Virgil van Dijk makes Alexander Isak claim as Newcastle striker issues transfer statement

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Alexander Isak has long been linked with a transfer to Liverpool, with the striker being their number one target for as long as many can remember.

Indeed, the Reds did make an initial offer worth around £110million for Isak, but at the moment, it’s unclear whether a new bid is on the horizon.

On Tuesday evening, Isak posted a statement via his Instagram account, which outlined that promises had been broken at St James’ Park, with the Sweden international believing that the relationship between the two could no longer go on.

This has once again opened the door for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes to make a bid, but given the current direction, a fresh bid doesn’t seem all that likely at the moment.

Virgil van Dijk names Alexander Isak as one of the toughest opponents he’s ever faced

One of Liverpool’s best players over the last couple of years has been Virgil van Dijk, with the towering Dutchman often being named as his opponents’ toughest player to play against.

And, although he may not have been up to scratch in the Reds’ Community Shield defeat against Crystal Palace at the start of August, that doesn’t mean he’s not still one of the best defenders in the world.

And, while at the PFA Players Awards on Tuesday, Van Dijk gave his thoughts on the toughest strikers he’s faced throughout his career thus far, with Isak getting a sneaky little mention.

“[Erling] Haaland, [Alexander] Isak, [Ollie] Watkins, erm, Harry Kane,” he said to the official TikTok channel in quotes summarised by Anything Liverpool.

“Obviously we’re speaking about the last couple of years in the Premier League, there are plenty there.”

Liverpool must put their money where their mouth is for Alexander Isak or look elsewhere

There’s hardly been a doubt in any Liverpool fan’s mind that Isak would be making the Anfield switch this term.

However, since the Reds have failed to make a new bid for the attacker and Newcastle are sticking firm to their price tag, it’s unclear whether a deal will be reached.

One of the main reasons a deal hasn’t been sanctioned is that the Magpies have failed to find a replacement for their talisman, with Anthony Gordon the man chosen to fill in for now.

Indeed, Eddie Howe and Newcastle still believe there’s a way back into the first-team at St James’ Park, but on the face of things, it’s hard to see how the Magpies’ fans would even accept him back, even if he is one of the best strikers in the Premier League.

At the moment, it’s anyone’s guess what could happen, but if Liverpool don’t put their money where their mouth is soon, they need to turn their attention towards another attacker as soon as possible.

Otherwise, they’ll likely have little to no chance of qualifying for the Champions League this term, because, let’s face it, as good as Gordon is, he’s not a number nine.