Everything Arne Slot has said about Alexander Isak as Liverpool makes transfer move

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Liverpool has made a formal approach to sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, which should come as no surprise given how head coach Arne Slot evaluated him last season.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Liverpool had contacted Newcastle to discuss a record bid for the 25-year-old striker. No bid has currently been made, and Newcastle has no intentions of selling its star player, but talks are ongoing.

Liverpool forwards Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez are linked with moves elsewhere, which could pave the way for the Reds to make a blockbuster offensive addition. Slot is one of many head coaches who admire Isak and saw his quality twice last season.

Last season, Liverpool and Newcastle couldn't be separated. The first Premier League meeting on Dec. 4 ended in a stunning 3-3 draw, and Isak opened the scoring that day.

After the match, Slot praised Isak for his powerful strike: "That they are able to score a goal, that’s not a surprise for me, and especially the first one, what a finish that was. That shot from Isak, I don’t even know if Caoimh [Kelleher] saw that goal, as hard as it was."

Liverpool then hosted Newcastle at Anfield on Feb. 26, as Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai scored in a 2-0 win. Although Isak didn't play in that game, Slot was complimentary of the Swedish forward.

Isak is considered one of the best strikers in world soccer

Isak is considered one of the best strikers in world soccer

"It’s an understatement to say that he’s in fine form," Slot said after preparing to face Isak. "I think he’s in excellent form. It’s the team performance which will help us control him.

"The more ball possession we have, the easier it is to control him. Although he’s definitely a threat on the counter-attack as well.

"The good thing for us is that we’ve got two centre-backs that are probably one of the best players that are able to play against him. We have two very, very good centre-backs and that’s definitely what you need if you face a striker with the quality of Alexander Isak."

Liverpool's final encounter with Newcastle was at Wembley Stadium on March 16, during the League Cup final. A late Federico Chiesa strike wasn't enough to save Liverpool, as goals from Dan Burn and Isak handed Newcastle a memorable 2-1 victory.

Alexander Isak scored twice against Liverpool last season, including in the League Cup final

Alexander Isak scored twice against Liverpool last season, including in the League Cup final

It was Newcastle's first major trophy since 1955, and a bitter blow for Liverpool as it also crashed out of the UEFA Champions League that week. Liverpool lost to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, and Slot compared Isak to the forwards leading the French line.

"Looking at Newcastle, we played them twice," Slot said before facing Newcastle in the League Cup final. "In the last game Isak wasn’t involved, in the first game he was involved.

"He is such an important player for them, he’s an unbelievable threat and has the speed that, for example, the attackers of Paris Saint-Germain had on Tuesday as well."

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