After being excluded from both a pre-season drubbing at Celtic and the squad for Newcastle’s Asia tour, it looks as if Alexander Isak could find his way out of the exit door with a potential destination of Merseyside.
The Swedish international is seemingly keen to secure a move away, according to reports, despite winning the Carabao Cup with the Magpies and securing Champions League football on the final day of the season.
With three years left on his contract, Newcastle are in a strong negotiating position; however, their hand may be forced should Isak refuse to feature for the club, with Liverpool among those circling a potential deal.
Should he join the Reds, the striker would be the club’s sixth summer signing and could potentially take their spending to around £400 million.
So with that said, here’s a look at some winners and losers from Isak’s potential move to Liverpool.
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Winners from Alexander Isak to Liverpool’s potential transfer
Arne Slot
Upon winning the Premier League in his inaugural campaign as boss, Arne Slot looks set to push for consecutive triumphs, with no sign of his Liverpool side curbing their spending any time soon.
The Reds have lacked a consistent conventional centre forward for several years, with wide men typically taking the acclaim, and the likes of Darwin Nunez failing to provide regular goal contributions.
Isak has proven himself on the Premier League stage and rivals the very best in Europe with his goal scoring.
The Newcastle star netted 23 goals in the 2024/25 season, trailing only Liverpool’s own Mohamed Salah for output.
Possessing both of the Premier League’s top scorers is a sure-fire way of preparing for success, and Slot looks well equipped to replicate his own exploits.
Florian Wirtz
As a creative midfielder, Florian Wirtz will be searching for attacking players making runs and providing options for service, which he will gain in abundance via Isak’s presence.
The 22-year-old provided 12 assists in the Bundesliga last season, given an option in the box by Patrick Schick, who scored 21 in a Bayer Leverkusen side that finished runners-up to Bayern Munich.
With Isak possessing a similarly tall build to Schick, but further possessing an incredible amount of speed in behind, Wirtz will heavily benefit from this option alongside the familiar runs provided on the wings by overlapping full-backs from the likes of former teammate Jeremie Frimpong.
Such as with Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland, the relationship between the striker transfer target and the German midfielder could flourish into a partnership that punishes every high line utilised by Premier League and European defences.
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Jeremie Frimpong
An attacking full back similar in final third contributions to the departed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jeremie Frimpong looks set to prosper, should Isak make the move to Anfield.
Liverpool have often lacked height in their centre forward position, with the six-foot-four-inch Cody Gakpo operating more comfortably off the left wing as opposed to a lone striker.
The Dutchman benefited heavily through the aforementioned Schick, providing an aerial presence at Leverkusen, and should Isak find his way to the Reds, the right back could easily replicate his previous success.
With crossing options both in the air and along the ground, Frimpong has the potential opportunity to rack up plenty of contributions through a clinical strike partner.
Losers from Alexander Isak’s potential transfer to Liverpool
Darwin Nunez
Following the arrival of Hugo Ekitike, Darwin Nunez would have already seen his minutes under Slot dwindle, but the potential arrival of Isak looks to have hinted even further at an exit from the club.
The striker has only posted a goal return of 25 total across his three seasons with the club, numbers that his potential replacement nearly matched in just one campaign.
Whilst he may wish to fight for his spot, it is unlikely that Slot will stray from his single striker system that could see Nunez remain as a depth option.
With links to a move to Serie A or a possible loan move away to a fellow Premier League side, it appears the Uruguayan will see his spell cut short at the club, with a catalogue of potential moments for success rather than delivered success.
Newcastle’s transfer department
Following a failed attempt to convince Ekitike to join the club, Newcastle look to have been dealt a double blow from Liverpool, who could potentially steal two players out of the hands of the Magpies.
The North East outfit had a £70 million bid rejected by Frankfurt, and delays in negotiation led to Liverpool swooping in and signing the Frenchman for a potential £79 million fee.
Despite an ongoing pursuit of Yoane Wissa from Brentford, Newcastle had intended for the Congolese striker to provide an option for Isak as opposed to being a direct replacement.
Having let Callum Wilson leave on a free transfer and now having Isak potentially leaving, Newcastle will need a strong rebuild in attack if they are to continue with their recent Premier League and domestic cup successes.
Liverpool’s title rivals
With Manchester City going through a transition period, with the departure of the legendary De Bruyne, and Arsenal finding themselves still just short of the very top, the arrival of Isak could cement Liverpool as firm favourites for the title.
Adding the 23-goal striker to a side that already scored 86 times in the previous campaign would definitely put a sour taste in the mouths of fellow big-six sides.
Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal and Haaland in the blue half of Manchester provide strong opposition to Liverpool in direct attack, but neither side possesses similar attacking contributions away from their out-and-out striker.