'Going to be tough': Steve Nicol claims a 'strange situation' could develop at Liverpool if Alexander Isak joins

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Liverpool fans are desperately awaiting news of progress in their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.

The Reds have been pushing to sign Isak for much of the summer window, and now have just three days remaining to get a deal over the line.

Newcastle’s imminent addition of Nick Woltemade looks set to grease the wheels, but Liverpool supporters will remain nervous until some positive movement is announced.

Although Liverpool have bolstered their attacking ranks to some degree this summer, there remains a need to make further additions.

Perhaps the biggest of these is that Liverpool have already signed a centre-forward who has started the season on fire in Hugo Ekitike.

Ekitike has hit three goals in three games to begin his Anfield career in the best way possible, and according to former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol, the Frenchman may not take kindly to Isak following him through the door.

Photo by Harriet Massey/Getty Images

There has been plenty of discussion around Liverpool’s decision to target Isak as well as Ekitike this summer.

Newcastle have certainly had plenty of say in the matter, with the Magpies reportedly annoyed that Liverpool went after Ekitike after they themselves had opened talks.

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Nevertheless, it appears the plan was always to sign both players if possible.

Despite this, Nicol says Arne Slot may find himself with an issue within the Liverpool squad.

“This is what top class management is about,” the Liverpool legend told ESPN FC.

“Because not only are we talking about a guy in Ekitike who could not have started any better for Liverpool, and if you’re him you’re looking over your shoulder now, which is going to be tough.”

READ MORE: Arne Slot calls on Liverpool forward to work harder without the ball ahead of Alexander Isak arrival

“There’s going to be a strange situation.

When Alexander Isak, if he does, walks in the dressing room and it’s ‘pleased to meet you’, Ekitike’s going to be shaking his head and then everyone else, apart from maybe Salah, is going to be thinking ‘is this going to be affecting me?’

“This is going to be down to Arne Slot and how he handles the players.”

While this is a fair point to raise from Nicol, we are not convinced that it is a live issue at all.

When Liverpool signed Ekitike, it was already clear that Isak was their number one target.

It is impossible to believe that a club as thorough as the Reds would not have communicated this to the former Eintracht Frankfurt man.

It is more than likely that Ekitike was made aware that if he were to come in it would hopefully be in addition to, not instead of Isak.

So, assuming that is the case, then Slot clearly has a plan for how best to get both players into the same XI.

Initially, this would perhaps appear to feature Ekitike playing from the left, with Isak occupying a more central role.