as well as Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, Hugo Ekitiké from Eintracht Frankfurt and the goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia. “It’s the way this club has worked over several years: targeting a specific player who we think can strengthen the squad and can bring us quality. Then we try to bring him in,” said Slot. “This club has always worked like this. We do spend, but if we spend, then we always need to recoup some money.”
Díaz’s move to Germany means Liverpool have raised more than £190m from player sales since Richard Hughes became sporting director in June 2024.
