Alexander Isak, Rodrygo, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez - Liverpool transfer state of play

Liverpool hold a strong interest in Alexander Isak and have informed Newcastle of their intent to sign him, and if they can't get him they could move for Magpies target Hugo Ekitike

Alexander Isak would be a dream arrival for Liverpool

Alexander Isak would be a dream arrival for Liverpool(CameraSport via Getty Images)

By Mark Jones

If Liverpool fans thought that excitement around the Reds' transfer window had peaked with the club record arrival of Florian Wirtz, they were wrong.

Tuesday brought a new flurry of activity around Liverpool incomings and outgoings, with the headline act being Alexander Isak after the Reds expressed their interest in the Newcastle United forward.

The Magpies don't want to sell, obviously, but they've been painted into a corner by Liverpool's swift moves in the market and their own long-standing interest in Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt, who has turned down Newcastle in the past.

On Tuesday it was Frankfurt who were doing the rejecting, as they dismissed Newcastle's bid of £70m for the 23-year-old. And having also monitored Ekitike this summer, Liverpool have sensed their chance to str

ike.

Read morewhat could be seen as a power move from the Premier League champions, the Reds have effectively called Newcastle's bluff over their reason for bidding for Ekitike in the first place. The Magpies insist that they want to pair him with Isak, but it is doubtful whether that would be possible from both a tactical and financial standpoint.

They perhaps could accommodate both for a season before Isak moves on next summer, but Liverpool's very public expression of interest in the Swede is being seen as a way to force both the player and Newcastle's hand, and now all eyes are on the 25-year-old to see what he does next.

Hugo Ekitike is another player Liverpool are keen on

Hugo Ekitike is another player Liverpool are keen on(Icon Sport via Getty Images)

If he says he wants to leave then Liverpool will look to do a deal at around £120m, but if Newcastle insist he stays or indeed he wants to stay then the Reds will further explore a move for Ekitike, thereby ruining Newcastle's successio

n plan.