The ECHO’s dedicated Liverpool writers assess who might be viable alternatives – should Alexander Isak prove to be out of reach(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)

The Alexander Isak saga has been simmering for a few days now after explosive statements earlier in the week. The talk will undoubtedly ramp up again in the build-up to Liverpool’s clash with Newcastle United on Monday.

As much as the Reds hold an interest in the on-strike striker and he’s keen on the move, it still feels like a lot needs to happen before a deal gets over the line. Liverpool will surely need to have their eye on some alternatives in the final week of the summer window as a result.

With that in mind, we asked our writers what player or players they would look to land should Isak remain at St James’ Park beyond the deadline.

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With Monday evening leaving Liverpool with a week left of the transfer window, time is of the essence if Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are to finish an exciting, history-making few months of player trading with a flourish.

The problem is, the object of their affection, Alexander Isak, is currently in the clutches of not only Newcastle United but their owners, who are the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. You get the feeling from the endless quizzing on it that Eddie Howe might like to wash his hair of the problem and reinvest a potential British-record sum back into the squad at St James’ Park.

As he has said on a number of occasions now, however, that decision is out his hands, leaving him with little choice but to talk up the prospect of reintegration for the wantaway Isak. What other option is there for Howe just now?

But if the Saudi Arabian owners are intent on trying to save face by cutting off their nose to spite it, then how much longer do Liverpool let this impasse drag on from their end? They are not able to call many of the shots here.

Slot may publicly dispute this but the Reds are short up front, having allowed Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and most recently Ben Doak to leave and while it still feels hugely crass and insensitive speaking about Diogo Jota in such terms, the reality is the popular Portuguese, heart-breakingly, is no longer with us.

So Slot, Hughes and CEO of football Michael Edwards might have to deviate to a Plan B sooner rather than later. If there has been little encouragement from Newcastle by, say, Thursday of next week when some wheels need to be put in motion elsewhere.

How much appetite is there to test Atletico Madrid’s resolve for Julian Alvarez? The Argentina international would be an ideal alternative to Isak, if there is to be a reluctant acceptance the 25-year-old is out of reach.

Alvarez scored 17 goals for los Rojiblancos last season in La Liga and provides tactical flexibility to go with his international class and willingness to work hard off the ball. There are few viable Plan Bs around for the Reds but the former Manchester City man ticks more boxes than most.

Ian Doyle

Every club has a contingency plan. But there is a nagging suspicion Liverpool are intent on signing Alexander Isak and won’t settle for anyone else.

Whether that’s a wise move will become more apparent over the next nine days. Intriguingly, there could be parallels to the Virgil van Dijk situation if Isak doesn’t arrive this summer.

After the expected move for Van Dijk before the 2017/18 season was thwarted by Southampton, there were relentless calls for Liverpool to sign another centre-back. The club resisted, and sure enough the Holland international was in situ less than six months later.

Isak looks like he will come to Anfield sooner rather than later, and there have certainly been signs of Newcastle’s resolve weakening in recent days. Might a £130million deal sort it? It wouldn’t be a shock.

Liverpool undoubtedly remain short in attack but the current alternatives aren’t massively appealing. Talk of Rodrygo of Real Madrid appears agent-driven and his reported financial package wouldn’t make much sense for the Reds.

Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid is another name but the suggestion is he left Manchester City because he couldn’t settle in England and the North West in particular.

Should Isak not move to Liverpool before the September 1 deadline, it may be that the Reds try again in the New Year and continue for the first half of the season with their current attacking options. Don’t be surprised if there is no Plan B.

Theo Squires

Arne Slot has already admitted that Liverpool need a new forward before the transfer window closes, even if he also insists the Reds would boast another depth in attack without a new arrival.

But that does not change the fact that the Dutchman had six senior international forwards to choose from last season. He currently boasts four specialists, with back-up Federico Chiesa a player who barely got a sniff last season.

Sure, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and – if he stays put – Harvey Elliott all offer additional depth. But having waved off both Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, also cashed in on Ben Doak and had to contend with the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, Slot’s hand is currently not as strong as last summer.

And that’s without taking Mohamed Salah’s looming mid-season departure to the Africa Cup of Nations into consideration too.

Alexander Isak is obviously Liverpool’s preferred target, with it curious to see if Newcastle United will be more open to selling the wantaway Swede after their getting their clash with the Reds out of the way on Monday night.

If they continue to dig their heels in, Liverpool might have to look elsewhere. Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez would perhaps be the dream alternative, but it would quite the late swoop if they were to suddenly pursue the Argentine now.

Perhaps then, if Isak is not attainable now, the Reds would be best-placed switching attention to an alternative forward rather than striker. If the Swede remains on strike, there will be future opportunities to sign him anyway. And even if not, Liverpool already have experience of having to be patient in such transfer sagas – with the signing of Virgil van Dijk in January 2018 the perfect example.

The Reds can still wait for their dream centre-forward signing while bolstering their attacking ranks now. Rodrygo looks like he could move on from Real Madrid, while the Reds have also been linked with Malick Fofana of Lyon all summer long.

Either would bring versatility and quality to Slot’s attacking ranks, with Liverpool still having options in central positions. The Reds can afford to wait for Isak, but Newcastle’s stubbornness should not stop them signing a forward in the final days of the transfer window.