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Right from the word ‘go’ this summer, Liverpool have been on the search for a new number nine.

The Reds have been keen to bolster their attacking options, with plenty of players reportedly on the radar.

One of those widely expected to be very much in Liverpool‘s thinking was Sporting hit-man Viktor Gyokeres.

Gyokeres had a frankly ridiculous season in Portugal, plundering 54 goals in just 52 matches.

With no mention of Liverpool at all, there can be only one reason why the Reds are allowing their Premier League title rivals a free run at such a clinical striker.

Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images

On the one hand, Gyokeres does tick a lot of boxes for Liverpool in terms of a new No.

9.

The 27-year-old has a proven track-record of scoring, has a versatile skillset which could fit well in the Liverpool squad and is clearly ready to step up into a bigger team.

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But, there is one box which Gyokeres could not tick for Liverpool: he is not Alexander Isak.

Had the Reds come in for Arsenal’s impending recruit, it would have been an admission that they cannot get his Sweden international colleague.

READ MORE: New details of Liverpool’s Martin Zubimendi pursuit emerge as Arsenal finally seal £56m deal

Isak is still Liverpool’s dream target at centre-forward, and Rousing The Kop understands that the 25-year-old is still very much in play this summer.

While the pursuit may still ultimately come to nothing, the Reds are clearly not ready to blink just yet.

Although Liverpool are not giving up on Isak just yet, it is also fairly evident that Newcastle hold the cards on their No.

14.

Isak still has three years left to run on his contract and even if he does leave, it is going to be for an eye-watering sum of money.

So, although Liverpool did not think Gyokeres was worth giving up on their Isak dream for, it is very possible they will still have to compromise this summer.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike has been heavily linked and the 22-year-old would seem to be another option if Liverpool cannot get their first choice.

Like Isak, though, Ekitike will not come cheap.

As a result, some may rue the decision to hand Arsenal a free run at Gyokeres.

But it is clear that he was never really someone Liverpool felt was the right fit for them.
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