Newcastle knocked back a Liverpool bid for Alexander Isak but Jamie Carragher feels the Swedish striker’s situation is comparable to the state of play at Tottenham in the past
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has compared Alexander Isak’s situation to that facing Harry Kane at Tottenham when assessing the Reds’ transfer options. Arne Slot’s side have already seen a bid knocked back for Newcastle striker, and could yet get a deal over the line before the transfer window shuts.
The question faceing Carragher concerns the first forward brought to Anfield by Slot this summer. Hugo Ekitike has yet to make his Premier League debut but could be relegated to backup before a ball is kicked in the new season.
Carragher has queried how happy the French frontman will be with the emerging situation, even if he is used in a wide forward role more than through the middle. However, he also recognises finding a willing and capable back-up to one of the best No.9s in the league is a tough ask.
“£80m is too much to pay for back up,” Carragher wrote on social media. “Where does Ekitike get his minutes in HIS position, not fudging it by putting him on the left.
“Hard to play together when you’ve spent 115M on [Florian] Wirtz. And yes we do need to buy more attackers!”
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When one fan suggested Ekitike’s versatility could make his case different, the pundit wasn’t convinced. “When you have a top striker, like Isak/[Erling] Haaland/Kane it’s very difficult to have quality back up as they always play,” he said.
“Spurs never had any back up for Kane, Newcastle had an injury prone Callum Wilson & Man City had to sell [Julian] Alvarez because they couldn’t keep him happy.”
Isak has returned to Newcastle after a spell training with former club Real Sociedad, but was kept away from a bonding session at the club’s training ground. With less than a fortnight until the start of the new season, manager Eddie Howe has called on the record signing to take responsibility before being incorporated back into the group.
“The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad and you have to act in the right way,” Howe said. “No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.”
Newcastle have tried and failed to bring in attacking reinforcements this summer, with a number of targets choosing other options. Joao Pedro opted for Chelsea instead of the Magpies, while Ekitike was also on the club’s radar before eventually choosing Liverpool.
Howe has added to his squad, with winger Anthony Elanga and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale joining from Nottingham Forest and Southampton respectively. However, the big remaining question concerns whether Isak will still be a Newcastle player for the season opener against Aston Villa on August 16.
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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