Liverpool have secret weapon in Alexander Isak transfer pursuit that could help seal stunning £120m deal

Liverpool may have an advantage which could secure a deal for Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak.

Isak, 25, is currently linked with Liverpool, having impressed with 27 goals and six assists in 42 appearances for Newcastle United during the 2024/25 campaign - including a strike in the Magpies’ 2-1 win over the Reds in the Carabao Cup final.

On Tuesday, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Liverpool have made an approach to sign Isak, although no official offer has been put forward at this time.

The piece suggests that although Newcastle’s stance is that Isak is not for sale, they value the Sweden international to be worth around £120m.

Both clubs are also interested in Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike.

Alexander Isak has been linked with a move to Liverpool (Credit:Getty)

On Wednesday, The Athletic then reported that the Reds have made contact with the Bundesliga side over a possible move for the Frenchman after the Magpies previously bid £64.9m, which was rejected by the German outfit.

It is unclear if Liverpool would be willing to sign both players this summer. And despite there being just a two-year age gap between the pair, Ekitike, 23, is still very much developing, while Isak is a proven Premier League operator.

The Reds could already boast a ‘secret advantage’ in their pursuit of the former Borussia Dortmund man.

Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, has previously worked closely with Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe during the pair’s time at Bournemouth.

Journalist David Lynch had his say on how this could influence a potential deal for Isak.

Richard Hughes (second from right) with the Premier League trophy (Credit:Getty)

Lynch said: “One more thing that I would say that is worth underlying in this whole process is that Richard Hughes and Eddie Howe are long-time friends.

“With that in mind, and this is something emphasised to me by a source, surely Richard Hughes isn’t going into this situation blind, believing that Newcastle are just going to reject this, I think he must have a sneaking suspicion that there’s a possibility of Liverpool doing a deal here."

Liverpool legend warns Arne Slot's side

Former Liverpool forward John Aldridge has issued a warning to his boyhood club, claiming that they "don’t need another saga with a player’s contract".

“Liverpool have some thinking to do in regard to the centre forward position," Aldridge told GOAL.

“If the club are going to replace Darwin Nunez, who are they going to bring in? Will Florian Wirtz play as a false nine? For me, Alexander Isak is the player on everyone’s mind and would be the perfect addition up front.

“He’d be a superb signing, but I can’t see Newcastle letting him go, and if they did, it would be for a huge fee. I don’t know what the club’s plans are, but they need to get something sorted before the start of the season.

“Liverpool also can’t allow Luiz Diaz’s contract to run down and him leave for free - ‘no player is bigger than the club’ as they say. There’s so much happening at Liverpool right now; they don’t need another saga with a player’s contract - we all saw what happened with Trent Alexander-Arnold. If it was down to me, I’d give Diaz a new contract - I want him to stay.”