Jamie Carragher hypes up Liverpool's chances of signing Newcastle United star Alexander Isak
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool have a better chance of landing Newcastle United star Alexander Isak than Arsenal.
Isak is recognised as one of the best strikers on the planet having scored 54 goals in 96 appearances since joining Newcastle for a club-record £63million from Real Sociedad in August 2022.
With that comes the territory of transfer speculation. Arsenal are long-term admirers and are the club that have been most linked with Isak, but Carragher reckons Liverpool are being overlooked.
But one thing that is for sure is any club wanting to sign the Sweden international would need to pay a British record transfer fee, with the Magpies understood to value him over £100m.
Jamie Carragher on Alexander Isak
Speaking to the It's Called Soccer! podcast, the Reds legend said: "I don't really get all the talk about going to Arsenal. I know Arsenal would love him, but one thing I would say as well, Arsenal aren't the only team that need a centre-forward. Liverpool need one as well.
"I think in the summer, Liverpool will be in the market for a centre forward. So I think if he was available, there's no doubt Arsenal would go for him, but I think Liverpool would be part of that queue as well.
"The problem you've got with Real Madrid is they've got [Kylian] Mbappe, Barcelona I'm not sure have the money - but they probably would be in the market for a centre forward because you think of the age of [Robert] Lewandowski.
“But if he's to leave Newcastle, he has to go to a team that has a realistic chance of winning the Champions League because that's how good he is."
Carragher then hyped up the prospect of Liverpool beating Arsenal, should Isak become available in the summer.
“There’s a feeling that Arsenal are going to sign him or that they need to sign him,” said Carragher. “As an Arsenal fan, do you think that’s realistic?
"He’s got three years left on his contract. Liverpool are desperate for a centre forward as well but there’s no talk of Liverpool getting him. So I don’t know where all this talk of Arsenal signing Isak is coming from. Liverpool need one as well and if they win the league and Isak was going to leave, surely you pick the team who wins the league.
"I don’t get it. It’s not realistic for Arsenal, is it? Are Arsenal paying £130m for him?"
Newcastle United’s stance on Alexander Isak’s future
Isak is under contract at Newcastle until 2028 and plan to talks open over a new deal in the near future.
“The contract, I'm sure when the time comes, that will be discussed by Alex's representatives and the football club,” Howe said previously.
“He's motivated and he wants to do well, he's got big aspirations with his career and he's still relatively young so he's got hopefully a really bright future ahead of him. I know his desire to score goals is second to none.
“Every conversation I've had about Newcastle and concerning his future with him has been very positive. I'd love for him and our other players to be the ones who contribute to us winning a trophy. That's the aim.”