It is no secret that Liverpool are pushing to secure a British record deal for Alexander Isak this summer.
The Reds are in the middle of reshaping their forward line and have spotted an opportunity to make a play for Isak.
Should Liverpool convince Newcastle to sell their star striker, he will be expected to pick up the burden of goal-scoring largely owned by Mohamed Salah.
However, it is certainly not a given that Liverpool will be able to sign Isak before the transfer window shuts.
Newcastle have so far been determined to keep hold of the Sweden international despite his clear desire to move to Anfield.
So, although Liverpool’s focus is rightfully on going big to secure Isak in the coming weeks, the Reds must also quietly be working on a back-up plan should Newcastle stand firm.
Liverpool still need Alexander Isak back-up plan
Some pundits and fans alike have questioned whether Liverpool can fit Isak and Hugo Ekitike into the same team.
Ekitike is another big signing this summer and initially it had been expected that he would be the only addition at centre-forward.
However, as Arne Slot demonstrated during Saturday’s friendly against AC Milan, Liverpool are actually short in their forward line.
Luis Diaz is set to be sold and Darwin Nunez is likely to leave as well. As things stand, that would leave the Reds with an attack of Salah, Ekitike, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa.
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With Chiesa expected to go as well, it is clear that Slot must bring another forward, ideally a central striker, into his Liverpool squad.
Isak is quite obviously plan A, but there is every chance Newcastle stick to their guns and block any move. As a result, it stands to reason that Liverpool will be formulating a plan B.
Who could Liverpool get instead?
If Liverpool cannot sign Isak, then perhaps there is a chance Nunez could stay around this season.
The 26-year-old has been in good form during the early part of pre-season and there would be logic in keeping him around along with Ekitike.
However, it does seem very much like the end of the road for Liverpool and Nunez. Whatever happens with Isak, it feels unlikely that the Uruguay international will stay.
So, it stands to reason that there must be another target who is quietly in tentative negotiations with Liverpool.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has been linked, and maybe the Reds will go down that route, or perhaps Rodrygo Goes has always been the Isak back-up after all.
If it isn’t the Swede then it has to be somebody else. Quite who is still a mystery, but you can bet that Liverpool are working on it just in case.
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