3 weeks ago
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Gary Neville reckons Liverpool is poised to secure "one of the top center-forwards in the world" in Alexander Isak and claims Arne Slot's employers will be "confident as hell" if they can also land Marc Guehi before the transfer deadline.
The Reds have at last struck an agreement with Newcastle for Isak's services after previously having an offer turned down earlier this summer.
Isak has been refusing to play for Newcastle and recently claimed assurances had been broken, with the club hitting back at him before additional discussions were conducted at the player's residence last week - with no further headway achieved.
Now the 25-year-old is bound for Anfield after the Magpies consented to bring in Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade as his successor, while Eddie Howe is also poised to recruit Brentford's Yoane Wissa.
Liverpool is riding high after maintaining its perfect start to the campaign with a crucial 1-0 triumph over title contenders Arsenal on Sunday, and Neville reckons the Isak acquisition will only boost the team's self-belief.
He suggested that if the Reds can also secure Crystal Palace defender Guehi, that sentiment will soar even higher.
"The two games they've just played - they have a right battle at St James' Park and to come out of there with a victory was incredible," he said on the Gary Neville podcast. "To do this today, that must give them massive confidence.
"If they can get Isak and Guehi through the door, they're two starting players.
"Isak is one of the top center-forwards in the world. He's a real player. He's the one player I've seen give Saliba and Gabriel and Virgil Van Dijk a real hard time over the last couple of seasons. He's really caused them problems. He's a different-level player.
"Isak coming into that team today, with Guehi coming in as well - for Liverpool to be on nine points with the two games they've had and think those two could be entering the building off the back end of the international break, they'll be absolutely buzzing and confident as hell."
Isak is poised to put pen to paper on a six-year contract at Anfield after successfully completing his medical on Monday, bringing an end to the summer's most protracted transfer saga.
Meanwhile, securing Guehi appears to be a more challenging task for Liverpool, following Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner's insistence that the central defender must remain if the club are to enjoy a successful season.
"We have no chance to find the right replacement in one day," he stated following their 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, a match in which Guehi netted a stunner. "We all agreed that we just sell Marc if we have the right replacement in the building.
"We wanted a replacement by 1 July. It is 31 August and we have no replacement.
"We have this agreement so it is clear from me. He is such a crucial player. He is one of our key players - he is our captain."
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