{"id":310598,"date":"2025-08-02T00:35:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T00:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/310598\/"},"modified":"2025-08-02T00:35:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T00:35:30","slug":"120k-p-w-wizard-is-now-pushing-to-join-liverpool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/310598\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a3120k-p\/w “wizard” is now “pushing to join” Liverpool"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool<\/a> head coach Arne Slot<\/a> insisted that the Reds will not hesitate<\/a> to strike with further additions in the summer transfer market.<\/p>\n

Never in the Anfield side’s history has there been such a cascade of first-team signings across a single summer window, but then Liverpool won the Premier League<\/a> last season and have the financial means to package Slot’s squad with exciting additions.<\/p>\n

The thought of Mohamed Salah<\/a> combining with the likes of Florian Wirtz<\/a> and Hugo Ekitike<\/a>, previously two of the German Bundesliga’s brightest talents, over the next few years is quite a thing.<\/p>\n

And more may yet be added to the ranks.<\/p>\n

However, Luis Diaz<\/a> has been sold to Bayern Munich for a \u00a365.5m fee<\/a>, and that’s a departure which will be felt on Merseyside next season.<\/p>\n

Liverpool’s decision to sell Luis Diaz<\/strong><\/p>\n

Liverpool sold Diaz, 28, due to the fact he had entered the penultimate year of his contract and wanted to leave, earning a comparatively meagre amount compared to many of Liverpool’s best-paid stars.<\/p>\n

\"Luis-Diaz-Liverpool-record-timeless\"<\/p>\n

Bayern presented the Reds with a pretty few pennies, and his sale felt like a no-brainer, although it has now left the Anfield side lacking the versatile forward’s electric-paced energy.<\/p>\n

Following the announcement of Diaz’s sale, Salah said this<\/a>: “Your energy, drive, and passion on the pitch have left a mark that won\u2019t be forgotten.”<\/p>\n

And he only improved over the past year, shifting from Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpress to the more methodical ‘Slotball’.<\/p>\n\n

Luis Diaz in the Premier League (23\/24 vs 24\/25)<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n\n

Stats (* per game)<\/p>\n

23\/24<\/p>\n

24\/25<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Matches (starts)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

37 (32)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

36 (28)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Goals<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

13<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Assists<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Shots (on target)*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

2.5 (0.9)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

2.0 (0.8)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Big chances missed<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

13<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Pass completion<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

85%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

86%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Big chances created<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Key passes*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Dribbles*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Ball recoveries*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

3.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

2.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Tackles + interceptions*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Duels won*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

4.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

3.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n

Data via Sofascore<\/a><\/p>\n<\/tr>\n

Diaz’s sale does, of course, hand Cody Gakpo<\/a> something of a window to grasp over the coming weeks and months, for he is – as things stand – Liverpool’s leading left-sided forward.<\/p>\n

But the Colombian, now part of the Die Roten squad, played a fair share of football as a makeshift number nine, and when Liverpool replace him, they might have their sights set at a central player.<\/p>\n

Liverpool target wants to join them<\/strong><\/p>\n

As per The Athletic’s David Ornstein<\/a>, Liverpool have seen an opening offer for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak<\/a> knocked back. It fell into the ballpark of British-record territory, in excess of \u00a3120m.<\/p>\n

Transfer reporter Ben Jacobs has corroborated the report, revealing that the 25-year-old is “pushing to join” Slot’s side. The Magpies, it’s important to stress, are adamant they will only cash in should they find a suitable replacement.<\/p>\n

Careful planning and handling of finances have allowed Liverpool to shift into this enviable position, and Isak really would be the icing on the cake this summer.<\/p>\n

What Liverpool would get with Alexander Isak<\/strong><\/p>\n

Isak has been with Newcastle for three years now, having joined them from Real Sociedad for \u00a363m<\/a> in 2022. Pundit Ally McCoist hailed him as “the best all-round centre-forward<\/a>” in the Premier League for his efforts across the 2024\/25 season, and it’s hardly an outrageous take.<\/p>\n

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland may be a more clinical ball-striking machine, but Isak’s rounded style, merging strength with style, suggests he could slot right into the way of things at Anfield.<\/p>\n

\"Isak<\/p>\n

It’s the kind of offensive game that would play right into Salah’s strengths, prominently, but also Gakpo’s too. Liverpool’s Netherlands ace scored 18 goals and provided seven assists<\/a> last season, instrumental in winning the Premier League.<\/p>\n

He’s not averse to creating and drawing defenders away, of course, and so in this way, Liverpool could find a new high-class partnership developing between Isak and Gakpo, with the Newcastle number nine so elegant and suitable for the prolific wide forward’s skill set.<\/p>\n\n

Alexander Isak’s Last Two Prem Seasons<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n\n

Stats (* per game)<\/p>\n

23\/24<\/p>\n

24\/25<\/p>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Matches (starts)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

30 (27)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

34 (34)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Goals<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

21<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Assists<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Touches*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

26.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

33.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Shots (on target)*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

2.4 (1.4)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

2.9 (1.4)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Big chances missed<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

21<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Pass completion<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

80%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

77%<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Big chances created<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Key passes*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Dribbles*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Ball recoveries*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

1.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Tackles + interceptions*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

0.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\n

Duels (won)*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

2.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n\n

2.8<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n

Data via Sofascore<\/a><\/p>\n<\/tr>\n

The \u00a3120k-per-week Isak<\/a> has a lot in his locker, but he has almost simplified his game at Newcastle, relinquishing some of the more athletic and mobile elements to refine his world-class shooting. It worked to an emphatic effect, for Newcastle restored their place in the Champions League and won the Carabao Cup (against Liverpool in the final) besides.<\/p>\n

He was only outscored by Salah, but his roundedness suggests that he could be an exciting dance partner for Gakpo, whose responsibilities may well increase with Diaz now gone.<\/p>\n

\"Top<\/p>\n

Gakpo isn’t a one-trick pony by any stretch, but he does put an emphasis on his goalscoring, cutting inside and clinically striking on goal.<\/p>\n

Since Isak created 11 big chances in the top flight last season, it seems like he would be a tailor-made addition to combine with Gakpo, who ranked among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last year for non-penalty goals (0.47) per 90, as per FBref<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Liverpool's<\/p>\n

The Dutchman was praised by pundit Peter Crouch for having “gone up a level<\/a>” since Slot replaced Klopp in the dugout, and you can only imagine the kind of heights that the 25-year-old could reach alongside a cultured and confident superstar such as Isak, who has been described by teammate Nick Pope as being “like a wizard<\/a>” for the playmaking side to his arsenal.<\/p>\n

Once again, Liverpool know that their hopes of signing Isak hinge on Newcastle’s ability to find a replacement. They want RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, but he’s also being pursued by Manchester United, who are readying a formal bid<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, the Magpies will be cautious about keeping Isak on the books after his desperate efforts to force a move to Liverpool, and this is – without a doubt – one to keep a close eye on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted that the Reds will not hesitate to strike with further additions in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":310599,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4100],"tags":[94,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-310598","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114956371726085656","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310598"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310598\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=310598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=310598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}