6 days ago
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Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher are in disagreement on Liverpool’s pursuit of Alexander Isak, with the former insisting the Reds should have no issue with Newcastle’s hefty price tag.
Isak continues to be strongly linked with a move to Anfield, with the striker seemingly trying to force his way out of his current club after Liverpool failed with a bid recently.
Having not traveled with Eddie Howe’s team on their tour of Asia, he has been forced to train alone this week, while he is not expected to feature in either of Newcastle’s friendlies against Espanyol or Atletico Madrid this weekend.
As things stand, Liverpool does not have any plans to make a new offer for Isak, although that could change later in the window, especially with the Reds receiving another financial boost from the sale of Darwin Nunez.
A first bid of around $146 million failed, with Newcastle reported to be demanding around $202 million (£150M), a figure former Liverpool defender Carragher feels is too far for his old club.
“It will be an amazing signing [but] from a Liverpool fan’s point of view, I don’t want Liverpool to spend £150M on Isak,” Carragher said on The Overlap Fan Debate.
“He’s Liverpool’s number one target but there’s something about buying another striker (Ekitike) for £80M and he’s back-up.
“There’s something about it that doesn’t quite feel right to me. I know Liverpool need numbers at the top end of the pitch, obviously for a number of reasons.”
Scholes, though, disagreed with his fellow pundit, with the former Manchester United star insisting that Isak would be worth the money.
“I know exactly what you mean, but no [you can’t turn it down],” Scholes said.
“When you win the league a lot of teams relax. But when we (Man Utd) won the league, go again. You buy your Rio Ferdinands, we bought Wayne Rooney, your Berbatovs. You bring more quality don’t you? Liverpool have done that.
“I agree with you though, the planning seems weird.”
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Scholes added: “The ambition now will be to be the best in Europe. Look, if you bring Isak into it you’re going to have the best centre forward in the world I think at this point.
“I know you’re saying as a Liverpool fan it feels a bit uncomfortable spending [so much] on Isak. As a United fan I’d have him for £150M!”
Carragher, though, was unmoved on his stance, saying: “I do want Liverpool to sign him, but £150M for me feels like Mbappe. You should be getting Mbappe for £150M.”
Liverpool.com says: Okay, so Isak isn’t Mbappe, but he is definitely the best (potentially) available option in a position that Liverpool wants to strengthen.
Newcastle’s valuation does feel like too much, but you wouldn’t put it beyond Liverpool getting that price down, and if Isak continues to be isolated, then his current club might not have any other option.
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