Liverpool hit with immediate Alexander Isak transfer threat despite £125million deal

Despite only just arriving at Liverpool for a Premier League record fee, Alexander Isak has been tipped to leave the club for another European giant in the future

Spanish football icon Gaizka Mendieta has tipped Barcelona to make a move for Liverpool striker Alexander Isak in the not-too-distant future. The former Barca midfielder is aware of Robert Lewandowski’s situation in Catalonia and believes his old side may take an interest in Isak.

Poland legend Lewandowski, who has 105 goals in 156 appearances for Barca, turned 37 in August and is inevitably winding towards the end of an iconic career. He has a contract at the Camp Nou that’s due to expire next summer, though Barcelona have the option to extend his stay by another 12 months.

Isak, 26, is still coming into his prime years and was the subject of a Premier League record £125million move to Anfield over the summer. And despite the ink barely being dry on his contract, the Swede could be on the move again if Barca make their move, according to Mendieta.

“There was talk in Spain of Alexander Isak going to Barcelona before he joined Liverpool, who are stronger financially,” he told OLBG. “Of course there will be links between the best strikers and Real Madrid and Barcelona, at the moment Barca still have Robert Lewandowski, but they’ll be looking for his replacement next year, and Isak will be looked at.

“He’s a great striker, he’s been in La Liga already, he knows the competition. His performances last season for Newcastle were amazing.

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“So far he seems to be settling quickly into Liverpool. Great strikers are never short of offers and opportunities in either Premier League or of course in Spain with the bigger clubs.”

Isak has scored once in six appearances for the Reds since finally executing his escape from Newcastle on deadline day. His introduction hasn’t been the success story Arne Slot will have hoped for thus far, with Liverpool losing their last three games after a flawless start to the campaign.

In fact, fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike has arguably been the more impressive recruit for the Reds up front this season. The Frenchman started his tenure on Merseyside by scoring in his first two Premier League outings.

As for Mendieta’s claim regarding Barcelona’s interest in Isak, it’s difficult to envision how such a transfer would materialise. The Blaugrana’s finances have become a major talking point in recent years, with the club struggling to fall in line with La Liga’s wage budget at times.

This has led to doubts over whether new signings like Marcus Rashford or Dani Olmo could be registered while still complying with spending laws in Spain. Not only that, but Barca’s spending limit is expected to be reduced even further following scrutiny over the club’s expense claims relating to forecasted ticket sales at the Camp Nou.

Moreover, there’s the small matter of Barcelona affording a transfer fee to sign Isak. Barring a severe fall from form, the Reds would understandably want to make a profit on the striker’s sale if he is to be sold anytime soon, and it doesn’t appear as though Barca have the spending power to splurge in excess of £130m on one player at present.

Mendieta is perhaps right that the former Real Sociedad sensation would be an ideal successor to Lewandowski in terms of style. But convincing Liverpool to part ways with their frontman in the foreseeable future could prove a stretch too far.

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