Alexander Isak was disappointed by Liverpool's denial of a chance last week, when they only approached him informally. Hugo Ekitike, who was basically expected to replace him at Newcastle, has moved to Liverpool. From the outside, it was another closed door for Isak.
"I really realize that a football player's career is very short. For me, that's probably what Isak, or his agent, told him," coach Eddie Howe said at a press conference after the match against Celtic.
After three years at Newcastle, scoring 62 goals and helping the team win the Carabao Cup last season, Isak seems to have achieved the goal he set.
Isak's development has been much faster than the club. The Swedish striker is in the position of one of the best strikers in Europe, while the Magpies are not good enough to be considered a force.
Isak is very ambitious, wants to win the title and feels he deserves a salary of 250,000 to 300,000 pounds per week. He did not receive that salary at Newcastle and knew that many other top strikers in the Premier League were receiving the same number.
Liverpool's approach last week shows that they are willing to pay a fee at least equal to the price Newcastle requires - about 150 million pounds. This interest did not suddenly disappear just because they already had Ekitike's signature.
Liverpool are happy with their current attack and squad, but that does not mean the job is done. This is a new summer for coach Arne Slot - the first time he has seriously participated in a transfer window since being appointed a year ago.
The Dutch captain has had a year working with the players, understanding them well and even being with the Premier League champions. Slot wants to help Liverpool get better, and that means he needs to sign the best players.
Isak is certainly one of the best strikers in the Premier League at the moment. Whether Liverpool will include him and Ekitike in the plan remains to be seen, but it is clear that this is a notable move.
Howe believes he can use both Ekitike and Isak in the same lineup, so why can't Slot?
Simply put, Liverpool are capable of making a deal with Isak. The Kop has been reasonably and sustainably managed by the owner of FSG for many years.
According to British media, Liverpool could spend up to £500 million in the summer transfer window while still complying with PSR regulations, thanks to an efficient operating model.
Last summer, they spent just £12.5m on Federico Chiesa and earned around £60m from player sales. That means a large budget from last summer has not been used, and is now taking effect.
The Reds' revenue reached £614 million in the most recent financial report. This number is expected to increase sharply thanks to commercial success, competition achievements and accompanying bonuses.
In terms of player sales, Liverpool have earned more than £60 million. The 4 players they sold this summer are all products from the academy, bringing pure profits according to PSR regulations.
In addition, if they sell more names like Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott, Liverpool can earn about 150 million pounds, while creating space in the attack.
