Liverpool are reportedly ready to rival Chelsea in the pursuit of Alexander Isak, who is turning heads at UEFA Euro 2020 with Sweden.
According to Noticias de Gipuzkoa, Liverpool have stepped up their pursuit of Alexander Isak following his performance against Spain in UEFA Euro 2020. The Real Sociedad forward is tipped to become one of the rising stars in the ongoing competition, which was reflected in Sweden’s first group game.
Real Sociedad’s objective was to keep hold of Isak until the start of Euro 2020, with the expectation of the player performing well in the coveted tournament. And following his display against Spain, the La Liga outfit are now hoping to offer to him a new deal and increase the release clause that is already set at €70 million at the moment.
Liverpool are not the only club interested in Isak either, with Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel also keen on the forward’s services. The German tactician even worked with Isak during his time at Borussia Dortmund, although it must be stated that he was not a huge fan of the young Swedish striker back then.
Isak has come a long way since, scoring 33 goals in just 89 competitive outings, following his €6.5 million move to Real Sociedad in 2019. 17 of those goals came in the recently concluded La Liga campaign, with the 21-year-old playing a key role in helping La Real secure qualification for Europe.
Liverpool, as a result, are ready to sign the forward as a potential replacement for Roberto Firmino. It appears Jurgen Klopp has been left impressed by his work ethic, technical and physical prowess, in addition to his excellent productivity in the final third. It makes him a potential upgrade to Firmino, who was linked with a move to Atletico Madrid earlier in the summer.
The Reds, however, are apparently prioritising a move for a creative midfielder who can replace Georginio Wijnaldum. AS Roma’s creative lynchpin Lorenzo Pellegrini was the latest player to be linked with a switch to Anfield, with Liverpool linked with other midfielders as well.
Chelsea, on the other hand, are keen on adding more competition for Timo Werner and Olivier Giroud while Tammy Abraham is facing an uncertain future at the club. The Blues are among the clubs involved in the race to sign Harry Kane, but the Tottenham Hotspur forward could cost a fortune.
Isak, in that regard, should serve as an interesting alternative, although both Chelsea and Liverpool must be swift in their attempt to sign the Real Sociedad forward before his value rises further. What now remains to be seen is if the two Premier League giants are ready to trigger his €70 million release clause to secure his services this summer.