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Jamie Carragher has cautioned Liverpool that landing Alexander Isak's signature wouldn't automatically deliver them the Premier League title.
However, by contrast, his Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville believes it would make the Reds overwhelming favorites. The Reds clinched the championship by a commanding 10-point margin last season and have subsequently invested more than $400M on fresh recruits.
Liverpool has also seen an offer worth up to $150 million for Isak turned down by Newcastle United. Isak is currently training separately from the Newcastle squad following his absence from the club's pre-season tour of Asia and has allegedly declined to feature for Eddie Howe's team.
With Isak eager to join Liverpool, there remains a chance the striker could realize his ambition and bolster Arne Slot's already impressive attacking options.
When questioned about Liverpool's chances of securing Isak, Sky Sports pundit Carragher responded: "Yeah, I think so, but I don't get this narrative of Liverpool are going to run away with it."
Carragher highlighted the Reds' Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace as proof that new signings Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike will need time to gel. Additional reinforcements could still arrive, with the club also in discussions over a potential move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
"If you look at history, it could tell you that it's not just about having the best players, it's about having the best team, and sort of making that balance right, and at the weekend it didn't quite look right," Carragher said.
"I think we will have a title race, and I think there's a lot of talk. I think the great thing about football is what we actually saw on Sunday with Liverpool. It didn't look right.
"It tells me it's not just about spending lots of money and buying the best players, you've still got to manage that team and make it work and have a nice balance to it."
Nevertheless, former Manchester United defender Neville reckons that securing Isak could position Liverpool as the leading contenders to defend their title.
"Liverpool won it really comfortably last year and have had a great transfer window," he said during the launch of Sky Sports' Premier League coverage.
"If they get Isak, which it looks like he's agitating for a move, then it will make them massive favorites. But Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, I think will push them closer than last year."
Manchester City moved quickly in the transfer market following a disappointing campaign by their own lofty standards. Pep Guardiola has brought goalkeeper James Trafford back to the club, snapped up Wolves full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, signed Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and added Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki.
Arsenal is eager to surpass its three consecutive second-place finishes, with Viktor Gyokeres joining as the club's new No. 9. The addition of Martin Zubimendi should bolster the Gunners' midfield, while Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera provide Mikel Arteta with increased squad depth.
Chelsea, despite their Europa Conference League and Club World Cup victories under Enzo Maresca, are considered outsiders in the title race.
The Blues have been active in the transfer window, notably adding Liam Delap and Joao Pedro to their forward line, signing Borussia Dortmund forward Jamie Gittens and welcoming highly-rated prospect Estevao.
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