Wayne Rooney has told Liverpool that signing Alexander Isak before the transfer deadline would make them ‘unstoppable’.
Liverpool’s opening bid for Isak, worth £110m, was rejected by Newcastle United, who continue to insist the striker will not be sold.
But Newcastle may be forced to soften their stance after Isak threatened to go on strike in order to force through a move to Liverpool.
Isak is desperate to join the Premier League champions before the summer transfer window closes and is seemingly prepared to at least partly ruin his Newcastle legacy in order to force the move through.
Manchester United and England legend Rooney already rates Liverpool as the ‘favourites’ to win the Premier League this season but says the signing of Isak would make Arne Slot’s side ‘unstoppable’.
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‘I already have Liverpool as the favourites to win the title this year but if Isak comes in, I think they’re going to be unstoppable,’ he said on BBC’s Match of the Day. ‘Look at the quality they’ve got.
‘I think a big thing for Liverpool this summer was replacing Trent [Alexander-Arnold] because he created a lot of chances and goals down that side. [Jeremie] Frimpong has got the attributes to do that.
‘So yeah, Liverpool look strong.’
Liverpool have already spent around £250m on new signings this summer, bringing in the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Frimpong.
Slot’s side finished ten points clear of second-placed Arsenal last season and begin their title defence on Friday night against Bournemouth.
While the temptation to join Liverpool is clear to see, Isak has handled his transfer situation ‘so badly’, according to ex-Newcastle boss Alan Pardew.
‘The problem is, he’s handled it so badly. He couldn’t have handled it any worse,’ Pardew told talkSPORT.
‘His agents and advisors have said to him to throw down the tools after serving that great football club, and he’s doing really bad things to hold them to ransom and more or less force a way out.’
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