Liverpool transfer state of play on Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola
Liverpool has struck a deal to transfer Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal, shifting their focus now to securing a replacement.
The Reds have their sights firmly on Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, but won't rush into buying an alternative if they fail to secure him. They will only consider other options if they are confident another player who meets their criteria is available in this window.
Nunez, 26, is set to fly out to Germany on Thursday to undergo his medical with the Saudi club, who are currently in Europe for pre-season preparations.
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Al-Hilal will shell out £46M ($61.7M) upfront, with bonuses that could push the fee beyond £50M ($67M). Liverpool initially paid Benfica £65M ($87.2M) upfront, which rose to £85M ($114M) in 2022.
The Reds have already signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer in a deal potentially worth up to £79M ($106M).
However, they've now offloaded Nunez along with Luis Diaz, while Diogo Jota tragically passed away in a car accident, prompting them to consider further bolstering their attack. This is why they are pursuing Isak.
They are solely in the market for a starting forward and not a back-up. But they will only pay what they deem to be a fair market value and pursue someone they believe they can secure before the window closes.
Bradley Barcola© Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Liverpool has demonstrated in the past that it won't divert to other targets if they don't secure their No. 1 choice unless they believe these alternatives also meet their criteria.
That is the sentiment here, and they don't feel the need to land a striker, but there is a desire to.
A case in point would be their decision not to sign another center-back when they had to postpone a move for Virgil van Dijk in the summer of 2017, or last year when Martin Zubimendi chose to remain at Real Sociedad. Recently, PSG forward Bradley Barcola, 22, has been linked with the club as an alternative to Isak, with the idea that Ekitike would take up a central role.
However, despite interest from Liverpool and several other clubs, there are no immediate plans to make a move for the forward. It's unlikely that PSG would entertain the idea of letting him go, rendering him out of reach.
Darwin Nunez© Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Liverpool also believes that a left-sided attacker of Barcola's age could hinder the progress of promising teenager Rio Ngumoha.
Nunez is leaving Anfield after three years, having been a signing championed by Jurgen Klopp following impressive performances in Champions League matches against the Reds. However, he failed to demonstrate the clinical finishing required to secure a regular starting spot.
Nunez expressed a desire to leave in January amidst interest from Saudi side Al-Nassr among others.
Liverpool held firm, wanting him to stay as they pursued Premier League and Champions League success. Napoli's bid earlier in the window was unsuccessful as Nunez once again requested to leave, but now Al-Hilal have agreed terms with Liverpool and the player is set to earn £400,000-a-week ($536.5K) in Saudi.
Liverpool's £110M ($147.5M) bid for Isak was unsuccessful last week, and they are holding off on a second offer, which is expected to shatter the British transfer record. Newcastle is not considering offers until they secure a replacement for Isak, but it seems they may miss out on their latest target as RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is in talks with Manchester United.
Isak, aged 25, is currently recuperating from a thigh injury and training separately from the Newcastle first-team squad. This comes after Eddie Howe expressed his displeasure at the player's decision to train at his former club Real Sociedad while the Magpies were touring the Far East.
