Jurgen Klopp's controversial dig at Newcastle resurfaces after Liverpool look to steal Alexander Isak

Jurgen Klopp aimed a controversial dig at Newcastle United and Manchester City during his spell at Liverpool as his old side look to sign Alexander Isak.

Liverpool have recruited heavily this summer after winning the Premier League title last season.

They tabled an initial £69 million to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, having splashed out a whopping £116 million to lure Florian Wirtz to Anfield.

Despite Ekitike's arrival, Liverpool are interested in signing Isak, who has informed Newcastle United that he wants to explore his options this summer.

Liverpool have spent almost £300 million this summer and that figure would increase exponentially if they successfully signed Isak from Newcastle.

Amid Liverpool's lavish spending spree, Klopp's comments about Newcastle, Man City and Paris Saint-Germain have re-surfaced.

He claimed the Reds couldn't compete with the state-owned clubs in the market.

"Nobody can compete with City in that. You have the best team in the world and you put in the best striker on the market. No matter what it costs, you just do it," he said.

"City will not like it, nobody will like it, you ask the question but you know the answer.

"We cannot act like them. It’s not possible. Not possible."

Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool couldn't compete with Newcastle United during his time at Anfield. Image: Getty

Klopp added: "There are three clubs in world football who can do what they want financially. It’s legal and everything fine, but they can do what they want.

"We have to look at 'we need this, we need that, we have to look here and make it younger, and here a prospect, and here a talent'. That’s what you have to do.

"It’s not a problem at all for me, it’s like it is. Don’t ask me that question because you always open this discussion and in the end it’s me telling you, but you all know it, you should know.

"It’s not possible to deal with that, and it will be like this."

Liverpool are interested in signing Alexander Isak despite snapping up Hugo Ekitike. Image: Getty

On Newcastle, the German continued: "I heard now that someone at Newcastle said 'there’s no ceiling for this club'. Yeah, right! He’s absolutely right, there’s no ceiling for Newcastle.

"Congratulations, some other clubs have ceilings.”

Liverpool's extravagant summer of spending comes after they signed just Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa last summer.

Goalkeeper Mamardashvili cost £25 million, while winger Chiesa commanded an initial fee of £10 million.