Alexander Isak spotted at the World Cup as club thinks about surprising move for Liverpool star
Alexander Isak might be leaving Liverpool less than a year after joining from Newcastle United. Last September, he became the most expensive British player ever, with Liverpool paying a massive £125 million for him. Everyone hoped he would help the team compete for the Premier League title.
But this season didn’t go as planned. Under Arne Slot, Liverpool finished fifth, and Isak had a tough time too. In December, he broke his ankle in a win against Tottenham, which kept him off the pitch for a lot of games. He only played about 21% of the team’s minutes and scored four goals in all competitions.
Isak will be hoping for a better second season under new manager Andoni Iraola. Still, there’s talk he could leave Liverpool just 10 months after joining. Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo says Barcelona is “closely watching” him play for Sweden at the World Cup, and they’re impressed by what they’ve seen.
Isak has done well in the tournament, scoring one goal and making three assists in three games. He helped Sweden reach the next round, where they’ll play France. Barcelona had shown interest in him two years ago, and now he might be a great option to replace their veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, who left the club in May.
Even with the transfer rumors, it’s unlikely Liverpool’s owners, FSG, would sell him for less than nine figures, especially since he’s got five years left on his contract. New manager Iraola probably wants Isak to be a key player, and a strong World Cup could boost his confidence and form.
Scoring four times and assisting three in just three matches shows he’s getting his confidence back after his injury-hit season. But former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey thinks the most important thing for Isak is to come back fully fit and ready to handle Iraola’s intense playing style.
“I think for him it’s about having a good summer and focusing on what he wants to achieve with Liverpool,” Heskey said recently. “Getting super fit is really important because fans have been disappointed with his fitness. If he works hard, Liverpool fans will support him fully, but he needs to be ready for that.”
When Isak played for Newcastle, he was known for his hard work off the ball, constantly pressing opponents. Liverpool fans want to see that same energy from their No. 9. A strong pre-season could help Isak get ready to prove why Liverpool spent so much to bring him in.