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Virgil van Dijk's remarks from ahead of the Carabao Cup final suggest that Newcastle superstar Alexander Isak commands significant respect within the Liverpool locker room. The Reds lodged an initial $150 million bid for Isak this summer, though negotiations have since stalled.
Even after investing over $400M in players like Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike and potentially record-breaking signing Florian Wirtz, Arne Slot's squad remains keen on securing a marquee deal for the Magpies' Swedish forward. The club presented a $150M offer earlier this month, which was turned down, and have yet to submit an improved proposal.
Newcastle have reportedly made it clear to their player that he will not be sold this summer unless they receive a serious offer for him, though possibilities may still exist. Nonetheless, Isak is well aware of how Liverpool's squad regards him, following the club captain's effusive praise before March's Carabao Cup final between the two sides.
When questioned about confronting Newcastle in the final, Van Dijk was unreserved in his acclaim for striker Isak, revealing just how much he is valued by those on Merseyside.
"Obviously, they have a striker that is in red-hot form at the moment," Van Dijk told CBS Sports with a chuckle in February. "So when the time is there, we have to be ready."
With Liverpool's chase for Isak encountering difficulties, manager Slot was questioned whether the departed Darwin Nunez, who has moved to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal, would be succeeded by the 25-year-old, though he kept his cards close to his chest in his reply.
"As you know from me, and I think every manager works like this, you never talk about players that are not yours," Slot told reporters before their Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace.
"So I can talk to you about Hugo [Ekitike], who we've signed recently and has done really well until now. We are very happy with the squad we have.
"There's every reason to be happy about that, because we won the league last season. OK, players left, but we've brought players in as well and youngsters are doing good."
Slot also addressed the club's existing array of attacking options, which was clearly evident at Wembley against the Eagles, with fresh signings Ekitike and Frimpong both getting on the scoresheet.
The Dutch boss wouldn't dismiss his team making further moves in the transfer window, though he did acknowledge that his present squad is already formidable, reports the Mirror.
"I think, we think, we already have a lot of attacking power in our team," Slot continued. "I think about Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike and Mo Salah.
"We brought in Jeremie Frimpong because we think he can play as a right full-back but I also think and feel he can play as a right-winger – Florian Wirtz who can play as a left winger.
"I already feel I have a lot of attacking options in my current squad, but as always, as a club, we are always looking at the chances in the market. But that can also be in the midfield or in the last line."
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