How Reds missed out on bargain of the decade
Have Liverpool missed out on the bargain of the decade after young Swedish striker Alexander Isak joined Real Sociedad?
The Reds are excellent at scouring Europe and buying top tier talent at below their market value, but could Michael Edwards have missed a trick with Isak – who just joined Sociedad for an incredible £8.9 million.
To put that into context, Liverpool managed to sell Dominic Solanke to Bournemouth for £17 million and he is three years older than Isak and has less professional goals.
For Sociedad to be able to sign the Swede from Borussia Dortmund after he had just blown away all comers in his loan spell in the Eredivisie is an incredible bit of business, but it does beg the question as to why they were able to do so?
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He scored 13 goals in just 16 appearances for Willem II, as well as seven assists! Those are incredible numbs. He also has 13 in 29 for AIK back in Sweden, which all came before his move two years ago.
Surely a player of Isak’s potential – who is highly rated throughout the world and was considered a coup when Dortmund signed him – should command a far higher fee?
For a club like Liverpool, who love a bargain, to miss out on this one could be monumental. His age, his potential and the selling fee should all combine to create a perfect storm of value for money.
One mitigating factor could be that Jurgen Klopp already has one highly rated youngster to call on and that’s Rhian Brewster. Brewster will be expecting first team football this season, and many Koppites will be excited to see him in action.
Isak would represent competition and a possible roadblock to the first team. But then again, this is professional football and sometimes tough decisions like this have to be made.
The 19-year-old said he was drawn to Sociedad because they promote youth and are happy to play with a young side. Sound like another club we know?
With the Klopp and Dortmund connection this seems like a strange deal to miss out on. Hopefully it won’t prove too costly.