Better finisher than Isak: Liverpool in the race to sign £60m "powerhouse"

Picture this: It's January 2024, and Liverpool's collective consciousness is reeling from the news that Jurgen Klopp has provided through the club's social media channels.

It came out of nowhere. After nearly nine years of thrilling service as Liverpool manager, Klopp announced he was finally sapped of his strength, that larger-than-life engine depleted at last.

It felt like the end of an era, and it was, but in Arne Slot, Liverpool found a new leader to guide them back to the forefront of English football, winning the Premier League only 11 months after his predecessor bowed out with a third-place finish and a Carabao Cup claimed a few months before.

To think that that triumph was achieved with such little first-team investment, Federico Chiesa being the only arrival (before this summer) since Ryan Gravenberch joined in August 2023.

Now, though, the fresh faces are spilling through the gates, with a new centre-forward perhaps next on the agenda. There are plenty of targets out there, but Alexander Isak is the dream.

Liverpool's pursuit of Alexander Isak

Liverpool have a long-standing interest in Isak, and he's considered Slot's dream target this summer, but Newcastle United are in no mood to sell after qualifying for the Champions League and have set an asking price of £200m.

The 25-year-old is unquestionably a brilliant player, even hailed as "the best striker in the Premier League" last season by Jamie Carragher, but he'd cost too much money for a Liverpool side already approaching the £200m mark this summer.

Mohamed Salah was the only man to outscore Isak in the Premier League last season, but does 23 goals from 34 matches warrant a £200m fee?

Liverpool need a number nine, in any case, and given the plentiful spending FSG have green-lit this summer, there may be a shrewder option on the market who would still bring the promise of goals.

Liverpool line up Isak alternative

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are doing extensive work on various striker targets this summer as they look to upgrade on Nunez.

And while Isak remains the dream target, Liverpool continue to keep their name in the hat for Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, who is expected to leave the Liga Portugal champions this summer.

Saying that, tensions are high between player and club, with Arsenal also keen on the Sweden striker but dissuaded by his €100m (£84m) release clause, which Sporting hope will be met.

However, it won't. Instead, a figure in the region of £60m could prove the ultimate payment, which is certainly an affordable figure for Liverpool to cap their summer spending off with a flourish.

Why Liverpool should sign Viktor Gyokeres

Liverpool might be dreaming of Isak, but they can perhaps sign his international teammate Gyokeres to a similarly emphatic effect.

Having joined Sporting Lisbon from Coventry City in the English Championship two years ago, the 27-year-old has arguably been “the best finisher in the world” - in the words of analyst Spencer Mossman - scoring 97 goals and providing 28 assists across 102 matches and winning the league title in each of his two campaigns.

And yet, the powerful goalscorer has his dissenters, those who feel his qualities would not translate so well to the English game. This simply isn't the case; he's not Isak, but the right-footer could certainly play an important part at the front of Slot's system.

Gyokeres' doubters must turn toward his hat-trick performance against Manchester City in the Champions League last year before making an opinion on his ability.

This is a centre-forward who knows how to find the back of the net, and has a robust physicality and electric mobility that emphasises his quality as more than just a focal point in the final third.

As per FBref, Gyokeres ranked among the top 12% of strikers in the 2024/24 Champions League for goals scored, the top 18% for pass completion, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90, highlighting the man's tactical wideness.

A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.

The data-driven site even regarded Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Vinicius Junior as his three most comparable players, which offers a taste of the kind of flavour he could add to Slot's attack.

These are all high-level goalscorers and dynamic forwards besides. True, the attacker has been hailed as a "powerhouse" by analyst Ben Mattinson, but the journalist isn't denouncing him as a brute; rather, highlighting a physical sheen to his skill set that would be perfect for Premier League football.

Such robustness has allowed him to foster that incredible goalscoring record, with no footballer - including Salah and Isak - scoring more goals across the game's top ten divisions in 2024/25, which speaks to how ruthless he is in front of goal.

Top Scorers - Top 10 Leagues (24/25) # Player Apps Goals 1. Viktor Gyokeres 33 39 2. Kylian Mbappe 34 31 3. Mohamed Salah 38 29 4. Robert Lewandowski 34 27 5. Harry Kane 31 26 Data via Transfermarkt

It's clear that Gyokeres has the potential to play at the front of a Liverpool side consisting of some of football's most exciting attacking players, as illustrated by his exceptional goalscoring record in the table above.

While he's not on the same level as his Swedish compatriot, there's no reason Gyokeres couldn't match Nunez's 25-goal tally in the Premier League. Of course, that's across three campaigns, whereas Sporting's man would have his sights set on reaching the target before the end of next season.

Picture this: Liverpool have completed the most extraordinary summer transfer window, are looking to defend their Premier League title, and expand on Slot's initial success. With Gyokeres fronting the team, it might just happen.

Click here to read article