Liverpool have perfect £120m Alexander Isak transfer alternative for Premier League title repeat

Liverpool have perfect £120m Alexander Isak transfer alternative for Premier League title repeat

Liverpool transfer news and rumours as the Reds' search for attacking reinforcements in the final weeks of the window rumbles on

Alexander Isak of Newcastle United continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool (Image: Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

It’s the summer of the strikers, some might say. For Liverpool, it’s been a solid transfer window so far, but there’s still work to be done before the September 1 deadline.

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Hugo Ekitike already looks like a fantastic signing for the Reds, and a major coup at that. However, the lack of depth following the departures of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz is a glaring concern as the new season gets underway.

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Of course, Alexander Isak remains the obvious target. Liverpool’s ongoing interest says as much, and as things stand, they haven’t completely abandoned their pursuit of the striker. That said, the likelihood of a deal being completed diminishes with each passing day.

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At some point, Liverpool will, rightly, need to reassess their options. It’s a huge risk to enter the season with so few attacking choices, and despite Federico Chiesa’s remarkable heroics against Bournemouth last week, it’s clear the squad still lacks depth.

Whether Liverpool decide to pivot toward a more versatile attacker, such as Rodrygo, with the intention of revisiting the Isak pursuit in January remains to be seen. Alternatively, they may explore other striker targets, and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez stands out as an intriguing option.

The Argentina international was tentatively linked earlier this summer, but those rumours were quickly put to bed. There was also little to suggest the player would be open to a move, given he only joined the La Liga club last summer.

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A report from Spanish outlet MARCA back in May claimed Liverpool had already made initial contact over a possible move, with Arsenal also in the mix should Alvarez become available. Barcelona would likely be well positioned too, finances aside, given the player is believed to be happy in Spain.

However, Atletico club president Enrique Cerezo seemingly shut down speculation in early June, telling MARCA: “Julian Alvarez is an Atletico de Madrid player and will be an Atletico de Madrid player.”

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There’s also been speculation around Alvarez’s release clause, with reports in the Spanish media suggesting it sits in the region of €500 million. That figure, make no mistake, makes any deal virtually impossible for any club, but such clauses in Spain are often intended as deterrents rather than realistic price-tags.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Alvarez is still valued highly, comparable to Isak, at around £120m. What may spark renewed interest, however, are recent claims that the player is unsettled at Atletico.

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Despite Alvarez scoring a stunning free-kick in their La Liga opener, Diego Simeone’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Espanyol. Now, El Chiringuito TV reports that Alvarez’s entourage believe choosing Simeone’s team may have been a mistake and are unhappy with his role under the manager.

That report has since been contradicted by other Spanish journalists, who insist there’s no issue between the player and the club. Alvarez remains under contract at Atletico until 2030, having signed a six-year deal last summer.

Where the truth lies remains unclear, but it’s a situation Liverpool - and no doubt a number of their Premier League rivals - are likely keeping a close eye on. Alvarez is undoubtedly one of the most promising young strikers in Europe, despite previously struggling to displace Erling Haaland at Manchester City.

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He knows the Premier League well, though, and would no doubt hit the ground running should he return and help Arne Slot's side with their Premier League title defence. With just 12 days to go, the clock is ticking, and Liverpool have some big decisions to make in the meantime.

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