Liverpool were always going to win Alexander Isak transfer battle after decisive FSG moves

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The chat between manager and star player was symbolic, but we all know that the real discussions go on much higher up.

Eddie Howe admitted he discussed Alexander Isak's future with him at the end of last season(Image: PA)

All of which meant that the clock was ticking on Isak’s Newcastle career from then, with the player adamant that he wanted to leave and he had been promised that he would be allowed to do so.

There are ways to handle this, but unfortunately for a Newcastle United struggling at board level due to a mixture of mismanagement, awful health problems and a bluster emboldened by their ownership, they would go on to take the wrong step at almost every turn.

This turned into a mess of their own making in a battle they were never going to win.

Oh and there’s also Florian Wirtz.

It is here that the knowledge that Isak wanted to join them would have crystallised Liverpool’s thinking.

The Swede coming in as the new No.9 with proven, goal-getting backup in Diogo Jota looked perfect before that unimaginable and still hard to process tragedy struck.

Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz were always in line to be moved on by Liverpool this summer(Image: PA)

It is still, almost two months on from his death, somewhat crass to talk about Jota in the context of transfers and squad building, but Liverpool had to replace him.

They did so with a confidence that they’d eventually be getting Isak too, because they’ve been around the block a few times and they know how these things go.

It is impossible not to acknowledge the vast amounts of money Liverpool have shelled out this summer to overhaul a squad which ran away with the title last season.

Marc Guehi is expected to complete his move to Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

With Isak it will come to around £415m spent, but sales have brought in around £200m.

With a handful of final deals to be done the club can reflect on the first ‘real’ transfer window of the Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes double act with a sense of satisfaction.

There is a calmness and a quality about how they approach their work, and that leads to a sense of control around the club too.

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