Liverpool have reportedly tabled a €70 million bid through intermediaries for Real Sociedad’s Swedish sensation Alexander Isak in January.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool have set their sights on Real Sociedad’s attacking phenom Alexander Isak and are ready to pip Arsenal in the race to secure the 22-year-old’s services come summer.
Isak started his career in Sweden with AIK and subsequently earned a move to Borussia Dortmund in early 2017. After making just two senior starts for Dortmund, the Swedish international joined Spanish outfit Real Sociedad in 2019 and has since developed into one of the brightest young prospects in Europe.
The 22-year-old is now considered to be one of the hottest attacking commodities in European football, having put up solid numbers in successive seasons at a young age for Real Sociedad and also impressing for Sweden at UEFA Euro 2020 last summer.
He had his most prolific La Liga season in 2020/21, netting 17 goals from 34 matches, while he was one of the major driving forces behind Real Sociedad’s Copa Del Rey triumph in his maiden season at the club, scoring seven goals in the cup run. However, he has failed to replicate those goal-scoring exploits this season, only finding the back of the net four times across the league season so far.
Isak’s stock remains high despite the slump in his recent form, with some of Europe’s elites vying for his signature. Manchester City are considering the highly-rated 22-year-old as an alternative for Erling Haaland, while Barcelona, Arsenal and Real Madrid are also interested and keeping close tabs. Now, Liverpool have joined the bandwagon of suitors vying to sign Isak from Real Sociedad.
As per the report, Liverpool have even tried to test the waters with a €70 million proposal through an intermediary. But there was no official bid from the Anfield outfit for the player and Real Sociedad fear that it was a ploy from the English club in order to gain leverage in another deal. Whatever the case may be, it gives a fair reflection of the magnitude of a potential bidding war expected for Isak in the summer.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is clearly benefitting from having an extended forward line, having brought Luis Diaz in from FC Porto in January. However, with Mohamed Salah’s contract situation hanging in the balance and the likes of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane also into the final 15 months of their deals, they could do well to ensure they have more depth upfront.
Isak looks to be a precocious talent and will only develop and add to an already excellent set of attributes. Standing at 6ft 3in and capable of linking play well from a deeper position, the Swedish youngster would present a different option for Klopp’s side.
The Swedish attacker is under contract in Basque Country until 2026, and Real Sociedad’s current stance is pretty straightforward: whoever wants their prised asset must meet the €90 million buy-out clause despite him being on a ten-match goalless rut. Whether Liverpool will go over the top to match the hefty valuation to secure the Swedish prodigy remains to be seen.
