Jamie Carragher expects Liverpool to be successful in their pursuit of Alexander Isak, but is worried what that means for Hugo Ekitike.
The Reds have had one bid of £110m turned down by Newcastle for the Swedish striker this summer, but their interest has not been quelled.
Isak is also very keen on the move to Anfield and has not been involved in Newcastle’s pre-season fixtures or even training with the rest of the squad as a result.
Liverpool will need to return with a bigger offer, closer to Newcastle’s asking price of £150m, although the Magpies are keen not to sell the Sweden international at all.
Carragher expects the Premier League champions to eventually get their way one way or another, adding Isak to their ranks before the transfer window closes.
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Asked if he thinks Isak will be at Anfield by the end of the summer, Carragher told Sky Sports: ‘I think he will be, I think Liverpool need to sign two attacking players, I think they will go back with another bid, whether Newcastle accept that…
‘But it doesn’t feel like at this moment other names are getting bandied about, so I think Isak will be in a red shirt.’
Liverpool have already signed a striker this summer, with Hugo Ekitike arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m.
The Frenchman scored in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace and scored on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth on Friday night.
Speaking of the new arrival earlier this week, Arne Slot felt he can be versatile up front alone, with a partner or on the left wing.
The manager also made it clear he wants another signing up front after the sales of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz and the tragic loss of Diogo Jota.
‘I see Hugo mainly as a number nine who could also play from the left or play together with another number nine,’ Slot told Sky Sports.
‘It’s clear that with Darwin gone and Luis Diaz gone, and even last season we have five or six options, I think, Diogo, I need to mention him as well. So we need to have one more attacker, at least.’
Carragher does hold some concern over what an Isak arrival would mean for Ekitike, not sure that Slot’s claim of playing both up front would work.
‘Arne Slot said he can play on the left, he can play in a front two. It’s hard to play the two of them up front. Wirtz is the No 10, he’s the £115m man – he needs to play every game. So would Isak, so Ekitike would be filling in,’ said the Reds legend.
‘I don’t think Ekitike would ever fulfil his full potential at the club if someone like Isak is there.
‘If Isak comes in, Ekitike would be an understudy. And £80m is not a lot of money for an understudy.’