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Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has backed Alexander Isak to complete a switch to Anfield this summer, claiming discussions have been ongoing for more than 12 months.
Liverpool has been credited with interest in the Sweden international, with reports this week suggesting the striker has not travelled with Newcastle on its pre-season tour of Asia. Subsequently, it has been claimed that Isak has requested to explore options elsewhere this summer.
This update comes as Luis Diaz's Liverpool future hangs in the balance. Bayern Munich is in talks with the Reds over a deal, and Diaz looks more likely to leave than stay right now.
But the Magpies are reportedly holding firm on their position, seeking a fee exceeding £150 million for Isak ($201.5 million) should they sanction a sale this summer. This follows Liverpool's confirmation of Hugo Ekitike's arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt.
With anticipated exits for both Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa, too, Liverpool may continue pursuing attacking reinforcements before the window closes. Isak features prominently among their potential targets.
Collymore believes the transfer will happen.
"I can only see Alexander Isak joining Liverpool if he does leave Newcastle, which is now expected," he wrote in his column for CaughtOffside.
"I think this has been something that's been ongoing probably for 12 months or more. I think the expectation from Newcastle was that it was going to be next season that other clubs were going to bid.
"A lot of fans will want him to be sold abroad, but it doesn't work like that. If the player says that they're going to down tools unless you let me go to this specific club, it's very, very difficult for the club."
With the acquisition of Ekitike, Liverpool's summer spending has now exceeded $300 million, and any potential addition of Isak could push the total above $500 million. Collymore shed light on why the club has chosen this path.
He added: "With Liverpool, I know that there probably will be some room for Diaz and or Nunez to go. But still, at the moment, if they were to get Isak across the line, you've got Diaz, Gakpo, Nunez, Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike, and potentially Isak.
"That's six top-quality front players.
"So for me, it just says that Liverpool now are realising that if they're going to stay top of the Premier League, if they're going to continue to win Champions Leagues, but more importantly, win domestic leagues in the manner that Manchester City have done, they have to accept that Man City, Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal are going to continue to spend as more and more money pours into the Premier League.
"And I think that FSG have realized that they've got to do the same."
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