Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has conceded that Alexander Isak would be more likely to join Liverpool if he leaves Newcastle in the summer.
The Sweden international has been linked with both the Reds and the Gunners amid a sensational season at St James’ Park, having scored 19 Premier League goals, including 18 in as many games since late October. Only Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland lie ahead of him in the race for the league’s golden boot this season, underlining just how prolific he has been.
Isak missed the chance to add to his tally on Wednesday as he was forced to sit out Newcastle’s meeting with Liverpool with a groin problem. He could get another chance to show the Reds what he can do next month though, with the two sides meeting at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.
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Liverpool may well already have its eyes on the 25-year-old though, with recent reports linking him with a move to Merseyside. Arsenal though has also been linked, with both sides in need of a new striker for next season.
And while former Gunner Wright is in no doubt that Isak would be worth big money in the summer, he feels it’s Liverpool who would have the edge in a potential transfer battle.
“I mean, with what he’s done now and how he is, if I had the money I’d buy him for £120m,” Wright said on the " target="_blank" class="link"> Stick to Football podcast.
Fellow pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher then asked him: “If he has the decision between Liverpool and Arsenal where do you think he’d go?”
Wright replied: “He’d probably go to Liverpool. I like to think that [Mikel] Arteta could convince him, but if we’re talking about [Arne] Slot and the fact Slot doesn’t have his own team, that seems like it may be a more attractive proposition.”
Indeed, Liverpool boss Slot has indicated that the Reds will be busy in the summer transfer window, and he has already suggested that any new additions would have to meet the high standards set by Salah at Anfield. The Egyptian added yet another assist to his remarkable tally this season, taking him to 52 goal involvements this season (30 goals and 22 assists) in just 39 games across all competitions.
“If you want to be at this club, you need to be at his level, otherwise you are almost useless to play at this club,” Slot said earlier this week. “We only need players who are at the top of their game because this is one of the best clubs — or the best club — in the world to play for.”
