Arne Slot has given his clearest indication yet that he would still like to sign Alexander Isak after insisting Liverpool need another number nine who can play alongside Hugo Ekitike.
Isak has been a top target for Liverpool which has led to the Newcastle star going on strike to try and force a move to Anfield, although Slot’s side have yet to return with a new bid after seeing an offer of around €120 million rejected at the start of August.
“Although we’ve created the most chances in the league and scored the most goals, we mostly won games by one goal, so we had to keep a clean sheet to have a chance of winning the game,” Slot told Sky Sports.
“By adding Florian [Wirtz], we hope and expect that we will create more from the possession we have. And adding two full-backs that can keep overlapping, underlapping for 90 minutes. And a number nine that adds a difference in runs in behind. This should all add to us hopefully creating even more than we did last season without losing our stability at the back.
“I see Hugo mainly as a number nine that could also play on the left or play together with another number nine because it’s clear with Darwin [Nunez] gone and Luis Diaz gone, and I need to mention Diogo [Jota] as well…we need to have one more attacker.”
Isak could miss out on Liverpool transfer as Newcastle hold firm
The sales of Diaz and Nunez, along with the tragic passing of Jota, has left Slot short in attack even with the €80m signing of Ekitike and the British transfer record arrival of Wirtz, who could feature on the left wing.
Liverpool are still keen on a number nine and Isak is the club’s sole target as it stands, although they have yet to meet Newcastle’s asking price of £150m (€173m) and have instead looked to strengthen their defence in the meantime.
Isak has not trained with the Newcastle first team or played in pre-season and he will miss his side’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa this weekend as he looks to force a move.
However, with Newcastle still struggling to sign a replacement striker, they may end up keeping Isak against his will and look to force the 25-year-old to reintegrate into the squad after the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
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