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Jamie Carragher didn't include Alexander Isak in the five deals Liverpool should complete(Image: Sky Sports)

Jamie Carragher refused to include Alexander Isak in his list of five deals he wants Liverpool to complete before the summer transfer window closes.

The Premier League champions have already splashed around £300million on Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Armin Pesci, Freddie Woodman and Jeremie Frimpong this summer.

Despite their significant spending spree, the Reds are also reportedly interested in Isak, despite having a £110m offer rejected by Newcastle earlier this month.



Although the Swedish striker appears keen to join the Anfield side, Liverpool would need to significantly increase their bid to persuade Newcastle to sell Isak.

Yet, Carragher doesn't think that securing Isak should be a priority for the club's hierarchy, largely due to the signing of Ekitike last month for a fee of £69m plus an additional £10m in potential add-ons.

Speaking on Stick to Football, sponsored by Sky Bet, the Reds legend outlined the transfer activity Liverpool should focus on instead, including the recruitment of two new centre-backs – a position Arne Slot needs to bolster following Jarell Quansah's exit and with Ibrahima Konate's contract set to expire next summer.

Carragher said: "They've got to get at least one centre-back, maybe two." Given the Reds’ £26m agreement with Parma on Wednesday night to sign 18-year-old central defender Giovanni Leoni, that leaves long-time target and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi as one of Carragher’s preferred transfer moves.

He then highlighted the potential exit of Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott as two additional pieces of business, with their two prospective attacking replacements taking that figure up to five dealings before the deadline on September 1.

Article continues belowIsak is pushing for his dream move to Anfield(Image: Getty Images)

He explained: “Liverpool need two more attackers because they’re going to sell Harvey Elliott and they’re probably going to sell Federico Chiesa.”

When pressed on why he had omitted Isak from the list by his colleague Gary Neville, Carragher doubled down on his earlier reservations about the potential move by saying the Swede's arrival wouldn't align with the decision to splash out on Ekitike already this summer.

Carragher said: “It [a forward signing] could be another player.

He only doesn’t play when he’s injured.

Carragher feels sorry for new arrival Hugo Ekitike (Image: Getty Images)

“Ekitike, who Liverpool think is going to be the next Isak, would then have to be an understudy but I think he’s too good and too expensive to be an understudy.

You’re only going to play when he’s injured

“It’s not like Ekitike will have a year to learn the ropes and then become first-choice – Isak will still be there as your centre forward next year.

I just feel a little bit for the lad [Ekitike] who was bought for £80m thinking he was going to be the next big thing.”

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Liverpool could now sign an additional defender, with both Slot and Virgil van Dijk pinpointing the backline as the squad's most vulnerable area following their penalty shootout loss to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield.


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