Isak to Liverpool: Defending Premier League champions warned against misplaced priorities

ESPN pundit Alejandro Moreno has warned Liverpool about signing Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

As previously reported, the Merseyside club are interested in a £120m deal for the Swedish forward, showing their admiration for the 25-year-old striker. 

Hugo Ekitike has joined Arne Slot’s Reds in a big-money move, believed to be Liverpool’s marquee signing this summer. 

Following Diogo Jota’s passing, Liverpool aim to strengthen their squad, especially in finding a top No. 9.

They broke their record by signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for about £100m and added Ekitike, but the defending English top-flight champions are still in the market for Isak.

However, Moreno has mentioned that the Premier League champions’ interest in Isak risks them failing to address their defensive needs.

“My thought on Liverpool is very simple,” said the former Venezuela international on ESPN. “If initially you were thinking about Dean Huijsen, it’s because you were ging to address the centre-back position, that was going to be a priority for you in this window.

“Since then (Huijsen joined Real Madrid), there’s been no conversation about a centre-back. Why has this changed? Why have we gone from one end of the field to the opposite end of the field, dramatically so?”

Although Virgil van Dijk committed to a two-year extension until 2027 after much speculation, the Dutchman is 34 years old and not getting any younger. 

Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are the club’s other central defensive options, but the Frenchman’s current contract expires in 12 months, and the English defender’s injury proneness has been a continual source of frustration for both player and club. 

The Reds have already sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for a reported £30 million, with a further £5 million in add-ons, which may necessitate the defending English champions signing a centre-back this summer.