Liverpool's Hunt for New Striker Heats Up as Isak Deal Collapses - Four Prime Targets Emerge
Liverpool had managed their transfer activities smoothly this summer but now face an unwelcome transfer drama.
After already investing nearly £300 million ($397.4 million) on new signings over the last two months, the Reds have recently rejoined the pursuit of discontented Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak. Nevertheless, following the rejection of their initial formal offer of £110 million ($145.7 million) plus bonuses, Liverpool find themselves in a challenging situation.
The Reds must make a crucial decision regarding how far they're prepared to challenge Newcastle's determination, potentially acknowledging they need to seek alternative attacking options elsewhere.
With Luis Díaz having recently moved to Bayern Munich and Darwin Núñez and Federico Chiesa expected to depart this summer, the Reds might be compelled to return to the transfer market despite already securing Hugo Ekitiké and Florian Wirtz. In reality, they would prefer to acquire a new left winger or striker, with numerous high-profile alternatives to Isak available.
Rodrygo
Rodrygo has established himself as one of the globe's most gifted and adaptable wingers since joining Real Madrid in 2019. He's consistently delivered at least nine goal contributions per season for Los Blancos despite being only 24 years old, accumulating 78 goals and assists over the last three campaigns.
The Brazilian's talent and potential for further development are undeniable, yet this hasn't stopped speculation about his Madrid future. Various reports suggest the Spanish club might consider a sale if the appropriate offer materializes, with Arsenal reportedly among his admirers this transfer window.
Rodrygo would represent another significant investment for Liverpool, but he would justify a substantial transfer fee. The versatile forward, capable of playing on either flank, would immediately secure a starting position at Merseyside and could potentially surpass the recently departed Díaz. He possesses the pace, courage, and technical excellence to excel in the Premier League.
Rafael Leão
Rafael Leão has consistently been on the verge of reaching truly elite status. The Milan winger remains slightly below the game's premier wide forwards, but his statistics counter any doubts about the Portuguese star's abilities. His 23 goal contributions in 2024–25 represented his lowest output in four seasons, demonstrating his consistent excellence as both scorer and provider.
Liverpool experienced his brilliance firsthand during this summer's Asian tour, where the 26-year-old's explosive pace and exceptional ball control troubled the Reds significantly in their 4–2 friendly loss to Milan. He found the net and provided an assist in his team's triumph, proving to be the ideal counter-attacking weapon for Massimiliano Allegri.
Leão primarily functions as a left winger and would address the immediate gap left by Díaz—though Cody Gakpo already provides excellent depth at Anfield. Once again, a substantial fee would be necessary to complete such a deal, but Milan's concerning financial circumstances suggest a significant offer might be impossible to decline.
Kenan Yıldız
Few young talents across Europe are currently performing better than Juventus' Kenan Yıldız. The 20-year-old has been exceptional for the Old Lady during an inconsistent period, experiencing a genuine breakthrough campaign in 2024–25 as he scored 12 goals and registered seven assists at club level.
Naturally, such performances have attracted attention from England's top clubs, with Chelsea and Manchester United previously linked with interest. However, the former have acquired Jamie Gittens as their new winger this summer, while the latter have minimal chances of persuading Yıldız to join given their current struggles.
This could create an opportunity for Liverpool in the transfer market should they express interest in the nimble and elusive Turkey international. His direct style and impressive underlying creative statistics are hard to overlook, while his youth suggests continued improvement in future seasons.
Julián Alvarez
While Liverpool will be closely monitoring wingers before the transfer window closes, they are clearly willing to sign another striker this summer given their chase of Isak. With Núñez's departure appearing almost inevitable, they would begin next season with Ekitiké as their sole traditional No.9 if they fail to replace the Uruguayan.
This would place Liverpool in an uncomfortable position should Ekitiké struggle to adapt quickly or suffer a significant injury, making a centre-forward addition crucial for peace of mind.
Though an ambitious pursuit, Julián Alvarez would be an undeniably ideal match for Liverpool. The Argentine demonstrated his genuine goalscoring ability with Atlético Madrid last season by finding the net 29 times across all competitions, while also bringing Premier League championship experience from Manchester City. Additionally, he's a World Cup champion.
Alvarez's tactical awareness and adaptability across the front line makes him a distinctive threat and someone Arne Slot could depend on to provide a different element to Liverpool's approach, whether as a striker, winger, or false nine. Few players combine such technical skill, work rate, and flexibility, qualities that establish Alvarez among the world's finest forwards.